Back at Rattlers' Stone sat alone on a bar stool.
"How'd it go?" Ratter asked setting a drink infront of the Tribal Assassin.
"Went good, bit of a headache but good. That punk trainee is going to make it, not sure how far on his own, but he's not as much of a cull with that female hoovering around." Stone admitted laying down a gem and slinging back the drink.
Ratter scooped up the gem. "Bit much for a drink."
"Thats for the room those two kids just headed into." Stone shrugged.
"That case you got breakfast for all three and another drink." Ratter replied pocketing the shiney diamond.
"that female pay for the damage?"
"The mouse? Yeah she unloaded some gems on me before I sent the message out, it paid for the repairs no worries."
Stone nodded, taking another drink and ending the conversation.
Upstairs Sleet nervously smiled at Nega. "I really do think your beautiful." his thick tail swayed behind him as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"no" Sleet squeaked his eyes wide as she sat on his lap. "I don't want you to stop." his nervous paws touching her. He leaned in kissing her softly, his whole body tense and excited at the same time. His fur didn't know to lay flat or bristle.
"Do.. I take my clothes off now?" He asked quietly breaking the kiss, his nose only inches from hers. His tail curling around her middle. An electric feeling of her warmth sending a jolt of something straight down to his very core, his belly fluttered.
"Yes Sleet, this is the part were the clothes go," she whispered. "But maybe I'll take care of that for you... if you do the smae for me."
She rubbed at his chest. Gods he was warm. This would have been a great time to do something romantic.
"Sleet," she murmured softly, not sure what to say. Was there something to say? "... thank you..."
The light gray almost blue furred teen rat blinked stairing at her beautiful face, and eyes. He didn't reply, he didn't know what to say. Instead he reached up, lightly stroking her cheek and tattered ear, his claws running through her short hair. "I love you.." he finally whispered in a deep husky voice he didn't even know he had.
Stone glanced up at the celing. Ears flicking back. "Ratter, think you could have at LEAST insulated the floors and walls of those rooms?"
Ratter chuckled. "Whats a matter Stone? Don't want to visualize what's going on up there?"
"If they use both beds, I'm leaving them both here and taking the short way home." Stone snorted. "Darn kid isn't even finished training and..... " Stone winced hearing a howl. "he's jumping the gun to breeding."
Ratter chuckled. "I doubt she'd allow that to happen to her. She doesn't seem the mothering type."
Stone glared at the bartender over the rim of his raised mug.
Her heart nearly burst at his proclaimation. She felt her face flush and kissed him passionately, knocking him back on the bed. He seemed surprised by the force, but she'd never been gentle in this kind of thing, and soemthing told her he wouldn't mind too much. As innocent at he was, she didn't think it'd scared him off.
Any typical male, she might have just shot him down, but Nega found herself considering his words. Sleet was young, and a bit off his mark, but there was something about his attitude, his innocent awkwardness that was surprisingly endearing. She didn’t think she’d ever met a rat like him. She had never even had that quality, even when she’d been his age, in love with someone.
That relationship was long over, but it had been good while it lasted. And since then she hadn’t had any offers... Well, not more than, ‘Hey little missy, wanna get a job together? Heh, heh, heh.’ But those didn’t count, and while Sleet had made it obvious he was interested, his shy attempts were sweet, and most of them had been made in response to her own flirting.
She supposed it’d be pretty rude of her to smash his hopes after effectively egging him on the whole time.
She wasn’t lonely, but she’d notice the lack of warmth next to her every once in a while, and not even always in bed. Companions were nice for conversations too. Also, there was something about him that was intriguing. He was honest, which was rare for a rat, and it was refreshing for a woman like her, considering at times she wasn’t really too good about the truth herself.
"Sleet?" she asked after they both lay in the bed. She felt a little embarassed, not by her actions but what he'd said that brought them on. "Did... you... um well, I mean... Shit. Did you mean what you said ealier?"
Laying on his back, his eyes still trying to focus, one arm under Nega's shoulders holding her against him. He slowly turned his head on the pillow, gazing at her, a goofy smile on his face. "Yeah, I did." Shifting onto his side, his fur wet from prepiration, he kissed her on the cheek. "Every word Nega, I..." he swallowed. "I really do love you." running his free hand down her arm, along her hip and resting at her abs.
"Thank you.. for.." he flushed.
