is owned and copyrighted by Leiji Matsumoto and company. This story takes place between BE FOREVER and FINAL YAMATO. The "Three Musketeers" are enjoying a lazy afternoon and, contrary to the title and what people may wish for or think, this is not a hentai story. Also, Wildstar and Nova are living together but are only engaged.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon and the air and sun hung lazily as the atmosphere was one of not doing anything but relax and enjoy the day. The Wildstar household was quiet with only the sound of the tele-video. It was the Tokyo Giants and the New York Yankees in the meeting of two baseball powerhouses and Wildstar and Venture lounged on the couch enjoying beer and pretzels. The two friends and crewmates placed a friendly wager where the loser would buy the winner dinner. As it stood, the Giants were up and it was 5-1 in the fourth inning in their favor. Venture puffed on his Marlboro nervously as Thompson wound up for his pitch. Venture won a number of bets, but he had yet to best Wildstar in one. Hopefully, his luck would change.
"Goodbye, Tinwit!"
Nova's voice could be heard through the kitchen door. The Captain-In-Training/Living Group Leader/Head Nurse stormed in, clad in a tanktop and cutoffs, carrying a tray of salsa and Doritos and cursing a blue streak, much to Venture and Wildstar's amused surprise. The Navigator scooched over some to make room for her on the sofa as she plunked down, her lovely face a mask of frustration and tried patience. Wildstar rubbed his wife's back consolingly.
"Nice language, Nova," Venture grinned. "You kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"Yes, I do," Nova replied dryly. "You got a fucking problem with that?"
"No." he laughed.
"What's wrong, Nova?" Wildstar queried. "IQ9 propose to you again?"
"I swear," the Living Group leader huffed. "When I meet his creator, I'm giving that bastard a piece of my mind."
Nova held up a salsa-covered chip and pointed to emphasize. Venture's smile broadened wickedly.
"Is that your biggest piece?" he asked and got a mouthful of pillow.
"No. It's yours."
"Why don't you take IQ home to meet the folks? I'm sure they'll like him."
"Of course," Wildstar laughed. "I can see Terri right now. 'Just the perfect son-in-law I had in mind'."
"What do you do for a living, son?"
"I'm a genius robot who likes flashing women. Especially Nova."
"Why, that's splendid. You have my blessing."
"Up yours!" Nova snorted, belting both jokers.
The laughing resounded throughout the house for awhile as Hiriam glided into the living room to investigate. The blue Persian gave the three humans a quick look, then left to return to his amusement. Nova gracefully, and in one motion, coiled her slender arms around Venture and Wildstar's shoulders as she crossed her bare feet on the coffee table. She kissed both men on the cheek and nestled back to enjoy the game with them. Friends. Crewmates. Brothers and sister. Three Musketeers. They had been in every single scrape and major campaign together and together they always had made it through. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Wildstar got up.
"Pizza!" he announced. "Be right back."
Wildstar returned with four large boxes of pizza and put one on the coffee table and the others on the table next to him. Nova opened up and pulled out two large pepperoni slices for each of them while pouring diet coke for herself. The center fielder Tanaka banged another grand slam making the score 9-2 in the eighth inning. Venture growled to himself as he saw that he was going to lose another bet to Wildstar. Well, at least Wildstar doesn't rub it in. Besides, the Giants have lately been known to fold in the latter innings so there is a chance. Venture munched on his slice and downed a good gulp of beer. Suddenly, a loud belch resounded. Wildstar gave a mock snort and gave a good belch of his own while Nova observed this with dry amusement wondering where she got such classy individuals as crewmates. Suddenly, she grinned.
"I bet I can top both of you," she claimed.
"Really?" Wildstar mused. "Let's hear it."
Nova drank her tonic and took a deep breath. Suddenly, the loudest burp echoed through the house followed by RAAAAAAPPPPPOOORRTTT!!!! A swampy, eggy odor graced the room as Wildstar calmly got up to open the windows and turn on the ceiling fan on high as Venture nearly gagged.
"HOLY SHIT!" he gasped. "WHAT DIED!"
"Guess I put too much spice in the salsa," Nova shrugged, munching on another slice. "Sorry about that."
"Don't feel bad," Wildstar smirked. "I gotta get up to that in the morning."
"And you love it, darling."
"Sure. Fumigate the house every three days. A real blast."
"I'd say give IQ9 one of those," Venture mused. "Except he doesn't have a nose."
"I was thinking more along the lines of giving Tinwit's creator a blast or two."
"You read my mind, Derek," Nova smiled.
After a few minutes, the air became breathable again and the trio resumed their spots on the sofa. By this time the game was over and the second part of the scheduled double-header started. It was the Saint Louis Cardinals and Orix Blue Wave. The three Yamatoites were on the cheese pizza when a thought crossed Venture's mind.
"You know," he stated, "I've been thinking."
"Careful," Wildstar retorted. "Could be hazardous to your health."
"Love you, too. How often do we do this?"
"Do what?"
"You know, bond. Just hang out and kill an afternoon."
"It's nice," Nova smiled. "No missions or General Stone or whoever on our case. Just peace and quiet."
"It is nice," Wildstar concurred. "This reminds me of when I was younger. Alex and I would spend the whole Sunday afternoon watching baseball and eating pizza."
"Samuel, Alicia and I would watch movies."
"Ain't family bonding great?" Venture smiled. "I wonder what Desslok would do?"
"Probably watch a torture session or execution with his folks," Wildstar quipped.
"Well, what's good is that there ain't anything going on. Thus, we can have more days like this."
"Yes." Nova raised her glass. "Here's to more of these and no invasions."
"I'll drink to that."
"Me too." Wildstar chirped as the three of them clinked glasses.
As the trio settled into the sofa to enjoy the game, Hiriam slunk in and nonchalantly hopped into Nova's lap. The Persian's fur tickled the denim as he nestled into a comfortable position and fell asleep. The day drifted casually into evening as the sun gently descended and the blue sky became a gorgeous magenta-burnt sienna-gold masterpiece as the pizza boxes piled at the foot of the sofa and the Cardinals were able to squeak out a 7-6 win at the bottom of the tenth inning. In all, it was a wonderful afternoon between friends and crewmates.
THE END
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