NEW BEIJING PALACE. ETA: 72 MINUTES.
The comm panel just inside the door flashed blue and Cress read the message twice before tapping it away. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips and swept her eyes across her room.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" she muttered to herself as she examined her surroundings. Her bed was already made and the faint scent of citrus that hung in the air indicated that stacks of freshly laundered clothes and towels were tucked inside their proper drawers.
She glanced at the comm panel one more time. It was an odd feeling to have absolutely nothing to do. On any other day, she and Thorne would have already docked at their scheduled port and made their antidote deliveries, refueled, loaded any additional cargo, and restocked their pantry.
On any other day, they would already be walking hand-in-hand along crowded cobblestone streets or along winding park paths, or bustling urban markets, deciding which local delicacy they were going to try for dinner. Thorne would be arguing passionately for his choice and then concede, allowing her to pull him along to whichever restaurant or cafe she thought afforded the best view of that particular city.
On any other day, they would be precisely on schedule and they certainly would not be hovering in Earth's orbit, waiting for landing clearance.
Cress walked over to the small viewport in her room and pushed herself onto her tiptoes. No matter how many times she looked at it, she would never get tired of seeing the way the Earth glowed beneath them. It still filled her with awe whenever she took in the swaths of blue and green and she had to remind herself that there were billions of people down there. It always put things into perspective.
She supposed she would just have to accept that no matter how masterfully she and Thorne had perfected their routine, these hiccups would arise and she would just have to roll with the punches. Besides, this change in their schedule gave them an extra day in New Beijing and she was excited to catch up with Kai and sleep in a real bed.
It would be their first time back to New Beijing Palace since she and Thorne had helped Cinder kidnap the young emperor and officially kickstarted the Lunar Revolution. Cress was looking forward to getting a tour of the palace and having time to explore it, rather than running for her life through its countless corridors.
She shivered as a jolt of adrenaline ran up her spine.
Sometimes memories of what she had been through would come flooding to her all at once and if it hadn't been for the scars still left on her body, she might have thought they were from a dream she had once had.
She walked to her closet and plunged her hands into the middle of the row of dresses, parting them with her arms. She stuck her head in and a moment later, emerged, pulling out a dark blue dress made of silk and chiffon, studded with twinkling rhinestones. Its hem was torn and dirty.
Cress stood on her tiptoes and hung the dress on the hook outside of her closet door. She sank onto the floor in front of it and ran her hand down the length of the skirt, the pads of her fingertips bumping against the occasional jewel.
Part of her felt silly for holding onto that dress, especially now when she had so many others. Others that didn't look like they belonged in the Rampion's incinerator. But another part of her, the sentimental part of her, couldn't allow herself to throw it away. It was a reminder that she had been brave. That she had stood up against Mistress Sybil, of all people, and prevailed. That she had experienced the most romantic moment of her entire life in the arms of the man she loved.
Cress sighed.
She had not looked at the dress since she had taken it off exactly a year ago and hung it up in the back of her closet, although she had thought about it often. She knew she was being ridiculous, but sometimes she lamented the fact that Thorne never got a chance to see her in that dress. It had been the first time she had felt beautiful.
She picked at the skirt and thought about how she should have taken better care of it. She smoothed down the chiffon that puckered and clung to itself and pushed back the few strips of silk that had torn and frayed.
She closed her eyes and let herself recall that moment on the palace rooftop when she had thought all hope was lost and that she was going to die. Her skin erupted into goosebumps as she remembered the way Thorne had wrapped his arms around her waist and dipped her back, cradling her in his arms and then…
A knock rattled against her door.
"Cress, are you in there?"
She jumped and pressed a hand against her racing heart. "Y—yes?"
A faint beep sounded just outside the metal door and then it slid open, revealing Thorne who was leaning against the door frame, a lazy grin across his lips. "There you are."
"Hi, Captain. Do you need me?"
A pause before the dimple in his right cheek revealed itself. "I was just checking up on you." He stepped inside her room and finally tore his eyes away from her face to take a look at what she was doing. "Why are you sitting on the floor?"
"Oh…I was just…"
Thorne bowed slightly and held out his hand to her. She smiled before slipping her hand into his, allowing him to pull her up to her feet.
"What have you been doing in here?" He asked. HIs face was so close she could smell the faint hint of his aftershave, mint and pine, and it made her feel slightly weak in the knees.
She bit her lip and threw a sideways glance at the dress hanging against the wall. He cocked his head to see what she was looking at and his eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Hey, I haven't seen this dress before." He took a step closer to examine it and when he ran a finger against the silk of the bodice, his lips curled into a curious smile. He closed his eyes and ran the rest of his fingers against the fabric. Cress watched his face as his knitted eyebrows loosened, the realization beginning to dawn on him. Eyes still closed, he ran both hands down towards the skirt and grabbed two fistfuls of the chiffon before letting it go just as quickly, as if the touch shocked him. His voice was oddly quiet when he spoke. "I didn't know you kept it.
