IN THE CAGE

95. BURN

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

"Isn't the weather a little hot today?" it's the line that came out of Ace's lips when there was only him and Fawn near the bar table.

Fawn was actually about to avoid Ace, but the man pulled Fawn's suit strong enough that Fawn's back hit the table. Fawn stood there with her eyes sparkling in alarm. Fawn was afraid Evan's people would see her. Fawn is still not ready to be caught in a relationship - eh no, no - meaning Fawn, he is not ready to explain the absurdity of his relationship with the youngest Hunter.

"You shouldn't talk to me" Fawn said. His low voice was full of pressure.

"Why?"

"Is that still a question? Or you're deliberately making me a target for your enemy."

"Casual, Fawnia. Suspicion will only arise if you act suspiciously." Ace did not seem to be burdened at all. "After all, no one will suspect us."

"..."

Fawn wondered if this interaction was okay, but after he thought about it, perhaps what Ace said was true. Perhaps the source of Ace's calm was due to their status lapses, for suspicious people-it would be very small.

Well, just imagine a famous Ace Hunter gets rumors dating a bodyguard, the whole city can laugh until the next year.

They are very different.

Thinking of the difference in his status now, Fawn became embarrassed and to be honest, a bit bitter. Did he get a big head first because Ace was paying attention to him? Although Ace said he was different and the man loved him, those words did not change that she - a Fawnia Alder - was just an ordinary girl with a lifestyle difference that was incompatible with an Ace Hunter.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Mr. Ace." Fawn responded with a faint smile. "A bodyguard like me will never be able to headline the news, especially if it's juxtaposed with you."

"..." - ".Ace speechless. There was an atmosphere of uneasiness between her and Fawn at that moment. It was as if there was an invisible wall stretching between them.

"You seem to have taken my meaning wrong." Ace touches Fawn's arm, hoping the girl turns her head towards him. But Fawn just stood there. Eyes glued to Indira who dances freely with Mesa and Alex.

"Fawnia," call Ace.

"What's up, Mr. Ace."

"You angry?"

"I have no reason to be angry with you" Fawn said. "I'm at work now, Mr. Ace. It would be nice if you cut down on talking to me."

"But I don't want to."

Is he a kid? Fawn cursed.

"Mr Ace..."

"Don't call me Mr. Ace."

"Mr Hunter?"

"Fawnia.., I'll just let you call me Mr. Ace when we're in the room, when I tie you up and make you beg pad-" One elbow in Ace's arm stops the man from speaking. Ace's grin was witty as he saw a red hue spreading faintly across Fawn's cheeks.

"Do you want to take responsibility if anyone hears you?"

"I'm ready to marry you."

"Ace," Fawn took a breath, "That's not funny."

"I'm not kidding. Should I propose to you here?"

"You make me hotter amazing." Not only did the man make him wear a turtle neck in July, the man also made him breathless in a closed room and smelled like tobacco and that expensive parfume.

"Want a drink?" Ace was serious while offering Fawn a drink, but the girl was staring at him with a rotation of bored eyes.

"I told you I was working."

"There's no harm, I can order you a milkshake if you want."

"Milkshakes? In here?" Fawn wants to laugh.

"I told you I can turn this place into anything I want, right? Did you forget?"

"Yayaya, I forgot about it. I forgot that you're an obnoxious rich bastard."

Ace chuckles. "Then, which part do you remember most about that night?"

"I remember coming home and having to deal with the rampaging Miss Indira" Fawn said, she glanced at Ace and gave a snort of coercion. "You know, you and Miss Indira who headlined the news really look amazing. Very compatible."

"I don't know about that" said Ace, he replied to Fawn's wide grin with a mocking wink. "I didn't shave when the picture was taken."

"You must have deliberately let Mr. Evan spread the photo, right? There's no way Mr. Evan could have just published about you in the media if you hadn't let him?"

"Oh, someone uses his brain to think."

"Did you underestimate me?"

"Handering." said Ace, this time holding himself by tightly clenched hands at the table. Oh, how Ace wants to pinch Fawn's cheek now. Lifting and turning her around in the room because she was so adorable, so-so charming. Ace wants to bite his chubby cheeks and dimples.., Ace has not even discussed Fawn's deep swooping dimples when he talks or just smiles thinly. The dimple was like calling out to him, tempting his strength to still appear monotonous in front of the amazingly cute Fawn.

"Huh, I wonder who that unlucky woman is." Fawn throbbing.

