* 2021-12-16

This is my third try to upgrade this story and also finally finish A final escape… Better late than never.

On that note, to all my new readers or returning ones, let me point out the obvious before you read any further. I do not write fluffy, sweet, soft romances… Sorry to all of you guys looking for a sappy story fix. My stories are PG18+++, as in, there is graphic violence, coarse language, sexual situations and triggers as my stories deal with characters who deal with past emotional, physical or mental traumas. Advance at your own risk. So, without further ado, here goes nothing!

Late Night Escape

Chapter 1

"Darien, are you fucking serious? The arcade?" A revolted look passed across the freckled face, curly brown-haired university student. He automatically crossed his burly arms across his wide chest in annoyance as he cemented his feet to the sidewalk's pavement in protest. "Not gonna happen, buddy! Do I look sixteen?"

'No, but you definitely act it…' thought his raven-haired, tall companion before answering. "Why not Albert? If we're going to finish this assignment by tomorrow morning, we need a place that will keep us awake. Besides, Andrew will keep the coffee coming. And you won't get distracted by every curvy chick that passes by," answered Darien as nonchalantly as possible.

What a blatant lie… His eyes were already glued to the real reason they were there. His prayers answered. Yup. Finalizing his medical research paper at an arcade the only excuse he could find to cross her path "accidentally".

"Why a university guy like you would hang out at a kid's joint is beyo…. Damn, look at that ass," Albert's tirade turned to a groan as he saw through the sliding glass doors the blond leaning over the counter.

Darien took an appreciative glance at the girl as he entered, slowly, waiting for his colleague to pick up his jaw off the floor. His blatant lie was perched on her knees on a bar stool, twisting her ass left to right on the rotating stool. Her upper body remained perched on her forearms on the metal counter, as she chatted excitedly with the arcade owner. The perfect pose of every guy's wet dream.

Her beautiful golden streaked hair fell from her signature meatball buns to pooled over the counter, her arms, all the way down to the floor. Her Rapunzel like hair usually held his attention; unfortunately, today was not one of those days. His eyes were treacherously distracted by the tightly scrunched shirt around her slender waist as she leaned forward. Not to mention the sight of her damn skirt barely two inches past her perfectly shaped ass, which left her long lean legs bare for his perusal.

As badly as he wanted to pull his gaze away before anyone caught him staring, his eyes betrayed him. 'Fucking pathetic, man… You'll graduate to stalker level if you keep this up,' he reprimanded himself as he approached, trying to block Albert's view.

But God damn it! She was going to be the death of him! The urge to throw her over his shoulder and make good use of the utility room in the back was getting harder to suppress with every passing encounter. Especially since he could have sworn that her school skirt had gotten shorter with every passing year he had known her.

Which didn't surprise him. After all, she often sported short, REALLY short skirts on her days off. Worst of all, the girl was completely oblivious to the attention she got from himself or the male gender in general. It was an endearing quality, really, her innocence. Except when it drove him crazy…

He could still recall the first time he had laid eyes on her. The gentle sway of her hips as she skipped, the petit figure as it bounced, the Rapunzel like golden locks as they swayed. Those pools of light in her blue eyes, the cherry blossom pink of her pouty lips, the fairness of her skin, were forever engraved in his mind. Her bright happy smile, infectious cheerful disposition and heart on her sleeve personality had been a shock to his usually cold and indifferent temperament. He had felt transfixed by the fire that ignited her eyes, amused by her sudden furious flush and simultaneously provoked by their first argument. It had taken one run in, one argument, to fall madly, deeply, helplessly for her.

Which, to this very day, baffled him… That one encounter. That sudden pull, some unknown need, had started his single-minded pursuit of her. At least in his head. Because he had never made a move as she had only been 14 then. Instead, he took his one-sided affection, his physical attraction and sexual frustration out on her in the most immature of ways… Really, he couldn't help it! Especially since his secret infatuation drove him nuts on a weekly basis, like today. Thus, turning him into a prepubescent boy who teased mercilessly the girl he liked every time they met.

Today being no different.

"Hey Meatball Head! You trying to flash the whole arcade? Nice social skills there," he drawled out loud as he sat next to her, catching a whiff of her delicate jasmine perfume. Forcing his lungs to expand, he took a steadying breath before she turned on him.

Until that very moment, Serena's whole focus had been dedicated to Andrew's talented hands as he created a new spectacular ice cream delight. She certainly hadn't realized how much she had been bending over the counter. Or how her clothes had rolled up! And she certainly hadn't sensed Darien's approach... Shit!