"I guess I'm just a bit sentimental," she confessed, ducking her head and avoiding his eyes.
He let out a soft chuckle and reached over to give her knuckles a nudge with his. "I think it's sweet," he whispered.
Her heart fluttered at his gentle touch and the softness in his voice.
Thorne turned his head to take another look at the dress and his usual voice returned, full of honey and spice. "You know…I never got to see you in it." When he turned back, his eyes were twinkling with a mixture of mischief and something she couldn't quite place. "You should put it on."
She flushed. "Now?"
His grin was wide. "Why not? We still have some time before we're scheduled to land."
Cress hesitated, but the thought of him finally seeing her int that dress made her feel giddy. She studied his face and finally gave in when he wiggled his eyebrows at her. She wanted to both kick him and kiss him for teasing her, but she settled for nodding her head. "Turn around."
"What? Are you embarrassed to take your clothes off in front of me?" He asked, his mouth turned up into one of his devious dimpled grins. He opened it to say something else, but the way her eyes narrowed made him close it and he turned around to face the door.
Her cheeks flushed as she watched his back for a moment, waiting for him to try and sneak a peek, but his stance was tall and unwavering.
Grabbing at the cotton dress she was wearing, she pulled it over her head, quickly folding it and placing it onto the bed behind her, her eyes fixed on Thorne's back the whole time. She shivered from the sudden exposure of her bare skin and crossed her arms over her chest before stepping in front of the blue dress. She reached over and thumbed the chiffon of the skirt once more.
To her right, Thorne cleared his throat which made her jump, but when she glanced over, he remained still as a statue.
Cress reached up and slipped the dress off its hanger. It felt heavier than she remembered. She held the back of the dress open and stepped into it. As she pulled the dress up and held the bodice against her front, she blushed.
She turned her back towards him and her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke. "Um…I need some help."
She heard him shift behind her and braced herself for the feel of his hands pulling the zipper up, but it didn't come. Maybe he hadn't heard her. She opened her mouth to speak again, louder this time, but then she felt the faintest breath against the back of her neck.
Perhaps she was imaging it, but she could have sworn she could feel the heat of his hands hovering above her skin. Her cheeks burned from his closeness and the anticipation of his touch and when she didn't think she could take the waiting anymore, she felt the pad of two fingertips running ever so gently down her spine, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Her breath hitched. She was grateful when half a second later, she felt the zipper being gently pulled upwards.
Thorne had a bit of trouble figuring out how to hook the clasp at the top and her lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.
Finally, when he was done, she felt a soft kiss being pressed into her bare shoulder and she knew for certain that her cheeks were bright red. She felt a strong arm wrap around her and then she was being spun around, exactly like she had been on the palace rooftop so many moons ago. This time though, when she was pressed against him, there was no blindfold to hide his eyes from her and the twinkle of them made her glad his arms were keeping her up.
"You look beautiful," he whispered, his eyes never leaving her face.
She couldn't hold back the smile that pushed against her lips and when he dipped her back even further, she felt giddy with the promise of his lips against hers. She closed her eyes as he closed his and just as he leaned in to kiss her, an even-toned female voice spoke up.
"Captain, New Beijing Palace has cleared the Rampion for landing. Docking code 00120."
Thorne pressed his forehead to Cress's and she could feel his chuckle vibrate against her. "To be continued?" Without waiting for her to respond, he stepped back, pulled her upright and held her hand as they jogged towards the Rampion's cockpit, Cress's dress swishing against her legs.
Her skirt pillowed around her when she sat down in her co-pliot's seat and began typing in the re-entry protocols as Thorne took hold of the thruster controls. She barely had enough time to reach for her seat belt and buckle herself in before the ship broke free from its orbit and pierced the Earth's atmosphere. She brought up the shade shields as the light outside the viewing windows turned from indigo to an almost blinding cerulean.
Thorne's knuckles were white as he griped the controls and his whole body leaned forward, guiding the ship through the troposphere. Suddenly the rattling stopped and they were surrounded by a pink glow.
"Oh!" Cress exclaimed as she brought up the shields. She leaned forward to catch the setting sun hugging the horizon and to take in the orange stained rooftops of the buildings below.
Thorne grinned and flipped the switch on the radio. "This is the Rampion CAT-1 to New Beijing's control tower. Are we clear for landing?"
There was a moment of static and then a reply. "Welcome to New Beijing, Captain Thorne. We're handing you over to palace security. Enjoy your stay."
"Palace security?" Cress asked.
Thorne simply winked at her.
A moment later, a different voice came on the radio, this time much clearer. "Rampion, this is New Beijing Palace Security Command. You are clear for landing."
"Excellent. Copy that." Thorne grinned and began punching the landing codes into the console.
Cress watched him curiously but was soon distracted by the view outside the windows as they made a large arc around New Beijing Palace. Thorne banked left and she caught a breathtaking view of the sunset glimmering off the golden roof tiles.
