Gemini|| #Wattys2019

Chapter 16

As soon as Hudson and Atlas return dragging the trashed motorbike behind them, we take flight.

"Hope you're not afraid of heights." Hudson chuckles.

I guess we'll find out.

Hudson situates himself in the cockpit and Atlas follows behind him, disappearing behind the curtain separating them from Nadine and I in the passenger carrier. I grin the arm rests on my seat with white knuckles and broken fingernails from the last week's adventures. When the jet starts taking off, I try to focus on my chipped black polish to calm my nerves. We inch forward in the iron giant as best we can in the small clearing.

"Buckle up!" Atlas calls back and we do as we're told. The front wheels lift off the ground and suddenly we're airborne. We gain altitude slowly, rising above the trees. I force myself to look out the window and I'm amazed by the sight. Endless blue skies with clouds painted on in shades of white and light gray. It's like Atlas's eyes went swimming in a sea of Castiel's.

I really hope Castiel and I lost contact when I tossed the Chip in the forest. Just before Minerva was sent after me. If he knew of everything between Atlas and I, I don't want to know what he'd do.

My eyes glue themselves to the thick glass and I loosen my grip on the rests.

"You okay there, Priss?" Nadine calls from across the aisle, still not sparing me a glance. For a moment, I can hear a slight accent.

"Yeah. I think I'm okay."

"It was a rhetorical question. I don't actually care."

I roll my eyes and lean back in my seat as the plane finally levels out. Moments later I jolt back up when Atlas reenters the jet's body with Hudson in tow.

"What the hell?! Who's flying the plane?!" I ask frantically.

"Relax," Hudson smiles and leans against the seat in front of me. "I installed an auto-pilot on this thing."

"I'm sorry. A what?" I must look as confused as I feel because he laughs at me.

"It can fly itself. It's got the coordinates to follow and it does it all on its own. I just have to be up there to land it once we get there."

"I see." I sit back in my chair once more. "So you're some kind of genius, then?"

"Yeah, you could say that," He shrugs, modestly, but his grin spreads across his entire face. "Though, I really don't like to brag."

"He's lying." Nadine calls back from further up the aisle. "Hudson loves to brag."

"Not as much as I love it when you say my name, Dee." He shoots her a perverse wink and her head snaps around in our direction revealing bright red cheeks and furious eyes. Hudson bites his lip and moans in response. "Mmm, you're so damn sexy when you're mad at me."

Nadine huffs, angrily and turns back around, trying to ignore him.

Atlas comes up next to me and I look to him for clarification.

"Is he serious?" Atlas shakes his head, slowly.

"Nah, Hudson flirts with anyone of the opposite sex." He folds his arms across his chest and smirks as he talks a little louder for Nadine to hear. "Plus, it's the only way to get Nadine to shut up and quit complaining."

Her only sign of acknowledgement is the single finger she raises up into the air.

"Aw come on, Dee. Don't be like that." Hudson scoots up by her seat and kneels beside her. "You know Atlas is just messing around."