4th wall after the fact - a thing that should have happened at route_29

[getthehorns]

[ The residents of Casa de Rikku will get a rather rude awakening this morning in the form of Cliffjumper's Haunter freaking the hell out. Yes, Cliffjumper has magically vanished from his usual spot next to Rikku while everyone else was dead asleep. The Ghost pokémon seemed to be the first one to notice as he drifted through the wall of the bedroom.

The sudden appearance of a big red car in the front yard has also got Tanta a little startled. ]

Comments

[getthehorns]

Oh stop. I'm just teasing. Nothing you can do'll hurt me.

[machinamonkey]

Even if I took a screwdriver to you? Sees what makes you run?

[She giggles a little.]

[getthehorns]

... I'll get back to you on that.

[machinamonkey]

I wouldn't. I want my boyfriend in one piece.

[A pause as she realizes what this whole conversation has been about and implying]

...Anyway, where to?

[getthehorns]

Anywhere there's an open road. You might want to buckle up.

[machinamonkey]

Buckle--oh.

[Rikku gets shotgun and buckles up]

Don't wreck Becca's tulips. She'll use Sleep Powder on me.

[getthehorns]

Hey, I can be careful! [ And he is. He maneuvers out of the yard with surprising care. Once he hits the road, though, he floors it and takes off to one of the surrounding routes. ]

[machinamonkey]

Whoa!

[It takes Rikku a second to recover, but she laughs as soon as she does. She loves speed]

Warn a girl next time, hehe!

[getthehorns]

Where would the fun in that be? [ his smirk is practically audible. And he loves speed too, because he is going as fast as he can, tearing around corners and jumping those stupid little ledges. ]

[machinamonkey]

I don't wanna fall over!

[But she's still laughing. This is as close to flying--not with Ren--as she's gotten since coming back]

Or get sick on the leather!

[getthehorns]

You had better not get sick on my seats! [ He's teasing, though, and that much is obvious. ]

[machinamonkey]

Don't worry, I don't get motion sick easy!

[This is so much fun.

...And not what most girls mean when they say "my boyfriend gave me the ride of my life" but who cares?!]

[getthehorns]

Good. [ Because this ledge leans more towards being a cliff, and true to his name, he jumps right off it. ]

[machinamonkey]

Ahh! Cliffjumper!

[Rikku nearly bonks her head on the dash from the impact, but she's laughing in between the "ow"s]

[getthehorns]

You okay there?

[machinamonkey]

Yeah! Nearly brained myself, but I'm good!

[getthehorns]

Hey, I won't let you get hurt. I promise.

[machinamonkey]

I know, Cliff. I trust you.

[She pats the dash since...yeah]

[getthehorns]

[ If he had a mouth right now, he'd be smiling. ] Last stop, hold on!

[ He goes tearing into a clearing somewhere and skids to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust as he does. Once it settles, he opens the door for her again. ]

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku climbs out, laughing when she falls to the ground on her butt for the third time this morning]

Best. Boyfriend. Ever.

[getthehorns]

[ He lets out a laugh as he transforms, sitting down next to her ] And now you know why they call me Cliffjumper.

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku leans up against him. She misses the fleshy Cliff body, but this is nice. It's what Cliff really is, after all]

And I thought it was just because you guys get names like Ironhide and they don't really have a meaning.

[getthehorns]

[ He curls a hand around her, almost protectively. ]

Heh, well, I guess some of us live up to our names. Ironhide is the toughest Autobot I've ever seen, so it fits.

[machinamonkey]

Tough like in a fight or tough as in general stubbornness?

[getthehorns]

Uh, yes. But mostly the first one.