“It’s you and you’re here, alright,” Emre countered, slipping so easily into that familiar tone. Affectionate, even. As much as Petra had for him - they both always knew where to stop. But here on Meridium, tried to rein in the familiarity, keep himself chill and cool.
He snorted a laugh at Petra’s question. ‘You good?’ she asked in her sweet American twang, as if they’d met randomly at some afterparty during Fashion Week. As if they were playing one of their exciting games, casual and planned to ensure Dominic Stone suspected nothing and Lovely allowed his fam that precious leeway.
This wasn’t London though. Emre tore his gaze away from her to stare out at the ocean. “Fucking hell…” he murmured as she jiggled her coconut, so distracting and she knew it. But he couldn’t get lost in Petra because this wasn’t fucking London. He had to think. He had to recalibrate everything, all the foundations he’d laid. He had to adapt and adjust, because short of (very regretfully and apologetically) strangling her to death, Petra Bright was here with him, forever.
Yeah. That last name Bright.
How hadn’t he seen it before, when he chatted with Piper? Dr. Piper Bright, from America - but she was so different from Petra. Piper and Petra might share the family name and the melanin, but everything else about them was opposite. Everything. No, this oversight wasn’t his fault. Emre never could’ve fathomed any connection there. (Ironically one could argue the same about the Akbar boys, but Emre didn’t see it that way, of course).
“A few days, alright. Okay. Please tell me you’ve been briefed and all that. About what this island’s about because I don’t wanna be the one to tell you, sweetheart. And - and you’ve met your sister…” Emre said cautiously, eying her. “Yeah?”
He only barely registered Petra’s method of arrival - she seemed reticent, so he’d skip over the nitty gritty. Instead, Emre got his t-shirt on and tugged Petra with him.
“Come babes, come on. We need to talk about…don’t even fucking know where to start. Wish I could say I’m gassed seeing you but…” Emre looked at her, his eyes luminous as he led them away from people - away from everything. Emre just wanted Petra to himself.
Because he realized he held one wildcard. This was Petra. She was the only person on the island who actually knew him. Sure, he’d made his admissions to Iyaz; but Petra actually lived that world, at least the glamourous part of it.
He knew she’d seen plenty on her own, given who her London boyfriend was.
And most importantly, Emre knew Petra knew how to keep secrets. She collected them like she collected accolades - with a fine-tuned gusto.
Emre brought them to a quiet place at the mouth of the river. He settled on a boulder in the shade, waiting for Petra to settle as well. “Right. So, Pets.”
He’d tell her everything, beginning to end, confident she’d understand. Maybe she already knew about Lovely’s murder. He’d tell her all of it, and then he would make it their little secret. He’d tell her to keep it from everyone - including her sister.
He wondered how difficult that would be.
Emre was ready to tell her all; but instead he cupped Petra’s jawline again, and kissed her. Soft and brief, before he pulled away. “So, hello.”
It’s true that Petra’s mind was overfilled with so much information she didn’t know what to do with - or even believe, for that matter. Piper told her this island wasn’t natural, that it was scary, and people developed attunements, that Matthew has been living here for over two centuries and no one ages ... Emre’s voice allows all of that nonsense to melt away seamlessly.
Emre gives a sound, somewhere between a snort and a some laughter and her lips quirk into a smile. But for a moment, just a moment, she was willing to pretend to ignore everything else for this one fucking moment. This moment that she can mold and control, - with the help of Emre, of course, who then has to look away from her and she can’t help but allow her own small snicker escape her.
Fucking hell was right, though. What a weird circumstance to find themselves in.
❛ Yes, yeah, yeah, ❜ Petra gives the famous wave of her hand in dismissal. ❛ I’ve talked with Matthew, I caught up with Piper, I met Tamyra fucking WIlliams. ❜ It was a lot in such a short amount of time. But, it’s okay. It’s alright. She can digest all of this later when she’s by herself, screaming into a pillow of leaves. ❛ It’s all out of the way. ❜
Is it, though? Truly?
For now, yes. It will be.
She chuckles knowingly while following him into the jungle with trust and confidence. As Emre takes her through the jungle, Petra can’t help but imagining a holiday - she’s dreaming she’s off the maps, on hidden grids. This isn’t London, and deep down, she knows she could never go back there. Yet, she can still see Emre and Petra worshipping each other like holy days in the backseat of a fogged up car.
As they walk, she wonders how he’s adapted to this new life. Seeing as he was still keeping to the shadows, doing his own thing, watching and observing, she can only assume he’s doing his best to blend in.
At the mouth of the river, placing herself leisurely on the boulder. She should look around, take a look at the beauty that the island gives. The crystal blue waters, the brilliant green trees, the colourful sounds that the birds sing into warm air ... All she can focus on is the way that, somehow, this was happening.
❛ Mhmm? ❜ She hums in response. Emre looks like he’s ready to tell her something and then, instead, in the blink of an eye, his lips are on hers. She smiles into the kiss before Emre pulls away. ❛ Hi, ❜ Petra replies lowly. Tracing a finger down the bridge of Emre’s nose, then finds her thumbs gently rubbing the dark circles beneath those soulful eyes.
Unable to help herself Petra kisses his mouth again, she was like a moth to a flame. Her fingers play with the hair that curls at the nap of Emre’s neck. ❛ This is an unexpected surprise. ❜ She murmurs against his lips, looking at him through her own hooded and dark eyes. ❛ Obviously you feel the same, you dragged me off rather quickly. ❜ She grins, a playful spark in her body language.
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