#kind of a v (she's V's Mox sister)

[aggravateddurian]

Brother's Shadow | Campfire

December, 2079 | Reno, Nevada

Just some Nomads chilling (or rather, warming up) around the campfire. A moment of quiet, for when Saul isn't lecturing people (usually Val and/or Panam: they are THE WORST together, like a pair of siblings that get on just a little too well (they're plotting something)) or Raffens haven't decided to launch yet another suicidal attack against the Nomad pack with the Basilisk.

[cyber-v]

Asks from here - Y’all are always welcome to ask me anything~

1. what is their full name? do they have any nicknames? what are they and why did they get them?

Vera - Also know as V, Vera Bazhaar is my main girl with the link to Silverhand. V's nickname was picked up after leaving her nomad clan the Bakkers. She needed something quick, easy and memorable that didn't lend out her full name. (V stands for Very creative alias) She also adores the amount of sex jokes the name V has since opened up for her.

There is also a part of her that wanted to separate herself from that period of her life. But as she’s had time to move on she’s gotten ok with her close friends calling her Vera.

Nyx - Born as Salone redacted

Nyx decided to name herself after the primordial goddess of darkness to protect her identity and reflect her place of being a powerful person in the shadows. It also unintentionally reflects their minor god complex. (Also to be noted Nyx identifies as nonbinary and uses she/he/they pronouns.)

Dante - Rockerboy with the stage name Dante Aguatavana but the people from home know him as Davidson. 

Before he had built any kind of career Davidson was just the tough guy on the street. But on top of being the tough guy he was known for taking care of his own without needing any familial or gang ties to them. If you were from his neighborhood you could come to him. 

As this reputation grew with his neighbors as he got older people, especially women would come to him seeking help from abuse and dangerous friends or family. 

Not everyone has the Mox to back them up when this kind of trouble starts up Davidson was the one to turn to. 

This quickly became a way to discreetly get rid of abusers, often staged as a break in or robbery gone wrong that was common enough in the area to not raise an eyebrow. The abusers would be killed without a trail to follow, just like the poison Aqua Tofana from times long past.

Dante took this name to honor his origin and remind him of his values during his rise. Determined to never let himself slip away when he found fame.

31. who are their closest chooms in NC?

Vera - Sedak - (OC) Vera's best choom is a Solo named Sedak. He's a flashy type of guy with a killer attitude who's always dripping in gold. Their styles don't exactly match but when they work together they get an amazing synergy going. With V hacking targets and sniping from the shadows while Sedak keeps all eyes on him and his mantis blades.

Judy feels like home to be around. Not the same way the Aldicacos do, with tents, campfires and a sister, who she considers Panama to be. But in the way that lets the world wash away when she comes home to her. The way that making her smile has turned into her daily goal. Judy has the bit of genius in her that keeps V hooked. They've both got ideas for technology just in different ways with techie know how and V's netrunner experience. She knows they can make amazing things together and it's all the more reason to spend as much time as possible together.

Nyx - It's hard to find people who can understand who they are as a person now. For so long working for corporations defined their life and now with finding a new purpose it seems that others couldn't quite see past that label.

Delamain - It says something about a person when your best choom is a car… But Del can understand her in ways others can’t. Both attempting to defy their purpose but not quite knowing how. She couldn't bear to reset a freedom that they had worked so hard to achieve. Del has proven to be a great friend, able to offer advice, listen and never judge her gruff way of speaking. Now without the taxi service they're free to roam together. They have dinner while watching the sunset together at least once a week.

Dante - (OC) Her personality is not for everyone and she is starkly aware of the fact. She built walls to protect herself and hurled insults from the ramparts. Dante was able to laugh off the insults and threw some back even. Often just going for a laugh but sometimes actual critiques that made her think. By being Dante's choom Nyx has grown as a person and become more understanding and personable.

Dante - When you can have good days of being surrounded by groupies and bad days of trash magazines and exes trying to ruin your reputation it's hard to tell who's truly your friend. You can’t trust those who just kiss your ass or idolize you. It's just a race to see who's heart gets broken first when you come crashing off the pedestal.

Edward Shawnalore - (OC) But with Edward Shawnalore he doesn't feel like there is that layer of rose colored glass between them. They meet during a bar fight, fighting back to back and watching out for each other while they teamed up against all the pissed off patrons. Ed says what he means and sure he's a bit angsty and mixed up in the head at times but he's still figuring things out on his own. They’ve always have time for banter and quick jabs during gunfights. They really bonded on finding out that not only did they have the same taste in music but they both made music the other liked. He wasn’t really expecting to fall in love with Ed when it happened but sometimes it just it just hits ya at the most unexpected times

34. Do they have siblings?

Vera - Vera was raised very communally. Her family really took "It takes a village" literally. Therefore she feels like she had many siblings as well as many parental figures in her life.