As they continued to get closer and closer to the palace, however, Cress shook her head. Something wasn't right. "Where are we going? We passed the docks."
Thorne's response was a grin and yet another wink.
Cress's heart pounded as they got increasingly closer to the palace and she nearly yelped when she thought they might smash into one of the white towers, but unfazed, Thorne banked at just the right moment. She let out a sigh of relief and he looked over at her, hands gripping onto her armrests.
"Hey! Give me some credit."
"Sorry!"
"Do you really think I'd like Kai's palace hurt my precious Rampion?"
Cress rolled her eyes and snorted.
Thorne let out a hearty chuckle. "Come on. We're here."
Cress sat up straight and looked out the window. It looked as though they were hovering right above the middle of the palace. "What's going on?"
Thorne flipped a few more switches, easing the thrusters down, and they landed with a sturdy thud. He looked over to her and smirked. In one smooth move, he released his harness and leapt out of his seat ready to take her hand.
She awkwardly tugged at her harness, now tangled with her skirt and she let out a frustrated sigh. Thorne leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her brow as he reached for her buckle and released her from the chair. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her forward.
"Come on. I'm starving. Darla, lower the—."
Cress's feet grounded to a halt and Thorne stumbled when she tugged his arm back. "Wait! I should change."
He took his time looking her over and when his eyes finally met hers, they twinkled. "I'd say you are appropriately dressed."
She tugged on his hand again, this time a little harder. "Thorne."
Chuckling, he stepped in front of her and placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth. "Trust me."
"But, my feet!"
Thorne took a step back and looked down to see her bare toes drumming against the metal grates of the floor panels. He ran a hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh, but there was amusement in his voice when he spoke. "How many times have I told you, you gotta wear shoes. There could be debris in the cargo hold…or a crate could come tumbling down!"
She opened her mouth to retort, then closed it, frowning. She glanced at the pair of brown boots sitting next to the opening of the cockpit—a miniature version of Thorne's.
Thorne stepped away to retrieve them and then sank onto his knees in front of her. She placed her hands on his shoulders to balance herself as she slipped her feet into the boots, one by one. She frowned the entire time he tightened the laces. She hated those boots and how heavy they were, how they made her feel like she was being strapped down to the ground.
When Thorne was done with her shoes, he looked up and chuckled at her frown. He tugged her chin down so that he could reach up and give her a kiss and before she knew it, he was on his feet and once again, tugging at her hand. "Come on. You'll forget about the shoes in ten seconds. Darla, lower the ramp."
A click, a hiss, and a groan of metal came from the far side of the cargo bay as the ramp lowered down to confirm Cress's suspicion that they were, in fact, sitting on one of the palace's roofs. It took her two steps down the ramp's slope to realize that they weren't just on any of the many rooftops, but the one at the top of the medical wing, the one where they had barely escaped with their lives. Her steps slowed and she wasn't so sure it was the boots that made her feet drag.
"What are—"
"Come on." Thorne squeezed her hand and tugged her onward. He led her down the ramp and tugged softly again when they stepped off the ramp, guiding her around the ship.
She stopped.
There, no more than fifteen feet ahead of them sat a small table draped in linen with two chairs facing each other.
Cress took two tentative steps closer.
The table was set for two, with silverware that glittered despite the fading light, and flowers, and plates fit for an emperor.
Cress felt two warm arms wrap around her from behind and a whisper on her neck. "Do you remember what today is?"
She nodded. How could she forget? It had been the single, most romantic moment of her entire existence. Or that's what she had thought at the time.
"You did this?"
"It took some persuading—a lot of persuading actually—but I wore Kai down. What can I say? I'm great at negotiating. One of my many skills." Thorne cleared his throat. "Do you like it?"
"You did this." Cress spun around to face him, forgetting about the heavy boots she was wearing and if Thorne's arms hadn't already been wrapped around her, she would have fallen backwards.
"Whoa there." He cradled her, pulling her close to him. "I'm guessing you like it?"
She reached up to run a delicate finger down the side of his face, feeling him quiver as her touch ran down his jaw. He did this for her. He had remembered. He was looking into her eyes and she had on the dress that had made her feel like a princess in the arms of her prince. There was only one more thing that could make that moment perfect.
"Kiss me," she breathed.
A flash of a dimple was all that she saw before his lips were on hers—soft at first, and then coaxing. A breeze picked up around them, making her skirt whip around their legs and Thorne continued to kiss her exactly like he had before, like they had all the time in the world. She twirled her fingers in his hair and the way the pads of his thumbs ran ever so softly against her shoulder blades made her realize that they did. He pulled her body even closer, lifting her so that only her toes touched the ground.
For the first time, the boots didn't bother her anymore because she was weightless.
AN: I'm back! And I hope you liked this new installment. Thanks, once again, to the lovely zissa for beta'ing and letting me use her as a sounding board.