* 2021-12-16

Please remember the following: 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. This is not a prince charming saves princess story, but please feel free to enjoy it anyways!

Late Night Escape

Chapter 5

Lita had run out of the arcade mere seconds after Darien only to witness the little spat between the two enemies. A broad grin spread across her face as she approached the injured man. Extremely proud to see her kind-hearted friend put the arrogant bastard in his place. No matter the chemistry between them. Now, she would "emphasize" herself if the guy didn't have the "honorable" reasons she had hoped he'd had.

Darien looked up as he heard knuckles cracking behind him. The amazon's grin was a promise of pain. Lots and loads and heaps of pain! 'Goody.'

"I thought we had an understanding Darien?" her voice low and steady, lethal.

"Lita, I… I'm… I like her, ok! That didn't go like I wanted it to." Darien shrugged as he made to pass her. But her hand sneaked out and gripped his shoulder with bone breaking strength.

"She's not some piece of ass, you chauv…."

"I know that! God, do I know that! You think I would have waited this long if all I thought of her was that?"

A broad smirk of victory finally broke out on the imposing girl. Then it turned into full uncontrollable laughter in his face.

"It's about time one of you guys cracked!" Lita explained, unable to contain her amusement, wiping tears from her eyes. Aw, it felt good to laugh!

"What are you talking about?" Now it was Darien's turn to shake the laughing brunette.

"Are you that dense Darien? Seriously? The tension when you guys are around each other is palpable. I don't think I've ever met two people so sexually frustrated! You guys really have a sick sense of courting!

We had a bet with Andrew about which one of you would finally snap and act on it." Suddenly she mopped. "Damn it, Mina wins! How does she do i…"

"A bet?" he asked incredulously. And there he was thinking he was hiding his attraction completely. When Lita turned solemn, the dark-haired man snapped out of his shock.

"She's going to fight you and deny this to her very last breath. Serena… Uhhh…" Lita looked in the direction her friend took, total despair and worry painting her proud features. "Don't hurt her… She's got a lot more to deal with than you can ever imagine… She can't deal with any more pain." Without waiting for his reply, she headed back to the arcade, her shoulders hunched unusually.

Darien watched her retreat, confused. What could his Meatball Head have to worry about. Yes, she had her college applications, her finals, but what Lita said sounded graver. Could it have been what drove Serena to go to the Devil's Playground? To change and hide it from everyone?

Serena was dealing with something serious and all he did was tease her or throw himself at her as soon as he could. No wonder she had snapped at him more viciously than usual. He deserved it. The urge to pull out his hair or punch the wall really appealed to him, but neither things would fix the situation. He hoped his usual walk through the park would clear his sudden dark mood and clear his mind at least to the point he could come up with a good strategy to fix what he'd screwed up.

Sitting on a bench facing the lake, Serena tried to calm down. If she went home, her mom would see right through her happy façade. Even if the great Tsukino knew of her spats with Darien, the young girl doubted she could hold back the blushes that threatened to escape when she thought or spoke about him now. Getting interrogated at the sudden change of events was not how she wanted to end her day.

Serena had watched the setting sun, allowing the beauty of the park and the laughter of the surrounding people ease her sadness and disappointment. No matter how long she stayed out, it wouldn't change the situation or the hurt. Feeling close to the end of her rope, not wanting to break in front of so many people she rose, planning to head home.

As she forced her tights and knees to stand, strong arms wrapped gently around her from behind. Instinct dictated that she grab the idiot and throw him over her as Lita had taught her. His sent stopped her. Darien was back for round two. As tempting as throwing him would be, she didn't want to cause a scene in front of everyone. And attract unwanted attention to herself. Not good for Scout business.

"Let me go, Jerk," her voice hissed with mashed emotions.

"I'm sorry Serena." Startled by his words, she froze in his embrace. Serena found herself speechless. Darien never apologized. Darien never used her name.

Was this just another trick of his? The King of Assholes could be so conniving sometimes.

Her silence, her stillness gave him pause; gave him hope. Having stumbled on her on his walk, he couldn't force his feet to go the other way. To give her space. It was like that every time. Everything called him to her no matter how he fought the pull, no matter what his brain and heart told him. Then to stumble on her when her masks were off, to see the worry lines, the raw emotions cloud her face… Nothing could have made him walk away. Instead, as she seemed to break, he found his feet had brought him right behind her. Before she could sense him, he held her not knowing what else to do.

He kept his arms around her loosely enjoying her proximity. It felt exceedingly good to have his torso lean into her back as he bent over the bench. The petit blond in his embrace smelled invitingly of jasmine and of her natural unique perfume. Darien found his heart pounding; he couldn't believe he was holding her again so soon.