But with this abundance of family she did in fact have an older brother by blood. His name was Axel and he was obsessed with fixing and building cars. Always helping show Vera around the shop. She was never too interested in how cars worked or how to fix them, opting to just bring them to her brother if they needed work. But she fell in love with driving. The newer the better, she was always so interested in technological advancement.

Nyx - Grew up as an only child and has never gotten used to sharing or not having things her way. Her family put untold resources into creating and raising the perfect daughter. But she didn’t turn out to be that in many ways. 

Unfortunately this still affects Nyx and they can tell but can’t quite fix it. They have a hard time making and maintaining friendships. They often can’t quite tell where the line between friendly and hostile is due to being raised by cold handlers and tutors who she thought loved her, giving her this warped perception of what love is.

Dante - He has two older brothers and a little sister. 

The eldest, Aurelio went off to war and came back in pieces not really the same. He's been on a slow path to recovery and he lives at home with their Mother. He says he's there to help take care of her and Dante lets him have that. They never got along as kids but are slowly working on rebuilding a relationship.

The second son, Emilio joined the Valentinos. He's been sticking to the gangoon lifestyle ever since. He and Dante don't really see each other that often but they say hi whenever they pass each other at Padre's.

Lainey was a surprise baby for the whole family. Dante's mother, Mariela thought she wasn't able to get pregnant anymore and… well now there is a toddler in the house and Dante is just trying to be a good big brother for her whenever he's around.

[let-me-love-you-loki]

An Ending Within-Ch. 13

Chapter 13

           “Are you sure about this?” Tony Kahn asked. He sat across the table in the conference room at Daily’s Place. Kenny and Jon were there too. Neither of them looked phased at having a sit down with the owner of the company, but I was a nervous wreck.

           “What do you mean?” I asked, upset at how quiet my voice was.

           A thought. A terrible thought. Nausea slammed my stomach. I fought hard to stave off the vertigo.

           “Are you… are you firing me?”

           “No!” Kenny and Tony said together. Both of them seemed surprised that I’d even come up with an idea like that.

           Jon tucked his arm around my back and watched the other two with wariness.

           “You’ve had a rough start,” Tony said calmly. “Of course, we knew about your leg when we signed you. We just want to make sure that you’re comfortable with the direction we want to go with you.”

           I felt my brow lift. “And that is?”

           Kenny leaned forward, propping his elbows on the edge of the table. “You are one of the biggest draws we’ve got in our women’s division. We want to put you in contention for the title.”

           “I can’t take on Nyla. Seriously. I’m good, but with my leg… I can’t handle a lot of the moves she does.”

           “That’s why she’s about to lose the title.” Tony leaned back. “At Double or Nothing, she’s going to lose to Shida. Then Shida is going to go straight into a feud with Penelope Ford.”

           I looked between the two of them, not quite sure what to think. “But then where does that leave me? How does that get me into the title picture?”

Jon grinned. “They’re going to Flair you, dollface.”

“No. I’m not getting Flaired.” It was clear that neither Kenny nor Tony were familiar with the term. I rolled my eyes. “If you want me in the title picture, book me good matches. Let me earn my standing. Don’t just shove me in a match just because I’m a draw.”

Tony smiled. “That’s the woman we signed. So how long do you want to hang around with Inner Circle?”

***

           “Hey,” Seth said as he slipped his arms around my waist. He settled his chin against my shoulder and pressed a kiss to the side of my neck. “What would you say to a night out, just the two of us?”

           I grinned, shaking the water off my hands in the sink. “And who, pray tell, is going to take care of Sefina?”

           “Mom’s already on board. She’s just waiting for the word.” He took a step back as I turned in his arms. “We already spend so much time apart. Let’s have some time together.”

           Seth looked at me with those dark doe eyes and pouted just a little. He stuck out his bottom lip. I couldn’t help but giggle. Cradling his face in my hands, I smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”

           He grinned, showing off the little gap between his front teeth. “Where do you want to go?”

           A memory. Twinkling lights in the valley below. The scent of Chinese food and the feel of blankets in the back of an old SUV.

           “Remember our first date?” I asked sweetly.

