Life's Second Chance

Introductions

Caught off guard by her friend's reaction, Charley abruptly began the awkward introductions. "This sweet heart here, is Modo," she said as she squeezed the grey mouse's shoulders affectionately. "That loud one over there is Vinnie," she stated in a joking manner as she pointed with her line of vision, before turning to Throttle who extended his golden-tan hand out and broke in, "Throttle."

Looking at the extended hand, Rei turned to the taller figure with the green visors and took it in a friendly motion, " Long Ryu Reilyn," she introduced shaking Throttle's hand. It was then a strange shock seemed to speed through her nervous system and she was forced to drop her gaze to the hand that was shaking hers- before turning to face the character eye to eye. For a split moment she paused, the sensation actually felt vaguely familiar. A sense of fear crept over and she wasn't sure why. This fear shone in her perplexed expression as her eyebrows met in a light frown, and her jaw hung slightly ajar leaving a small confused gap between her lips. Pulling back cleared her throat, and focused on her old friend Charley, who she dubbed Charles as an inside joke.

Modo's eyes never left Rei's figure and as she paused shaking Throttle's hand, he couldn't help but draw a light frown himself. Something was definitely not right, unfortunately his train of thoughts and unsaid suspicions were interrupted when Rei spoke out asking, "So Charles, what's for dinner?"

Putting on a smile, Charley laughed for the first time since the time her old friend arrived, "Hahahaha!" slapping a hand on the girl's shoulders she added, "Hope you like hot dogs honey," winking playfully  she added, "-since that's exactly what's been on the menu since they arrived," she added with a heartwarming wink towards her biker mice.

~*~

It's been six months since Rei had come back to Chi-Town, and already she'd hunkered down and adapted to the rowdy trio sharing her living space. It was almost as it was before the incident on Mars-the incident that she apparently couldn't remember.  Modo and Vinnie always seemed to be close on her tail when it came for a good laugh, and Throttle always seemed to keep his distance on the sidelines; though he'd jump in when she wasn't around.

 "Nostalgic isn't it," Throttle commented as he sat atop his bike sipping his can of root bear; his eyes turned on the girl with the sleeveless vest with the furry neckline and collar as she conversed a few paces away with Charley.

"Too nostalgic for my taste," came the bitter tasting words of Modo as he took a sip off his own can.

"I really don't see the big deal," Vinnie commented between bites of his chilly dog, "It's almost as it was back on Mars, she's warmed up to us like she did, and we're all fighting the Big Cheese just like how we used to do."

"That's just it..it's almost the same." Modo still seemed to hold a grudge against their reunion. Meeting the pause of his bros added, "Doesn't it bother you that she's changed?"

"What's changed?" Charley commented as she walked over handing Modo another plate. Meeting her friend's line of vision noticed that Modo was staring at Rei and couldn't help but feel amused. "Funny what a few years can do to a person," her words sounded kind, yet tinted with a playful spice.

"That's not what I mean..." Modo's eyes dropped as he took the plate and took a large bite out of his sandwich.

"Then what do you mean?" Charley asked sincerely looking up at the Martian who just stared at his half eaten hot dog.

"She's different, and I'm not sure I like it."

Still a little confused Charley prodded with her eyes, as grey-green orbs searched Modo's cybernetic one."I'm sorry Charley girl," came her friend's mono tuned words which made her heart feel heavy. Reaching out with a tender touch, the mechanic held Modo's cheek and brought his gaze up to meet hers. "Oh Modo.." the Charley cooed with a smile.

Feeling Charley's soft palm made him blush, making a light warm smile draw upon Modo's features as he leaned into her hand.

Vinnie's tail seemed to have gotten stepped on which made him jump and yeowl in the background. "YEOOOUCH!"

A few paces away, Rei seemed to have jumped at the white-furred mouse's holler. She whipped around and looked down at where her booted foot stood and jumped off, "Sorry!" she called out feeling quite embarrassed. "I didn't see it!"

Vinnie's eyes were glazed with tears as he clasped the tip of his tail which triggered Rei's arm to settle itself upon his shoulders, "Aww don't be sad," she commented. "Let's put some ice," she suggested as she led Vinnie to the back by the hand, oblivious to the fact that the masked vigilante looked over his shoulders grinning ear to ear as he wiggled his eye brows comically.

Face palming his forehead, Throttle just shook his head, only to follow to make sure Vinnie didn't try pull a fast one on the innocent oblivious girl. Standing at the door, the tanned Martian watched as the human girl placed ice upon the length of Vincent's tail that she'd stepped on and wrap it in a small bandage. It was really strange seeing this side of Ray. The Agent of the M.I.B did have a soft side after all it seemed. Throttle was so accustomed to the hard core militant, virtuous, I-don't-give-a-damn- persona she used to have-. This made him really confused.