PotH: Revolution (NSFW)

"I'd have much less respect for him if he weren't. I'll assume you're aware of what occurred twenty years ago just as much as I."

"Which incident do you speak of?"

He smiled slightly. "The events from which our parents met to when yours departed quite suddenly. I am not playing mind games, I am merely gathering facts and finding how much you know. What is your name?"

She chuckled, "Akira Jackson. As for those events...that's the stuff of legend, mainly 'cause of what Cross did for mom and dad."

"All legend is based in some minor fact and when I have seen the schematics for your mother's replacement body, I am quite aware of the facts." Her name was Akira. That just hit the nail right on the head, if he'd gotten the colloquialism right.

"Damn straight. And ain't nothin' stopped me yet, not even Z."

*

He fell to the ground under the dog, ended up staring at the dog's sweet breasts. Life was good... "Uh..." He cleared his throat, focusing on the girl's face. Damn, was it hard!...

Wait! He couldn't tell her! It would turn into an unfair advantage for either side she sided with! That'd defeat the whole purpose of fair game! "Can't go into detail, but Sirius made this bet, and he's gonna match whatever goes in the pool, dollar for dollar."

She laughed, "Not literal legend, man. It's something that is talked about often and I've seen the videos of the events."

"I know." She snickered.

*

She snuggled, curious. "Why can't you tell me? Will Sirius tell me? I should go ask him! Where is he?"

*

"Ah. It will become legend, then, and is among some, I'm sure."

His smile faltered. "Still, I kinda gotta agree with Nova. Z might go overboard on the poor girl." The grin returned. "...Unless she's a closet freak."

*

"Sorry, but if I tell you, there's gonna be an unfair advantage for one side or the other. Sirius knows this, too... And I think he went that way." He jammed his thumb in a random direction.

"Dawn? Yeah, that's a lotta repressed freakiness if that's true... Think you should talk to 'im about it?"

*

Her head cocked to the side in confusion, then she hopped up and looked around, then sped off excitedly. The bet wasn't in the forefront of her mind now - talking to Sirius was. He was so much fun to hug! He didn't always topple when she glomped him and he blushed a lot. It was cute and he always made her smile.

With an excited woof, she pounced on him. "Hi!"

"It might be overshadowed by...well I can't say. Shit's been put under so many locks that it ain't even funny no more."

He didn't quite understand, so lifted a brow. "Excuse me?"

"The thing that had us pull out so suddenly. Major-ass event, hell, all I can say that it was one hell of war, and one we barely won with the help of some extremely powerful friends..." She sighed, "Man, I was far too young to remember such things...at least they make for a hell of a movie..." She shook her head, "That's about as much as I can say."

"Hmm... Yeah, I think so. Now, where'd that little perv get to?..."

*

"Whoa!" Sirius managed to stay on his feet, blushed at the sight of the spaniel. "Uh, hi. So, you ready for the big tour?"

She snickered then looked around herself. "Huh... I don't see him or Dawn..."

*

"YESbutShinetoldmeZhadstartedabetbutthenhesaidthatyou'dstarteditbutcouldn'ttellmewhatitwas." She licked his face fondly, tail wagging madly. "So what was it?"

*

Armande nodded. "Ah."

"So what's the story behind this 'bet'?"

"It concerns Aurora and Sirius. Silly."

"Betting on one of the the two to confess their feelings?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "Been a while since I've seen one of those bets..."

"Well, the kid's got a little restraint, I'll give 'im that, so I doubt he'd try anything really stupid. If he ain't with Sirius, he'll be comfortin' Dawn in a corner, or somethin'."

*

Sirius tensed. Aw, crap. As much as he wanted this to end quickly, he didn't want such an easy decision for either side. If he told her, and she decided they could be together right there, then the bet would be over before it even got an hour in. If she said no, then it'd be that much harder to get her before the end of summer. But then again, how likely was it for her to say "no" to anything?

On the other hand, this could be his one and only chance to tell her how he really felt. Win or fail, that would feel good in and of itself. But which need was greater? The need to fess up, or the need to keep the bet going?

"Uh, well, it's, uh, a-a bet involving you and me, um..."

"True that..."

*

"Oh! Is that why he couldn't tell me?! Okay, you can't tell me either!" Her tail wagged excitedly.

"C'mon. Let's go find the kid." He started off, grabbing the last two sandwiches off the plate, handing one to Sunny.

*

He blinked. "Arf? Just like that?"

She scarfed it down quickly, walking with him.

*

"Well, if it's a secret, I don't want you to spill it!" She licked his cheek and scrambled off to find Shine again.

*

"Are those common amongst humans?"

"Not really, just for those of us packed in like sardines on ships. Sim-rooms can only entertain you for so long." She shrugged. "You gotta entertain yourself somehow, and well, betting on possible future events has recently become rather popular. Marine's call it 'Playing poker with Murphy'."

"Ah."

As expected, they found Zavier sitting with Dawn, in an isolated corner. They were laughing about something, most likely one of Zavier's jokes. Briggs smiled. He'd seen the girl smile, but she only seemed truly happy around her friends, Lyra and Luna, and especially around Zavier.

The younger dog looked up, smiled at his parents. "Somethin' I can do for ya'll?"

*

Sirius sighed. At least she respected the bet... Damn the bet; he wanted her now! He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to get greedy. Besides, he had all the tour to get to her. Maybe he could do something special at the Battle of the Bands, where the tour was headed...