A/N: Thanks again for all your reviews! I'm surprised this story is so popular, really.

Aerials III – Descent

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It's the wrong time
For somebody new
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse

—"9 Crimes" by Lisa Flannigan and Damien Rice

I'm not always like this
It's something I've become
A terrible weakness
In my nature, in my blood
Save me, oh save me, save me from myself
Before I hurt somebody else again

—"Glittering Cloud" by Imogen Heap

He was on the verge of a revelation.

He was unsure what kind of revelation it was and what consequences it held for his future, but he knew that something, somewhere was changing. He had been aware of it when Aerrow first came to the council and took him in, but now it was literally throbbing in him like he was a cloud krill skewered by a hook.

Something had changed.

Was it that he was starting to loosen himself around the teen? He was still the snappish caustic man, he was sure of that. But the bite in his words had gone blunt as if there were no barbs left in him to fling at Aerrow.

It bothered him more that he didn't care.

"You're zoning out again!" Aerrow called out from his Skimmer, "At this rate, I'll beat you before you know it!"

"You wish!" The response slips out of him easily and his grip tightens around the handles, "You're out of your league, Aerrow."

Aerrow shoots him a cocky grin and speeds up. Cursing his lack of focus, Rook does the same. They spun around each other like the dance of fireflies. Rook gritted his teeth and sped past Aerrow, racing towards the Terra. He grinned. He was going to win this—

—or not as he saw Aerrow come out from under his Skimmer and take the lead. He scowled at the teen's back while Aerrow let out an enthusiastic cheer. In seconds, it was over. Aerrow lovingly patted his Skimmer as he got off, "I won yet again!"

"Only this time, but next time, I'll be the winner!"

Aerrow gave him a disbelieving look, "I've won three out of three, y'know."

"Stop boasting," but he wasn't annoyed like before. Where had all his anger gone?

"Yeah, sure," Aerrow gave him a good natured smile, "I'm glad you decided to get out of the house."

The Dark Ace simply nodded. The house had been driving him insane lately. It was like every nook and cranny was known to him and it irritated him to no end. The only room he hadn't been in was Aerrow's and despite the lack of a Bonding crystal around his neck like a noose, he knew better than to tread there. At least, not when Aerrow was around. But he was tempted to go in. Sometimes, he looked at the closed door in spite as if its lanky shadows were mocking his ignorance.

When they arrived back at the house, someone was waiting outside. It was a Rex Guardian messenger and when he saw the Dark Ace, his face paled dramatically and his knees clicked together in fear. He smirked. Even when chained, he had not lost his reputation. Aerrow threw him a side glance and he stepped back.

"What seems to be the problem?" Aerrow asked.

The messenger cleared his throat and shot a look of despair at the Dark Ace. He stammered, "U-Uh, this is a warning for all Sky Knights. R-Ravess of the Talons has escaped. Be prepared for battle at any time."

"Is that all?" Aerrow said, his eyes darkening.

"Y-Yes sir."

"Thanks. Tell Harrier his message is appreciated. I'll be on the lookout."

"Yes sir," and with that, the messenger high-tailed it out of there. Aerrow sighed and scratched the back of his neck, "Ravess, huh…"

Dark Ace couldn't help but frown as well. While Ravess and himself had known necessity and cruelty well enough to distinguish them separately, he had heard disquieting stories of her renegade adventures when he was in prison. One being she strangled someone with her violin string. He wasn't sure if that was true, but it had seemed the kind of thing Ravess would have done.

"Let's go back to the house," Aerrow said quietly, his previous good mood fading quickly, "Most likely, she won't come here."

He wasn't sure if Aerrow was saying that for his benefit, but he nodded anyway. He paused and turned to the sky. The skies crackled around them, urging the rise of a storm. He looked away and followed Aerrow back into the house.

He was not one to make claim to feelings and premonitions, but for the first time, he felt the hairs creep upon his neck like an omen long forgotten.

"You're going where?" Dark Ace repeated dumbly.

Aerrow gave him a frustrated look, "Terra Mesa. I need to go see Starling about Ravess. You can take care of yourself, right?"

"Why can't I come?" in the back of his mind, he mentally hit himself for the whiny tone.

"Because I took the collar off and I'll get reported if anyone finds out. Unless you want to put the collar back on for her," Aerrow explained, running an exasperated hand through his hair.

Rook's hands immediately flew to his neck and he looked away sulkily. Aerrow sighed, "Look, just…bear with it okay? I'll be back before you know it."

"Oh fine," He snapped, "Just don't run head-long into a Blizzacane."

Aerrow smiled cockily, "If you say so, mum." And he was off, leaving the Dark Ace to splutter indignities at his retreating form. He frowned. If Ravess was on the loose, Aerrow was tempting fate by going on his own to Terra Mesa. But, he reasoned, the youth could take care of himself.

