Chapter 8
Dark Ace woke and stared up at the ceiling. All he could do was smile and looked down at Rain sleeping beside him. Her back was to him and she clutched the blankets tightly to her naked body but he could see her long elegant back and her hair flared across the pillows.
Dark Ace slowly rolled onto his side with the blankets up to his waist and looked down at Rain. He felt a tender, softness in is chest and had the urge to just keep kissing her. He leaned down and trailed kisses along her arm and she stirred slightly.
Rain moaned softly in her sleep and Dark Ace looked down at her. He leaned closer to her and hovered near her ear.
"You look beautiful," Dark Ace stated and ran his hand up and down her back.
Rain's eyes fluttered open softly and she stared straight a head of her. She seemed dazed for a moment but then smiled softly and closed her eyes again. Dark Ace smiled and kissed her arm again.
Rain slowly rolled onto her back and her arm was pressed against Dark Ace's chest. She looked up at him tenderly and Dark Ace gently stroked her cheek. Rain closed her eyes again and rested her forehead against his shoulder.
"Suddenly being a prisoner isn't all that bad…" Rain stated softly.
Dark Ace looked at Rain in thought and then looked out the glass doors. He saw the red skies and a storm only a few minutes away. He studied it for a while and then felt Rain move.
Dark Ace looked down at Rain and saw her looking up at him intently. She seemed to be studying him as she laid on her back with her hands still clutching the blankets to herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Rain asked innocently.
Dark Ace smiled and replied, "After last night you can still be so innocent?"
Rain rolled her eyes and replied, "It would take more than to take away my innocence."
Dark Ace gave Rain an interested look and stated, "That sounds like a challenge."
"It would be, except I'm comfortable and don't feel like moving. You could answer my question though," Rain stated and began trailing her fingers up and down Dark Ace's chest.
Dark Ace placed his hand on top of Rain's and pressed it to his heart. She could feel his very slow heartbeat and he gently rubbed his thumb over her fingers.
"I was thinking about you," Dark Ace stated and reached under Rain with his arm and pulled her up close to him.
Dark Ace rolled onto his back and Rain huddled up next to him. For a moment she kept the blanket tight against her but then pushed it away. She wrapped her arms around Dark Ace so their naked bodies were pressed tightly together. He also wrapped his arms around her and sighed.
"You're so warm," Dark Ace stated and Rain smiled.
Rain began trailing her fingers up and down his chest again and gently kissed him over his heart. Rain then rested her head on his chest and listened to his slow heartbeat.
"I guess the infamous Dark Ace has a heart after all," Rain stated and let her arm rest on Dark Ace's chest.
"Only for you," Dark Ace said quickly but then looked away.
Rain looked up at him and replied, "It doesn't have to be like that."
Dark Ace looked down at Rain and saw a shred of hope come to her eyes. She sat up more and laid on top of Dark Ace to look down at him. Her hair fell around her and she rested her hands under her chin.
"You could very easily leave all of this behind. We could leave. Imagine not having to fight sky knights and not take orders from a fourteen year-old. You'd be free to do what you want," Rain said softly and hopefully.
Dark Ace watched her but frowned. He leaned forward and gave Rain a meaningful, gentle kiss. He pulled away from her and her hope had already disappeared.
Dark Ace sighed and stated quietly, "There's nothing I want more then to be with you and to protect you. But if I leave with you you'll be in more danger than when Cyclonia attacked your terra. Cyclonis would come after me and when she found out I left to be with you, she'd be very quick to do whatever she could to destroy you. I'm not going to put you in that kind of danger. Not again. Besides, you'll get nowhere with me. Once you're out in the world, you'll grow and change. You'll meet new people and learn so much. If I were with you, you wouldn't. It's best if I stay here where I know I can watch if someone goes after you while you go out and live your life."
Rain sighed and rested her head on Dark Ace's chest. She laid her arms against his sides and pulled herself close to him.
"You sound like you're planning to let me go," Rain stated and closed her eyes.
Dark Ace felt a pain in his chest he had never felt before and looked out the glass doors. He gently wrapped his arms around Rain's back and then hugged her tightly. He planted a kiss on the top of her head and then just held her.
A loud alarm went off as a red light began flashing. Rain covered her ears and cried out in surprise but Dark Ace looked up at the alarm on the wall.
"Someone's here. Get dressed quickly," Dark Ace commanded and jumped from the bed.
Rain scrambled up and found her clothes. By the time she looked up, Dark Ace was in his uniform and putting on his armour. Rain pulled on her clothes and began doing up the ties on the back of her dress. Dark Ace came over, did them up for her and then grabbed his weapons. Dark Ace turned to Rain and quickly held her arms.
"Whatever you do, stay here. Keep your bag close in case someone comes in here. I'll be back as soon as I can," Dark Ace stated and quickly kissed Rain.
Dark Ace picked up her bag and set it on the bed. He pulled out the necklace, threw the box back in the bag and put the necklace around Rain's neck. He was about to leave when she grabbed his wrists. He looked down at her but then turned and went to the door.
"Stay here!" Dark Ace ordered urgently and then left the room.
Talons were running down the halls and Dark Ace made his way towards the hanger. When he got there, he saw two Storm Hawks -Aerrow and Finn – flying around and tormenting the talons.
A few talons shot at Finn and missed then he childishly yelled out, "Missed me! Man you guys suck!"
Aerrow left his skimmer and began fighting talons on the floor. He skilfully out-manoeuvred them and waited for more to come.
