A/N: OMG guys xD I know you guys are squirming for answers, but everything, I repeat, EVERYTHING will be revealed and 'solved' in this story! I know you guys have itching questions and are wanting them answered right now, but, it'll all be answered and such, I promise! xD I love your guys' energy, it's so funny.

Now for the ooey gooey stuff ;)

Song listened to - Sugar by Maroon5

*Chapter 56*

"Sorry," Tessa mumbled as the final spark of unity confirmed that she was, indeed, one with the game. Her circuits swam with the proverbial upgrade, though she felt as if she was suddenly drowning in her thoughts; the fact that hers and Zed's coding couldn't seem to get enough of each other, though at the same time, it acted as if it despised one another.

"I'm not," Zed eased softly as he furrowed his eyebrows and gave her a tender look of naive inquisition; his demeanor grew darker, sweeter, as if he knew exactly what the two were bound to traipse into eventually.

Tessa gave him a curious, half smile and felt her heart dip into something she was uncertain she could even name. Zed's code room was quiet and dark, though somehow it left a dull, electrical kind of humming in the back of their skulls, as if this room was the center of passion, the very envision of heated, electrical tension; a heightened frenzy of everything buzzing on their brains, the past month. She lightly slid her gaze down his strong arms, as he held his hands out between the two. The foot or so of distance was seemingly called for as he lightly held his palms out to her, as if in nervous, curious, inquisition. He peered down at his hands with his head tilted down before his piercing blue eyes darted to meet hers, as if his soul was asking her to kindly test these dangerous waters with him. She cocked an eyebrow and gently glanced at his open palms, as if to silently warn him that they were probably playing with fire, though she knew she would jump in head first to this dark, mysterious situation, with him, anyhow.

The two held firm, nervous eye contact, though as if the two were new predators that had barged into unmarked territory; each ready to claim the other, a fight to the death, a seemingly coded blood bath of opposition, as if they were certain the victor would walk away with something Arcade had never seen. She barely flinched as he let his palms come alive with his heated, gentle blue code, as if to spark her interest; a proverbial mating dance he hoped was just the right touch of dominance and subtly. A fine balance between tenderness and aggression, though he wasn't quite certain which of the two made her tick more. He furrowed his eyebrows, as if to question if this was somehow crossing the line too far too soon, though he knew it was harmless; a simple test he was hoping would quell their worries. He had to wonder if Tessa was aware of the underlying tones of complications their codes harbored, if united as one. He so desperately wanted to push the hard facts away. Getting anywhere near her precious code was more than enough for him to feel on cloud nine.

"Try again," Zed eased tenderly in sincere inquisition, as if he was nearly on the edge of his seat in pure wonder.

Tessa gazed down at his palms and, with his prior teachings, she gently let her palms come alive with her fluid, purple code as well. She inhaled a breath and held it as she dared to hover her palms over his open ones, and as if their codes were nearly coming alive, she could feel a strange, magnetized pull to his core. She furrowed her eyebrows and squinted her eyes in daring eagerness. As easily as she could, she set her hot palms to his and firmly flinched, as did he. She felt as if every single last circuit in their bodies desperately grappled to each other, as if to scream that enough was enough. Tessa inhaled a sharp gasp and yanked her hands away in a fit of nervous terror; she knew she was safe in Dead Zed, though she was certain one more act of their daring adventure was certain to stop her heart. She panted softly and took a soft step away from Zed, though she was surprised to see him lightly recoil as well. Tessa shook her head and gazed down at her palms, as the pixels easily dwindled away, as if to shy away with her presence as well.

"Wh-Why does it do that?" Tessa urged nervously, "Is that normal?"

"I'm not sure," Zed said through a few, nervous breaths as well. He raised his eyebrows kindly and gave her an apologetic smile, "Can... Can we try one more time?"

"You want to keep trying?" Tessa's mouth curled a curious, bashful smile, though she held true to a slightly agitated smirk.

"Just once more," Zed lightly pleaded as he dared to take a step closer to her, "I-It's, really nice. Something about it, it... It's thrilling."

"Can't say I disagree," Tessa said after a few moments of gentle, lulling silence. The only thing illuminating the two were the gentle, glowing white tiles underfoot. The grout lines shone a hot white, though the rest of the room was dark.

Zed gently dared to take yet another step closer to her and let his palms come alive with his refreshed, dark blue code. She nervously peered down to his tender hands before her eyes darted to his. She furrowed her eyebrows and wondered just what he had up his sleeve, though she also knew she was in good hands, no matter what kind of a dare the two found themselves in. She inhaled a steady breath and, like diving off of the edge of a cliff, she let her hands come alive with her code as well, a task she was certain would take eons of practice with the Queen of Sugar Rush. She let her hands hover over Zed's, yet again, though she couldn't quite confidently bring herself to letting her hands touch down to his, yet again. They sat in poised, terrified wait as their codes were practically live wires to each other, though somehow, she felt if she didn't take the plunge, she'd go home and pace herself into oblivion. With a hard, thumping heart and code that was nearly about to implode on itself, she lightly lowered her hands to his. In the gentle, teasing shock of it all, she suddenly flinched as she could feel Zed suddenly lift his hands, fill the minor gap and grip his hands and palms onto hers with a passionate grip.

