by C. M. Owens
I throw my arms around him with such an emotionally abrupt embrace, and he hugs me back with a little too much grip.
"Hmm… Looks like you could use some sun on that body," he entices, his old, cocky self back in play.
I roll my eyes and the momentary tears dry up quickly with the return of the scandalous sun.
"There are some places on my body the sun will never see," I joke.
"Oh. One second you're hurling that fantastic body at me, and the next you're playing hard to get. I love a good game of cat and mouse," he seduces.
"I almost forgot how obnoxious you can be," I giggle as I walk over to drink the cooling coffee.
"Oh no. Don't pretend as if we've met. I can promise you I wouldn't forget that body or that face.”
Deacon bellows out a woeful tone as he grips his head and chimes in from the living area.
"Don't count on it, lad. I said the same damn thing, and now my head feels as if it's going to explode with the heaps of things I'd forgotten."
I share a sympathetic grin with the man not loving conflict as much as he did, and Deacon twirls me around in a hug, now that he remembers who I am.
"You saved us, girl. Theia showed us your memories - what you had to do after what you had to endure."
I swallow hard, but Camara's arms wrap around me before a new wave of tears fall.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for growling at you," she gasps.
"I thought it was more of a hissing," I joke lightly, a snicker slipping out between my sniffles.
She laughs a little, but Hale looks completely stumped.
"There's been a rewind?" he asks curiously.
"That's why we're here. Go see Theia, and let her drown you in the month of memories," Deacon grumbles.
"A month?" Hale gasps in shock.
"I can't explain it. You'll just have to see it with your own mind," Deacon responds with exasperation.
"Send him to me," Theia groans from a room in the back.
Hale exchanges a worrisome glance before following the sound of Theia's voice. Devin sits down on the couch and pulls up the newspaper. It's so odd to see the date that we long passed but now we're reliving.
I scoot in beside him, and he wraps his arm around me while resting the paper on his lap.
I sip on the coffee, and yet again, we feel like a typical couple having an average morning. I actually giggle slightly at the normal moment we're sharing. His stare shows amusement as he curiously questions my odd chuckles.
"Did I do something funny?"
"Not exactly. It's just nice to be having a mortal moment," I sigh in content.
He smiles adoringly at my simple amusement, and then he leans over to kiss me on the cheek.
"Well, I hate to ruin that moment, but we need a grounder," Deacon mumbles.
"A grounder?" I quiz, immortal reality coming back into play with a quick slap.
"It's someone to counteract the conductor so he can't absorb your lightning. If we have a grounder, they lose their edge with a conductor," Camara explains.
"Haggar?" Devin asks with a shrug.
"Good luck with that. The bloke rarely leaves the city, and he recently found a Nuri to live happily ever after with," Deacon scoffs.
"Well there won't be much of a happily ever if history repeats itself," Phillip says as he joins us.
"Perhaps we can use that to convince him," Camara adds.
"We also need someone to counteract the air embodiment they have," Deacon says with an enigmatic smirk pointed toward Devin.
I look up to question the odd look and see Devin is scolding Deacon with his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I ask with bemusement.
"Nothing. Deacon is just trying to do what he does best," Devin says with a secretive suppressed grin as he lowers his eyes back down to the paper.
"You know I'm right. You can't counteract the air with anything less than the wind or a breath catcher. Seeing as Adisia controls the wind - and we don't need her tied up with the air - the only answer left is a breath catcher," Deacon snickers with his menacing intent.
I think I see where this is going now. He acted somewhat the same when mentioning Gemma.
Devin scowls slightly, but then he sighs.
"I'll call her, but don't get your hopes up. She's not much of a fighter."
She? Of course it's a she. I was right. I hate being right sometimes.
"She's more of a lover, eh?" Deacon snickers with his antagonistic tone sparking the conflict he loves.
Devin flashes him a very disapproving glare, and Camara rolls her eyes at the obvious innuendo while she elbows her mischievous warlord in the ribs.
"Another ex?" I snark. "Or would you like to refer to her as a nasty entanglement as well?"
Devin frowns slightly, but I can tell he enjoys my jealousy somewhat.
"More like a casual acquaintance from long before I met you. We've already discussed the fact that I wasn't a saint. Please don't bring about old spats," he requests gently, his age shining through in his wording.
Old spats.
"It's funny how many different labels you use, but yet you still hold firm to my being your first girlfriend," I snarl.
"You were my first girlfriend, and now you're my first fiancée. Don't belittle my affections for you. Stasia and I haven't seen each other in over fifty years," he rebuffs.
"Does that mean your casual acquaintance relationship is over, or should I be worried?"
"It was never something I had to end because it was never real. I shouldn't have to prove how deeply I care for you. I long to spend the rest of my life by your side. Please don't assume any differently because of my past. You have a past as well, in case you've forgotten," he huffs.
I pout a little as I mumble, "Yeah, well, I don't see us having to live in the same house as Jerry or Bret. It's easy to sit on a pedestal and say it's the same when you're not scrambling around on the floor."
His head tilts to the side curiously. "Bret? Who's he?"
I roll my eyes as Deacon lets out a chuckle.
