Just to let you all know, the next few one-shots are on the shorter end, and focus on a series of kiss prompts I received on Tumblr. This first one takes place post-SRIV in that lovely gap where the Saints have a time machine that's in need of some serious (mis)use.
Bowling was something V had a thing for. She didn't proclaim it loudly from the highest rooftops, but whenever she reached for the shiniest bowling ball on hand and stood in front of her lane, a rush gripped her. Made her feel amazing every time she managed to roll the ball in a perfect, glorious line towards victory.
Stilwater had some decent places, and she recalled tearing up more than a few with the others back in the day, but Steelport had some fine lanes. Ones with proper lighting, and although the cheese fries weren't as kickass as the ones back home, they worked, and today she wanted them badly. So, after one heavy sigh from Kinzie, and a few scattered keystrokes, V was one plate of fries richer, and didn't hesitate to drag anyone and everyone with her.
While she couldn't snag everyone, she did manage to get a few takers. Shaundi she owed a few decent games to after getting slammed years back, and there was at least three-hundred dollars down on a victory over Pierce. Johnny, however, was a grudge match waiting to happen, and when he gestured towards the lanes V couldn't clear a path to an empty one quick enough.
Games flew by as she rediscovered her groove, losing the first to Shaundi, while falling behind on the next to Pierce and Johnny, but on the fourth she was sure she had it back. That smooth momentum that had her knocking down pins left and right. She held onto it tight as she waited for her name to come up next on the queue, and when the screen flashed, showing one large pixelated V, she took point.
"Okay," she breathed, inhaling and exhaling slowly as she hefted the glitzy, purple bowling ball. Not too heavy, and not too light, it was perfectly balanced in her hands and hadn't failed her once that game. "Be assertive. Be assertive. Don't think, just roll."
She crouched, her eyes narrowing as they scanned the lane, and sweeping the ball behind her cleanly, she brought it forward in a smooth arc and let go. It flew as her heart pounded, her body frozen in place, until it slammed into the pins and sent every last one to the floor.
"Hell yes!" V punched the air with a loud cheer as Pierce gave her an appreciative whistle, and she enveloped him and Shaundi in a tight hug, giddy as hell to have pulled it off.
She didn't hesitate to flash Johnny a victorious grin either. With only one turn to go, the two of them had pulled ahead of the others, but that last strike had given her a clear lead. One that he would have to nail perfectly to beat. So, if she decided to gloat a little to herself, she did. And if she didn't drop her smug grin when she sauntered over to him, she tried not to wear it too, too long. Even if this was the best game she'd had in years, and Gat had to be on the fence right now.
"Admit it."
"Admit what?" Johnny asked, leaning against the console with his bowling ball tucked against his side.
"That I'm pretty kick ass at this for starters, but I think that strike proved one other important thing."
The corner of his mouth quirked up. "Oh?"
"That I've got it in the fucking bag," she replied, putting her hands on her hips. "You're going to have to pull off some serious moves to trump that, Gat. Maybe work some black magic on the lanes, because I think I'm finally going to break that streak of yours."
"That so?"
"I know so."
He glanced up at her score, considering it for a good long minute as she stood there and rocked on her feet, and he shrugged. Then brushed a hand over the bowling ball as he walked briskly over to the line and sent it rolling down the lane without a single thought.
No waiting, no aiming, no waffling, nada.
And when she heard the screen yell out a strike, V felt her grin go brittle. It didn't take a math whiz to tell her what the fake fireworks did, and by the time he turned, her expression was barely distinguishable from a grimace.
"Now, I don't know about you," Johnny began, walking right back over to her with just enough of a swagger to go with the smug smile gracing his face, "but I think it holds. Thoughts on that, boss?"
Her mouth twisted, and she bit down hard on her tongue to keep from responding. Then failed when her cheek twitched. "Lucky shot."
Chuckling, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "Yeah, real lucky."