           A look of nostalgia came over him. He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “What, you want to have bad takeout in the cargo space of a truck?”

           I smiled. “I think so.”

           Seth laughed, and it reminded me of the first time I’d met him, back when I’d been brought up from NXT and paired with Jon. It wasn’t a sure thing that it was going to last, but Stephanie and Hunter saw the chemistry we had. After our second match together, Stephanie pulled us aside and gave us the news—I was being put with the Hounds permanently. Then she’d taken me to meet the others.

           Roman smiled and hugged me like we’d known each other forever. He was kind and made me feel like I was a little sister that he would protect. Jon was like my best friend already, but meeting Roman had given me someone else to rely on in the business. But Seth… there was something different about him from the beginning. He’d thrown his arm around my neck, pulled me in close, and put a kiss on the top of my head. Then he’d laughed and grinned, showing off that gap between his teeth.

           I’d started falling in love with him because of that laugh, that grin, and the feeling of warmth it gave me.

           “Yes,” I said after a moment, lost in the memory of that first time. “Let’s have bad takeout in the cargo space of a truck.”

***

           This time, there wasn’t a valley spread out below us. Instead, it was the swirling flow of the Mississippi slipping by. Seth had backed our CR-V into a space on the river front. The back seats folded down and he filled the cargo space with blankets and pillows.

           “It doesn’t feel like four years, does it?” I asked, sitting cross-legged against the side of the car. A tray of General Tso’s sat in my lap, chopsticks in my hand.

           Seth smiled. “No,” he replied. “Feels like it did that first night.”

           I grinned. “Remember the night you and Ro got into a fight in the locker room?”

           “The way I remember it, it wasn’t really a fight. It was more Roman shoving me against the wall and threatening to send me back to Iowa in a body bag.” Seth chuckled and leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him. We faced each other from opposite sides of the cargo space.

           Laughter filled the space between us. “Roman was so protective.”

           Seth let his leg dangle over the edge of the tailgate. “He still is, Llane. You have no idea.”

           Sadness. Nostalgia. A thousand memories of moments on the road and in the ring. The first time I fell from the ring post into the cradle Seth and Jon made for me. Coming through the crowd with the Raw championship on my shoulder. Riding late in the night, asleep in the backseat of the SUV, wrapped in Seth’s hoodie, my head pillowed on his thigh.

           “Did I make the right choice?” I asked suddenly. The memories of my time with the Hounds played through my mind. I tried desperately not to cry.

           Seth leaned forward, taking my hand in his and squeezing. “You made the choice that was right for you. And none of us are upset at you for that. Besides,” he sighed, “who knows where you would be now? With Jon gone, the Shield was over for good.”

           “I miss being with you guys. I miss sharing a locker room and the SUV and eating crappy food at three in the morning.” I sighed.

           He drew me close and kissed my forehead. “Who knows, someday, we might get to do all that again. But right now… you have to do what you have to do. And that’s with Jon and AEW. But promise me something, Llane.”

           I licked my lips nervously. Took a deep breath. Felt the ache in my chest relax just a little. “What?”

           A grin spread over his face. “Fight like hell to get back to Jon. And when you do… burn through that whole roster. Take over. Run that place like only you and Jon can.”

***

           “It’s a deal,” I said, standing at the door of Tony Kahn’s office. “But I have a few conditions.”

           He leaned back in his chair and his lips curved up in a grin. He waved his hand, gesturing me fully into the room. “Let’s have a talk, then.”

           “No offense, but I’m not doing this without Omega. And none of this gets back to Jon before we pull the trigger.”

           Tony nodded, his grin getting bigger. “I knew I liked you for a reason, Black.”

Tag List

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[cybertatted]

@nomadpunkv continued from here 

@cybertatted​ said:‘ i never argue. i just explain why i’m right. ’

He cocks a brow, arms crossed over his chest as they stand on the rooftop of the building above Bastian’s clinic, his head canted to the side when he utters those words, having to choke back a SCOFF. Bastian reminded him a LOT of Mama Welles when he first arrived in Night City. Precocious and definitely certain of herself. It was part of what made him admire them both. Though the way he talks he’d learned was far more keen to getting him into trouble than it was keeping him out of it.

“Dunno––you SURE that’s how you wanna phrase that? Cuz as I recall, you’ve been wrong a FEW TIMES haven’t you?”

There’s a few instances that come to mind but he rather enjoyed poking fun at the other man. Bastian was a PASSIONATE person by nature, which usually meant it’d spark some sort of debate the likes of which he’d have to stifle his laughter the whole way through as he comes to terms with the fact that THIS conversation was actually happening.

