The Big Mistake - Loonatics Unleashed Online message boards

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

RE: The Big Mistake

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

...Well, here's a teaser for the next chapter!

--

“The Under-tow! That was it!” Lexi called, she had a look of horror on her face that alerted the others to the severity of what was happening.

Ace shook is head “Oh Duck; you’ve really done it now.”

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

Ooooh. Duck's in trouble. GET THAT CHAPTER UP!

Sorry. I'm a bit excited because my dad's taking me to Wet'n'Wild and my birthdays in 12 days my time so, I'm not gonna be on much today. Hope you understand.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Ok, I'm soooooooooo sorry I've taken so long to update!

I've been a little sick over the past couple of days, despite the fact that slowly, but surely, it is warming up here! Yey!

Also, school's been a drag and for some reason I've been feeling oddly sad lately

But I am here with a new chapter!

So much for my 'stay ahead of everyone and write chapters in advance to avoid delay' thing, didn't work. But I shall try harder to ensure that I actually rememer to update.

Sorry about that...

But, Hopefully you will forgive me for delaying because of the above reasons. If not, I can only say that I'm sorry.

And without further ado, Here is:

Camping Trip, Part 1
(BTW, This is very dramatic towards the end, but I was bored XD)

After a long day of catching buses and ferries, the Loonatics finally arrived at the reserve. Rev had already run off to find the best spot, a clearing in the forest, next to the river-bank, of a river that had been flowing for hundreds of years that was fed by a massive Lake on the edge of the reserve.

The sun was setting, making the sky turn beautiful shades of fiery reds and oranges, and near the top of the sky, dark and light purples, that faded out into small strips of Darkness. The stars had already started to become visible higher-up in the sky, but near to the light and fiery colours along the horizon, only birds, aircraft and dissipating clouds were visible.

“Wow, the sky looks amazing!” Lexi commented. “I’ve only seen sun-sets like this back home!”

“Huh, you must’ve lived a long way from Acmetropolis then.” Duck sarcastically answered. He walked past carrying his heavy bag from earlier, as well as the tent he was now trying to figure out how to build.

“Hmm.” Lexi grumbled.

“And don’t worry Lexi; I’m sure I can help you with your tent, of course only when I’m done making mine!” Duck sneered, only for his demeaning remark to be forgotten when one of the support sticks for his tent bent and whacked him in the face. “Oww.” He grumbled.

“Oh, don’t worry about that Duck” Lexi smiled. “I’ve done my tent!” She finished cheerfully. Duck turned around, stunned that she would’ve been able to make up her tent faster than the rest of the team.

“Wha…how…how did you do that?” Duck stammered.

“Utah, Duck. I went camping a lot. My dad taught me and my siblings how to make up tents when we were still learning to talk.”

Duck looked puzzled “You grew up with pigs?”

“WHAT!”

“I’m sure a sibling is the name for a baby pig?” Duck scratched his head, trying to remember, oblivious to Lexi, who was fuming over what he just said.

Ace and the rest of the team, minus Duck and Lexi, noticing the confrontation decided to intervene.

“Don’t listen to him Lex.” Ace said softly. He put his hands on Lexi’s shoulders to try and calm her.

Lexi sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Duck?” Tech asked, expecting an apology from the water-fowl.

“Yeah, yeah I’m sorry. Now can someone please tell me what a baby pig is called, I seriously can’t remember?” Duck changed the subject quickly, mush to the dislike of the rest of the team.

“They’re called piglets Duck. And forget it.” Lexi said tiredly “I think I’m a bit stressed out at the moment.”

“That time of the month again, huh Lex?” Duck chuckled.

Lexi tensed up, angry. She turned around quickly, raising a fist. “Are you trying to get yourself hurt today Duck?” She fumed. Ace put his arm around her waist to prevent her from doing anything unnecessary.

“Hey, hey, hey Lex.” Ace said, trying to divert the conversation. “Why don’t you and I go for a walk?”

Lexi turned to look at him and sighed. “Yeah, good idea.” She and Ace turned away from the rest of the group and headed out into the forest together.

--

“Lex, are you okay?” Ace asked after a while of them walking together. He had his arm around her, the sun was still setting so their path way was easily visible, their shadows streaming out in front of them as they walked together.

“Hmm? Oh yeah, right…I’m fine.”

Ace stopped and stood in front of Lexi, he put his hands, this time, on her hips, and pulled her towards him. “You sure, you know you can tell me anything.”

“I know.” Lexi sighed; she turned her head away from Ace, and let her shoulders droop. “Like I told Duck, I’m just…a bit stressed.” She finished, her voice was sterner this time.

Ace hesitated for a moment, before pressing his lips to hers. He broke away after a while and combed some of her hair out of her eye with his fingers. “Was Duck right, with what he said?” Ace asked his voice barely above a whisper as he pulled Lexi closer to him.

“…Yeah. He was.” Lexi sighed.

“Hey.” Ace said softly. “We understand, you don’t have to hide it, or be embarrassed by it.” He moved some stray hairs away from her eye again.

“I know, I shouldn’t be embarrassed by it, but I am. Especially because it’s associated with…well…you know…”

Ace looked slightly confused for a moment. “What do you mean Lex?”

Lexi sighed uncomfortably “You know, Aunt Flow…that time of the month…”

“Oh,” Ace understood. “You mean your…”

“…Yeah, it’s due in a couple of days, and hopefully won’t come while we’re out in the middle of no-where.”

Ace put on a guilty smile. “And we guys think we have a hard life.”

Lexi smiled. “I always tell you guys that, but noooooo” she chuckled a bit “It’s good to know at least you listen to me.”

Ace smiled too, before, again, pressing his lips to hers.

Once he pulled away the two looked up to the sky. “Come on.” Ace said quietly, he took Lexi’s hand and they walked together until they found a small clearing of trees, following it they found themselves on a ledge, made from an outstretched rock. The water from the river was a few metres below them, and they could see where it flowed into the truly magnificent site, of the sun-lit lake.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.” Lexi smiled. The two sat down on the edge of the rock for a few moments.

“Maybe we should head back now.” Ace suggested. “We could grab some fire-wood, I mean…well it is Rev’s birthday, we shouldn’t miss it.”

“Yeah.”

Lexi and Ace stood up, and began to head-back the way they had come, picking up fire-wood on the way. Soon the two came to a ‘Fork-path’ where two dirt paths lead off in two different directions, divided by a thick row of trees.

“Hey, er Lex?” Ace asked, a bit worried.

“Hmm?”

“Which way did we come?”

Lexi smiled. She had grown up in the country, the out-back to be more accurate. “Ace, don’t worry, I know a few tricks that my dad taught me back-home.” She pointed to a ‘path’ of broken and snapped twigs lying on the ground. “That’s most-likely where we came from; besides, the trail runs parallel to the river.” Her finger followed the route the river took. “We were camped near the river-bank, and that path.” She said, pointing to the other path. “Leads away from the river’s edge. We need to go this way.” And she started to take the path to the right of were they were standing. “Also Ace,” She said, looking back at Ace, who was seemingly impressed by her ‘woodland’ expertise “The sun sets in the west, which is over the lake where we just were, so we need to go exactly the opposite way, and go east.”

Ace smiled and walked over to her. “I never really thought of you as someone who would grow up…”

“…Smack bang in the middle of no-where?” Lexi finished. She smiled “Not many people really do. One of my brothers and I moved to Acmetropolis when I wanted to go to college here, when the meteor hit, I was in college trying out for the…”

“…Cheerleading team.” Ace finished. “Why’d one of your brothers come with you?”

“Because my dad is insanely over protective of me, my sisters and my mum, so he wanted someone to stay with me incase something bad happened. It was…kinda ironic that the meteor hit.”

“Yeah, I remember you telling us about that when we first met, well…actually, a few weeks after we first met. Which reminds me, why were you so quiet when we first met. You hardly ever talked or even associated with us?”

Lexi’s smile vanished, and she looked to the floor with a slightly hurt expression on her face. “It doesn’t matter Ace.”

Ace noticed her sad tone of voice and was concerned “Lexi I…”

“I said drop it okay!” The two stared at each-there for a moment, both surprised by Lexi’s outburst. “Come, on Ace. We should get back.”

“Yeah, we should. Look Lex, I’m sorry.” Ace said quietly once he had caught up with her.

“Forget about it Ace, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just shouted like that.”

“Nah, Let’s just say we’re both sorry, and call it truce.” Ace smiled. Lexi returned the gesture, and the two spent the rest of their walk in silence, unsure of what to say.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

When the two did reach the camp they found that the rest of the team had sorted out their tents, they had already built a fire and they were already cooking their dinner for the night.

Only half of the sun was visible as it disappeared over the horizon but the warm air that was still rising from the ground made the air warm and comfortable.

“Well I might put my bags in my tent before something ruins it.” Lexi said as she walked over to her two bags, Ace following behind. He stopped her when she started to pick up the bag that had hurt her earlier and suggested that he put it inside for her. “Thanks Ace. Wait…I think I need to sort out my sleeping bag first.” She said, looking at the uncomfortable floor of her tent. “It’s in that bag, so it might lighten the load enough for me to carry it inside.”

“Ok Lex,” Ace still looked concerned. “Just don’t try to lift it if you can’t manage it, one of us’ll help you. I’ll be at my tent if you need me.” He finished more happily, as he left Lexi to make up her sleeping bag as he went to do his own.

Some few minutes went by before Lexi joined the others at the centre of their camping spot, there were two logs around the fire, with Slam bringing in another one so there were enough for all to sit, with plenty of room.

Rev smiled when he saw Lexi approach. “Hey-Lexi,-you-okay-now-we-talked-to-Duck-about-what-he-said.” Rev and Tech both glared at Duck, who sat slumped over one of the logs, he jumped when the log Slam had been carrying was dropped in its place and a large bang sounded throughout the area.

“Yeah, thanks Rev.” She smiled at both Rev and Tech, knowing they were the ones who dealt with Duck while she and Ace were out. “I’m fine…well was.”

The two looked at her, concerned over why she said she wasn’t okay anymore.

“I was wondering if one of you could help me with my bag...” She grinned sheepishly at the two. “It’s too heavy for me to lift, despite the fact that my sleeping bag’s out of it. Ace said I should ask either him or one of you guys for help, rather than ‘strain’ my self.” She looked slightly sour, but smiled nonetheless when Tech said he would help, while Rev continued cooking.

The two walked the few paces to Lexi’s tent without talking, only the crunches of gravel and sticks under their feet making any noises.

Tech picked up Lexi’s bag and went into her tent slightly, but looked back so she would follow. “Where do you want it?”

“I don’t mind, just somewhere in the corner maybe?” She said, pointing to a corner in her tent that her sleeping bag hadn’t taken up.

“Okay” Tech said cheerfully, he carefully stepped inside her tent, so as to not mess anything up, or get her sleeping bag muddy. He put it exactly where she had pointed before turning back to her. “Is that okay?”

“Perfect.” Lexi smiled. Politely, she waited for Tech to leave before walking back with him to the camp-fire, where Ace, Duck and Slam were now sitting. Duck and Slam were sitting at the same log, Ace was on one side of the one closest to the tents, and there was a vacant log facing away from the river that Tech now sat on.

The logs and fire were a good few metres away from the edge of the river bank, but it was still easy to see the river and the lake that glistened in the light of the setting sun, to the West of the Loonatics.

Lexi took a seat next to Ace, knowing that soon it may get colder; also knowing this Ace put his arm around her as everyone waited for Rev so finish cooking. The crackling of the fire and fire-wood, and the noise of Rev’s feat when he moved was the only sound that came from the small circle of friends.

Moments later, Rev sat down on the other side of the log to Tech. He turned to look at the others, who eyed him expectantly. “What!-The-food’s-gotta-cool-down,-unless-you’d-prefer-to-burn-your-selves.”

“Dhjf sfosififs fidosiisk!”

“Good idea Slam, Frisbee’ll be fun. I’ll serve!” Duck said, running off to get the flying disc from his tent.

The rest of the team, minus Slam and Rev who were excited to play a game of Frisbee, rolled their eyes and got up, spreading themselves around the area, ready to catch the disc when Duck threw it.

Once Duck had returned, Frisbee in hand he positioned himself in a free spot- near one of the logs surrounding the fire. “Everyone ready?” He called

“Yep.”

Duck threw it, and he game began, everyone trying to grab it when it was thrown to them, before it hit the ground.

“Duck!” Slam called, as he threw the disc to the waterfowl. He was near to the edge of the riverbank, all knowing fully that there was a few metres to drop before anything would actually hit the water.

“Duck! Be careful!” Lexi called as Duck jumped to reach the Frisbee, Rev quickly running and grabbing his shirt before he could fall off the edge.

“Awww man Slam! You threw it off the edge, I got that Frisbee back at the orphanage, and I am not going to lose it at some hippy’s camp.” Duck called, he carefully climbed down the river bank, it sloped slightly but there were plenty of roots for him to hang on to in order to stay against the bank, No-one in the team was sure if the river had a current, and Duck especially didn’t want to find out.

“Can anyone see it?” He called once he reached the bottom of the bank. There was about a meter of dirt edging to the bottom of the bank before it met up with the river, So Duck was able to stand at the bottom and safely call up to his friends at the top of the bank.

“No.” Ace called back. “Duck just be careful, if you fall in I don’t want to be the one to pull you out.”

“Yeah yeah, careful shmareful” Duck mumbled as he scanned the top of the river. “I found it!” He called out triumphantly. “At the centre of the river, with half of it submerged, was Duck’s Red and Yellow swirled Frisbee.

“Wait Duck!” Lexi called out in alarm as Duck was about to wade into the water. All eyes focused on Lexi, as she looked like she was trying to remember the cause of her alarm. “I think that’s a bad idea.” She continued to mumble something as she tried to remember why she was distressed. “My Dad…he…said something about not going into rivers unless you’re sure about them….but I can’t remember why?”

“Don’t worry Lex, we already talked about the whole current thing, but if the Frisbee’s not moving then there’s nothing to worry about, besides, I used to be a life-guard, they teach you about swimming in harsh conditions, I’m a very strong swimmer.” Duck said carelessly, he flexed his muscles as he stuck his foot in the water, but was interrupted, yet again.

“Correction Duck.” Tech smiled. “You were going to be a lifeguard, but I recall you mentioning something about being a pool-boy.” He raised an eyebrow and the team giggled. Duck scowled and looked as if he was going to dive in this time.

“No.” Lexi called again, she looked unconvinced at what Duck had just said. “Seriously Duck, it’s dangerous in there. You’ve got no idea what could be under that water.”

Duck rolled his eyes. “I didn’t see you worrying about that when you jumped in the bay to save Ace yesterday, missy.”

Everyone turned to look at Lexi, who had gone slightly red in the face. She looked taken aback, but rolled her eyes. “What! I did that to save his life, not a Frisbee.”

“Same difference!” Duck called. “You dived into cold, dirty, murky bay water for Ace. What’s wrong with me walking into warm clear, calm water for my Frisbee?”

Lexi sighed. She couldn’t beat him there. Duck, seeing his opportunity, waded out into the water carefully. “Hey, this water’s quite warm, you see Lexi…nothing to worry about!” He called, the water slowly rising around his body.

Ace looked nervous, and turned his head to Rev and Tech. “There were no warnings or rules about this water was there”

Rev shook his head rapidly. “Nope-actually-you’re-allowed-to-go-swimming-in-the-lake-but-technically-it-didn’t-say-that-about-the-river.”

Ace looked wary, but this time turned to his left where Lexi was standing, she had her arms crossed and was watching Duck, clearly still trying to remember something. “You okay Lex” Ace asked.

Lexi turned to look at him. “Yeah, yeah…I’m just trying to remember what was so dangerous about ri…”

Lexi was interrupted by a scream that brought the attention to Duck. “Aghh! Help…something’s got me, I can’t swim…dragging me under!” Duck screamed, but he kept having to spit out water that was collecting in his mouth from being dragged under.

“The Under-tow! That was it!” Lexi called, she had a look of horror on her face that alerted the others to the severity of what was happening.