Nega looked up at Sleet, fingers pressing against his mouth to silence him and kissed along his neck, earning her a groan. It was strangely surreal, the feel of him, and she wondered if he too was pondering at how it felt to know that just this evening they never would have considered this happening in just a few short hours. It did strike her as a little funny that this person that she found herself caring so much for had fallen into her life so suddenly, and literally if one considered their very first conversation at the bar. Him right on top of her and coping a feel unintentionally.
She pulled away and gave a gentle little laugh. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him on top of her, careful of his back though. She’d been a bit too enthusiastic and her claws hadn’t been trimmed for a while.
“I’m Mars’ biggest fool for falling for you. Did you know I was exactly your age when I met my first boyfriend?†she asked and laid a hand on his chest, and shook her head. “I’m not even certain I’ll be any better to you then he was to me, but I really want to be. Sleet, how is it that you made me care so much about you so fast?â€ÂÂ
She looked away for a second, a little embarassed.
"Sleet, would you like me to stay... you know, in Vein Valley with you?" she asked. "I had only meant to stay for a little while to get some money, but now... I'm not sure this is really love for me yet. It's so easy for you, you're young, but I do really care for you. And, if there's a way, I'd like a chance to do this with you properly, like real lovers should."
Rolling on top of her, he snuggled down. kissing her full ear. "Because your special." he whispered. resting his head against her shoulder.
"Sleet, would you like me to stay... you know, in Vein Valley with you?" she asked. "I had only meant to stay for a little while to get some money, but now... I'm not sure this is really love for me yet. It's so easy for you, you're young, but I do really care for you. And, if there's a way, I'd like a chance to do this with you properly, like real lovers should."
Sleet blinked, rolling off her and sitting up. "I don't live in the Valley." he frowned. "I don't want you to be like how real mothers should be. I want you to be with me, not... stuck away in some nursary tending to pups."
Oh, had she said something wrong?
"I'm sorry," she said as she sat up as well and hugged him from behind. "I meant I want us to be together too. But if you don't live in Vein Valley, where do you stay?"
She paused and her arms tightened a little.
"Sleet, I want to keep you," she whispered. "I just need to know you'll let me."
He leaned back into her. "I want us to be together too Nega, I want to be with you, I love you, I really do." He sighed. "I .. I know what love is, but.. I'm from the Canyon Tribe things aren't the same as out here." he moved out of her reach to sit ont he bed cross legged facing her.
"Most of the females don't work in the feilds, they live in another isolated canyon away from the Working tribe, the ones that DO work, have blood in the nursary breeding so they don't have to.., I ... I don't know if ..how... to be with you without you being in the nursary and breeding.." He swallowed reaching for her paw. "But I want us to be...together."
She sighed and shook her head. He was using terms she didn't really understand, but she thought she might have had an inkling to what he was hinting at.
"So, you're saying in order to be with you, I need to join the Tribe?" she asked. "And what is this about nursary... are you saying I need to have kids with you or something?"
Sleet shifted. "Yeah... If I get to keep you, You'd need to join the Tribe..I... I think we need Stone because I really don't know how if anyone can join. I heard stories but I don't really know." He flushed looking away. "It may not always be my pups you carry."
Stone looked up at the celing from the bar. "Been quiet, I'm heading up. Hopefully those two managed to get dressed." He chuckled.
Ratter shook his head. "Goodnight Stone."
Stone nodded heading up to their room. Knocking. "You kids decent?"
Nega slapped him before she even thought about it.
"Are you insane?" she snapped and stood up roughly. She grabbed her clothes, trembling as she got dressed. "I didn't realize this was a package deal. I'm not about to become some bitch in heat for any man who wants me..."
She told herslef that this was just his way, that she had no right fault him for it.
'If you love me, how could you even think about sharing me?' she thought bitterly. 'Sleet, I could think about you, but I couldn't... not with anyone else.'
A sudden knocking made her head jerk up, Sleet's voice filtering throught the door. She firmly kept from glancing at Sleet as she opened the door and slipped out, looking up at the older rat as she closed the door behind her.
"I need to talk to you," she stated. "Now."
Sleet reched up touching his cheek, it stung, she had slapped him. He blinked back tears swimming in his eyes. "I... but.." he swallowed not hearing Stone's voice. Not registering the knock. He watched her leave.
Sitting alone in the room, he laid face down where she had been, and cried.
