Vinnie's Endless Devotion and Patience
By
Kelral Orlyana
Disclaimer: I am sure we all know by now that as much as I'd love to, I do not own the Biker mice and I certainly make no profit posting this fan fic.
Author Note: Well I am back again, despite saying that this was going to be a single chapter fic. But then after Charley came Throttle and now here comes Vinnie. No doubt I may end up writing a Modo fiction. God, will I ever stop?! I hope not!
I made Vinnie quite devout in this story. I don't know, it seemed apt since the Martian Gods have played such a key role in the previous two stories. But unlike Throttle, Vinnie's thoughts are more…. Singular. He has a focus, a goal. That goal is 'family' and 'home'. I also like to reveal a deeper side to Vinnie's character. He's still the wild-child we all know and love but I wanted to give his character depth. I hope I have achieved this with this story.
Warning: For some mention of human religion (albeit brief) but overall nothing of any offensive nature is in here. Some may read the content as 'sexual', but this could not be further from the truth. Everything within this chapter is purely platonic although the wording may make it appear as if more is going on. If you ship the bros with Charley, then please imagine all you like (I know I do! ) But otherwise it is a purely platonic, brotherly love they feel towards Charley.
Vinnie's Endless Devotion and Patience
Vinnie was a devout follower of the Gods, something that may surprise the many that knew him, other than his bros. He had been raised in a particularly religious family that had witnessed the horror the Gods could inflict upon the living. His own father had barely reached adulthood thanks to Erebus, the God of Darkness. The elder Vanwham had become lost and almost died at the beak of a Sabre-Tooth Squid, but Helios had shown mercy, the Sun God's light chasing the beast back into Erebus's embrace. His mother had almost been a victim of Deimos, the Sabre-Tooth Squid destroying her village and leaving her as the last of her clan. So, his parents, both victims had become survivors who worshipped and thanked the Gods for every moment they have had since.
But that didn't mean Vinnie followed blindly. The Gods did not desire blind, heretical or fanatical worship and so he paid them tribute each day but never begged for a mercy or kindness that he'd knew they'd never grant. Instead he sought to celebrate each day of life in different ways. His love for the Gods shone through his every action.
Perhaps it was destiny or fate or even a rare kindness from the Gods that led Throttle to them, Modo believed it luck, but Vinnie was sure it had purpose, especially considering what Throttle had done since he'd joined them. Vinnie believed that Throttle was meant to be there with them, to make them a trio, the three bros as they were known by many. He had felt sure from the moment he'd seen the small, thin mouse his bro once was that it was his destiny, his purpose to be at Throttle's side. His sword, and Modo his shield. Although his bros considered these thoughts ridiculous and romanticised.
But how could he not think so? He had loved his bro's as the Gods had asked and although fate had not been kind to his people, the three of them had clung on, leading the Martian's out of the shadow of the Plutarkians with such skill and apparent luck, although Vinnie dared to suspect that the Gods favoured them. Although to speak such heresy aloud would only insult the divine beings. But how else could they explain the success of even the most ridiculous of their plans? How else could he explain the sheer luck that they still breathed? How else could he explain why they'd met Charley, one of the finest humans they had ever met?
In Vinnie's mind, it was almost pre-ordained. First Throttle, a handsome buck who'd unwittingly become a symbol of freedom and bravery to a people that needed as much hope as they could get. And now Charley, a skilled technician and mechanic who seemed capable of solving even the most challenging of problems. Vinnie had no doubt that in time Throttle's cunning and Charley's genius would lead the Martian Mice, no Martian's as a whole, into a new era. Already Charley was asking question after question and Throttle, who was always patient, always ready to answer, rarely left her side. In some ways, the three were becoming a four, but in other ways Vinnie was losing his friend, his brother to Charley. If Vinnie was Throttle's sword and Modo his shield, then Charley was Throttle's heart, the voice of reason and curiosity combined into one exotic beauty.
But he felt awe and not jealously when he saw the pair, Charley was so different, physiologically and mentally and yet there was a deep sense of belonging whenever he looked at her. She was meant to be with them, they were meant to find her and she was meant to find them. This was simply meant to be, no matter how much Modo and Throttle would deny it.