Ace shook his head and turned back to the thrashing and wailing Duck, in the river below them. “Oh Duck; you’ve really done it now.”

Alex Bunny · Anthros

nice chappies i like them can't wait for the next ones

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Thanks Alex!

And man, you're a fast reader!

Alex Bunny · Anthros

i know i always have been and ur welcome

Date: Fri Jan 30 17:14:59 2009

Hey.

Nice job with the chapter.

By the way, I AM a member of this site.

I just logged off and didn't realize it till now.

Any new sneak peaks we should know about?

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

Nice work!

hum... Lexi coming from the country sound mighty familiar to me... evileye

Again great work. Aunt Flow XD. My friend Jame like's to use that one all the time, and not only for when she gets a date from Flow.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

LOL

Yeah, The whole Aunt Flow thing is a good diversion....except when a guy asks you who you're talking about. My two friends were in giggling fits and I was just standing there like "Never mind..." Twas funny but embarrassing too.

Thanks for reveiwing guys!

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Here's a teaser for the next chapter!

Rev got up and hugged her, taking both Lexi and Ace by surprise. Ace didn’t mind though, it was a friendly hug, ‘why would Rev of all people steal my girlfriend.’ Ace thought to himself. But he couldn’t help but feel slight anger that the so called friendly hug lasted longer than it should have.

Rev eventually let go of the female and smiled sheepishly at Ace, who looked slightly confused, but had a slight hint of anger in his sharp blue eyes.

“Awkward.” Duck chimed in, he smirked at Ace.

“Be quiet.”

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 15:36, 2009-02-03

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

XD

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

I'm surprised Ace didn't give Rev a black eye. This'll be interesting. *shifts eyebrows*

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Ok, first of all...

Thanks to everyone who reveiwed!!!!!!!!!

The next chapter is here!

*NOTE: There are some parts that readers may find too dramatic and pointless, but I was bored
Secondly, there are references to Bands and their songs.

'Bleed It Out' and 'Leave Out All The Rest' are songs written and performed by Linkin Park. (One of my favourite bands of all time!) And is not part of my imagination in any way.

Linkin Park is an internationally renowned band, so anyone who is interested in listneing to the mentioned songs should check out their website at www.linkinpark.com or can listen to the songs at www.youtube.com

Simple Plan is a band too, and what I imagine to be the sort of band that Rev likes. No songs are mentioned in the FanFic, but are easily accesible via www.youtube.com or any other music websites that you know of XD

I think that might be it for notes, and if so then here is:

Chapter 14- Camping Trip (Part 2)

Ace looked around, desperate to try and find something to help Duck; a rope, a long branch, anything that would be strong enough to pull him in, without risking everyone else’s safety. Looking round he came to the conclusion that they would have to go in, if they were to save their friend.

“Lexi, stay here. The rest of us” Ace turned to the rest of the team. “We need to go and help Duck!” Rev, Tech and Slam immediately ran down the edge of the bank. Ace went to follow but was stopped when Lexi grabbed his arm.

“Ace, Wha…why…what am I supposed to do, why do I have to stay here?” She pleaded, small tears forming in her eyes.

“Lex…” He could see Lexi was clearly upset, but the pleads and calls of Duck were what made him make his decision. He roughly pulled his arm away from Lexi, and turned to join the rest of the team. He looked back once from the bottom of the bank, and mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ back to her.

Lexi accepted his apology, inside, she knew Duck’s life was a stake, and arguing with Ace was just going to leave one person short of helping him. Instead of standing there and watching like a helpless damsel, Lexi decided to do something neither Ace or the others had time to do - Find something to pull him in, or them in if need be. But, Lexi became slightly nervous over the possibilities of her being the only one who could pull the five of them back to land. Would she be able to? Or would she fail them and accidentally cause their deaths? She shivered and decided to focus on finding something to pull them ashore with instead.

--

Down on the river bank; Rev, Tech, Slam and Ace had all taken off their shoes at Ace’s command; ‘if they fill up with water, we’ll drown’ he reminded them. Now they had decided to do the wisest thing, Put Slam, the strongest out first to try and retrieve Duck, if he couldn’t do it on his own; Rev, Tech and Ace would have to give assistance.

Slam carefully waded out into the water, well aware that if he was left in the same situation as Duck, he would too have to be pulled free, something that the rest of the team could struggle with. Being the tallest, Slam had an advantage over Duck, the shortest, Slam would be able to easily stand in the water, without needing to swim and fight the under-tow to stay alive, and Duck could easily sit on his shoulders, or even be thrown across to the edge, until help arrived. With this in mind, Slam wasn’t too worried.

--

Back with Lexi, She had ventured out into the forest, being sure to remember her bearings, in search of a stick long enough to pull them free, but it also had to be light enough for her to carry it alone, and strong enough to support the weight of her friends, and the river’s undertow. In a forest abundant with branches, it seemed easy enough, but the lack of water in the forest also meant the branches were too brittle and would crack and break easily. Finding a damp and sturdy branch, plus all the factors she had already considered, made her job a very difficult one to uphold.

In her desperation to not fail her team, Lexi fell several times during her search, but being as determined and strong-willed as she was, the safety of her team-mates came first.

Whenever she tripped, she got up, checked what she had fallen over wasn’t something detrimental to her health, or a Long Branch she needed, and continued on. Several times she came into contact with snakes that either came out at night to hunt, or were returning to their dens now that the heat of the day was decreasing. She had never been too afraid of snakes, much to the dislike of her ‘prankster’ older brothers, having grown up in an area where they were common, she knew not to approach them from behind in fear of provoking an attack, and she knew how to handle them if need be.

Another trick she had learnt from her over-protective father for situations similar to what she was in now, was; when finding sticks like the ones she needed, to test how strong they were, could be done by holding it straight over her leg and kicking it. If it broke, it was too weak, if it stayed intact but was slightly weaker than before, it was damaged, but if it stayed sturdy, it was the type she needed.

Becoming exhausted of endless branch searching, and testing she began to reconsider her ‘branch-factors’ and wondered if she was being too picky, and wasting precious time. She shook away those thoughts, and remembered to not become impatient, a trait she had inherited from her mother.

Growing ever-more tired of running, she lost awareness and tumbled painfully over-exactly the kind of branch she needed. Testing it, several times before actually believing it was real and perfect, she sighed in triumph, and then turned around, adrenaline driving her forwards, back to the river where she needed to be.

--

Slam grabbed Duck’s wrist and pulled him out of the river easily, without a second thought for his own safety he took both of his hands, and placed the sodden Duck on his shoulder.

Turning slowly, Slam found his foot entangled in some form of weed at the bottom of the river. Glancing down into the murky water and then back at the riverbank where his friends were calling him, he sighed, and tried to signal that he was stuck.

“What the heck’s he stopped for?” Ace wandered out-loud.

“I’m not sure chief, but let’s just give him time; he’s probably just regaining his balance or something.” Tech scratched his head in confusion.

“Wait-maybe-he’s-caught-on-something? Rev suggested, grimly.

Ace and Tech turned there heads and gave Rev a confused look. “Hey-it’s-possible!” Rev reminded them. The two then turned back to Slam and Duck and considered what he said.

“…Maybe.” Tech said.

“Maybe, you’re right Rev.” Ace shouted, “Slam!”

Slam looked back at the bunny, frantically he tried to remember what he had convinced himself earlier, about him being able to stay above the water, but he couldn’t shake the sinking feeling he felt of just being caught in the midst of a river, helpless, with a Duck on his shoulder- only that thought just humiliated him slightly.

“Dgdghd klfksdjk?” He called back.

“Don’t worry Slam, we’ll think of something, just hang in there.” Ace turned back to Rev and Tech, “Anyone got any ideas?”

Both shook their heads. “Great” Ace thought.

--

Lexi ran, finding the large branch she was pulling surprisingly easy to carry and run with, she reached the clearing that they were camped at, faster than she expected she would. Dodging the camp-fire which was still alight, she ran to the edge of the bank, and looked over the edge. To her relief, she could see everyone, safe…pretty much, but none of them were submerged, that being her main concern.

“Hey Guys!” She called down to Ace, Tech and Rev, who looked up to her in surprise, “Need a hand?” They nodded, and she threw the large branch down to them, before clambering down the slope herself and joining the three.

“Nice timing Lex” Ace commented. “We were just about out of ideas.”

Lexi looked down at their shoeless feet. “What, you were making a vain attempt to use your shoes as boats and sail across?” She smiled. The others chuckled.

They pushed the branch out to Slam, who grabbed it with one hand, whilst using the other to keep hold of Duck in fear of him falling and being lost, on the other end, Ace, Tech and Rev, with Lexi bringing up the rear, pulled the two heroes to the edge, groaning and grumbling as they did so.

When the two had been successfully brought to shore; the team let out a sigh of relief, and embraced their two soaked friends.

“You know…” Lexi started as she pulled away from the group hug. “I got that branch incase all of you had gone in, you know in case Duck was unconscious or something.”

“Why just incase he was unconscious?” Tech asked, as they walked back up the slope to the camp-fire.

“Because, it helps if the member of the team who can TELAPORT is conscious and is able to do it.” She smiled, while the rest of the team looked at her, awe-struck, before turning angrily to Duck.

“And you planned on teleporting yourself and Slam outta there when?” Ace asked.

“Well, “Duck started shakily “In my defence…It was…cold?”

“But I recall you mentioning that the water was ‘actually quite nice’” Lexi quoted, she smiled when Duck received angry glares from the rest of the team. Perhaps it was her revenge for what he had done to her throughout the evening?

“Damn you woman!” Duck mumbled as he sat down on the same log as earlier. Rev began to heat up their now cold food while the rest of the team, took up their seats from earlier, Except Ace and Lexi, who had walked off together to talk.

--

“Look Lexi, I just wanted to apologise.” Ace said quietly. They were in Lexi’s tent; she was changing into a pair of jeans for the evening, having become quite cold now that the sun had set.

“Apologise for what?” Lexi asked as she pulled off her shorts, and got her jeans out of her bag.

“…For, leaving you here…while we went to help the genius that is Duck.” Ace said, sarcastically adding the last part in.

“Hey, you had Duck to think about. I understand.” Lexi answered. She stopped what she was doing to let Ace continue, he was being serious so Lexi though she shouldn’t be getting herself distracted, she sat cross legged on her sleeping bag with Ace opposite her.

“To be honest Lex” Ace started, he scratched the back of his neck in an embarrassed manner “I wasn’t thinking of the danger that could have come to Duck, at the time.”

Lexi looked confused, and set her jeans down, waiting to for Ace to continue. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t want anything bad to happen to you if we had to go out and grab Duck and got stuck ourselves. Lex, I wouldn’t want you to be killed because of someone else’s carelessness or my…lack of good leadership skills.”

“What! What do you mean ‘Lack of good leadership skills’?” She looked down sorrowfully, and brushed some dirt off of her leg.

“I mean…what If I had told you to come with me to pull Duck out, and been completely unaware of the danger we would put ourselves in.”

“Yeah but, you wouldn’t do that.” Lexi replied softly.

Ace sighed. “I also did it because I knew if we did have to swim out, I knew you’re not the strongest in the team, and I didn’t want to see you suffer, or even drown if you couldn’t swim against the pull of the river.” Ace too looked down ashamed of what he was next going to say. “I…also didn’t want you to drown and have me go after you and make it seem like I didn’t care about Duck… as much as I did with you.”

Ace didn’t hear an answer for a while. He didn’t want to look at Lexi, and see what she though of what he said. So he waited, and let her consider what he had said. Eventually he realised how much he needed her, not so much as to know she was alive, but he just needed her. Before he had told her how he felt, he would either bottle up his problems, or talk to Tech about them, but eventually he stopped, realising Tech probably didn’t need to, or want to hear his problems, and it wasn’t a very manly thing to do either.

But after he had confessed to her that he loved her, and they had kissed, hugged, and…spent a night together, he realised how much he wanted, needed and loved her. He could tell her anything, she wouldn’t think of him as a coward, because she would be able to easily able to understand the stress and emotional struggles people faced through life, considering she got stressed and emotional quite often. If he comforted her when she needed it, why wouldn’t she return the favour? But of course he knew she would, she always had time to listen to the team about their problems, provide solutions and sympathy for them, without making them feel pathetic, or ratting them out.

So after what felt like an eternity of him waiting for an answer, all he heard was a small “Come here.” For him to realise just how much she really did mean to him. How much emotional pain he was in at the time really did show, as he accidentally pushed her down with the force at which he embraced her, not enough to hurt her obviously, but enough to make her giggle slightly.

Normally, he would’ve immediately got off her and checked to see if she was okay and, very humiliated, he would’ve left. But now, considering how close they were, he didn’t really care, and he knew she didn’t either, he thought is was quite nice, just the two for them together, but of course the rest of the team were outside and didn’t know some of the more graphic details of their relationship.

Lexi laughed from underneath him, and kicked her legs slightly. Their noses were touching and they were both smiling, Ace still had his arms around her, like he wouldn’t let go.

Lexi giggled. “What are you trying to do Ace, eat me?”

Ace smiled, “Maybe.” He pressed his lips to her neck for a while, before travelling upwards to her lips. When it was at the point that they both needed air he pulled away and smiled at her.

Lexi took in a breath of air, before again; Ace pressed his lips to hers. After counting up in her head for a while, she tried to pull away, but being underneath like she was, she couldn’t. Eventually she managed to make Ace pull away by poking him in the side.

Ace leant up and looked down at Lexi, his eyes wandered over her for a while, until he noticed some dust and a small bruise on her knee. Concerned, he blew some of the dust away and grazed his fingers over the small bluish bruise, he could feel that it was raised; obviously it must have swollen slightly. “Lex, what happened? I didn’t see this here earlier?”

Lexi, who had been watching Ace with some confusion, sat up, and answered, “Oh, so you were looking then?” She smirked.

“Well, yeah…” Ace smiled. “But really, I didn’t notice that before, when did you get that?”

Lexi moved his hand away from on top of her knee, and inspected the bruise herself, “I guess it must’ve been from when I was trying to find a branch? I fell over…a lot…” She blushed as she stared guiltily at Ace.

Ace smiled and shook his head slightly, “Lexi, what am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?” Lexi smiled.

“Nah, I’ll just do this instead.” In an instance he had planted a kiss on her knee, where the bruise was and playfully pushed her down and began to kiss her more passionately, on the lips.

“Ace, I…think we should stop. The others are outside…and it is Rev’s birthday…we don’t want them to get suspicious.” She whispered.

“Yeah, good Idea.” Ace replied. He got up and held out a hand for her.

“Thanks.” She smiled. “Maybe we should leave…separately, you know, so it doesn’t look so suspicious.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you out there then.” Ace said. Getting up and leaving quietly.

Lexi hesitated for a moment, before putting her jeans on. Like she had told Ace, she waited for a few minutes, before gabbing her iPod and head-phones and heading outside.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

The rest of the team were waiting, for her, which made her feel slightly guilty, but reluctantly she sat down next to Ace, and was given her plate of food.

No-one really talked much during the time they spent eating, until they had finished. Lexi volunteered to collect up the plates and put them in a bag, they were only paper, and so were disposable. Once she had knotted up the bag and put it in the back-pack containing their food- and now, garbage, she sat back down in her place, and prayed for a conversation to start, to set at ease the uncomfortable silence they found themselves in.

“So, er…why don’t we all give Rev his…” Ace started, slightly scared to mention the last word. “…Presents” He whispered; only everyone heard, and before Rev could even start to rant, everyone had run off to retrieve their present for Rev.

“Thanks…guys…I…can’t…wait!” Rev said, rather slowly, trying to control his excitement, after the team had sat down, Duck handed Rev his present and sat silently as Rev inspected the surprisingly neat wrapping. He carefully opened the envelope that concealed both his card and his present. Rev opened the card first and read the note out aloud;

Dear Rev

Happy Birthday, enjoy your present; have a great day

and… Blah blah blah…oh yeah. DON’T TALK!