"You'll find out if you see me now" Ace's fishing line.

Fawn turned his head and just then, Fawn saw Ace staring at Indira. To his boss who is the most beautiful figure there.

"Oh."

"..."

Fawn felt an invisible powerful punch land on her stomach. He did not know if Ace was joking or not, but the thought that Ace loved another woman far above Fawn made Fawn feel runyam.

Ace turned his head towards Fawn after playing around with the girl. A witty smile was engraved on his face, about to tease Fawn whom he had expected, would show him frustration. Ace thought he would find Fawn staring at him with irritation and eye rotation, but when he looked the girl in the eyes. Fawn looked at him with a wound. 

"You don't think I'm a series-"

"Ace," Mesa came.

Damn it, Mesa is coming!

Fawn immediately pulled herself two steps away from Ace. He looked down and greeted Mesa who was joined between them.

"What are you two talking about? I saw from earlier..., you guys look so serious?"

"Something that's none of your business, Mesa." Ace chimed flat. He looked back at Fawn and the girl paid no attention to him anymore.

Mesa is approaching Fawn. He thought, if he did not get the information from Ace, then he would extract information from the man's interlocutor.

"What are you talking about?" Mesa mediates the distance between Ace and Fawn.

Fawn revealed an awkward smile before answering Mesa with a lie. "Only the matter of Miss Indira's article, Mr. Ace seems to like being in the headlines in the magazine."

"Huh, huh?" Mesa glanced at Ace. "I asked you to talk about this earlier, why did you even talk about it with Indira's bodyguard?"

"Maybe because he's not as noisy as you." Ace turned his seat to the table, his hand waving a bartender who was wiping the glass. He ordered another cocktail.

"What the fuck? Where there is me noisily! I'm the quietest girl you know, do you know my zodiac? I'm Capricorn! Capricorn is a sign of introverts, and I am a hard-line introvert. I don't really like parties, but I'm doing this for business and for my relationship with Indira. If you knew me better, Ace. I'm very, very happy to lock myself up at home and watch TV. I'm also-"

While Mesa had a long time between them, Fawn took the opportunity and sauntered towards Joseph. His junior in the martial arts class was leaning against a large pillar, legs crossed with eyes scanning for sharp Indira. Fawn-without turning her head towards Ace at all-greeted Joseph and embraced the man's shoulder.

"My dear..., why are you being so serious?" Fawn greeted with a false cheer. He didn't want to look like he was sad in front of Ace. He cannot appear weak.

"I'm just not used to these kinds of things, Fawn." Joseph scratched his forehead. "All the crowds and the purpose of this crowd is very foreign to me."

"You know, it's just a job we have to do. You don't need to understand the situation at all." Fawn gave a piece of advice that surprised her. He who used to be may be a fan of this understanding, but now, his morality is contrary. Was he sure he would protect the Caspian family when he found out the family had killed the Ace family?

"I wish I could achieve such a thought" said Joseph, the man then straightened his stance and sighed. "By the way, I saw you and Mr. Ace talking at length. What are you guys talking about?"

"You seen him?" Fawn thought Joseph's eyes would forever be glued to Indira.

"I see Mr. Ace really enjoying talking to you, to be honest. You're the same."

"I? It's nonsense. If it wasn't for her being Miss Indira's friend, I might have run away from there." Surely, it's a lie.

"So, what are you talking about?"

"Just something that doesn't matter..." Fawn pulled a shoulder. His mind floated back to the moment when Ace was staring at Indira. Looking at her boss and implying that she is the one she loves. Fawn wanted to assume Ace was joking, to be honest, but after many coincidences.

"Fawn's..."

"Hmm?"

"Did you see what I'm seeing now?"

Fawn, who was pondering, raised her head. He looked at Joseph and spontaneously frowned. Something about Joseph's reaction made him switch modes into alert. His partner was standing stiff, eyes wide open, and jaws were falling open. It was as if a meteor had fallen on the dance floor.

Fawn, upon seeing Joseph's reaction, thought an attack landed on Indira. Therefore, he turned his head to follow Joseph in the blink of an eye.

But not.

"..."

"..."

There was no attack going on there, no situation needed to make Fawn run across the room and use her ability to control violence. No, there's nothing to guard there. Not because it was just two people sharing a kiss on the dance floor.

Two very familiar people in his eyes.

Ace and Indira.

Oh, how Fawn hoped the meteor was the one that fell there. Not these.

...----------------...