Chapter Eighteen: Rain Delay

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"Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy... I am my own worst enemy... other times when I'm alone at night I definitely find myself in the position to be very unhappy with myself...This is one of those times…"

Limp Bizkit - "Underneath The Gun"

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Three Days Later…

Erika had been looking for Falco for about ten minutes to no avail. She never saw him leave the place and she recalled seeing him around dinner but after that, it felt like the blue falcon had just disappeared.

"Hey Wolf!" She screamed off the loft overlooking the foyer. The lupine came out from underneath it moments later, awaiting her response. "Have you seen Falco? I need to ask him something."

"Yeah, he told me he was going to stargaze on the roof for a little while. I don't think there's a ladder anywhere but if you climb the railing out back, you should be able to get up there easily."

"Thanks." With that, she head out back to the porch.

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"I stare into space, and hope we're not alone. Am I searchin' for something that's better than home? I've been workin' so hard…" Falco lightly sang as he laid on the shingled roof of his home, staring blankly at the stars that dotted the sky. "Stress is tremendous, and pressure is endless. No one on this plane-"

"Falco?" Erika's voice made him jump with surprise. Her silhouette was barely noticeable in the darkness. What was bright red in day, became a deep maroon color by the night.

"Whoa, don't scare me like that!" He grumbled.

"Sorry, what are you doing up here anyway?"

"Just looking at the stars. Sometimes I just need some time to myself…" Erika frowned at what he had said, feeling like she was intruding on Falco.

"If you want some time alone…"

"No, it's fine. You can stay."

She climbed higher up on the roof until she was level with the avian. After sitting down, she looked over at Falco who was now staring back at the void. He looked uneasy however, as if something was troubling him.

"I wanted to talk to you for a moment, if that's okay."

"Sure, what's up?".

"I've been noticing a change in behavior from you."

"Well yeah, I've been making myself a bit less of a prick I guess…"

"No, that's not what I mean." She sighed, knowing he was trying to play dumb. "I'm referring specifically to when you're around me. You're always nervous or jittery. See, there you go!" She pointed over to his arms, which were trembling. Falco quickly hid them and gave her a nervous smile. He couldn't hide the fact that he felt something for Erika anymore. That would be too cruel and she wouldn't buy it even if she was completely clueless.

"Alright Erika, I'll man up here." He took a deep breath. "I think I'm falling for you…"

Eww, bad choice of words Falco… The bird thought.

"Think?"

"Well, I don't really know if I've experienced love before outside of my-" He stopped, almost forgetting about the horrible experience many years ago.

"Your what, Falco?" She put her hand over his shoulder, seeing that his breathing was becoming heavier. It was a bit disturbing for her to see the famous Falco Lombardi on the verge of crying. The inevitable never did come though, his tough side had taken over again. There would be no spilt tears this go around.

"My parents."

"I'm sorry, I'll just drop the subject if you want."

"Thanks…"

The two of them sat silent once again. They both wanted to say something, but they didn't want to be the first one to do it. It was an emotional Mexican standoff of epic proportions which could end with only one pulling the trigger.

"What is love to you Falco?" Erika questioned, looking deep into his light blue eyes for clarity. The avian took a moment to think about, which wasn't a surprise to Erika since it was a rather vague question that could have a wide variety of possible answers to it.

"Would you like to hear the long version or the short?"

"Whatever you think works…"

"In that case, I think that love is a feeling that grips you. It can be tough to pinpoint love and lust, but basing the fact that I usually consider myself more of a lust-fueled person, it might be easier for me to tell. To me, if I feel like someone has significantly moved me or affected me to the point where I cannot stop thinking about them, where I can tell them anything that has occurred in my life without the fear of them judging me, I would consider that love." Falco responded, feeling as though he got his point across very well.

"Wouldn't that be considered friendship?"

"Do you think about your friends constantly?"

"Point taken. Well then, let me analyze your statement." She began to take on an interrogation-like tone. "Do you want to sleep with me?"

Falco's eyes shot open at the response she made. "Excuse me? What's with the sudden change of mood here?"

"I thought being up front about this would make this easier. Besides, this will tell me if you're loving me or lusting me"

"Well yeah, doesn't everyone have some sort of sexual urges?"

"Of course, but that's not all. Have you felt other things for me?"

Falco was smiling now. During the time the two of them were together, he had been moved by her. She had told her all about the problems going on with the team, and with time he would definitely tell her about what happened to his family. He had no doubt in his mind that there was something between him and Erika.

"More than you can imagine." In the darkness of it all, he could see that Erika was smiling back and moving toward him.

"So, based on the parameters you set out, I think it's safe to say that-"

"I love you…"

"Exactly…" She drew herself even closer now, gently pressing her head up against his shoulder. It brought a warm euphoric feeling to the avian to know that he had come to this realization and was able to tell Erika this. He began to lightly brush her feathers back to straighten out the fauxhawk that was beginning to get a bit curly from the light breeze. The sensations tickled her, making her squirm as he did it.

"Well someone's sensitive." Falco joked. He kept on gliding his fingers through her hair, making her giggle loudly. She was able to break free of his grip and instead of try and get away from him, she tackled Falco to the ground, giving him a mischievous grin. She locked her beak onto his, and embraced him fully. In Falco's head, fireworks were being set off in all directions. The avian grunted as her full weight was now being put on him. He had some idea of where this was going, until…

"Get a room lovebirds! There's this thing called dignity, try to keep it guys!" Wolf howled followed by a side splitting laugh. Falco wasn't sure how long he had been listening, but he had obviously heard enough.

"Way to ruin the moment Wolfy!" He responded back, making Erika laugh some more. "So fuckin' nosy…"

"It's okay, he did have a good point."

"Yeah." Before getting back up, they quickly gave each other a quick peck and head back down onto the balcony where Wolf was waiting with the most evil smile on his face. When Erika had gone back inside, Falco gave the lupine a swift jab to the shoulder, making it go numb.

"Ow! You dick!"

"Way to ruin the moment." He replied jokingly.

"Hey, you two were gonna be doin' it on an abrasive and gritty surface had I not stopped you two. Would the marks down your back be worth it in the end?"

"Maybe…" They both laughed as they walked inside the house.

"Either way Falco, way to get to first. Maybe next time, I'll let you hit it out of the park."

"Remind me to knock your teeth out the next time you do that." Wolf continued to laugh while placing an arm around Falco's shoulder.

"Will do Falco…will do."