The parking lot, then around town, Thursday afternoon

[fantastic_torch]

Johnny's bike was idling; the chrome was polished, the tank full. Now all he needed was Hinata.

He trusted that she'd show, though he was a bit concerned she might have second thoughts. She didn't call him to tell him nevermind, so he knew she'd be here. He had her a helmet and hoped she'd dressed the part.

This wasn't a date. Not at all. He was like what, a big brother to her or something. Savannah totally wouldn't care. Right?

Right.

Straddling his motorcycle, he rested a hand on his thigh, looking out for the little girl that he was going to take for a ride.

[For the one mentioned, please.]

Comments

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Are motorcycles?" he asked but didn't really expect an answer.

Johnny reached out to try and help her settle it on her head. "There are straps... just under here..."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

The helmet settled on her head and Hinata frowned a bit, not liking the feel of it on her head--it was odd, really, to having something like that on her head, and it would be even worse when it restricted her vision. She fumbled for the straps anyway, following his directions. There were all kinds of courage, she could live with a helmet.

"N-No motorcycles," she answered, because it was better to answer than think too much about the helmet. "O-Or cars either. O-Our fastest w-way of g-getting things f-from one place to a-another is by n-ninja."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Ninja uh?" he asked with a grin. "Well, you might think this a bit faster." Johnny settled himself back on his bike, put on his own helmet, and reached out towards her, palm up. "Come on, sweetheart. Time to ride."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She grinned a bit, steeling herself before taking his hand before moving to get on the bike.

"N-Ninja," Hinata said, smiling. "A-And we don't h-have to worry about gas."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny chuckled. "Not worrying about gas is a good thing. All right now, wrap your arms around my waist and hold on," he said and waited for her to do just that before he slowly took off.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She did so, with a fair bit of trepidation, but she could see the reasoning in that much at least.

And then, when he took off, her arms tightened around him as she peeked down at the ground.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Of course, being Johnny, he picked up speed once he felt her arms tighten around him. She was good to go, he assumed, and kicked the gears up another notch, going even faster.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata... supposed she should have guessed that he was going to do that. That got a squeak and she clung to him.

Boys.

She made sure that her grip was secure as she got used to the speed, and had to grin a bit. This wasn't so bad, not really.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He was smiling wide, speeding along the town's streets, more on the straightaways so he could go faster, let her feel the wind whip her clothes about, feel the engine roar beneath her. He turned his head just slightly, enough to yell, "You all right?"

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Was she supposed to yell back? She was alright, it was even fun, but yelling wasn't... well, wasn't something she did much of funnily enough.

She grinned, and hoped her laugh was audible enough for him to hear. "It's f-fun!"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny heard and laughed. He planned on stopping for lunch and then afterward, letting her sit in front and hold the handlebars herself. Give her a sense of the motorcylce more directly. That is if she'd be willing.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She would be willing to try at least, emboldened by the fact that this was surprisingly fun and the fact that she knew Johnny would make sure that she didn't mess anything up.

Hinata took a deep breath and called, before she thought better of it, "Can we go faster?"

No stuttering even.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Music to his ears. "You bet!" And he gunned it then, taking the bike, not to top speed, but close.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Her arms tightened involuntarily, but she laughed as they sped up.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

This was just what he'd been hoping for.

He rode them around for another good hour before he slowed down near the diner, coming to an easy and careful stop. He pulled off his helmet and hung it on the handlebars and turned slightly to face her. "Ready to handwavily la get a bite to eat?"

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She grinned up at him, fingers going to unbuckle her helmet straps before tugging off the helmet.

"Y-Yes!" Hinata said, carefully getting off the bike.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny was seriously enjoying himself and especially with knowing that she was enjoying herself, and it made him feel good that he could do that for her.

They enjoyed a nice lunch, with lovingly modded! hee! light conversation and before long they were back outside and standing near his bike.

"Now, it's your turn to sit up front."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She blinked at him, caught off guard.

"M-Me?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Yes, you," he chuckled. "Do you see anyone else around that I'm talking to?" he teased. "Come on. Piece of cake. I'll be right behind you."

He gave her a good look, decided to challenge her though he did it in a joking manner. "Unless, you know, you're chicken?"

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Her head went up sharply.

"I," Hinata said, "am n-no coward."

Lacking strength, lacking skill, lacking confidence...

But not a coward.

She got back up no matter how many times she was knocked down.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Then climb on, sweetheart," he said with a wink.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She pulled her helmet back on, doing her best to make sure it was on properly, before eyeing the bike for a long moment then getting on.

...it was a lot more imposing from this position.

Hinata glanced over at him. Was he really sure?

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Yes, he was really sure and he would let her know, by way of movement, that it was absolutely safe. She was little enough that he could sit easily behind her and still have full and complete control of the motorcycle.

He got on behind her, settled himself easily with his helmet on, and placed his arms around her so he could hold on to the handlebars. He started up the bike and told her, "Now, place your hands just above mine..."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She wasn't sure what to think of the fact that here, with this position, what did that look like...? She didn't know it, but it felt safe and she felt better.

She could do this. Hinata shook her head, trying to clear it of useless thoughts, before following his instructions.

"J-Just like that?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny clearly wasn't thinking about what it looked like. It was a motorcycle and they were riding. Simple as that.

Of course if others took note of this, and the position, well, who's to say what they might think?

"Just like that, sweetheart." And he started forward, slowly, just as before.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata couldn't help but think of what others would think, it was what she did, and she hoped no one would mind. It wasn't anything other than a ride.

She watched silently as they moved, her hands over his, getting a better idea of how it was to drive it.

"It's a l-lot more i-imposing, up f-front."