But no matter how much he silently prayed for Charley to realise what was before her, she never seemed to open her eyes. She was clan, he knew she was, she was meant to be a part of them, to be more than just an ally and associate but etiquette demanded she make the right gestures and said the right things before they embrace her as family. Vinnie wanted nothing more than to snarl at the stupid rules and to embrace Charley as she should always have been embraced. He could see in her eyes, he could feel her desire to be a part of their lives, to be considered family. But Modo and Throttle would not listen to their hearts, instead they obeyed the rules and demanded Vinnie's obedience and acquiestance. But Vinnie knew they felt the connection too. Through their clan bond he could sense their desire to make their small family whole, even Modo the more reserved and law-abiding of them desired to break the chains of etiquette and to embrace their girl.
In fact, it was Throttle who held them back. Their thinker, their politician, their leader, always hesitant and always afraid. It was at times like this that Vinnie would gladly hunt down Throttle's people and slaughter them for the damage they'd done to his friend and brother. Throttle could never just accept a blessing or a gift. He was forever suspicious, forever doubtful, forever distrustful. So, hurt, so scorned was he that he expected everyone to turn on him in a second. It had taken years for Vinnie to develop a deep bond with the other buck, and even more years proving that Throttle's trust was not misplaced. The tanned mouse, strong in body was fragile in heart and so now their leader hid behind the mental restraints of law and etiquette, rarely getting close to others that weren't immediate family.
Vinnie had had to step back and watch Throttle build a rapport with their girl, he watched as wariness turned to grudging trust and grudging trust turn to respect and admiration. But even then, Throttle would never take the final step. Vinnie knew Throttle disliked the barbaric nature of humanity, the elder mouse dwelled on it often and compared Charley to the beastly humans more than once. But Charley's human nature was not a crutch, she was an ethereal being born within the wrong body, her species should not be held against her, for her actions and her pure heart proved she was worthy of respect, trust and love. But Throttle did not give love easily and rarely admitted to loving, although at times he shared his feelings with his bros through his telepathy as he found words did not give enough meaning to the depth of emotion he felt.
And so, the years passed, they were far from home, gloriously healthy and content in body but divided in mind and soul. There was a great chasm between them, mostly between Throttle, Vinnie and Charley whilst Modo merely watched and waited, being a supportive presence and praying that Throttle and Charley opened their eyes. But as the years passed Vinnie grew more doubtful and Throttle became more and more distant as he tried to face the growing bond between them and the little Earthling they had come to love. Because although Throttle may deny it, he adored their human.
Who could say how this 'Mexican Standoff' changed. Vinnie would never dare speculate that the Gods had their say in this matter, but it seemed strange that after so many years the pair would suddenly realise what had been between them for so long. It began with longing gazes. Throttle returned to his more relaxed self, seeking out his bros for companionship instead of skulking off to who-knew-where to think. Charley would look at them for longer, seemingly studying their interactions with a desiring gaze. She lusted for love and companionship just as Throttle did, and yet neither recognised their own desire or each other's. They were a pair, made to be united but divided by ignorance.
But silly, innocent Throttle would keep thinking ridiculous thoughts, considering Charley's physical limitations as weakness and frustrated by her apparent lack of survival abilities. But Charley was a survivor, she was a genius, her intelligence gave her everything she needed to survive and Throttle knew this, these thoughts were simply an excuse to keep hesitating, to keep prolonging the inevitable and it was only Modo's stern restraint that kept Vinnie giving Throttle a good clout over the head, well that and the fact Throttle was still technically recovering from his injuries.
Vinnie supposed the accident was divine intervention, the Gods delivering the tanned mouse a clout over the head-on Vinnie's behalf, perhaps? Or perhaps they'd grown tired of the wasted time? Either way, fate desired to step in and Vinnie was used as the bait. But all would know Throttle would throw himself back into the grasp of the Plutarkian's themselves if it meant protecting his bros, and so Throttle did, throwing himself into oncoming traffic and ending up battered, bruised and damaged to the point that Vinnie had flashbacks of their time in a Plutarkian prison camp. Seeing Throttle so pale, so lifeless had brought back fears Vinnie had thought long since gone, crushed by logic and faith in Throttle's will to survive. But perhaps this wakeup call was what was needed for all of them, because it certainly changed Charley's attitude. She became more attentive and in Throttle's disabled state their interactions were more regular, more intimate and more effective. By the time, Throttle was back on his feet and barely wobbling as his antenna finally began to heal the bond between the pair had grown to the point that Throttle no longer denied his affections, but he still held firmly to the laws.
