Chapter 4: Maybe not the surprise in mind...
Aerrow climbed off his Skimmer and extended a hand to Piper. Giggling, she rolled her eyes before taking it- but to pull him to her for a swift kiss.
He blinked at her, sweetly surprised, and Piper watched as his face broke into a smile. "And that was for?"
"Do I have to give a reason to kiss my Sky Knight?" Piper swung her other leg over the Skimmer before looking up at him.
"Well, no." Aerrow admitted, letting go of her hand to lean down and wind his arms around her frame. "But then does that mean I can do this?"
"Do what- Aerrow!" Piper broke off, laughing as Aerrow picked her up, proceeding to carry her in his arms as he walked towards the baby blue blanket lying on the bright grass. He set her down before reaching for the picnic basket. "Aerrow, put me down! Where are we going-" Piper stopped, her eyes widening.
"When did you do this?" She exclaimed with wide eyes as he lifted baguettes, juice, chocolate and fruit out of it. He looked up at her before smiling cheekily, his eyes twinkling in that way that made her heart flutter.
"Before. And if you're wondering who prepared the food," he broke off to wink at her, tossing a grape into his mouth. "it was all on me. You're safe from Junko's 'added seasoning'."
"Thank god for that," Piper broke into giggles again as he crawled towards her, an apple caught between his teeth. She leaned forward and took it from his mouth with her hand, her smile widening. "Why thank you, Captain… But apples? How did you get these?"
Aerrow raised an eyebrow at her. "You ask way too many questions sometimes."
She rolled her eyes, lifting the apple to take a bite- but the Sky Knight was feeling cheeky. Leaning forward, he grabbed the apple with his teeth again before rolling backwards and running off.
"Hey!" Piper laughed delightedly before getting up and running after him. "That's MINE!"
"Race you to that ugly looking tree ahead!" He yelled over his shoulder as he sped up. Piper smirked before proceeding to sprint- she could be faster than the Sky Knight if she wanted to. Catching up close to him, Aerrow heard her footsteps and turned around, prepared to grab her.
Big mistake.
Not pausing to stop, Piper tackled him- causing them both to be knocked to the ground: hard.
Piper chuckled happily as she watched her Commanding Officer blink up at her, clearly in a daze.
"I believe that's mine." Piper stretched to reach for her apple, lying in the grass. "And I think you need to start running more. You're losing your touch."
Aerrow smirked at her, causing Piper to stop chuckling.
"Oh no." Piper lifted her hands up. "Don't you even think about-
Aerrow rolled them over, pinning her hands to the ground. Piper struggled against him as he smirked down at her.
"Surrender." Aerrow leaned down to rub his nose against her cheek. "And I'll go easy on you."
Piper raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh really? Well," Piper managed to struggle her leg from his, before hooking it around his waist. "I think you should know by now that I've got more than enough experience on people being anything BUT easy." And with that, she rolled them over again, grinning down at him.
He sniffed up at her. "I let you do that."
"Sure you did," Piper giggled, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Now let's go eat, I'm starving."
Aerrow winked at her.
Dark Ace's eyes narrowed whilst he watched Piper laughing as Aerrow smeared chocolate on his cheeks.
Love… it was something he'd not thought about for a very, very long time. And why would he? What could such a complicated, fake emotion give him? The Dark Ace knew it was a waste of time- to love someone puts you and the other in danger, to love someone weakens you, to love someone controls you.
He would not be where he was if he loved anyone.
Even... Even her.
Dark Ace shook his head. No. He would not think of his past. It was nothing to him.
What he was doing now was everything.
Leaning further down, he put his hand to his weapon.
Waiting.
Piper cupped Aerrow's petite face as she kissed him lovingly. She felt him smile into her mouth as he leaned into her, causing her to be pushed gently backwards and onto the picnic blanket.
Aerrow pushed the strawberries out of the way as he climbed tenderly on top of Piper, careful not to crush her with his heavy armour. She ran her hands down his neck to stroke it before drawing him even closer, but not before pulling away to speak to him.
"What if someone sees?" she murmured as she felt his soft lips travel along her jaw line smoothly, proceeding to lean her head back so he could get better access.
She felt his chest rumble as he chuckled.
"You worry too much." He informed her, kissing down her neck. "We need this, P."
