Getting Settled Pt 9

Sienna had actually managed to convince Walter to watch some of the "cow girl" action. Some of the actual events really were just sporting events. Albeit with cow girls instead of cattle. Apparently the really wild stuff would be later.

It apparently wasn't all "cow girls" either. They overheard some spectators saying that it would be the ladies turns tomorrow night with "Cow boys" and a big mixed show with both the night after that.

Sienna watched Walt almost as much as the show. He didn't seem to be that interested in the ones who were dressed up or modified but he did seem to be interested in the minotaurs and other like species. *He does like different species and powerful women,* she thought and smiled. *Including me.*

She wondered if he'd like that sort of life... retire and fill his ranch up with different species of girls to look after. She tried to picture it and realized he was well on his way already! He had cat and fox types, a rabbit and a reptilian... hell he had a werewolf and a dragon now! She thought about Walt with a small herd of cow girls, sheep girls and other types. He'd need a dog girl by his side to help keep them in line. He'd be good to them. See to their wants and needs. Kind and caring, not cruel and awful. He and they looked happy in her vision.

Sienna shook her head at the strange thought! It wasn’t like her... She was Sienna Khan! Leader of the White Fang!

*You were the "Former" leader,* the little voice in her head told her. *And how did that turn out? Betrayed. Cast down. Murdered. Replaced. What did your campaign of fear and intimidation actually accomplish? You drove away enemies but also potential alies.* She hated to admit it but that was certainly true. Noone was by her side when Adam struck her down except for traitors and cowards.

Penny and her weird notions were getting into all of their heads! Still... he had been nothing but kind to her. She respected him and he had always respected her. Hell he was doing this right now because he thought it would make her happy... and she realized she liked it when he was happy too!

She looked at Walt. He'd been a friend to her with nothing to gain. Would he have fought to protect Faunus? Fought to protect her? Stood by her side? *Yes,* she thought. *He'd most likely have done it with a smile on his face.*

Though he didn't look too happy at the moment... he was blushing again. She looked at the action. She understood. The "competition" was heating up now. He was uncomfortable about that... she was too.

"Sienna..." "Walt..."

They both said at the same time turning to each other. They smiled and nodded. Time to go.

Getting back into the SUV Walter turned to her. "Well that didn't quite go as planned..."

"It wasn't terrible though," she assured him. "I actually enjoyed the traditional events and some of the following were interesting."

Walt nodded and smiled. "I'm glad Sienna. Did you want to try the Fair or the Drive-in or something else?"

She smiled, "How about something else? I'd kind of like to just go exploring with you. Let's just drive around and see what interests us!"

Walt grinned. "I like that idea. Hang on. Friday?"

(("All teams reporting in. All clear, Boss."))

Walt looked at Sienna. "Seems like we're not popular tonight."

Sienna laughed. "Too bad. Guess we'll have to go find our own entertainment after all!"

They drove off into the night.

"Are you comfortable, Tsuyu?"

Tsu looked up. "Yes. Thank you, Anastasia. Ribbit."

Pirotess looked at her. "You surprised me. I didn't think you'd come back and now to find you're a healer..."

Anastasia shook her head. "No healer. Just a soldier of sorts. Basic medical attention is easy to pickup and useful on the battlefield. You never know. Someday the life it saves maybe you're own. And I had bad luck. My path crossed Walters and he caught me."

She pushed her glasses up with a finger as she checked the monitors and looked at Neopolitan who nodded. Everything looked fine and she and Manami were texting keeping everyone updated.

Anastasia nodded. "You were probably correct earlier, Pirotess. Too hasty. We should plan better before acting." She looks at her. "And Walter's assessment the otherday was accurate as well. I have not always chosen my alies well. I don't think I can trust Demona. She hates humans. Mystique is no better and perhaps worse."

Pirotess crossed her arms. "You wouldn't have attacked Tsuyu?"

She smirks. "If I thought she was trying to stop me of course I would. But in a way... we're all prisoners here... and Tsuyu isn't with them or us. I do not believe she'd have been a threat."

Neo raised an eyebrow and pointed at herself questioning.

She shook her head. "What will you report? That we still plan to escape? Everyone knows this. I told Walter that earlier myself. He accepted that. He's had military training? Probably a version of SERE. He understands."

"What are you suggesting?" Pirotess looked at her. "I find it hard to believe you'd be trusting enough to suggest we team up together."

Anastasia nods. "Nor I you. But I gather you have worked with humans before, successfully. Perhaps we might trust each other enough to at least watch the others back?" She looked thoughtful as she stood and turned to face Pirotess crossing her arms, mirroring her. "I... apologize for my previous behavior."

Pirotess is surprised. She thinks about what little she knows about this woman. That can't have been easy for here to say. "Accepted... my own behavior was not the best. Apologies. Let us agree to forget about it, moving forward."

Anastasia nods. "Accepted. I also think that's for the best."

Neopolitan watches this interested. Not long ago that was her. Still was... but she was making an effort to change and be different. So far it was working well... perhaps these two could find success in changing as well.

Tsuyu wasn't sure how to feel about "bad guys" starting to form an alliance of sorts, but she was glad that her bunk mates might start getting along a bit better. Things had been tense in there between them. Maybe after this at least more then half of them could start getting along just a bit better?

Walt and Sienna drove around listening to music and talking about things. He asked her what other things she enjoyed in her past, like dancing, that she hadn't had time or opportunities to do since the White Fang. Turned out Sienna liked physical activities and pursuits. Like Pyrrha, she hadn't had opportunities to just play around.

