An Evening on the Town (Tae)

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae felt the car slow and opened her eyes, watching the approaching light. She immediately looked both ways, looking for another car so Cole wouldn’t run into them if he didn’t make the light. She took in a deep breath of the mountain air as the windows rolled down, smelling the freshness of the air as well as the familiar smoke of Cole’s cigarettes.

She looked at him as he asked his question, her eyes wide with incredulity. As soon as the car stopped again she was outside, pacing on the pavement to vent some of her anger and fear instead of taking it on the driver of the car. It was then that the bike rider pulled up, and Tae mustered enough civility to click her heels over to him.

“Do you realize how stupid that was?” she asked the bike rider, flicking his nose gently, since she really couldn’t smack another person she didn’t know. She then turned and stomped over to the driver’s side of the car and crooked her finger at Cole. “Step outside so I can smack you too. I’m very upset with you.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole sighed as she jumped out of the car as soon as he stopped. She was pissed, and not to be taken lightly. Cole watched her as she paced, his hand pulling the parking brake into place. As he killed the engine, he saw Tae flick the other dude on his nose.

As she spoke again, just as Cole opened the door, he chuckled beneath his breath. He'd expected her to completely freak out about it, but, surprisingly, she just wanted to smack him. He stood up from the driver's seat his cigarette still clasped in his lips. He reached back into the car and grabbed his jacket. He offered it to Tae, "Before you slap me, put this on so you don't get cold." He looked at the rider, "As stupid as it was," he said talking indirectly to Tae, "it was a helluva ride." He laughed as he readied for his punishment from his newly aquired girlfriend.

As he waited for her to smack him, he couldn't help but chuckled again, "Did my drifting impress you?"

[Sam Mercer]

Sam gets flicked in the nose and watches the little dispute between the love birds. Well from his stance they looked like love birds. Sam really didn't care about the flick it was more funny than anything. He still didn't say a word but sat there and watch. He lightly chuckled and whispered under his breath.

"wow what a fierce lil ball of fire."

Sam watched there fight a little more but it was too sweet for him, he figured he would step in before they fucked.

"So i know this car isn't stock. What mods you running here?"

[Taeyeon Kai]

She expected him to be submissive to her impressive anger, maybe a little apologetic. She didn’t expect for him to offer his jacket, when she had left her shawl in the car. Feeling a bit peeved, she snatched his jacket and put it on her body, feeling a little ridiculous at the size. The sleeves ended beyond her hands and it almost covered all her dress. Her hand was in the air, about to smack him, when he asked his question.

She blinked. “Maybe a little,” she answered after a moment, her palm connecting with the back of his head like she had seen in NCIS, with Special Agent Gibbs smacking DiNozzo on the back of his head. “Don’t ever do that again! I had a mini heart attack! You can do that when we’re not racing and we’re not in danger of getting into trouble with the cops?”

She heard the rider talk behind her but didn’t let her gaze waver from her new boyfriend. His question, however, made her lips twitch at the corners.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smiled, even though she'd smacked the back of his head. As the Rider spoke, Cole grinned wider. He bent back down and popped the hood. He walked to the front of the car and lifted the hood from obscuring the view. "Mainly it's just a top of the line ECU and a direct port of NOS. Which thanks to you, is about half empty now."

As Tae spoke to him, Cole couldn't help but laugh, "I know I can do it when we're not racing. Fact is: he challenged me and I accepted. I'm sorry it's scared you, but I never back down." Cole moved closer to her, leaving the hood up on the car. He gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers. After a mere second, he released her from the liplock.

He turned back around to the rider. He held his hand out in offering of a handshake, "Name's Cole. Cole Kessler."

[Sam Mercer]

Sam looks up under the hood not knowing much about cars he dose notice the nos. Sam smirks knowing he would of won if the driver hadnt cheated. He walks back around to Cole seeing a hand out and hearing the name.

"Sam Mercer"

Shakes Coles hand firmly.

"You might want to keep a tight hold on her. She looks like quite the load of trouble."

[Taeyeon Kai]

Once she heard Cole spout out car nonsense, she rolled her eyes and moved aside so Cole could show his newfound friend the machine under the hood. Once he was done, she paid attention to what he was talking to her about. Finally! At least he apologized before he pulled her close. She smiled as their lips connected and enjoyed the kiss before he looked away to greet the rider.

Her brow arched when he made his comment. “Trouble?” she repeated, trying not to smile at the appropriate term. “I do hope you rephrase that and mean for it to sound like it’s him that’s trouble.” She pointed her thumb to Cole over her shoulder. “I’m not the one who was racing two-hundred and forty five miles down a winding road in the Vermont mountains.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smirked as Sam made his remark after introducing himself. But apparently Tae didn't take to it too kindly. She criticized the two of them in how reckless they were being. Cole laughed as she pointed over her shoulder at him. What? Two forty-five through the mountains? Cole had to step in, "For the record, babe, we didn't get to two-forty-five until we hit the straightaway. Through the curves and mountains we held mostly at two-buck-even maybe two-buck-ten."

Cole walked up and put his arm around her neck, gently pulling her with him until they both leaned on the front left fender of the "Firebreather". He looked at Mercer once more. something about this guy reminded him of himself only as a biker, not a driver. He smiled as he remembered Sam's comment about Taeyeon, "Well, I'll say this: I don't plan on letting her go anytime soon. If she can handle me driving through all of that," Cole said pointing back towards the snow covered peaks of the range, "She can handle me doing just about anything."