“ ‘member that time we all went to Lizzie’s bar to celebrate V’s big gig and how successful it was and I bet you that she’d end up bringing one of the Mox’s home for the night? And WHAT was it that you told me?”

He pauses for dramatic effect before speaking quietly with a coy little grin on his face.

“Oh right! You said ‘ Oye, V is a good woman, a respectful woman. She wouldn’t just grab a Mox for the night to celebrate a good gig ’…yeah that’s it. And lo and behold what did she do at the end of the night? Bring home a Mox.”

He laughs a little, poking fun at him as he cants his head to the side with a small grin on his face still present.

“So tell me again what you were saying about ‘explaining why you’re right’?” 

“Hey, hey, you should know better than anyone that your sister is an exception to everything.” Sebastián is quick to defend himself, holding up a hand to stop Vance. Though that night was a bit of a blur, he did vividly remember V proving him wrong. Their little group, him and Vance and Jackie and V, had been sitting at the bar when V had suddenly dipped, muttering that she had to go to the bathroom. As minutes passed by, they debated if she had gotten sick or lost or found a pretty little thing on her way to the bathroom and got distracted. Sebastián had argued the former, but Vance had insisted the latter. 

Unbeknownst to him, when they finally got up to find the lost merc, V was found in the hallway with a Mox and within the hour, they were piled up in a taxi together, going back to V’s apartment while the others were forced to grab another ride. 

“Anyways, that was one time. And, luckily for you and V and all of my other clients, I am right all the other times besides that once.” He chuckles, taking a long drag from his cigarette as his eyes drift over to Vance, trying hard to be too obvious in the way he admired the city lights shining on Vance making him look like some kind of neon angel. He was just barely able to resist the urge to reach out for him and pull him against him. 

“Speakin’ of, when’s the next time I can expect one of you on my table? I got those last couple, uh...donations from you two. I feel like I owe you both one. I got some new cyberware in I could show you later, if you’re interested.” If he was being honest with himself, the twins were more or less his favorite little ‘pet project’ in a way. When he had first opened his clinic, V was more than willing to let him work on her and her brother, when he finally arrived the city, proved to be no different. 

[let-me-love-you-loki]

The Christmas that Wasn’t-Ch. 5

A/N: Written with the wonderful, amazing @mox-made-me-do-it​. Please forgive us. This chapter is LONG.

Chapter 5: Everyone

Leigh

           “Did you see how Kenny was looking at you?” Allie asked as we stood in the bathroom getting ready for dinner with the buys. Each of us had our own mirror and sink, but habit had us sharing one. She grinned at me in the mirror while she took her time wrapping my hair around her curling wand.

           I dusted finishing powder over my cheeks and glanced into her hazel eyes. She’d already done her hair. As soon as she was done with mine, I’d get to work on her makeup. For a moment, it felt like we were still in college, sharing a room in the Zeta Tau house.

           “It was shock. That’s all it was,” I replied.

           She rolled her eyes. “Leelee, that man looked like he was going to fall straight over the rail when you took off that robe. His eyes were going to pop out of his head.” Allie put the curling wand down on its mat and ran her hands through the curls, separating them and pinning them into a tumble of red down my back. “And he’s going to die when he sees you tonight. If he isn’t speechless, I’ll eat that makeup sponge.”

           I laughed and took a look at Allie’s handiwork, turning my head from one side to the other. The natural-looking curls fell down toward the center of my back. “You are a magician, Als.”

           Her lips pressed against my temple. “Because I’ve got an amazing subject. Now get up so you can do my makeup.”

           I stood and let her take the seat. She tipped her head up and batted her eyes at me. I grinned. “I wish I had your skin, Allie. You hardly need makeup at all.”

           “You’ve said that since college,” she replied. “I’m surprised you haven’t murdered me and stolen it yet.”

           “Why do you think we’re here…”

           We fell into giggles as I did her makeup. She really was one of those girls who was gifted with perpetually perfect skin. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a pimple. I suppose that’s why I got so good at doing makeup—I had a lot of imperfections to cover up.

           Once we finished with hair and makeup, we sat cross-legged on the big bed, the plate of fruit between us and the champagne on the nightstand. We each had a glass in hand, staring out the is-it-really-there window at the water as the sun began to sink behind the mountain. I wondered if she could hear my heart beating like a drum in my chest.

           “This wasn’t the plan,” I said with a nervous grin, sipping my glass.