Normally, Dark Ace would have gone for Aerrow but instead he stayed back. He knew that when there were a few Storm Hawks the others weren't far away. Dark Ace looked around the hanger for any signs of them and then saw Piper and the wallop Junko sneaking onto the cargo ship holding the element crystals from Terra Nymph.
Dark Ace began running towards the ship but then saw it waver from side to side. He skid to a stop as Aerrow skid to a stop in front of him and they both looked up at the ship. Aerrow smirked and gave Dark Ace a taunting look. Dark Ace didn't care and saw the ship about to crash into the hanger support beams.
"Sorry, Dark Ace. You lose this time," Aerrow stated but Dark Ace still didn't care.
"It's going to destroy the hanger and everything above it," Dark Ace muttered and realized his room was directly about the hanger.
Aerrow looked at Dark Ace confused and Dark Ace quickly said, "Rain…"
Dark Ace took off away from the hanger.
"Rain?" Aerrow said confused but then Radarr landed his skimmer next to him.
"Thanks buddy. Now lets get out of here," Aerrow stated though Dark Ace's behaviour was still on his mind.
Dark Ace pushed the other talons out of his way as the ship crashed into another ship and they both fell into the support beams of the hanger. The floor shook and made the talons fall but Dark Ace managed to keep his balance and kept running.
He made it to his room as everything around him began shaking violently. He burst inside and saw Rain pressed up against the wall next to his bed and holding her black bag. She hadn't noticed him and was watching for falling debris to dodge it.
"Rain!" Dark Ace quickly stated and ran over to her.
Rain reached for him and he hugged her quickly.
"What's happening?" Rain asked worriedly and looked around frantically.
Dark Ace quickly went into his safe and pulled out a black cloak. He clipped it around Rain's neck, put the hood up and draped it around her shoulders to conceal her body. It dragged on the floor behind her but it would conceal her identity if anyone saw her.
"The hanger has been destroyed and it's directly below us. Everything is going to fall to the wastelands. We need to get you out of here," Dark Ace stated and pulled Rain towards the glass doors.
Dark Ace pulled Rain out onto the balcony and looked over the edge. Most of the hanger had already fallen and more of Cyclonia was following. Dark Ace turned back to Rain and held her arms.
"What do you mean I need to get out of here? What about you?" Rain asked drastically.
Dark Ace looked at Rain with the pain in his chest again and stated, "I told you. I need to stay here to protect you. You need to be free."
Rain kept staring at Dark Ace and then he stated, "I'm setting you free, Rain. It's what's best for you. Don't go back to your terra. I hate saying this, but go to the Storm Hawks. They'll help you for sure. They're flying around here somewhere. Just don't tell them anything. Say you were a prisoner and because of their attack you escaped."
Rain shook her head for a moment and Dark Ace held her closer.
"You need to Rain! They'll help you," Dark Ace stated.
Rain looked at Dark Ace angrily and stated, "Well what about you? What will Cyclonis think when I've escaped you?"
"Same thing the Storm hawks will think. You escaped because of the attack. Or even better, I'll tell her that you fell to the wastelands. That way she'll never look for you," Dark Ace stated.
Rain kept watching Dark Ace but then threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Dark Ace held her for a moment but then pushed her away.
Dark Ace whistled loudly and Rain heard a familiar nicker. Riko flew up from the red clouds below and looked at Rain excitedly. Rain looked at him in disbelief and then looked up at Dark Ace.
"I went and got him yesterday after you saw Cyclonis," Dark Ace stated.
Riko landed awkwardly on the shaking balcony and looked over at Rain. Rain stared at Riko but then looked up at Dark Ace.
"You were planning on setting me free this entire time?" Rain asked.
Dark Ace nodded and Rain just kept staring at him. A few pieces of Cyclonia fell from above and broke off part of the balcony. Riko jumped in surprise and danced anxiously.
Rain touched her hand to Dark Ace's cheek and stated, "You're the most feared and infamous man in Atmos, but I love you."
Tears welled in Rain's eyes and she kissed Dark Ace urgently. He held her tightly and savoured every sense of Rain he could. The apple smell of her hair, the feel of her skin, her beating heart, her soft hands and her small whimpers.
Dark Ace pulled away from Rain, held her hair out of her face and said, "And I love you."
Dark Ace quickly kissed Rain again but then pushed her towards Riko. Rain jumped up on his back and the cloak and her dress fell around him elegantly. Rain clutched her black bag to her and Dark Ace held her hand for one more moment. They stared at each other but then he pushed Riko towards the edge of the balcony.
Riko gladly jumped the railing and opened his wings. With a few powerful strokes he was flying as fast as he could go towards the cloud cover below. Dark Ace watched as Rain and Riko disappeared and hoped he'd never see Rain in Cyclonia again. The building began shuddering more and Dark Ace rushed back into his room. He rushed through the door and ran through the halls to get away from the falling debris.
It took him a few minutes but Dark Ace made it to a safe part of Cyclonia. The rest of the talons gathered there as well and watched as the hanger and part of Cyclonia fell to the wastelands.
Cyclonis came walking up and looked at the damage done. She surveyed the Cyclonians and then saw Dark Ace. She walked over to him and he immediately stood at attention.
"What's happened to the girl?" Cyclonis asked.
Dark Ace looked over at the destroyed part of Cyclonia and replied, "I had left to go to the hanger but before I got back to her the place collapsed. She's fallen to the wastelands."
Cyclonis nodded her head and replied, "Good riddance. She was useless anyways."
Cyclonis walked away and Dark Ace looked back at the destruction. He studied it and then looked at the skies around it. He saw no signs of Rain and hoped she was safe. He wished he could have left with her, but he loved her, and knew that letting her go was the best choice.