And so, the three waited, finally reunited in their desire to make their clan whole. Throttle had conceded defeat to their Gods plans but Charley, not influenced by Martian deities, did not yet realise her destiny. But Vinnie sensed that all was well, that somehow, someway things were coming together and there was a palpable excitement in the air as their new year came, sharing the same day as Charley's Christmas.
How strange it was that things were falling into place so well. Was this the God's work too?
Whatever the case, Vinnie could not deny the sheer coincidence that this one year seemed to bring the greatest and most valued of changes. First Throttle awakens to the truth and now Charley's eyes seemed to be opening. Their rides were telling them of her questions and studies and were encouraged to share more, but then that dwindled and Charley began to frown more. But Vinnie trusted, he had faith and he would wait for their girl to accept her place with them. He knew there was always a chance she'd turn them away and if she said as much he'd not push and let her go. But he knew she would not say no, that she'd accept her place. She wanted it as much as they wanted it.
So why the waiting?
It was unbearable. Years of waiting and Vinnie's patience was shot. He was not a patient buck at the best of times. He liked to race, he liked to fight, he liked to party. Waiting was simply not fun. But the Gods did not move on his time, they would not be scolded, commanded or manipulated like one would command a cub. They were ancient, angry beings who were only kind when it benefitted them and Charley's denial and ignorance clearly had some use to them, but Vinnie would not dare speculate as to why they made him wait so long for what was meant to be.
But finally, Gods finally! she seemed to become excited once more, demanding they stay with her on Christmas Day. There was no refusal, they loved being with her, she was such an intelligent companion, a skilled tech and a mean fighter and a great racer in equal measure. There was no place he'd rather be than with her enjoying each day and celebrating each breath.
And then the gift. The surprise. Vinnie could not help his choked cry, his sobbing breath as he realised he could finally claim Charley as family. The gesture of trust, respect that she had given them by allowing them to set up their religious artefacts in her home showed that her home was now theirs and now they could do the same. As a clan, their home was their clan and so now they could take her into their fold and embrace her.
But before he did so, he must express gratitude and asked for forgiveness for his doubt. In his impatience and fear he had come to question the will of the Gods and must offer sincere apology if he wished his good fortune to continue. He felt more than saw Modo and Throttle conduct their own prayers. In truth, they were little more than a few ritualistic sentences, since the Gods were not like the human deities whom demanded absolute adoration and sacrifices so grand and barbaric that they made even the Rats shudder with disgust. There were simply some things that you should never do and beating a woman and raping a child were two of those things. Even Rats firmly believed in respecting a female, mostly because their females were usually larger and more violent than the males.
Surprisingly, it was Throttle who embraced Charley first and Vinnie could not crush the joy, the absolute delight that finally his clan was whole and his bro, his shy, shy Throttle was finally content and happy enough to act on his feelings instead of his doubts.
They were whole.
Sitting with all three much later, Charley safely within their arms and tails was a dream come true, the beautiful end a nightmare that had lasted so many years. To finally be able to enter her mind, to feel her thoughts as he did Modo and Throttle made the whole mess finally worth it. Her need to protect them was adorable and the genuine emotions coming from her humbled him in ways that words could never adequately express. And the fact that Throttle was being so open with his thoughts, so at peace and so welcoming made this day even better. Every now and then it saddened Vinnie that Modo, Stoker, Carbine and himself were not enough to support Throttle, to bring the buck out of his shell but he did not envy Charley, her place was with them and she was a vital piece to the puzzle that had slowly been building over the last two decades.
They were nowhere near the end, they would live far longer than her and their planet was inhospitable to her and her people, at least for now. But together they could face any adversary, even nature herself, given time. For now, they should enjoy this time of respite, to affirm their bond.
And to accept the challenge she was unknowingly given them.
Silly girl, challenging three Martian Bucks to a fight.
But Throttle was thinking of siding with her. Perhaps it was time to show off his skill, to show he'd be strong enough for the both of them?
Or perhaps he should just torment the pair until they yield to his obvious power and skill?
With a grin that showed his wild-side he withdrew his tail from Charley's grasp and pounced. Her squeal was the most gorgeous sound to his ears as his fingers found her most sensitive spots and tickled her into submission. Hearing Throttle's huff of quiet laughter among her giggles made everything they'd been through seem trivial.
He was finally home.