           Allie leaned back against the pillows, smiling with a little more confidence. “Nothing ever goes to plan, Leelee. You should know that by now.”

           I shrugged and looked at my phone. “It’s almost time. I suppose we should get dressed.”

           We hopped off the bed and walked into the closet for our bags. Once we’d pulled ourselves away from the guys on the deck, we went through our bags, found our dress outfits, and hung them up to get the wrinkles out. I opened the closet and grinned.

           “I absolutely love this dress,” I said, pulling Allie’s outfit from the closet and holding it out to her. It was a wine red off-shoulder minidress with a wide V-shaped drape that hung down from the neckline. She had the courage and the coloring to wear it. It looked great with her blonde hair.

           She took the dress and turned in a circle, holding the dress up against her before slipping into the bathroom to change. I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t like we hadn’t been naked in front of each other before. My heart started to pound a little harder as I slipped on my royal blue floral wrap dress. It tied in a knot on left ribs, and had tied ribbons on the three-quarter sleeves. I actually felt pretty in it.

           I slipped on a pair of sandals and picked up my travel purse from the counter. Allie was already waiting for me in the living room of the bungalow. I grinned and followed her to the door. As soon as she pulled it shut, I reached for her hand. She threaded her fingers with mine and we started down the pier toward the gazebo hand in hand. It was visible at the end of the pier, the bannisters and posts wrapped in fairy lights.

           A table had been set up in the center of the gazebo, set with places for four. The benches around the edges had been draped in flowers. And standing at the entrance—in tennis shoes, gym shorts, and muscle tank tops—were Adam and Kenny.

           Allie and I looked at one another, grinning as we realized we were really overdressed.

Allie

           The boys stood side-by-side, their arms crossed over their chests. As soon as they saw us, they looked at one another sheepishly. “Oh my goodness, y'all,” I exclaimed, looking at the flowers that spilled over the gazebo benches. I could hear my Alabama accent showing through the excitement. “You guys are just too much. Look at all these flowers!”

           Adam and Kenny stood there in shock. I grinned softly and pulled Leigh toward the table, squeezing past the boys. As we passed by, I could sense them giving us the once over.

           “We should have dressed up, Hangman,” Kenny said as he slipped into place to hold out a chair for Leigh. “We aren't dressed to receive the beauty before us.”

           Adam quickly followed behind, pulling out a chair for me. “You, sir, are one hundred percent correct. These lovely ladies are incredibly out of our league.” He grinned, blue eyes sparkling. “Hopefully, they won't hold it against us.”

           Leigh bumped me in the shoulder and laughed. “Basketball shorts and muscle shirts are a good look on you guys. Trust me… we don’t mind.” I could feel my face turning beet red. She was right… I definitely didn’t mind the view of their beautifully muscled arms. It was easy to think about what I couldn’t see.

           And I was certain Leigh was doing the exact same thing.

           A server in the hotel uniform appeared as if on cue. We ordered drinks from the menu on the table—a Diet Coke for Kenny, Jack and Coke for Adam, and Malibu Cranberries for us—and spent a moment or two looking at our food options. But dinner was an easy decision—bacon wrapped filet mignon with mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus—all around. While we waited, we made small talk about what lead us to Bora Bora.

           “I still can't believe you guys upgraded your reservation just to be close to us. You know that's insane, right?” I teased with a smile and a wink to Adam. 

           “Well, we heard honeymoon suite and all-inclusive, and we were intrigued. Do you two usually get that when you go on vacation?” Adam asked, quirking an eyebrow as he smiled and laughed. He had his elbow on the table, drink in his hand, as he leaned forward to talk to us.

           I sat there suddenly wishing that I were invisible. That the world to swallow me whole. How was I supposed to explain this and not burst into tears? Leigh reached over and took my hand when she saw the color fade from my face. Adam’s smile slipped quickly.

           How do I explain this? I thought. Do I smile and laugh and play it off? Or do I let someone see me? 

           “Well, that's because this was supposed to be my honeymoon,” I said quietly, staring into the napkin laying in my lap. “I caught my ex in bed with my P.A. about a week ago and cancelled the wedding. Leelee was already on her way to L.A. for work and the wedding.”

           I sat there quietly for a moment, not really knowing what to say. My friend squeezed my fingers and I felt a jolt of courage. “So, instead of a honeymoon, we decided a girls’ trip was the best way to escape reality for a little while. And since I already paid for the honeymoon suite, we thought, why not? Wouldn't be the first time we shared a bed.” 

