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Apollo was pissed. Not only had he been forced to do a whole school project with his annoying lab partner, he had to take the bus to her penthouse. The BUS. The indignity. He started to brush himself off as he buzzed on the intercom.
“Darcy? Is this the right address?”
A very tired, very flat voice quickly replied with a groan. “Yeah. Be right down.”
As promised, she was down shortly to quickly fling open the door, ushering him in. Seeing her in anything but their school uniform was a bizarre change to say the least. Her outfit was rather nice, he supposed. In a gaudy sort of way. The silence started to grow awkward as they took the elevator up. Apollo attempted to break the quiet with a cough before asking a quick and pleasant,
“Hello, Graves. How are you faring today?”
“I was fine.” She mumbled, her gaze unmoving from the elevator door it was fixed upon.
Apollo let out an unamused scoff, making sure to roll his eyes in exaggerated enough fashion that she would notice.
“Was?” He questioned with an exaggerated pout. “I was under the impression we were starting to get along.”
Before Graves could snap back at him, the elevator stopped at the third floor, and he opened the cage with an over the top bow.
“M’lady.” He drawled, feeling a grin stretch across his lips.
“Prick.” Darcy spat.
In spite of her biting words, Apollo felt a small flutter in his chest as he noticed the smallest smirk flit across her expression as she walked past him.
Graves was also pissed. She was stuck with this brat as her lab partner and needed to make a somewhat passable group project with him. As they walked into her parents' penthouse, she nodded to one of the chairs at the kitchen island, opening up the fridge.
“You can toss your coat on the chair there. Want something to drink?”
She didn’t look up from the fridge, grabbing herself a bottle of soda.
“Actually, some sparkling water would be appreciated, preferably lemon.”
Graves couldn’t wipe the look of displeasure off her face as she glanced up to the prince.
“We have tap water, soda, or apple juice.”
“Ah. Soda will do then, I suppose.”
She had to hold back a sigh as she grabbed a second bottle, leading Apollo down the hall to her room.
Apollo glanced around the penthouse, humming in thought.
“To be honest, your home looks different than I imagined.”
Graves scoffed, rolling her eyes. “We can't all afford to live in expensive manors.”
“No, I just meant it's so… average.”
“Did you think I lived in a crypt or something?” She chuckled, digging through her closet before getting a paper back of craft supplies.
“Not quite… but pretty much. Yes.”
“Well, contrary to popular belief, I do have painfully normal parents.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Actually, speaking of, they're at a party tonight. So we won’t need to fake being all buddy buddy around them.”
Apollo pouted that adorable stupid pout at her as he replied. “Here I thought we were forming a genuine connection. Goes to show.”
Darcy groaned as they settled at the low coffee table in her room, putting what she had gathered for their model out in front of them.
“All right. I’ll start on the model, you start on some of the written portion and-”
Apollo scowled and chuckled.
“And who exactly put you in charge? Personally I think I’m much better suited to the leadership role.”
Graves groaned, rolling her eyes yet again. “Please do the citations, I need to get at least an A- on this project or I fluke the whole class.”
He chuckled again, raising an eyebrow. “Wow, you truly aren’t responsible whatsoever. All the more reason for me to lead the charge.”
“I am not trying to- whatever. Just do the damn citations?”
Two options went through Apollo’s mind at this moment. On one hand, he could play nice with Darcy, get this project over with and be on his way home as soon as possible. On the other… some part of him enjoyed seeing her this livid, as if he wanted as much attention as possible from this woman. Even if he’d rather that attention be Darcy taking his lip between her teeth (which was a wish he’d never voice out loud) seeing her chew him out was probably the next best thing.
At the very least, he was the center of her attention, and that’s precisely where he’d like to be
“Why don’t you do them? Why can’t I start the model?”
Her thoughts weren’t exactly that different either. As frustratingly stubborn as he was, Graves couldn’t get the thought of shutting him up with a tongue in his mouth and a yank of his hair out of her head. He certainly ran his mouth enough, it most likely had enough exercise for him to be a good kisser. Despite her not so innocent thoughts she started to tear into him.
“Just do it. You're so arrogant, and cocky, and plain dickish, it makes me hate how pretty you are.”
Smooth. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Graves felt her cheeks sting bright red, especially seeing his stupid smug grin only grow.
She quickly shook her head, trying to immediately cover her slip-up. “That’s not what I mean, I mean to say, I like… pretty much hate you, I just misspoke. Shut up.”
“Right, I’m sure you did.” He paused, leaning in onto the palm of his hand. ”It sounds like you might want to shut me up yourself.”
How could she turn down an invitation like that?
She was on him in a moment and it was exactly everything he had ever wanted. Her hand came up to rest on his cheek, pulling him closer as their lips moved in tandem. Apollo felt her other hand slowly snake up to the back of his head, gripping his hair tight. After a few exchanged kisses Graves pulled away, his bottom lip pulling with her teeth for a moment. Despite his best efforts he couldn't help the smallest whine from leaving his lips. His protests were quickly quieted when he felt her lips against his neck, occasionally pausing to gently nip. She got lower and lower, pulling his collar to the side before mumbling words that should be illegal against his skin.
“Can I leave a hickey here?”
God, she should have done this ages ago. Apollo was so much easier to manage like this, him finally shutting up for once let her appreciate just how gorgeous he was. As soon as he let out an affirmative hum and nodded, her lips were back on him. She sucked, bit and gently kissed the crook of his neck, lavishing the same spot with affection. After a few moments she pulled away, admiring her handiwork with a gentle hum. The darkened purple skin was a stark contrast against his pale red, and she had gotten the placement low enough to hide easily. After a moment she quickly captured his lips again, exchanging kiss after kiss. As they grew more and more heated, she felt his hand gently slide up her thigh, cautiously, almost questioning. She quickly pulled it away, breaking the kiss and huffing softly. He was already apologizing before she could get a word in.
“Darcy, I am so, so sorry, it's not very gentlemanly of me to assume that-”
She rolled her eyes and quieted him with a thumb against his lips.
“No, I didn't mind. I just think we need to finish our project first, then we can get a bit more handsy?”
“Yes. Right. Of course. That… is why I came here in the first place, after all. The project, that is.”
Later that night, Graves sat in bed playing the events of the day over and over in her head. What scared her the most was the fact that she didn't regret a single moment. As she tried to remember the feeling of his hands on her, his body against hers, she felt a familiar presence worm its way into her mind.
“Darcy. What has you so… chipper?” The voice rasped.
Graves spoke low enough to make sure she couldn't be overheard by anyone but her mentor.
“Remember the boy I told you about? My lab partner?”
“Hmm, the Ixian? I believe the words you used were… ‘pain in the ass’ if I remember correctly.”
Graves felt a rush of embarrassment and frustration run through her. He was a pain in the ass… but only she was allowed to call him that.
“Yeah, well, he's a lot less annoying when I have his mouth busy.”
A short pause before the voice replied. “Careful, Graves. He doesn't seem the… loyal type. I doubt a boy like him would satisfy you.”
“Yeah, well… I'd like to give him a chance to prove that wrong, at least.”
Another pause. “If you think so, I won't stop you. But I'd be careful with who you trust. Remember your promise.”
“Right, right. If we're done with the lecture I think I'd like to go to sleep now?”
Silence. She took that as a good sign, rolling over and yawning one last time before dozing off.