Reviews :
faolan1230 : YAYAYYAYAY I'm glad you're excited!And uhhhh... I'd say Berri's and Turbo's issues are a lot, well... Faster? and more explosive? Ace's and Libby's issue was very brooding, slow moving and not so time sensitive. You'll find that Berri's and Turbo's experience has a short fuse, and well... There's dynamite at the end of it o_o;
Song Listened To :
Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
Affection ft. Jack Newsome by Said the Sky Origami
*Chapter 145*
In the few seconds of anticipation the two had, on the back of Turbo's bike, he kicked his kick stand away from the loved stone of Sugar Rush's palace's entrance. As if out of a dream, Berri did everything she could to subtly snuggle tight into Turbo's back, on his bike; a wide straddle that had her holding her breath in solid, bashful terror. She raised her eyebrows gently, and as if stuck inside of an out of body experience, Berri felt Turbo patiently hover in wait, he anticipated her grip about his mid section, and as she slowly gave it, she felt her head swim in weirdness. Having been so entirely used to easily securing her arms about Gunner's lean figure, she raised her eyebrows in poised, girly surprise and was floored to feel that, in her whole grip about Turbo's midsection, she could only grapple her wrists at the tightest. A solid figure of a hefty build, strong muscle that Berri could feel on his pecks and abs, she bugged her eyes a little and sagged her chest tight to Turbo's back. She held her breath and nervously shut her eyes tight the second Turbo's strong figure so gently leaned forward in warm anticipation, and as his bike's engine coughed a deep, angry growl of power, she inhaled a startled breath as the two popped forward in raw power. Like a rocket itching to burst through the planet's pull, the two were off in a gentle jolt of speed that Berri was entirely certain was the slowest Turbo allowed himself to go.
With the sound of the loud, vicious engine, the wind whipping right through the two, Berri held a rigid grip tight to Turbo's core and was floored to see just how fast the city was approaching. As they wound down the sloping mountains the palace sat on, she was thrilled Turbo skillfully navigated the dark, Sugar Rush's star kissed sky smiled upon them, and with Orion City's glow tight on the horizon, and approaching fast, Berri felt her pupils tighten with the rapidly approaching freeway that needed to be taken to get into the city. She did what she could to squeeze deeper into Turbo's body heat, she readjusted her arms about his broad center and chest, she bit her lip and dared to be a bit more curious with her hands. She flattened her palms and rested them flat on his core and muscular chest; she felt her face heat up the second she could only simply feel a deep, knowing chuckle emit from Turbo's being. His covered, helmeted head only gently glanced back to Berri, over his shoulder, to which she sheepishly gave Turbo's body a gripping squeeze of a hug. She, too, breathed a giggle and felt her heart soar at the insane speed they were fast approaching.
With skill, Turbo did what he could to navigate becoming-busy streets, and in a bend, he finally took the nearest on-ramp, an uphill slope into car-ridden chaos, high speed chases to different destinations. As they climbed the straight-away, the uphill on ramp that would eventually even, Berri bugged her eyes in nervousness as Turbo's masculine figure flexed in anticipation to merge into on coming vehicles, his strong shoulder blades pressed and squeezed against Berri's front, firmly glued to his being like her life literally depended on it. He firmly peered over his shoulder a few times, making sure the coast was clear, though the second he felt safe to ease into the rush of traffic, Berri huffed a nervous breath as his lean, into his bike, deepened to a flatter stance of anticipation. Clearly prepared for Berri to follow suit, she kept herself glued tight to his body and felt her core begin to merely shred to mincemeat the second Turbo revved the engine to much higher, angrier speeds. As his bike loudly howled a more aggressive growl of gained speed, the jolting movements of his bike shifting, Berri felt her heart rate shoot through the roof.