She inhaled a sharp breath and widened her eyes as they pierced his. She breathed a hard, nervous noise and gazed firmly into his eyes, in gentle shock, as their codes buzzed about in an angry, harmonic dance. She felt her shoulders and chest rise and fall in a fit of nervous, delightful terror as she kept her eyes glued to Zed's. Zed gave her the same look, though he kept his hands firmly glued to hers as they remained within close proximity of each other. Their surface codes danced around in a fit of horrified glee, as if they were being tortured into pure, ironic bliss. Zed finally let a surprised smile sprawl his cheeks, as did Tessa. They beamed into each other's eyes, as if they were relieved their codes finally reached an understanding, albeit with much, passionate disagreement. He gently peered at her soft face, her beautiful eyes that pierced his in nervous determination; a new glow hit her skin, as if with every single second that passed, of their gentle connection, she gained maturity and understanding. She long blinked once or twice, as if he had only lightly transferred his buzzing thoughts to hers, though she gently peered down to their connection and was surprised to see just what was happening.

She squeezed his hands tighter as their hands and lower arms were riddled with their hot, glowing circuits, only they were swirled with marbleized, iridescent silvers. She raised her eyebrows in hard surprise and felt a wave of pure confusion hit her skin; she knew purple and blue didn't make any color anywhere near silver, though for some reason, their codes practically begged the two not to question it. As if they were solidified in a string of their temporary, exterior swap, Zed ever so gently pulled on her hands a little. She peered up at him in dewy confusion, though her cheeks were bashfully red; a honey-glow the two had grown accustomed to. She felt a sear of surprise hit her heart, like an arrow from an enemy, as Zed's gentle hands slid from her grip and across her forearms. She was surprised to see their circuit's silver lighting follow their movement, wherever Zed's hands pressed on, would illuminate under his touch. Tessa inhaled a nervous breath, though as if their codes were practically one, she could nearly predict Zed's every move. She knew exactly what was coming, and she had absolutely no complaints.

As if this was one of their dance rehearsals, the two moved on a slow cue; their minds and muscles moved into hard, though careful action. As easily as Zed could, he pushed deeper into her bubble with a single step or two. With careful hands and a determined heart, he cupped her jaw with both of his warm palms. With a gentle tilt of his head, he quickly filled their gap with a roll of breathless power; he pushed his warm, parted lips to hers and felt his heart jolt clear out of his chest. He gently held her face to his and, as if his prayers had been answered, he could feel Tessa eagerly reciprocate the act of endearment. Their codes lightly held true to their temporary, silver coloring as their skin lightly crawled with love. He felt the circuit lines underneath his skin nearly slither with delight as Tessa's teasing, live-wired fingertips trailed up Zed's chest in a roll of unfolding passion. She inhaled his scent and, with a gentle tilt, the two just barely parted. Zed only hardly opened his eyes and peered down at her face in a split second of worry that crept over him, though he quickly switched gears as he could feel Tessa's eager hands and arms move to hug him around his neck and shoulders. As if to quell both of their eager worries, he tilted his head and dipped down once more.

Tessa raised her eyebrows in surprise and smiled on Zed's warm mouth, he gently pushed his face into hers and felt as if he had nothing to lose. With a slow crawl of a gesture, he slipped his hands and arms down to Tessa's waist and let his eager hands hold her close to his body. The two played a gentle game of tug of war, as if the balance between who had control over the situation was legitimately detrimental to their silver coding, something they were unsure where it came from. Tessa knew she shouldn't question anything that came out of this moment, for the fear of it turning false. The two just barely parted, yet again, as Zed trailed his eager hands tighter around her back and waist. She could feel the heat of his live-wired palms underneath her shirt, as if he was warning her that she was in for it, whenever the moment would present itself, in the future. She lightly gasped on his mouth as he gripped her skin, over her clothes; his coding sent lovely shockwaves down her spine. She enjoyed his warning signals, the playfully dominant side of him was a rare sight. She soaked in every single moment as the two met, yet again, in escalating heat.