[Sam Mercer]

Sam listened to the girls little rant then smirks at Cole's comment.

"You might of been going Two-buck-ten but i was almost in Timbuktu by the time you caught me. For the record if i had tools and a good hour or two my bike would be pushing 250, 260."

Sam looks down at the little girl. He will admit for what she was put through she took it well. He listened to Cole's comment about her and lightly laughs. He reaches out his hand to shake hers.

"I'm sorry miss i don't think i got the pleasure of learnin your name. I am Sam Mercer."

Sam Texas accent flowing through stronger than usual.

[Taeyeon Kai]

“Whatever!” she retorted, turning to glare at Cole. “And don’t call me babe.” She poked his chest with her index finger firmly, laying her free hand on her hip as she cocked said hip to the side. “You were going fast through dangerous roads, racing some crazy guy on a bike, and I nearly fainted. I’ll let you know that the next time you do that, I’ll pull out either my ninjitsu or taekwondo or my Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kick your ass to Timbuktu! And I’m not joking. I know all three. I’m a black belt.”

She turned, about to verbally reprimand Sam again, when Cole wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into the hard wall of his chest. His warmth instantly enveloped her and made her shiver, her back pressing into that hard muscle. She glared at Cole’s chin before blinking in surprise at Sam’s introduction. She looked at him for a moment, then smiled, taking his hand and shaking it.

“Taeyeon Kai,” she replied, her anger fading to be replaced with kindness. “Goodness! Now I’m surrounded by country boys! What’s next, a farm and tractors?” She laughed gently.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole's smile faded as she glared at him. Don't call her babe? Was she serious? Of course she was. she wouldn't have said it otherwise. "Easy, Tae. I was only making sure the facts were straight. And I'll take your word about your martial arts familiarity." Cole sighed as he shifted his weight, "Now that we've got that all settled, can we stop rhyming words?"

Tae's laugh floated into his ears, making him more relaxed. It was good to hear her laugh so much, even after all that Cole'd just put her through. His arm hugged her midsection tightly, "Who knows?" Cole's accent came shining as well, "Maybe on down the road, but you might wanna put some cattle or horses in that dream." He laughed quietly.

"As for the tractors," he continued, "maybe one day you can come home with me. I'll show you around my hometown. Tractor ride and everything."

Cole looked at Sam for a moment. Then, finally his remark working on his bike flashed back into his thoughts, "I think I have just what you'd need, Sam. Problem with that: I don't loan my tools out. I'd be happy to help you out, bro, but curfew's getting close. I'm living on campus at Hammel, so I gotta abide by their rules."

[Sam Mercer]

Sam shakes his head when they start talking about farms and tractors. He may be a southern man but he was no country hick. The only horses he rides are the ones in his bike.
He was a city guy blood and soul. He worked on a farm once he knows how to get dirty and work a field but that's not him. Sam smiled when Cole started talking about tools. Finally back in his element. Sam lightly chuckled when Cole stated the curfew and going to school at Hammel.

"So you are a student at Hammel also? That means you're a....."

Sam let's his words trail off as he looks at Tae not sure if she knows. Sam smiles.

"Well I don't have to worry about curfew I'm in an apartment just here in town. Feel free to come by some time. I don't have a roommate yet."

[Taeyeon Kai]

She giggled when he made the remark about her rhyming words. In truth, she hadn’t realized that she had done it. She shivered when Cole spoke of taking her home to where he had grown up, his accent doing weird things to her body. After the shivers stopped, she looked up at him when he mentioned his curfew. That made her sigh and mentally kick herself in the ass. Of course she had forgotten; she’d been having so much fun.

Tae looked at Sam. “I know he’s a meta, Sam,” she told him. “I’m best friends with a meta, and I knew Cole was one a few minutes after we had initially met.” She looked back up at Cole, then to Sam again. “And we should get going. I have a project due in school tomorrow, and I need to sleep without distractions.” The last was said with a grin, looking back up at Cole.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed for a bit, "Yes, Sam, I am a meta. And damn proud of it." He smiled. He was surprised Sam hadn't picked up on it earlier. Most metas, no matter their power, can sense when another one is nearby. It was just some kind of telepathic link that existed between them all. It made Cole think of a "Disturbance in the Force." In a sense it was just like the Jedi and Sith, how they could sense each other when nearby.

When Sam gave him an open invitation to the apartment, Cole smirked. He wasn't entirely sure if it was a good idea. He wanted to answer right then, but Tae's car was completely across the parking lot. He calmly walked with her over to it, kissing her for a bit before her getting in and leaving. He returned to Sam, "I may take you up on that invite, Sam. I'll come out and we can work on that bike of yours. Plus, judging from our little race, I need to tune my throttle response." Cole said as he opened the driver's door.

He sat in the car, and lit a cigarette. The last one of the pack, he didn't have any to offer Sam. He looked at the clock. "Shit, I gotta get gone. I got five minutes to get there and in my dorm. Sam, I'll see you in class, bro." Cole laughed and shut the door. He started the car and his tires peeled until they met the highway. Cole headed back to the School, Sam to his apartment, and Tae to her home.




FINISHED