Chapter Text
The night wrapped around Chicago with its cloak of flickering lights and distant sirens. The cold wind from Lake Michigan blew through the alleys, carrying the scent of asphalt and burnt gasoline. To the north, a storm heavy with rain was approaching, and in the sky, lightning could already be seen in the distance, boldly illuminating the darkness.
A battle had just ended, another night spent defending the city from Limburger’s clutches and his goons.
The Biker Mice had stopped by Charley’s Garage before heading back to the Scoreboard. They wanted to make sure she was okay and that the Last Chance hadn’t been caught up in the fight. But most of all, they wanted to check on the wound Vinnie had sustained during the battle.
«I already told you it's nothing serious. I'm just mad at whoever dared to damage this perfect body of mine. Now the ladies won’t look at me the same way...» Vinnie whined as he got off his bike and leaned against it.
«Someone should really take a shot at your ego rather than your hide» Charley scoffed, approaching him with the first aid kit.
«Hey!» Vinnie protested, crossing his arms over his chest, only to regret it instantly as pain shot through his body, making his face twist in a grimace.
Charley let out a heavy sigh, setting the first aid kit down on the workbench with a dull thud. «Will you sit still and come over here so I can take a look at that wound?»
Vinnie smirked. «I like it when you're so firm with me.»
Charley narrowed her eyes at him, clearly unimpressed, while he kept grinning. Then she turned to Modo and Throttle. «Guys, do you want to handle him instead?»
«No, thanks, Charley-girl. I think he’s happier in your hands» Throttle replied, putting on his helmet and mounting his bike. «And from the way he’s acting, I’d say he’s doing just fine.»
«Especially his mouth» Modo added.
«Well then, we’re heading back to the Scoreboard. We’ll be waiting for you there, Vinnie. Goodnight, Charley-girl!» Throttle called as they rode off.
«Some friends you are!» Charley shouted after them. «You’ll pay for this!»
But Modo and Throttle were already gone, the roar of their bikes fading into the distance.
«Once again, just you and me, baby.»
Charley pretended not to hear and focused on examining his wound. It was a fairly long cut across his chest, on the right side just below his collarbone. It didn’t seem too deep, but a streak of blood had trickled down, staining his white fur.
«So? Are you going to stand there all night acting tough, or will you let me take a look at it?»
«Now that I think about it... maybe a battle scar would make me even more attractive... What do you think?» he flashed his usual cocky smile.
Charley shook her head. «I think you’re hopeless.»
«And yet, you always end up taking care of me. Must be my irresistible charm.»
«Or my sheer frustration.»
Vinnie chuckled and finally walked over to her, sitting down on the stool beside Charley. He lifted his gaze to meet her green eyes. She was clearly annoyed, but there was something else…
A hint of concern, maybe?
«Take off your bandoliers.»
Vinnie gave her a lopsided grin. «Ohhh, sweetheart... I didn’t know you wanted to see me undressed. I’ve been waiting for this request for so long...»
Charley huffed, placing her hands on her hips. «Do you want me to treat your wound, or would you rather bleed out?»
«I was just joking...» he sighed, carefully removing his bandoliers with gritted teeth. Even though the wound wasn’t serious, it still burned like hell, and every little movement made it worse.
Charley bit her lip as she examined the cut. It wasn’t deep, but the thought of Vinnie getting hurt tightened something in her chest. This time, it was just a scratch, nothing serious, but what if next time it wasn’t?
What if next time, he got hurt badly?
Or Throttle? Or Modo?
Every day, they risked their lives to protect not just Earth or Mars, but the entire galaxy.
That thought made Charley’s stomach clench. The fear of one of them getting seriously injured was always there, lurking in the back of her mind. But for now, she needed to focus on the stubborn mouse in front of her. She grabbed some disinfectant and soaked a cotton pad.
«This is going to sting» she warned.
«Sweetheart... I’m the king of pain tolerance.»
«We’ll see about that...»
Charley smirked, already knowing how Vinnie would react the moment the alcohol touched his wound. And she was right.
«Hey, take it easy, Charley-girl! Are you trying to finish me off to save yourself the trouble?» Vinnie flinched.
«Stop being a baby» she murmured, amused, as she continued to treat his wound with care.
Vinnie grumbled under his breath but eventually fell silent, allowing Charley to concentrate. Meanwhile, he watched her closely.
Her expression was focused, slightly furrowed, her green eyes fixed on the wound as she bit her lower lip, a mix of concentration and concern.
For a few moments, silence stretched between them, broken only by the wind outside and the steady rhythm of Vinnie’s heartbeat, which seemed to quicken every time Charley touched him.
The feeling was strange, difficult to explain.
It wasn’t the first time Charley had touched him, she held onto him every time they rode together. But this was different.
Now she was touching his chest with precision, delicacy, and care. And Vinnie found himself almost mesmerized.
He liked Charley. Everyone knew that.
She knew it, and so did his bros. But maybe they all saw it as just a game, some harmless flirting that would fade the moment another girl caught his eye.
But to him, it wasn’t like that. He really liked Charley.
More than just a simple crush.
More than just playful banter or stolen glances at her figure.
It was hard to admit, and he wasn’t sure what it meant yet. But he was falling for her.
Charley was beautiful, smart, and a genius with motorcycles. And most of all, she had accepted him into her life, even though he was a Martian mouse.
