A Song of Ice and Fire

[Natasha Walker]

Back in Tokyo, back under the same roof, and the awkwardness was starting to get to Nat a bit because she could see the quiet questioning in her friend.

So it was a quiet night and she half turned to ask softly.

“What’s bothering you Rini?”

The half light of the summer evening reflected the light of the moon off Rin'si form as she asked.

“Why are you referring to Maasu as her majesty? She is not an empress and why do you keep humming that tune?”

Oh shit, Rini hasn’t seen Game of Thrones.

“I ah, Oh boy well, I’m teasing Charlie a little with references to a pretty popular show from back home, kings and queens, drama, romance lots of fighting, a lot of good men not getting what they should and a lot of bad men in charge where they shouldn’t be..Dragons and knights and...”

A pause and she smiles.

“A throne.”

Nat shook her head.

“It’s not meant to be a big deal, if it is…I ‘ll stop. I’m just having a little fun with it and it’s pretty heavy story, like Berserk heavy or..Attack On Titan heavy.”

Rini wrinkled her nose at that comparison and made a face.

“Then why make comparison to it Uranusu? Maarsu is bothered by it.”

Nat sighed gently and she leant up to look at Rini quietly and those expressive eyes met her own even as the Tokyo air tickled at her skin.

“Listen, I’m not doing it to aggravate her, Charlies in position to challenge for that belt again and well, I’m both a little jealous of her, and glad that it is her, it was an easy reference to make because of the associations, but really I don’t intend it out of malice or even disrespect I want nothing but the best for Charlie and things like this are gonna happen when you perform an accomplishment like she’s done.”

Nat dropped her head back down and sighed gently.

“We’re all still getting used to each other I guess, maybe, I don't think I am insulting her..not on Purpose.”

The silence drew out and Then came a poke between her ribs and Nat arched to squirm as Rini leaned up and spoke with a giggle.

“Don’t be sad! Stop it!”

Nat couldn’t make a noise now as Rini’s poke progressed into a tickle and Nat was now trying to bat hands away as she let loose her own giggle, and a laugh that probably carried further thane intended.

“Rini, please..“

She giggles and laughs more before she slipped the hand off and Rini about fell forward as Nat leaned back with a small outburst.

“Rini!”

Well this was awkward, the pair of them blushing and mere inches from each other ,which given their recent talks and events was all the more quiet as Nat’s laughs quietens and she swallowed softly.

“Guess you know I'm ticklish now.”

Rini backed up , though she did linger a little longer caught by that awkward attraction that had developed but Natasha’s request had been fair even if it did confuse her and she turned back over with a smile.

“Good night Uranusu, thank you for explaining.”

Nat laid her head back as her heart pounded in her chest at a million miles a second and she stared at the ceiling, licking her lips.

“G’night Rini,thanks..”

Funnily enough she had a little trouble sleeping that night.

---

“The stage is set, and we’re on the last of our Tokyo excursions. These last three months in Japan have been amazing, but before I continue; Tytus…It was an honour, I took this round and we’ll probably meet again. I look forward to it man, I mean that.”

The camera fades in on the famous Shinjuku skyline glancing down at the crosswalk below as Nat is dressed in a jacket, shorts , shades and trainers, a bottle of water in one hand and a box of pocky in the other, brand name hidden from camera but the well known Japanese snack clearly in view.

“But out of the metaphorical frying pan and into the literal firing line with this one as the road to the tokyo dome starts with the champion team vs the would be contenders, Men’s World and invictus respectively.”

She manages a small sigh turning towards the view away from the camera her arms crossing as she leant on the rail once again speaking fluidly as the camera moves to keep her in shot but also gaze over at the view she’s picked.

“I have a partner this week in the Heir to the throne, a face I’m becoming slowly more familiar with given his connection with my stable mate, Pax Stormcrow has the world at his feet, always has man kicks ass, it’s not been an easy road for him but he’s already proven he belongs.”

She lets out a long, soft sigh, her chest rising and falling as the breeze on the spot she’s chosen catches the back of her hair.

“I’m the one playin’ catchup and I think I’m going to feel that way for a while, I don’t think I’m ever really gonna settle. But this week I get my first shot of the all new all corporate Serenity Holmes.”

She’d glance over her shoulder with a small chuckle.

“So angry, so full of pent up rage whilst at the same time paintin’ yourself as the disaffected youth, playing the rebel whilst wearing the uniform..You got what you wanted and the rest of us should get in line.”

Nat smiled a bit before she sighed making sure the pocky box was secure to then open the water bottle and take a long swig.

“But you're angry because you, like everyone, swore you’d never need to take the shortcut to end up in the line in the first place. We see it Serenity, those moments of hesitation before you plaster that mean smug grin on your face. But it doesn’t mean you won’t get the job done.”

She wrinkled her nose and huffed a breath.

“I guess it’s a common theme on your team, people pretending they’re better now when it’s just a scratch under the surface, yeah i’m talking about ‘the better man’ Current world champion Warren Harper, all the ability in the world But I’mma front it up, I don’t like him.”

She shrugs a bit and chuckles.

“Like he or Serenity give a damn about my opinion…oh wait you do give a damn don’t you Ren Ren? If by social media response you if I recall, threatened to knock my ass out.”

Nat grins a bit more.

“That easy to get to? I’m sure you’ll parade around about how it doesn;t matter about how -little- I mean to you that’s been your game plan since year 0 pick at my own frustrations, right? And if I do the same protest and say it’s not fair I'm going after your glowing red weak points.”

She manages a slight light as she puts the water bottle down and cracks open the pocky to take a nibble.

“But let's not blow all the material I'm saving for Legacy huh? Lets cut back to my partner, a former champion, heir to the throne, one of the most consistent wrestlers on this roster and in my humble opinion the real better man Pax Stormcrow.”

She gave a free hand finger wave to the camera, smiling ruefully.

“Hey Pax, how’s it goin’? Now Pax is already familiar with our crew, hell we've all grown closer as people during this Japan tour and now I get to step it up alongside him a second time, I’ve done a lot so far it’s kinda hard to sit back and realise this all one year, not gonna lie I’m pumped, I can’t -wait- to tangle it up with Holmes and Harper, which totally sounds like a Law firm …or a Detective show. Either way the road to heir and heiress is laid open and all the thrones are for the taking ain’t they?”

She wriggles her bow and smiles.

“Change is on the wind, I can taste it, and it starts with this match, it starts with us so Bring the best you got Ren, spin up you Firefly Get your Lou Bou’s strapped on and that self satisfied smirk on your face, Verona can only come to your rescue so many times before your deal comes due and he decides you aren’t useful to him anymore.”

She sighs and gets another piece of pocky before stretching once more and thinking about her next words.

“But, we’re just in the feeling out process aren’t we Ren? I’ll see you soon, strap up and let a game of thrones begin.”

She nodded her head and smiled as the camera fades out.