Stone stepped back to allow Nega some room. "Follow me." He lead her down to the end of the hall, opening a door, it held a small meeting room of sorts. A table and three chairs around it. "Sit, talk." he plopped down in a seat, pushing the door shut with his tail once she was inside the room.
She crossed her arms over her chest, angry and she didn't even know why. How could she have lost her temper like that with Sleet? She had proabbaly hurt the poor boy.
"He's just a child," she muttered. "I should have been smarter than this. How could he possibly love me after just one night?"
Well, giving up one's virginity had a tendency to do that she supposed.
“Stone, I was wondering if it’s possible to join the Tribe,†she said stated humbly, even as she stared him in the eyes. She didn’t know if this was requested often, or even at all. “That is, if I could. I think we made a good team, and I’d like a chance to work with you guys again. But... Sleet said some things about... Is the only way I can stay if I have children with other men? Because I have too much self-respect to be someone's bitch. I'm a soldier, you can understand that, can't you Stone?"
"yes I can." Stone smirked. "That kid really made that much of an impression on you? Vise Versa even." he chuckled. "Sit down Nega, it's been a long time since anyone was sincer about joining the Tribe." He waited till she finally did sit. "Sleet's young yet, the rules haven't been passed down to him until his first trip to the nursary."
crossing his arms over his chest, he smiled at her. "Normally, a pup is required to continue bloodlines, however that is not always nessissary. Unless you WISH to have a pup, I'd assume with Sleet, than that is your choice, but... there's a lot of rituals and involment to that. I'll let you chew on it when and if you decide to take that route, but I'll warn ya now, You do not Raise any child you bore pass the six month or one year mark. Its your choice how long you can keep it, but one year is the longest."
He sat up letting her think on that.
"Now as to join the Canyon Tribe. Yes you can, and yes We made a pretty fair team. If you're sure you want to join it will garentee you a cave, albet shared to start, a place to come to between missions. BUT it will also force you to give up some freedom and luxturies that I'm sure you enjoyed living among mice and other martians."
He paused looking at her, waiting for her to digest.
"I don't think I'd make a good mother anyway," she told him. "I didn't grow up like you Stone. There was no one to take care of me, no large community, it was just me. I'm much too ignorant to give birth and take care of some brat. I think I'd just screw the kid up."
She swallowed and glanced at Stone before sighing.
"It's not just Sleet, it's other things as well. I don't really have anyhting else to do, and I'm getting tired of going from place to place, hoping there's some work for me so I don't starve. I'd like to settle down and work for a chance, not just drift." She paused and grinned. "Of course, there's you as well. You're a guy I can respect, certainly one I can trust to have my back."
"I got to admit, I havn't found anyone decent enough to trust to call a teammate or partner on jobs." He smirked. "You're tough enough and collected enough I wouldn't mind at my back either."
He studied her for a moment. Taking in her flaws, her scar on her neck, her tattered ear, her smaller sature.
"There's a few ways to join the Canyon Tribe. N' since yer going to be joining the working sector of it, that leaves only a couple of options." He stopped talking lost in thought. "I'll bring you on as my partner. You can change to being independant or Sleets' partner later on, but for now It'd be easier to get you in and established. We're heading out in the morning. Whatever life you didn't get to have out here, you're in for a real culture shock." He stood holding out his paw. "What ya say?"
She grinned and suddenly shot foward, giving him a fast hug.
"Ahem," she coughed after she'd pulled away. "Sorry. Anyway, I'll take the job. Thanks Stone, gonna go tell Sleet now."
The last bit was shouted over her shoulder, eager to get back to the pup all of a sudden.
"Sleet," she said as she opened the door and slipped in quietly. She saw him and her ears drooped slightly, his eyes puffy and red from tears. "Oh Sleet."
"Ugk" Stone choaked from the fast unexpected hug. He chuckled as she shot away. "Kids..." shaking his head he let her have a head start before slowly ambling behind.
The door opened and Sleet glanced who it was. Spotting her he quickly turned his head. "Go..way" he sniffled burying his head between two pillows. "ust awa." his tail curled around his bare legs. He didnt' want to see her or anyone. He was sure Stone would yell at him, at this point he didn't care. Nothing mattered.
"Sleet?" she said softly as she approached. He didn't give any indication that he'd heard her, and barely stired when she sat on the bed. "Oh gods Sleet, I'm so sorry. It was a misunderstanding, I thought... I thought you didn't care if other men had me."
She laid a hand on his shoulder, scared he would tell her to leave.