From your Friend,

Danger Duck

Rev looked up at Duck and gave a guilty smile. “Well, er…thanks?” he looked to the rest of the group who were glaring at Duck. “Well the grammar is good?” He smiled, honestly this time. It was typical for Rev- he could never stay mad at anyone, except villains, he was always doing his best to keep everyone smiling and turning negative situations into positive ones. It was admirable, everyone needs someone like Rev, and the team were glad that they had him to cheer them up whenever they were feeling down. It was almost like a rotor that Lexi and Rev shared between them- Lexi was the one who listened to their problems and was honest about the answers and never told anyone about them, unless the person wanted her to. While Rev was the one who cheered them up afterwards.

Lexi broke away from her glare at Duck and smiled at Rev. There were many times where she had broken down because of reasons she couldn’t really explain to the group of males. It made her uncomfortable to cry in front of them, or just be around them when she was hormonal- it made her more agitated and annoyed at things she would usually be able to shrug off, and after bottling things up and having to sit in her room for an hour or so, hidden away from the rest of the team, so she could cry in peace with her music up so they wouldn’t be able to hear her sobs.

It was nice, even though it was sometimes annoying, when Rev would knock on her door and ask her what was wrong. When Ace would, she would usually send him away or tell him she was fine, but she felt she could open up more with Rev, he was the one who was closest to her own age and his happy go lucky attitude made it so much easier for her to cheer up than she thought it would with anyone else.

‘Well won’t that probably change’ she thought to herself, as she thought of how now she’d probably be able to talk to Ace more about her problems and have him to comfort her and cheer her up, rather than Rev. It made her feel slightly sad that she wouldn’t have that connection with Rev anymore, but at least Ace would be there to understand and help her. Ace was good with words, so he would be able to explain things to the rest of the team, even though Tech probably already knew and understood, but the others in the team wouldn’t.

She frowned slightly at the thought of change but soon revived her smile at Rev as he took the other smaller envelope out of the original one.

Duck smiled smugly when Rev’s eyes widened in delight after seeing his present from the water-fowl. It was clear Rev was excited, even had he not jumped several feet into the air from his seated position on the log.

“What is it Rev?” Tech asked after he put a hand on Rev’s shoulder to calm him down.

“Four Tickets to the Basher ball game on Saturday night!”

“dgjs fnskfjs jfkfl?”

“Oh…” Rev looked slightly disappointed. “You’re right Slam, there are only four…”

“No sweat Rev.” Ace smiled as he put his arm around Lexi and continued, “The four of you can go, Lexi and I’ll stay home and…watch a movie or something.”

“Yeah good idea Ace.” Lexi smiled. “I’m not really a Basher Ball fan anyway.”

“Yeah, but Ace is…” Rev rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Nah, I don’t mind Rev. It’s your Birthday present, besides, I’ve got Lexi” Ace smiled along with the rest of the team, whilst Lexi just smiled and rolled her eyes before handing Rev his present from her.

“Happy Birthday Rev.” She smiled, Rev returned the gesture as he took the card out of the envelope. He beamed when he saw the picture on the front of the card, Lexi must’ve had it personalised, as it showed a picture of the team together having fun. He showed it to the rest of the group before he opened the card, and again read the card out loud.

Dear Rev,

Happy Birthday, and Have a great day.

And I hope you like the present!

Love,

Lexi

Rev smiled, and looked in the Gift Bag. He pulled out some tissue paper, which concealed the present, he gasped in delight. “Yey, you got me Simple Plan live in concert! Thank you so much Lexi, and we can watch it together some time!” Rev got up and hugged her, taking both Lexi and Ace by surprise. Ace didn’t mind though, it was a friendly hug, ‘why would Rev of all people steal my girlfriend.’ Ace thought to himself. The thought comforted him, as he knew no-one in the team loved Lexi in the same way he did, they all loved each other, but more in a family way; rather than intimately. But he couldn’t help but feel slight anger that the so called friendly hug lasted longer than it should have.

Rev eventually let go of the female and smiled sheepishly at Ace, who looked slightly confused, but had a slight hint of anger in his sharp blue eyes.

“Awkward.” Duck chimed in, he smirked at Ace.

“Be quiet.” Ace responded, with some annoyance in his tone of voice.

“You know what I just realised?” Duck piped in after a slightly awkward pause between the team.

“What, that there’s actually a brain between you ears?” Lexi smirked.

“No! And there is a brain up here thank you.” Duck pointed at his head and then to her.

“Sure, just count again Duck there are two that exist in your body, just one is further down.” Lexi joked.

“Anyway…” Tech brought the two back to what was originally being said, “What was it that you realised?”

“I just realised that Lexi is now officially the youngest in the team.”

“Oh yeah!” Ace suddenly seemed to realise it too. “So you’re now the only nineteen year old in the group.”

“Aww, so you’re still only a teenager.” Duck jeered.

“Wait a second?” Tech started, considering what Ace had just said.

“Cfsvksk?” Slam asked.

“Doesn’t that mean you were only seventeen when you joined the team?”

“Wow, our team genius is also a math wiz.” Duck sighed sarcastically.

Lexi pondered something for a moment “Yeah, I guess. But what about Rev?”

“Nope, I had turned eighteen by the time we became the Loonatics.” Rev replied happily, as usual.

“Oh.”

--

The rest of the presents were handed to Rev with cards, each time the avian seemed to get more and happier. From Slam he received a coupon for a years worth of discounted Pizzas, from Ace he was given some skiing equipment, and Tech gave him a book on ‘Sciences’ with information on Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

“Awwwwwww,-thanks-guys-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so-sooooooooooooo-much!” Rev thanked the team gleefully. “I’m-so-happy-I-could-kiss-ya!”

The rest of the group looked at Rev with a mixture of horror and confusion.

“…Don’t-worry-I-won’t-especially-considering-most-of-you-are-guys-and-Lexi’s-going-out-with-Ace-and-I-really-don’t-wanna-get-on-the-bad-side-of-him!” Rev shook his head rapidly as he said this.

Ace smiled, “Yeah Rev you don’t, but I’m not all muscle you know.”

“I-know-Ace-but-still,-hey-what-were-you-guys-doing-when-you-went-into-Lexi’s-tent-earlier-before-dinner,-I-heard-giggling?” Rev asked, he sounded confused. The team turned to stare at their leader with Duck and Tech looking equally angry whilst Rev and Slam looked as though they had their suspicions, but were still confused.

“Umm, er…I” Ace looked around trying to think of something. He saw Lexi’s iPod resting on her lap. “We were just talking…about music.” He blurted. Lexi gave him a confused look but carried on anyway; knowing Ace wasn’t exactly the musical type like she was.

“…Yeah.” She started, fiddling with her headphone wires. “It turns out we both like…Linkin Park.” She smiled. “We were just waiting for dinner to cook and so we were listening to some stuff from their albums.” The rest of the team looked at her blankly. “Err, you know Linkin Park, internationally famous. Numb, What I’ve Done…Crawling? You guys ever heard of those?” She asked quietly.

The rest of the team shook their heads. Lexi sighed. “Why have you never heard of good music?” She smiled.

“Sooooooo, anyway back on planet normal…” Duck yawned, Lexi glared at him. “Why don’t we all get some shut-eye, I’m beat.”

“Yeah good idea Duck.” Ace started the rest of the team agreeing. Lexi and Ace remained seated as the rest of the team went to their tents, to turn in for the night.

“…So.” Lexi started. “…whose tent are we going to?”

“Oh, we’re sharing tonight?” Ace joked. He and Lexi got up before going to Lexi’s tent together.

“You’ve seriously never heard of Linkin Park?” Lexi asked Ace as they lay down together, she was still holding her iPod and looked as though she was searching through it; Ace noticed this and looked through her selection as she tried to find something.

“Geez Lex, You’ve got a lot of music on there.”

“I know.” Lexi smiled. “My family’s quite musically orientated, the town I grew up in, everyone learns some form of instrument, and we’re kind of…brought up listening to music, mainly country. But my sister and I grew into liking rock music too.”

“What instrument do you and your sister play?”

“I play, piano and acoustic guitar, my Mum and Dad both played those. And I started to learn a bit of flute too, before I went to college. My sister, she’s a composer, and she’s in a band, so she writes music and knows how to play a lot of different instruments, some of them are really weird ones. But she’s mainly focused on Guitar, Piano and singing.

“Cool” Ace seemed impressed. “What about the rest of your family, what do they do?”

“Well my sister Sam, Samantha obviously, the composer is my twin so we’re pretty close and…obviously the same age, except for the fact that I’m 4 minutes older than her!” She smiled. “My younger sister, Teresa, she’s only 11, she plays the Flute and the Violin. My older brothers, I’ve got four; umm…Spencer doesn’t play anything, Pete…plays some acoustic guitar, Mike-Michael, plays Drums and Mitchell plays acoustic guitar too.”

“So…what are their jobs?” Ace asked with curiosity.

“My Brothers are pilots, for the Navy, well, they will be, and they’re training right now, but they came back here after graduating at flight school and now do training for further air combat skills in some place, that my dad was an instructor at, near the town we live in.”

“But…Why doesn’t your dad work there now?”

“He didn’t want to have to be the one to teach his son’s about flying, the kind of line they work in, you can’t have too many distractions, and my dad didn’t want to go easy on them or have to be the one to tell them off. So he resigned, and now he’s a cop.”

“Cool, your family seems to have interestin’ jobs. What about your mum?”

Lexi chuckled. “Ironically, she used to be a gymnast, but she quit when she was pregnant with Spencer, and now she works in a small shop in the town, just part-time though.”

“Ah, so I see where you got some inspiration from then.” Ace smiled. “So, your families got; A composer, Fighter Pilots, a cop, an ex-gymnast, another ex-gymnast who is now a super-hero…” Ace poked Lexi in the side, earning a giggle out of her.

“…Yeah, a superhero daughter who lives with a bunch of guys my family doesn’t know, and therefore doesn’t trust, and that superhero daughter hardly ever calls cause she hasn’t got the time to, and is afraid of what they might say.” Lexi sighed. “Seriously, it’d be hell if they ever wanna meet you guys.”

Ace couldn’t think of anything to say to that, so he kept quiet, and played with Lexi’s hair, twisting and curling the golden locks through his fingers as it fell neatly over her face. Lexi closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his fingers through her hair; she hit play on her iPod, putting one earplug in her right ear, and another in Ace’s left ear.

“You wanna here some of Linkin Park’s stuff?” She asked, still with her eyes shut.

“Sure Lex.” Ace replied. He lay down and let Lexi rest her head on top of his chest, and they lay there for minutes, listening to a more peaceful, of Linkin Park’s songs. Liking the tune, as the song began to play, Ace pondered something. “What’s this called?”

“Leave out all the rest.” Lexi replied, still with her eyes shut. “I like to go to sleep listening to this song, it’s peaceful, and for some reason it reminds me of the starry skies I used to see back home, my Dad and I used to always come out onto the top floor of our house, it’s not really a roof, more of another floor that we used in summer for parties and barbeques. Or in me and Dad’s case, at night time we used to sit out in the chairs and watch the stars, with the canyons in the distance, and we’d talk about anything.”

Ace smiled. He had already explained his family life to the team. His Dad is a famous actor, who got cast a lot, so much that his Ace’s mother and Ace would constantly be moving to different places in the country or the world. When he needed to go to college, Ace went to live with his Uncle and Cousin in Acme-Florida, until he was able to get a job himself as a Stunt-double and he moved to Acmetropolis, but he rarely found the time to call his Uncle or his parents, who understood, they knew about his job and were happy for him.

Soon he found Lexi asleep, the song had already ended, and it started to go into a more upbeat song, the next track ‘Bleed It Out’. Ace took the earplugs out of both he and Lexi’s ear and settled down to sleep himself.

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 15:14, 2009-02-07

Alex Bunny · Anthros

yea new chappie i luv it,i can't wait for next chappie

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Thanks for reveiwing Alex!

lilypupu123 · Beast

Eek! I missed alot. But anywayz, it's awesome!

doggirl2772 · Out of This World

Oh Duck, why must you be so stubborn and humorous? XD Seriously, he is just... *laughs*
Duck: I don't know if I should be offended or proud by what you just said. O.o?

And aww, those are such cute moments between Ace and Lexi. *listens to Leave Out All The Rest* I love Linkin Park too. XD

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Yey!

Someone else who Likes LP!

There are loads of people here who do! It's Great!!!!!!

doggirl2772 · Out of This World

And THEY are great as well! XD

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

doggirl2772 wrote:

And THEY are great as well! XD

I know, I saw them Live at project Rev in England! (Road To Revolution)

They were amazing! and I was right near the front! XD

doggirl2772 · Out of This World

Lucky! I wish I could go to one of their concerts!

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

doggirl2772 wrote:

Lucky! I wish I could go to one of their concerts!

Yeha, they're amazing Live. It's so much fun!

My Dad and My sister got to see them twice, but my mum and I have only seen them once :(

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

Finlay finished reading the chapter! Great work!

Lexi has a big family out in the country? Again I sens some thing familiar evileye

(not that I mined)

Again great work, very sweet. aww

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Here's a Teaser for the Next Chapter!

--

Duck chuckled before putting an arm around Lexi. “Don’t worry Lex, you’ll learn to appreciate a guy when you’re married and have kids.”

Lexi rolled her eyes and lifted Duck’s arm off of her shoulder. “Yeah sure, like that’s ever gonna happen.”

Duck stopped outside his tent. “Nah, it might. You never know.” He winked at her before entering his tent, leaving Lexi stunned outside.

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

Me and Lexi: O.......K.

Alex Bunny · Anthros

ohhh can't wait..i would've repiled early but i wasn't home

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Yey!

I have the next chapter up, faster than I expected...hmm...oh well, but thats good! :)

Anyway, as I am currently suffering from an intense writers block, there may be a short delay with the posting of the upcoming chapter, in advance...I apologise if this happens....

And anyway...Onwards!

--

In the morning, Ace was awoken by the sound of birds, singing the morning chorus while the sun rose, waking them up. Ace smiled and stretched out, the birds making him feel freer, it was different, waking up, and smelling the fresh-air, hearing the songs of dozens of birds, instead of the whirring of generators he was used to back at HQ.

He felt strange though, he assumed it would still be cold in the morning, considering the sun was only just rising and it hadn’t had much of a chance to heat the earth, Ace smiled nonetheless when he realised that it was delightfully warm outside, But of course, he thought, some of this warmth would have had to be coming from the sleeping form of Lexi next to him.

Sitting up and turning to his right hand side, furthest away from the tent flap, Ace found no-one. His heart beat rose slightly with anxiety, until Ace found a note in the space Lexi would have been occupying.

Ace,

Stop worrying. I know you’re sitting up right now and are trying to work out where I might be.

                   Hah, I know what you’re doing and I’m not even here!

Don’t worry, I just went for a walk, I couldn’t sleep.

I’ll be back in time for breakfast…And I’ll be fine!

Just go back to sleep, and I’ll be back before you know it.

           Lexi

Xxx

Ace smiled at his own stupidity, it was strange how Lexi seemed to know what he was thinking, and he was glad she left something so he could tell where she was.

He got up and left the tent, the low sun rising in the east, where he was facing now, making him squint as he walked. He quietly went passed Slam’s tent, Tech’s, Duck’s and Rev’s before entering his own.

Inside, he found his neat sleeping bag with a copy of the same note he found in Lexi’s tent earlier. “Must be an insurance note” Ace said quietly, to no-one in particular. He folded up the note and put the spare one, inside his bag, in exchange for a new shirt.

He took off his green shirt, and replaced it with a white polo, before heading outside. The warm air made him feel relaxed. He picked up the box of matches off of one of their campfire logs, and set the pile of chard sticks on fire again. He put a few new sticks on the fire once it had started to engulf the pile.

Leaving the crackling fire, Ace went over to the river bank and looked out over the raised ledge. The river, that seemed menacing and deadly yesterday evening, seemed harmless and beautiful. The fiery colours of last night’s skies returned as the sun rose, in a dazzling light, which silhouetted the trees and made the lake over in the west shimmer and sparkle, like the water was dancing on itself.

