A/N: Well, enjoy, folks! Please be warned that there is a little more violence and madness in here. But hopefully I made up for that with some bits...
Chapter 6: Revenge
"Activity has revealed the room Piper is locked in. Aerrow can go - alone. We make sure the Cyclonians are distracted enough so he can slip in easily. They took Piper for a reason...they won't want to let her go."
Aerrow ran a thumb over the battered picture. It was his favorite. In it, his bright, happy self had an arm around a radiant, glowing girl, his lips against her cheek as he smiled into its softness.
Piper's face shone with delight as she laughed into the camera that was in the hands of Finn. Behind them, Radaar was happily content, sitting on the Sky Knight's shoulder, purring away. Stork had his head in his hands- Junko was waving at the camera, a hot dog in his big paw-like hand.
Aerrow closed his eyes slowly, sighing. But before he could do anything else, Finn ran in, gasping for breath. Surprised, Aerrow jumped up, the photo on the floor. He relaxed when he realised who it was.
"Finn! We talked about this. You KNOCK before you enter. What if-
"-We're here." Finn interrupted.
Although Aerrow felt his heart soar with hope as he heard the words of his sharpshooter, he started to feel an unfamiliar, cold sensation trickle down his spine. "-Fi-fine. Forget knocking. Wake everyone up. It's time."
Finn nodded and clapped a hand on his back, trying to be encouraging. Aerrow smiled slightly at him before grabbing his blades, and then, waiting for Finn to leave, he rummaged into his drawer for his blade. Depositing it into the holster on his ankle, Aerrow left his bedroom, taking a deep breath.
This is it.
Piper cried out as the Dark Ace slammed her into the wall, his hot breath against her neck as he ripped her shorts harshly, his nails scratching her sensitive thighs.
"I. Will. Have. You." He hissed into her ear as he dug his nails deeper into her soft flesh, feeling a little trickle of warm blood creep down his finger. Piper hit the floor hard as he threw her down suddenly, ignoring her head for a moment to try and crawl away- but he was too fast. He grabbed her legs and pulled her back, climbing over her as he pinned her to the ground.
"You won't leave me." He lifted his hand to slap her hard, not hearing her screams of terror as he grabbed her locks of silky blue hair and pulled her head back sharply, revealing her smooth neck. He leaned down and breathed into it, not quite kissing; not quite biting. Piper gasped in pain as he trailed his nose upwards to bite her bottom lip, inhaling her musky scent.
"Please… I haven't… left… what are you talking… about." Piper murmured, fighting to keep her eyes open.
Keep going, Piper.
"YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT." He snapped, his hands closing around her throat as he lifted her up into the air suddenly. Piper choked and spluttered as he pressed harder and harder, she could hear nothing but the cries of help from her lungs.
"Please…" she croaked, struggling to breathe. "Ace…"
The sound of his name on her lips caused the Dark Ace to drop her; startled. He blinked several times before looking down at Piper, who had been knocked into unconsciousness.
"Ace..." He whispered. "You... name...Ace."
He raked his hands through his hair, gripping it tightly as he sunk to the floor, numb with exhaustion as the voices filled his brain.
"Harry!"
"Ace, now." He reminded her. "I hate Harry."
"That's it? Just Ace?"
"I like it."
"No surname?"
"No."
"No other names at all?"
"No." Harry smiled to himself at the thought.
"But…why?"
He looked at her before smiling softly as he leant over and, wrapping her in his arms, pulled her to him for a tight hug.
"Just because."
"Being a bit full of yourself isn't it? The name…Ace." She mumbled into his shoulder, yawning sleepily.
He grinned. "Well, maybe I have a right to be a bit full of myself."
Piper mumbled in her sleep as the Dark Ace lay her down on the bed. He raised a hand to cautiously stroke her cheek, murmuring back to her. A Cyclonian guard ran in, breathing heavily.
"Sir! The alarm! The Storm Hawks and their allies approach-
"GET OUT!" The Dark Ace roared suddenly, standing up to throw a glass at the guard, who yelped and dodged it. The Dark Ace lingered for a moment, watching the guard run away terrifyingly, before looking back down at Piper and leaning down to kiss her cheek.
"My love." He whispered softly.
"You two cannot carry this on any longer."
Harry's hold on the quiet girl next to him tightened ever so slightly as they looked into the fierce , grave faces of the Council before them.
"The relationship is to end, or you risk the end of the Storm Hawks if you resist: and your future."
Harry shook his head. "Sir… please-
"-I will not repeat it again." The head member of the council lifted a hand to silence him.