Now clinging to Turbo in a spike of unmitigated terror, a rush of excitement she was now positive she could never get enough of, she flinched in surprise as Turbo so easily glide his bike in and out of traffic, big and small cars easily came and went as he whizzed about traffic, a flawless navigation of weaving. With skillful maneuvering, Berri allowed herself to get lost in the passing lights, the rush of wind, the insane, loud growl of Turbo's beast of a bike, she felt doomed to this. Spoiled by Turbo's skills, things he kept stuffed deep down in the act of keeping his humility at the forefront, this only made Berri weaker for anything and everything unfolding. With a double-take, the two flew past a speed limit sign, which easily read seventy miles an hour, though with the speed Turbo was rocketing past everyone, a seamless zipper of gliding ease, Berri cocked an eyebrow and did what she could to read Turbo's speedometer. Easily and confidently reading a solid one hundred miles an hour, Berri froze and only gripped Turbo a bit harder.
Although a scary speed, and a terrifying show of risky weaving, Berri somehow felt entirely safe in this rare creature's care. Her insides did a tumultuous dance of glee, her rushing feeling urgently promised her that arriving to Turbo's house for a quiet, lovely dinner was going to be impossible to endure. The raw fact of squeezing, shooting adrenaline now coursing her coding, the ease of movement their bodies fell into together, in unison, Berri lulled her eyes closed in dire annoyance and knew exactly just what Turbo was doing here. Skillfully wowing her with things he never really boasted before, due to her previously unavailable status, Berri felt thwarted by the sheer amount of respect he must've had for her, so to carefully deploy said boastfulness upon her single self, and not when she was busy with another man. Berri easily peered forward and almost felt thrilled that Turbo was now confident enough to proudly display just what he was made of, to make clear just what he had to offer her, she squeezed his core a little harder, amidst the bending, leaning weaves of lane changes, and wondered if simply pouncing on him, upon arrival to his home, would be appropriate or not. How successfully he had her, hook line and sinker, she almost felt had.
Almost as fast as they entered the freeway, nearly five exits later, they finally approached theirs. Although due to slowing, Berri almost felt sad that the wild ride was now nearly over. With the gentle, lower grumble of Turbo's bike, and the easy glide to a upcoming red light, their slow motion tight lean into the body of the bike eased into a gentle sit. Frozen in stillness, the now hot grumble of his idle bike, Berri sat bug-eyed peering into the passing traffic in the intersection whilst they patiently waited for a green light. With arms still permanently latched to Turbo's torso, she cocked an eyebrow and eyed the side of his helmet in whole entire surprise. As cool as a cucumber, his rib cage slowly expanded with a relaxed inhale, whilst Berri was certain her chest cavity was forever clenched in a tight inhale of invigorated terror. Although the rest of the drive to Orion City's tallest tower was easy going, to Turbo's nest of a home she was familiar with, she felt as if she had somehow never been to this city before. With the way she now got a raw, fast and dirty look at it all, cradled tight to the fastest, scariest bike ever, as well as pinned to Arcade's hugest bad guy, Berri wondered just when she should potentially start pinching herself.
Although Berri wanted to readjust her arms and snuggle deeper into Turbo's powerful, broad back, she hesitated due to Turbo suddenly ducking down a familiar back alley. Once Berri counted the same 'ol four dumpsters that marked the secret entrance to Turbo's garage, high up above the clouds, she flinched in whole surprise the second he revved his bike, jostled his turn, sent the back tire of the bike in a drifting glide and completely one-eightied their way into the secretive little nook of a teleportation pad, nestled tight into the back and base of Orion City Tower. Berri jolted as the bike came to a sharp stop, though as the ground suddenly came aglow with Turbo's hot red coding, they suddenly were teleported straight to Turbo's still, well lit garage. With ease, Turbo powered off his bike, kicked the kick stand and gingerly hovered in tender wait, in preparation for Berri to dismount the bike first, though as more seconds went by, Turbo gently unfurled his hefty white helmet from his head and peered over his shoulder in cute curiosity.