Honestly, how could he not fall for her?
Lost in thought, he continued to watch her. A few stray strands of hair had fallen over her forehead, and Vinnie instinctively reached out, brushing them away.
Charley looked up at him, puzzled, and he quickly pulled his hand back, looking away. A faint blush dusted his cheeks.
«You always worry too much about me, Charley-girl» he murmured, eyes averted.
She studied him for a moment, clearly noticing the blush on his face, and a soft smile curved her lips. «Someone has to.»
Vinnie swallowed and turned back to her. «Or maybe you just like taking care of me...»
But when their eyes met, he fell silent.
There was something intense in Charley’s gaze that made him stop joking. He was used to fighting, used to risking his life without a second thought. But knowing that Charley truly cared about him... made him feel different. Important.
He wondered if she saw him differently too.
He wondered if Charley had fallen for him, just as he had fallen for her...
But that thought felt impossible. Ridiculous.
How could Charley-girl ever fall for him? He was just Vinnie. And well... that said it all.
Charley, in the meantime, had been mesmerized for a few seconds by Vinnie’s eyes, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts.
The worry that he might be seriously hurt, his closeness, the warmth of his body, the way his gaze seemed to try to read her mind.
Not to mention her own heart, which she felt pounding faster every time she brushed against him while disinfecting his wound.
There was something different in the air that evening, something between the two of them was shifting.
«You wish...» she replied after a moment, shaking herself from her thoughts and focusing back on his wound.
She had carefully finished disinfecting it, cleaning away all the dried blood around it, and then applied a large bandage over the part that was still bleeding slightly, just to avoid any risk of infection.
«Alright, now you're as good as new.»
«Thanks, Sweetheart. You’ve been really sweet» Vinnie murmured with a smile. And this time, it wasn’t one of his usual smirks or playful grins, this was a soft, sincere smile.
This time, it was Charley who blushed, lowering her eyes slightly. «And you're way too reckless.»
«We balance each other out perfectly, then.»
Charley sighed, but at the same time, a small smile escaped her lips. She put everything back into the first aid kit and leaned tiredly against the counter, throwing a quick glance at the clock on the wall, it was almost midnight.
«And now?» he asked, still watching her. He didn’t really feel like heading back to the Scoreboard. Being alone with Charley didn’t happen often, and he didn’t want to waste the chance.
Charley let out a wide yawn. «Now it's late, I'm sleepy, and I want to go to bed. And you go back to the others, trying not to get yourself killed for at least twenty-four hours.»
«Sounds like a tough challenge...» he muttered, still watching her intently. «Maybe I need a good reason to stay out of trouble...»
Charley stared at him, unsure if it was just another one of his jokes or something more serious. He didn’t have his usual cocky smirk, the one he wore whenever he made playful remarks with a hidden meaning. His expression was different, much deeper.
His eyes revealed a side of Vincent that she had only seen on rare occasions. A Vincent, she found herself thinking, that she would actually like to get to know better.
She sighed, rolling her eyes, then leaned toward him and placed a light kiss on his cheek. «Someone might really worry about you...» she murmured in his ear before pulling back and resting against the table behind her.
Vinnie froze for a moment, eyes wide in surprise, he definitely hadn’t expected things to take this turn. «Sweetheart... You might have seriously found the perfect way to keep me out of trouble.»
Charley let out a soft laugh. «I wouldn’t bet on it.»
He huffed, but when he saw Charley grabbing the first aid kit to put it away, he stood up suddenly, gently taking her hand and making her turn toward him.
Charley looked at him, surprised. His hand slowly intertwined with hers, holding it delicately.
She saw him lean toward her, and she remained still as he brought his face closer and returned the kiss on her cheek, maybe even a little too close to her lips. Vinnie hesitated for a moment before pulling back just slightly and leaning toward her ear.
«Thank you.»
Charley smiled as her cheeks took on a soft pink hue. She squeezed Vincent’s hand and stood there for a few seconds, her eyes lowered, unable to move away, unable to put the first aid kit away, just so she wouldn’t have to let go of his hand.
«Well...» she murmured after a few moments, lifting her gaze and meeting Vinnie’s, who was gently stroking the back of her hand. «Maybe you should stay here tonight. Chicago’s streets aren’t exactly safe, and a motorcycle ride could reopen your wound...»
It was a terrible excuse, Charley knew it, and Vincent knew it too. He smiled, amused but pleased with her suggestion.
«You could’ve come up with a better excuse to tell me you want to spend the night with me, Sweetheart...»
«Don’t make me change my mind instantly.»
«Okay, okay...» Vincent let go of her hand, raising his own in surrender. «How about a movie?»
Charley glanced at the clock again, midnight had already passed.
She should’ve been in bed for at least an hour already, especially since she had a lot of work the next day. But she could never say no to Vinnie.
Some chances, maybe, were meant to be taken, without overthinking the consequences.
Sometimes, it was better to let emotions and instinct take the lead rather than logic.
«Let’s see a movie.»
And as Vincent grinned, settling onto the couch and picking a good film from Charley’s collection of VHS, she put the first aid kit away, pausing for a moment to watch the white-furred mouse sitting on her couch.
She wondered if she had made the right choice. She didn’t know why, but she had the distinct feeling that this was going to be a long night.