Rain

An Invidia Story by AMI MEITSU

A/N: This takes place in about March of 2203, when Arty and Invidia are still dating…

It was the middle of a beautiful day, warm, sunny, but un-enjoyable, well only for Invidia.

‘This is what I get for putting off my cleaning…’ She thought as she stood on a chair and dusted the top of her entertainment center, she had taken all the pictures off of it already, they also needed dusting. She hated late cleaning so much, and on a beautiful day too! ‘I bet Arty’s having a better day then I am…Arty…I should see him soon, we haven’t gone out or really been together in almost two weeks I’ve been so busy!’

“Maybe we could do something together…” Invidia said to herself as she got down. “Or I could just go see him; he’d probably like that too.” She sighed, Invidia couldn’t believe that she couldn’t think of one thing to do with him. ‘Well I guess I could just go over, and we can make plans then, it’d be better if we both had consent…’

“All right then, I’ll see him tomorrow!” She said to herself. And that’s exactly what she did, the next day was a little colder than the first but Invidia really didn’t mind, besides she thought her blue gown gave her plenty of cover as she walked. When she had first come to Earth she had figured out that when one lives in the city, it’s just easier to walk to certain places. Sure Arty’s place wasn’t really close, but Invidia always enjoyed the walk, well not in the winter of course, but warm days were always pretty good for a walk.

‘And to think I used to hate the weather here, so warm and sunny…now it’s kind of enjoyable…’ Invidia sighed, but it was a happy sigh, she quickly twirled on her feet and headed to the park, the long way to Arty’s. It was a bad idea though…because, halfway through her walk the sky turned gray and soon after, it started to rain. Hard.

‘The weather report didn’t say anything about rain…and did it get colder?’ Invidia asked herself as she started to run, she regretted not wearing a coat now, at least she would’ve been somewhat dry if she had worn one. ‘I hate this!’ She thought as she came into the main lobby of the building. ‘I’m wet and freezing and…and…’ She stopped thinking as she began to cry. “What’s Arty going to think?” she whispered to herself as she came up to his floor. “He’ll probably call me stupid, that’s what…”

She sighed and looked down after she had knocked.

Arty came a few minutes later. “Yes what do you…? Princess?!”

Invidia looked up at him with shy eyes.

“Look at you,” He continued. “You’re soaking wet! You’re gonna catch a cold like this!” He ushered her inside.

“I…I j…just wanted to c…come see you.” Invidia stuttered as she talked because of her shivering.

“Don’t you carry an umbrella?” He asked.

“I didn’t know it was supposed to rain or m…maybe I would have.”

“You need to warm up, take off those wet clothes and go take a shower.”

“Take off my…No! I thought you were decent and now you’ve turned out to be a pervert!”

“Invidia…”

“Just what am I supposed to wear after my shower?”

“Princess, listen to me! I want you to take off your clothes and leave them outside the bathroom; I’ll pick them up and throw them in the wash, okay? And as for what you’ll wear…” Arty went into his room and soon came back with something black in hand. “Here, I was going to give this to you as a gift, but you need it now.”

Invidia looked at it, he had given her a pair of black satin-like pajamas, they were cute. She looked up at him.

“Okay, you can go now.” He said.

“Can I take a bath instead?,” she asked.

“I don’t care you just need to get warm, it should help, just don’t make a mess.”

Invidia gave him a small nod and headed into the bathroom. She got busy running her bath and stripping down…but right before she did, she realized something. ‘Do I really want to give him my clothes? All of my clothes, I mean does he really need to see everything?!’ She sighed; it wasn’t that she minded him handling her dress or even her slip, but her underwear? The things she covered up for a reason? “I guess I just have to deal…I mean, it’s not like he’s going to try anything…right?” She asked herself, the she sighed again and slowly took off her dress, and everything else with it, the only thing she kept was her panties, she figured that there was no way she was going to have nothing on under her pajamas. She then quickly put a towel around her body, in case Arty was waiting, and laid her clothes out in the hall. When she came back into the bathroom she locked the door, leaned against it and sighed. Her day was not off to a good start.

‘Oh well, at least I get a bath…’ She thought as she slipped into the water. It warmed her up immediately and she liked it a lot better than freezing in the living room. “Arty was right…it does help…I could stay here forever…” Invidia whispered to herself. ‘But I need bubbles, bubble baths were always better anyway…’

“Uh, Princess?” Arty said while softly tapping on the door twenty minutes later.