"Just someone from my past we're not discussing asking to come hang out with us and the rest of the Avengers," I growl.
"No, seriously. Who is he?" he asks again while setting the paper down.
"An ex."
"An ex-boyfriend? Another ex-fiancé? An ex-lover?" he rambles.
I gasp slightly at his prying demeanor in front of Deacon and Camara who are both snickering slightly.
"He was a casual acquaintance," I mock.
His eyes narrow at me, and he continues his interrogation.
"Please tell me."
"Why is it so important?" I grumble.
"Because it reminds me about how very little I know about you in that aspect. I'm curious."
I smirk deviously when I see how genuinely this is irking him. I can't help but unleash a little payback.
"I tell you what, I'll compile a whole list of every intimate encounter I've ever had."
"Really?" Deacon says with a stupefied gaze while accidentally interjecting himself into the conversation.
"Okay," Devin says with a suspicious tone. "What's the catch?"
"You have to give me a list as well," I dare, my devious smirk etching up.
Devin stifles a grin as he reclines back, and Deacon chimes in with a roaring laughter.
"It would take him a full century to conjure such a list."
I feel a little sick with that tidbit thrown out there, but I haven't exactly been an angel either. And he has lived longer than I have.
"Touché. This round goes to you," Devin chuckles as he relinquishes his interrogative tone.
He pulls out his phone and my stomach knots up. I know he's about to call one of his exes, and it's absolutely killing me.
"Hey… Yes, it's me… It's good to hear from you, too… I need to talk to you about something." He pauses and his face floods red. His eyes dart to mine nervously, and he starts to get up, but I shake my head to let him know I'll fucking
kick his ass if he tries to speak to her privately. "No, Stasia… I mean, really talk… Just tell me where you are," he grumbles in discomfort for the awkward situation he hadn't fully prepared to undertake. "Okay… See you soon." He quickly tosses his phone to the table while looking anywhere but at me.
"I guess fifty years wasn't enough to calm her casualness down, huh?" I gripe.
Deacon laughs more. He's absolutely loving the spat he has successfully provoked. Devin slumps down rather uncomfortably when he feels my eyes burning through him.
"We're going to meet Stasia?" Gemma chimes in from behind, distaste clearly lingering in the back of her throat.
"Yes," Devin replies dryly, his eyes still avoiding mine.
"And Adisia thinks I'm bad," she snorts in amusement.
My eyebrows cock up, and Devin huffs rather loudly to breathe out his agitation for her snarky remark.
"So much for casual," I scoff.
"It was casual. Gemma tends to over exaggerate where my past offenses are concerned," Devin growls.
"She tried to kill me when she met me," Gemma snarks.
My eyes widen but Devin's roll.
"She's a breath catcher, she can't kill immortals. She can merely paralyze your powers briefly."
"Didn't stop her from trying," she retorts.
"And I'm sure you did nothing to provoke such a violent interaction."
"I've already told you numerous times that I did absolutely nothing to her, but you refuse to believe me," she growls.
"The first time you met Adisia you tried to kill her," he says with a clenched jaw as his eyes glower at her.
"I thought she was a mole. I haven't tried such a thing since," she mumbles, waving a dismissive hand as if he's overreacting.
"You did your best to make her think you and shared a bed in California when I did nothing but rebuff your attempt," he scolds.
"Okay, first of all, ouch. Secondly, that wasn't me trying to kill her, that was just me being a bitch. There's a difference. I'm always a bitch, so I don't see why this is still such a big deal."
"The point is, you always provoke. That's why I don't believe you. Stasia has never given me any inkling that she is as you describe her to be."
"Deacon, put a lid on your war mojo before I slap that smirk off your face," Gemma threatens.
"This has nothing to do with me. The two of you need no help clashing," he chuckles.
I huff lightly as I stand to my feet, and Devin flashes to be beside me when I reach the improvised bedroom. I don't feel like hearing about all the numerous women. I also don't like hearing him arguing with Gemma like the exes they really are, despite his objections.
He sulks as he closes the door behind us, and I deliberately keep my back to him as I walk toward the bathroom.
"Please don't be mad at me for something I did decades ago," he pouts.
"I'm not mad, I'm just worried," I mumble as I start to close the bathroom door.
He catches it just before it hinges and pushes through to join me.
"There's nothing to worry about. I'll tell you that as often as I have to, but I hope I don't keep having to. I love you, Adisia. There's nothing and no one that can change that. Please believe me."
I sigh a little, and the tears that have been beating against the backs of my eyelids for various reasons choose now to slip out. His eyes soften as unwarranted guilt spreads over his face.
"Adisia, I swear I don't care anything about her. If it's upsetting you this much, we'll find another way."
"No," I grumble as I wipe away the escaped tears. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. If we need her, then go get her. I'll feel better after a shower."
He takes my hand in his and pulls me to him to graze his lips against mine as he mutters softly, "I love you."
"I love you," I choke out through my emotional hiccup.
"Please stop crying," he murmurs against my lips before kissing me softly.
I sniffle as I pull back and wipe my eyes. His pitiful look only makes me want to cry more. I don't know why I have to act so crazy around him. My emotions are on overload right now.