Suddenly, Ace felt weight on is back, it was bearable, and quite light. And he had just the idea of whose weight it was. Ace smiled and moved his hands to his back, to support the person who was there.

“Miss me?” Lexi asked.

“Nah,” Ace readjusted himself appropriately, still holding her, but spinning himself around so they were facing each other. “I was just about ready to grab your iPod and run off to Acme-Mexico, what do you think?” He smiled.

Lexi chuckled and played with the fur between his ears. “So where were you?” Ace asked as he put her back down gently.

“I went for a walk.”

“Where to, and why?” He put on a mock-sad expression. “I was so worried.”

“Oh I know you were worried Ace.” Lexi giggled, poking him in the chest.

“Damn!” Ace smiled as he picked her up again, but held her against him. “So…where were you?”

“Oh yeah, right!” Lexi smiled, as she pressed on his nose with her finger. “I just walked back to where you and I were yesterday.”

“…and nothing bad happened to you?” Ace asked raising an eyebrow.

Lexi rolled her eyes and smiled. “No, well… there was a weird looking guy hanging around there, but I’m sure he was just going for a walk too?” Lexi sounded like she was lying; Ace didn’t let this slip by.

“Lexi, what else?” He sounded concerned.

“He, he did keep looking at me weirdly, which is one of the reasons I came back, but I swear he started to follow me, until he saw there was more than one tent here.”

Ace looked at her with pity. “Is that all?”

“Yeah, but it kinda creeped me out.” Lexi frowned.

“Well, I’m here, the guys are here- He won’t bother you with us around. I’ll tell the guys, just so we can keep an eye out for him. You know, have a little talk with him if we see him.” Ace sounded confident, but also very angry that someone may have tried to assault her, or worse. Especially where neither he nor the others would have been in earshot, and so wouldn’t have been able to come to her aid.

“Thanks Ace, but you don’t need to…”

Ace interrupted her by pressing a finger to her lips. “No. Lex, he could’ve done anything to you, and we wouldn’t have known about it, and we wouldn’t have been able to help you. That guy needs to be taught a lesson. Besides, what if he tried to do it again, then what?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Lexi smiled. “I love you, so much!” She hugged Ace, while he put one arm around her, as he was still carrying her. “Oh, and for the record, I can look after myself you know.”

“I know Lexi; I just don’t want that guy to be intimidatin’ ya”

“Yeah, well you’re starting to sound like my dad!” She giggled.

“And what’s so bad about that?”

“He’s insanely over-protective and annoying.”

Ace smiled and put Lexi back down, ruffling her hair with his hand as he did so. “I’m not that bad.” He smiled.

“Yeah you are!” Lexi exclaimed in mock annoyance, “My dad always does that!” She tried to smooth down her hair with her hands.

“Nah, you can sort that out easily.” Ace put his arm around Lexi as they walked over to the fire together. The two sat down on a log and watched the fire burn and crackle in silence.

Soon, Rev and Slam, left their individual tents and joined the two around the campfire, followed by Tech and later, Duck.

“So-guys-did-everyone-have-a-good-night-sleep,-I-couldn’t-sleep-for-ages-because-I-had-such-a-great-idea,- and-I-can’t-wait-to-tell-you-guys-it-would-be-such-a-fun-thing-to-do!” Rev, naturally, piped up as he was making their breakfast.

“Oh no!” Duck groaned. “I slept on a rock last night and I couldn’t get to sleep, and I’m not going on some ‘awesomely fun’-nature bound-‘journey of discovery’-hippy hiking…”

“…Swimming.” Rev announced smugly.

“Well hello!” Duck perked up hearing this, but slumped back down. “Wait, where, it better not be in some river!” Duck put on a grim face as he looked towards the river he had almost drowned in the day before.

“No Duck!” Ace smiled. “The Lake.” He said, gesturing towards the lake behind the water-fowl. “Crystal clear and safe for swimming in”

“Didn’t you read the brochure?” Lexi raised an eyebrow.

“Well, er…um…You know, I should go and get my bathing suit, wait we all should!” Duck added getting up, he was about to run off to his tent when he was stopped by the sight of Lexi grimacing. “What?” He asked her, puzzled.

“Just make sure you put on your bathing suit before you leave your tent, okay.” Lexi raised an eyebrow while the rest of the team smiled. “There are some things here I really do not need to see!” Though she sent a small smile to Ace, but no-one else noticed.

Duck chuckled before putting an arm around Lexi. “Don’t worry Lex, you’ll learn to appreciate a guy when you’re married and have kids.”

Lexi rolled her eyes and lifted Duck’s arm off of her shoulder. “Yeah sure, like that’s ever gonna happen.”

Duck stopped outside his tent. “Nah, it might. You never know.” He winked at her before entering his tent, leaving Lexi stunned outside.

“Don’t listen to ‘im Lex.” Ace put his hands on Lexi’s shoulders and lead her to her tent,

“I never do.” She smiled, as Ace entered his own tent.

--

Roughly ten minutes later, the team met near their campfire, with their normal clothes on but their swim suits underneath.

“So-is-everyone-ready-to-go-to-the-lake-for-a-swim-huh?-I-can’t-wait-it’s-gonna-be-so-much-fun-but-first-we’ve-gotta-walk-there,- but-once-we-have-got-there-we’ll-be-able-to-swim-it’ll-be-so-totally-sweet-sweet-sweet!”

“Walk, you mean…we have to…” Duck put on a grim expression as he pointed to where the group were currently standing, to the Lake. “…WALK, about, oh I don’t know...about a kilometre away!”

“Yeah Duck.” Lexi raised an eyebrow, “what happened to obtaining your super-hero physique?”

“Ahh, you’re despicable.” Duck pointed at her.

Lexi glared at him, before moving his hand away. “Yeah, just be careful where you’re pointing mister.”

Duck snickered.

“Oh grow up!”

Duck smiled to himself as he followed the rest of the team, as they moved west, down the river-bank, and through the trees, their shadows growing long and dark as they walked further and further away from the glaring morning sun.

--

“Wow, the lake is beautiful!” Tech commented as they broke through a gap in the trees. They still had a fair way to walk until they arrived at the lake-side.

“Yeah, sure whatever….” Duck grumbled as he swatted some flies out of his face. But it’s stinkin’ hot out here, when we will get there!”

“We’ll get there, when we get there.” Ace sighed; he rolled his eyes as he continued walking. He almost forgot to mention to the others about the strange and dodgy man Lexi had seen, and been intimidated by; while she was out on her walk. But he decided to tell them when they arrived at the lake.

Lexi seemed wary; she continued to look thoroughly at her surroundings, as though she knew of eminent danger, or was simply just concerned - the appearance of the strange man still fresh in her mind. She didn’t like the thought of the others having to look out for her, especially since she was a super hero.

The very thought brought her back to the weeks after a fateful day back home in Utah, the day. The day where she lost all of her trust in men, even her brothers and father, after which she had to go to counselling so she could regain her trust for all her friends and family who happened to be of the opposing gender. She hated how after it, her dad had become very protective of her sisters and her mother, and especially Lexi herself. She loathed how her brothers and close male companions had to baby-sit her and her twin-sister, when they usually had the freedom to wander the forests near where they lived, but then they had to come with them in fear of something like it ever happening again.

She hadn’t told her team-mates of it yet; fearing that they would take pity on her and treat her as though she couldn’t be let out of their sight. They already had a mutual instinct to lookout for her and protect her in particular- even Duck. Whether it was because she was female, she wasn’t sure, but she did like the slight feeling of freedom she had with them, but sometimes she did feel like she was being locked in a cage, as they would always ask her where she was going and when she would be back if she ever made even the slightest attempt to leave their head-quarters. And of course one of them would always offer to go with her, and inevitably end up with her; which made shopping for certain feminine items difficult. Sometimes she was able to distract whoever got the short straw, or send them away when shopping for female necessities. The last thing she needed was a guy with her when she was buying more personal items, especially if any of the media decided to document the day that one of them was with her on such an occasion. If the news reached her family back in Utah, she’d be screwed, and so would the rest of the team.

She almost jumped into Ace’s arms when there was a loud thump and a rustling of plants, as Duck fell over a tree-root, cursing to himself, even though it was perfectly audible to the rest of the team.

Ace shook his head, in slight annoyance. “You know it’s rude to swear in front of a lady Duck.” He smirked. Duck blew a raspberry and stood up, regaining his composure.

“Yeah well, you hang around with guys long enough and this kind of stuff happens.” Duck suavely remarked. “Which reminds me Lexi: You should really get out more, spend some time with other women you know, fill that empty void you call your life!” He sneered. Slam seemed to emit a low growl while Rev, Ace and Tech simply sent hostile glares at their so called water-fowl friend.

Lexi gritted her teeth and was about to answer, but knew better than to stoop to his level. She rolled he eyes and continued on, Ace and Tech soon catching up with her as Rev easily ran past them.--

After another ten minutes of walking, the six friends arrived at the Lake side, they had found a spot where they could see their campsite from, and so they could always check that no-one was stealing anything.

“Phew, we’re here…finally!” Duck sighed in triumph as he collapsed in the sand.

“Well done!” Lexi commented sarcastically. She sat down on a rock and simply looked out over the lake. Ace came and sat with her, whispering something in her ear that the others didn’t catch. Lexi looked at Ace with a contradicting look on her face, but Ace shook his head and whispered something else to her; that seemed to make her reconsider. She nodded reluctantly, and hugged her knees as Ace called for the attention of the rest of the group.

“Guys. We need to talk.” He commanded sternly.

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 16:16, 2009-02-18

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Rev immediately ran over to the two bunnies and smiled, ready to receive whatever information Ace was going to pass on. Tech, Duck and Slam looked at Ace quizzically, but walked over to their leader anyway.

“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Duck sounded impatient “I really need to go for a swim, or I’m gonna become a roast Duck over here.”

Slam grinned and licked his lips. Duck noticed. “And this Duck is not for the consumption of anyone!”

“Wow Duck, I’m just surprised you knew the word consumption, and used it properly in a sentence!” Tech smirked at Duck, who had stuck is tongue out at the Canine. “…Yeah, real mature.” Tech muttered as he turned back to Ace.

Ace looked annoyed, that the team found themselves so easily distracted. “…anyway.” He gave Duck a warning look. Lexi sighed. “Look, Lex went for a walk this mornin’ while we were still asleep and she said she saw a really dodgy lookin’ guy staring at her, and…she thinks he started to follow her back to camp, but stopped when he realised that she mustn’t have been the only one of us.”

“Yeah so?” Duck sounded annoyed. “What does this have to do with anything?”

Ace looked as though he was going to lose it. “Duck, do you not have any clue what he could’ve done to her? And we wouldn’t have known about it until it was too late!”

Duck flinched, but quickly regained his poise. “Ohhhhh, you mean he could’ve…”

“…Yeah, Duck.” Lexi interrupted him, not wanting to hear word he would’ve next used.

“Are you okay?” Tech’s concerned voice broke the awkward pause between the six Anthros.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just got a bit of a fright.” Lexi replied, slightly sourly.

“Well-what-did-he-look-like? - Maybe-then-we-could-catch-him.” Rev asked, in his usual fast paced manner.

Lexi seemed to hesitate, thinking, “Umm, he had shoulder length blonde hair, light skin, white vest, jeans…and I think he was probably the height of Ace.” She grimaced at the thought of the man.

“Wait; well…was he anthro or human?” Duck asked. He too now seemed concerned, that or he was just trying to make the conversation speed up so he could go swimming.

“Human.” Lexi replied simply.

“Sixvj jskfjslfks!” Slam grumbled, determinedly.

“Yeah Slam. Don’t worry Lex, we’ll sort him out.” Tech smiled.

“Thanks guys.” Lexi seemed a lot cheerier. “Anyway…” She smiled.

“Let’s go for a swim.” Ace smiled, seeing Duck and Rev’s faces light up.

--

“CANONBALL!” Rev shouted as he tuck-jumped into the Lake. He was the first in, the others wanted to know from him what the temperature was like before they themselves went it.

There was a loud splash as the avian hit the water. It took him a few seconds before he broke the surface, flicking his comb out of his face, along with some water, and addressed the team.

“Wow-the-water’s-great-here!” Rev grinned. “It’s nice and warm, but not too warm! Come on in guys!” Rev gestured for them to come in.

The team’s swim shorts were all the colour of their uniforms, save Lexi, who had on a pink and green bikini, but she wasn’t exactly planning on swimming.

Duck and Slam soon joined Rev in the lake, taking the avian by surprise by jumping in simultaneously, but on either side of Rev, who let out a gasp before being submerged in the wave caused by their descent, and the almighty splash that followed it. Rev however wasn’t deterred and simply laughed when he swum back up.

Duck chuckled. “Hey, are you guys comin’ in or what?”

Tech was sitting on a towel reading, Lexi was next to him, lying on her stomach listening to her iPod. Ace, who sat by Lexi’s other side; was simply watching the whole scene from the Lake side, and occasionally glancing at Lexi.

In answer to Duck’s question, Ace and Tech looked at each other, and then at Lexi, the two of them both getting the same idea as they grinned at each other.

“Hey Lex…” Ace started.

Hearing her name, Lexi took her earplugs out of her ears, and moved her iPod to the side. “Hmm?”

“…exactly how much do you trust us?” Ace gestured his head to Tech too as he spoke.

“A lot…why?” She addressed them both, only to have them grin before they both picked her up. Lexi struggled when she realised they were bringing her closer to the water’s edge. “You guys wouldn’t dare!” She giggled.

Tech and Ace swung her backwards before throwing her in. The two smiled when Lexi broke the surface and pushed her dripping wet hair out of her eyes. “Okay, that was really mean!”

Ace dived in, and took his place by her side in the water, flicking his head to the side and successfully removing excess water from his eyes. Lastly Tech came in, a few moments after Ace.

“I am so going to get the two of you for that!” Lexi playfully splashed some water at Tech, but it missed him and hit Rev.

“Yeah well I’m gonna get you for that!”

Soon the six Loonatics were having fun, swimming frantically away from each other, as they splashed water to and fro each of them desperately trying to hide behind something, usually Slam.

As Lexi slowly paddled away from Slam’s back she found herself pressed against Ace. He smiled and hugged her from behind, wrapping his arms around her, and resting them on her hips. “I hope there are no hard feelings from what happened earlier?” Ace whispered, resting his head on the back of her neck.

“Hmm, maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. But that’s my secret.” Lexi whispered back. Before sliding downwards and swimming underwater. Ace, without hesitation followed her. She instinctively turned around and smiled at him. He quickly swam forward, taking Lexi by surprise. He wrapped his arms around her again and kissed her, before pulling the two of them up to the surface.

“Well I think I’m gonna get out now.” Lexi started to swim towards the edge, but was stopped by Rev. “What?”

“Why-are-you-gonna-get-out?” Rev whined, sounding more like a child rather than a twenty year old.

“Because Rev, I’m getting cold” She smiled at him. “But I’m sure I’ll warm up soon and I’ll come back in, hopefully by choice this time.” She looked over Rev’s shoulder and addressed Tech and Ace as she said this, before lifting herself out of the lake, and sitting on the side.

Ace swam over to Lexi after Rev had swum off to join the others. He crossed his arms and rested them on her legs as he looked up at her. “So, you gonna come back in later.”

“Most Likely.” Lexi smiled. She leant forwards and kissed him, before she stood up and draped her towel over herself. She switched on her iPod and started to listen to Linkin Park again.

--

It was about half an hour since Lexi got out and rest of the team continued swimming, and talking between them. Lexi was about to join them back in the lake when she noticed a shadow that loomed over her. She looked up at whoever made it, him. She jumped in fright and gasped at the sight of the man she had ‘met’ earlier.

“Hey!” Came Ace’s shout from the Lake, he and the other Loonatics had turned their attention to the man standing over their friend. “Stay away from her!” Ace gritted his teeth, the description Lexi had given them of the strange man she had seen that morning fit with his appearance perfectly.