Worst, she hadn't realized just how close he was sitting as she turned on her stool ready to barrage her whole fury and embarrassment on him. Her sudden movement brought their noses within millimeters, practically touching, causing her breath to hiss out.

This kind of scenario had over the years caused a typical chain reaction: uncontrollable heart acceleration followed by whining, screeching, bright red face, and for the finale, landing on her ass or face. But no more! After years of Sailor Scout training under her belt, taking down scum from God knows where and weekly arguments with said 'devil', Raye and her mom, Serena's klutz attacks were no more. She was past them.

Past also Darien Shield's sexiness or proximity. Yes, sexiness. She was mature enough to admit that he was hot, unmercifully hot. How could she not. He was an impeccably sculpted Adonis, with a dashing smile, perfect white teeth, dreamy blue eyes, tall enough to tower and toned enough to notice, that made any women, some men, turn their heads to check out, twice! A real bowl of MMmmmm, mmmMMMmmmm, goodness!

But then he opened his mouth, and any attraction that she felt was dropped into icy cold freezing water. And she thanked God for those cold showers every time! They stopped her from making the stupid mistake of grabbing his hair, yanking him forward and bringing his lips the few inches that separated them both. Because that tell-tale recurring thought had crossed her mind more often than she was comfortable with.

"Nice to see you too, AsssssHole," Serena hissed, flicking her hair over her shoulder indifferently as she sat back down gracefully, focusing solely on her awaiting treat. Years of dealing with said Asshole had taught her that ignorance was sometimes the best course of action. Especially when one didn't want to lose her appetite. Or so she wished that had been the case… When in truth, it was the best strategy to force down a blush while ignoring a certain someone's proximity. AND ignoring her stupid impulses...

'For crying out loud, Darien's just another arch enemy!' she fumed internally with hormones.

Darien had enjoyed their proximity a bit too much. Her perfume had been intoxicating as he watched the sparks of light come to life in her bright blue eyes. Her uniform had swayed with her movement, allowing for a glimpse of a mouth-watering cleavage. And if all that wasn't bad enough, her pink lips had parted to release that hot breath before she had moved away… Fuck, he suddenly found himself a little uncomfortable in his pants. 'Sure signs of desperation, man…'

"Hey Andrew, two coffees please?" Darien forced his eyes back to Andrew; he needed to cool down.

"Hey Darien. Hey Albert. Yea… Hold on a sec," answered the preoccupied ash blond from the other side. His tongue was slightly peeking out from the side of his mouth from concentration, as he created a little figurine with the whip cream on top of the ice cream, chocolate and strawberries. Serena practically squealed at the finished creation as he handed it to her.

"Andrew! It's a piece of art!" She bit her lip as she carefully got off her stool with her treat and headed to the table her friends were at.

Darien turned for a second to take in the sway of her hair and hips. 'Oh, sweet torture. Why did she have to be so young?' he thought dejectedly. Her typical childish reaction reminded him for the thousand time why he was abiding his time.

"Darien! What the hell!?" Albert bellowed, banging his sizable fist on the counter in frustration, as soon as Serena was out of hearing range. "I can't believe you know HER! HERRRR! And you never told me… That's why you come here!"

"What are you talking about Albert?" Andrew had come over with their coffees, his usual friendly smile turned to a scold. Which didn't surprise Darien; Albert's face was a picture-perfect poster of pure undulated lust.

"She looks so much younger in daylight… Her hair's different…" exhaled the freckled young man, mesmerized, as he watched Serena giggled with her friends over the figurine that surprisingly looked like Sailor Moon. As if dazed or unaware, his body moved in her direction as he spoke.

"Albert!" Darien grabbed his colleague's shoulder and pulled him down on the seat next to him before the fool got the bright idea to jump the girl. Not that he was in a different predicament… 'Oh the irony of life!'

His anger was boiling in his veins, barely contained, itching to be unleashed. Clearly apparent by his tightly clenched fist. Watching Albert ogle the blond had awoken a reaction that he often squelched. But not now. Possessiveness; a violent, territorial urge burned right behind the first layer of his skin. He forced his fist to relax in his lap as his, soon to be, ex-buddy kept taking quick glances over his shoulder.

"It has to be … She dan…" he fumbled but never finished as Lita passed them, heading back from the bathroom. "HER! THEM!"

His outburst was rewarded with Lita's scariest glares over her shoulder. She sighed loudly, annoyed, weary. "Caveman."

"Chill, will you? Use full sentences to explain exactly what her means," scolded Darien.

