Moving In (ChipFic)

>Laika grunted as she set a box down, she looked over at the many that remained with annoyance
>She held her hands on her hips as she leaned backwards, hearing a pop she sighed in relief
>Laika's family had only moved to Royal Woods a year ago, and they've been living in a cramped apartment
>But finally, her mother informed her a month ago that they would be moving into their own house, the Russian was looking forward to it
>But she didn't think they had so much stuff
>They didn't, technically.  All of their possessions had already been moved into the house, what remained on the driveway was fresh, collected from a storage locker and dropped off by movers
>Stuff from when her mother used to live here
>Laika piled a few boxes and lifted them all at once, with little visible effort, and turned towards the garage
>"Hey yo, finally found you.  You gave me the street but not the house number.  Good thing you were outside"
>Marla skidded to a stop as she got off her bike and left it looking like the kickstand would give out and it would fall over
>"Privet, Marla" Laika nodded, face still neutral and she turned back to her task
>"So we just gotta put the boxes in the garage right? Sounds easy" Marla leaned over to pick one up, grunting as she felt more weight than she expected
>"Lift with legs, noodly arms" Laika was smirking as she picked up a box with ease
>"S-shut up, I've got this"  Marla's eyes squeezed shut from the strain as she dropped into a squat and lifted the box "See?"
>With unsteady steps and lots of grunting she made her way to the garage "This is nothing"
>With a loud crash the box tore open at the bottom, spilling its contents all over the concrete floor
>Laika turned over with a annoyed glare as Marla stood there gaping like a fish, the shorter girl stiffly walked over to set the ruined and empty box down next to the others

>Dusting off her hands Marla whistled as she walked over to pick up another one, when she was grabbed by the collar and pulled back to the clutter on the floor
>"You pick this up, mess is yours" Laika flicked Marla's nose
>"Alright, alright, I'm sorry....I didn't break anything did I?" they both glanced down "Is only colorful books" Laika said
>"Heeey, these are Ace Savvy comics" Marla was holding one up looking in awe "These are over 15 years old too"
>Laika raised an eyebrow and Marla felt her face flush "Lacy reads these, her dad is one of the artists for it"
>The Russian girl bent down and picked one up, studying the art "I know this face"  Marla tilted her head in question
>"My mother, she sometimes wears shirts with this face" She was pointing right at Ace
>"Huh, she must've been a big fan back in the day" Marla said
>"Still am actually" both girls jumped in shock at the sudden voice behind them
>A red hair woman was leaning on the door frame "I heard the crash, came to check on you malyshka" She smiled
>Marla looked over at her friend and noticed her face had softened, she had never seen Laika not looking bored or kinda mad
>"мама.." The older woman walked over and held a hand out "Nice to meet one of my daughter's friends finally, I was beginning to wonder if she had any, she can be a harsh girl"
>Marla stared blankly for a second "Where does the Russian stuff come from?" She thought to herself before snapping to attention and taking the woman's hand
>"I'm Marla, Laika and I play soccer together"
>"I'm Becky, its nice to meet you" She smiled "So you know your comics do you?"
>Marla looked sheepish "I...uh, kinda?  My friend Lacy's dad works on it, she's always reading it, I sorta know a bit about it maybe.." the girl trailed off looking away

>Despite what she said, she was a big fan
>"мама, you like comic books?"  Becky turned to face her daughter with a smile "I used to be really into them, I couldn't bring them over when I moved to the old country so I left them here"
>"vy dolzhny prochitat' ikh, malyshka, vam ponravyatsya" Becky grinned at her daughter
>Marla tilted her head, she had questions
>"A story for another day, I gotta get back to fixing up dinner, should be done in an hour so finish up quick ok?"  Becky walked up and kissed her daughter's forehead, making her blush with embarrassment
>As Becky left Marla turned to the taller girl with a smirk "What did she call you?  molly ska?  Should I call you that from now on?"
>Laika glared with a red face "If you wish for death"
>Marla laughed as she finished stacking the box, wisely leaving it to the stronger girl this time as she walked over to pick up a smaller one
>A half hour later they finished, Marla looking much worse for wear and Laika simply wiped off some sweat
>"That wasn't so bad" Marla said doubled over as the taller girl squat down and sat on her heels
>"Much faster with help, come" Laika stood up "I still owe you Flippy" as she started to walk down the sidewalk
>Marla went over to grab her bike and ran with it to catch up, falling to stride beside her friend
>"Not gonna spike it with vodka or anything are you?"
>"We are 14, there are laws" Laika said with a slight grin, earning a snicker from the shorter girl
>"So tell me about comic, you are big fan, I see this"  Marla looked stunned, before nodding
>"So he's like, a detective super hero right...."