The man grabbed hold of Lexi’s wrist, earning a small shriek out of her as his nails dug into her skin. She was still sitting down, and the fact that the man had his attention focused on the male Loonatics, who were now getting out of the lake, ready to fight off the man, gave Lexi the chance to kick his shin, unbalancing him.

That however didn’t deter him, but made him angry as he turned around to face her. “Oh you are gonna pay for that!” He started to walk towards her, as Lexi stood up, and backed away from him.

The rest of the Loonatics, were slightly wary to try and apprehend him, fearing he’d use her against them, or harm her if he had any weapons on him. It was only after Lexi fell backwards over a rock, and the man stood over her, that they decided think of any way to stop him that they could.

Lexi glared at the man, she knew he wouldn’t do anything to her with the guys near by, but she couldn’t help the gut feeling of complete vulnerability she felt, as she could only stare up at him; fearing the worst.

She recalled the same feeling she had almost three years ago; back in Utah. She was in the same situation, but the only difference was that there was no-one there to help her; and the man got away with what he did. She remembered how traumatised she was afterwards; she was shaking in fear, and was in pain. All she had wanted to do was get home to where it was safe, but she couldn’t move; frozen in fear, not able to scream-until she was later found, lifted up and carried home by one of her brothers who was sent out to find her after she hadn’t returned home. She also thought of how she had hit his chest because she felt uncomfortable with him after what had happened, but when she arrived home; she just broke down and cried.

‘Never again’ she thought to herself. She glared at the man, before kicking him hard in the groin, all the anger and sorrow she had felt being unleashed in that kick.

No sooner had the man doubled over in pain and stumbled backwards in agony, did Tech and Slam restrain him. While Ace grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and sent a menacing warning to the man, that if he ever came close to her, or anyone else with the same intentions, he wouldn’t be waking up-ever.

Ace wasn’t usually the threatening type, but under the circumstances he didn’t care what happened to the man, he just wanted him away from Lexi and away from her for good.

Tech let go of the man and growled at him, while Slam gave him a shove in the opposite direction, to the team and to their camp, the man looked back at them, but hastily started walking through the woods when Ace’s irises changed from ice-blue, to a hot yellow and red combination.

Ace powered down after the man was out of sight, before running over to Lexi, who seemed shaken up after the whole ordeal, the rest of the team followed, crouching or standing by her, as Ace bent over to see if she was okay.

“Lexi? Are you…” He started.

Lexi stared at him, completely terrified. “Is…is he gone?”

“Yeah, he’s gone now Lex” Ace leant forwards and hugged her, Lexi gripping to him like a vice as small tears rolled down her furry cheeks. “And he’s not gonna bother you again.” He whispered.

While Ace and Lexi shared their hug after the tense moment, the other four Loonatics began to pack up the things that they had brought. The sun was beginning to set, and they had originally hoped to be back at camp before night-fall, something they weren’t sure they’d be able to accomplish.

Ace pulled away from Lexi slightly when he felt her relax more. He stared at her, before locking lips with her. After he pulled away he wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up, offering a hand out to her. She took it and stood up. They all began to put their clothes back on, the ones they were wearing as they walked to the lake, and embarked on their walk back to camp.

--

The Loonatics returned to the camp-site, faster than it took them to walk from the camp to the lake, having not really talked at all during their trek back to camp.

Rev, once again made their dinner, and for the most part, they all sat in silence eating, until Ace broke the silence. “I’m sorry Lex.”

Lexi turned her head to her left hand side and looked at Ace. She knew what he was getting at. “Don’t worry about it guys…I’m fine.” She answered, slightly shakily.

“Lexi, are you sure. I mean, I guess it’s understandable: But you looked….really scared back there.” Tech queried.

“Well come on genius.” Duck sighed. “How would you feel in her situation?” The team stared at Duck, awe-struck. Duck having empathy was something they all assumed was impossible for him to feel, obviously they were mistaken.

“Yeah, well I guess…You’re right Duck.” That was something else unbelievable, Duck knowing something that Tech didn’t.

‘What more surprises are gonna come? The next thing we’ll find out is that Rev can be quiet for more that two minutes…’ Ace thought to himself.

“Yeah-Duck, -good-point-and-Lexi-are-you-sure-you’re-okay-you-know-you-can-talk-to-us-about-anything-right?” Rev asked, concerned.

‘…And I was wrong.’ Ace smiled to himself.

Lexi seemed annoyed. “Yeah, I’m fine guys! Can we just drop it already, I’d rather forget about it!”

--

“Lexi, I love you okay. And I always want to know that you’re okay. But, you seemed distant this evening at Dinner, like you were thinking about something. Is everything okay?” Ace asked as he watched Lexi lie down in her sleeping bag, a strange look settled itself upon her face.

“It’s nothing Ace.” She replied. “I was just thinking of something, that’s all.”

Ace looked at her sceptically, but accepted the piece of information none the less. “Okay Lex, whatever you say.” Ace got up and went to leave the tent.

Noticing that, Lexi kicked off the covers and sat up. “Ace wait!” She called frantically.

Ace knew that leaving was one of the ways to get her to talk; he turned around and faced her. “What?”

“Ace please don’t leave me alone, I’m… scared.”

“Lexi, you’ve got nothing to be scared of, that guy is gone, and he’s not coming back. What’s gotton into you, you’re not usually like this?”

Lexi sighed, and her ears drooped. Ace put an arm around her as he sat down next to her. “Okay… I lied. I’m not fine. I got really scared of that guy today, both times when I saw him. It was kind of obvious, what he was thinking.”

Ace nodded, and continued to listen intently. “And remember yesterday, when I snapped at you…b…be…because you asked me why I didn’t…talk to you guys when we first met?”

“Yeah” Ace replied, “what’s this about?”

Lexi took a breath, but slumped in posture. “Please don’t say anything to the guys about this.”

“I promise, I won’t.” Ace assured her.

“…Then, I’ll tell you.”

Alex Bunny · Anthros

ohh exciting and poor poor lexi

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Alex Bunny wrote:

ohh exciting and poor poor lexi

I know! DX

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

great work.

Ya! Go for where the sun don't shine Lex!

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Siamese712 wrote:

great work.

Ya! Go for where the sun don't shine Lex!

I know!

Mwa ha ha ha haaaaa (Evil Laugh) evileye

I made myself laugh when I wrote that, I couldn't resist!

...But we all know it is one of a girl's greatest forms of self defence against a guy....But it was still funny to add in!

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Yeyness!

I got the next chapter finished already!

And there I was doubting myself...

Anway, It might be longer before I have the next chapter up.

Also, Due to a techincal glitch, I cannot access the login section at FanFiction.net, so for the time being, this new chapter will not show there, but I will attempt to post it ASAP.

--

Chapter 16. - 'Returning Home'

Lexi screamed when the man grabbed her and forced her to the ground. “Ace!” She called in desperation.

Ace looked at the situation in horror, the screams and pleads for help that came from Lexi was almost unbearable for him. Ace ran to the man and grabbed his shirt, pulling him away from Lexi, but the man quickly threw a punch, it hit Ace, square on in the chest, and knocked him backwards. He recovered by flipping backwards, skidding on the floor, but keeping his hand in contact with the ground to keep him balanced. Ace ran at the man who simply grabbed him and threw him away and into unconsciousness.

Ace regained his senses when he heard the desperate calls and cries of Lexi, who was powerless against the man. But it was too late, and Ace could only watch; tears forming in his eyes as he saw his best friend, and girlfriend fall victim to the man’s assault. Ace tried to get up, and make a vain attempt to save her but couldn’t. His limbs betrayed him, his current strength not permitting him to stand and fight.

Ace couldn’t bear to watch anymore, he grit his teeth, hung his head, and cried into the ground.

--

Ace bolted up right in bed. Sweat covering his fur, he panted and his heart thumped hard in his chest.

Again he looked to his right to check that Lexi was there, and that she was okay. Once satisfied he bent down and kissed her, she was still fast asleep, and after leaning over her and checking the time on her iPod, she had a good reason to still be.

The clock read 4:17am. Ace sighed and lay back down, this was the fourth time he had woken up, he was still quite tired; but he didn’t want to go back to sleep.

Lexi had told him about why she was so ‘out of the ordinary’ last night, he of course was out raged about what had happened to her; so Ace and Lexi were still awake about an hour into the morning, after Lexi had told him everything, and he had of course asked her questions and comforted her about it when she got a little bit teary thinking about the ordeal.

Lexi had fallen asleep at about 1:00am. Ace however was still shocked and angry about what had happened to her, but he couldn’t have done anything about it anyway. But all night he had had bad dreams about it, some of them were just of Lexi herself when it happened to her, in which Ace could only watch in horror; not being able to do anything to help her. And some of them: Ace was there, trying to fight off the man that was trying to hurt her, but Ace kept losing to him, and seeing it happen to her, or seeing her hurt badly in front of him.

Ace had bolted up right for the most of the night through fright, and was constantly checking that Lexi was there and was okay. Then he would kiss her, and try to get back to sleep.

‘Not this time, not again.’ Ace thought. He carefully pushed the covers back off of him, and quietly left the tent. He walked out to the raised river bank, and sat on a small tree-stump. He looked up at the stars, there were so many of them, all different sizes, their light differing. He smiled. It was so different here from what it was like back in Acmetropolis, there was so much light pollution there, that it was difficult to see any stars at night, except on rare occasions when the moon wasn’t up, and if you sat in a certain spot.-The Loonatics were lucky, sometimes they could see stars from the hanger of their head-quarters.

Ace had often found Lexi there, watching the stars. She said she used to always watch them with her dad, where they’d talk about anything. Ace had sometimes sat and watched them with her, but sometimes he left her to think-which is what he presumed she was doing.

Ace kicked a stone that was in front of him. He hated the feeling of helplessness, just as much in a dream as in the real world. He stared at the ground, usually dreams of him and his friends were funny; and he would usually recall events where they were enjoying themselves together. And dreams where he and Lexi were together were usually fun too, just like normally.

He sighed, until he heard the crunching and cracking of twigs and leaves. Curious, he turned around only to see Lexi staring down at him looking concerned. Ace smiled, he turned himself around on the tree stump and pulled her onto his lap, there wasn’t enough room for two people anyway. “Ace what are you doing out here?”

“I could ask you da same question.” Ace smiled mischievously.

“I asked you first!” Lexi poked him in the chest.

Ace didn’t answer, but he smiled at her.

“What?” Lexi asked quizzically.

Again Ace didn’t answer, but pressed his lips against hers, and kissed her.

The two parted to breathe. “I love ya Lex.” Ace grinned as he hugged her. Lexi smiled and returned the hug.

“So, what are you doing out here?” Lexi broke the hug and stared up at Ace.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Bad dream?” Lexi asked. Ace nodded. Lexi gave him a pitiful smile, “Same, but we’re both okay, we’ll be fine as long as we have each other!”

Lexi put a hand to Ace’s cheek for comfort. “I know.” He replied.

The sun started to appear over the horizon and Lexi and Ace continued to sit together and watched it rise, the same fiery colours never boring them.

Soon Tech came out of his tent, he smiled when he saw the two together, even though he didn’t want to ruin the moment for them; he needed to talk to Ace.

“Err, excuse me…chief?” Tech asked, slightly awkwardly. Lexi immediately jumped off Ace’s lap as the two turned around to face their coyote friend.

“Er, Yeah?” Ace asked as he stood up. He could feel himself blushing, which was most likely the reason behind why Lexi was giggling, but Ace ignored the heat that came to his cheeks…and the incessant giggling of his girl friend.

“I just wanted to know if we were leaving today, or if we were staying another day?” Tech asked, he smiled when Ace looked lost for words, turned to Lexi who shrugged, and then turned back to face Tech.

“Well, I guess with dat basher ball game bein’ on Saturday night and its Friday today, we can’t really stay here if we wanna make sure you guys get to da game on time.” Ace replied, the three walked back to the camp-fire, which Tech must’ve lit when he came out. The trio sat down on the logs and continued to talk.

“So Ace.” Tech started. “Are you sure you don’t wanna go to the game, you can have my ticket if you want.”

“Nah.” Ace replied smiling. “You go, spend some time with da guys, Rev spends so much time tryin’ ta get ya out of da lab, I think he’d like it if you went. Besides,” Ace put his arm around Lexi. “Lexi’ll be lonely otherwise.”

Lexi rolled her eyes and smiled. “I wouldn’t be.”

Tech leaned forwards casually. “Yeah, what makes you think I’d just stay in my lab and not keep Lexi Company?”

‘My brain’ Ace thought, but he didn’t verbalise it, he just shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know, I just figured dat was most likely where you’d be.”

“Yeah, you’re right there.” Tech smiled.

--

Lexi, Tech and Ace sat together talking for about two hours. When the rest of the team emerged from their tents it was 6:48am. After the team had eaten breakfast, And Ace had told them that they were leaving that day, the team separated into their tents to pack up.

After about an hour, they had all put their tents down and packed their bags, and even taken some group photos, and some photos of the landscape. They walked through the bush, past the ranger’s station. And waited at a ferry dock, after which they spent half an hour of journeying along the rivers, they got off and took a two hour bus journey back to Acmetropolis, where they walked back to their head quarters.

--

“Wow, who knew sitting down and walking for long amounts of time can make you so tired?” Duck pondered to know-one in particular as he collapsed on the sofa.

“Everyone.” The team replied at the same time, as they went about doing their separate things. Lexi went to get a glass of water from the kitchen, Duck joined her in there.

“So, how are you and lover-boy doing?” Duck raised his eyebrows, after he was sure that the rest of the team were out of ear shot. Lexi’s eyes shot open, and she barely managed to keep the water in her mouth. She gulped it down, before turning to Duck.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She looked quite angry and had her hands rested on her hips, to gain authority towards the water-fowl.

Duck held his ground as he looked at the time. 11:08am. “I was just asking, is there a problem with that?”

Lexi sighed and put down her glass. “No, I guess there isn’t.” She replied as she walked out of the room and into her own.

--

Some few minutes after Lexi had entered he room, Ace knocked on her door. “Lexi, can I come in?” He asked.

“Yeah, you can”

Ace came in, noticing that she was lying down on her hammock, staring up at the ceiling. “Something wrong?” He asked as he sat down next to her.

Lexi looked up at him and sighed. “Kinda, I just feel really stressed today, and it’s driving me mad!”

Ace put on a guilty smile as he thought of an answer. “Well…You did have a late night last night. Maybe you’re just tired, try and get some sleep.”

“Yeah, good idea.” Lexi sighed. Ace got up and took a blanket out of one of her draws and draped it over her. “Thanks.” She smiled.

Ace kissed her before closing her curtains and leaving the room, the two steel doors shutting behind him. As he turned around, Ace was met with the sight of Tech, back in his uniform, standing with his arms crossed over his chest; glaring at him.

“What were you doing in there?” Tech asked, a low rumbling erupting from his throat.

Ace decided to be condescending. “What’s it to you?”

“Lexi’s my friend, our friend. What were you doing in her room?”

Ace sighed. “Look Tech, we had a late night last night, and she was stressed earlier, so I just told her to get some sleep.”

Tech already had his questions and suspicions, even before Ace had finished his explanation. “We? What do you mean ‘we had a late night last night?’ what were the two of you doing?”

Ace rolled his eyes. “We were talking. She was scared about that guy from the lake.” Ace decided to not mention that he and Lexi had been sharing a tent for the past two nights. It was fine that the other Loonatics new about their relationship, but what they didn’t know was some of the more…personal details, and the fact that Ace and Lexi had been sharing their beds since their first date. Ace wasn’t sure how the team would take that peace of information, so they didn’t mention it just to be safe. What the rest of the team didn’t know…wouldn’t hurt him.

Tech pressed up against Ace, trying to be threatening. “Just make sure you don’t do anything you’ll regret.” And he walked off to his lab. Ace started to mumble under his breath, cursing to himself that he wasn’t careful before he came out of Lexi’s room. He quickly entered his room, and change into his Loonatic Uniform, just as the rest of the team had done, before entering the living space and sitting at the sofa with Slam, Rev and Duck and watching the TV with them.