"The club… Fuck! She's real." Albert's vocabulary and communication skills still disabled from the shock.

But then Serena lifted her eyes to see three guys gawking at her. She frowned, her hand intent on a crude response. But Andrew didn't deserve that. She couldn't be rude to the closest thing she had to a big brother. No matter how annoying Darien and his other jock friend were.

"How do you know Serena?" pressed Andrew as he set the cooled coffees finally in front of his buddies.

"Serena… Like the ring of that… Though serene is definitely not what I'd describe her as." Albert's eyes glazed over with sweet memories of sensuous moves, swinging hips, cascading hair. To everyone's surprise, Andrew grabbed Albert's shirt and pulled him up the counter. Andrew. The nice guy. The cheerful guy. The easy-going guy, had snapped.

"Talk, now!"

Darien let out the breath he had been holding, grateful that Andrew had snapped in that moment. The look on Albert's face had made his sight turn red. Ready to level his, definitely at this point, ex-friend. And as Tuxedo Mask, his strength was not human. When, not if, he hit the guy, the damage would have been extensive. Not that it would have stopped him. 'Thank fuck for Andrew's sainthood, again!'

It had been a mistake to bring Al here… But despite himself, and his sudden rage, his curiosity was peeked.

"Drew, relax! I thought you were with Reika? But I can't blame you," the freckled freaked out man pried Andrew's fingers slowly off his shirt. "The way that girl moves; I swear it's not legal!"

"Again," growled the usual gentle blond while bunching the guys shirt, again, "this is your last chance buddy. The girl you are referring to is like my BABY sister! Choose your words very, VERY carefully," Andrew lowered his voice, pausing, emphasizing his words with meaning.

The patrons of the Arcade steered clear away from the counter as tension build up around the three young men.

"Don't you remember!? It's been weeks I've been telling you guys about the hot blond that I saw at that new Club, the Devil's Playground? The temptress that could seduce the devil himself?" Albert watched as his friends nodded, not realizing the connection. He pointed in Serena's direction without looking back. "That's HER!"

Darien looked at the guy as if he had suddenly grown another head. Then both he and Andrew burst out laughing! He clutched his abs as laughter peeled out of him loudly. The tension broke. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so hard. There had to be some hidden camera somewhere. What a joke!

"Serena is underage. Plus childish, klutzy and scary innocent. A KID, Al! There's no way she'd be in a club. Especially not that club!" Andrew wiped the tears from his eyes as he dismissed Albert's statement.

"I wasn't sure either. But then I recognized the tall brunette. I'm telling you it's them!"

"Al, seriously, maybe if you had talked about Mina, we might have believed you. But ditzy Meatball Head?" Darien glanced at the two pigtailed girl who was scarfing down her dessert. Well, he had seen her scarf down food before…

He found his throat suddenly constrict, forcing him to swallowed hard. His eyes suddenly transfixed as Serena licked off chocolate and whip cream off a strawberry. Against his better judgement or will power, Darien's full attention was for a couple of seconds completely mesmerized by her tongue as it did seriously wicked little things before biting down on the juicy fruit. When her eyes closed from pure delight at the taste, he wandered if she'd get that look when she came.

How could his little bunny be the temptress Al had obsessed about for weeks now?

"Fuck you! I'm serious!" Bursting to his feet, face red from the anger at being laughed at, Albert shouted. "It's her!"

"It's Serena we're talking about! I've known her for almost four years and Andrew even longer. She's not your little vixen!" Darien shook his head, resolutely forcing his focus back on the guys, not wanting it to be true.

"Yes she IS. Fine. Come to the club Saturday night. She shows up most weekends around 1 am. Never before that. You'll see for yourself it's her!" At that point, Al was practically shaking with rage. He had dreamed about that little piece of ass for weeks, and now the guys thought he had gone crazy. They'd see for themselves. The truth would slap that smugness off their faces.

"I can't go. I got a date with Reika tomorrow. Darien?"

"I'm not 18 anymore. Clubs are not my thing."

"Awww! Really Jerk!? I always knew you were an old, creepy, boring geezer. Glad you admit it!" Serena smiled sweetly but patronizingly. "It's better if you don't go clubbing. There's not bone in your body that knows how to have fun! Or feel. Aww, time to click your heels and head back to Oz, Tinman!" Leaving the ice cream bowl on the counter, the blond stuck her tongue out at Darien and bounced quickly out of the Arcade before he could retort.

"I'll be there," the ebony haired man replied darkly as he watched her retreating figure through the glass.