~Videl~

It had been three long days since her call with Kane, and Videl still hadn't heard a word from him. She worried that, perhaps, he had talked to Lars who might have convinced him that she was lying. Maybe her worst fears had been realized, and Kane didn't believe her. Too afraid to go to the Grocery now, she went to the Cafeteria for every meal, and held out a shred of hope that she would see Kane or Dare. Although, she was as hopeful to see them as she was terrified to run into Lars instead. But none of them showed. The third day, she was so desperate to run into the two of them that she went to the Gym that morning. She couldn't go past the Gym manager's desk without a membership, so she just had to look around from there, but they weren't in the Gym, either. Or if they had been, they'd already left. 

Videl was brushing her hair in the guest bathroom of her private quarters - her own reflection staring back at her with pity - when a beep sounded at the door.

"V?" Sienna's voice called from the living room.

"Sienna?" Videl called back, going to meet her. When Sienna leapt at her and grabbed both her hands, Videl jumped in surprise.

"Did you hear?" Sienna asked, practically squealing with excitement. "Everybody is talking about it!"

"Talking about what?" Videl was at a complete loss, but Sienna's grin made her smile.

"Two guys trespassed on the Athletics practice field, and beat Lars to a bloody pulp! He's in Med-Bay right now!" Sienna's green eyes twinkled as she told her the news. Videl's heart plummeted to her stomach, and her jaw dropped. 

"And you are not  going to believe this - I'm not even sure I  believe it, but I heard . . . one of them was Kane!" 

Videl's head was spinning. She had to sit down. In a daze, she broke away from Sienna's hold and sank into the couch. Sienna's grin dropped from her face, and she joined Videl on the couch, concern furrowing her brows.

"V, I'm sorry, I thought you'd be happy," Sienna looked absolutely bewildered at her reaction.

"I am - really." Videl snapped out of her stupor, shaking her head. "I just - " She cut herself off and lifted her hands, only to let them fall back in her lap. Then, she spilled everything to Sienna that she'd kept to herself. How she'd come to be friends with Kane and Dare, and how they'd been there for her. The Aviary/Arboretum, the incident in Grocery, the steak cook-off, her phone call with Kane. When Videl finished telling her all that had happened, Sienna's reaction surprised her.

"Oh my Stars!" Sienna gasped. "You like him! You like Kane!"

Videl blushed profusely. "What? I - "

"You do!" Sienna giggled. "Wow! Kane . . . " She seemed to be mulling it over in her mind.  "Hmm, I never imagined - but then, I guess you did think he was kind of hot, before . . . " She trailed off, but it was clear what she'd left unsaid. Before the party. Before Videl hated him.

"It's so weird to see you blush, V," Sienna said. "And over a guy? Your first crush - I never thought I'd see the day."

Videl threw her pink blanket over her face to hide from Sienna's knowing gaze, and Sienna just laughed. After a moment, Videl pulled the blanket off and smiled sheepishly.

"I used to think he was kind of hot?" Videl asked with a wary look.

Sienna grinned and nodded, "Mmhm."

Videl moaned, flopping down to lay on the arm of the couch, 

"He's really  hot."

.    .    .

An hour or two after Sienna went home, Videl was still thinking about their conversation. Kane and Dare had found Lars and beat him half to death, because of what he had tried to do to her almost three years ago. Videl thought that they cared about her, but she didn't know that they would nearly kill a man on her behalf. And if they beat him bad enough to send him to Med-Bay, she was fairly certain that Lars would be afraid to mess with her again. That is, if he had any brains left in his head.

Videl was watching a TV show with Belle and filing a rough edge on one of her fingernails when her holo-menu popped open suddenly. Her heart nearly burst from her chest to see Kane's name floating in front of her, accompanied by a ringing sound. She answered it immediately.

"Kane!" Videl gasped, not even attempting to conceal her joy.

"V!" Kane laughed, mimicking her excited greeting. The sound of it filled her with butterflies. "Sorry I've been AWOL the last few days," His deep voice drawled. "Had to take care of some things. Care to swing by my place?"

Videl had to remind herself to breathe. 

"I'll send you my Level and room number, in case you forgot."  

Videl choked on the words, tongue-tied. Her holo-menu chimed with his message.

"V? You still there?"

Videl cleared her throat and nodded at first, before realizing that he couldn't see her and how stupid that was. 

"Yes! Yes!" Videl said, jumping to her feet. "I'll be there!"

She ended the call and practically flew to the bedroom to change. She tore through the wardrobe for a cute dress. She picked a little pink sundress with a ruffled hem and changed as quickly as she could. She dashed out the door - still yanking on some white ballet flats. And her heart pitter-pattered while she rushed down the hallway to get the elevators.

~Kane~

Kane smiled when the call ended abruptly. V was coming over. After the chaos on the practice field, he and Dare were detained for questioning. He didn't feel grateful for it in the moment, but it was a good thing the security guards got there when they did, or they'd be locked up for murder. Apparently, Lars was wise enough not to press charges for the beat-down. He most likely knew that if he did, he'd be facing the possibility of sexual assault charges from V - and that would certainly cost him his job at the School. And neither Kane nor Dare told the officers the actual reason that they had jumped Lars, so after three days of Detainment, they had no choice but to let them go - with a hefty fine for trespassing on the Education Level without scanning. 

Kane easily covered both their fines. There wasn't much use for Credits on Titan. Food and basic living amenities were free for everyone, so most people had no need for them. They were really only useful for luxury items, like alcohol, gym memberships, housing upgrades, and in this case, fines for breaking Safety Protocol. Kane's father had gifted him a large sum of Credits when he finished School, which went mostly untouched. As a member of the Titan Council, his father was well-off and though he was distant (and had his fair share of detestable flaws,) Kane was his oldest child, and his only son. For that, his father had set him up in one of the nicest private quarters when he turned 18. 