Harry turned to Lightning Strike for help. "Captain…tell them. Please...just tell them!"
But the Captain only shook his head, stepping into the darkness. "We cannot argue the law, Harry. You must let her go."
The Dark Ace gasped, opening a mouth to protest, but the girl stepped away from him, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, before walking away.
The Dark Ace's face darkened. He stood up abruptly, looking down at Piper, whose eyes had opened again, watching her as they widened at the sight of him.
"Ace…"
"Love…" he spat at her. "Absurdly pathetic… Like your stupid, weak self. Stupid...Stupid. Leave you like you left me. Walked out. You just WALKED OUT."
And that's exactly what he did. The Dark Ace left, leaving a terrified, beaten, baffled Piper on the bed. He punched the door and noted a guard was missing. He snarled before turning to the other one.
"And where is the other useless guard?" He hissed.
The other guard looked horrified. "He...He..."
"He what?"
"Left... left, Sir. Alarm... went off-
"-What?" The Dark Ace cut in, concerned. "What did you just say? What alarm?"
"He tried... to tell you-
"-WHAT ALARM?"
"The one i set off." A different voice said.
The Dark Ace swiveled around.
Aerrow stood there, his fists had clenched around his blades as he narrowed his eyes at the man before him.
"Go." The Dark Ace spoke softly to the guard behind him.
"But...Sir-
"-GO."
The guard did not want to be told twice. Obeying the Dark Ace, he ran down the corridor, the very inch of a coward. Aerrow couldn't help but smirk.
"Works for me. One less piece of scum to deal with." Aerrow lifted his blade, pointing it at the man in front of him. "Now... I believe you took someone away from me. I'd like her back."
"You mean that little lover of yours?" The Dark Ace sneered as he removed his own weapon. "So precious-
"-To me." Aerrow hissed at him.
The Dark Ace threw back his head and laughed.
"A weakness, Aerrow! Such a weakness… to love-" He narrowed his eyes at the young man as they circled each other slowly, their movements oddly quiet. "-but I have to say, I can see what you like about her. That body of hers is most certainly applaudable. I did have such fun... So why would I want to give her back? Oh wait...I don't." He finished with a smirk.
Aerrow snarled. "I won't let you lay another dirty finger on her, you bastard."
"You already did." The Dark Ace snickered. "Such a hot little minx..."
Aerrow couldn't take anymore. With a roar, he slammed his blade down onto the Dark Ace's- whose face darkened as they started to duel; their movements swift and slick, the sounds of their blades echoing off the cold walls. The Dark Ace met Aerrow's weapon again, but this time held it to lean forward and whisper to the Sky Knight.
"How did it feel, Aerrow: knowing she was in my arms rather than yours? That it was my hands all over her, whilst yours touched nothing but simple objects that are memories? That you could do nothing when you knew I would take an interest in her; she is a beauty after all. Perhaps she doesn't know it- but i didn't mind. I just enjoyed looking at her naked body whilst knowing you were far, far away." He smirked as Aerrow lost his look of deep loathing, replacing it with one of shock. "Don't think I don't know how it feels, Sky Knight, to lose someone you love."
Aerrow was torn between shock, disgust, and confusion. He wanted to say so many things, to swear at and hit the Dark Ace over and over again- he was even prepared to kill him.
But only one question came from his lips.
"Then...why?" He whispered.
"Because your father made me lose mine." The Dark Ace hissed. "He made me lose mine, and now: you will lose yours!" And with that, the Dark Ace roared as he swung his blade at Aerrow. Snapping out of his reverie, Aerrow blocked it, knowing his time was running out. Without thinking, he threw himself into the Dark Ace's stomach, causing the older man to grunt in pain as they both hit the ground. Aerrow quickly put his blade against the Dark Ace's neck, his eyes bright.
"I don't believe you. My father would never separate a couple unless he had a damned good reason. Now-if you had any sense, and if your story is true, you'd be the perfect man to realise that I'm not getting separated from Piper." He hissed at him, pressing into his neck. "I swear to god, either way I will kill you for touching her."
The Dark Ace snarled.
"And I will not rest until you lose her if it's the last thing I do, Sky Knight." He hissed at him, before quickly kicking Aerrow off, and reaching for his blade.
Aerrow quickly got up- but the Dark Ace had already run off. He felt achingly numb and confused; so many thoughts were spinning in his head, but he knocked them off. Looking at the door that the Dark Ace had left previously, he knew she must be in there.
He lifted his blades again, cautious. Leaning forwards, he waited before kicking it open.
