PAT2012 – 01 Sváfa x Security by Blackford

Pair-A-Thon 2012 Entry

Surprise Date
by ~Blackford

Svafa was occupied with a number of chores as she hustled around the section of the Garrott family estate that was controlled by Arthur Garrott Jr. Because she and her two sisters served as Arthur’s employees, it was important for them to remember to stick to Arthur’s half of the Garrott property while avoiding the half governed by his hated twin sister Janus. Arthur and his pushy lieutenant Sedrick had impressed upon the three sisters from the beginning that they were never to aid or abet Janus in any way. She and Arthur were deadly enemies, and as long as the three Valkyrie sisters remained in Arthur’s employ, they were to avoid Janus and her organization as much as possible.

Not that Svafa needed much encouragement on that score. She knew quite well how disagreeable, erratic and often violent Janus was, so she was glad to maintain a fair distance. All she needed to do was avoid the paths and corridors leading to Janus’ section of the estate. Svafa smiled wryly as she recalled how she and her sisters—Brynhildr and Sigrdrifa—had to struggle to learn the correct routes around the Garrott estate when they first came to work for Arthur. They had all been extremely excited to be honored with the privilege of serving under Lord Azrael, the commanding general of Arthur’s section.

Lord Azrael had stressed vigorously the need to remain on Arthur’s property so as to avoid leaking secrets to Janus. This was supposedly the chief reason to know the estate inside-out. As far as Svafa was concerned, however, the more important thing was to know the Garrott property well enough to be able to find everything needed to get her work done.

As she headed down the mansion corridors, Svafa grimaced. Everything was so boring lately. Nothing remotely exciting had happened for the longest time. She was supposed to go down to the armory and assemble an arsenal of weapons needed for an impending war with an enemy village. Really, what was so great about that? Arthur’s forces usually annihilated these paltry village armies with little or no effort. Nothing interesting there. Just a tedious chore of gathering weapons followed by a snooze-worthy battle. Lame.

Svafa wanted to do something fun, like watch a few wrestling matches on TV. Even better, participate in the matches. She had been perfecting her wrestling moves and martial-arts techniques, and she wanted to use them for something other than a few stupid village battles. Instead, she was forced to waste her morning hauling weaponry all over the mansion. Since Brynhildr was mixing chemicals for explosives and Sigrdrifa was tracking logistical supplies, the armory chore had fallen to her. Gag me, Svafa thought. I’m so sick of these pointless, one-sided fights. When am I gonna have some real fun already?

* * * *

Once she made her way down to the armory, Svafa started sorting through a collection of guns, swords, knives, axes and other assorted armaments. She glanced around the gray walls of the storage room as she took inventory of the weapons and loaded them into a cart. Svafa was about to haul the cart out of the armory when she suddenly saw something moving out of the corner of her eye. Just behind her, Svafa thought she spotted a shadow darting behind a wall. Hmm, maybe I’ll have some fun today after all, she thought.

Assuming a fighting stance, Svafa crept around a corner of the room with her eyes peeled for any intruders. She peered behind a few shelves of armaments to see if anyone was hiding. So far, nothing. Then Svafa looked toward the darkened area of the room in which the armory’s furnace stood. Everything was quiet and still. Svafa couldn’t detect any sign of any living thing other than herself in the entire room.

Then she saw something. The shadowed area behind the furnace suddenly seemed to bristle, like a cluster of leaves and underbrush rustling as a small animal moves through it. Svafa leaped at the furnace, bringing her hands down on the shadowed area with powerful karate chops. Give it up, trespasser, she found herself thinking. You’re, like, totally mine!

But there was nothing. Svafa’s hands touched nothing but shadow and empty space. There was no further sign of movement within the corners of the room. Svafa’s eyes darted from side to side as she stepped around the furnace and looked around at the various shelves of weapons. She could still see no movements behind any of the objects in the armory. But she wasn’t yet convinced that it was all in her imagination.

Then she heard a footstep. She knew she heard it. Svafa spun around in the direction of the sound and turned her head behind one of the shelves. At that moment, she found herself face-to-face with a familiar figure. A tall, blonde-haired fellow in a blue shirt with a gold armband on his left sleeve stood in front of her. She instantly recognized him as Security, a frequent companion of hers and other members of the Garrott family organization. She had met him a number of times at various events held among members and their friends. What is he doing here?  she wondered.