--

At about 5:00pm, after the other members of the team had long since had their lunch, Lexi woke up. Her room was slightly lit by some light seeping through a gap in her curtains. She squinted, the light that hadn’t adjusted to her eyes making her vision estranged.

Among being carried, Lexi also hated ‘napping’ she would always wake up dizzy, with a headache, disorientated and tired. She pushed the covers back and stood up, feeling slightly shaky. She walked slowly around her hammock, placing her hand on her hammock to help steady her; she stood still for a few moments, regaining her stance and vision. She slowly walked to her door, yawing whilst doing so.

Lexi opened her door and walked into the main room, Tech must have been in his lab, but the rest of the team were still watching TV. They turned and said their hellos, but continued to watch whatever was currently on.

Ace got up and walked over to Lexi, putting his hands on her shoulders, he kissed her, playing with her hair. “Lexi, you okay?” he spoke quietly.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just confused.” She held her head a bit.

Ace looked concerned, “Why, what’s wrong?”

Lexi smiled. “Don’t worry Ace, it happens whenever I nap. For some reason I get dizzy and disorientated; that’s why I don’t like Napping.”

Ace seemed to sigh in relief. “Well dat’s okay den. You wanna sit down with us? We’re just watchin’ TV for now, but we were thinkin’ of grabbin’ Tech after dinner and watchin’ a movie.”

“Okay Ace, But I think I should probably get some lunch first.”

--

It was 8:00pm and the team were all sitting down about to watch a film together. Rev and Tech were setting up the movie, while Duck and Slam fetched drinks and snacks.

Lexi and Ace sat together on the sofa talking; Lexi had her legs crossed and was sitting side on to the sofa, facing Ace, who sat relaxed by her side. Once he and Rev were finished; Tech sat on the other side of Lexi, while Rev sat on the adjoining corner part of the couch. Slam and Duck carried popcorn and drinks over to where they planned to sit, and sat down with their food, offering it to the others.

Rev took the opportunity to sit with them so he could easily consume some of the snacks without interrupting the film for Ace, Tech and Lexi.

When the film began Lexi turned forwards to face the screen, glancing at Tech as she did so; the coyote met her quick stare and eyed her intently as if he was expecting her to say or do something, Lexi quickly turned away and nestled herself into Ace, while he put his arm around her. They had decided to watch a horror film, something Lexi had originally objected to; but reluctantly gave in and decided not to argue-she had Ace with her anyway.

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 10:52, 2009-02-22

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 10:53, 2009-02-22

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Duck who had noticed her troubled gaze and obvious objection to watch the film had an idea. He waited until there was some suspense in the scene that was playing, before announcing that he was ‘getting a drink’ and quacking just on the raised ledge which was the floor behind the sofa. He slowly and quietly walked over to where Ace, Lexi and Tech sat. He smiled when he saw Lexi grip onto Ace through anticipation of what would be shown next on the film, oblivious to Duck’s presence.

Duck could barely hold in his laughter as he bent down to where Lexi and Ace were. He carefully moved his hand over the sofa back and rested it above Lexi’s shoulder; he quickly shot his hand down and grabbed her arm. She gasped and jumped up, Tech and Ace looking at her in alarm. They turned their heads to Duck angrily. “DUCK!”

By this point Rev had already paused the film and turned on the lights in their head-quarters, illuminating the rain that was falling outside. Duck rolled around on the floor laughing, while Lexi panted in fright, trying to control her racing heart. She glared menacingly at Duck as Ace shot a small laser beam at the water-fowl’s backside.

“Yeeow!” Duck jumped into the air, clutching his ‘derrière’ as he cursed. He rolled his eyes and blew a raspberry at the bunny couple, mumbling something about only having a laugh.

“Lexi, are you okay?” Tech asked as he put his hand on her shoulder.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Lexi glared at Duck a final time before resuming her previous position as Rev turned the light back off, and they continued to watch the film.

--

“Wow…I’m beat!” Duck yawned as he stretched out on the sofa.

“Yeah, same. I’ll be in the lab if anyone needs me.” Tech sighed as he got up off of the sofa. The film had ended and the team were now tired and were beginning to separate into their individual rooms for the night.

“…Yeah, but no one will.” Duck smirked at the coyote, and quacking himself into his bedroom before Tech could get angry at him.

“Sfjskfjs sfklskfll bed!”

“Yeah-same-Slam–I’m-going-to-bed-too.” Rev yawned, and spoke slightly more slowly than he usually did. He and Slam too got up and retired to their rooms for the night, leaving Lexi and Ace alone in the main room.

Lexi stood up, slightly shakily. “Man, that film was creepy!”

Ace stood up next to her, “Nah, it wasn’t dat bad. Just remember ta never answer a door if you’re in a supposedly haunted apartment buildin’.” Ace smiled as he took Lexi’s hand and led her into his room, the two of them checking around them before entering his room together.

Inside, Ace’s room was dark, and he could feel Lexi’s hand clutch his tightly, as Ace felt around for the light-switch. “Come on Lexi” He smiled as he pulled her over to his bed, “Nothin’s in here….well, nothin’ other dan us and everythin’ dat’s normally in here.” He smirked.

Lexi sat down at the foot of his bed and sighed. “I know, but…this is why I don’t like horror films, they creep me out.”

“Don’t worry Lex, you’ve got me.” Ace smiled. He walked around to his side of the bed and pulled back the covers; he retrieved his pyjamas and looked at Lexi. “Are…you, not gonna get your pyjamas?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Oh yeah!” Lexi smiled as she stood up, She somewhat hesitated, and looked back at Ace before leaving his room, and entering her room. She switched on her light and walked over to one of her draws and pulled out her pyjamas. She hastily put them on and brushed her teeth in her bathroom, before using her super hearing to check that no-one else was around, leaving her room, and returning to Ace’s once more.

She walked in and noticed that the main light was off and a small amount of light was coming from his bathroom, Lexi heard an electric toothbrush and knew he was cleaning his teeth. She leant against the wall by the door for a while, until Ace finally emerged.

He smiled and put his arms around her flat stomach and rested his head on her right shoulder, and guided her through his room and back to his bed. He lifted is head off of her shoulder and she sat at the foot of his bed again, while he sat in his spot. “What are you doin’?” He smirked.

“Sittin’ here.” Lexi smiled. She looked around his dark room before crawling over to him, and sliding her legs under the covers.

Ace shook his head and smiled. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gently pulled her down next to him. “I love you Lex.” He smiled as she fidgeted a bit, before finding a comfortable position and resting her head on his shoulder.

“I love you too Ace.” She smiled as she rolled over, facing him, her torso resting on his; and kissed him. Ace kissed her back happily, and brought a hand up to rest on the back of her head, and played with her ears. Lexi pulled away, and sat up slightly, leaning over him while she gazed at him.

Ace smiled and sat up too, “What’s up?”

“Nothing!” Lexi smirked as she played with the fur on his chest. “I was wondering if there was any possible way that I could get back at you for throwing me in the lake yesterday.”

Ace rolled his eyes and pushed her down, “You can’t beat me.” He smiled.

“Dang it.” Lexi sighed; she flicked some of her hair out of her eyes and smiled up at Ace. “I bet there are some things that I could beat you at.”

“Really?”

“Yep!” Lexi grinned.

“I don’t think so!” Ace smiled as he hit her lightly with a pillow. “Cause I’m always one step ahead of ya.”

Lexi giggled and pulled him down, the pillow dividing their torsos. “Yeah well….” Lexi tried to think of something. Ace smiled and played with her hair, he kissed her before leaning up and getting off of her.

“Nah, you’re right….I’m not good at everythin’, so don’t loose any sleep over dis.”

Lexi smiled and sighed again, her pyjama top deflating along with her diaphragm area as it ‘shrunk’ as she exhaled. The pyjama top moving slightly, and revealing a small glint of silver that caught Ace’s attention.

“What’s dat?” He asked as he looked down at her.

Lexi smirked. “My chest, duh!”

“I know dat.” Ace smiled. He reached down and felt a small chain around her neck; he sifted it through his fingers and found a small pendant. He pulled it from underneath her pyjama top and looked at it, a small locket. It was the shape of an ellipse, and had a small star, moon and sun engraving on it; it was silver, and slightly rough to the touch.

“What’s dis?” He asked, as he eyed the metal work, feeling the indentations with his fingers. It was amazing how so much incredible detail could go into such a small item, and considering how old it looked, Ace was very impressed at the facet of the necklace and of course how much of a good condition it was in.

Lexi looked up, slightly awkwardly and answered his query. “It’s my locket. Well actually it was passed down to me from my mother. Apparently there’s over two hundred years worth of history where at least one female family member was a gymnast, and it was passed down through the generations from each mother to her daughter, well…which ever one took up gymnastics. Neither of my sisters took much interest in it, so my mum gave it to me.”

Ace smiled. “Interestin’.” He opened up the locket carefully, not wanting the delicate item to break; there was a photo of a woman who looked like Lexi, only slightly older, performing the splits on a narrow beam. “Who’s dis?”

“That’s my mum.” Lexi replied, “It seems that every time the locket has been passed down it’s had the photo of whoever had it before-hand put into it, my mum gave it to me…so her photo is in it.”

“ So, what’s gonna happen with it now, is it down to us?”

Lexi sat up, awe-struck. “What?”

“Well, I mean….” Ace seemed to blush. “Well, will whoever dis is given to next depend on us?”

Lexi looked at the locket in thought. “I…guess?”

“Wait, so does dis mean we have to have a kid?” Ace looked a bit worried.

Lexi smiled. “No. And no demons from the grave will haunt us for all eternity if this isn’t passed down.” She chuckled. Ace seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “Besides, who’s to say that if you and I did have kids, that at least one of them would be a girl and would even take interest in gymnastics?”

“Yeah, I guess….” Ace looked somewhat confused.

“Besides, my little sister Teresa….kinda likes it, so I could always give it to her if I wanted to.”

“….Yeah…” Ace didn’t seem as though he was listening. Lexi noticed this and sat up, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Ace, what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’. It’s just dat, would you…would you ever… you know, want to have kids?” Ace looked at Lexi thoughtfully.

Lexi looked taken aback. “Whoa! Umm…Well, I don’t know…it, its weird. And we don’t really need to be thinking about this kind of thing now I mean, we’re only dating.”

Ace pressed on. “Yeah well you know, have you ever considered it?”

“Well, I don’t really actually know why people could bring themselves to have kids.” Lexi looked apprehensive. “I mean, for one it’s carrying round a ball of squishy gooey…life in your abdomen for nine months and having to deal with all the crap that comes with pregnancy, and then there’s the whole giving birth thing…I mean, I don’t know about you…But to me it seems… really painful.” Ace smirked at her little rant but let her continue. “And then there’s the whole, Life thing again. I mean it’s screaming, pooping, hungry, crying… life. I’ve always been scared of that; you know…what if you do something wrong?”

Ace hugged her. “You’re right; we don’t need to be thinkin’ of dis kind of t’ing now. Don’t worry about it.”

Lexi pulled away from his embrace. What about you? Have you ever thought about that?”

Ace hesitated, “Yeah a few times. You know, when you see couples with babies’ dey all seem to look so happy. And you always wonder if it could ever be the same for yourself, but with us…I don’t know…I mean, don’t get me wrong, I t’ink we’d make great parents but…It would be…difficult.” He sighed, and dropped his gaze, staring down at the bed sheets in a motionless gaze.

Lexi looked at him with pity. “…Yeah…” She too looked down, but only briefly. She leant forwards and kissed him, playfully pushing him back as she did so.

Ace smiled and deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her and ruffling her hair. Lexi soon pulled away and he smiled up at her, she looked at him casually, running her index finger through the fur on his stomach, he never had ever really worn a shirt to bed. She made little shapes in his fur as her finger ran along the soft grey coat, Ace seemed to find the sensation relaxing and closed his eyes. “I should really teach you how to meditate Lex, it comes in handy.” He mumbled, possibly had it not been for Lexi’s super hearing, she never would have heard him.

“Yeah” She nodded too; As Ace wrapped his arms around her thin waist and pulled her down next to him.

“I always find it helps with stress, It might do you some good….” Ace winced, he shouldn’t have said the last part, now she was probably angry.

“Yeah…It probably beats my method of cooling off by a mile!” Lexi’s answer shocked Ace, he sat up and looked down at her, analysing her expression, her mood. Was she tricking him, lulling him into a false sense of security like a praying mantis, right before it strikes? ‘Whoa’ Ace thought as he shook off the strange thought. ‘I have got to stop listening to Duck about his thoughts on women, not that I ever take his advice or word for it anyway...’

“Wait.” Ace turned his head and looked down at Lexi, “What is your method of cooling down?”

Lexi rolled her eyes, she had hoped he wouldn’t ask that question. “You know, every now and then, when I seem to disappear out of the room for ages?”

Ace thought for a moment. “…yeah?”

“Well, that’s what I do. It turns out living with a bunch of guys can be really infuriating. So...I usually listen to a sad song, and just…cry out everything.”

Ace tensed up, like an animal sensing danger when Lexi said the word ‘cry’. “What?” Ace looked at her, trying to make some sense out of it, again he studied her expression. He was good a reading people, whether it was his enhanced vision that made that easy he couldn’t be sure. “You mean…dat’s what you do?” Ace arched his eyebrows, thinking, “Is dat why you always send me and Rev away when we try and see what’s wrong wid ya?”

Lexi nodded slowly, it seemed silly to tell a guy that. Her Sister, Sam always understood, so did her mother. Unless it was because they were female and got stressed and upset sometimes too, could most likely be the reason why. “Well…sometimes I take a bath?” Lexi grinned sheepishly.

“Lex,” Ace hesitated. “Are you sure dat’s really...you know…a good…way to deal wid stress?” He played with her hair as he spoke. “I mean, won’t dat just eat ya up wid depression?”

“No.” Lexi sighed. “It’s actually proven to be a good way to sort out stress, I mean…It’s better than self harm, or taking it out on someone else. Besides. I always find that after I have a good cry about it, everything seems okay, it gives me a chance to think things over. You know, all the emotions just vanish and I feel a lot better.”

Ace still looked at her sceptically. ‘Why couldn’t she just talk to them about what was bothering her, instead of bottling it up inside her so much that she actually had to cry to make herself feel better?’ Ace thought, he decided to verbalise it.

Lexi looked slightly ashamed. “I didn’t want you guys to worry…or think I was weak because I let my emotions get the better of me…and you know what Duck’s like.”

“Yeah, well couldn’t ya have come and talked ta me about it? Or Rev, or Tech…or even Slam?” He couldn’t help the apprehension in his voice. “We wouldn’t make fun of ya for dat. I mean, I’m you’re leader. It’s my job ta look out for all of ya…especially you. Rev, he can make anyone feel better…Tech, He’d understand…”

“…Yeah, well he’d probably be too busy to listen to me.” Lexi interrupted sourly.

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Really? I don’t t’ink he would for you. He might for Duck…or even us….but I don’t t’ink he would send ya away. I t’ink he has a bit of a soft spot for ya…da same wid Rev.” Ace felt a strange sensation wash over him as he said that. It wasn’t jealousy, but he felt…some form of anger towards them…whether it was the reptilian instinct in his brain kicking in, the primitive part of his brain; the one that claims the territory and females that males naturally would do in the wild. He had that feeling about him sometimes, and he had a notion that the other guys did too. Maybe it was something to do with the Anthros’ structure-both physical and mental. With both animal and human qualities in them…rather than long evolved ape qualities that the humans had, perhaps it made Anthros still have more…’Neanderthal’ instincts and techniques within them, that they inherited from their animal ancestors. But he wasn’t sure about Lexi; maybe he’d ask her aboutthat…And talk to Tech about Anthro instincts being intertwined with those of their animal heritage. “…And Slam’s a good listener too.” Ace almost forgot his original point.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Lexi sighed. Ace thought of this as the opportunity to ask her about the questions he pondered in his mind, only a few moments ago.

“Hey Lex…” Ace started. Lexi looked back up at him. Ace wasn’t exactly sure how he would word his query. “Do you ever get dese…dese weird feelin’s?

