A/N: Thank you for my encouraging reviews! Couple of things to mention:
- My feedback was great, i found it extremely useful- I'm so sorry! I deserve to be shot for mixing 'Cyclonia' with 'Cyclonis'. Don't even ask, i have no idea why. I really, really don't. Perhaps with all these exams, i went a bit loopy ;) I am also aware now of my horrible grammar mistake, which i also deserve to be shot for. Thank you very much to Pascy for pointing that out- it's quite hard to check over your work and then Spell check is utterly hopeless, because it didn't pick up on that. I think you should replace it ;)
- Please be aware this chapter is very.. 'ahem'... romantic. If you do not like that, please don't read! Also, to any reader who this may apply to, this story will have some sensitive issues later on, and I really don't want to offend, or upset anyone.
Enjoy, everyone!
Chapter Two- 'Race'
"Piper."
Piper froze before lifting her goggles- and looked up. Aerrow was standing at her doorway, his eyebrow raised, his arms crossed.
Oops.
"Hi!" She beamed at him, shoving her crystal instruments out of sight quickly, and stood up. "What's up?"
He walked over to her, his arms still crossed, the same 'You're In For It' expression on his pale face.
"Why are you working? We had a deal." He said, his eyes narrowing.
"Um…" She put her hand on the back of her neck and she blinked up at him. "I…couldn't sleep?"
"Sure." He bent down to lift up a book on the desk- a map of Atmos. "I think this illustrates you've been disobeying your Commanding Officer. You weren't in your bedroom."
"Checking up on me now?" It was Piper's turn to raise an eyebrow and cross her arms. "You went into my room? I'm shocked, Captain. That's breaking our fundamental laws-"
But before she could continue, Aerrow bent his head close- too close. her breath caught in her throat as his bright eyes roamed her.
"I wanted to check on you." He murmured, his finger stroking her jaw line. "because I had to know you were okay. And I knew you wouldn't keep your end of the deal." He added, his emerald eyes gleaming at her.
Her heart was slamming into her ribs as she gazed into his eyes, her breathing getting slightly heavier…
"Worry guts." She managed to break into a radiant smile and he chuckled before bending his head into the crook of her neck to inhale her sweet scent.
Piper wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him close.
"So you weren't just checking on me. Something's up." She informed him, kissing his shoulder. "What's wrong, Aerrow?"
"Bad dream," he muttered, feeling her hands slide into his hair to stroke it for comfort. He pulled her tightly against him as he kissed her neck.
Piper pulled away to put a hand under his chin, and force him to lift his head so she could look into his eyes again. "Hey."
Aerrow sighed. "I know Piper. They're just dreams. But they're dreams... they're dreams that scare me." He admitted. "They're dreams about things I fear. Every single night, Piper. I get them every single night."
"Dreams can control everything- if you let them Aerrow." Piper looked at him with a sad smile, noticing how he'd suddenly become very interested in the floor.
Yet he nodded- but she could tell he was still troubled. She broke apart from him and his eyes snapped up suddenly, upset by the loss of contact. She smiled at him before taking his hand and leading him out into the hallway.
Aerrow was confused, but followed. "Piper…"
She turned her head to smile at him assuringly as she pushed her bedroom door open.
Aerrow looked at her questioningly and opened his mouth; but she shook her head and pulled him along to the bed. He tried again.
"Piper-
"-Shush." She turned to pull him down gently with her as she lay on her bed. He gazed down at her, before comprehending. Wrapping their arms around each other, they turned to face each other, holding on tightly, as if the other was some form of a life raft.
They lay for a while, simply holding each other.
Tick... Tock.... Tick....Tock....
Piper was out- In the World of dreams, the World where you escape reality, the World everyone would opt for. He sighed and examined her face whilst she slept, his eyes drooping a little.
But only a little.
Dark Ace could not sleep. He understood the plan. He understood the point.
He didn't understand why he had to do this.
He sat up, rubbing his dark eyes.
"I think you forget, My Queen, that I am a man in my twenties, whilst Piper-
"-Has grown up a little. It's been three years, Dark Ace, and we're still no closer to our goal. Find Piper. Bring her to me. I don't care how you do it."
"Y-Yes… Yes, Your Highness."
Dark Ace growled before throwing a pillow down on the ground in frustration. Standing up, he trudged over to the bathroom, blinking into the bright light when it turned on.