Tessa played back in a fit of girly, delightful competition. She lightly trailed her pointer finger on the back of Zed's scalp; the short, blue hairs on the back of his neck pricked on end and held taut in pure shock as Tessa dragged their killer, silver coding all along his skin. He furrowed his eyebrows in their passionate, gaping kiss and felt as if this was going to be their constant bid. He knew she was stiff competition, though he also knew he was a force to be reckoned with as well. With a simple, passionate lull, he eased his firm grip down her back with dragged, live-wired fingertips. In a sear of elevated electricity, his open palms found her bare hips, in which were peeking from the bottom of her shirt. With a swift, though tender movement, he slipped his powerful palms onto her lower, bare back, underneath her shirt, and dared to slowly tug her body into his. He raised his eyebrows in nervous surprise as he could feel her body tense in a writhing draw of code overload. She exhaled a nervous moan of a gasp on his mouth as they parted, yet again.

Zed gazed through hazy vision and curiously peered at her through squinted, exhausted eyes. He exhaled a deep, gentle noise of inquisition, as if he wanted to utter a sincere apology, though he knew she wouldn't accept it. Her arms gently, and messily, draped Zed's neck and shoulders as she finally shoved her cheek into his. She shut her eyes tight and panted softly in his ear, though Zed felt his heart flutter in nervous tension, as if to beg to somehow keep this moment alive. He gently dipped his head down and firmly planted a few needy, hot, open mouthed kisses along the side of her neck. He kept her close to his body and held onto her tightly, his strong arms were latched onto her lovingly, as if all he wanted in life was to just be in her arms, and vice versa. He inhaled a shaky breath on her neck and shut his eyes tight, as if to beg himself to calm down; one simple taste of her sugary, sweet code was enough to send his mind into a whirring, nervous downward spiral. He panted on her hot skin gently and, after a moment or two of equal fervor from the two, he planted a few kisses just under her ear; they were a bit more tender and innocent than prior. He felt his heart throb in a draw of eagerness and mild anguish.

"User almighty," Zed just barely hissed into her ear; he was delighted to hear her exhale a small, bashful giggle into his neck as the two held each other so close. He shook his head lightly and felt a dizzy haze hang over him. He continued on, in a warm whisper on her jaw and ear, "Forgive me..."

"Not a chance," Tessa breathed above a whisper, through a bashful giggle. Zed exhaled a light, barely audible laugh and gripped her tighter into a hug as the two fought to catch their breath.

"Th-that... That was, interesting," Zed scoffed quietly, "What exactly could you call that?"

"I get the feeling that I'm not the only one here who is receiving my firsts, in life," Tessa eased just above a whisper into his neck. She finally braved her feelings and nuzzled her nose and face into his warm neck, though the feeling of the dark blue prickly hairs on his chin, jaw and neck made her smile as it tickled her skin.

"It's that obvious, huh," Zed grumbled gently, though they held onto each other, "I-I... I never thought I'd ever reach any sort of level of intimacy... With anyone. Ever."

"Ever?" Tessa wondered lightly as the two just barely backed their heads away, so they could get a good look at each other; their silver, live-wired code gently dwindled and vanished, as if keeping it around for two long would create game-wide mayhem.

"I never let anyone in," Zed explained kindly as the two peered into each other's eyes, "I didn't think anyone would ever understand... Who could love a bad guy, whom of which everyone thinks is a pretentious jerk."

Tessa sat quiet and gently gazed deep into his honest, blue eyes. Eager, dilated pupils fixed to hers in a draw of power. He looked as if he was sitting on cloud nine, though the sheer fact that another being was giving him unconditional love was something he could easily crumple to the ground about. He was a strong gamer, a loyal friend and fierce defender, though Tessa had to wonder if his center was as fragile as glass bubbles. She felt her heart swell with newfound respect for him. No matter the circumstance, he always remained true to hopefully one day finding someone who deeply understood his troubles. She felt floored that said someone was none other than herself. She lightly squeezed him closer, as if to assure him that every fiber of his being was safe with her.

"You... You sort of proved to me that, there IS someone for everyone," Zed said above a whisper, his warm breath coated her cheeks. She glanced at his mouth in a fit of longing passion that held onto the two as he continued, "Who better to understand me than the daughter of Arcade's biggest, meanest, most misunderstood bad guy ever."

"My dad is just a big teddy bear, really," Tessa beamed a gentle smile up at Zed, in which he reciprocated, "I think it helps that I'm pretty misunderstood as it is... As you know."

"You're perfect, to me," Zed assured softly, his eyes peered into hers with the utmost honesty, "I-I really don't know what we could call what just happened, but... I'd be interested in uh... Doing some research, if you will."

"I'd like that," Tessa beamed a curious smirk as the two held bashful eye contact.

"I-I just hope you're okay with it," Zed said softly, his voice was coated in curious worry he was semi-hoping she wouldn't catch on to.

"Guess there's only one way to find out," Tessa braved as her and Zed held knowing, anxiously bashful eye contact.

A/N: I drew fanart for this scene - it's on my deviantART titled 'Run The Same Course' - my username is Vyntresser :)