17: Top of head kiss for Corey and Artemis (I sense jackassery here)
“Hello there.”
Two hands clamped onto her shoulders, and Artemis gave a start, spinning around with her fist cocked, body bracing to clock whoever the hell it was that had dared to sneak up on her. She sighed when she realized it was Corey standing there, the glint in his blue eyes suggesting that if she had thrown a punch, he would have caught it. She shot him a look, and rolled her eyes, relaxing her posture.
“You know that’s not funny.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“No?” He canted his head. “I thought it was.”
“You’re such an arsehole.” she groused. He was lucky she liked him so much; if they hadn’t been on such close terms, if they didn’t get along as well as they did, she would have trounced him, and actually meant it. All Spartans had weird senses of humour; it came with the territory. But sometimes it got on her nerves; sometimes, she allowed it to get the better of her, and she lashed out.
It was one of the reasons why she’d butted heads with Emile, back during her first week as the new Noble Six. She’d struggled to get along with him, and to understand him, until it finally clicked. After that, the fights lessened.
Corey smirked. “And don’t I know it.” he riposted, all too pleased with himself.
“All too well, apparently, considering how smug you are right now.” Artemis shot back, and she swatted at him when he laughed. “Is there something you wanted, or are you just being a pest?”
He grinned, eyes crinkling at the corners. “I thought you were smarter than that; you figure it out.” Without giving her much of a chance to reply, he stepped in closer to her, dropping a kiss to the top of her head, before ruffling her hair playfully. “Now it’s your move, kis piros.” Little red.
Artemis closed her eyes wearily. Oh, great. That so wasn’t fair! He knew she knew that she’d never get one up on him, and he’d set the challenge to purposefully get a rise out of her.
I am not going to let him get into my head like that. Sooner or later, one way or another, I’m going to win this.
When she opened her eyes again, the Spartan-II was gone.
“Cooooreeeeeeyyy.”
Two days later, she still hadn’t won. She’d tried, but the crafty bastard had remained out of reach, keeping her on her toes. If he didn’t want someone to catch him, they couldn’t. No matter how fast or stealthy they were.
At that moment, however, she sensed an opportunity.
The pair of them were watching a holovid; Corey was on the floor with one knee crossed over the other, hands behind his head, and Artemis rested on a couch above him, lying on her flank with one hand dangling over the edge. The environment was relaxed, sleepy. Surely now, at a time like this, he’d have his guard down. He’d never see her coming until it was too late. All she needed to do was wait for the perfect opportunity to arise.
And so, she kept one eye on the vid, and the other on her sibling.
His eyelids flickered shut. There.
Quick as a striking snake, she shifted upright, before lowering herself towards him. What she hadn’t anticipated, as she kissed his forehead, was his eyes snapping open and his head jerking, straight into her own.
“Ow.”
“Fuck!”
So caught by surprise, she reeled backwards, lost her balance, and toppled onto him with a grunt.
“Basszus!” Artemis hissed, delivering an elbow to Corey’s gut when he laughed at her. She rolled onto the floor beside him, pushed herself up to her feet, and frowned down at him. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you.” she deadpanned.
“Actually, I wasn’t expecting that.” he admitted, as she helped him to his feet. “Not a bad move.” His blue eyes danced with amusement, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his flank. “But…” He chuckled into her hair as he kissed the top of her head, then moved aside as she attempted to punch him. “I have one up on you again.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You smug fucking bastard.”
“Damn right.” He winked at her, actually winked, and darted out of the room.
Oh, I’m going to get you again.
