Short but sweet. Stay tuned for more ~Velvet
"What did they do to you?" Tyki asked. They rode in a fancy carriage along a forested avenue that was more like a park than what you'd find in the wild. The light from street lamps lined the darkened trees, flashing over Tyki where he saw in the shadows. Of course, he was smoking a cigarette.
"Like you care," Star said. It was taking everything she had to sit up straight against the cushioned seat and face him so nonchalantly. Getting kidnapped by the Noah again was not a good look. Score 0 for the Black Order. Even so, this wasn't about either the Black Order or the Noah winning. Or rather, in the end, it was about both sides winning.
"I might," Tyki said. A pause. "You shouldn't have run off. You shouldn't have run back to them."
"Says the guy who threatened me with another taste of Sheril Kamelot," said Star bitterly.
Anger flared in his golden eyes.
"I took you off the Ark, didn't I? You haven't had to see Sheril since."
"Whatever." Star didn't want to argue with him right now.
"You finally get to be alone with me again and that's all you have to say?"
"I don't have to say anything at all."
"Why do I feel like you're undressing me with your eyes."
For a second, Star was stunned. She almost thought that Tyki was trying to cheer her up. Either by saying that or drawing attention to the revealing white and black outfit the Noah had recently taken to wearing.
"One, not much to undress," Star corrected, unable to help herself. "That outfit doesn't leave a lot to the imagination. I miss the top hat and the suit but this is nice on you as well. Two, in reality, you're only dressed in your own mind, Tyki Mikk. To me…you're already naked."
His eyes widened at that. Then he looked away from her.
"What a forward girl you are," Tyki muttered, taking another drag on his cigarette.
"Hmph," she smiled faintly.
"Did the Earl send you to get me?"
"No."
His answer was like a gunshot in the quiet that followed between them.
Seconds too late he added—
"But you disappeared on my watch. I didn't want to hear any complaints from Lord Millennium or the others later."
As she healed from the Black Order's last round of torture, she was honestly too tired for the smug smile she felt curling her lips as she realized Tyki had come for her on his own. A lot of the tiredness faded when she saw where they were as the carriage pulled to a stop: the grand hotel where he'd held her prisoner before.
"Shouldn't you be taking me back to the Ark? What are we doing back here?"
Tyki ignored the pointed questions, saying only, "There's another dress under the seat. In the box. I can't be seen entering the hotel with an Exorcist."
"Why should I?" Star demanded. She wasn't going to keep pretending with him since she was a hostage. A hostage of the Black Order was one them. A hostage of the Noah was another thing. She still had her mission after all and she couldn't let either of them stop her.
"I prefer you like this," he gestured under the seat then back at her uniform. "I'll get out while you change. So take that thing off before I rip it off."