Rise of a Hero
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Warnings: See chapter one.
Pairings: See chapter one
Authors Note: Sorry for the massive delay, nothing to say for it but the usual: schoolwork (physics!), work and trying to have a decent social life.
Chapter 10: Reunion
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He paid for her ticket without asking. She would have argued about paying her own fair share if it was Archie and he would always slip the money across the counter while she was concentrated on the debate. She stayed quiet now as he talked in a quiet, monotone voice. Atlanta still didn't know his name and she really didn't care what it was.
He took her hand, again, without speaking to her. It buzzed on her skin, like what she'd expect from a lover. But she felt nothing for this man. There was nothing remarkable about his touch, other then it tingled, like pins and needles almost, against her hand. There was something familiar about the feeling, but the more Atlanta thought about this man the more she realized what she was doing. So she forced herself not to think at all.
He didn't bother asking if she wanted any food or a drink, and she knew she wouldn't have time to have them anyways. She glanced up from the floor only once, to try and see something or someone to tell her that she was being a bad girl. But there was only him looking at her, and he looked very disappointed in her. She kept her eyes on her feet.
Atlanta only stumbled once in the dark as they headed up the badly-lit stairs to the back row. She fell against him, every part of her that touched him buzzed like her hand, and he moved and pulled her to her feet just as quickly. No one said anything about them. She wondered why she was waiting on someone else to save her. No one was coming. Her knight was long dead. Her happy ending with him.
They were in the back too quickly. Atlanta's sensible mind was shouting at her. Telling her that she would regret this for the rest of her life. Forever. She was insulting her friends, Archie and herself by using this stranger as a means of escape. And she told herself she didn't care. She told herself she wanted to make bad choices, she wanted to be wrong.
He sat down quickly and pulled her into his lap. Her heart was pounding and her head was sore from her bickering with herself. Atlanta's hands began to shake. She didn't want to touch him. She didn't want to be near him. A week ago she would have been disgusted by girls in her same situation. She was no better now. Atlanta realized she was still waiting on the false hope Archie would come and save her. He was always there when she needed him. And god, she needed him now. He had to come for her.
The man was looking at her in such a way that he appeared to pity her, and be upset with her at the same time.
"What are you doing with yourself?" he whispered, reaching out to cup her cheek in his hand. She flinched at his strange touch but he kept his hand on her face. She felt like she was a child being scolded by a parent. He pulled her in towards him, their faces so close now. She could still run away. She was good at that.
"Atlanta, this isn't like you," he continued. She wondered what he meant by that. Because she was so apprehensive? Usually she charged headfirst without thinking. Was she supposed to be touching him now, was she supposed to be giving herself into his embrace? She never told him her name…
He pulled her closer to him. Their lips were almost touching. It was almost too late. The lights were dimming.
"I will explain everything Atlanta; I promise you I will tell you the truth. But we might be under surveillance right now Atlanta and I can't have anyone know I'm here. Don't talk- not yet. Close your eyes," the voice was completely different but the way he spoke was similar to the way Archie talked when he was dead serious about something. Her body responded of it's own accord and trusted this strange man's words.
Suddenly, the buzz of his hand on her face was gone. He was still touching her, she could still feel the coolness of his fingers and the way his thumb stroked along her cheekbone. But the tingling she'd felt before was gone.
"Look at me, quickly," he ordered.
And when she opened her eyes, it was Archie's face she was leaning so close to. It was Archie who was holding her so close. But Archie was… this had to be a trick. A sick joke.
Magic! It had to be magic!
Atlanta's stomach suddenly twisted at her revelation. It was magic that tingled against the skin in close contact. It was magic that had been surrounding this man to disguise his appearance. And now that there was no magic, that meant this was his true face-
Archie!
Atlanta opened her mouth to speak, tears sprang to her eyes. She knew it, he couldn't be dead! Here he was again to save her from destruction and she was shaking in shock and happiness and she wanted to scream her victory and joy for everyone to hear.
Archie kissed her so fast that she couldn't make a sound and instantly the magic returned. And she could see the appearance of the stranger but under her fingers, against the strange sensation of magic, she could feel the shapes of Archie's face, his shoulders, his arms and his chest. And his hands touched her as well. They had never been like this before. A kiss had always been rare, hidden from others. Sometimes, when they'd been rather romantic they would hold hands.
Atlanta had never felt this desperate for Archie's touch, for his taste. And she would not stop until she was satisfied.
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"Nothing! He comes out of nowhere, murders Archie and now he vanishes! Cronus should be gloating his defeat! Not hiding away like this!" Jay shouted. He leaned back in his chair, hands over his face. Theresa was sitting on his bed, and had been dozing over charts Odie had made of recent activities that could be related to Cronus. She sat upright at Jay's outburst.
"Jay," she sighed, setting the papers aside and slipping off his bed, "you're exhausted. You aren't going to get anything done if you don't sleep."
Jay turned to look at her and his eyes looked sunken and his face hollow of any lively glow. He looked so dead, "I have to find him, Theresa. He has to pay for what he did-"
"And we will. But for now, we all need to sleep. Odie's collapsed over his computer downstairs and Herry managed to drag himself onto the couch before breaking down- eyen Neil has been up all this time but went to sleep a while ago. Jay, you need rest."
She walked forwards, almost stumbling, to his side. He was shaking his head, mumbling incoherently. She kneeled beside him, "For me, Jay? Just for a little bit, close your eyes and let your mind rest. You're going to kill yourself at this rate."
