Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

95

"You ready?" I asked pulling the pink hood further over Topper's eyes.

"You promise to tell me everything?"

"As soon as I can. I swear, Topper. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open for when I do." He coughed as we finally made it to the door. The flames surrounding us as I pulled the wood door, Topper helping as we choke on the rising smoke.

"That's him! That's the cop killer!" Topper stumbled out of the church, me right behind him.

"Back up! Get down, on your knees, Routledge!" Shoupe called out as I rose my hand to cover my eyes. They were so focused on Topper they hadn't seen me.

"Shoupe! It's not him!" I roared out, as they kept yelling commands. "Topper just get down!" I voiced as I stood next to him, refusing to go to my knees. My hands up to show I meant no harm.

"Xena, what the hell are you doing?"

"Shoupe, it isn't him. It's Topper."

"Topper?"

"It's Topper, alright? Just put the guns down, man." Shoupe looked over to me as if asking for an explanation.

"I found him upstairs in the bell tower. I heard the bell and went inside. No one was there, except Topper." I watched as one of the Deputies threw cuffs around Topper.

"Then explain the fire."

"I can't, Shoupe. There was no fire when I went up there." My hands dropped to my sides. "I'm sorry Shoupe. I just, I thought I'd find him. So I came running."

"Take him back to the station. Xena, you need to go home. I—Peterkin wanted us to take care of you if anything ever happened to her. Said one day you'd come around and take up her offer. Don't ruin it now."

"Yes. I understand. I'm sorry, Shoupe."

As Shoupe ordered two deputies to take Topper back to the station, I drifted to the back of the cop cars. A hand wiping my eye as I hid a smile.

"The truck huh?" My hand was grabbed and pulled from my face as I immediately locked down my emotions. A glare replacing my relief.

"I heard the bell, Rafe. I thought I'd be able to find him."

"Bullshit." He hissed as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me and lowering his lips to my ear. "Hug me back." I did as he said. To anyone else it looked like he was a worried friend. "I don't know what you think you're doing. But I feel that I have to remind you the rules."

"No Rafe. You really don't." I hissed back turning so I was looking up at him. Our noses inches apart.

"Then how about you be a good girl for once and follow them." I rose an eyebrow digging my fingers into his back. 

"If I was a good girl I'd have never gotten myself into trouble with you, Pretty Boy." He scoffed looking away only to put his attention right back on me.

"You've always been a bit of a brat." My eyes widened as he crashed his lips onto mine. His left hand drifted to my lower back pulling me in. His right tangled in my pony tail as he tipped my head backwards. Manipulating my body to fit his needs.

I dug my fingernails into his back. Pulling free my left hand to run along his side and chest all the way up to his neck and into his hair. He let out a moan. The noise waking me up. My fingers gripping at his strands as I yanked him backwards separating our lips. My eyes glaring into his.

"And you're a bit controlling." I shot up onto my toes and slammed my lips onto his. My right hand joining my left as I grabbed either side of his face. His hand dropping to hold my neck as he dug his fingertips into my lower back. Not letting me go as I tilted my head. Letting him soften the aggression I'd just shown. Our lips meeting as I tried to give any onlookers a sight to cling to.

This is what my life had come to. Saving the people I love by kissing the boy I thought I hated.

Fucking give me a typewriter and three years and I'll make a New York Times bestseller.

________•*•*•*•_______

"Any luck?" The truck door slammed as Rafe rammed the keys into the ignition and cranked the vehicle to life. "I'll take that as a n—"

I was grabbed and yanked over the console as Rafe slammed his lips over mine. My eyes wide at the bruising force he was applying. I pushed his chest away releasing me from his grasp and giving me enough time to sit back down in the passenger seat.

"What the hell?" I nearly yelled as I clicked my seatbelt in.

"You piss me off, sometimes, you know that right?" My eyes narrowed as he copied my actions. His seatbelt on and his eyes glaring into mine.

"Only sometimes? Guess I'm not doing my job right." I sassed grabbing a pen from the open tray at the bottom of the dash. It took me less than a second to consider my actions as I was already throwing it at Rafe. The plastic writing utensil clattering against his chest before falling to his lap.

"Did you just?"

"Yup." I threw a penny this time. My left hand actively seeking for items as I threw them with my right.

"Stop."

"Nope." It was a paperclip this time.

"Xena, I swear—"

"What're you gonna do, Love. Put me in timeout? House arrest?" I found a travel size bottle of advil and chucked it at him. It of course bounced off his pectoral as I waited for his response. My eyes glowing in delight as I gave him a mischievous grin, batting my eyes. "Are you going to spank me, Sir?"

Rafe's eyes flared and I couldn't hold back the roar of laughter. My arms coming to hold my stomach as I laughed. I wasn't sure what reaction I was expecting but the way he froze was just too good.

"Oh my goodness. That was— that's oh gosh." I wiped under my eye looking for any tears.

"You're such a brat."

"Hey now. You're the one calling me a brat and Darling. You were just begging for it." I pointed at him.

"I don't beg." A smirk crawled on my face as he spat out the word.

"Sure you don't, Love."