Svafa didn’t quite know what to think at first. On the one hand, she was relieved that the intruder was a familiar face. On the other hand, she didn’t know what to make of Security’s presence in the armory, especially since Security was such a mysterious guy who pretty much did whatever he felt like doing at any given time. She decided to proceed cautiously.

“Well, well, if it isn’t you,” she said. “Now what could you be doing down here? Last I checked, there weren’t, like, any parties or get-togethers scheduled for today.”

Security smiled impishly. “I was hoping that would change. But regardless, I’m here on private business. I’m sure you won’t mind if I continue.”

“That depends, dude,” said Svafa. “All I know is you’re, like, totally trespassing on Garrott family property. And in a room full of weapons, too. You do realize that it looks, like, totally suspicious, don’t you?”

“I’m aware,” Security replied. “But business is business. As much as I’d love to chat longer with a lovely lady such as you, I have a contract to fulfill. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must be leaving.”

“Hold it, dude!” Svafa shot back. “You’re, like, so totally not going anywhere! No way am I letting you just waltz out of here after you broke in uninvited, you know? I’m not letting you out until you totally start answering questions.”

“Perhaps I’m not in the mood for interviews,” said Security with a casual toss of his head.

“I totally don’t care,” Svafa said. “I’m, like, really serious about this.”

“You sure keep up the Valley-speak, don’t you?” Security commented.

“It’s my thing,” Svafa said firmly. “And it’s not my only talent. Trust me, dude, you don’t want to try my patience.”

“You haven’t lost any of your spirit,” Security said with a chuckle. “I like that. I think I’ll stay a few more minutes.”

“You’ll stay as long as I say you will,” snapped Svafa. “I’m totally not letting you play around with our weapons and do who-knows-what with them.”

Security grinned. “Then stop me, if you think you can.”

* * * *

Svafa made a lunge for Security, but the guard-for-hire dodged to one side. Svafa followed up with a powerful roundhouse kick to where Security had moved, but Security sidestepped her attack again. Even without his famous disappearing act, this guy was fast. Svafa knew it would be hard to apprehend someone like Security, and she might not have any chance of catching him, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Security might escape in the end, but not until she had hassled him a little.

Svafa pressed her attack, launching a series of punches and kicks she had practiced in tae kwon do class. Her assaults were well-executed, but they still did not connect with her target. Svafa marveled at Security’s reflexes as he dodged, ducked and jumped over her every attack. The two of them leaped all over the armory room until Security was standing near a shelf. Svafa launched a side kick at him, but Security was able to block it with his arm.

“Hey, you’re good!” Security said. “You nearly got me that time. This is actually fun!”

“I totally appreciate the compliment, but I’m so going to take you down anyway,” said Svafa. “As soon as I get close enough, I’ll put you in a hold that you’ll, like, never escape! I’ve been studying wrestling like forever.”

“Isn’t wrestling staged?” Security asked with a grin.

Svafa’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t push me, pal.”

“Oh come on, we all know it’s fake.”

“Come a little closer and I’ll show you how fake it is.”

“I’ll bet you could show me a lot of things if I got close to you.”

Svafa was actually rather amused by Security’s veiled suggestion, but she didn’t have time to think about it now. She attacked him again, and he tried to avoid her grip until she finally grasped him and placed him in a vise-strong hold she had learned.

“All right, mister, I’m not letting you go until you cooperate,” she said as she held down Security’s arms to render him helpless.

“You know, from this angle, I can see under your skirt,” Security said.

“What–?!” Svafa turned her head downward.

“Just kidding!” Security said. He used Svafa’s momentary distraction to leverage his body forward at just the right angle to throw her off. Svafa tumbled a few feet away.

“Hey! That was, like, totally bogus!” Svafa shouted as she picked herself up from the floor and turned to face him again. But when she turned around, Security had vanished. Svafa took a few steps forward and looked around, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.

“You’ve got quite a grip there,” came Security’s voice all of a sudden. Svafa looked up and saw him sitting atop one of the weapons shelves.

“Maybe I could just shoot you,” said Svafa. “There’s plenty of guns in here.”

“True, but I happen to know they’re not yet loaded,” said Security.

