The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

Sleepover with Piper!

"Hey, what are you two doing?" Finn asked with a nosey attitude seeing Piper holding some snacks and grabbing a couple of blankets. "Nika and I are having a girl's night." Piper replied with a smug smile on her face, Nika shrugged with a bemused expression behind Piper to the boys, she was clearly not a girly girl and didn't really understand why Piper had insisted that they go to her room and talk when she could talk to everyone in the bridge. She wanted to get to know everyone, Finn being an exception – she learned enough about him, but apparently Piper and herself had a lot of "catching up" to do but she had spent most of her time with the crystal expert and it had only been a day since they had met! "I don't even know." Nika said, looking rather lost while holding some blankets and bottle of juice that Piper took off her as she disappeared back to her room, Nika gestured to Piper but the guys just shrugged and stayed out of it - knowing well to not annoy Piper, the brunette rolled her eyes before she made her leave to Piper's room. 'Thanks a lot.' She thought bitterly, silently flouncing off. At this point, Aerrow stood up and followed her out, "Oh! He's gonna ask her!" Finn taunted loudly, Aerrow shook his head a little to force himself to ignore the annoying sharpshooter, though he did feel his cheeks warming up. She was nearly at Piper's door when Aerrow called, "Yes?" She asked giving him a weird look, what was he wanting to talk about now? He didn't want to speak to her two seconds ago!

"Are you feeling any better now?" He asked, he was wondering why he cared so much – maybe it was because she was going through a rough time. "Yeah, I'll get there... well I don't know how this "sleepover" thing works so you may have to come rescue me later." She laughed with him chuckling along, then she got a bit more serious and hugged her stomach – Aerrow quickly eyed a couple of scars on her body, he began to wonder how she got them but right now it wasn't any of his business, he'd probably end up with a few of his own if he dared to ask. "If you ever want to talk, Piper's a good listener and I'm always around. The two of us know you're going through a lot." The girl slowly nodded ending by looking at the floor, she felt like a child – everyone worrying over her when she could look after herself. "Thanks, I really didn't want to be a burden to you guys." Nika replied, rubbing her sore cheek absentmindedly with Aerrow silently watching with a sympathetic look on his face, "Everyone here looks out for each other, think of us as a family." He spoke, hoping to remind her that she wouldn't be alone on the team. Nika nodded without an answer, shuffling her foot and taking a couple of deep breaths, Aerrow frowned and held her shoulder, she looked up and he felt his heart give an extra thump, trying not to focus too much on her eyes. Nika sighed out a smile through her nose before nodding and hugging him around the waist quickly, "Thanks, Aerrow." She put her hand to the door and turned back to him, smiling nervously "I should probably go in." Without her realising Piper had opened the door and she stumbled in the room. "Um yeah... door's open. I'm going now." She left with red cheeks, not realising he was staring at the spot she once occupied, he smiled to himself, not noticing Piper standing outside her room with a knowing look. "So... Nika's pretty huh?" She mused, holding in her laughter, making sure the brunette couldn't hear her. "Yeah..." Aerrow said in a daze, he registered Piper speaking to him and shook himself back to reality - a panicked and stressed look on his face, "Wait!" Piper giggled, it was about time her best friend took an interest in someone, she giggled to herself with a shake of the head, "Don't worry I won't tell her but I'm liking the chemistry between you two!" Aerrow gave her a weird look, girls are weird – well, Piper is anyway. "W-what?" He frowned in confusion stepping away from her, when Piper had an agenda – it was best to keep as much distance as possible. "Nothing! See ya!" She laughed shutting the door; Aerrow left the girls alone and re-joined the boys in the bridge, trying to get Nika out of his head.

Nika was sitting on the floor of blankets and pillows, wrapped in a light blue one, she was braiding her hair as Piper came in and made herself comfortable. "Soo... You wanna play 20 questions?" Piper grinned as Nika nodded, "That way we can get to know one another." Nika smiled at her new friend, wrapping her arms around her knees, a questioning tone in her voice, "Sure? I don't see the harm in it." Piper squealed and clapped before she started thinking. "Um... What's your favourite food?" Nika shifted, holding her feet as she sat cross legged, thinking for a moment before replying, "I'd say it's berries. What is your least favourite thing about being a Storm Hawk?" Nika was curious about the Storm Hawks, everyone in the Atmos knew about the old team but this one was entirely different. Piper thought for a second before answering, there was many things she didn't like about being a Storm Hawk but she really wanted Nika to join – and not put her off. "Well it was being the only girl until today but I'd say it was not being listened to." Nika found out plenty about Piper – such as her likes and dislikes and why she became a Storm Hawk, Nika found herself deeply respecting Piper's decision. Though she was inwardly jealous that Piper had a decision, she was forced into her squadron. It would've been incredibly disrespectful to her family if she didn't join the Strikers. Piper discovered that Nika has lived a very strange life in comparison to hers. Nika was brought up on Terra Yaris, a place that was one of the first to be taken over by Cyclonia but no matter how much she pressed Nika was very reluctant to even speak of her home terra. Piper felt that there was something more that Nika wasn't telling her but she didn't dare pry – heck, she'd probably feel the same way if it were her.