Walt smiled and had an idea. "I have an idea I think you might like. Let's go in here."

Sienna looked at the store then Walter and blinked. "A surplus store?"

He nodded and lead the way. "We need different clothes. What I have in mind can get messy and I don't want your outfit to get messed up."

She was surprised again when he only looked at "used" articles of clothes. Finding things for her wasn't too hard but shoping for Walters size was a bit limited.

She laughed at the goofy looking camo patterns he picked out for them. Her's were a bunch of cat shapes and he found something with a big lumbering figures he called "big foot". The colors weren't too bad but... "Walter how will we be hidden in these?"

He chuckled. "Not well. That's half the fun!"

Shaking her head he took them to something called "paintball" and they rented equipment as the staff explained the rules. When they demonstrated the equipment to Sienna she started to understand and laugh. Shaking her head they went to the changing rooms. This might be fun.

Thirty minutes later as she shot some guys Walter had lured out for her she decided he had been right! She was enjoying this as she splattered them with the paint pellets laughing.

Even better. Walter was supporting her lead and taking her directions and orders. Even in that ridiculous outfit he moved well. Though he didn't attack much. He seemed to like being the target. He was the bait in their reverse tiger trap!

They were dominating the battle field awhile... if he took it just a bit more seriously they'd "win" easily she felt... but he wasn't. Infact as the other teams seemed to realize their abilty and target them he threw himself in the way to protect her getting "hit". She hurried away from her pursuers with the precious time he'd foolishly bought her.

She watched as he had his hands up, "out" of the game, but he high-fived the young couple that "hit" him, one in ridiculous pink camouflage and a tiara and the other in bright red camouflage, congratulating them. He'd done it on purpose she realized. There was nothing to "win" here other than a cheap free soda drink. He wanted it to be sporting and fun for everyone.

She was so surprised by the revelation by the time she realized she was in "danger" she'd already been hit. She saw a timid blue haired girl looking at her, "Uhm... are you okay?" She asked.

Sienna realized she was "out" and still hadn't indicated it yet. "Sorry." She raised her hands and put them on top of her head. "Uh... good shot."

The girl smiled widely. "Thank you very much! It's my first time! You're an amazing opponent!" She ducked back into the trees and obstacles.

She saw Walt and the other people who were "out" had moved out if the play area. He smiled at her and waved holding up a soda. She waited and then made her way over smiling. She felt she understood. This wasn't all or nothing battle. There was nothing at stake here except for smiles.

It was more fun to play.

She passed some guys in their bulky white and black "armor" now splattered in colorful paint. They were high-fiving each other, even though they hadn't come close to hitting anyone.

"So... how do you like paintball?" He asked handing her the drink.

She was looking at his smile, thinking about that girl's and that couple's smiles, as she smiled herself and took the offered beverage. "I think I like it! You chose well!" She found she was laughing.

He was too! "I hoped you might enjoy this."

She nodded. "Can we go again?"

He grinned. "I tell you what. We can go as many times as you like until you get hungry. Then we'll go get cleaned up at the showers and get food. Deal?"

She smiled. "Deal... will you take our last match seriously?"

He chuckled and winked. "I'll think about it." He was watching everyone else having fun. She did too.

Tsuyu was embarrassed. "This wasn't the deal that Walter and I had made. Why are there always so many of you? Ribbit."

Kali smiled at her as Ilulu laughed and said, "Sure it is! One or two people who watch over you. The rest of us are just hanging out!" She grinned at Sasha and said. "You owe Raven twenty one hundred!"

Sasha groaned looking at their board game and handing all her play money to Raven. "I'm out again! I'm not good at this one. Let's play something else next!"

"I think that is a wonderful idea!" Penny said. "Tsu can pick the next one!" They all nodded.

"Open up!" Senko told Tsuyu and fed her. "It's more fun this way don't you think, Tsu? Isn't it nice?"

Tsuyu nodded. It was embarrassing but also nice. Everytime her appointed care takers switched out other people just kept "dropping by" and "hanging out". If she was resting the quiet ones would read. If she was awake the others would watch TV or movies with her. Now they were playing a game as Senko and Kali insisted on mothering her as Sayoko covered her with a blanket.

"It is nice," Tsuyu admitted. "It feels a little like home. Ribbit."

Everyone smiled. "It is home, Tsu." Penny said as she counted. "If you want it to be. That is all Walter wants for any of us. Too be happy." She nodded and handed her play money to Ilulu. "I am out of the game as well! Congratulations you two!"

"Yay!" Said Ilulu laughing.

"Thank you..." Raven said trying to act bored but she still had a smile on her face. She was having fun.

Tsuyu smiled. "And what do you want Penny? Ribbit."

Penny grinned as she came over and took Tsuyu's hand. "I want to make Walter happy. And if making everyone happy is what makes Walter happy, then I want everyone to be happy too! I think that is wonderful! It is a happiness that grows! Don't you think that sounds nice?"

Tsuyu looked around and everyone did seem happy. Penny was a strange girl but the happiness here did infact seem to keep growing. Sure it had It's setbacks but, even in the short time she'd been here, she'd noticed more and more smiles.

She thought about Walt earlier smiling at her, even when he was concerned about her and angry about Mystique, and immediately after thought about Izuku and All Might. He too seemed to be someone who understood the importance of a smile.

"That is also nice, Penny," she said with a smile. Senko had another spoonful for her. "It's very nice. Ribbit." She opened her mouth and accepted another bite and the care and attention of the others.

[Walter Stark and Sienna Khan

Will Return In

Getting Settled Pt 10

Cuming Soon]