"I-It's... A balmy seventy five degrees here in Turbo land, dinner will be served shortly, and, uh... We hope you've enjoyed your flight," Turbo chimed in a gentlemanly tone, to which Berri remained frozen in a tight grip about Turbo's torso, in a hard attempt to collect herself, "Please choose Black Airlines again, come back and see us."
Turbo raised his eyebrows a little harder, in pin-prickled delight and beamed a sweet smile to Berri over his shoulder. As easily as he could, he reached over his shoulder and flipped the thick visor, of Berri's helmet, to an upright slide. Upon seeing her cute eyes, she urgently peered up to him in bewildered, shell-shocked surprise, to which Turbo finally blurt a hard laugh and grinned. With warmth, he lovingly pat Berri's arms, which were still urgently clenched about his thick torso, and with such, she finally released herself in a wary show of cheeky uncertainty. Turbo finally relaxed his positioning once Berri made her way off of the bike first, and with a grapple of the helmet off of her head, she nervously peered about Turbo's garage and felt a weird, ironic sweep of familiarity and foreignness all in one go. The sheer idea that this was practically her second home, though the new route to get to said familiar abode was wild and weird. She long blinked in cute, delirious surprise and finally caught eyes with Turbo as he stood to correction and straightened out his shirt.
"... You were my very first passenger," Turbo gently admitted with a bashful, nervous smile, "H-How did I do?"
"Oh, amazing," Berri suddenly choked with a hard giggle, Turbo sagged his shoulders in relief and beamed as Berri hurried to carry on, "A rather terrifying ride, but... You did amazing."
"Okay, good," Turbo bobbed a conclusive nod and warmly took the helmet from Berri's hands, and with such a stark transition, he did absolutely everything to cater to her. Although he typically had this tone of a mind set, he rushed to up it to one hundred levels beyond what he'd ever do. He knew he'd do and say anything to make this night-in magical and relaxing for the one woman he adored the most, and although he wasn't expecting any form of romance on this fresh and new date, he somehow hoped it'd at least earn him brownie points, somewhere along the line. Turbo rushed to open his garage's side door for her, he welcomed her into his fresh, warm abode, a point on the map he was well aware Berri desired to be the most, "We don't... Have to go that route, to get you home. I'm sure you'd rather use the teleport pad to-"
"No, no," Berri interrupted in a firm, girly show of seriousness. She whirled around and peered Turbo in the eye, in exhilarated anticipation. She cupped her hands together as Turbo jolted to a stop, alongside her sudden, surprising movement, "I-I'd... I'd love a ride back to the palace."
"Oh, for real?" Turbo pressed with a curious, widening smile. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, at himself, bobbed a nod and looked off, "I... Still... Got it."
"Oh, stop," Berri guffawed as she gently swat Turbo's chest, and with ease, she soaked into his home with grateful fervor.
She heaved a long audible sigh and sagged her shoulders, she eased into Turbo's lovely home and felt chills of nostalgia crawl up her spine. Tidier and cleaner than usual, it still radiated Turbo's familiar scent, so many months of memories here inside these walls, Berri felt her heart urgently remind her that she was home. A sweep of love rushed over her, she was well aware there was absolutely nowhere she'd rather be right now. Every single wish her heart desperately cried out on her lonely nights, inside Dig Dug, all came rushing to fruition right before. Her ears prickled to the sound of Turbo nervously clearing his throat as he made his way into his kitchen. He quickly began to pull out a few pots and pans, as well as a few ingredients out of his fridge and cabinets, though in said rush of ironic easiness, he pulled out a bottle of wine alongside two beautiful wine glasses.