He washed his face, gasping slightly at the freezing cold water running down his rough cheeks. He looked up into the mirror.
He didn't like what he saw.
"Rise and Shine, vermin!" Storm's voice rang brightly over the intercom- the morning was his favourite part of the day.
It was common knowledge less mind-worms are around in the morning.
Piper groaned and buried her head into Aerrow's chest. He chuckled, pulling her closer. Feeling his chest rumble slightly, she smiled as she looked up at him, only to find he was looking right back at her. His hand traced her cheek before playing with a strand of her midnight-blue hair.
"Well, good morning, beautiful. Good sleep?" He let go of her hair to stroke her cheek. He loved her in the morning.
"Mhmm." She yawned sleepily.
Aerrow smiled, before gently maneuvering her off of him and getting up and out of bed. Piper stretched, groaning a little.
"What we doing today?"
"A lot." Aerrow flashed a grin at her. "You may want to shower. You've got a long day ahead of you."
"Perfect." Piper sighed. Aerrow leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"None of that. I need enthusiasm, P! And happy faces!" He grinned, lifting her out of bed. "Now go have your shower, and meet us in the kitchen. And," He stopped walking to turn back to look at her, winking. "Don't take long."
Piper heard him singing on the way to the kitchen, and chuckled.
"Good luck, Ace." Cyclonis raised her hand in a casual fair well, as if she couldn't really be bothered, before turning back to her crystals. "Remember- do not fail this task. Or else..."
Dark Ace bowed briefly, before heading out to his skimmer. The cold, fresh morning air filled his lungs and for once he felt alive, and ready.
He climbed onto his skimmer, ignoring the mumblings of a talon. Pressing down on the accelerator, he zoomed into the bright sky and headed off to find the Condor.
"Radaar, I want you on patrol today. Stork, you know what you do. Finn, you're helping Junko with Piper's heliscooter. Piper-
Aerrow hesitated.
Work comes first, Aerrow.
"-You're with me. We have to check out Terra Opium, see if there's anything special we can pick up here. I know we can get some tools." He added as Piper opened her mouth. "But I want to check the woodland, there's some great medicine-
"Flowers." Stork translated for Finn, Junko, and Radaar, who looked extremely confused. "Whilst we labour over our work, they are going to be picking flowers."
Aerrow chuckled. "Necessary flowers." He winked, before beckoning Piper.
"You'll have to ride with me today," Aerrow told her as they walked towards the vehicle room. "Hope that's alright."
"Of course." Piper smiled; Aerrow was always the gentlemen. "As long as you don't throw me off."
Aerrow turned to her and winked.
"Sorry, P." Aerrow tried not to laugh as he felt Piper's arms wrap around him tighter. "Get carried away."
Piper rolled her eyes.
Aerrow grinned as he directed his skimmer onto the grassland, landing smoothly.
"Perfect." He smiled happily as Piper climbed off.
She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Aerrow grinned at her.
"What?"
But she ignored him, walking off.
"Awww, come on, P." He drove after her. "You gotta admit, that was fun."
"Fun for you." She muttered before walking faster. He laughed before skidding to a halt in front of her, and leaned towards her to place his hands on her shoulders, but then quickly removed them, remembering that they were on a task.
Piper raised an eyebrow at him.
"Erm… we should find the flowers. I mean the medicine." He corrected firmly, backing away from her slightly. Piper fought a giggle- she knew he was trying to act more of a Captain, not a boyfriend.
And then a thought occurred...
"Whatever you say." She flashed a smile before walking ahead of him, her hips swaying slightly, knowing he was trying not to stare. Aerrow cleared his throat before catching up with her so he didn't have to watch from behind.
Piper giggled. Today would be fun.
"Dude, you got that oil stuff all over my hair!" Finn wailed, examining his blonde spikes in the rear-view mirror.
"Ah, sorry! Wallops tend to be clumsy-
"Clumsy? You can say that again! Bloody hell, it's EVERYWHERE."
"Ah, I'm sure it'll wash out!" Junko tried to pat his friend's shoulder assuringly- only to push him down into the ground. Finn groaned, rubbing his back. "Oops... sorry."
Finn glared.
"How about this?"
Piper bent down, making sure to brush her hand with his as she took the plant from Aerrow's hand. Aerrow jumped a little, but shook it off, waiting for her response.
"It hasn't got a blue spot on its' tip, Aerrow."