Piper felt her muscles relax and her eyelids close as his rough fingers gently removed her necklace-
"Don't. Move."
Aerrow froze as he felt a cold blade against his back. Piper opened her eyes, looking into his in utter shock, her body trembling.
"Get up, Sky Knight."
Aerrow closed his eyes temporarily, recognising that voice.
"GET. UP."
Aerrow looked at Piper, his eyes shining brightly as he tried hard to put across a message to her.
Run.
He let go of Piper slowly before lifting his hands up, starting to stand up. Dark Ace pressed his blade harder into his back.
"Back away from your little girlfriend."
Aerrow looked at Piper again, who was trembling. He stepped away from her reluctantly, anger rising within him.
Piper shook her head. "No…No please-
Dark Ace ignored her, and put away his blade swiftly before binding Aerrow's hands together behind his back, throwing him onto the ground.
"Aerrow!" Piper cried, as Aerrow groaned in pain. She looked at the Dark Ace angrily as he kicked him hard, glaring. "What is wrong with you? Let him go! Aerrow!"
She tried to crawl over to him desperately but the Dark Ace threw back his head, laughing, before pointing his blade at her chest whilst looming closer to her. Piper crawled backwards, her eyes widening. Aerrow struggled even harder, furious.
Don't touch her, you bastard.
"Let her go Dark Ace! It's me you want! Piper! Piper, just go!" He yelled throatily, his ears screaming at him in pain. His eyelids were roaring at him to let them close, he was so tired, so very tired...
But he couldn't take his eyes off Piper.
"Give me your staff, Piper." Dark Ace told her softly, ignoring Aerrow. "Or I'll kill him."
Piper looked from the Dark Ace to Aerrow, who looked up at her, his eyes begging her to defend herself, to not worry about him, to run and save herself.
But Piper knew she couldn't do that.
Slowly, she reached for it.
"What do you want, Dark Ace?" She glared at him before removing her staff from its holster shakily, throwing it to him. "How did you even-
She stopped, realisation dawning upon her.
"Race," she gasped.
He smirked at her. "You really are a bright one, Piper."
"Not that bright," she shook her head, lifting her head back as his blade creeped dangerously close to her sensitive neck. "If I was, I would of listened to Aerrow when I had the chance-
"-And turned away a poor defenceless man? Doesn't sound much like you, dear girl."
"Don't 'dear' me." She hissed at him. "Stay away from me." She proceeded to warn before standing up slowly.
"Now we both know that's not going to happen," He said softly as he stepped closer. "Come with me- or like said previously: your boyfriend will die." He ended with a fake, sad note, smirking at her.
Piper stopped in her tracks. "Come with you? And what happens when we leave? Aerrow will be tied up- How do i know he's safe?"
"Oh, I'll let him go. But only if you agree, dear Piper. And I know you will. Because I know you love that pathetic Sky Knight." He grabbed her arm, pulling him to her. She cringed as his foul breath wafted over her face.
Aerrow spat out a mouthful of blood. "Get your hands off my girlfriend!" He screamed at Dark Ace, "Piper- run for God's sake! RUN!"
"You can't run anywhere." Dark Ace whispered to her, his eyes gleaming. "You know you can't, Piper-
"-RUN, PIPER."
"Now now now." The Dark Ace called over his shoulder, his cold eyes still on Piper's trembling profile. "Shut up, Sky Knight, or I tear your beloved to pieces. Although now that i think of it, that would be pretty enjoyable." He added, sneering as his eyes raked over her body. Piper felt her self-loathing for the man rise abruptly.
"How do I know you'll do what we agreed?" She hissed.
"You don't." He told her simply.
She closed her eyes.
Aerrow can't die…
"Fine." She murmured, opening her eyes. "Just let him go… please."
Aerrow tried to speak, but the blood was filling his mouth, and running down his throat, almost choking him. He felt Dark Ace release him, and practically jumped up, his blades at the ready, but the Dark Ace was too fast for him. Aerrow's heart plummeted as the Dark Ace's blade was against Piper's throat, her lean figure pressed against his.
"Now now, don't try anything, Sky Knight." The Dark Ace laughed as he stepped backwards with Piper, "Or she gets it."