Lexi looked up at Ace quizzically, “What?”

Ace sighed. “It…It’s difficult ta explain. I mean, do you ever get dese weird feelin’s, feelin’s dat you only really thought dat animals could experience?”

“Well…yeah, I…guess?” Lexi looked puzzled.

Ace decided to take a different approach. “Ya know, wid males…dey tend to be more territorial, fight off any male invaders, win over the females right?”

“Right…Yeah...” Lexi seemed a little bit surer of what he was saying.

“Well, do ya ever get weird feelin’s like dat…I mean, like what a female animal would get?”

Lexi thought for a moment. “I get nervous around groups of men that I’m not familiar with?” She looked around as she thought, “And I sometimes get this need to make sure you guys are okay…Like if one of you is sick or something.”

“Hmm…” Ace thought. “That might have somet’in’ ta do wid it.”

“Something to do with what?” Lexi asked, Ace still hadn’t told her why he was asking her all of those questions.

“Well, sometimes the guys and I get weird feelin’s like…around you.”

The question caught the female off guard, and she naturally tensed up. “What do you mean?” She sounded scared.

“Okay, Lex…It’s not anything that you would need to be scared of. But you know, we get protective of you…”

“…Yeah, Like hadn’t noticed that.” Lexi interrupted him sarcastically.

Ace smirked. He lay down next to her, having already glanced at his bed-side clock, it was almost midnight, and the two of them had been talking for just under an hour. “Yeah, well that’s a lot better than us being negligent towards you.”

“Yeah…” Lexi scooted over to Ace, once again resting her head on his chest. “…That’s true. I love you.” She kissed him before settling herself down again.

“I love you too Lex.” Ace smiled as he put one of his arms around her securely. And the two of them, once again, slept together in each other’s arms.

Alex Bunny · Anthros

awwww there talking bout the future...serious much...but i like it can't wait for the next one

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

*stare gazing with her father and hinting at something very specific? PG?*

Hehehe...screaming, pooping, hungry, crying… life..... You go that from Juno did you not XD

Great work, love the conversation about more primal feelings.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Yes, Juno for the win!!!!!!

I've been watching it so much for story ideas, and studying how...things develope...and also the mood swings experienced....and of course all the funny lines ^^

I'm glad you worked out what it was from! ;D

BTW, what exactly do you mean by:

Siamese712 wrote:

*stare gazing with her father and hinting at something very specific? PG?*

-- Edited by PurpleGirly at 15:24, 2009-02-22

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

Duck: PLEASE! NO MORE ROMANCE! IT'S KILLING ME!

Me: *laughing* Chillax, Duck. It's meant to be romantic. Anyways, nice job. And...

Me and Loonatics: UPDATE!

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Well As I predicted...It did take me a while to write and upload the chapter.I have literally just finished the few finishing touches to it, but; like I always do, I have proof-read it several times, so hopefully it will be okay.

Also, this chapter is slightly shorter than the ones preceeding it, they were about 22-23 Microsoft Word pages, This one is only 19, but I'm sure I'll get away with that :P

I have eneded this chapter in a bit of a strange place. I felt that if I stopped it before they're called to a mission it would be too short. But If I cotinued through the rest, it woud be very long, and I'm sure some of you would be asleep before you finished reading it!

So...I'm sorry to say, there will be another delay for the next chapter, I know roughly what I need to do for it, but getting it typed up and wording it in, plus adding the neccesary detail...and, as I'm sure some of you will understand, it will take a while to do that!

Thank you all for your reveiws, and I'm very grateful that you have endeavoured to continue reading these very long chapters, and putting up with the long time ittakes me to update. I'd give you all cookies for that...but I really suck at cooking. So It's safe to say that I'm doing you a favour!

Thank you!

_________________________________________________________________

“Hey Tech.” Ace asked, knocking on the door of the lab as he entered.

“Yes Ace?” He heard a muffled answer coming from the coyote. Ace walked in slowly, not wanting to damage anything. He looked around for the team’s resident genius but couldn’t find him.

“Er, Tech…Where are ya?” Ace looked around, becoming slightly concerned for the well being of his friend.

Ace heard a small grunt, and a muffled. “Over here” coming from behind the bunny. Suddenly there was a loud roaring that made Ace cover his ears, and most likely would have made Lexi double over in pain with her super-hearing, had she not been grocery shopping with Slam.

Ace turned around, the only sign of the desert canine he could identify being the two green tinted ears that emerged from underneath a work bench. The yellow bunny walked over, trying to work out what Tech was doing.

Sure enough the Coyote wheeled himself out from underneath the steal structure on what looked like a long, square skateboard. “Sorry Chief, I needed to finish welding one of the steal joints in place or it would’ve fallen apart on top of me…again.” He rubbed the small of his back, before facing his leader. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothin’s wrong Tech. I just wanted ta ask ya a question dat I thought of last night.”

Tech looked at Ace strangely. What was he talking about?

“I was just t’inking. Ya know wid that guy, back when we were campin’, that creeped Lexi out?” Ace leant against one of Tech’s work benches as he spoke.

“Yeah?” Tech sat down on his chair by one of his super computers, still facing the bunny as he did so.

“Ya know, we’ve all, us I mean not Lexi, have all had dis strange…determination, to look after Lexi?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, do you ever get dis weird, almost chilling feelin’ go up your spine whenever she needs help …or get unusually…angry if she’s in trouble?”

“Yeah…I do.”

“Well, I was just wonderin’ if maybe it had anything ta do wid us bein’ Anthros. Ya know, whether we have more of a larger reptilian brain rather dan a knowledgeable brain like the humans do…well, minus you-unless there were more Anthros back where you grew up. But I have a feelin’ there weren’t? We’re not exactly the most common form of…intelligent species here.”

“Yeah” Tech rubbed his chin in thought. “I have always thought about that. I mean, back at the Acme Tech institute, there were hardly any Anthros…in fact…I do recall me being the only one there. And I’m sure I’ve heard Lex mention that she was picked on a lot in high school and college for being the only Anthro there…well except with her siblings I suppose. So maybe there aren’t that many Anthros around?”

“Yeah, But anyway…do you t’ink because we still have more animal qualities rather dan da humans we don’t have such an evolved brain like dey do, I mean…heck yeah we’re smart…but, I don’t know, I’ve always thought we had more…”

“…Animal in us.” Tech finished. “Yeah, I agree. In fact, when we were first brought together as a team I started to wonder that myself. I had always wondered how many other Anthros were out there, and now I know…But yes, when I collected blood samples from everyone, to analyse whether there were any signs of radiation trapped in our bodies after the meteor; I did begin to wonder that too. I mean, we are shorter than most adult humans…we have the same physique, and the same internal structure…well, apart from the tail and teeth.” Tech flashed his perfectly white canines at Ace, proving hid point. “Yes. I do believe it is possible that our brains are different to those of the humans, but a lot remains the same.” Tech finished. He stood up, and was about to pick up his welding torch and mask when he was stopped by Ace placing his hand on the canine’s shoulder.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘A lot remains the same’?”

Tech sighed and put down the tools. “Come on Ace you’re a smart guy, think about it. We don’t walk on four feet, we can talk…we wear clothes…”

“…Yeah well, dats just because not all the fur grows in da same places.” Ace chuckled, but let the coyote continue.

“Precisely. But also, through…maturity, the same thing happens to us that also happens to humans.”

“Yeah, I knew dat one Tech.” Ace answered monotonly.

“Well, you asked.” Tech shrugged his shoulders. “Just remember, not all of our qualities fit with the same biology as our animal ancestors. I mean, in the animal world with females, their hips don’t tend to be wider than the males, they might be just slightly to help with pregnancy, but they’re not of a substantial amount like they are with humans and with Anthros. It’s the same with male animals and how they don’t usually have wider shoulders than those of females. Whereas if we stood you next to Lexi, we would be able to point out many different qualities between males and females that only really exist in humans and some kinds of primates. So we’re not all the same as our ancestors…I’d like to think it was a nice mix of both.” Tech smiled.

Ace returned the gesture. “Yeah. T’anks Tech.” Ace patted him on the back as he left, the Coyote wincing as he did so. When he was sure that Ace was out of the room Tech sighed.

“Man, I really need to work out more.”

--

“It’s-the-Basherball-game-tonight- it’s-the-Basherball-game-tonight- it’s-the-Basherball-game-tonight- it’s-the-Basherball-game-tonight- it’s-the-Basherball-game-tonight!” Rev ran around the main room in their head quarters dusting, but never ceasing to hide his anticipation to see the Basherball game that night.

Duck grumbled, putting his hands over his ears while he tried to ‘read’ the magazine he sat with on the sofa.

“Hmm, I wonder if Rev’s excited about the Basherball game tonight.” Ace commented sarcastically as he walked into the room.

Duck grunted in acknowledgement, and rolled his eyes before returning to his magazine. “At least you haven’t been sitting here for the past HOUR listening to it!” Duck sat up, raising his voice to hint to the fast-talking avian that he was getting annoyed with the constant chatter. Rev took no notice, and continued. Duck sighed and slumped in posture, “Oh go and dust the broom closet or somethin’”

“Okay-Duck!” Rev grinned as he ran full speed past Ace. “Oh-morning-Ace!” The bird reversed back and briefly stopped in front of the yellow rabbit, acknowledging the fact that he was there, before speeding past him again, Ace’s ears blowing as he did so.

“Go and dust da broom closet?” Ace raised an eyebrow as he walked over to the annoyed water-fowl.

Duck sat up, and smirked. “Get’s him out of here doesn’t it? Maybe if we’re lucky he’ll get lost in there.”

Ace shot the Duck a displeasing look. “Duck, it’s a broom closet. How could he get lost?”

“Let’s not wonder, let’s hope.” Duck grinned before returning to his magazine. He hesitated for a moment as Ace sat down near him; Duck looked up, moving the magazine onto the coffee table, and addressing his leader. “So…how are you and Lex doing?” He raised an eyebrow.

The question surprised Ace. “…fine, why?” He looked at Duck suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at the thought of Duck being jealous, or simply being too inquisitive for his own good.

“Don’t know, just wondering.” Duck smiled, before moving to the side and looking over the rabbit’s shoulder. He jumped up in surprise after reading the time on the clock. “Whoa! It’s almost time for Misty Breeze’s ‘a quarter of an hour passed noon’ weather report!” Duck jumped up and grabbed the remote, changing the channel until he found the image of the lady herself. Duck almost melted into the sofa as he sat back down, Ace rolled his eyes and stood up to leave.

“Well…I’ll be in the trainin’ room if ya need me…” Ace looked back at Duck as he walked up the small set of steps from the sofa.

Duck waved his hand, grunting as he watched his favourite TV personality report the weather, not really paying any attention to his leader.

Despite Duck’s apparent lack of assertiveness due to the person on the TV, both he and Ace turned their heads to the main door as it opened, a small breeze entering the room, and a Purple and Black clad Tasmanian emerging from the elevator.

“Krr shdf sfjsojfs annoying!” Slam grunted as he walked into the main room; carrying several brown paper bags, Lexi in tow, carrying a considerably smaller amount of bags compared to the stronger and larger Tasmanian devil in front of her.

“I know Slam.” Lexi sighed as she put her bags on one of the benches in the kitchen.

“What’s up?” Ace walked over to the duo as they sat down at the table that separated the kitchen from the main room, overlooking the TV and living area, and the panoramic, wall-length window that overlooked the city.

“It was just really full in the grocery store this morning…afternoon” Lexi glanced at her watch as she was speaking, realising that she and the purple devil had spent the most of their morning shopping for food.

“sheef ghsoslf amdadl ages!” Slam sounded upset, and slumped in posture. The Loonatics never really got up late in the morning, except when they had had late nights, they never liked to miss large amounts of their days, especially if it could be their last as a team; a grim factor that they all considered but never liked to verbalise.

Lexi put her hand on Slam’s shoulder, comforting him. “Don’t worry Slam, we’ll get a chance to do what we want today, I mean…it’s only like…12:15.” Lexi turned back to Ace. “Shall we grab Tech and get some grub?” Slam perked up as she said this, and he immediately stood up, taking Lexi by the waist and setting her down next to Ace, while she giggled at his actions. The purple Loonatic immediately started to prepare their lunch, throwing miscellaneous items out of the cupboards and the fridge while he grumbled almost unintelligible words of delight.

Lexi smirked while Ace shook his head in mock annoyance, “Come on den, let’s get da coyote, he isn’t eatin’ without da rest of us… again” Ace started as he walked towards the narrow hallway, with Lexi in tow. There were no windows, so it was usually dark, there were five bedrooms on either side of the corridor, each closed door facing the opposite one, six rooms for the Loonatics’ themselves, with the remaining rooms, that were situated further from the main room than the Loonatics’ rooms, being spare rooms for visitors. There were small supply and cleaning cupboards towards the end of the narrow walkway, and at the end of the corridor: Tech’s lab.

--

The bunny duo walked down the dark corridor, talking about what happened in the morning while they weren’t together, nearing Tech’s lab. Suddenly, to their right, Rev fell out of the broom cupboard, with his duster falling on his head. Lexi flinched while Ace looked down at the avian, smiling.

“Phew!-I-got-a-bit-creeped-out-in-there,-it-was-so-dark-I-couldn’t-work-out-where-the-door-was-thanks-guys,-If-I-hadn’t-heard-you-guys-coming-I-wouldn’t-have-gotton-out-of-here!” Rev smiled as Ace held out a hand to help him up. “Thanks-Ace.” He grinned. “So-where-are-the-two-of-you-going?” Rev eyed the two, before glaring at Ace, who stared at him sceptically.

Lexi looked around, trying to identify why Rev would suddenly be looking at Ace so intently. That was why, she bit her lip, Lexi and Ace had inadvertently found themselves outside of Ace bedroom; the two of them together being found standing outside of Ace’s room must’ve looked very suspicious. Lexi hugged one of her arms through nervousness, she turned around and grinned sheepishly at Rev, before realising how guilty it made her look and quickly erasing the expression from her face.

“Rev, we’re grabbin’ Tech for lunch. What’s da deal?” Ace shrugged his shoulders at the suspicious and hostile looking bird.

Lexi nudged Ace in the side of his arm and gestured behind them, Ace soon realised what the bird was getting at, and returned the glare, he swiftly turned to his left and continued towards Tech’s lab. Rev turned back to Lexi, who hesitated before following the male rabbit ahead of her, Rev pursued the duo; wanting to make sure they were going to Tech’s lab like they said they were.

Ace knocked loudly on the door of Tech’s lab, before crossing his arms over his chest in an annoyed manner. Lexi stood next to him, glancing from Rev, who looked equally annoyed, and Ace who refused to make eye contact with the bird opposite him. She stood between the two males, aloof, her stance becoming rigid as she felt the two pairs of eyes stare at her intently, as if scanning every part of her. She sighed; Ace put an arm around her while they waited for an answer from the coyote.

After a few minutes of waiting, which seemed like an eternity to the trio, the two steel doors opened, a mechanical whir accompanying the motion. The three looked at each other, each wondering if they should go in or not, finally Rev walked in; he never really cared if Tech told him off for being in there, it happened enough anyway.

Ace and Lexi hesitated before following, carefully stepping over stray wires, the trio walked towards the main part of Tech’s lab. Monitors, metal frames, tables, chairs, desks and wires littered the room. The scene was familiar to the Loonatics, the lab was always in a cluttered state whenever the coyote had a sudden wave of inspiration, or was simply building something new.

The group flinched, just like Ace had heard previously, a loud roaring echoed around the lab and just as Ace had feared-Lexi shut her eyes tightly, desperately flattening her sensitive ears down against her head, while she sank to her knees in agony.

Ace darted down next to her, and put his arms around her for comfort as he pulled her against him, as if it would shield her from the loud noise; he and Rev weren’t affected by the noise, and it merely caught them off guard. Rev ran towards Tech, practically whacking the welding mask off of the coyote, and pulling him upwards. Tech, realising that Rev was there, turned off the gas supply to the welding torch and shut it off and faced the road runner. “Rev, don’t do that! You should be thankful that I let you in!”