"I'm sorry. I'm fine. Just let me get a shower."
He pulls me back to him, and his arms slide around my waist to offer me comfort. I try not to sob into his chest, but I do anyway.
"I'll stay in here with you."
"No," I say, agitated with myself. "I just need a minute to myself, please."
He frowns in response to my request, and kisses me on the head before walking out to show respect for my gruff request.
Tears fill up in my eyes again as I struggle with my own demons. Years of being lied to, broken, and completely devastated by men who had promised to never cheat just before breaking that promise has taken its toll on my confidence.
Wrestling with so many ghosts is exhausting for a mortal or an immortal. I don't know how to let go and trust someone the way I need to, and I'm worried it's eventually going to rip us apart if I don't.
I turn on the water to drown out the sound of falling tears I know he's capable of hearing. I huff as I slide free from the restricting confines of my clothes, and let the water consume me.
New, misty air enters my lungs, and the light scent of lavender calms me as I smear the wonderful lather over my body.
I have to learn to trust. I can't lose him.
"Adisia?" Devin asks as he knocks on the cracked, padded room door.
"I'm almost ready," I say with a forced rebounded tone.
He creeps in, and his mouth drops open when he sees me in a small, black, formfitting strapless dress that hugs every inch it covers.
The low starting point invites a daring peek at my cleavage, and the mid-thigh length is enough to show off my freshly smoothed, glistening legs.
The loose curls in my hair dangle seductively across my shoulders, and the respectable heels offer a professional sexy. He smirks as I finish dabbing on the last touch of my makeup.
"I should invite Henry and Clara over more often," he says with an overly pleased tone.
I giggle a little and hang the ornate, onyx gemmed earrings in place.
"Camara grabbed this when the girls went shopping for supplies earlier. She got me some other clothe, too - some of which I'll need the help of Aphrodite to pull off," I chuckle out.
His eyebrows raise as he props against the doorframe.
"I suppose I'll need to wrestle more unwanted eyes off you now," he teases.
I roll my eyes, and he flashes over to allow his lips to gently stroke mine. He smiles, and I finally notice how incredible he looks in his very professional and hot-as-hell business attire. His tie is neatly in place, and his hair is tousled to perfection.
"I suppose you'll be preoccupied fighting off unwanted eyes of your own, since I'm just a mere mortal and unable to fight for you just yet," I mock.
He laughs a little, and tilts my chin up so my eyes can connect with his.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better. You've been in here a while. I was starting to get worried," he murmurs sincerely.
I force an encouraging smile. "I'm fine. It'll be good to see Clara."
He smiles again as he pulls me out of the room where I see Hale for the first time since his disappearing act into Theia's room.
He scoops me up and whirls me around in his strong, yet gentle arms. I can't help but laugh a little at his reaction.
When he pulls back, I can see a glistening glaze to prove he's fighting back his tears.
"You're going to be one seriously badass ally," he says with adoration.
"She already is," Deacon counters, and I notice he's also in a business suit.
"What are you doing all dressed up, shaved, and looking like a real professional?" I gasp.
He tugs at his tie smugly and humors me with a playful twirl to show off his new attire.
"I'm Devin's lawyer. I'll be making this whole charade look a genuine business transaction," he says with a proud tone.
"You're a la
wyer?" I scoff.
"Oh yes, love. I'm a damn good lawyer. Haven't you ever seen a courtroom? It thrives on conflict, and we all know how well I do with that. It's a playground for embodiments such as myself," he jokes.
"Well I'll be damned. I never would have guessed it."
Devin and Deacon smile a little at the revelation I find amusing, and then Camara walks out with a completely surprising and polished appearance - a perfectly tailored pant suit, a pedigree business strut, and an unusually tame mane.
"You're a lawyer, too?" I ask in surprise.
"No. I'm a real-estate developer. We all kind of do business together, and this just happens to be my niche. Henry will be bringing along his own entourage, and we need this to look completely professional so he goes through with the deal and heads off to Paris with your friend. We've already done this once," she says with a wink.
I blush a slightly. I had run away to California while they were tending to this the last time. Devin frowns a little, and my hand is suddenly being held by his.
The painful memory of my leaving is etched on his face, and I lean into him to try and distract him. He finally offers me a small smile, but I can tell he's still dealing with the bitter taste of our misstep that seems to have happened ages ago, when in reality, it hasn't even happened yet.
I look to see the bed flashing out of the padded room piece by piece, and then Kry finally slows down long enough to instruct Ther.
"Grab the white sofa, and I'll get the rest."
My eyes can't focus in on the blurred men racing back and forth from the two rooms as they rebuild the padded room to look like a conference room. Devin smirks when he sees my wild curiosity.
"That's the room I do all my business in. We're leaving after we finish up here anyway," he explains.
"Where are we going?" I inquire.
Hale smirks as he wiggles into the conversation.
"Vegas, baby," he gleams.
"Vegas?" I ask, feeling a little excited.
"Yes. We've all got several contacts there who can lead us to the powers we need. It'll be a good start to what we need to accomplish before our next encounter with the-" He pauses, and it's as if he's struggling to find a good way to phrase the rest.