“Yes?,” she asked.

“Don’t you think it’s been long enough? I mean…”

“No! I’ll come out when I’m ready, go do something with yourself!” Invidia snapped. “Oh wait I know! Find me some bubble bath, would you?”

“Fine, but you’d just be ruining your other present.”

“I don’t care! Just bring it to me!”

Arty sighed but he did go and dig the bottle out of his room, which was meant to be another gift for Invidia. ‘Wait a minute!’ He thought. ‘If she’s in the bath…then how…hmm…’ It was then that he got an idea. Nothing big, just a small idea meant to scare her a little…He smiled to himself and went back out into the hall, there, he felt along the top of the bathroom door until he found a key. ‘Perfect…’ He thought. Then he slowly unlocked the door, and suddenly came in with the bottle in hand.

Invidia screamed and quickly covered her chest in an attempt to cover herself more. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Here,” he threw her the bottle.

“Good, now get out!”

“What if I don’t want to? It is my bathroom you know…”

Invidia glared and picked up a shampoo bottle, then, she threw it at him or near him, he left before it could hit him. Then, he leaned against the door, fell to the ground, and just laughed. She was so funny, and he didn’t think she’d freak out that much.

‘That…was…priceless! The look on her face! And I wasn’t even looking at her, really!’ He got up and went into the kitchen, still laughing as he walked.

Meanwhile, Invidia had picked up the bottle of bubble bath and ran more water into it to spread the bubbles around.

“Perfect…” She sighed as she slipped down in the water; it just felt so nice to take a warm bath after being struck by the cold rain. ‘I just hope he didn’t see anything…’ She sighed and about an hour later, she finally came out.

“It’s about time, Princess…” Arty said.

She glared at him. “You told me to take a bath! You didn’t say I had to be done quickly and I was relaxed until you came in.” Invidia huffed, as she sat down on the couch. “And I hope you got a good look because that’s the only time you will ever see me without my clothes.”

“Invidia I wasn’t looking, I just wanted to scare you a little, that’s all,” Arty sat next to her. “Come on, loosen up, it was funny.”

“From your end maybe! I thought it was rude, and actually quite perverted.”

“But you’re pretty, I don’t know why you don’t like to be exposed…”

“How would you know that?! You…You were looking…” Invidia backed up from him. “I…I thought you to be decent but you’re just a big perv!”

“Princess…I was kidding. I told you, I only meant to scare you, and just to clarify I’ve never seen you naked, it’s just the way you look in general.” Arty took her hand. “You’re thin, curvy and you’ve got such a pretty face. I just think you’d be pretty if you showed off a little more, just like you do when you wear some of your black dresses to dinner.”

“Pervert.” Invidia muttered.

“Hey I’m just trying to be nice!”

“But when you say things like that you sound perverted…”

“Whatever, I’m gonna go start dinner.” He got up and walked off. “Is there anything you want?”

Invidia shook her head. “No…” She leaned back and just looked up at the ceiling. ‘I don’t think this is how either of us planned to spend our evening…but…it’s okay. I just needed to see him…’ She sighed.

“You know, you can turn on the TV or something if you want…”

“I’m fine…” Invidia said as she leaned her head on one of his pillows, it was actually comfortable. She yawned and then, she actually began to fall asleep…

“Invidia?” Arty asked a little while later while gently stoking her cheek with his hand.

“Princess, come on…get up…”

“Arty?”

“Hm?”

“I…I just...How long was I out for?”

“About an hour, and you looked so cute…but dinner’s ready so I need you up.”

Invidia nodded and stretched out for a second, before getting up and following Arty into the kitchen.

“Arty…what did you…?” She looked at around, the table was nicely set with candles, and a table cloth…and the rest of it just looked elegant.

“I know you probably wanted to go out, but I figured that this is good enough.”

“Arty…it’s beautiful, I just wished I was dressed better, this is the kind of thing I’m supposed to wear a black dress for, not pajamas…” Invidia said.

“It’s okay, I had to get you new clothes, and you look cute.” He kissed her head. “Now just enjoy it, okay? I even got some of that wine you like…it was up in the cabinet.”