“Well then I’m, like, coming up after you!” Svafa said as she climbed up the rungs of shelves to where Security sat. Security stood up when Svafa made it to the top, and he dodged as she swiped at him with karate shops. Security then rocked the shelf with his feet, causing it to topple over. Both he and Svafa landed on their feet, however, as the shelf fell to the floor with a loud crash and assorted weapons scattered across the floor.

Svafa didn’t wait for anything as soon as she landed. She moved forward, balanced herself perfectly, and delivered a solid side kick which caught Security in the chest, toppling him to the floor.

“Whoa, excellent!” Security said as he looked up from the floor. “You actually managed to push me over. That’s pretty impressive.”

“I, like, told you I was totally going to take you down,” said Svafa. “Are you ready to cooperate now, Mr. Security Dude?”

“I could disappear from this place if I wanted to,” said Security. “But this has been way too much fun. And because you’ve been such a good sport, I’ll tell you why I’m here.”

“Cool. Speak away.”

“I was hired by the leaders of a nearby village who said they were going to war with Arthur. They offered to pay me handsomely if I could bring them back information on Arthur’s weapons stockpiles.”

“Oh that,” Svafa said as she rolled her eyes. “What a drag. I’ve actually been bored to tears because we all know that our team is gonna totally cream those losers. It’s so obvious that it’s not even fun. It’s just, you know, a major bore.”

“I’m sure it is,” said Security. “We should do something fun instead.”

Svafa looked skeptical. “But if you’re a spy for the enemy, doesn’t that, like, totally make it impossible?” she asked.

“Oh, the hell with that,” Security said laughing. “I only took their assignment for the money. I knew that Arthur’s army would still beat them, because that village doesn’t have any decent weapons or logistical support. You said so yourself that your team will crush them anyway.”

“That’s, like, totally true,” Svafa agreed.

“So what do you say we get all this boring work out of the way so we can go hang out and stuff?” said Security.”There are places to go, things to do. No need to waste the day.”

“That sounds, like, totally awesome to me!” Svafa said smiling. “But how can I manage it? My crew expects me to haul around these weapons for them.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Security said. “I’ll gather the needed weapons and ship them upstairs in a flash by teleporting. Then everybody will think you’ve done your chore for today, and you’ll be completely free.”

“Sounds rockin’!” Svafa said happily as she clapped her hands. “I’ve been, like, totally praying for something like this all morning!” Quivering with giddy anticipation, she hopped over to Security and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Security grinned broadly and said, “Thanks. This is starting off great.”

“Hey man, I’m totally sorry about kicking you,” Svafa said. “I was just doing my job. Hope I didn’t hurt you.”

“Forget it,” chuckled Security. “You can kick me any time, babe. It spices up my day.”

* * * *

True to his word, Security utilized his miraculous powers of self-transportation to deliver the required weapons stocks up from the armory to the higher levels of the mansion. During one of his disappearances, he also stopped by the enemy village and dropped off a list of weapons he had observed in the Garrott mansion before collecting his fee from the village leaders.

“Was that all you had to do for the enemy leaders?” Svafa asked when Security returned.

Security nodded. “That’s all I agreed to do. They’re not paying me enough to do any more favors for them.”

He paused and allowed a mischievous gleam to enter his eye. “Besides, I only promised them that I would give them a list of all the armaments I saw in the Garrott armory, not necessarily all the armaments that existed in the armory.”

Svafa laughed. “I hear you, dude.”

“And now that I’ve eliminated that annoying chore of yours,” Security continued, “I think we’re free to take our leave.”

“Totally!” Svafa jumped a little as her eyes lit up. “And now, Mr. Sneaky, since you were so bold as to break in here uninvited, I think it would be, like, polite if you let me choose our destination.”

“Let’s hear it,” said Security.

Svafa put her arm around Security and drew him close in a conspiratorial manner. Security did not utter a word of protest.

“How about we go somewhere entertaining, and at the same time, you help me pull off a little mischief?” she asked him.

“Oh, mischievous tricks are fun,” Security smiled. “And when a woman is involved, they’re sexy, too.”

Svafa laughed and started hitting him over the head playfully. “You are a bad, bad man!” she scolded. Then she grinned. “But I totally like it. What I was thinking was that we could go see a live wrestling match together. But I don’t just want to, like, watch. I’m gonna get in the ring! But since I’m not registered to participate, I need to sneak in unexpectedly. I’d like you to, like, teleport me into the ring, and when I’m done wrestling, teleport us both out of the arena before the refs nab me. What do you say, man?”