"Now, I... I entirely understand that this probably won't be nearly as fancy as any date Gunner has probably taken you out on, but hear me out," Turbo started in cute, confident boyish cheekiness. Berri slowly moseyed about Turbo's home, near the edge of the kitchen and hovered in a moseying glide near the steps down into his white carpeted living room. As if shroud in enchanted light, a beam of promised center stage Turbo took, Berri narrowed her gaze and felt as if her mind had finally come circle, with this mess. She eyed Turbo's masculine figure as his hands and arms so carefully began to pour the both of them a frosty glass of wine, she bit her lip and gently hooked her hand to the guitar pick safely secured around her neck. As if lost in the whirl of it all, the already magical night she was having, she lovingly peered in Turbo's direction as he cutely continued on, "I figured, since you've been literally all over the planet, lately... The LAST thing you wanted was to be seen in public. Which, hey. Works for me."
"You're not wrong," Berri mumbled with a small smile as she began to make her way to the kitchen island Turbo was stationed at, "Yeah, I'm... I was never really wowed by Gunner's antics. I mean, don't get me wrong. I was starstruck at first, and... The food was great."
"Yeah, but I'm sure it just involved stuffy waiters and a zillion different utensils," Turbo mumbled as he carefully watched how much wine he was pouring, though he finally capped the bottle and gave Berri his whole attention, whilst they delved into a rather sensitive topic.
"It did!" Berri urged with a wide, annoyed smile as she pointed to Turbo. He bobbed a knowing nod and desperately tried not to knock too hard on Gunner, and his lifestyle. He knew that even though Gunner and Berri were broken up, he still knew he needed to do everything he could to cater to Berri, "I don't know, I think... He very much enjoyed making clear just how much money he had, especially in the beginning of our relationship."
"That's not what it's all about, y'know? Money shouldn't be the core of someone's intentions," Turbo mumbled, and although he desperately tried not to blatantly continue painting himself in a beautiful light, in hopes of winning Berri over, he gently peered down to the fuller glasses of wine and back tracked. He inhaled a deep breath and knew, full well, he deserved this. He tenderly carried on, desperate to keep humility at the forefront of his words, "I'm sure Gunner is a great guy, in other aspects, but... It seems as if he lost himself in the fame and money. Firing your whole sound crew? Letting the most beautiful woman in this whole Arcade get away like that?"
Berri raised her eyebrows in poised, delicate surprise and peered to Turbo in soft, stunned knowing. She furrowed her brows in a gentle peer of disbelief, the way Turbo gazed back to her, the warmth his whole soul radiated, she felt like the biggest idiot on the whole planet. She sagged her shoulders, looked down and sorrowfully frowned. She knew she didn't deserve any of this tender, gentlemanly treatment from such an incredible person. She knew she had strung him along for so long, getting with Gunner, right in front of the one guy she knew she absolutely needed to be with, she scoffed a silent noise of detest at herself and figured slapping Turbo across the face a million times would've sufficed just as easily, in loo of her previous actions.
Turbo patiently peered to her in a string of warmth, the mature, kissed look upon her beautiful, womanly face, he narrowed his gaze and could swear his heart was about to come flying right out of his chest. He held his breath and did everything he could to conceal every single last ounce of love he had for this rare and beautiful creature, he knew it was way too soon after her heartbreak, how difficult it was to traverse just exactly when she'd be emotionally ready for another grand adventure, he bit his lower lip, once she looked away, and urgently contemplated the evening with great scrutiny. He inhaled a shaky breath and was prepared to hand her said frosty glass of wine, though he flinched the second she huffed a breath of a sigh and looked off, deeper into Turbo's home and farther away from his line of sight.
"Dammit," Berri staggered, she looked up and began to cutely and urgently fan her face. She raised her eyebrows and, although confused for a moment, Turbo quickly gathered that she was desperately trying to keep from crying, "I'm FINE, I just... Wow, this past tour was REALLY rough and I'm trying not to be a big baby about it."
"You can cry if you want to," Turbo rushed to assure, he heaved a shaky chuckle and bobbed a nod of understanding, "A roller coaster, I'm sure. You've been through a LOT, but I'm just so grateful that Theo and Wren and Throttle were there with y-"
"There was no where I'd rather be than here, with you," Berri gently interrupted, she lulled her eyes closed, shook her head and was now entirely unsuccessful in holding back tears. With the side of her hip leaned into Turbo's counter, she heaved another shaky breath and quickly slumped her shoulders in a sag of her face into her palms. Although her hands were opened wide, they were buried inside the sleeves of Turbo's cozy, faded, white motorcycle jacket, all clad with his name and familiar red colors, "I'm the hugest idiot, Turbo, I just... Can't believe myself."
