On-Mode Jaime tries to seduce Cassie so he can take her with him:
He was told by the Reach he was allowed to keep, as they called it, "a pet." Someone of his kind who would be kept out of the equation when it came to the full-scale conquest of Earth. They would be treated well and have their own room, provided for in every way. This was to ensure that after he passed on, another host body of the same line (one already subservient and loyal to the Reach) could be used. Of course, the pet had to be healthy and fit for child-rearing, but besides that the possibilities were endless.
The only other catch was she had to be willing. Mostly. Or else the drugs to keep her there wouldn't have any affect.
When the Ambassador briefed him on this possibility, his mind called forth memories of the Wonder Girl, the one they had ever-so-affectionately filed as 'bonita.' She was not only beautiful, but possessed superpowers of her own. A host body with an active metagene could prove most beneficial for future generations.
He told the Ambassador of his choice and the alien couldn't help but smirk, "A wise choice, Blue Beetle. If you get her to come here of her own accord, she will assuredly be yours."
A few days later after he informed the Ambassador of his choice, he asked the Wonder Girl to a park near his current living quarters in El Paso under the guise of a friendly lunch.
"We haven't hung out in awhile," a hint of longing rolled off his tongue, combined with a nervous shake she was well accustomed to, "And…I've missed that."
A restrained giggle and her cheerful, sugary approval broke through the static seconds later, "Of course, Jaime! I'll be over soon!"
True to her word, the Wonder Girl rang his doorbell an hour later, wearing a dark, long-sleeve dress patterned with silver stars. Her smile was sweet, friendly, and blissfully ignorant of the situation. Roaming over her form would be too obvious, so he settled for an anxious chuckle and a lop-sided grin while complimenting her appearance. He resisted the urge to smirk when her cheeks colored red.
They opted to walk to the park and the Wonder Girl didn't seem to mind.
"Flying is fun, but walking with a friend every once and a while can be relaxing," she said, her eyes taking in the quasi-busy streets of El Paso.
"And…" he let his voice trail, his hand hovering over her pale fingers, "Romantic."
Blue eyes widened and cheeks flushed, but composed quickly, her feet keeping up with his steady pace, "Yes…that too."
"Not that it has to be," he reassured, waving his hands in front of his chest, channeling the reactions common for them before, "O-only if the people involved want it to be. We could -"
"No, it's fine," she shook her head and her voice carried a flirtatious quality that had been absent before, "I…I would like that."
His face brightened, "Great!"
Defenses down. Step two: commencing
The park was packed with parties, couples, families, teenagers, and the occasional homeless passerby. They made their way towards a table away from most of the noise, surrounded by a plethora of tall trees and bushes.
"Wow, I'm surprised no one is over here," the Cassie commented, setting up the tablecloth and the food his host mother prepared for them.
"Yeah, I found this area a few years back with a friend," he replied, taking up a seat next to her as she made the final arrangements. Organized; another quality that could prove useful to him and his offspring, "I thought it high time I put it to use more effectively than advanced skateboard tricks."
"You skateboard?" she inquired, "You never told me that before."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, bonita," he smiled, his eyes smouldering over in the afternoon shade, "You have my permission to ask anything you want; today, I'm an open book."
She returned his smile and shied away at his pet name, but soon settled and asked him an onslaught of trivial, unnecessary questions: what was his favorite sport, how long he had lived in El Paso, which superheroine he found the most attractive (besides you? he teased), where did he get all those nice jackets, so and so forth. It grated at him a little, to answer the silly inquiries, to be at her beck and call with each and every word. Before, they would have been more than willing to sate her curiosity and revel in the attention; now, however, he was the one with the power and she should cater to his every whim. Yet, he had enough on file to process that any demanding or forceful tactics would prove to be inefficient - with this Cassie, she needed to be coddled, put at ease before the courtship could continue.
The questions persisted well onto the afternoon, stomachs full and laughs constant. His target was relaxed, sitting on the grass and watching the sky darken into oranges and purples. He was propped up on one elbow, his other arm inching closer and closer to her hip. This was it; time to make a move.
"Okay, bonita, I have a question for you," he drawled, every word heavier than the other.
"Shoot, cowboy," she winked, a saucy grin creeping up into her cheeks, "I've asked you more than enough."
"Well…I was wondering," he lowered his head, pressing his lips to the top of her ear, "Have you ever been kissed?"
Her skin shivered, her breath hitched and he suppressed the urge to leer. So close, so very close to ensnaring her, tangling her up into his domain, keeping her for all of time. Seduction of an innocent was all too easy.
"Um..no, not really," the Cassie let out, biting at her lip, "Since my mom is an architect, I was home-schooled and, well…I never really met any boys I liked."
"Until you met me though," he pushed his lips into her temple, relishing the way her little fists clenched up in fervor want, "Right?"
All the Wonder Girl could do was nod, heart racing and lungs tightening. He left her neck and twisted around to hover above her, emulating a mystified, torrid gaze, piercing into her wide, clouded eyes. He leaned in, his lips coming in for the kill, "Then it's settled."
The kiss was long, sensual, and everything they had once imagined it to be. Her lips were plump and soft and she tasted like bottled sunshine and cherry sorbet. Despite himself, he moaned, digging his hands into her waist, turning one leg over so his entire body was pressed into her, feeling her muscles wriggle and react to each and every of his ministrations.
He could live with this; his mind drifted off, fantasizing, anticipating all the hours and days he would spend with her just like this. And no one could ever take it from him, especially not her if the Ambassador did his part.
When they finally pulled a part, breath labored and bodies tingling, she smiled up at him, bright and earnest and oh-so-ready for more. He kept his face straight, cautious. Victory was within his grasps; now for the finishing touches.
"That was amazing," he chuckled out, allowing his head to collapse into her ample chest, "We should do that again."
She giggled, tangling her hands into his thick hair, "Gotta say, that was a first kiss I'll never forget."
"Yeah…hey! I have an idea. You wanna get out of here?" he asked, "I know this place…private, discreet…it would be perfect to continue our little escapade…"
Her pulse quickened and her hands left his head, "I don't know, Jaime. It's getting kind of late and my mom said she was going to call in around eight to check up on me at the house…."
"Oh, c'mon, Cassie," he groaned, slithering his body up hers, tracing circles across the small of her back, "I promise I won't keep you there too long. And I'm more than willing to take the blame."
"Yeah, but I don't want you to get in trouble," she pouted, slowly pushing him off of her and sitting up, "And I don't think it would make a good impression. I like you, Jaime and I want my mom to like you, too."
Your mother matters little, was what he wanted to growl, but he knew that tactic would spark hostility. And based on her crossed arms and tucked knees, she would be sticking to that little excuse no matter what he said.
Willing. If he took her like that, it would be far from. There was still time, a month or two before he had to deliver his teammates for experimentation. She would be his before then, if today was any indication.
"Okay, bonita," he smiled, making sure the faux sincerity met his eyes, "You win. Can I at least escort you home?"
She lit up at his suggestion and shot up, taking his hand into hers, "No, no! I don't mind at all. C'mon, let's race!"
"Sure thing!" he exclaimed, suiting up as she flew high and fast into the air.
And you'll lose, one way or another.