"I talked to Stone, I'm joining Tribe... for you. Sleet, please tell me I didn't just lose you. Please tell me that I just didn't fall for you just be be gotten rid of."
Sleet whimpered unburing his head but still not facing her. He sniffled loudly whiping his nose on the pillow. "You..you're joining the Tribe?" He swallowed ashamed at how he looked from crying. The fact he HAD cried, and now she was beside him. He couldn't look at her. Rats didn't cry. GUYS didn't cry period. "I care... I wouldn't want you to be.. to.. be cared for.. by others.. but... I." He fumbled for words. Finally turning his head to look at her. "I don't know how else to be with you."
She smiled, even though he could not see it, and lifted the blankets enough to let her slip underneath them, wrapping her arms around him.
"I won't say anything to Stone," she promised as her fingers drew lazy little patterns on his chest before moving to his ab, then to his stomach, and lower still as she gently bit his neck. "Shall I make this up to you?"
Sleet blinked back his tears. wiping his eyes on his arm. "But.." His tired mind couldn't comphrened.
"You can make up for what ever it is, later." Stone snipped shutting the door as he entered. "I don't need to be kept up all night by you two thumping around like Squirrel bats." he chuckled stripping down and climbing into the cold unused and unoccupided bed. "The trhee of us are headed back to the Tribe, Your gonna need rest, its a long drive." He warned laying back. He waited.
"We can be quiet." Sleet smirked shly at Nega, his hand slipping under her shirt.
She barely bit back her whimper at his touch. Damn Stone and his timing
"Go to sleep pup," she said and cuddled into him, taking her hand away, but firmly grabbed him when he tried to move his. "Keep it there. I'm cold anyway. Uh Stone, think you could kill the light, you know since you're up anyway?"
Stone flicked off the light, encasing the room in darkness. "Night kids." he chuckled.
Sleet kept his hand under her shirt, his tail wrapping around her pulling her close. "Night." he whispered to Nega. "I still love you..are we okay now?"
"Yes, we're okay," she said softly. "Go to sleep. I'll still be here come morning, I promise."
Her eyes drifted closed and she snuggled into him enjoying the warmth. When the opened her eyes the sun was barely up. Stiffling a little yawn she saw Sleet still asleep. She smiled and crept out, careful not to wake him.
"Stone?" she asked in the dim room. She thought he saw him sitting on his bed. "You up?"
Stone sat cross legged on the bed. Eyes closed and head tiltied back. "Yeah" His quiet voice answered. "Take a shower, enjoy the next hour, we'll be moving then. Its a long ride."
"All right," she said as she moved to the showers. After ten minute she was towling herself dry and walked back in the main room.
"Stone?" she asked softly. "Is it all right if I ask you something?"
She coughed, certain he could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"Go ahead, Nega." He nodded keeping his voice soft, not wanting to disturbed the sleeping teenager in the other bed. He opened his gray eyes to glance at her before closing them again. "Ask me anything you want."
Nega smiled lightly, his response seeming so typical. She didn’t think she needed to ask if there had been other women before her. His first, and she found herself wondering if the result if this relationship’s results would be the same as her first.
Well, either way, she was going make this as special for Sleet as she could. Everyone deserved fireworks for their first time, as she had learned herself at his age.
She approached him and gave him a kiss, but the second he began to lean into it, she pulled away and place a finger to his lips.
“Stay right here,†she ordered, her voice husky. She backed away from him and started to undress, not slow enough to make it a strip tease, but not quickly enough where it was just casual either. Her vest and the holsters for both her pistol and knife fell to the ground, followed by her boots being kicked off. Her long sleeve shirt slipped over her head, and after that she began to slip her pants over her hips, letting the cargos pool down around her ankles.
She swore she heard him swallow a lump in his throat at the sight of her, even though her sports bra, underwear and socks were still in place.
“What’s the matter Sleet?†she asked innocently. “You looked a little flushed.â€ÂÂ
She stretched her arms over her head and reached back to undo her ponytail. The action caused her to arch her back and thrust out her chest slightly, and judging from the sounds of him whimpering, it was more than appreciated.
“Hmm, well if you aren’t feeling well, maybe I should just stop,†she said with a little defeated sigh. She went over to him and sat down in his lap, her knees squeezing his hips and arms resting gently around his neck. “You want me to stop Sleet?â€ÂÂ
All my life I've looked for something better. Maybe when I lose hope I'll settle for you.