He halted at the sight.
There, on the colossal bed, was Piper: beaten, battered, and weak. He gasped and felt his blades drop from his hands as he ran over to her, his hands on her cheeks, urgently trying to wake her up.
"Piper…" Aerrow whispered. "Piper, Piper wake up, please!" He tenderly lifted a tendril of her hair from her bruised face, feeling a salty tear run down his cheek at the sight of his damaged girlfriend.
She opened her eyes slowly. "Aerrow...Can't be...I'm dreaming aren't I?"
"No, no, I'm here." He took her hand and pressed soft kisses into her palm over and over again. "I'm right here, babe." He heard the calls of Starling down the corridor and knew it was time to go.
"Babe?" She chuckled, but stopped when a wave of pain hit her, crying out weakly as she coughed and spluttered. "You've… never… called… babe. Before."
"Piper, we have to get you out of here." Aerrow glanced around quickly, before down at his girlfriend, knowing she was too weak to walk. "Relax, I'm going to lift you, okay? Deep breaths. Stay with me, P."
Piper sucked in a breath and saw colours explode before her as he gently wound his arms around her, cradling her fragile form in his strong arms as he slowly stood up. She smiled at him before opening her mouth, her eyes drooping.
"I…I…"
"Shh," He leaned down to kiss her forehead gently, turning cautiously so as to not to hurt her. "Just sleep now, you're safe. I've got you."
Starling ran in, gasping for breath. Aerrow looked at her.
"Dear god." Starling breathed at the sight of Piper. Aerrow was trying his hardest not to put Piper down to go and kill the Dark Ace.
But he didn't want to lose her again.
His hands stroked her cheeks as he fussed over her, arranging the blanket properly so it covered her; lifting her head gently so it rested against the soft pillow. His actions caused Piper to mumble and he instantly stopped to take her hand, leaning forwards to try and understand her. Her eyes opened sleepily as she blinked up at Aerrow, who smiled assuringly at her.
"Does something hurt?" he asked cautiously. "Tell me where it hurts, babe."
She tried to shake her head, but couldn't move. Starling lay a hand on Aerrow's shoulder.
"Let's leave her to rest." She said gently. "No one will take her away from you now. I promise."
"Go see if Stork needs help, would you please Starling?" Aerrow asked suddenly. "I... I kinda need to be with Piper alone."
Starling was taken aback, but knew Aerrow just wasn't himself. She patted his back before leaving.
Piper tried to smile at Aerrow, but her body felt heavy and numb. He kissed her lips gently.
"Hey hey, beautiful." He smiled weakly at her. "I need you to rest. You'll feel better in no time, we've dealt with your injuries."
"Aerrow..."
"-I'm so sorry." He whispered. She tried to shake her head but he only kissed her again. Piper felt the pain subside a little and be replaced by the familiar, blissful feeling she got that was always associated with Aerrow. They parted so they could breathe but she still felt the warm, soft lips of his against her own.
"I love you." He murmured against her lips. "When you were gone... I realised I hardly told you that. I never thought I would need to, i thought you knew. Or maybe I just didn't realise that's what i felt for you, because i was scared of it for a while. But I'm not anymore, Piper. I love you."
Aerrow loves me...
"The Sky Knight Council are going to speak to us." Aerrow went on, pressing his lips against hers again. "Don't worry." He added as her eyes widened in horror. "I'm not losing you again. Ever. They can't separate us."
Outside, Starling felt something cold from within her. She knew the Sky Knight Council's power but also knew Aerrow and Piper were bound to protect Atmos- that that mattered to them more than anything too. She closed her eyes.
So what if they are? God help us, what if they are?
A/N: Thank you for my reviewssss! I hope this fic is going okay. I wasn't sure with this chapter. But some thank you's:
This chapter is dedicated to pixieblue, whose support has been especially amazing with her encouraging emails and reviews that i get frequently- they really help me to carry on with this fic.
I also want to thank everyone who reviewed so far, your support is not forgotton: Cowgirls Angel Rita, Without Reprieve, Dreamweaver 101, Midnight Beauty, Anahaita Unduli II (i hope i spelt that right!), Blue Butterfly 101, , Sapphearceskyy, grace, The Fallen One, heaven's blessing, Kat-Kessla, OrangeElfGirl, not telling (tease!), and Pascy.
And of course, thank you to everyone who is reading this fic.
So there are my thank you's! Your support drove me to write this when i really should be... ahem.. revising.
Take care :)
Reviews are much appreciated.