“I’ve got no objections,” Security grinned. “This oughta be a hoot. Do I get some kisses afterwards?”

“Totally!”

In fact, Svafa didn’t wait. Pulling him toward her, she drew his head down and pressed her lips against his mouth. Looking flustered but pleased, Security then offered his arm to the energetic Valkyrie.

“Shall we be heading out to the arena, my dear?”

“We shall indeed,” she affirmed as she took his arm. “And I’ll make sure we get into the stands. You just handle the transportation. I’ll handle everything else.”

With that, arm-in-arm, the pair vanished from the Garrott property.

* * * *

Some time later that day, an exuberant Svafa and Security were merrily marching down a quiet park path arm-in-arm. As they walked, the local wrestling arena stood a fair range behind them in the distance. Svafa’s eyes were practically bubbling over with ecstatic glee as she grasped a shiny object in her free hand: a gold wrestling trophy.

“I did it! I finally did it!” she exclaimed. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that! This was, like, so totally cool!”

“Victories are cool,” Security agreed as he snuggled up closer to Svafa. “I haven’t had that much entertainment in a long time. You sure showed those wrestlers who’s boss.”

“But I never could have done it without you,” Svafa said. “The way you got me in that ring was, like, amazing! By the time the refs realized what had happened, it was too late for anybody to stop us.”

“I can’t deny that I loved the show,” said Security. “You were taking down all those huge guys who were twice your size!”

“I’ve been practicing,” Svafa said with a proud toss of her head. “And I’ve been watching these wrestler guys forever and, like, critiquing their performances. I always thought they were amateurs, and I so wanted to show them some real technique.”

“You definitely succeeded, and that’s why I swiped the championship trophy for you before I teleported us out of there,” Security said.

“Aw, you were wonderful to do that,” Svafa beamed. “This trophy rocks. I really didn’t expect you to do something like that; I thought we both would be in so much of a hurry to avoid being caught by the refs that we wouldn’t have time for anything else.”

“Are you kidding?” Security said with a knowing smile. “After what you did in that ring, you deserved to go home with the prize. I wasn’t going to leave until I had grabbed what was rightfully yours.”

Security was unable to say another word at that moment because Svafa had pressed up against him and shut his mouth with her lips in a very long, drawn-out kiss.

Upon releasing him, she said, “So what do you like to do besides pop up everywhere and scare people?”

“Oh, I go for most anything,” Security smiled. “A job here and there, an enjoyment here and there. I take things as they come.”

“Like when you swiped my bra for that boy genius friend of yours?”

Security grinned sheepishly. “You knew about that one, huh?”

“I may talk Valley, but I’m so totally not stupid.”

Then she playfully ran her fingers over his shoulder and giggled. “But it, like, doesn’t matter. Hnaef had his fun; let’s focus on ours. What shall we do now?”

“We need to celebrate your championship,” said Security. “I know a nice place for that.”

He took Svafa’s hand, and suddenly the scenery changed. Instead of a park, the two of them found themselves standing on the sands of an unpopulated beach. The sound of waves breaking gracefully rumbled from the ocean water behind them.

“You have good taste,” Svafa said with a wide grin. “So tell me, Mr. Sneaky, were you, like, trying to get me in a situation where I’d be wearing a bikini or something?”

Security appeared coy and looked upward at nothing in particular. “What do you think?”

Svafa leaned over and whispered, “I think that if you’re totally a good boy, I might grant your wish.”

The pair proceeded to enjoy their afternoon in eminent seaside style.

* * * *

That evening, Security and Svafa were walking home, and they happened to pass through the Springland Apartments neighborhood. They soon spotted the familiar apartment room where their buddies Ainsley Driver, Mordred and Wiglaf lived.

“Hey, I know!” said Security. “Let’s stop over at their place for a few minutes. The evening news is coming on soon. We can watch the news coverage of your wrestling win on their TV and tell them all about it!”

“Like, great idea!” Svafa enthused.

The two of them knocked on the door, which was answered by Driver. “Hey, you guys, how’s it goin’?” Driver greeted. “Chief an’ I were jus’ hangin’ out.”