Invidia smiled at him as he took her hand and led her to her place at the table.

“It all looks so nice…” Invidia said as she looked at it. It was a lot more beautiful up close.

“Thanks.” Arty smiled at her and put a glass of wine next to her plate, then, he got his own and they clinked glasses before actually starting on their dinner.

“Invidia…” Arty started halfway through.

“Yes?” She looked at him.

“Well, I don’t exactly know how to say it…but…when I picked up your clothes…well…”

“If you’re going to ask what I think you’re gonna ask, then don’t. I only gave you three things, I kept my panties. I…I didn’t want to go without anything underneath this.”

“That’s fine, I set the rest of your clothes on the back of the couch. You can get them when you’re ready to leave…if you leave.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s getting bad outside and I don’t think I want you going home in a storm, more so, I don’t like driving in them.”

“So…that means…” Just as she started there was a flash of lightning outside. Invidia jumped a little, as its suddenness startled her.

“Make that definitely when you leave, you can’t go home like this so you’re staying here tonight.”

Invidia gave a small, nervous nod. ‘I can’t…I just can’t if I do then…then he’ll find out… And he’ll know that his girlfriend is just a pathetic baby…’ She sighed, and after dinner she just got up on the couch and sat. She didn’t put her clothes on though, she was actually pretty comfortable in her pajamas and house slippers. Meanwhile Arty cleaned up the kitchen and then got in the shower himself. Invidia looked around and decided to inspect the bookshelf in his room; she needed something to do…and had a definite liking for reading.

After a couple minutes she found a novel that looked interesting, but she was surprised…she didn’t think a guy like Arty would novels with romance, just a little bit not a lot. The story itself seemed to focus on being in space just like on the Argo.

She got so into it that she didn’t even notice when Arty came out.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“Oh, hey…” Invidia looked up at him, a little peeved since she was in the middle of a very interesting love scene. She always liked those…ever since her Father first started buying her adult romance novels when she was fifteen.

“You stole my book.”

“And?”

“Never mind.” Arty sat on the couch with her just as the first crack of thunder came through.

Invidia jumped again.

“You okay, Princess?”

“Yes…it just…startled me.”

“You’re cute when you’re scared, come here…” Arty beckoned her over and she went over into his lap.

“I wasn’t scared, just startled…” Invidia said.

“Just be quiet.” He held her close. “You smell nice…” He teased.

“It’s the bubble soap, its strawberry, and thank you for it…” Invidia leaned her head on his shoulder. It was comfortable, she liked sitting close with him, it was comforting and she liked the closeness.

“So Invidia, since your staying do you want to sleep in my room? I’ll sleep out here.”

“No, I’m fine here; it’s comfortable, like you. And…you smell nice too.” Invidia quickly sniffed his neck, but found that it was hard to stop.

“Invidia’s a scent pervert…” He whispered.

“I am NOT!”

“Scent pervert.”

Invidia turned her head away.

“Come on, I’m just kidding!” Arty said, then he quickly put his hands on her waist and tickled her.

“Arty, stop it!” She laughed. “You know I don’t like being tickled!”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“Unfortunately…I’m ticklish. Stop it!”

He stopped and hugged her. “I’m gonna find you a blanket, okay?”

Invidia nodded and got up so that he could get up himself. A minute or so later he presented her with a long blue blanket. “Here…Now I’m going to bed,” he said.

She fixed it so that it laid the way she wanted and looked at him.

“What?”

“You have to kiss me good night…” Invidia said. “I mean while you’re here you might as well…”

Arty smiled at her, went over, and kissed her head. “Good night Princess…” He hugged her.

“Night,” she said.

Arty took one last glance at her, turned out the light and left. It was then that Invidia became scared. The rain was falling harder and harder…just as another loud clap of thunder came through.

Invidia screamed.

“Princess, are you okay?” Arty called.

“Yes, I just got up and tripped that’s all!” Invidia lied.