           Leigh bumped me gently, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Als, you know as well as I do that Jon’s dumb ass didn’t deserve you anyway. Besides… you’re way hotter and more amazing than Renee could ever be, babes.”

           “Hell yeah you are!” Adam chimed in quickly. “If he doesn't see that, it's his loss. Sounds like a real asshole to me. I mean, I've barely taken my eyes off of you since you boarded the plane.”

           Kenny nodded in agreement with a kind smile. I had to admit that it was a rush to have someone think I was attractive. God knew Jon had flushed my self-esteem down the toilet. They were so nice and quickly changed the subject. “So, what do you ladies do for a living?” Kenny asked, leaning against the table and taking a drink of Diet Coke.

           “Well, we own a film production company,” Leigh explained, giving me a moment to silence my thoughts. “It's kinda small, but we have some big things coming that we are really excited about.”

           “Oh, yeah? Which one?” Adam queried. “Done anything we would have seen?”

           “AlsLee Entertainment. I'm Als. She’s Lee,” I explained, feeling more in control of my emotions. “We are based out of North Carolina, but I work out of L.A. to be close to the talent pool. Leelee does the screenplays and location scouting. We’ve produced a couple TV shows out of Wilmington, but nothing that’s gotten beyond a season or two on the CW.”

           Leigh told the story of freshman orientation, how we met and all the late nights we shared over a decade of friendship. “We never had eye candy like you two in school, though,” she said with grin. “Cowboy over there would have been a busy guy.” She shot a wink at him over her glass.

           Adam grinned back and blushed just a little. He looked a little full of himself, and I had to admit it was adorable. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kenny's jaw clench… I knew that look. Jealousy. I would have to talk to him later about that. Leigh was friendly, and she was a flirt, but I knew good and well that she really only had eyes for Kenny.

           We all sat, ate, and laughed as night fell and the stars appeared in the skies. The drinks were flowing, and everything was so well. The four of us had demolished everything the server put in front of us.  “Glad you ladies didn't listen to your sorority sisters about pregaming before a date,” Kenny said, blue eyes crinkling when he smiled at Leigh.

           She looked away from him, fumbling with her napkin, turning redder than my dress. Just then, a different man in a hotel uniform approached our table.

           “Good evening, ladies. My name is Marco.” He turned toward the guys. For a split second, his brows lifted. Then he schooled his features. “Good evening, sirs. I trust everything was to your satisfaction this evening?”

           He seemed to be stuttering as he took in the sight of the boys looking like they had just come from the gym. He looked back at us, apologies written profusely in his eyes.

           “Yeah, Marco, everything was perfect. Thank you so much,” Adam replied with a smile. He turned his attention from Marco to us, glancing briefly at Leigh before settling his eyes on me. “Scenery is pretty perfect too. Thanks for the recommendation.”

           “Absolutely, Mr. Page. If I can be of any further assistance this evening, please don't hesitate to let me know.” I didn’t miss the wide-eyed glare Marco gave to the guys. “Ladies enjoy the rest of your night.”

           “So, would anyone like to walk up to the main house and look around?” I proposed to the group. The guys stood and rushed around the table to pull out our chairs. “Maybe we can find some trouble to get into.”

           “Well, Mango, I think that's a great idea,” Adam said bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. “But, Ken, my friend, I think we need to change clothes. We can't be seen with these lovely ladies looking like this.” He gestured between the two of them, and Kenny nodded profusely.

           Leigh looked at me and then down at her watch. “You have five minutes.”

           They took off like a shot, almost tripping over each other.

Kenny

           We were three steps from the door of our bungalow when Marco appeared out of nowhere. For some reason, I felt ashamed under his glare.

           “Gentlemen,” he said, gesturing for us to lead the way into our bungalow. I glanced at Adam, who shrugged and went first. It was obvious that someone had been in the bungalow while we were gone. There was a rack of clothes in the living room. Clothes that were way better than anything we’d brought.

           “I suggest, if you intend to woo those lovely ladies appropriately,” Marco said delicately, “that you look the part. I’ve taken the liberty of having some options brought in for you. I believe you’ll find everything in the correct size.”

           Before we could respond, he dipped his head and was out of the bungalow. I walked over and pulled a shirt from the rack. Surprisingly, everything I saw was in the right size. But it was all…

           “Look at this yacht club shit,” Adam said, holding out a pair of linen shorts like they were going to catch on fire.

           “I get it,” I replied. “It’s not our normal stuff, but you’ve seen those girls out there, Hangman. We cannot go back out there with them looking like that and us looking like two goddamn beach bums.”

