Love of Mars

Chapter 12

By the time they pulled up outside the Last Chance Garage, the sky was dark and the city lights were glowing.

Charley yawned as she hopped off the back of Vinnie's bike. "I am never moving again," she announced. Vinnie stretched dramatically. 

"I could eat an entire cow."

"You say that every day," Charley replied.

"I'm a growing boy, sweetheart! These muscles don't just appear ya know!" 

Modo parked his bike and cracked his shoulders. "It was a good day though."

"Yeah," Stella agreed as she climbed off Throttle's bike. "We should do normal days more often."

Throttle glanced at her. If it meant seeing her in a bikini again then they would make a point of having normal days as often as possible. Stella led the way into the living space, leaving the guys and Charley to put away the bikes.

She stopped immediately. A large black figure stood in the kitchen. The dude's back was facing her and the kitchen was only lit by the light of the street lights outside, casting long shadows over the walls.  She moved back and grabbed a softball bat that had been propped up by the door leading into the garage before creeping back to the kitchen. The intruder was still there. Still facing away and fiddling with something. What the hell was taking the guys so damn long?

Keeping light on the balls of her feet, she made her way behind the intruder and raised the bat before swinging it as hard as she could, landing a blow on the their leg. They made a noise of pain and surprise turning to face their attacker as Stella brought the bat back up and swung again at their upper arm, a loud squeal leaving her lips as she landed another blow. Another pained sound left the would-be robber.

Stella raised the bat again only this time  he was ready and blocked the hit with a gloved hand before yanking it towards them, over powering her and using the bat to pin her to them. 

Stella shouted as loudly as she could "CHARLEY!" and within seconds Charley and the three guys piled in through the small door ready for a fight, the lights flicked on and flooded the room. The guys took one look at the intruder and spoke in unison.

"Stoker?" Shocked but happy faces on all the mice and even Charley as they realised who the intruder was.

"Hey bros..." He offered with a grin.

Clearly, Stella had been forgotten. She was still pinned to the large figure with the bat and although the position itself didn't cause her any discomfort, the proximity and the intimacy of the position was making her slightly uncomfortable. Clearing her throat loudly the attention was brought back to her.

"Oops, sorry, Honey." She was released and the intruder removed his helmet to reveal a dark brown mouse with cherry red eyes and long hair pulled back into a ponytail. He was clearly older than the guys. 

"What the hell went on here?" Charley asked with an amused expression on her face.

"Well, I came into the kitchen to see this guy with his helmet on and panicked a bit and well-"

"She hit me with a bat." Stoker interrupted her. The bros roared with laughter. "Twice.!" Their laughter worsened. 

"What kinda lunatic even reacts like that? Just random, frantic hits with a damn softball bat!" Stoker exclaimed.

"Oh sure, make me out to be the bad guy here! I'm not the one who's breaking into someone else's house dressed all in black and with a helmet on! Why the hell didn't you take off the helmet once you were inside huh?"