Chapter 25:

All the Time In the World

"Call it a day," said Loraine into our comms. "It's 7:00."

"Hell yeah," said Tony, exhaling in exaggeration. "God, I'm tired."

"Make your way back to HQ," prompted our boss. "Callaghan is here."

"What's this, a promotion?"

"Just get going, Tony." Loraine hung up, leaving the line wiry and fuzzy.

When we arrived at PK headquarters around 7:30, we waited for the elevator to reach the top. Inside, Reagan, Tony, and I were in relaxed silence.

Finally, Reagan turned to me. "Wow, you took that well."

I looked at her, then away. I shrugged. "Gotta sooner or later. It's my job."

"Good to hear that."

Tony nudged me softly. "You good?"

I smiled at him. "Yeah."

Reagan looked at us, to which I glared in return, while she looked at the elevator. The doors opened. We entered the underworld of light and buildings. Pepper and Loraine were speaking with Callaghan, who, once again, was surrounded by bodyguard Blues.

Callaghan greeted the three of us, shaking our hands. "I've assembled you all here on behalf of my gratitude and appraisal of your hard work. Project Icarus is becoming a success. Soon, this city will thrive, shine peacefully, and prosper politically and economically."

I've heard better speeches than that.

I gave a fake smile as Callaghan discussed a ten-minute topic on improvements for Project Icarus. I didn't really pay attention, just nodded and smiled. In my opinion, none of this political crap had any concern with me. My job was to take down Runners, that was it. I had no desire to listen to this 50-year-old man, I just wanted to get back to Nahlah, who was probably anxious to see me again.

Thankfully, Callaghan's meeting was brief. I think I had zoned out most of the time, because then Tony started talking to me about it when we left Callaghan.

In the elevator, Tony looked at me. "Hey, you're quiet."

Loraine folded her arms, smiling. "She's always been quiet, from the get-go. I thought you knew that, Tony, being her stalker and everything."

"Not stalker, boyfriend," defined Tony, glaring at her.

He took this too seriously, almost as if territorial yet awkward about it at the same time. For some reason, this bothered me. I shot a glare at both of them.

"What did I say about my personal life?" I snapped quietly.

"Oh, so he is your personal life?" joked Reagan, grinning with Pepper who tried to restrain hers.

I looked away.

"Hey, why so shy about it?" prodded Tony, grinning at me. "Is it my lack of jokes today? We've been outside on the run all day, I don't blame you. You're lacking comical relief. Here—"

"NO, Tony," I began, when I saw him reaching for me and hell knows why.

"Awe, c'mon, Cel, my comedy has to be the reason for you dating me."

"Dating you, but not falling for you."

Reagan and Pepper chuckled. "Burn," commented Reagan.

Tony gaped at me before glaring at the girls. Back to me, he protested, "Awe, Cel."

"You're like a puppy," I told him frigidly.

"But an adoring puppy," he finished, grinning.

"Stop grinning. You give off this perverted, rapist impression."

"I can't grin? I'm human, so are you. But I don't know about that. You're awfully frowny. You're such a troll."

"Troll?" inquired Reagan with a raised eye brow.

Tony pushed her slightly. "Hey, quit the commentary. Get your own relationship."

Reagan punched Tony, who exclaimed, "Ow" before she punched him harder with two more hits. More of his "Ow, ow, OW, Ray!" complaints followed. What a softy.

In the parking garage, we approached our cars—well, everyone who had cars. Before everyone entered their vehicles, they all paused and looked at me, toying with their keys. The chorusing abrasion of ringing metal bugged me.

"Why don't you ever bring your car? We're not your chauffers," said Loraine, shaking her head in disappointment.

"I'm a Runner. Those things waste gas, money, and time. And they can be disgusting, littered, and smelly," I stated, making a face.

Tony shrugged defensively. "What? My car's actually pretty nice."

"She's talking about my car," laughed Loraine, opening the door to her car. "After all, Tony took my car so my kids had the safety seats."

"Yeah," joined Pepper, dreading the memories. "Will threw up on the way back."

I had forgot about that. My first night with Nahlah felt ages ago. It was hard to believe that was all last night; the events that occurred before that were hazy because they didn't matter, unless Nahlah was in them.

Loraine nodded. "Yeah. Okay, but enough about cars. Celeste, I haven't had you over, yet. Rest at my place? Your new residence will be good and new by the end of this week."

I stared. "No. Really?"

Have I really lost track of time? And I thought Runners had problems with this.

"There was a house nearby that was on sale anyway. We've been working on it since you joined Project Icarus." Loraine impatiently tapped the side of her car, indicating me to join. "C'mon. You deserve some favoritism from the boss."