"LET HER GO." Aerrow spat out the blood, trembling from head to go. "Just... just let her go." He finished with a whisper, utterly terrified as Dark Ace smirked at him.
"I can't do that, Aerrow." He said simply, smiling casually at him. "But I know you'll come after me. And why wouldn't you? I look forward to it."
And with that, he took out a large, purple crystal, and vanished.
"No," Aerrow whispered. "Piper!" He screamed, running over to the spot where they had vanished.
His blades lay forgotten.
Piper looked around the room, rubbing her arms. Oddly enough, it was a light colour, and everything was weirdly warm and inviting. The fireplace roared at her as she sat down on the bed, sliding her face in her hands.
"Dinner."
She ignored the voice, burying her eyes into the palm of her hands harder so she could see bright colours dancing beneath her eyelashes. She felt a cold hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn and look at her captor.
"I said- dinner." The Dark Ace glared at her, thrusting the bowl into her hands. She stood up, raising herself to her full height to glare at him before throwing the bowl down in anger.
"I'd rather eat dirt." She hissed up at him.
"That can easily be arranged." The Dark Ace sneered. "Meanwhile, you can eat off the floor. You need to eat, Piper. You'll need a lot of strength for what we have in mind for you." She finished with a smirk.
Piper stepped away. "Planned for me? What do you mean by that?"
He stepped after her, his face coming into the light.
"You'll see." He whispered.
"How is our guest?"
"Stubbourn." The Dark Ace commented, examining a scroll lying on the table. "As-
"-As predicted." Cyclonis finished for him, her voice a mere soft murmur. "Well, well well. Bring her down. The one thing I hate to do is wait."
"Of course, Master." Dark Ace bowed before leaving.
Radaar crawled towards Aerrow, who was looking out into the dark sky. He nuzzled his leg, causing Aerrow to look down.
"Radaar." He softened, reaching down to offer his arm so Radaar could crawl up it. "Hey, buddy."
Radaar licked his cheek, trying to be comforting. Aerrow smiled slightly at him before looking back into the sky.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" He asked softly, his shoulders drooping. "I need to know she's okay so badly…It was my fault. I should have listened. But that doesn't matter. We're not stopping till we get her back." He finished firmly, almost talking to himself than his companion.
Radaar chirped.
Aerrow stroked his ears, oddly comforted. "Thanks Radaar."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Actually, you are." The Dark Ace said through gritted teeth, before throwing her over his shoulder, her feet and hands already bound.
Piper struggled against the Dark Ace's grip. "Let go of me!" She screamed loudly in frustration but the Dark Ace carried on moving forwards.
"All in good time, dearest." He chuckled softly. "My my, you are a little minx. Why don't you just give it up, Piper? You're fighting a losing battle." He set her down on a cold, hard surface, chuckling as she carried on struggling.
"Indeed." Master Cyclonis stepped forward, crystals in her hand. "Hello, friend."
Piper glared at her. "I'm not your friend!" She hissed at her. "Let go of me! What do you want with me?" She screamed even louder, trying to roll off of the surface, but two Cyclonians stepped forward to hold her down.
"Only to use you, dear Piper. You refused to join me the first time. You put off valuable information I could have used. Now you have no choice. I will get what I want out of you."
Piper's eyes widened as Cyclonis stepped closer, the crystal gleaming brightly in her hand.
"I suggest you close those beautiful eyes of yours." Cyclonis murmured softly, her smirk widening. "This is going to hurt."
A/N: Aaand, that's chapter 4 for you!
I want to say a huge thank everyone who's reviewed/read this. It's really nice, to know your work is being appreciated. I'm one of those people who craves on reviews because i always get worried I'm doing badly- I'll admit that much. So thank you an awful lot!
And I know i keep changing the summary. I will leave it alone now! Promise!
So, I think, seeing as we're on chapter 4, i can start to leave little hints on what the next chapter will contain! So here's your hint for Chapter 5: Dark Ace's past. Something I've always wanted to explore!
On a final note: I've published a new fic called : Five Moments, on Aerrow and Piper: If you're interested to read something whilst unhappily waiting for Chapter 5!
.net/s/5999398/1/Five_Moments
Please review! Reviews bring the next chapters in quicker ;)
And once again, thank you for those who've supported this fic.
Take care!