But he had a chance now. Aerrow had left, meaning he was free to explore. He grinned evilly. This made up for leaving him behind. He crept back into the house like a demon and approached Aerrow's room. A couple of well-turned twists and a thin piece of wire was all that he needed to open the door. It creaked ominously as if it knew him to be a stranger. Impatient, he pushed the door open and took a deep look at the room.

Bare. The room was stark like a prison cell. There was a small tidy desk by the right corner of the room, but as he brushed his fingers against the wood, he felt the thin layer of dust that coated it. There was a book on the bed with the Storm Hawk emblem on it. Curiously, he picked it up and flipped through it. Dates and descriptions filled his head and his eyes widened.

This was the Storm Hawks log book. Probably the one maintained by Piper, his second in command (he found it hard to envision any of the others ever keeping a book, much less writing in one). The spine was broken in the middle, but the pages were handled with care. After a few minutes of pouring over the logs, he placed the book back on the bed. He frowned. The room was so devoid of anything. Does the boy have any hobbies, any interests?

"Even I know how to live better than you."

It hadn't occurred to him that he was speaking the truth that day.

"Ravess? Yes, I got that message," Starling said, cocking an eyebrow at him, "You came all the way here to discuss that?"

"Hear me out, okay?" Aerrow muttered, "I heard some rumours."

"Which one? The one where she strangled someone with the string from her violin?"

"That's…one of them," Aerrow admitted sheepishly, "The other was that the death of her brother made her…more than a little crazy."

Starling frowned, "You're worried about her going after your team-mates."

"Pretty much," Aerrow said, "It was Junko who broke his neck to stop him from killing me. Finn and Junko are happy now. I need you to spread the rumour that it was me who did him in."

Starling snarled, "Are you out of your mind?!"

"Not really," and she could see his eyes alight with fire, "But I won't let her threaten my team."

"They're not your responsibility."

"They will always be my responsibility."

"You're not a Storm Hawk anymore Aerrow!" He flinched at her yell, but met her glare head on. She massaged her forehead in pain, "Look, you'll be endangering your life. Don't you ever think of that?"

"I did!" Aerrow argued, turning away, "Are you spreading that rumour or not?"

Starling sighed. Her words were not getting through to him. Storm Hawks: pigheaded to the end, "All right. I'll do it. On one condition."

Aerrow tensed apprehensively, "What?"

"If you so much as spot Ravess on the horizon, you're to contact me on our short-wave radio link."

"Starling—,"

"That's my condition; take it or leave it," Starling interrupted.

Aerrow hesitated and nodded. As he walked away, Starling noticed how tall his back seemed. She paused and turned away. It hurt to look at him.

"You're back pretty quick," the Dark Ace noted as he watched Aerrow park his Skimmer.

"I didn't say I'd be long," Aerrow said as they entered the house.

"Aerrow."

Aerrow paused. There was an unusual note in Rook's voice, "What?"

The Dark Ace threw a book at him. Aerrow caught it out of instinct and looked at it. It was their log book. Aerrow glared at him and growled, "You were in my room."

"I was," he wasn't even aware of his own voice. There was a roar thundering in his ears and it never ceased, "It was a fascinating place."

"How could you—," Aerrow had to stop, the anger constricting his words, "How dare you."

"Oh, I'll dare a lot more," the Dark Ace said, approaching Aerrow, "And I dare this too."

The roar in his ears grew louder as he grabbed Aerrow and kissed him. Aerrow, stunned, easily let him in. They broke apart, their bodies limp against each other, without substance.

"…..Why?" Aerrow said breathlessly.

"It seemed like the right moment," he replied, "I had to do it before you wasted away."

"I'm not going to waste away."

"Now who's the liar?" and he leaned in for another kiss. This time, Aerrow let him, the life in them aching away in the dark.

It burns. The world around him had been nothing but spiral after spiral and he was tired. The war was over; his friends have moved on and the glory spent in the years he lived in. He wanted to lie down and rest. He had nothing left he wanted, nothing he desired except the days long and there's no way they'll return to him.

So, he lets it happen. He arches into the Dark Ace's mouth, drowning in the sound, the time that left him behind and wondered if this is what loneliness tastes like.

Rook woke up with a start. He surveyed his surroundings and realized where he was. In his room. He blinked and slapped his face. All a dream. He had a dream about kissing Aerrow. God, what was he thinking?

He wasn't. He hasn't been thinking rationally ever since he came here. Before, his life revolved around Master Cyclonis, but her sun had died. Now, his life revolved around Aerrow.

It was a bitter pill to swallow. Angrily, he strode out of bed and slipped on his clothes. He needed to get out. Just breathe without sensing Aerrow's scent in the air. He was his own person. He had to believe that.