"Are you for real?" said Reagan. She rolled her eyes, then dipped into her car. "Whatever, later."

"See you tomorrow, Reagan." Pepper waved as Reagan wheeled out of the garage; we stared after her.

"If you hate me, let me know now," said Loraine, leaning againt the opened door of her driver's seat.

I turned to her, pointing out, "You have a family to take care. I don't want to invade."

I want to be with Nahlah.

Loraine fired a questioning glare. "Where are you gonna go?"

I smirked. "Our deal was I serve Project Icarus in return for no interrogations on my life. C'mon, don't you respect that?"

"Are you going off drinking, is that it?" Loraine pierced her eyes at me. "You're under intense training. Don't let drinking get in the way."

I shrugged away. "No. Besides, it's not that bad. I'm not a heavy one."

"Do you order me to assist Post in case she gets carried away?" proposed Tony to Loraine.

"Hell no," I burst, "What did I tell you about having me go anywhere near a drink with you around?"

"Reagan said that, though," he retorted, grinning.

"And I'm agreeing with her. I'm not going to bars with you. Ever," I declared.

"She's in self-denial," joked Tony, grinning infamously. I rolled my eyes, sighing in exasperation. Loraine chuckled, while Pepper just smiled quietly like she usually did.

"Where's it gonna be, Cel? With whom?" said Pepper, growing impatient. "I promised Derick an 8:30 reservation. Hurry up and pick."

"Hey," interjected Tony, looking at me. "We're dating. C'mon, another round?"

"Round of what?" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Are you thinking of drinks, cuz I was thinking of sex—" began Tony.

I opened my mouth to choose Loraine, but Tony laughed and waved his hands to dismiss the joke. "I was kidding, Cel! C'mon, let's eat somewhere. At least for an hour or so. Please?"

"You are desperate," I emphasized, rolling my eyes. I sighed after a momentary thoughtful silence. "I guess. But not Ocho's. Let's give them some time to heal from our last time there."

He chuckled lightly and fondly. "Good idea. Um, what food you in for?"

I shrugged carelessly. "Whatever feeds me--"

Loraine interrupted, starting her engine. "I take it you're with Tony. Good-night." And drove away so quickly.

"How about McDonalds?"

I goggled. "You serious?"

"Yeah." His eyes glinted jokingly. "Okay, how about The Blue Moon?"

"Or Luna Blanca?" I blurted.

"That Mexican restaurant?"

"You racist or something?" I smirked half-heartedly. "Besides, you're going for the English, romantic, fancy restaurant. Sometimes I wonder if you're trying too hard."

"You're worth it, though, right?"

"Enough of the cheesy lines, Tony. I demand Mexican food, I'm in the mood." I held my stomach, thoughts lingering over a simple basket of appetizer salsa and chips. "I haven't eaten since breakfast, do you realize that?"

"Hey, we had that quick snack of bananas," he reminded me as we got into his car, finally.

"Yeah, then you went ahead and pulled a nasty joke off the banana."

Tony backed up and pulled out of the parking garage. "Yeah, but any guy would do it."

"The problem is you went ahead and did it, though." I glowered.

"Don't give me that, I'm driving you around." Nevertheless, Tony grinned.

--

After an hour of me shutting down Tony's dirty jokes or throwing chips at each other, we left Luna Blanca. Before getting into Tony's car, he snuck up behind me, pulled me close, encircling my waist, and kissed my cheek from behind—briefly, but gently and lovingly.

This bothered me. I tugged gingerly from him, pushing his mouth away. I got into the passenger's seat.

Before I closed the door, he held it open. "Awe, I see. You're anxious to get to my house and get busy?"

"Tony, grow up," I snapped, pulling to close my door.

He grinned and let me close it. "You're hot when pissed." Then, we drove off.

His house was average, too. Nothing impressive. However, in the interior design reminded me slightly of Nahlah's taste, which pulled at my heartstrings. Tony gave a brief tour, then we slumped on his sofa, a part in which I tried to avoid snuggling with him because that was just too chick and annoying, especially with a guy like him. He was more cuddly than he ever exposed at first glance.

We watched TV, something I wasn't interested in at all, seeing how awkward and very unsocial that was. The news bickered about the Runner hunts, protests, and lobbying for Callaghan.

I was there for two hours. Tony didn't waste a second not trying to talk to me, getting to know me through his perversed comments or gestures. He was like a high school boy, in a way, with a little dignity and respect. But the respect part needed improvement.

"I'm going, Tony," I finally said, sitting up.

