Stealing My Way To Power

When he opened up the door to the motel room he booked for Tammi he did not even have a moment to collect himself before he had arms wrapped around him. Her head was buried in his chest and her arms were wrapped tightly around him.

He ignored the hot wet feeling soaking into his chest. He held her close and tried not to worry too much about her. She was still wearing the mask Cole gave to her which was great. The last thing he needed was for her real face to get out there. Cole was kind of surprised she was so willing to hug the first person she saw opening that door.

Cole was wearing the same mask he wore the last time he was here, but Tammi did not pause for a second to check. She just rushed over and held him.

"It's alright. I told you I would be back in no time." Cole murmured softly while stroking her back. She stiffened slightly at him stroking her back but relaxed quickly. He was so used to Tammi being the person holding him together to be on the opposite side of things was an odd scene.

"It was too long." She muttered into his chest and Cole wanted to smile and laugh but the words also cut into him. He knew Tammi needed him here so leaving her all alone to hold onto some semblance of normality might not be worth it.

"I'm sorry." He spoke out softly just holding onto her. He did what he did for countless reasons, but she did not want to hear any of them. Cole also did not really care about those reasons. All he knew was that she was hurting and he could not be there for her.

That was the only thing that mattered to the both of them at this moment.

As he held onto her he thought over what happened on his way here. After his little pow-wow with Taylor, he made his way to the motel at the first chance he got.

As he walked he noticed he had several eyes on him. It was fairly obvious who those people were with bright blonde hair or entirely shaved heads. The Empire had their kids watching him right now. Cole was unsure if this was a recent edition or if they had always done this.

Cole was not exactly in the right state of mind to notice when people were watching for a good long while. Still, even if he was not sure if they were watching because of Tammi he thought it best to ditch their eyes before he did anything else.

Thankfully the large crowd of chittering and chattering teenagers made an excellent place to lose eyes. Ezio himself would have been proud of how Cole threw his watchers off.

"It's alright. You're here now." Tammi spoke out softly looking up at him her eyes red behind that mask but he made no comment about her current state.

"That I am," Cole spoke back clutching onto her just a bit tighter pulling her deeper into the room and closing the door behind him.

"I'll figure out some way to get you into school. That way we don't have to be separated for very long." Cole spoke out firmly as he let go of Tammi. He already regretted letting her go but she was only gripping on him because she missed him too much. She seemed disappointed about the lack of a hug but she was also excited about the prospect of coming along with him.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life holding onto her but that was unlikely. Cole had been following Tammi for the longest time. Like a love-sick puppy that did not know anything else but her. The rational part of his mind told him that she could not feel for him. She had seen him at his worst. In the moments when he was crumbling in front of her. How could she possibly like Cole after seeing him like that?

It was better to push those thoughts to the back of his mind and concentrate on the present. Like fulfilling his promise.

Kaito was a capable hacker by himself and while this world had some truly ludicrous tools none of them would be protecting a school. Even if said school had a Ward playing bully in it.

A few forged documents and a new identity would be rather easy to form for Tammi. It would make hiding her easier as most people would not expect a fugitive to be living a normal life inside a high school of all places.

"Great." She shot out with a bright smile and a certain amount of happy energy burning from her. She was fiddling around with her hands like she wanted to do something but she was unsure about doing it.

Cole smiled before reaching forward and taking off her mask. He wanted to see her face as it was, and not this falsehood that he had created. Her hair was the same soft blonde even if it was smashed from the mask laying on her head all night. Her skin tone was a little pale but her cheeks were a nice rosey color that increased when Cole was looking at her. Her gaze was locked onto his and he could see the signs of the tears he felt on his chest.

She seemed stunned about him suddenly doing this. Cole reached over to her face and softly caressed her face wiping the tear stains on her face. He hated seeing her so vulnerable, and he wanted to erase all these little troubles from her world. His gaze was soft and dazed as he lost himself in the sight of her here in front of him safe from everything else.