He literally sped out the door when he nearly ran into Aerrow. He stopped, his heels digging into the ground in a comedic fashion. Aerrow shot him a confused look, "Something wrong?"

"No," he all but blathered, "When did you come back?"

"Last night," Aerrow said casually, walking past him and into the kitchen.

"What did Starling say?" Rook queried, grasping at small talk.

Aerrow wasn't the most perceptive of people, but that remark caused Rook to earn a disbelieving glance, "She said she'd do what I asked provided if Ravess comes near this place, I would contact her."

"What did you ask her to do?" he was now genuinely curious, his earlier mission forgotten. He stared at the muscles on Aerrow's neck as they pulsed under the sunlight.

"Nothing special," Aerrow answered, trying to brush the topic away with a wave of his hand.

"You drove all the way to Terra Mesa to talk to her," Rook commented, "What was it?"

"I said it's nothing," Aerrow muttered, "Let it be."

"When you shouted at Piper, was that nothing too?"

Aerrow froze and spun around. The Dark Ace stood tall, his eyes glinting. The gears clicked in Aerrow's head.

"You read the log book," Aerrow said softly, "You went into my room."

"You read it everyday. Is this your way of atoning? To pour over her words of self-hatred over that incident?" his voice was rising in crescendo. He didn't even know why he was angry, but he was angry and it was spilling out of him in waves.

"I'm not that kind of person anymore!"

"What kind of person are you?!"

"The kind that wants to protect the people he cares about!"

"Your team doesn't need you to protect them!" he yelled back.

"Well, I did it anyway!" Aerrow retorted back without thinking.

Rook paused, "What?"

"…Oh man," Aerrow slapped his forehead and looked away uneasily. The Dark Ace strode over to him and placed his hands on Aerrow's shoulders and looked him directly in the eye.

"What. Did. You. Do," he articulated dangerously.

"I don't have to—,"

"Shut up for once and tell me the truth."

Aerrow frowned and shrugged Rook's hold off his shoulders, "I told Starling to spread the rumour that I killed Snipe."

"You what."

"It was the right thing to do," he insisted, "Like I would let her get to Junko and Finn."

"I'm so glad you thought this through," his throat felt as dry as his own voice, "And what happens when she gets to you? Do you simply let her rip you apart?"

"I'm not going to die."

"Funny. Because your actions so far suggest otherwise."

"Why are you so angry anyway?" Aerrow muttered.

"Don't change the topic," he evaded smoothly, "Especially since you're cracked in the head."

"I am not!" Aerrow bristled under that retort.

"Fine," he replied, walking away, "Do as you wish."

"Rook?" if Aerrow was confused before, he was completely lost now, "Where are you going?"

"I need air. This place is choking me."

"Wait, you—,"

The door slammed like a victory note. Aerrow stared at the door as if the world spun without him. He ran a hand through his hair and slammed it against the kitchen table.

He was irrational. The anger that seethed in him had now drifted into the wind like forgotten ashes. He accelerated the speed of his Skimmer.

The boy is an idiot, but I am attached to the boy who is an idiot. He groaned. He was sounding more and more like a sap. He paused in mid-flight. He hadn't drifted very far from Terra Gale and he could spot thei—Aerrow's house from where he was hovering.

I should let him die and be rid of him.

He frowned. If that was the truth, he would not feel so troubled. The revelation hovered in his mind. He knew what he was going through. He cursed under his breath. That stupid, stupid boy.

"Why are you so angry?"

Why indeed.

His timing, however, left much to be desired. At the back of the house, near the teetering cliff, were two lone figures facing each other in a hostile manner. Rook could spot Aerrow's hair easily, but the other…was sporting vivid pink locks and had a bow and arrow aimed and ready. Ravess. She must have waited till he left the house. Today was the day of mishaps, it seems. He circled quietly in the air before parking at the side gently. He had no weapon, so he waited. He had time to make his move. Ravess was ready to talk her victim to death first.

"You killed him," Ravess uttered softly, letting the words shatter around them. The wind picked up speed and the cloud crackled appropriately.

Aerrow had his daggers with him, his form tense and ready. He paused and said, "I did. And?"

The fact he said without a tremor in his voice was testament to how much Aerrow had changed over time.

The Dark Ace couldn't see Ravess' face, but he could imagine the slew of emotions running through her face like a mirror. He was tempted to move against her now, but Aerrow spotted him and shook his head. A pinprick of anger burst inside of him. Again, as always, Aerrow thought of others, first and foremost.

Aerrow mouthed to him, "Don't do it."

Rook mouthed back in irritation, "Why not?"

Aerrow rolled his eyes in exasperation. It figures that Rook would be bull-headed about this. He squashed the feeling of anxiousness and faced Ravess, who seemed to be having a long mental debate in her head. The reports weren't wrong. Ravess had lost something in the long, dark time she spent in prison. Aerrow just wasn't sure what she lost.

