Liii. first sparks

Liii. FIRST SPARKS

Blood, which usually courses through my veins, freezes. In the time frame of just a few minutes, everything about the last six months had just blew wide open. Skye immediately takes control of the situation.

"What do we do now?" Skye raises an eyebrow. "We need to get to Thirteen's Queen before he does."

"Good call. Let's head out immediately," Ace states, rising from his chair. The Director places his hand on Ace's shoulder.

"Hang, Blackwell," the Director winces. "We can't risk you being seen in public. It's a danger to you and the agency. Not when you're wanted by all the agencies of the world. We'll get you colored contacts and prosthetics will take care of the rest."

Ace sighs. "I understand. Though I think Octavia needs some prosthetics too."

"—What? Well excuse me, I didn't realize—" I stammer.

"Sure. Whatever it takes to keep you compliant," the Director says while completely dismissing me. I didn't realize I was at a bowling alley because my eyes just rolled a strike.

Chase, Skye, Daniel, and Xavier start preparing to leave for Croatia, where the DNA match from the database and the USB was found. Ace is still slumped against the chair with his arms folded across his chest. I bite my lip. One could only imagine what was going through Banana Bread's mind.

"What do we do once we find his Queen?" Chase says.

"We surely can't hide her," Chase grimaces. "I hate to be the one that says this, but the last couple of people we tried to protect haven't exactly ended up alive..."

"Well what else could we do?" I flinch. "There's no way we can just hand her over."

"Rookie is right," Xavier affirms. "It's not up to us to determine her fate."

"But what if it will stop Thirteen for good? Since he willingly exposed the Thorned Kings to the world, he clearly is sacrificing his entire crime empire for her. What if she could get him to stop?" Skye questions.

I shake my head. "We can't condemn anyone to an eternity with him. Besides, we can't guarantee that Thirteen will stop after he gets her."

"We'll have this discussion later," the Director states. "We need to extract her first."

~

A solemn emptiness rang out in the penthouse. Everyone had retreated for their rooms while the mission for Croatia was being finalized. Meanwhile, Ace and I sat in the living room in silence, looking out under the dim light of the night sky.

We sit in silence, both thinking, both running simulations. Thoughts run rampant in my mind. When Charlene had looked at me with pure terror in her eyes, I couldn't help but see everyone who Ian Lochland had hurt. Eve Miyazaki had been replaced with Grant Deschamps who had been replaced with Ethan Tansin. I didn't want this innocent girl to suffer the same fate.

Ace stood up from the couch and walked over to the floor to ceiling windows. His gaze focused blankly out into the skyscrapers. The windows casts a sheen of light against his silhouette. He's wearing a thin olive sweater that hugs his athletic frame. Both of his hands are shoved into his pockets, and his hair is more rugged than usual.

"How are you doing, Octavia?" Ace asks without turning.

I rub my arm and walk up to meet him by the windows. "I'm tired."

"We'll get through it. It's going to suck more than a fourteen-hour chick-flick marathon, but we'll get through it. I'm just glad the Director is letting me go on the mission too."

I raise an eyebrow. "What's the worst thing that can happen if you're not there? I'm sure all of us are competent."

Ace runs a hand through his hair, the way he always did when he was nervous. "Well I wouldn't be there to... to..."

"Use your words, kindergartener on the first day of school," I smirk.

"I wouldn't be there to protect you."

My gaze flickers. "You don't need to be there. I got a whole negative two on my agent test. I can protect myself." I emphasize my point by trying to punch his uninjured bicep.

Unfortunately, Ace forecasts this attempt and restrains my wrists with a hand. A small smirk tugs on his lips. I curse under my breath.

He rolls his eyes. "Why are you always so violent? It's like living with an angry hippopotamus. I shouldn't be accused of leading the Thorned Kings, you should."

"Well at least I don't look like a hippopotamus."

"You're right. The majestic blobfish really encapsulates your physical attributes."

"Go to hell, Ace Blackwell," I smile.

Banana Bread smiles back at me. It's a grin I haven't seen in a while. It's unadulterated and full of sheer bliss. The subtle gesture catches me off guard. He doesn't say anything, only observing me.

Red flushes to my face as I turn around. "Why are you staring at me like that? I know I look like a blobfish, but you don't need to constantly remind me."

Ace pulls me into him by spinning me around. My breath hitches on my chest. His hand rests on the small of my back, sending fire throughout my limbs. My gaze flickers to meet his eyes, which are already glancing at me.

"Take out your contact," he states. I purse my lips with hesitation and take out the single brown-colored contact.

"Do you remember what happened last time that your wrists were in my hands?" Ace says with an amused look. "Your heartbeat is at one-sixty-six."

I quickly snap my wrists away from him, jabbing him in his stomach with my elbow. Ace groans when I hit him squarely. But he reacts instinctively, grabbing me by my bicep. I kick him in the shin. He hooks my foot, tripping me, and I come crashing against the couch the fall the carpeted floors. Ace immediately pins me against the carpet. My chest rises quickly.

"One seventy-eight," he smirks.

"You asshole," I pant. "You complete and utter asshole."

Ace rolls his eyes and helps me up. He looks down at me with a sense of amusement. "I didn't realize you were such a big fan of assholes."

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean I'm a fan of assholes?"

While he's distracted, I immediately roll out from under him, throwing my weight against him in the process. Now, he's finally pinned underneath me. Ace raises his eyebrows.

"This is new," he whispers. "You caught me off-guard. Well done Cupcake."

My face turns somewhat red as I realize I'm straddling him. "Could I try something?"

He cracks a smile. "Just don't smack me."

My breathing speeds up. My heart rate quickens. My mind goes blank. Right now, I couldn't focus on anything but him. Slowly, I lean in only inches away from his face. Ace gently brushes my cheek with one hand and waits with patience.

I lean in, closer, until our breaths intertwine. My lips meet his.

He's surprised at first, but he kisses me back with urgency. Ace's hands travel up my thighs to clasp my waist, gently tugging against my shirt in the process. He pulls me close into his body and effortlessly flips me on my back against the carpet.

One of his hands remains secure around my waist while the other runs through my hair. A few moments later, I gently break away.

"What just happened?" I whisper.

"You're so beautiful, Octavia Snow," he whispers. "I've wanted to do that ever since I met you."

Ace: "Vote, and I'll kiss Octavia again."

Sophie: "Yup. It finally happened. Follow me for updates ;)"