"So... what do you think of Aerrow?" Piper asked with a large smile on her face, Nika raised an eyebrow wondering what she meant by only asking about Aerrow, maybe she was going to do the same for the rest of the boys. She hugged her knees closer to herself and gave the question some thought, Aerrow was very charming and sweet, a brilliant leader and was strong enough to fight the Dark Ace and live. "He's a nice guy, a very good friend... I guess?" She answered hesitantly and rather confused, pulling away from Piper with a confused expression, she knew a mischievous grin when she saw one. Piper thought about Nika's response – she liked that Nika took her time in thinking about it and obviously had some sort of feelings towards him – well obvious to Piper for now. The navigator shuffled towards Nika, hushing her voice down, "I see the way you two look at each other, you two would make a cute couple." Nika went a bit red but she looked confused – something Piper took the wrong way and backed off a little, "Do you not think so?" The brunette looked at Piper, she looked rather sad prompting Piper to place her hand on Nika's shoulder. "No, it's not that Piper, I've just never liked anyone before." Piper looked confused, furrowing her eyebrows so Nika continued, "Where I lived, everyone my age didn't really think about that sort of stuff. We were more occupied with fighting Cyclonia and not getting captured." Piper nodded in understanding, slightly disheartened at the idea of her two friends not getting together. "I understand, I won't push you into something you don't wanna know about. But... I just can't get over how cute you two are!" She squealed making Nika jump in fright. After a tense moment from Nika, she relaxed and began to laugh as she tried brush off the fact that she had gotten a fright so easily.

"Man I don't understand girls; I mean what is so funny?" Finn complained covering his ears then placed his forehead on the table. Everyone looked at him with scrutiny, they could hear Piper now and again but the two girls were fairly quiet. The boys were playing cards while Stork steered his beloved Condor – he was not interested in games. "Why can't they just sit with us anyway?" Finn complained waving his hand about, Junko shrugged with a pleasant smile, always being the kindest out of the group, "I think it's nice Piper has a friend." Aerrow smiled to himself with Junko's comment, completely agreeing with the Wallop and carried on playing cards. "What's with you anyway? You've been acting weird as well." Finn said pointedly at Aerrow, putting his cards face down, narrowing his eyes as if he were about to crack the case of the century. Junko looked at the redhead as well, remembering how quickly he followed Nika out of the room earlier, a small innocent grin came to his face, "Finn's right, you are acting weird." Junko agreed crossing his large arms across his chest, mirroring Finn's expression. "I think Aerrow likes someone..." Finn sang obnoxiously, jumping over to Aerrow and putting him into a head lock. "Lay off Finn! I don't even know her that well!" He exclaimed as he shoved the archer off him and waved his hands in front of him. "You're blushing Aerrow!" Junko innocently pointed out with a smile on his face, he frowned at his friends – was it that obvious? He was just looking out for her! Sure, she was pretty and could hold her own but... aw forget it! "You haven't denied it." Finn smirked with his signature pose, pointing a finger at his best friend. "I-I Oh come on!" Aerrow waved his hands in front of his face, trying to dismiss the conversation. No words would help him now, he cursed his emotions. "I think Aerrow needs some romance advice from the Finn." The blonde marksman smiled in arrogance, Aerrow, Junko and Radarr all rolled their eyes at this. "I wouldn't hold your breath, Finn has been rejected 67 times. No relationship." Stork butted in, he wasn't unaware of the teenager's feelings towards one another but he wanted nothing more than peace and quiet on his ship. "Oh, thanks Stork." Finn grumbled before he left the room, Aerrow sighed in relief. "So, do you?" Junko asked gently, the Wallop was less intrusive as his friend Finn but he was curious none the less. "Um well... Yeah, but it's probably nothing." He replied – he wondered why he was replying, he didn't even know what to think never mind say! Junko nodded, taking it in, Aerrow was glad that the Wallop was more respectful which made him talk to him more. "Well I'm not gonna say anything but I don't think that it's nothing." Junko finally smiled brightly, ending the conversation as he picked up his cards once again which Aerrow copied, the redhead frowned at Junko's words – was it nothing? Or was it something?