Author's Note: I just wanted to say that any further updates might take a bit longer than usual, since I am working on my other story Children (I love the story but it's killing me). But who knows, maybe by the power of many reviews I might update faster than expected....
Chapter Seven - Fun
Starling's breathing was steady and laboured, her body was still and relaxed but the Dark Ace knew that she was awake. Her back was turned to him, he had an arm wrapped around her waist casually, holding her close to him but their bodies weren't touching as they lay side by side.
He knew she wanted to stand up and put her clothes on but he wouldn't let her. He unconsciously caressed the smooth and taut skin of her stomach. He could feel her tense up slightly. Any other person wouldn't have probably noticed the change but it didn't escape him.
His eyes narrowed as they fell onto a long scar on her back. Leaving the skin of her stomach, he traced the pale scar with his forefinger like he had done with the cut on her cheek on the very day, on which everything had begun. A day that had become a very fond memory.
Starling's spine stiffened in response to his touch. The scar started from her left shoulder blade and stretched diagonally to the middle of her back. He could tell that it was old, having almost the same paleness as her skin. It was probably one of her first battle scars.
"Where did you get this?" he asked as his hand wandered from her back to wrap itself around her waist once again.
"Repton," was the only answer she gave him.
"Ah yes, the one who killed the Interceptors," he said, his lips slowly twisting into a malicious smile as he softly grasped her shoulder, making her turn around to face him.
He wanted to see her face, every reaction he could get.
As he had expected, Starling's eyes didn't betray anything. She was just looking at him stoically, clutching the bed sheet in front of her bare chest.
"You know, I'm a bit surprised that all of the Interceptors could be killed by Repton alone. I have hardly seen anyone as incompetent as him, how did he manage to kill almost an entire squadron?"
He chuckled inwardly as her eyes narrowed into a deadly glare.
"What are you implying?"
"Well," he began conversationally as if they were talking about something as trivial as the weather and weren't lying naked next to each other, whilst he was having so much fun playing with her emotions. "It clearly doesn't speak for the squadron if they were beaten by someone stupid like Repton."
He awaited her next words with sadistic anticipation, hoping to see anger, pain, sadness. Such games were especially fun with people who were trying to hide their suffering. People like Starling.
"I know what you're trying to do, Ace," she said, catching him by surprise, "I won't fall for your stupid mind games."
His red eyes were wide as he watched Starling turn around, so that her scarred back was facing him.
Ace.
It had been years he heard someone calling him Ace. Nobody called him Ace! Ace was dead!
The Dark Ace had shed that name together with everything he connected with his former life. Being nothing more than a lowly co-pilot, being considered the weakest member, never having gotten any recognition for his heroic and brave deeds. He had taken over the title of the Dark Ace, which should mirror who he really was.
And that insolent woman dared to call him Ace! He would--
He stopped his angry trail of thoughts as he glared at Starling's back. This was not how it was supposed to go. He was one who was supposed to play with her head not the other way around. He gritted his teeth in anger.
How could he have let himself get carried away so easily, in his own game, no less?
"Piper," she said, her steady voice cutting through the tense silence.
"What?"
"I don't know what they're doing to her but your Talons seem to especially enjoy tormenting her."
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
"Just…make them stop. You're their commander, they fear you."
He didn't say anything. He could say that he wouldn't help that girl, to punish Starling, for attempting to play his own game against him almost successfully. He didn't know if he would help the girl. Of course, he had noticed that the Talons were especially focused on Aerrow's beloved navigator. He didn't need Starling to point that out for him.
It would all depend on the mood he would be in. Right now, he had no intention on helping anyone. Maybe he would do something later, maybe never.
"Say, Starling," he began, drawing his body closer to hers, his chest touching her back. With his lips against her ear he continued, "How did you manage to survive Repton's attack, when all the others could be killed this easily?"
He smirked.
He was going to enjoy this very much.