Jay looked into her eyes with an argument, but Theresa saw it fade away. He was exhausted beyond comprehension. They all were, and Jay was still trying to act like a leader, like he was still the strongest. And as long as he kept them going, they would keep doing everything that he asked of them.
"Alright," he whispered, smiling for the first time in ages, though it could hardly be called a smile, "but… will you stay with me?"
Theresa wanted to have a shower, to scrub dirt and sweat and tears and doubt and grief off herself. She wanted to change into new, clean clothes. She wanted to wash her greasy, limp hair. She wanted to get rid of the make up streaked down her face. She wanted to look beautiful again, but she nodded and Jay carefully took her hand in his and they lay on his bed together and were quickly consumed by sleep.
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Neil was lying in his bed, exhausted, but sleep would not take him. He continued to imagine what it would be like sharing a bed with Theresa. He liked to sleep in the middle, but he would gladly give up half his bed for her, if she would let him hold her in his arms. He wondered if he could brush her hair while she washed off her face and she would quietly hum a song or tune in a way that was beautiful to his ears and for him alone. He wondered what it would be like to entwine their fingers and lead her to his bed where he could caress her soft body and feel her curves against him. Neil went to sleep dreaming of the day Theresa would chose him over Jay.
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Archie moaned in the back of his throat as Atlanta shifted herself in his lap. She tried to get his shirt off and out of the way- again- but Archie had to stop her because he was remotely aware they were still in a public place. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to stop himself.
"Why," she whispered between wet kisses, "haven't you," his tongue ran across her lips, "come back?"
He kissed down her neck and tasted the salty sweat from her excitement, "I can't explain that," he paused to suck at her collarbone, "not now, it's too complicated," he kissed her again and she took his face in her hands to hold the kiss until their lungs felt about to burst, "but I will. I promise."
"When?" she sighed, kissing his face and feeling the slope of his nose under the buzz of magic.
"Later, with the others," he kissed her gently this time, taking her by both wrists, "now Atlanta listen to me, this is serious- not yet," he said quickly as she leaned in to kiss him again, "you have to act like I was never here," he didn't respond to her shock, "for both our sakes, you have to act like I am still dead Atlanta. I'm risking your life by being here right now, and I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but there's no other choice."
"Why? Why can't you come back?" He kissed her again before she started crying.
"Someone might be watching us right now, Atlanta. I need you to pretend like I'm not saying anything important- if you have the need to cry or laugh or make any noise, stop yourself or kiss me to make me stop if I say too much-" She kissed him right there. He smiled into her lips, "I haven't started the really bad news yet."
"Too much talking," she nuzzled her face under his chin and kissed down his neck.
"I need you to get the others alone for a while- no gods. Do not, under any circumstances trust the gods, Atlanta, I beg of you. For all that you care for me, just listen to me this one time."
"Anything," she kissed him for a moment, "Archie you have no idea what I'd do for you now. Just promise you won't hurt me again."
"I promise," he replied between kisses, "but please, please get better Atlanta. You're not at all yourself. You are not the beautiful, spirited person I thought I would come back to- and I know you've been hurt and it's because of me, but don't you ever try to hide your pain with some stranger ever again. Ever." Atlanta was surprised at the undertone of fury and jealously in Archie's voice. She recalled the disappointed looks the 'stranger' had given her before she found out he was Archie. It must have made him sick having to lure her into this place, and even worse when she came along without protest.
"Okay," she said, "but I don't want to wait very long."
He nodded, "It all depends how soon you can get the others away from the gods."
"How will I reach you?"
He grinned mischievously as if he had the final ingredient that would make their well-laid prank perfect, and once upon a time he always did, "Something your new boyfriend gave you- the one you met at the movies today. His name is Taylor Smith and you are completely head-over-heels for this guy, although to the others he sounds like a complete sleaze-ball taking advantage of you and buying your love and affection with flashy things like this-" she was too shocked by the so Archie-like expression on the face that was distorted by magic that she didn't see what he had for her, but she felt his hand down her side as he rested it on her hip momentarily when he slipped something into her pocket.
"There's only one number, call me if you ever need me. And remember- Taylor Smith," he smiled lop-sided and kissed her one last time. Atlanta realized the end credits were rolling and the lights were coming on. She kissed him one last time,
"See you soon?"
"I promise Atlanta."
They parted in the crowd with one last lingering touch of their fingers. She couldn't believe everything that had just happened. Her head was spinning and she needed to sit down for a while. There was so much she should have asked, needed to know. Why couldn't he come back? Why were the gods telling them he was dead? Why were they saying Cronus had killed Archie when he was clearly still alive?
It couldn't have been real. Archie showing up from the dead? Some fantasy she'd spun in her mind, and yet…
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek, new cell phone. She could care less for it's color, which was black, or the style or anything about it. She flipped it open quickly and went to the contacts.
Taylor Smith.
She called him.
"Already?" was the first thing she heard.
She couldn't help herself from laughing. It was a tired, sad, joyful and ridiculous laugh that sounded more like she was crying.
'Atlanta?" he sounded worried.
"No, no," she said, "I… I just… had to be sure… it was real."
He chuckled in such a familiar way it brought tears to her eyes, "Take care Atlanta, I will see you soon."
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I'd like to say, this is like the most romantic/passionate chapter in BOTH DWM and RH.
:)
-Demenior