"I need some fresh air." Jack stood up suddenly.
"Well, after being in that storm, that's understandable. Go ahead." Liam gave his friend a chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah. Have fun with your girlfriend."
"Jack!" Liam glared, but the black-haired boy was already gone.
"Still aren't together?" Olivia asks, raising an eyebrow. Liam sighs.
"This honestly isn't the time to talk about that, Olivia." Petra woke up a little, and Liam's face turned red. Was she seriously listening the whole time? he thought.
"Alright, alright, I was just wondering." Olivia gave Petra a teasing grin. Axel opened his mouth to add something to Olivia's comment, but there was a loud shout from Jack, outside.
"WHAT THE HELL." the group heard. Liam's eyebrows furrowed, and he released Petra, standing up and going outside. About to scold Jack for waking Petra completely, Liam's eyes met the towering Wither Storm.
"What the hell indeed." his eyes widened. The Storm had most definitely gotten much larger than the last time the group was practically at war with it. 'It' was now 'them' because it was tripled.
"How did it find us so fast?" Petra asks in disbelief, coming up next to Liam. She stumbled, but the blond instantly caught her.
"You honestly shouldn't be out here." Liam tells her, releasing his arms from around her waist and stepping in front of her protectively.
"I wanted to see what was going on." Petra spoke just as the others came out
"We're not safe anywhere, are we?" Jack asks hesitantly, shaking his head.
"Well, we can't stand around and wait for it to actually find us." Olivia pointed out, looking around for Jessie. Jessie led the group, so therefore, she should make the choice of what they should do. Liam had the same idea and found her before Olivia did. Behind her stood Soren and Ivor. Almost immediately, Liam felt the urge to tackle Ivor, but he then remembered what Ivor had told him in the Nether. Liam wanted to ask him about it, he so desperately wanted to know. Yet, Liam let Jessie speak.
"Guys, there's a reason it's been following us." she began, making the others turn at her presence. "Ivor says it's because of the amulet that Gabriel-" Jessie was trying to put it in a way that no one would think of Ivor differently, but Magnus had other ideas.
"Ivor! It is you!" The shorty stomped right up, getting in Ivor's face.
"Good to see you too, Magnus." Ivor sighed, clearly taller than the bald Rogue.
"Hello, my name is Gabriel." Gabriel held his hand out to shake. Liam facepalmed, closing his eyes.
"Somebody pinch me." Ivor grinned nervously, glancing at Soren. iam decided to ask about their 'moment' in the Nether later.
"Anyway…" Jessie began slowly, pulling the amulet from her pocket before she continued, "Ivor figured out that the Wither Storms are drawn to the amulet. So we gotta lure them to Soren's fortress where the Endermen will pick it down block by block. Meanwhile, we gotta find out a way to get to Soren's fortress us an enchanted super-weapon to destroy the command block."
"You figure that all out just now?" Olivia asks in disbelief. Pratically the smartest of anyone now, it was no surprise that she was surprised. Ivor let out a sigh.
"The point is, we aren't safe here. We need to get moving." Ivor spoke at last, walking up to Liam. "And yes, Liam, I'll explain myself." Ivor whispered, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Not as long as we have that amulet." the man continued his way towards Jessie, motioning to the amulet as he spoke. Jesse held it up, the blue, green, and white beams glowing brightly in the twilight of night. Even the dark blue one in the middle was faintly glowing too. Liam and Jack didn't know that Ivor used to be a member of the Order of the Stone. Liam would question it later, and now honestly wasn't the time.
"I'll take it." Axel volunteered, grabbing the amulet. Jessie still held tight to it, and Liam had a short flashback as he remembered what happened the last time someone grabbed for the amulet. Liam sighs, running a hand through his hair. Luckily, for Axel, Jessie didn't try to tug it from his grip. Instead, she just kept holding tight, like it was her lifeline.
"Can you do it?" Olivia asks, hesitantly as Jessie let go.
"I can, and I have to." Axel looked at her, clearly determined.
"But you could be killed!" Olivia protested, concerned for her friend. He may be dumb, he may be a jerk, but he was still their friend.