           Adam rolled his eyes and grumbled, but he grabbed a couple shirts and some pants and went into the bathroom. I chose a pair of grey linen shorts and a polo and changed right there in the living room. There was a rack of shoes, too, but I tugged my tennis shoes back on. It didn’t look too bad.

           And it was definitely better than how they’d seen us at dinner.

           There was a knock on the door. “Five minutes are up,” Allie called through the wood.

           “Coming!” I yelled a few seconds before opening the door.

           Allie gave me a quick head to toe and nodded as if I’d passed inspection. “Good, I wanted to talk to you.”

           I felt my brows knit together. “About what?”

           She looked back over her shoulder. Leigh stood with her back to us. I was almost immediately entranced by the way the breeze danced through her hair and fluttered the fabric of her dress. It felt like my heart had just stopped in my chest.

           “There’s something you need to know about Leigh. She’s fun and friendly and flirt… with her friends. Trust me, she isn’t interested in Adam. You don’t have to worry.” So she’d seen that at dinner. “Leigh likes you… a lot. And she’s nervous. Ask her to go for a walk on the beach.”

           It felt like a knot loosened behind my ribs. I grinned at her. “I thought we were getting into trouble in the main lodge?”

           “Go on,” Allie whispered, nudging me toward Leigh. I stumbled over, my heart thundering blood through my veins. Her red hair was like fire in the twinkling lights of the gazebo. My breath caught in my chest. I’d never been so nervous.

           “Leigh…” I stepped up beside her and ran my hand over my face, scratching at my few days’ growth. She was so beautiful, and she looked so pretty in that dress. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Would you like to take a walk down to the beach with me?”

           She looked up at me with her moss colored eyes. I had the urge to pull her into my arms. She smiled and I thought I was going to die.

           For a moment, she looked over my shoulder. I knew she was searching for Allie. “I’d like that,” she said quietly. Her cheeks went pink as she pushed away from the rail.

           We walked side by side down the pier toward the beach. The ever-present sound of the ocean drowned out the creak of the wood beneath our feet, and I knew in that moment that I would always associate the ocean with Leigh Keene. No matter where she went, where I went… she would be with me.

           I stepped off into the scrub grass and reached my hand out toward her. She licked her hips and ran her fingertips up her cheekbone to tuck her hair behind her ears as she settled her fingers in my palm. A shock ran down my spine as I closed my hand around hers as she stepped down into the grass.

           “You look nice,” she said, a small smile curling her mouth.

           I chuckled. “Marco figured we needed… ah… help.”

           She nodded as if that solved everything and slipped off her sandals. They dangled in her fingertips as she walked into the sand. I tucked my hands into my pockets and fell into step beside her. The ground shifted and sank beneath our feet as we trekked toward the water lapping up against the beach.

           “So a production company?” I asked after a few minutes of silence.

           She turned, looking at me over the curve of her shoulder. “It was our dream in college. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.”

           I breathed deep of the ocean air as she closed her eyes, tipping her face up toward the stars. She looked like a goddess just risen out of the sea. “What do you do, Kenny Omega?”

           I stepped into the space next to her. Her eyes were still closed, and I took the time to memorize her face. She was so beautiful. “I’m a professional wrestler. Adam too.”

           Leigh looked me over, head to toe, and nodded approvingly. “I can see it. You any good?”

           “I think so,” I replied, laughing. Courage spiked in my chest. I reached for her, taking her hand, our fingers tangling together. She didn’t pull away, and I thanked my lucky stars. Her attention swept out to the water. “Are you okay?”

           She took a breath. “Yes.” Her voice was soft, somehow present and distant at once. “I am now.”

           There was something melancholy about the way she said it. Like it was a bittersweet yes. My heart skipped a beat.

           “Leigh…” I pulled her closer, turning so she stood in front of me. The wind pushed locks of her hair across her face. My fingers shook as I tucked it behind her ear. My thumb traced the shape of her cheekbone; my fingers felt the shape of her jaw. “I barely know you, but I know that you are strong and intelligent. And you fiercely love Allie. Anyone who can’t see how wonderful you are…”

           She halved the space between us. Her eyes were wide and bright, almost grey in the starlight. I could feel the heat radiating from her body. I could smell the perfume that made me think of dark, delicious things.

           “I want to kiss you,” I said, the words tumbling out on their own. I wondered how she couldn’t see my heart jumping out of my chest. My fingers lingered on her skin, slipping down until I held her chin between my thumb and forefinger, tipping her face up. “I want to very much.”