"What do you mean?" Turbo pressed sorrowfully, he did whatever he could to keep his distance for as long as he physically could, though as Berri's demeanor began to crumple with the full weight of everything her previous tour consisted of, he heaved a hot sigh through his nose and threw in the towel. With urgency greatly masked by slow, tender ease, he closed their gap, "You're not an idiot, Berri."
"Yes I am, Turbo, I just can't believe I... Fell into that trap," Berri's nasally voice mumbled, she removed her hands from her face, though wiped a few tears from her jaw. She shook her head and peered her eyes in an aimless gloss on Turbo's broad chest. He hovered two feet from her, as if to make obvious that he was here to give an embrace if that's what she would desire, though remained still in tender wondering, a patience that maybe she would be just fine on her own. Berri shook her head and finally glossed her eyes up into Turbo's, the warm house lights behind him seemingly eased a halo of a glow about him, alongside the tender embers of his once terrifying gaze. Berri lulled her eyes in a long blink of further tears, she heaved a stuffy breath from her mouth and grimaced in tears she so desperately tried to conceal, though failed. She gingerly gestured out to Turbo as her lip quivered, "I just... Can't believe I didn't fully see what was right in front of me. I wasted so much time chasing after a celebrity crush that just so happened to miraculously like me back, that... I didn't even fully see the person standing right there, in front of me, all along."
Turbo patiently listened to her words, though he could swear he was just about to go backflipping across his loft. He remained cool and was urgently silent in tender standstill, as if maybe the longer he stayed silent, maybe the more information Berri would reveal; clearly stuffed, deep problems that she was desperate to get off of her chest. Turbo felt his heart break, however, the second Berri grimaced a tighter look of anguish and hiccuped a small, still exhausted cry. It was here did Turbo finally notice the ever-growing circuit lines that began to crown her temples in angry stress. She shook her head and peered her aimless, teary gaze into Turbo's chest as her nasally, sweet, gentle voice carried on in hot regret.
"I wasted so much time, Turbo, so much time...!" Berri's crackly, gentle voice so desperately pled, and it was here did Turbo scoff a cute laugh and finally encourage Berri's figure into an embrace.
"Baby, no time has been wasted," Turbo mumbled with a soft few chuckles as he easily sagged his strong arms about Berri's cute, trembling shoulders. She did everything she could to bury her face into Turbo's comfortable chest, she let out a few more quiet cries of grief and relief, she finally slid her arms tight about Turbo's chest cavity and kept him gripped to her in sweet desperation, as if this hug was now due to lasting for quite a long time. Turbo heaved a long, hard sigh as he tucked his chin securely to the top of her head, and with as much tender loving care in the world, he lulled his eyes closed, smiled in great warmth and began to so gently sway Berri from side to side, just barely. He inhaled a deep breath, and with the expansion of his broad chest, Berri nuzzled just a little deeper into his addicting, comforting presence and scent, "Quite the contrary... I mean, I'm here, and... You're here. We're with each other now. Isn't that all that matters?"
Berri nodded as she furrowed her eyebrows in bittersweet anguish and did her ultimate best to inhale a deep breath of relief through her nose. With said long, hot exhale through her mouth, her rigid figure finally sagged deeper into Turbo's warm, tight embrace, and with such centered solace, she finally felt her heart melt right into his, once and for all. A gentle permanence she was well aware she couldn't be pried from, this time around. She gently opened her eyes and rested her right ear right over Turbo's heart, so to listen in and be further soothed. Her gentle, teary gaze aimlessly peered out to his familiar kitchen, lit with the memory of the evening of her very first birthday, she felt her heart soar; everything in this instance felt right, and although she knew she'd be kicking herself for a very long time to come, for just how long it took to fully embrace these romantic feelings towards Turbo, she inhaled a brave breath and knew she should stick to Turbo's positive affirmations and make clear just exactly how she felt, here and now.
