The First Song
The sound of Throttle's real voice......
Disclaimer: I no own the mice, or the killer song 'Horse With No Name' by America. Its old, but listening to it, you can't help the longing you feel.
This image stuck in my head and would not let go. Throttle strikes me as the kind of person that keeps everything hidden, used to everything being turned against him in battle. So he would hide things, even from his bros, an unconscious move to protect himself. Just what I think, anyway.
The First Song
It had been a long, tiring day for everyone. The boys were telling her about their latest adventure with Limburger's goon squad. She hoped she was being a good audience, because she was getting so tired right then. It had been a hot, endless day for her, fighting with two engine blocks and three very irate customers. Charley stretched her arms above her head as she pushed back from the dinner table. "Glad to hear you three are okay after a day like that," she said with a smile. She began to pick up the dishes from the table, but a tan hand stopped her.
"You've been working hard too, Charley-girl," Throttle said. "I'll help."
Her smile became a grin. "I knew one of you was a gentleman, but I had Modo pegged for it."
He rolled his eyes in mock-exasperation, "Everyone says that."
Together they cleared the table, putting the leftovers in the fridge and the dishes in the sink as Modo and Vinnie went out to the living room to catch the latest game. She filled the sink with soapy water, fully expecting him to go off with his bros, but the tan mouse surprised her. He picked up a dish towel and began to dry as she handed him each dish. The radio played softly as they worked, and she found herself singing along to one of her favorite tunes.
"On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound"
As she started in on the chorus, she was almost stunned speechless as she heard a whisper-soft voice sing along with her, rich and low and clear.
"I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la"
She didn't dare sing louder, didn't dare let him know she could hear him. She somehow knew that if he thought she could hear him, he would stop, that beautiful soft voice would stop.
"After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la"
He was humming along with the guitar. She had never heard him hum before. God, his voice had held such sorrow as he sang. Was he thinking of Mars?
"After nine days I let the horse run free
'Cause the desert had turned to sea
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with it's life underground
And a perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
But the humans will give no love
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la"
She didn't want the song to end. The human almost trembled as the music began to fade away.
"La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la la, la la la, la, la..."
Silence for a single second before another song took its place. But there was almost endless silence between the human and the mouse. He handed her the towel without a sound as she quietly said her thanks before he walked out of the room. Charlene didn't know why, but she felt like crying. It would never happen again, she knew.
She would never hear his real voice again.