“Ainsley! Security and I have been, like, all over the place today, and we’ve got some totally awesome stuff to tell you!” Svafa said excitedly.

When Svafa and Security finished telling about the wrestling match, Driver grinned and said, “Sounds like a pretty cool adventure. And I didn’t know you guys were an item.”

“We just sort of bumped into each other, that’s all,” Security smiled.

“Come on in,” said Driver. “Sugar is away on another one of his heroic missions, but Chief’s still here. He’s darn happy to be free of Sugar’s pestering for a while.”

The three of them walked into the living room where Mordred was sprawled in an armchair reading.

“Hey Driver, why’d you let these bums into our place?” Mordred complained when he saw Security and Svafa. “I was just starting to enjoy my time without Lackey around.”

“Aw, zip yer lip, Chief,” Driver replied. “They ain’t gonna make trouble for you. Let ‘em take a load off for a bit.”

“Okay, okay, fine,” said Mordred. “Make yourselves comfortable, but don’t break stuff.”

“Flip on the news!” Security said. “We want to see Svafa on TV!”

Driver turned on the TV, and the four friends soon saw a news report on a mysterious young woman who unexpectedly broke into the local wrestling match, beat all the wrestlers, and made off with the championship trophy. The footage showed Svafa throwing down several big wrestlers.

“I must say that was quite impressive, Svafa,” Mordred commented.

“Way to go, sis.” Driver high-fived her sister.

Security smiled and said, “I guess everyone learned this: Don’t mess with a Valkyrie.”

“That is, like, so totally true!” Svafa laughed as she leaned close to Security.

“Maybe y’all oughta double-date with me an’ Chief some time,” Driver suggested.

“Only if I’m in the mood,” grumbled Mordred.

Security and Svafa laughed as Driver insistently tried to persuade an exasperated Mordred of the merits of her proposal.

* * * *

Later that night, Svafa and Security arrived back at the Garrott mansion. The mansion windows were illuminated by gentle lamps cutting through the dark landscape.

“Security my man, I have to say this was a, like, totally delightful day,” Svafa smiled. “I totally did not think I was going to have any fun today. You sure changed that.”

“It’s what I do,” Security affirmed as he placed his arm around her. “How could I do otherwise? I am, after all, the master of romantic delights.”

“Oh you are, are you? Methinks you’re, like, totally boasting. Admit it, dude. You think you’re all that, and you think you’re gonna charm me into going out with you again.”

Security shrugged his shoulders and put on an innocent-looking face. “People say that my charms are irresistible. I guess I’m just special.”

“Oh yeah? Well I’m not impressed with your strutting and boasting. In fact, I think I’m going to have to go out with you again just so I can keep you under control!”

Security raised an eyebrow. “Is that a promise, babe?”

“Of course it is, you silly man!” Svafa clasped both hands around his shoulders. “Now wouldn’t you say that I’m a total saint for putting up with your nonsense?”

Security grinned. “Totally.”

He then grabbed Svafa and pulled her close in a final passionate kiss. Svafa did not offer any resistance. Upon releasing her from his embrace, Security said, “Good night, Svafa. Let’s keep in touch.”

“You know it,” Svafa smiled, and she watched him walk away until he was out of sight. Svafa then headed into the mansion and up the stairs to her sisters’ bedchamber. Not bad for a day that was looking to be a complete drag, she thought. Not bad at all.

Her sisters, Brynhildr and Sigrdrifa, greeted her as she entered the Valkyries’ chamber.

“Svafa!” cried Brynhildr. “We’ve been wondering where you’ve been all day!”

“Everybody was surprised that you finished the stockpiling for Arthur’s war so quickly,” added Sigrdrifa. “Lord Azrael was completely baffled.”

Svafa’s eyes looked upward in a dreamy fashion. “Well, girls, I decided to get that done so I could, like, focus on totally more important things!”

“More important than Arthur’s next war?” wondered Sigrdrifa.

“Totally. I had some awesome romantic times with our old buddy Security.”

“Well, well. So you and Security have become an item, huh?” Brynhildr grinned.

“Yeah. After a bit of conflict, we managed to, like, make a date out of it,” Svafa said with a smile. As she began to describe her day to her sisters, Svafa contentedly thought, Not bad. Not bad at all.

The End