"Sorry isn't enough Darien." She pulled forcefully out of his embraced without looking back at him.

"Serena, I'm serious! Please let me explain," he insisted. "I didn't wait 4 years just because I wanted to sleep with you." The blond turned instantly glaring daggers. "Fuck, yes, OK! You got me. I do want you, always have; bad! But I'm not going after you just for that. I respect you too much for that."

"RESPECT!? Bullshit! You seriously think I'm going to believe you? You've been a complete Asshole to me for all this time! Tormenting and teasing me at every opportunity you got! Then you suddenly express your feelings right after you see me at the club. What a coincidence!" She threw her arms in the air in exasperation. Serena sighed, dropping her arms, crossing them in front of her chest defiantly. "I might still be inexperience Darien, but I'm not naïve! 'Scuse me if I find your sudden confession full of shit!?"

"What did you expect me to do? Hmm?! You were too young! I didn't want to scare you! I didn't want to force myself on you! I wanted you to be ready; I wanted you to come to me… Do you have any idea of the torture I went through, watching you, being around you? Sue me! So I took my frustration out on you. I didn't know what else to do!" He made his way around the bench to loom over her, but she defied him with her angry unfaltering stare.

"Being nice would have scored you points. However, being the Jackass that you are makes me doubt every single word that comes out of your mouth!" Serena wanted to be done with the conversation, be done with this fiasco. It was confusing. Her resolve was faltering and that scared her more than him. Was she really that lonely that she would fall for the complacent words of her long-time nemesis? If she was that easy to break, how could she stand against her real enemies.

"Doesn't it count for something that I'm bearing it all out now?" Darien insisted, not allowing her to run away from him again. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him. Serena stayed there only because she didn't want to startle the people sitting by the lake. His exhale was ragged as he leaned to her ear whispering: "You know I don't open up easy. But I am serious Serena. I'll prove it to you somehow over the next month."

Serena pushed punched into his abs, breaking his hold for a second time that day. Next Month!? He had it all figured out. Confident she would accept his dead line. Like another job or project to close. 'What a self-conceited asshole!' She growled, her face red and steaming from the rage boiling in her veins.

"This is your final warning, Jerk! Stay. Away. From. Me!"

'God, she's hot when she's angry!' thought Darien as he waited a whapping three seconds after she turned before wrapping his arms around her tightly. He wouldn't let her run away anymore. Wouldn't let her go until the misunderstanding was cleared. Until she forgave him and agreed to be together.

Where had her anger gone? Where had her resolve and threat gone? All that she could think about. No. Think was the wrong word. All she could feel was a delicious shiver going down her spine. Her skin covered in goosebumps that made it three times as sensitive. Her legs suddenly deciding they didn't want to support her. And oh, yes, there was this coiling energy in her lower abdomen, near her crotch that she only ever experienced when he held her that close.

But most of all, the feel of Darien pressed firmly against her back, his very heady night ocean roses smell, and the feel of his breath on her throat was hell and heaven rolled into one torturous moment. How could he have this effect on her? How could she resist him when her only clear thought was to turn around and throw herself into his arms? But that was NOT a thought that came from her mind; at least that was clear enough. Damn hormones! She had barely resisted him at the club. How long could she push him back when his hands and mouth were the work of a devil!? A seductive drop-dead gorgeous devil that made her feel desired, wanted, precious. Even if it was in a twisted manner.

Darien felt intoxicated suddenly when all he'd meant was to show her that she wanted him as much as he needed her. But her unsteady breath, her curvaceous back, her slight tremor made it impossible for him to move away. The urge to get through her turning into a web that was catching them both. He was as lost as her in that moment. His hands digging into her skin, drawing her closer, his lips descending of their own accord to the curve of her neck.

A child's laughter brought Serena drastically out of her lustful haze. It took a little while to clear her mind enough to open her eyes to see a couple people sneaking glances at them. Her already flushed cheeks suddenly turned bright red from embarrassment. 'How dare he humiliate me like this!'

With her anger driving her past reason, she tapped again into her Senshi strength. Binging both her elbows fast against his ribs to stun him. It had the desired effect. His grasp on her loosened. Breaking out of his hold, she took a step forward only to spin and side kick his torso with all her force. Darien flew through the air several feet backwards landing on his ass, dazed.

'Damn Lita for teaching Serena so many lethal moves,' he cursed, trying to get up and reason with her.

Serena didn't wait around, just stomped away from the older man, muttering less than complimentary although colorful things about said person.

'So much for not making a scene!' she huffed in exasperation. Why did he always have to bring out the worst in her?