September Kisses
Rose and Lucas exchanged a glance at the sight of the President's convoy and nodded at each other. They couldn't stay here anymore. Rose extended her hand and made a 'come here' gesture to Lucas. He ran forward and leaped into her arms before she jumped on top of the police car then to another like some cat girl.
Before the police could take in the absurdity of the situation, Rose and Lucas had escaped from their sights.
Tasha gritted her teeth. She knew all along. She knew that there was something fishy about her from their first meet back in the hallway in front of Darren's office. The cold gun Tasha had slipped inside her jacket pressed against her skin. She could have just taken it out and killed Rose when she had the chance.
The police stepped forward and one by one, pushed Tasha, Ashe and the other boys into the helicopter assigned for them.
Once they were in, they removed the handcuffs and the shook their hands from the pain that had built in between their wrists.
"What does the President want with us?" Ashe asked, leaning forward. When had all this escalated so fast?
"You will know tomorrow morning. For now, guest rooms have been prepared for you in the White House to take refuge from the building threat against Systema Games. This is a secret mission so do not bother calling up anyone about your whereabouts," the co-pilot said, turning back to look at the group. He had a kind face, not like the other people they met that wanted to get rid of us.
Ashe felt instantly at home.
She finally let out a breath of relief along with the others and leaned back into the seat, closing her eyes. Her eyes flew open at a soft, commanding touch on her shoulders. She turned her head saw Adrien slowly massaging her shoulders.
Ashe hadn't noticed that he was actually pressed up on one side of her in this congested helicopter space. On her other side was Tasha and the rest of the boys followed her.
Ethan was sitting still, his mind lost in thoughts that were not in this helicopter. But thoughts of a girl in hospital right now. And thoughts of why Darren had reacted that way when they kissed back in the mansion. Could he possibly be Saye's—
'No. No way,' Ethan shook his head, clutching it tight and told himself to breath.
Ashe frowned at Adrien. "What are you doing, robo-boy?" she whispered, checking if anyone was watching. But they were all in their own worlds after what had happened, just taking time out to breath in this gap of relief of being free.
Going to the White House was absurd to all of them, but it seemed better than anything else that could have happened.
Adrien stopped the massage and laid his head on her shoulder, holding her close. "Did I tell you?" he whispered back.
"What?"
He lifted his eyes up to look at her. Never before had he felt so weak in front of someone. Even when they fought the Inexas and other ferocious monsters, there was a flaming red fire burning in his heart, running through his veins that helped him forget what he was weak of.
But looking at Ashe trying to continuously protect him for a reason who couldn't pinpoint, drove his nerves crazy to an extent it couldn't take it anymore. He had never felt so helpless. Ashe had gone against herself to help him out and that made his body not kindle that red fire anymore.
Instead, the fire calmed down and for once, he felt like he could breathe with her in his presence.
"You make my fire turn into winter snow," he closed his eyes an whispered, not wanting to see Ashe's reaction to his words. He felt Ashe still and tense in his arms and he got scared. Shit, did he say something wrong?
He pulled away and looked at her. She was looking right back at him in surprise and a chaos raging inside her head, "What does that mean?"
'Oh thank God, she doesn't get it,' Adrien sighed to himself and smirked at her, "Nothing."
Ashe purred, slapping him on his arm. He laughed at the cute sound she made and laughed harder, "Make that again, I want to hear."
Ashe growled and smiled, "Nope, all you get is a growl."
"Ouch," Adrien put a hand on his heart, "Do you want a bite in return?"
Her face blushed red under the dim lights of the helicopter at that. Adrien bit his lips too, like he was a small boy walking into water for the first time. He hoped he was doing okay, there was no one to catch him…
"What if I say yes?"
'Oh fu…' Adrien's mind exploded at her question. She lifted her hand and tugged at his blonde hair then gradually, weaving her small fingers through the loose waves and feeling them in her skin for the first time.
For the first time.
Ashe laughed lazily and gathered all her hair to one side, exposing the side of her neck which Adrien had attacked on before. She tilted her neck and met his eyes, "Bite me, robo-boy."
Before Adrien knew it, he was leaning forward, the sight of her bare neck enticing him. He held her waist and moved his lips against the exposed skin, "Don't call me robo-boy from now on," he whispered and Ashe waited to feel the teeth dig into her skin.
Adrien's sense revolted against his need for blood and something else took over. So it surprised him too when he leaned forward and…kissed her neck gently. Taking Ashe's stillness as a response, he kissed again and again, working his way up to her ear. He kissed all the places he knew she liked and she couldn't help but feel gentle tickles on her skin as he did whatever he was doing.
"Adrien," she said between giggles and he looked up and met her eyes. "What do I call you then?"
His lips tilted up, "Anything but robo-boy. That's not who I am anymore."
She frowned, "Yeah, you're right…"
"Cupcake, maybe?" he asked, tilting his head and making his blonde hair fall over to one side. A horrifying expression flashed on her face, "No way!"
He even had the nerve to look hurt as he pulled back, "Why not?"
"It's…it's too…I'll think of one soon." She nodded like a 3rd grade student accepting an assignment from her teacher. Adrien laughed and took her hair in his arms and splayed it back on her shoulders again, "Good girl."
"COUGH, COUGH," many voices suddenly shattered their little bubble suddenly bringing Ashe and Adrien out of their own world as they looked around at the six people that were eagerly watching them.
Ashe covered her face and fell back into the seat, her heart pounding with embarrassment. They were all watching? When had she become so unobservant?
Adrien cleared his throat and looked like he was ready to pounce on them. He loved them and all but when it came to things like this, he wanted to hang them by their legs from the top of a crocodile river and feed them to those green hardbacks.
"What do you guys think you're doing?"
Romeo shook his head in disappointment as he crossed his legs and looked at the two, "You both are hopeless! Just kiss already!"
Adrien's eyes flitted up and saw the eyes of the co-pilot too who was watching this show. "You too?" Adrien rumbled and the entire gang of them broke out laughing. A few seconds later. Adrien couldn't help himself but laugh too and Ashe joined in.
A whole war was growing outside but inside this small vehicle, 10,000 feet above the ground, Ashe felt like she was in the best place in the world. Even home didn't feel this good.
Her hedgehog mind was silent now, not reminding her that she had to wipe them all out with a single kill. That's because Ashe had tied up her hedgehog mind and thrown it into the back of her brain. She had looked into its small black eyes and threatened, "I'll be back for you later. But for now, just let me be happy. I haven't had this in a very, very long time."
As the helicopter descended down on the helipad of the White House, they all looked outside in surprise. Little drops of white were slowly filling the ground.
Ashe's cheeks were pressed up against Adrien's as they looked out of the window and smiled.
"Snow…" Ashe breathed, "Snow in September?!"
She felt Adrien's cheek move as he smiled wide, taking in the miraculous sight outside. Looking into his green eyes of fascination, Ashe remembered what he had said.
You make my fire turn to snow.