CHAPTER ₄

˗ˋ☁ ☁ ☁'˗

"What's up, Ma?" Aziel smirks in happiness, finally being able to see her after what seems like countless years.

Stumbling backward, Rogue lets her gaze roam all over the figure in front of her in disbelief. The familiar swarthy, shadowy circles he has for eyes reminds her of the moon on a dark, cloudy night.

It just can't be real, was she dreaming? She can swear he died that day, she witnessed it.

But here he is.

Her lips quiver as the corners lift into a small smile as the tears in her eyes gather at the base of her thick eyelashes. She slowly paces herself towards him, her arms lifting wanting to feel him. But there is frankly one inquiry on her mind, "Where have you been?"

He loosely chuckles and smiles down at the dark-skinned woman, "Eh just around. I didn't expect to see you here, are you here because of The Merma-" Rogue cuts him off by lifting her manicured finger in his face signaling him to stop.

When they are together they rarely ever speak about their jobs to each other. Not that they would mind it's just that they can't. She operates with The Mermaidens and he works as an assassin for hire.

"I'm here on business," she peeks into his dusky, grey eyes and lets her hand come a bit nearer to caress his cheek, "But I missed you." He exhales a long sigh with a growing smirk as he inclines into her touch knowing he would never be able to oppose her contact.

Not after all those years together.

He grasps her by her waistline pulling her close to his body as he peers into her eyes that are as dark as busy ravens on a hazy afternoon.

"Ya know what I've missed tho, obviously," Aziel says grinning a bit.

"What's that baby boy?" Rogue replies letting her tongue drag on her bottom glossed lip.

"Your body," he practically growls as he swoops down greeting her lips with his own with intensity. Rogue responds matching his passion kissing him fast and hard.

Complying in the warmth of the moment, he spreads his mouth narrowly as their tongues begin to dance around one another. His hands roam along her body until he finds her ass and harshly squeezes trying to bring her as close as he could. She lets a moan slip as she wraps her hands around his neck letting their bodies press against one another.

God, how they have missed this.

But the sweet moment shared between the two was interrupted as Rogue listens to Envie reporting on the mic, "Guys, she is about to make the big speech, ten minutes till go time. So let's round up."

Reluctantly, Rogue pulls back from the feverish kiss her breaths heavy. He holds a smoldering, lustful look at Rogue while also catching his breath. "Sorry baby boy, duty calls," she pauses running her hands down his chest halting at his waist and teasing him, "But it's too bad since we were only just getting started."

He lets out a soft groan due to her teasing. She chuckles and pivots around to fix her forest-like afro. She glances behind her to see Aziel digging through his pockets. She fully circles with an eyebrow raised, "What are you doing?"

He holds up a finger as he finally reaches what he was looking for and holds up his phone. "Give me your number Ma," he requests handing her his phone. She quickly punches in the numbers and hands him his phone back. She rushes to put her soft lips to his cheek and opens the door getting ready to exit saying, "Bye baby boy, may we see each other again."

A faint goodbye is heard as she shuts the doorway and proceeds to go meet up with the girls.

Rogue finally reaches the center of the ballroom where Envie is impatiently tapping her foot with Wynter arriving right behind her. "Took you bitches long enough. So are we ready?" Envie looks at the two girls next to her.

"I guess so, let's get this over with," says Rogue trying to keep Aziel off her mind.

Wynter fixes her wig and takes proper hold of the tray in her hand, "Well here I go." She nods at the both of them before making her path towards the currently-alone President Sanity, as Reah makes her way to the podium.

The other girls split up again going to their places according to the plan.

"Hi, Mr. President si-sir w-would you like a refill?" Requests Wynter as she stutters with intent approaching President Sanity.

Swiveling his head towards the voice, He looks her up and down with a particularly expressionless face and nods as he hands her his barren glass. "He's a rude bitch," Wynter regards in her private thoughts as she puts on a contrived smile and pours the tainted spirits into his glass.

She swiftly halts when he asks an unexpected question, "Are you new?"

She quickly continues to pour his drink to not provoke him with further doubt. "Yes sir, I joined recently," Wynter states as she passes him back his drink. He didn't seem quite convinced but tolerates the answer believing that it's just been a long evening. He sends her off with a shooing hand gesture. She forces a smile and bows slightly trying not to strike the man before she takes her leave.

He observes her as she makes her exit, still skeptical about the fact that this is the first time he's seeing his supposed worker. He fastly shoos the thoughts away as the drink contents glide down his throat.

With her anxiety of being caught close behind her, Wynter hurries up to change so she can leave. She leaves the pitcher and tray on a table and briskly strides away to go slip into the janitor's closet to get clothed.

Quickly fixing her hair she turns to open the door which let out subtle creaks. Peeking out, Wynter checks if anyone was particularly looking her way or coming her way. As she deems it safe, she strolls back into the ballroom unnoticed.

Glancing around the vast room, she searches for her teammates and winks twice at both of them to let them know it's time to leave. She begins pacing toward the front as Rogue and Envie catch up to her. All of them come to a sudden stop when an individual comes and taps Rouge on the shoulder.

"Why hello, Rouge."