"To where?" he stressed, giving me a thwarted expression.

Nothing came out of my mouth as I tried to invent a lie. Instead, Tony situated himself straight in his seat on the sofa, and leaned on his legs. He looked at me, studiously fumbling with the remote controller.

"What's going on, Cel?"

"Okay, I'm sorry," I said, turning around, propping a hand on my hip. "But you don't know me well enough to ask 'what's going on'. Even girls like Reagan and Pepper would know not to ask me that. I'm just doing what I do."

"Yeah, but you're always avoiding each and every one of us."

"I work with you nearly twenty-four hours a day. Don't start, Tony."

"We're humans, too, Cel," he blurted. His tone got so serious and low, it didn't sound like it belonged to Tony; that included his expression. "We got private lives, jobs, and feelings. You're acting like a bitch, deliberately detaching yourself from your new friends, your new life."

I remained quiet. I was just not one for words, they always led to horrible, meaningless arguments. Standing there, hand on my hip, I just stared at him, hoping he'd give up. He looked at me, then looked down at his remote controller.

"I act like a pervert, but I'm really not," he reassured with a joking smirk, looking up. "Stay for the night, Cel. You really don't have anywhere to go. We're your new friends, we're welcoming you to stay. The Runners, their rooftops are unfriendly, nor are they."

"This is still about the Runners?" I folded my arms.

"Well, why not?" Tony pointed outside. "They just nearly killed you this morning, Cel!"

"I'm grateful for your concern," I told him, however, I didn't smile. I was sick of this "date" of mine. "But I'm a Runner, too."

"Black Neck," muttered Tony, under the means to correct me. "You're under Project Icarus' authority and protection. Don't take these for granted, skipping out there on the streets as if you're a normal civilian."

"Funny," I said, glaring into thought, "didn't you promise me a life of a civilian, for once, if I joined Project Icarus? I'm not feeling the 'normal' part, so far."

"No one's normal, Cel."

Haven't heard that one, before.

For some reason, I was seething. So, I just shook my head and sighed. "Fine. I'll stay. But one night. We've only dated once. Not everyone does the night stand-offs. And we'll be sleeping separately. I'll sleep in the bathroom if I have to to keep you away."

Tony kind of smirked darkly. "You treat it as though we're not dating."

"We are dating. But we're not a couple. Got it?"

He blinked, then nodded. "Oh, okay. Right. So, I guess, this makes the whole chase all the more interesting?"

"Sure, if you wanna call it that." I shrugged.

Seeing Tony going along relieved me. He was probably urgent to become a couple with me, but I wouldn't allow it. I had Nahlah to think about. Her gentle, defenseless body was all I yearned right now. I didn't need anyone protecting me; I didn't care about the massive, protective arms of Tony or any other male.

"So, I'll sleep out here, you in your bedroom?" I confirmed.

He nodded. "Yup, sure."

So casual. He really was willing to do whatever it took to become my boyfriend. Something twisted inside of me, and I think it was called sympathy, along with frustration.

Keeping Nahlah a secret was hard.

"Oh, so, uh, is there anything you need before you go to bed?" he asked politely.

"Going to bed already?" I asked, staring. "It's only, what, 9:30?"

He folded his hands over his thighs. "It's been a long, rough day. You were up late last night, too. It's obvious."

"Who isn't?"

"Yeah, I might actually just call it a night."

Really? This was perfect. When he was deep in slumber, I could get out of here. Nahlah was probably worried sick.

"Okay, then . . ." My voice drifted off phantomly, trying to figure out what to do about bed settings and all that.

"How about a shower?"

I tossed a nasty glare at him. Tony waved his hands. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that. Do you need to take a shower? It means just what it asks."

"Sure. Quickly. I'll get the towel myself."

"I wasn't gonna do anything! Lock the door if you want!"

--

The shower was quick. I made sure I had brought all necessities and change of clothing into the bathroom so I didn't feel compelled to leave it in a towel to get something. Tony provided a heavy bathrobe, something I didn't see people use anymore these days, for my cover-up, along with an overgrown T-shirt underneath the robe just in case.

"What is it with men and big clothing?" I said, coming out, shaking the wetness out of my shampooed hair.

"We look scarier and kick-ass," he answered, drinking out a milk carton.

"And drinking out of milk carton?" I added. "If that were my milk, I woulda suffocated you with a cow's utter if you really love it that bad."

Tony made a face at me, then burst out laughing. "You women nail all these stupid false statements on us," he said, putting back the milk carton. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to be your husband, yet."

"Not planning on it, either."

"But," admitted Tony, "what we men like about women is your obsession with fashion and tight clothing."

