The Taste of Seduction

"Ugh…" Ace did a facepalm then let out a sigh. "Please… don\'t make it more awkward as it already is," he added, Atlas chuckling as he leaned on the tree\'s trunk behind him.

"Sorry…" he apologized, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "So how are ya?" he asked, Ace now looking at him and then shrugged his shoulders.

"Nothing much, just so-so," he answered, Atlas nodding slowly to ask another question.

"So you and Sofia… Meredith\'s best friend… you two dating?"

A ping was heard from Ace\'s phone. As he didn\'t answer him for a while, he got his phone from his pocket. He unlocked it and saw that he got a message from Sofia. With a slight arch of his brow, he opened it, reading her message.

The text read:

"We\'re in the kitchen. Just having tea and then ordered pizza. You can tell the maid if you and Atlas wants some snacks or drinks."

Ace just reacted a "like" emoji on it then sent her a short message instead. It read:

"We\'ll join instead after the talk. See you."

"How sweet… you guys are in one location but still texting. Very doting and dedicated partner, aren\'t ya?"

Atlas\' comment snapped Ace out of his thoughts. With a death warning to his brother, he just brushed off what he said and explained their circumstance.

"The two of us are just fucking. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Aaah…" Atlas nodded his head slowly, further commenting about it. "What if either of you develops feelings for the other? What will happen then?"

"No comment," Ace said, letting out a sigh as he redirected the subject to a different one. "You\'re back on earth… why?"

"Business as ever, Ace," Atlas commented, letting out a small sigh as well as he threw his hands up in the air as if giving up on catching up with his brother. "We\'re looking for something, The Book of Shadows," he added, a serious expression on Ace\'s face as he furrowed his brows.

"For what?"

"A lot of things. That book\'s gonna be helpful," Atlas started. "But the main thing that we need with the help of that book is breaking Meredith\'s bond with Marcus."

Ace noticed a sense of hostility on his twin\'s brother tone of voice, especially when he said Marcus\' name. With a slow nod, he narrowed his eyes at him, coming back at him with a tease because he was also teased a moment ago.

"Jealous?"

Atlas gave him a warning look, too. "I already shut up. You do, too."

Ace couldn\'t help but let out a soft chuckle. It had been long since Atlas heard him laugh, and it had been long since they talked to each other, so he just let it go and laughed along with him.

"Well, Meredith and I will be leaving tomorrow," Atlas added, Ace tilting his head to the side out of curiosity.

"So soon? You two just got here," he commented, Atlas letting out another sigh.

"I know… that\'s why we made sure to spend time with you, Sofia, and Aaron today before things get serious," he replied, walking towards his brother to tap his shoulder. "Besides… we\'ll be together until the evening. For sure, the girls would come up with a double date--us having dinner."

"Double date," Ace said, a scoff coming from him. "I have no choice but to go."

Atlas grinned and teased him once more. "For Sofia?"

"You, you idiot," Ace said, acting all defensive. "And that, too. Gotta tell you her father asked for a favor of me watching over her from time to time. She doesn\'t know that, though."

"I see. A serious mission on your end, too?"

Ace nodded, already knowing that he trusts Atlas not to tell anything about it even to Meredith.

"I understand. Your secret\'s safe with me," he said, Ace giving him a fist bump to thank him.

"If things go south, you know you can count on me," he said, pointing at his pocket where he knows his phone is kept. "You\'re back here now. Communication is easy. You\'ve been gone for almost a year or a year now."

"I know, Ace," he said, feeling warm that he does have a deep connection and closeness with his twin brother even though they were not always together. Even without exchanging much words, they can read each other like an open book and he very much appreciates that. "I\'ll keep in touch."

"Good," Ace said, now walking away then Atlas following him. "Let\'s join them for tea while we wait for pizza. I\'m kinda hungry."

Atlas watched Ace walk in the area, turning from every corner just for them to go to the kitchen. He couldn\'t help but chuckle, getting his attention as they continued walking to where Meredith, Sofia, and Aaron are.

"What?" Ace asked, Atlas not helping but comment on what he noticed.

"It seems that you\'re always here--knowing every corner of the place. You must frequently visit her."

Ace slightly blushed, but it was nice that he had his back turned as they walked so Atlas couldn\'t see his face.

"Part of the watch mission."

"Yeah, Ace," Atlas just agreed, not buying his statement. "All part of your secret mission, I get it."

"Oh, just shut up… I know you just got back here, but I can shoot you if I want since you can heal yourself quick anyways."

Atlas laughed out loud. With his laugh infectious, Ace joined him as they caught up with each other for some more before they reached the kitchen to join Meredith, Aaron, and Sofia.