Ch. 2
"Well shit."
There a few meters before him stood a figure, a short one at that. What was immediately eye catching though was the rifle she held up proudly next to her, not aimed at him but at the ready.
"Back at you."
The bright sunlight made it easy to see her through his sunglasses. By the looks of her, and the obvious lack of a language barrier, she seemed anything but indigenous.
"I'll assume you're not a native of the Frog Tribe from the lost land of Amphibilatis?"
In her smile he could see an obvious overbite. "Not quite, but I'm all that's here aside from my dog and a few funny little creatures."
"And seagulls. Can't forget those noisy bastards," he said motioning to the sky.
"They weren't so noisy before your helicopter came, I'll have you know."
As if taking her cue, the birds suddenly stopped their incessant noises. Five seconds later they started up again, though calmer.
The woman frowned and looked up at the sky. "Oh huh. That was fast." She closed her eyes and lowered her rifle the slightest bit. "I think I have something of yours."
What?
While inwardly he frowned, his expression remained straight.
"He's at my house," she added.
"House?" he asked with a raised brow.
"Over the hill, surprised you didn't see it when you landed."
"Sorry, got distracted."
"Frog Tower?"
"Frog Tower."
She smiled, happy at the conversation. "I'm Jade."
"Dave Strider. You probably don't know me from all the way here in the Bermuda Semi-Circle. Just your average millionaire film director passing along the sweet ocean we share, thought this place would make a great evil hideout, you know? Mad scientist on a private island deal?"
Oh look, he made her grin. "Well Mr. Coolguy Director, I'm no one special. Just a botanist with a non-evil scientist lab here at Ribbitsville."
"Lab, huh? Getting the chills here, doc. You're gonna mutate me, huh? Mix my DNA with a toad to create the Ultimate Frog. I bet it's some prophecy written in those ruins."
"Like I said, I'm more of a botanist. Plants. I could try to mix your DNA with a pumpkin?"
"Well shit, what are we waiting for? Let's get this party started. Lead the way Doctor..." he trailed off waiting for her to finish the sentence.
Then she giggled. "Harley. My name is Jade Harley." She laughed more. It was a noise much more pleasant and befitting of her than any other sound.
Jade let her gun fall to her side and turned around. She wasn't so worried what would happen if she turned her back. She had very good intuition.
"Come on, your friend is waiting." With that she began walking forward as if the whole situation was normal. Wait, what did she say about a friend waiting?
"Raul?" She just kept walking.
What had the bastard gotten himself into? Moreover, how could he have gotten into anything at all?
A tower came into sight. Again, he wondered how captivating a frog statue could be to make him so ignorant to the rest of the island features.
"Oh, and I know who you are," she said swerving around, her mass of long black hair swiveling behind her. "I've just never seen your face."
Oh is that so? He had to admit, kind of an ego boost to have his fame reach god knows where this was. "Not surprising. There's only a few shots of me on the web. I'm not big on social events."
"No? Isn't that what hotshot Hollywood film directors do? Party at premiers or something?" The doctor asked with a frown.
"I gotta say Doc, for someone who lives out in the middle of I don't even know where, you've got some extensive pop culture knowledge."
"I have a few friends who are very fond of your movies..."
They approached a heavy metal door. Jade pressed a few numbers on a pad and green lights scanned her palm.
"What's with the security? Afraid a seagull is going to break and enter? Steal a pumpkin?"
She frowned. "Pumpkins are very easy to steal. And you're not my first visitor Mr. Strider." Her mouth returned to a smile. "I've never had such a cool guest before, though."
"I'll bet." He looked around as she opened the door.
She entered her... house? ...And made a motion with her arm for him to come inside. "Sooo cooool," she mocked.
A faint smirk twitched onto his face as he walked in.
Jade shut the door behind him.
"So if you're the only one here, and your house is password protected, how'd my pilot end up in this joint?"
"I said my dog was here to, didn't I?" She said with genuine confusion. Like having a dog would make all the sense in the world as to answering his question.
They walked into what looked like a kitchen and living room. It was extremely neat, formal. Except for the two hundred pound man laying on the couch. Oh, and the fucking hellhound beast that sat complacently near him. Its tail wagged as Jade opened her arms wide with a big smile.
"Bec! Good Dog! Best friend!"
The giant dog immediately stood up wagging its massive tail more furiously and got up on its hind legs to greet its apparent master. The thing hovered slightly taller than the short woman.
She took out a very sickly looking T-Bone steak and tossed it up. The dog caught it and took it to a corner of the room.
"Uh... so nice place you've got here."
Jade walked over to the unconscious Raul on her couch. Poor guy. Loyal guy, really.
"I think your friend must've hit his head when he saw Bec... He's alright but he's definitely knocked out. No telling when he's going to get up..." She stared at him, thinking. "Sorry about that. Do you know how to fly the helicopter or do you need this guy?"
Dave shrugged. He actually had a pretty decent hold on how to fly a chopper, but seeing as he had no idea where they were, he wasn't really going to go at it blind. Flying, fine. Navigating... maybe not so much his forte. "Kinda need him."
"Darn."
"What's wrong doc, want to get rid of me already?"
She beamed, her big round glasses shining in the light as she rose. "Not quite, but sort of."
"Ouch. Go and hurt a guy's pride, will you? Right in the heart."
"From the looks of it, you're going to have to stay the night though." She bit her bottom lip looking distressed. He wondered if her overbite had been the product or stress, or if it was just a habit of hers.
"Oh, I get it. Afraid you'll lose your self-control for the hot director that you've always admired. I know, I'm a big deal. You seem like a cool lady yourself, Doc. But you've got to keep yourself restrained, you see? I can't just be your personal island man candy one night stand. It's unfair to all the mainland girls waiting for me back at the states."
"It that so?"
"Oh, for sure."
"In that case, maybe you should try being less cool?" she suggested.
He shook his head. "No can do. It's strictly impossible, like physics defying. Me being less cool would probably warp and rip all of the space time continuum or some shit."
"Oh nooo. We wouldn't want to be responsible for all that. I guess it's up to me to hold myself back."
"Sorry, I wish I could make it easier on you, Doc."
"Then can you do me a favor, Mr. Strider?"
"Shit, after what I'm putting you through tonight I feel like I owe you."
Smiling, she said, "I don't think I'm going to get used to being called 'Doc.' Try something else?"
"Doctor Harley?"
Her displeasure was obvious and immediate. "Ew, too formal."
"Harley," he said with a straight face and tone.
"Now that sounds cool," she said with a grin. "Does that mean I'm supposed to call you Strider?"
He shrugged, so she practiced.
"Strider..." she tested out on her tongue.
They both paused with frowns.
"Dave Strider... Dave... Strider... um... hm. It doesn't sound as cool when I do it. I guess I'm not cool enough to pull of the last name basis thing."
"Dave," he said suddenly. He didn't know why. Only a few people in his life ever called him that.
"Dave," she repeated with ease.
He nodded shortly.
"Nice to meet you," she said extending her hand.
"Back at you, Harley."
She tried to keep a straight cool face like his, but failed into another fit of goofy laughter. He cracked a smile.
-x.x.x.x.x.x-
Hello all! Thanks for the review and favs! Sorry that it's not very immediately shippy but gotta set the stage for now. Also sorry if it's moving too fast plot wise! Even I want to get to fluff... ahaha. Leave reviews if you feel so inclined, it'd be so so so so much appreciated! For fan art/sorta spoilers...? for the DaveJade that will inevitably ensue, please check out my tumblr here: (Without the spaces!) post/26483816794/ alpha-au-doodles-for-this-fanfic-that-im-ashame