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, you wear that red belly-shirt," he accused.

"I'm a Runner, of course it has to be tight," I remarked strictly. "Anything loose is distracting to our muscle and motion."

"Why jeans, though? Don't those restrict flexibility for a Runner?"

"Not a problem to me."

"Right, cuz you're topnotched."

"My ego is not as topnotched as yours." I started preparing the pull-out sofa, untangling sheets and flapping them out. Tony helped me.

When we finished preparing the bed, I climbed in, and sat up. Tony was half-way exiting the living room, hands on the switch. He turned and smiled. "Night, Cel. Careful."

"Careful?" Oh great. He was going to rape me. "Tony, I wouldn't go anywhere near me when I sleep. I'm a tosser in bed."

"I'm sure you are. You make it sound tempting, too."

What did I tell you? Anything I said, he turned around. So, I just glared, hurled a pillow at him, left it on the floor as he laughed and abandoned it while turning the lights off, and fell asleep.

--

I crept near Tony's opened door, peeking in. He was your typical heavy sleeper, the booming, scratchy snore and motionlessness. I checked the time, seeing that it took him two hours to fall sleep. It was 11:45. Being in a hurry, I kept on Tony's T-shirt, but disposed his bathrobe while slipping my jeans on. Grabbing Nahlah's tanktop she lent me, I slipped out the window, seeing that they were quieter than large doors.

I grabbed a late taxi and once again looked forward to seeing Nahlah.

When I knocked, however, she wouldn't answer.

A feeling of concern fluttered over me. I knocked louder, demanding softly, "Nahlah?"

I looked around. Darkness haunted the streets; a few hints of lamp post lights here and there. Some house lights grinned from the distance down the street, but nothing felt out of place—at least, I hoped.

My heart started stabbing itself over and over in panic.

Then, the door opened.

Nahlah presented her rather sleepy side. Her bed-head was bushier than ever, frizzled and tangled. That didn't bother me, though, because she still looked beautiful.

I smiled affectionately, then goofily smiled. "Wow, look at you."

She blinked before vigorously wiping her sleepy eyes. "Can't you think of an earlier time to arrive? It's always nearly midnight. It's throwing me off my sleeping schedule . . ."

"You can't get tired of me now," I told her, inviting myself in. I closed the door behind us as I pushed her back, embracing her, kissing her.

Nahlah accepted my lips, then drew back. "Then don't be late."

"Hey, don't gimme that. Work."

"I have work, too, Cel. And look who's here first."

"That's because you live here."

Before Nahlah could protest, I pressed another kiss; I really missed her. She felt this as my hands groped her neck, then down toward her waist. Her hand stroke mine on her waist before it traveled up my bare arm, cupping my jaw as she pressed into me.

Shortly afterwards, Nahlah pushed us apart gently, smiling. "Celeste . . ."

It felt so weird, yet exhilarating, to hear her voice say my name. My heart throbbed as I looked into her eyes, holding her.

"What?"

". . . I'm tired. Let's go to bed."

I looked at her, short of words. She smiled briefly before tenderly taking my hands and tugging me with her toward her bedroom. I looked after her, speechless.

So soon?

When we got to her bed, Nahlah gracefully tore off her tank top. I don't know if that was her bed-time shirt or from today, but that didn't matter to me. The moment I saw her bra, my hands lingered for the straps—but Nahlah turned around, held my hands, and leaned forward to kiss me passionately once more. I didn't know when this would end, but I didn't think about it as I took her kiss. She held my face as I gently pushed her backwards onto her bed. I crawled over her as I laid her onto her back, our fingers interlocked. Nahlah helped me shrug my shirt off. Then, her fingers nibbled for the back of my bra as my lips caressed her throat.

Between breaths, I told her, "You better not be tired. This is our only hours together. I have to get up early tomorrow."

The brunette underneath me stole another kiss, while she sat up slightly so I could undo her bra. Taking a breather, she looked up at me as we removed her bra.

"You haven't done this before, Celeste. Let's not go too far."

I couldn't believe the woman who wanted me the most was saying this. But I respected that, despite the burning desire in my heart.

"We have all the time in the world," whispered Nahlah.

We looked into each other's eyes, nothing else.

As I held her in bed, chin snuggled against her neck, I knew what I had to do. As long as I served Project Icarus, I had access to Nahlah. She was under legal protection by my request to Loraine, from Runners and the PK alike. If I could just keep taking down Runners until Project Icarus' goal was met, this would all be over and I wouldn't have to worry about being able to see her only at midnight.

And she was right. We had all the time in the world.