Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 48
Judy had to take a few deep breaths before leaving the door to the bathroom. The last thing she needed to do was look hot and flustered in front of Tia.
It didn't work.
The minute she walked into Tia's room the stare Judy received spoke a thousand words.
"OH MY GOD, I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE DON'T LET HIM KILL ME!"
Tia practically fell to her knees in fright.
"Tia calm down!" Judy urged.
"How can I be calm when I interrupted you two?"
Immediately Judy tried to play coy.
"What are you talking about? You didn't interrupt anything."
Immediately the look of terror was erased from Cynthia's face as a look of 'How Dumb Do You Think I Am?' took its place.
"No woman's fur looks that put together after getting sick in the bathroom. Not to mention you have a very warm glow to your cheeks." Tia then crossed her arms. "Also, I'm a woman who's had a quicky in the bathroom before."
Judy tried not to blush even more at Tia's accusation.
"We…I…You don't think…" Judy trailed off before slumping her shoulders forward in defeat. "Is it really that obvious?"
"Yes!" Tia all but shouted.
"We-we-we….we didn't do a whole lot…" Judy rambled.
"How can you with…him? Do you like have a thing for bad guys?"
"Clearly…I am a cop." Judy sat across from Tia on the floor.
Tia and Judy sat in silence for a moment.
"He's…he's not gonna kill-"
"You're covered." Judy answered already covering that base.
For the most part anyway.
Nick meanwhile waited at least five minutes before exiting the bathroom. And immediately went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of joe before moping at the table. Or at least that was the plan before he caught sight of a little vermin.
"Kid." Nick called to the shadow figure that was pretending not to be eyeing the valuables around the living room. "Stop walking around with your sticky fingers and come here for a second."
"¿Por qué?"
"Trae tu trasero aquí."
Thank goodness Mom signed me up for Spanish lessons when I started school.
The little grey fox stomped her way over to Nick in protest. Nick ignored her little tantrum while searching for something in the nearby drawers.
"What 'cha want?"
"If you are staying in my house, you better work on your language."
"What house? This is just a glorified playboy apartment."
"It has a toilet, bed, and roof. It is a house." Nick countered.
The girl wanted to argue, but considering it was more than what she had she couldn't argue. But she wasn't going to give in that easily.
"Those are some low standards."
"Those are the bare minimum." Nick wasn't going to be bothered by a smart-mouth child. "Now you can keep staying in your party of sass for one or- Aha- You can play cards with me."
Nick immediately began to shuffle the deck without considering if the girl was going to play or not.
"You game?"
"I don't have anything to bet with." The girl answered with a snark.
"Did I ask if you have money?" Nick stated while dealing the cards as the little grey fox hopped into a chair. "We bet questions?"
"No entiendo."
"Simple. Every time we make a bet it is by asking a question. To call the bet you must answer the question. To raise the bet, you answer the question and ask an additional question. Failure to answer the question means you fold and the opposing party wins. The first to ten wins decide what to order for room service tonight." Nick smirked at the kid. "So…are you game?"
"I'm game if-"
"If?"
"If…each round we are allowed to pass on one question without folding."
Nick considered it for a moment before consenting with a nod.
"The game is five card draw. You deal first."
Nick handed the girl the deck with anticipation itching at his fingertips.
Once the cards were dealt Nick didn't hesitate to make the first bet.
"What is your name?"
"¡NO ES JUSTO!"
"How is that not fair?"
"I already know your name."
"I never stated that we had to answer our own question as well. I don't know your name, so it still counts."
"No fair." The grey fox argued again.
"Sounds more like someone's too chicken." Nick taunted with a smirk. "So…what is your nombre?"
"…Nova."
"Pretty." Nick complimented the girl.
Nova tried not to smile as her heart warmed. She couldn't remember the last time someone said she had a pretty name.
"My turn?"
"Are you raising?"
"…Yeah."
"Ask away…"
"Are you a good person?"
Nick paused in thought before answering with what his gut told him.
"No."
Nova was tempted to call him a liar again. But something about the way he said it made her hold her tongue.
"Well, since I called and don't plan on raising, I would like to discard two cards." Nick tossed two random cards into the middle of the table. "And I request two cards please."
Nova tossed him two cards before drawing three for herself.
"Three cards and you raised the bet?"
"Yep."
Confident little vermin.
"Okay, Miss Nova Vermin…What is your favorite color?"
"Really?" Nova rolled her eyes.
"You can't raise the bet before answering the question."
"I meant the Nova Vermin. That's not my name."
"So, you lied."
What? No!"
"Well unless you give me your full name and continue to be a sticky finger pest…Nova Vermin you will remain." Nick stated nonchalantly while aimlessly sorting his hand of cards. "Again, what is your favorite color?"
"Violet."
"Purple." Nick nodded in approval. "Good choice. I like purple too."
"Not purple." Nova stated firmly. "Violet. Purple isn't a color."
I beg to differ.
"Are you raising?"
"…No"
"Alright, I have a full house of kings over threes."
"Not bad." Nova sighed. "But not good enough."
Nova dramatically placed her cards on the table revealing a royal straight.
"Oh-ho I just got smoked." Nick laughed jotting down Nova's first point.
Nova smiled, starting to have fun. Nick hoped she would remember this moment instead of the fear and uncertainty of being partially kidnapped.
"Now who's chicken?" Nova taunted.
"Oh, now we're talking smack? Okay…get ready for round two Miss Vermin."
"You're on."
AN: Do you guys want the full poker game or just a rundown?