Tammi leaned into his touch not quite sure what was going on but the steady beat of her heart jumped massively as she too lost herself in the moment.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see you again Tammi," Cole spoke out softly, pulling his hand back with a small grimace on his face. He felt like he overstepped and his own face flushed from what he did but he did not regret it.

He did not think she could love him but at the same time, he would not let those tears stain her face as long as he could.

"What happened to the shy boy who was too afraid to do anything?" She asked with a mock glare on her face, but he could tell she was pleased with what happened. Which brought some hope to him despite his thoughts.

"He lost you," Cole spoke solemnly and that took the wind out of her sails. She looked down and away from him biting her lips, but she was not going to run from her feelings.

"No, he did not." She shot back firmly, her gaze blazing to life in a way that would hold him here till the end of his life.

"I guess not." Cole let out helplessly with a small smile forming on his face. Before he knew what happened his own mask was removed and Tammi was holding it with a face that was red and flushed but she had a cheeky smile on her face.

"What can I say? I missed looking at you too." She spoke out boldly while tossing the mask onto the bed. She was not quite looking at him right now with her face as red as it was but she did peek at him.

She was again fiddling with her hands but she decided she was not going to hold back. So she reached forward and grasped onto his hand. Holding it boldly and firmly as if daring him to take his hand out of hers. Her face on the other hand was bright red and she was having issues looking directly at him.

For a moment he was stunned. He did not know how to react. This was different from that desperate hug at the door. This was different from that dreamy moment spent lying next to each other. The both of them were pretty sure that the world was exactly as they thought it. Which meant she wanted this….she might even want him.

Cole held onto her hand tightly and pulled her into a hug. He lost her once and he did not want to lose her ever again. There was no point in second-guessing he had to throw everything he had in life before the curtains started closing. Fear had dominated him for the longest time, he refused to keep that trend up.

She stiffed slightly but the goofy smile on her face told him he made the right call. The worries about her rejecting him and not feeling a certain way about him faded at that smile.

"If I do get you into school again. You would have to keep a certain distance from me. Everyone knows I only let you close to me. If some new girl managed to worm her way into my life instantly they would start asking things." Cole spoke out firmly and Tammi deflated seemingly disappointed but she just clutched onto him a bit tighter.

"That sucks." She shot out with a pout on her face. Cole could agree. Having her so close but so far away would be killing him slowly but it was better than not having her in sight. It would bring the both of them some peace of mind just to see each other on a daily basis.

"At least it does not have to be forever. You just have to worm your way into my life in a convincing way and that would break some of the questions heading our way." Cole spoke out while stroking her back with his hand. This time she did not stiffen and molded herself more into his arms.

"Still sucks but I can make it work." She shot out brightly looking at Cole. There was this tense mood holding onto the both of them. This moment was already far too intimate for the both of them to fool each other. Before he knew it he was caressing her face with his hand again. She closed her eyes and was waiting for something.

Cole thought it was too soon. That he was rushing into this without really knowing how she felt. That he was pushing his desires on his only friend. All those thoughts ran through his mind but it did not stop him from leaning down and kissing her.

It was a soft thing far too salty from dried tears but sweet in an intoxicating way. He wanted to lose himself in this moment but he pulled back for now. The kiss was a soft innocent one instead of one with burning hot desire. Tammi was something far too precious to him to consume her in such a way.

Once he pulled back Tammi was looking up at him with wide infatuated eyes. Her entire face was blazing red and heat emitting from her body. She licked her lips and clutched onto him just a bit tighter before looking away.

"No fair." She muttered and Cole let out a laugh before kissing her forehead since she was not looking at him.

"Life usually not but if it means I can do stuff like that then I don't care," Cole spoke out brightly and he hummed while holding onto her.

Tammi went even redder if it was possible but she just enjoyed this moment between the two of them.

"So, I need to steal stuff to make the best use of my powers. Any good targets you can think of? I never really paid much attention to this city before." Cole asked with a sheepish smile on his face feeling giddy and excited about what was to come.

The heavy somber mood that weighed on his mind lost for a moment as he just enjoyed having Tammi in his arms. Tammi let out a laugh of her own and looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Well, it looked like she had some ideas.