"Axel, there's no way I can let you do that." Jessie shook her head.
"You don't understand, I'm not asking." Axel sighed, and Liam stepped up.
"Jessie, I'm not trying to sign Axel a death wish to get revenge for what happened to me, but I think the big guy can do it." Liam grins at Axel, punching his shoulder.
"Thanks, Liam. Jessie, come on, I can do this. I thought you'd trust me by now." Axel gave his old pal a grin, pocketing the amulet as he spoke. "You all just go and make that super-weapon, and I'll meet you right back at Soren's fortress." Axel crossed his arms.
"Axel shouldn't have to do this alone. I'm going with him." Magnus volunteered almost immediately, walking up to the younger Rogue.
"And on the way, maybe you can teach him how to be a better Rogue." Liam teased, and Axel just rolls his eyes. Ever since the incident, Liam and Axel have most definitely gotten along much better.
"I've decided to stick by Jessie. I pledged to help, and that is what I must do." Gabriel walked right over to Jessie, and Liam followed.
"You don't know how much Lukas cares for Jessie, so I'm going with her to protect her."
"But I don't need-"
"Butts are for sitting, Jessie." Liam chuckles, draping his arm over her shoulder. "My brother is out there, searching on for his friends."
"Then do this… for him." Soren nods at Liam, who gave an encouraging smile.
"For Lukas." Liam repeated, removing his arm from hanging around Jessie's shoulders and going over to Petra. "Come on, let's get you back in the cave." Petra followed him into the cave, and sat on the bed, relaxing immediately as she rested her head on the white pillow. "Man, how much I wish to be in your place right now." Liam sighs, taking a seat on the bed near Petra's waist. He props his elbows on his knees, resting his head in his hands.
"Don't say th-" Petra began, and was interrupted by a fit of coughs almost immediately. She groans, holding her stomach. The coughs hurt her more than anything, making her body shake. She closes her eyes and sighs as the pain subdues. Liam took her hand, bending down to kiss her forehead.
"You'll be fine, Petra. Jack and Lupin will take good care of you, I'm sure." Petra chuckled, re-opening her eyes and added,
"You have very bad aim, you know."
"What?" Liam asks, his face still hovering above her own and cocked an eyebrow. Their lips were only inches away from each other, and the faint glow of the torches made it a bit more… hmm, how to put it?.. Romantic.
"You're supposed to do it like this." Petra leaned up and, gently, placed her lips on his. Liam was frozen for a moment, maybe two, until he jumped to action at last, kissing back and cupping her cheek with his left hand, as his right was still holding Petra's hand. His eyes closed, enjoying the kiss. Someone may have walked in on them, but neither Liam nor Petra cared. They've never actually got to kiss. The two have once before, but it didn't last as long before Lukas came right in and ruined the moment. The kiss lasted about 30 seconds when an audible gasp sounded. Liam jumped, obviously started and sat up, his face turning a bit red as he noticed Jessie standing there.
"Nooooooooo wayyyyy." she droned, just as Liam began to scratch the back of his head, obviously embarrassed. "Petra, Liam, holy crap, why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Well, heh, Lukas knew, but he-"
"You two are so so so sooooo adorable!" Jessie squealed, unable to hold in her excitement. Liam looked at Petra and a grin tugged at his lips.
"Come on, Jessie, let's get going." he chuckled, kissing Petra's cheek before leaving the small cave.
"What took you so long? Axel and Magnus already left."
"Well, Liam was-"
"Why don't we get going and maybe Jessie can fangirl over it along the way?" Liam asks, getting on his horse. He didn't not like the fact that everyone would know now; he just usually didn't like the teasing.
"Yeah, right, lover boy." Jack rolled his eyes, a smirk clear on his face. Liam glared at his friend playfully, and Lupin barked. Jessie mounted her horse, Reuben right behind her.
"Everyone, take care of yourselves now." she gave the group an encouraging smile. Jessie's group, headed for Ivor's lab, filed from the the small clearing in front of the cave and they were off.