"Turbo?" Berri meeped in gentle, quiet question, to which Turbo raised his eyebrows in soft inquiry.
"Hmm?" His deep voice lilted, it coat the air with softness, his adam's apple gently glided up against the top of Berri's forehead, and with his eyes comfortably closed amidst their barely swaying hug, he could feel Berri's little body inhale a trembling, readied breath.
"I'm in love with you," Berri braved warmly, an almost bittersweet notion of a fragile reveal.
Turbo furrowed his eyebrows, popped his eyes open in hot, unadulterated shock and firmly peered across his beautiful home. With swaying that gently came to a halt, he froze and felt as if every single circuit in his body was now rigid in heart stopping surprise. With eyes glowing a gold as bright as the sun, his pupils dart about his home in scanning, unsure, delighted terror, as if he was entirely uncertain he'd ever hear those fragile, beautiful words come out of her mouth, and so soon, nonetheless. He assumed she'd say something a lot less heavy, something along those lines, though with something as weighted as such, he almost felt as if he didn't even deserve to be in the same room as her. Trying desperately to remain cool, he lulled his eyes closed in beaming, blushing delight and did what he could to squeeze Berri tighter into a scoop of a firm, strong, caring embrace. His deep voice so warmly shook a nervous, bashful chuckle from his chest, he could feel Berri's bashful smirk broaden into an equally as toothy grin deep into his chest, above his heart.
"Well, what a coincidence," Turbo's deep, reverberating voice eased in warm, teasing conclusion. His gentle fingers carefully began to tuck the long, beautiful blue strands of her hair behind her cute little ear, and as he nuzzled his face into the top and side of her head, he eased his finalizing words into her soul, a volleying conversation of full love he had been dreaming of for so long, now. He warmly held the back of Berri's head and lulled his eyes closed as his hot breath coat the side of her head, face and ear, "I'm in love with you, too."
Berri grinned and gripped her arms a bit tighter about Turbo's midsection, which then easily sagged to his hips. She heaved a long, audible sigh of relief and allowed her tears to sprinkle the chest of Turbo's shirt. Although a rather dangerous ploy, jumping right out of the frying pan and into the fire, she shook her head and argued with herself that this gem of a guy was worth it. Turbo heaved a gentle chuckle, with her audible noise of entire, unadulterated relief, and as Turbo grappled his arms about Berri's head, he firmly pressed a few playful, solid smooches into the top of Berri's forehead. She blurt a small, nasally giggle and finally gripped Turbo's sides with giddy fervor.
"... What now?" Berri huffed in soft laughter once Turbo finally released her head, he still hovered in their hug, he rested his hands in a gentle cup on the backs of her upper arms and looked off in teasing, boyish contemplation.
"Hmm... Welp, I was thinking maybe tonight we could go over a plan of action, when it comes to code swapping," Turbo stated in whole nonchalance, though he flinched and gave Berri a cheeky grin the second she double-took on him, furrowed her brow sharp in terrified, embarrassed confusion and finally crowned a glowing, confused, beaming smile of new nervousness.
"Whoa, w-wait... WHAT?" Berri choked a hard laugh, to which Turbo shook his head, lulled his eyes closed, smiled in softness and gently stroked Berri's upper arm with his thumb.
"I'm going to cook us a yummy meal, and you can tell me all about your next tour," Turbo assured seriously, in great warmth, to which Berri heaved a shaky sigh, bobbed a nod and eyed Turbo in bashful, curious giddiness.
"Okay, good, I can handle that," Berri choked a small laugh, and with such a sweet center-point of gained magnitude, the two finally stood on their fragile, albeit humble beginnings, once and for all.