“All right…”

After that the apartment got quiet again and Invidia breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe, and so was her secret, one of her deep secrets…

She changed position so that she lay on her side, and shivered at the noise outside. Why? The truth was, Invidia hated storms, no, she was afraid of them. She just thought it was sad that she hadn’t grown out of her fear…A fear she had ever since she was little, due to the fact that she wasn’t used to storms…

In fact, her mother had the same fear, Zordar said. She, like Invidia wasn’t used to it and was often afraid that something would break and fall on the hotel or palace they were staying in, depending on where they were allowed to stay during negotiations. And he also said her constant screaming scared Invidia, and she wouldn’t sleep through the night, she just cried and cried…

‘I hate this…’ Invidia thought. ‘And I can’t tell him…this is worse than being alone at my place! I mean, Arty’s supposed to love and comfort me, but for something like this he’d just roll his eyes and tell me I’m a baby I bet…I mean, what kind of grown woman is afraid of thunder?’ She sighed and rolled over on her back, then she just looked at the ceiling, shivering and thinking dark thoughts as she did. After an hour or so, she couldn’t take it anymore, it was just too much, and not being able to go Arty was just horrible, so she just got up and went into his room.

‘He actually looks nice when he’s asleep, I…I hate to wake him, but…’ Invidia went over and gently shook him. “Arty?” she whispered.

“Hm?” he turned to look at her.

“Can I sleep with you?”

“I guess…” Arty muttered.

Invidia said nothing else and just climbed into bed with him, as soon as she did a loud clap of thunder sounded. She grabbed onto him, whimpering while she did so.

“Invidia, what are you doing?”

“Hold me!” she demanded.

Arty rolled over to his other side and grabbed her. “What’s this about?” he asked gently.

“I…well…”

It sounded again and she jumped a little as tears formed in her eyes.

“Invidia…are you afraid of thunder storms?”

‘How could he possibly…?’ “Yes,” She admitted. “I have been ever since I was little. I’m sorry…”

“For what?” Arty asked as he ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s okay; everyone has their own fear, Princess.”

“So…you don’t think I’m a baby?”

Arty shook his head and pulled her closer. “No, I don’t. I told you everyone has fears and it’s all right…I’m sure it’ll pass soon.”

Invidia nodded. “You know…Right now, you remind me of my Father…Whenever I was afraid, when things like this happened on planets we visited, I’d get into bed with him and he’d just hold me and talk to me until I calmed down enough to go to sleep. And I like it…it’s kind of nice…”

“You miss him, don’t you?”

Invidia nodded again.

“It’s okay, I’m here for you.”

Invidia smiled to herself, finding that her position was comfortable, and it felt nice to have him near her. She sighed and finally went to sleep.

The next morning when Arty got up he was surprised to see Invidia next to him until he remembered that he had just been cuddling with her.

‘She’s so cute…’ He thought as she slept, and then moved over onto her back. That’s when Arty noticed the three buttons that had come undone on her pajama top. He was a little embarrassed to be looking but he just thought she looked good…

‘It is embarrassing to think but she’s very pretty…and I can’t figure out why she doesn’t like to show off…she really is pretty…’ Arty thought as he almost ran his finger down her neck down to her breasts. He stopped himself though. ‘I can’t… that would only prove to her that I’m a perv…but a perv who admires the way she looks…’ He then got up, pulled the blanket up on her a little more and went into the kitchen to make breakfast.

About a half-hour later Invidia got up herself, confused for a moment until she remembered what happened.

“Where did Arty go?” She mumbled to herself as she got up. She headed down the hall and into the kitchen, where, she found him with breakfast, a half-done breakfast.

“Arty?,” she said.

“Oh, morning Princess.” He smiled at her. “I’ll be done here in a minute, for now you can sit or fix your top, whichever comes first.”

“Hm?” Invidia looked down and defensively placed a hand over her chest. “Arty, why are you looking?! You’re worse than I thought…” She walked away and picked up her clothes form the top of the couch. “I’m gonna go change…and no peeking!”

“Darn,” Arty joked.

Invidia rolled her eyes and went back in the bathroom to change back into her regular clothes, after which she joined Arty for breakfast before he took her home.

“Are you sure you weren’t bothered by me last night?” she asked when he took her up to her own apartment.

“No, I actually thought it was kind of cute, I mean you come off as mean and evil but it’s nice to see other sides of you. I love you.”

“I love you too…” Invidia said as she took his hands, leaned up, and kissed him. “Do you want to come in for awhile?” She asked.

“Sure…”

Invidia then unlocked the door and they spent the rest of the afternoon just being together…