Dare was beyond grateful that Kane covered his fine, and was adamant that he would pay him back but Kane refused, cheekily remarking that Dare would cover the next fine. Dare relented and grinned at his joke. Kane knew after trashing Lars together, that Dare was cemented as more than a gym buddy, but as a true best friend. Kane knew Dare had his back, and was up for anything. That much was clear.

As soon as Kane returned from Detainment, he showered and dressed in some dark slacks, and a charcoal dress shirt. Being stuck in sweaty gym clothes that were splattered with blood for three days had made him feel like a grungy slob. And he figured that it couldn't hurt to show V that he could clean up nicely, if only on special occasions. Not that he was interested in dating her or anything. 

After he called her, he folded his sleeves up to his elbows and adjusted his silver cuff-links for a more casual look. He glanced in the mirror, rubbing the dark shadow of stubble on his jaw. There was no time to shave, and the scabs on his knuckles couldn't be helped. He sighed and shrugged. It was the best he could do. He spritzed on some cologne and turned the bathroom light off by voice command, and walked back to the living room just in time for the beep at the door. He'd already typed her name into his door panel for temporary authorization before he called her. 

The door slid open to reveal V. Kane couldn't help but look her up and down. A pink sundress hugged her curves, emphasizing her tiny waist. The ruffled hem fell modestly just above her knees, drawing his eyes down the curves of her legs. When he lifted his gaze back to her face, the flush in her cheeks made him smile.

"You came," Kane swept his arm back, gesturing for her to walk in. 

"Of course," V smiled back nervously, entering his quarters with the swish of her little dress adding a lovely flourish to the movement.

"Sorry Dare couldn't be here," Kane said. "He lives with his parents, so he had a lot of explaining to do. I'm sure you've heard why."

V nodded tentatively. "I was so worried when I didn't see or hear from you - and then, Sienna told me what happened."

Kane placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her to the couch.

"We made him pay," Kane assured her as they both sat down. "That sick bastard is lucky to be alive. He won't dare to touch you or talk to you again, I promise you that." He grasped her hand in his, hoping to give her some comfort, but her honey-gold eyes went wide at the sight of his battered knuckles.

"Kane!" V gasped, tearing up.

Kane went to pull his hand back, but she gently grabbed a hold of it with both of hers.

"You're hurt," V murmured softly, her fingertips gingerly caressing the damage. 

"Because of me . . . "

"You should see the other guy," Kane joked with a wry grin. V looked at him, her eyes tainted with remorse. "Hey, I'm kidding, V. I punched some lockers - it's nothing."

Her shoulders sank and her hands, still cradling his hand, lowered to her lap.

"It's not your fault," Kane slid his hand out of hers and gave her knee a gentle squeeze, before taking it back. "It's his. And I'd do it again - no question."

V gave him a shaky smile, blinking back the tears. "Thank you, Kane." V scooted closer to him, and gazed deep into his eyes. "For everything." She leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around him, squeezing meaningfully.

The smell of strawberry-scented shampoo was enticing and without thinking twice, he wrapped an arm around her tiny frame and squeezed back, brushing a quick kiss on the glossy hair on top of her head. They released the embrace and Kane stood.

"You need anything to drink?" Kane offered, moving toward the kitchen, eager to get some distance between them before he did something he would regret. 

"Um, sure. I'd take a water if you have one?"

"Coming right up," Kane called over his shoulder as he poured himself a glass of red wine. He grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator for V, and joined her back on the couch - making sure to leave some space in the middle. After he handed her the bottle of water, he picked up the TV remote and flicked it on, taking a long sip from his wine glass.

"What is that?" V asked curiously, and for a moment he assumed that she was referring to the show on the TV, before he saw her point to the glass in his hand.

"This?" Kane swirled the deep-red liquid slightly with a flick of his wrist. "It's just wine."

"I don't think I've ever had wine," V replied, a thoughtful expression on her face. "What's it taste like?"

Kane ignored the hum of desire at the flash in his mind of him showing her the taste on his tongue, with a kiss. What the fuck? Knock it off,  he chastised himself for the salacious mental image. 

"It's kind of bitter," Kane told her, his voice coming out huskier than intended. "I could get you a glass if you like?"

"Um, maybe I could just try a sip of yours? I'd hate to waste it if I don't like it." V's eyes widened after she said it, and she stammered, "Oh, unless that's gross for me to drink out of your glass?"

Kane chuckled, holding it out for her to take if she wanted. 

"I'm not afraid of a little saliva."

V blushed as she reached for his glass. 

"I'll try not to drool all over it," she joked with a giggle.

Kane didn't say that he wasn't opposed to the idea of her drooling all over something. 

Fuck, dude! You can't think like that - she's sexy, but she's V. You can't date her, you can't mess with her. You're not that kind of guy, and you'll break her fucking heart. Moron . . . 

He shifted uncomfortably, watching her take a sip, the faint chatter on the TV playing in the background. V wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips in a cute way, when the wine hit her taste buds, and then she swallowed with a shiver.

"Mm," V hummed as she handed it back to him. "It is  bitter."

"Told you," Kane laughed, then proceeded to take another long sip.

"Then why do you drink it?" V asked, so innocently.

Kane shrugged. "It helps me relax."

V batted her long lashes at him, looking perplexed. 

"D-do you need help relaxing, now?" She wondered out loud, her brows furrowing. 

"Do I . . . stress you out?"

Kane set his glass down on the coffee table instantly. 

"That's not it," Kane answered almost in slow motion, trying to choose his words carefully. 

V gazed at him expectantly, nibbling her bottom lip.

"I worry . . . that  I'll . . . scare you off." Kane reluctantly admitted, rubbing the stubble along his jaw.