“Oh-trust-me-Tech-o’-pal,-I-am!-But-Lexi-and-Ace-came-too.-They-were-the-ones-who-were-coming-to-get-you-in-the-first-place,-I-just-followed-them-because…” Rev cut himself off, he didn’t want to say too much.

“Wait Ace, and…Lexi!” Tech’s eyes widened in alarm, he looked down at his welding torch, before dumping it on the work bench and running over to the two bunnies, and Rev sighed before following. He hadn’t finished saying what he wanted to say to Tech, but he’d talk to him later, once the rabbits were gone.

Tech crouched down beside Lexi, while Rev stood before her, looking down at the two bunnies, Ace still had his arms around the female, and the sight made a strange sensation wash over the bird. He wasn’t jealous of Ace and Lexi’s relationship, but he had a yearning feeling inside of him. He wanted to be the one who sat there comforting her, he didn’t feel as though he loved Lexi in the same way as Ace did, but after seeing the suspicious looking circumstances earlier in the corridor, he felt a feeling like anger course through him. It was almost as though he felt so protective of her that he felt as though the person she loved, who also looked after the entire team, couldn’t be trusted with her. He hated the feeling, he liked Ace- they were good friends, but he also hated the feeling that something wasn’t right between the two; like they were hiding something. He’d never accuse them of anything…without proof, but still; he was beginning to lose his patience with them.

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

“Lexi are you okay?” Tech put his hand on her shoulder, he was worried that the roaring from his high-powered welding torch had hurt her, or even impaired her hearing.

Slowly, Lexi moved out of Ace’s embrace, Rev almost let out a sigh of relief, but he knew that it would draw attention to himself and so he refrained from the action. “Yeah, I’m fine. Well I will be once my ears stop ringing.” She reached up, probing her sensitive, silky ears through her fingers, as if the touch would somehow relieve the ringing that bounced around in her head.

Tech frowned and held out a hand for Lexi, helping her up after he and Ace had stood up themselves. “Sorry about that” He rubbed the back of his neck in an embarrassed fashion.

Lexi placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, the worst that could happen is me going deaf.” She smirked, shrugging her shoulders.

Tech rolled his eyes, smirking “Don’t tease me. Anyway, why were the three of you here anyway?”

“Slam’s makin’ lunch. Lexi and I were comin’ to get ya, and Rev…decided… to follow.” Ace sent a glare across to the mentioned bird while Lexi warily looked between the three males, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the hostility between Rev and Ace, and the now obvious look of scepticism from Tech who glared between the two, silently demanding an answer.

“Oh Boy…” Lexi sighed, but her sarcastic comment came out louder than she had expected, and the three males simultaneously turned their attention to her. Lexi was daunted by it, and half hid herself behind Ace, “…Sorry… that…came out louder than I had hoped…” She said through some hesitation, quietly, before stepping back out and making herself completely visible again.

“…Anyway, Slam’s probably gonna be done soon, we should go.” Ace broke the awkward pause between the four as he announced his departure, with Lexi in tow.

After the two bunnies had left, Rev turned to Tech. “Have-you-noticed-anything-weird-going-on-between-Lexi-and-Ace-at-the-moment?”

Tech hesitated before giving Rev a sceptical look, “Rev, they’re going out. There’s nothing wrong with that…” Rev cut him off.

“No-no-no-no-no!” He shook his handsfrantically. “I-know-that! But-don’t-you-think-they’re-hiding-something?”

“Now come on Rev.” Tech addressed his friend sternly. “It’s their relationship. They don’t need to tell us about everything that they do together.”

“No-No-No, when-I-fell-out-of-the-broom-closet-the-two-of-them-were-outside-of-Ace’s-room; Lexi-looked-very-guilty-and-Ace-just-glared-at-me-when-I-looked-at-them-funny-because-of-it.”

Tech looked at Rev strangely, he knew that he himself had had his suspicions, but he decided to ignore Rev’s comment. As suspicious as it did sound, there could have been many logical explanations, and he didn’t want to confront the two about it if he was wrong, and he especially didn’t want to get on the bad side of Ace about it. He seemed less than comfortable with Tech and Rev being around Lexi, especially when they were alone.

He sighed, there was no use in jumping to conclusions, and as concerned as Rev was he knew that letting it pass was best. The duo left the lab in silence to join the others in the kitchen area. The rest of the team were waiting for them, Lexi and Slam were bringing the food over to the table, while Ace and Duck sat in relative silence.

Tech and Rev exchanged glances before sitting down at the table. Rev sat on the end of the table, opposite to Slam who now sat down on the other side of the table to him, sending a toothy grin across to the bird. For some reason, Rev didn’t feel like smiling back, he nodded his head in acknowledgement but sent no other gestures across to the Tasmanian devil. This puzzled Slam, who could usually make anyone in the team smile, but seeing Rev like that was just…weird and the devil couldn’t help but wonder if he had missed something that might be making his avian friend act so out of the ordinary. He pondered the thought for only a few moments however, he was about to eat; which always made him happy; if there was something wrong with Rev, he’d say something; or Tech would get the answer out of him sooner or later.

Tech noticed the actions between Rev and Slam as he sat next to Duck, facing Ace. He felt his stomach lurch, would he really be able to sit and eat in front of the male rabbit- with Lexi next to him; after he and Rev had had their little talk over the suspicious behaviour between the two?

He felt the weight of Ace’s cold stare over him, crush his body, like a vice was slowly squeezing the life out of him, and decided to turn his attention to something, or someone else in the room. But instead of looking over at Rev like he would naturally do, he found himself watching Lexi, as she poured herself a glass of water from the tap. Deep down, he knew he definitely shouldn’t be looking at her, especially with Ace studying him so intently like he knew he was, he felt himself start to sweat and hoped that the Ace’s enhanced vision wouldn’t show that, and that Lexi wouldn’t noticed his rapidly beating heart beat. Was it her that was making him so giddy? He had never really thought of her in an intimate way, he always tried to make time for her, one because he knew she had a temper, but two because she was a good friend, but did he really think of her that way? Ace would probably kill him if he worked it out, but still; could he actually have feelings for her?

The coyote sat, pondering the thoughts in his head, he leant back in his chair, while he felt his tongue rub against his teeth. It was a habit he had developed whenever he was thinking deeply about something. Scratching his tongue against his sharp canine teeth did sting slightly, but it also had a tingling sensation about it that gave him something else to think about while he mused over things that he wanted to know about, or he wanted to hypothesize.

Duck looked at the four sitting by him, all were lost in their own little worlds, Tech was off thinking about…something, which wasn’t uncommon for the green coyote to do, and didn’t startle the water-fowl in the slightest. But Slam, sitting to his right, Slam thinking? That was the equivalent of Tech not thinking, in Duck’s point of view. The Devil would normally be gorging himself now, most of the food was already of the table, so what was with the delay? Was the Devil broken? Or was he trying to develop table manners. Duck scoffed, another impossibility.

He then turned his attention to Ace. Truthfully he did respect him a lot, he could get a good conversation out of him when he could be bothered to, and he was a good man, and was quite similar to himself in certain ways, apart from Duck being an arrogant show off who, though he gave off the impression that he really didn’t care about…anything, actually he did, a lot. He would be crushed if something happened to his friends-his family. But he never did understand why he couldn’t just make that feeling prominent, maybe he just didn’t want to be considered weak? Or maybe he felt that he just needed to be like that, to give the team something to be stern about.

He looked passed Ace, who seemed to be looking annoyed, to Rev. Personally he felt that the red bird being quiet for once was a blessing from the heavens, but he was curious to why he wasn’t being his normal chatty self, in fact, He swerved his eyes over everyone. What was wrong with all of them today? They were all fine before Ace and Lexi went to Tech’s lab to get him for lunch, surely nothing could’ve happened in that…short amount of time. Could it?

Lexi pulled up a seat next to Ace after bringing the salad bowl over to the table. She eyed the five males around her before sitting down herself.

She rested her head on her hand while the others began to eat, suddenly she had lost her appetite, and the hostility around her was making her feel sick and angry. It felt like water surrounded her heart, but it was more central to the chest; like there was a continuous funnel of water circulating on her breast bone, but there was a fire burning within it, a fire that wouldn’t go out and it brought a lump to her throat. The strange sensation within her made her feel alone, as if she was the only person in a dark world around her, and truthfully it frightened her. She felt enraged at her team mates’ behaviour, but was too afraid to speak up and say anything, but she felt scared, scared of the outcome, scared of her friends acting so antagonistic towards each other.

“Lexi, are you okay?” Ace placed a hand on her shoulder, looking up; Lexi realised that all five pairs of eyes were now focused on her.

“Yeah…”She sat up, furrowing her eyebrows in a confused manner. “…I’m fine.” Her voice shook, Ace looked at her questioningly; he knew when she was lying to him, and judging by the expressions on everyone else’s faces, they seemed to know that something was wrong with her too. She saw his questioning look, and that of the rest of the team’s. “Guys, I’m fine. Seriously, you don’t have to continually look out for me, I can look after myself you know.”

“We know Lex.” Ace smiled. “…We just think that you bein’ miserable kind of reciprocates to all of us, and that just sucks.”

Lexi smiled and shook her head. “You guys are so pathetic sometimes! I wonder why people don’t think you’re funny in the head!”

“Nah Lex, we are.” Duck raised an eyebrow at her, “We’re guys remember.”

“Wow, and all this time, I just thought you were sheep. Who knew!” Lexi smiled.

The spirits seemed to pick up from there. Either everyone in the team forgot their earlier troubles, or simply discarded them. There was no use in staying miserable, or sceptical, angry or confused when they could erupt into happiness and laughter so easily.

The all round happiness of the team was short lived however, when they received a distress signal from the mayor of Acmetropolis. Like they had done on their own com units, and with Zadavia’s underwater base (Before she returned to Freleng) they had also installed them in various places throughout the city, mainly at the police department, the subterranean prison after Mallory Casey aka ‘Mastermind’, managed to escape, and at the Acmetropolis military weapons lab, after the infiltration of ‘Time Skip’.

“It’s from da mayor, Code Red. Let’s jet Loonatics!” Ace commanded, standing up. He, followed by the rest of the team, ran to the hanger and put on their jet packs, before flying to the Mayor’s Office, which was conveniently close to their own head quarters.

--

“Hostage?” Ace seemed alarmed after he spoke to the guard outside of the Mayor’s office building. The Loonatics had found a distraught guard of the mayor’s run out of the building during their decent and has stopped to question him about the situation that they were called to, but weren’t informed of the details to why they were summoned.

“Yes.” The man panted, “Some men came in through the windows demanding the mayor, we tried to fight them off but they had…guns…they dropped small smoke bombs into the building too, I think…from what I remember, it’s pretty smoky in there. But I’m not too sure. It was difficult to tell, everything was so…rushed, it all happened so fast”

“Can you describe what exactly happened, from the point where you found out that they were there, and from when you got out here?” Ace asked sternly, he was taking mental notes as he tried to take in all of the facts and think of both the safety risks and what exactly was going on inside, so he could properly, and with detail; work out a plan to take down the attackers, but without risking his team’s safety and their lives.

“Umm. I had just come back from the men’s room; I was walking along the corridor towards my partner and superior. They were only a few metres ahead of me, they were talking and laughing, I only had to walk past the window and I’d be right next to them. But just before I got to it, the window was kicked in, it took me by surprise and I fell backwards and I dropped my gun. Someone threw in a small black box, and it started to fill the area with smoke, and they had done the same at the other windows on that floor too; and judging by the sounds from the floor above, I think they did the same there too. I knew it was dangerous to breathe in the smoke, so I got up off of the floor, and I forgot to grab my gun.” He sighed and looked sour.

“I panicked, I’ll admit it, but this is my third month since getting my training. I wasn’t…mentally prepared for this, so I got scared. My friend across the window was shouting about something, but I couldn’t see what was wrong, I saw that two men had jumped in through the window wearing masks, so naturally I reached for my gun; but it wasn’t there. I got scared, but then I remembered dropping it, I couldn’t see it on the floor because of the smoke. I had just seen the handle of it when the power cut out. I heard the sound of a grunt, and I saw that my friend had been knocked to the ground. I got down on my hands and knees to find my gun…I was determined to now. But my superior, he had seen me…somehow. He was struggling against the two infiltrators, he called out to me to get out and call for help from you. At first I was apprehensive, but one of the men turned to me and I ran.” He sighed. “I feel like a coward, I should’ve stayed and fought.”

“Yeah, but that wouldn’t have accomplished anything much. You did what you were told to, and you’ve made the call, so we’ll hopefully be able to lend a hand.” Tech reassured him with a small smile.

Ace, however, looked grim, “Was anyone…shot?”

“No. Luckily not, but they did hit some people with their guns, and it knocked some of them unconscious, but I think the rest are still inside.”

“How many of dem were dere?”

“Which?”

Ace sighed. “Both. How many attackers were dere?”

“I’m not sure, it was all too confusing, I guess it was about a dozen, give or take I’m not entirely sure. How many of us were there, that was probably about fifteen, five on each level of the building. I think someone must’ve hacked into the central power unit, the distress signal must’ve had a small back-up to it, but everything else has shut down; the power, the heating, the lights…everything!”

“How easy is it to see in there?” Lexi asked, she stood next to Ace now, while the other four members were positioned almost in an arc shape, facing the guard, behind the two bunnies.

The guard turned his attention from Ace to the female rabbit beside him; he looked her up and down before replying. “It’s fairly dark. There are windows, luckily it’s a sunny day so there is some natural light inside, but it’s not as light as it could be, and with the shards of broken glass and who knows what on the floor, I think it would definitely be better if it were lighter.”

Lexi nodded, “Thanks for that. But next time try talking to my face instead of everything below it.” She glared at him, “Last time I checked my eyes were here, not here.” She pointed from her actual eyes to her chest before crossing her arms and rolling her eyes at his stuttered apology.

The guard looked between Lexi and the other males in the team who looked somewhat angry at his actions, before dismissing himself so that he could sit down and collect himself after his ordeal inside the mayor’s building.

Ace followed the guard with his eyes before turning back to the group, who now moved closer to discuss strategies to help the mayor and the remaining guards that were still in the building. “You okay Lex?” He looked at her with concern, wanting to make sure she was okay before beginning to asses the dire situation at hand.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” She sighed. “That wasn’t the first time it’s happened, and it probably won’t be the last.” She looked over to Duck as she said the last of her sentence.

“…Well, Dat’s good. Anyway, most likely they’re holding da mayor on the top floor of da buildin’, probably to make it harder for us. We need to work out a way to get to her, without putting her and da other guards at risk. The place is probably littered with those attackers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried anyt’in’.” He surveyed the team, picking up their expressions and formulating a plan in his head. “So here’s what we’re gonna do…”

Alex Bunny · Anthros

great chappies i can't wait 4 the next ones

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

Me neither, Alex. *THUD* WHAT THE F***ING HELL!?

Ace: *holding an unconscious Anaela* Sorry. Anaela smelt something that made her sleepy.

*THUD*

Jesse: *holding an unconscious Lexi* That's the same with Lex.

Me: UPDATE! *faints as well*

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

Great work.
Guard's gettin glared at XD

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

Siamese712 wrote:

Great work.
Guard's gettin glared at XD

Yeah... XP

^_^

IceGirl2772 · Loonatic

PurpleGirly wrote:

Siamese712 wrote:

Great work.
Guard's gettin glared at XD

Yeah... XP

^_^

I wanted Ace to knock that guy into next week for perving at his girlfriend. *shifty eyes*

Ace: *places a hand on his face* What am I gonna do with you?

PurpleGirly · Out of This World

I'm still in writing the next chapter, but here's a teaser for it anyway. I'm almost done with it!

--

Ace felt a lump come to his throat, he wasn’t going to cry, and if he felt the need to; he’d choke back the tears. It warmed his heart to know that Lexi would’ve thought of him right before the end, but it upset him that she could’ve been killed, and he wouldn’t have been there to help her

Siamese712 · I blamed it on the dog...

Hummmmmmm...*Places hands on chin and elbow*