           The smile that settled on her lips made me feel like I could do anything. Her free hand rose and settled on my collarbone. I watched her bite her bottom lip and nod. She rose up on her toes and tightened her fingers against the collar of my shirt. Her eyes closed, lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. I leaned down, drinking in the sight of her just then. The moment our mouths met, my eyes drifted shut and the only thing in the universe was the feel of her against me and the taste of her lips.

           It was brief and gentle with a ghost of hesitation beneath. I could taste the sharp notes of cranberry on her lips, and knew I would always remember this moment.

           The kiss ended, both of us drawing back at the same time. We hovered there, mouths just out of reach of each other. Her nose brushed against mine. I felt rather than saw her smile, and I knew it matched the one I wore.

Adam

           I came out of our bungalow to see Kenny and Allie whispering together, looking toward Leigh. I figured she was giving him some advice, because he crossed the pier and in the next minute, the two of them were walking away toward the beach.

           “M'lady?" I asked, falling into the space beside her and holding out my arm for her to take. Allie's beautiful eyes were a bit greener in the soft lighting. I swore I could see the sadness behind her gorgeous smile.

           “Well, bless your heart, cowboy.” Allie blushed as her arm snaked through mine. 

           “Ya know, I’m really glad we missed our original flight out of LAX. Ken was mad at me until you two walked onto the plane.” I let her set the pace as we walked. “Like seriously pissed. It was my fault—I was at the club lounge,” I admitted as we strolled along the pier toward the sound of music.

           We walked in quiet for a while. I thought about her sad smile and felt my heart squeeze.

           “I'm really sorry to hear about your ex. No one should have to go through that. But I am glad you and OJ decided to still take your trip. You ladies are much better company than a grumpy Kenny-san.”

           She looked up at me, her brows raised. “Kenny-san? He doesn't look Japanese to me.” She walked toward a swing overlooking the beach. The driftwood poles were sunk deep in the beach, and two wooden plank seats were strung up with rope. She sat on the swing facing me, kicking her sandals off and dug her toes in the sand. 

           I leaned against the pole beside her and grinned. “Well, technically Kenny is actually Canadian, but we’ve worked in Japan a lot over the last several years. He’s got citizenship over there. Speaks fluently. It’s only been over the last year or so that we’ve been in the States a lot more,” I explained as I circled around behind her. I took hold of the ropes near the seat and pulled back a little. I let go and she swung forward and back like a pendulum. “How much do you know about the world of professional wrestling?”

           “Like the Rock and John Cena?” she asked as I gave her another push.  “So, you guys work for WWE?”

           I got distracted watching her blonde hair blowing in the breeze. It was like the corn silk in late summer back home. 

           “Before they were movie guys they worked for WWE. We work for a newer company called All Elite Wrestling.” I explained how Kenny and I met in Japan, the Bullet Club and the rest of the Elite as I pushed her gently back and forth.

           Then my heart skipped a beat when she jumped off mid-swing. Allie rounded on me, turning so fast she threw up sand.

           “So… let me get this straight. You're a professional athlete, obviously smoking hot, not gay, and you’re single? And you like me?” she asked, puzzled.

           I couldn't tell where she was heading with the question. I thought again of the sadness and the circumstances that led her to be right there in front of me. I smiled and nodded as she walked closer. Good Lord, my heart just dropped straight into my boots. She took my hand met my gaze with those green eyes like she was looking into my soul.

           When she was satisfied with her search, she looked out over the night-dark water. She was so pretty. So beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off her. I could watch her under the stars forever.

           Then, out of the blue, she asked, “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”

           I looked at the water. “It's alright, I guess.” She turned to look up at me like I was crazy and found me watching her. “You, Allie Mason, are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

           We looked into each other's eyes for a moment. She was beautiful and breathtaking and so unique. I ached to touch her. It was a physical pain, this desire to touch her. Before I could stop myself, I pushed her long blonde hair behind her ear. My fingers lingered on the side of her neck.

           Then our lips crashed together in the moonlight. There wasn’t any hesitation. No shyness. My fingers tangled in her hair. She threw her arms around my neck. I lifted her against me, fighting the urge to deepen the kiss. It took everything I had to pull back.

           She let out a little giggle, her cheeks flushed. I took her hand and led the way over to the little bar on the beach. We ordered drinks and, before the bartender could shake a martini, we were joined by Ken and Leigh—both looking rather flushed themselves. 

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