"Oh… oh yeah."
Aerrow shook his head; he was finding it difficult to concentrate. It would have been easier if Piper was back at the Condor, but he knew he would have to have her- she was the only one who had the knowledge...
Piper smirked before kneeling beside him, leaning in very closely. "The heat is probably getting to you."
"Mmm." Aerrow wasn't really listening. All he could smell her freshly washed hair.
Damn, he loved the smell of her after she'd just bathed. And Piper knew it.
"See this one," Piper picked a purple flower. "It looks ordinary, but it's deadly. So we have to make sure they're the right ones. The ones with long stems are safe."
"Yup." Aerrow turned his head, closing his eyes temporarily. It was taking every ounce of his control to stop himself from jumping on her and kiss those alluring lips. He knew perfectly well what she was up to.
And he wouldn't let her win.
But bloody hell, she was irresistible.
"I think we should split up." Aerrow stood up quickly. "Erm…"
"But then," Piper rose slowly, stepping close. "You wouldn't have me to save you if you picked up a poisonous leaf or something." She blinked at him innocently.
Aerrow gulped. "Er, well. I suppose that's true… Erm. But listen. Listen Piper." He finished firmly, stepping away from her slightly. "I know what you're trying to do."
"Do?" Piper raised an eyebrow, edging too close for Aerrow's liking. She lifted her head to blink up at him, faking confusion. "I don't understand."
"You're…" Aerrow had to lift his head so he wasn't looking at her. He felt her nose and lips brush his neck ever so lightly- his spine tingled. "You're trying to get back at me for the whole skimmer thing by- by…"
"By what, Aerrow?" Piper murmured, pressing her lips into his neck. He closed his eyes in pleasure. "Seducing you? I'd have thought you'd enjoy that." She nibbled on his chin, pressing into him-hard.
Aerrow inhaled, she was driving him mad. He lifted a hand to push her away, but found himself kissing her hungrily instead, whilst the hand that was supposed to push her was around her small frame. Piper felt herself slammed into a tree- and the cold wind hit her now naked skin. She leaned back, smiling in contentment.
His eyes roamed her body as he ran his finger down her stomach. She gazed at him, leaning back into the grass, sighing. Still leaning over her, he bent his head and kissed her gently before stroking her hair away from her eyes. She smiled at him: he felt his heart flutter. He watched as she closed her tired eyes, and drunk her in.
Her body shimmered in the sunlight- her small breasts rising up and down like a gentle wave... her soft, soft hair tumbling down her smooth shoulders...Nothing but soft, sweet-smelling copper-brown skin.
Bare.
For him.
He bent further down to kiss her delicate throat and stroked her belly button with his long finger, his eyelashes sweeping her skin. Her hand absent-mindedly stroked through his hair, and he closed his eyes with pleasure.
"You're beautiful." Aerrow murmured, kissing her again. "But you're a bad influence. How many medicines have we collected?"
Piper giggled sleepily. "Oh Aerrow. We'll get them soon enough. Live a little."
Aerrow's head snapped up, his mouth gaping.
"Are you telling me to live a little?"
She laughed. "Yup."
"Hypocrite."He crawled over her body, covering her completely as he bent to kiss down her silky neck, sucking at the juncture between it and her shoulder.
"I know." Piper felt her eyelids close.
Waiting for him.
"Aerrow? Come in, Aerrow."
Aerrow woke with a start, feeling Piper stir beneath him. He rubbed his eyes.
"Stork." He muttered to Piper, getting up. She turned on her side and leaned on her elbow, watching him go to his skimmer.
"Aerrow here. What's the problem, Stork?"
"Just come back, quickly."
Aerrow turned to look at Piper, confused, but they wasted no time changing and getting back on the skimmer to drive to the Condor.
Finn, Junko, Stork and Radaar were in the vehicle room- but they weren't alone.
A extremely handsome young guy of about 17 turned to look at them. His dark brown hair matched his chocolate eyes. Aerrow and Piper looked at the rest of their teammates, confused.
"Hi," The dark haired guy smiled, extending a hand. "I'm Race."
A/N: dun, dun dun! No prized for guessing who Race is there, BUT, i assure you this story will go a lot deeper and things will happen that you will not be expecting....
Now review, to criticise me being carried away with Aerrow and Piper... :P
I promise the next chapter will be very, very, very thrilling. ;) Until next time, folks!
