CHAPTER 2

"Name the first Cyclonian that comes to your mind."

"The Dark Ace," he said without hesitation.

A smile crept onto his lips, slowly spreading into a toothy grin. Inside, the blond sharpshooter knew the answer all along, yet he always wanted to hear it come from his friend's mouth.

Aerrow cocked his head to the side and curiously looked at his friend. Finn was sitting in a laidback position, with his feet propped up upon the table. His fingers were interlaced together, supporting his head. His hair was again gelled in the same style, and the small breeze swayed his golden locks like the yellowing grass of meadows. Finn's grin was omnipresent, as if the sharpshooter had no care in the whole of Atmos. To an untrained eye, he looked like the typical teen, but Aerrow knew otherwise. Yes, he did look slightly different…

His focus snapped back to his cocky voice.

"Is he the only one you think about?"

Aerrow began to speak, then closed his mouth. His mouth opened again and he managed to splutter something highly unintelligible. Embarrassed, he stopped talking and looked at his lap, pink flushing in his cheeks.

Finn smiled.

"Dude, speak Atmosian. I don't understand that lovey stuff."

"No!" Aerrow burst a bit too loudly, shaking his head. "No, I don't, I don't, I don't…"

Finn put his legs down and leaned forward towards the Sky Knight. "Man, I didn't mean anything inappropriate. I know you've got the hots for Piper." He raised his blond eyebrows suggestively.

"Finn! S-stop!" Aerrow stuttered, wringing his hands in a flustered manner.

"Geez, Aerrow. Have some fun in a while. Stop thinking about when the Dark Ace is going to come…"

"Finn. I'm leaving the conversation there. No more." The Sky Knight quickly scurried out of the room, nearly tripping over his own feet.

A figured crept next to Finn. "Someone seriously has some amorous fungi deteriorating those delicate tissues in his heart. We should get him treated or we'd be at someone's funeral."

The Merb contemplated that thought.

"Oh well, at least I get to do the decorations."

Heart beating furiously, Aerrow ran to seek asylum in his own room. Palms were sweaty and breath was heavy as he finally reached his door. Entering, he wobbled towards his bed and rested himself upon his pillow. Swallowing more air, Aerrow tried to calm his emotions.

Why did Finn bring up such a topic? It was out of the blue and just so… random. Finn was not the type to ask such demanding questions. Aerrow closed his eyes and cursed. He should have just kept quiet and stayed calm. Finn had a habit of targeting things with a good aim.

From the shadows of his thoughts, Aerrow visualised the Dark Ace. He was a strong Cyclonian with a heart darker than ravens' feathers, and absolutely undefeatable until he came along. Dark Ace's grin spanned across his mind, but Aerrow tried to shake it away. It was not his fault that he thought about the Dark Ace. That man was the living proof that his father was dead, long gone in the depths of history. Even so, the Cyclonian would pop up in the Sky Knight's head, no matter what he was doing. It was an especially awkward thought in the shower.

Infuriated, Aerrow shook his head vigorously, trying the rid these thoughts. The only way, however, was to think of her.

Her face appeared in his mind. Those eyes were golden, that hair a luscious sea of midnight blue and her cocoa skin kissed by the sun… From the day they met, Aerrow knew that they would be together for some time, but he never had this… this feeling for her. His heart beat faster as he thought of those memories and those times they shared together, and everything about it was warm and embracing.

He wanted to tell her how he felt, and yet he could not face her that way.

"You think you are a man, but you're only a child. Stop hiding it and tell her already. Stop being the child you are, step out of its shell now and say hello to manhood by telling her. Tell her. Tell her."

He wanted to shut up his pushing thoughts, but they kept drilling through his mental barricades. Aerrow shook his head again. JUST GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

"I won't get out until you tell her. Tell her. Tell her."

"FINE!" the Sky Knight shouted into his pillow, "I will tell her and prove that I am a man!"

"Good. Good."

With that he pushed through his door, ran towards the crystal room. He hesitated and then entered.

No one was there.

Letting out a sigh, he ran to her bedroom, the kitchen, the hangar, each room added more worry to his heart. Finally, Aerrow ran onto the bridge and tapped Finn, who was snoozing in his previous position.

"Wah hah huh?" Finn mumbled, "What do you want Aerrow? Can't you see I'm having a nap here?"

"Have you seen Piper anywhere? I've checked all the places," Aerrow said, with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Checked the fridge?"

"Why on Atmos would I do that?"

"I checked it when I pulled that Valentine's prank on you and Piper. Remember that?" Finn said, smiling broadly.

"Yes, we still have the Polaroid picture of it. It's super glued into the photo album thanks to you. But have you seen her?"

"Nope. I haven't seen her for the whole day. She didn't have breakfast with us. Junko ate her share."

"Fine Finn. I'll check the fridge." Aerrow huffed, thinking it was such a stupid idea.

Feeling like an idiot, Aerrow headed towards the fridge and opened its door. A breath of cold air refreshed his face and the smell of Radarr's fruits wafted into his nose. But the funny thing was, the fridge was empty except for a piece of paper.

It read in shaky letters:

"Anyone help? I had to put this somewhere, where he wouldn't see and where you guys would find it. He came in the night and now I'm hiding here near the fridge. I know Junko, Finn or Radarr would check here frequently which is why I did it. I can't defend myself now, he has done something to immobilise my crystals and my limbs feel so heavy. Please, one of you three tell Aerrow immediately.

You might not see me in the morning.

Dark Ace... I can hear his footsteps come closer.

I have to go now.

Love Piper."

Aerrow stared at the frozen note and that voice came in his head again.

"Tell her before it's too late. Tell her. Tell her."

A/N: When was the last time I updated?