"What do you want, Ravess?" Aerrow asked, prodding gently.

Ravess laughed. It was brittle and dry. "There is nothing in the world that I long for, anymore. Though murder still remains a savoury delight," she replied smoothly, her finger ready to release the arrow.

"You can't kill me, Ravess," Aerrow retorted confidently, "You're not strong enough."

"Ha! Your ego is showing, Storm Hawk," Ravess had a deadly gleam in her eyes, "My target is actually behind me."

Aerrow's eyes widened and he yelled out, "Rook, move!"

Just then, Ravess fired…at Aerrow.

the world blurred around him

she was laughing

he was falling

rook was yelling

too loud

the storm thundered

he stumbled and fell

the cliff

but a hand grabbed him

someone saved him

he wasn't falling anymore.

"Stop dreaming and wake up already," Rook said impatiently.

Aerrow blinked and hesitantly rose slightly, "…What?"

"The Hero stirs," Rook muttered sarcastically, "I still don't understand how you made such a big mistake."

Aerrow rubbed his eyes as yesterday's events flashed through his head like a picture show, "Ravess?"

"Who knows?" Rook said simply, taking a sip of his tea. It was then that Aerrow noticed the kettle and the tea cup in front of him. He slowly reached for the cup, letting the warmth seep into his fingers.

"…She shot me," Aerrow said numbly, lightly pressing his hand against his chest.

"She did," Rook admitted, "Your quick reaction prevented it from reaching the heart. The blast, though, sent you towards the cliff."

"…You caught my hand," Aerrow said softly.

Rook said nothing. The steam from the cups rose into the air in silence. Aerrow bit his lip, uncomfortable.

"You want to know why, right?" Rook said bluntly, "Well, guess."

Aerrow frowned. Rook ignored him.

"Also, Starling is heading this way so you're in for a world of hurt for not contacting her."

Aerrow suddenly wished he fell off the cliff.

"You're in for a world of hurt for not contacting me like we promised," Starling said quietly.

The room around them seethed in anger. Rook had left them alone (but not before shooting a private smirk of victory at Aerrow) and it took all of Aerrow's training not to cower before her.

Aerrow scrambled for excuses, "I didn't expect--,"

"Don't even finish that sentence," Starling cut him off, "I heard the story from Rook."

"Oh, I se—wait, what did you call him?"

"Rook. That's his name, right?"

Aerrow stared at Starling with disbelief. Starling smiled at him and laid a hand on his shoulder, "I think you need to evaluate the world around you, Aerrow. You don't normally miss the obvious."

"I-what? Miss the obvious?"

Starling sighed and patted his shoulder, "Good luck."

"…Huh?"

And she left, laughing all the way while Aerrow stood there with the most perplexed expression ever seen on Atmos.

"That's all she did?" Rook said, amused.

Aerrow huffed, "That's all she did! And she just kept laughing! What was so funny?"

They were outside on the porch. The storm was fading into the night and Rook and Aerrow decided to celebrate being alive with some fine wine that Harrier had gifted Aerrow on his birthday. The wind was slow and the only lights they could spot were the ones from the house and the stars around them.

Rook chuckled, "I'd think it was obvious."

"I don't get it," Aerrow frowned and glared at him, "And you're laughing too."

"It's funny."

"Not to me," Aerrow said, taking a sip from his glass and sighed, "Well, anyway, that's what happened."

"I see."

Aerrow gave him a thoughtful glance, "So."

Rook took a sip from his own glass and repeated, "So?"

"Why did you save me?"

Rook choked. He hadn't expected the question to be so straightforward. He coughed and turned away, "It seemed like the right thing to do."

Aerrow was not convinced, "I'm not buying that."

And he picks today not to be dense, Rook thought. He took another long sip of wine to avoid the question. The glass was warm against his hand and if he stared long enough, he could see red on red. He leaned back slightly, feeling the wall press into his back.

"You haven't answered," Aerrow persisted.

"Didn't I tell you earlier to just guess?" Rook muttered.

Aerrow scratched his head, "Yeah, but I can't figure it out."

"I wanted to."

Aerrow started. Rook looked steadily into his glass as if riddles spoke more plainly in the wine.

"Does it bother you? That I saved you, I mean," Rook asked quietly.

-and he was falling, falling, the darkness swallowing him up as he dropped like a silent weight—

"No," Aerrow answered just as softly and pressed his head against Rook's shoulder, "Thank you."

Rook said nothing, but neither of them moved till the sky was grey with light.

END

Notes - Well, that's that for this piece of fanfiction. But one can't stop there when there are unanswered questions. So, if anyone is interested, I will possibly be posting a prequel (dealing with Piper and Master cyclonis primarily) and a sequel (dealing with Aerrow and the Dark Ace's...attraction)