the big bad wolf

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

The wit and snark was well-practiced, that was for sure. But an act? Maybe just an outside layer. There was more under the bad boy exterior, but the bad boy exterior was as much Adrian as the poet underneath. Not that he’d ever admit to anyone that he was a fan of poetry. That secret would go to his grave. Funny the things that were important at eighteen. Was he loving the situation? Her arms tight around him and her chest pressed to his back and the guttural rumble of the engine and the wind whipping in his hair? “Every bit,” he called back to her. And the smile was genuine, this time—not a practiced quirk to it, but only the horizon saw it.

London was a busy city—even at night—but the traffic was slower and further apart, and Adrian rode almost lazily, weaving the bike through cars and over curbs with the ease of walking. Streetlights swished past, washing them in light and then darkness and then light again. And yes, he was loving it.

Rose didn't respond. She only buried her face into Adrian's shoulder and clung to him a little tighter, though she, for some reason, trusted that he wasn't about to crash and send her to a fiery, burning death in a bike wreck. Well, that was a lovely thought, wasn't it? With a quiet snicker to herself, she lifted her head again to speak. "Am I allowed to ask where you're takin' me?" she questioned, leaning over a little bit so she could see his face, her own lit by each light they passed.

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

“Nah, no girls allowed there,” he teased back, only half joking. ” ‘Cept Marcy, but she’s pretty butch.” It wasn’t a lie. The little gang of streetrats he called friends were a tight-knit bunch. Wasn’t exactly the place to bring a first date. Especially if he wanted a second one. Not that Adrian would call it that. Nah, he was just showing a pretty girl a good time. “No?” he replied curiously, sliding on in front of her. It wasn’t exactly built for two, but Adrian preferred it that way. It meant his passengers had to scoot extra close. “Well, the secret—as with a lot of things—is to jus’ hold on tight an’ let me do the work.” His smirk was pure bloody cheek before he looked ahead of him, turned the key and popped the clutch, kicking away from the curb to jet out onto the quiet street.

Ooh. Adrian was a little sassy, wasn't he? He knew how to talk. He knew how to look at her and make her blush and how was it that he could figure out weaknesses so easily? Maybe it was because he was used to it. Maybe this in itself was an act and she was simply falling for it. And maybe she had a little crush from the moment she laid eyes on him, but she could keep that secret to herself. Brought back to the real world by the sound of the bike, she wrapped her arms tight around Adrian's waist and buried her face into his shoulder with a laugh. "... you're lovin' this, aren't ya?" she said into his ear before her head ducked back down again.

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

Fuck, but he already loved the way his name sounded in her voice, even whispered. Hot breath on his ear sent a paradoxical chill through him, and he was off after her in a heartbeat. The combat boots made it difficult to be stealthy, but he wasn’t the most upstanding of citizens. He was used to sneaking about. Free of the flat, now, he spun on his heel at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the door. He straightened his jacket, muttered “Much easier than the window” and shot her a smirk before jerking his head over his shoulder to where his father’s bike leaned in the shadows at the gate. “Fancy a ride?”

"Where are you takin' me?" Rose found herself asking, that smirk still set in stone on her face because she just couldn't seem to stop. "Secret hide out where all you bad boys lay low?" she questioned, jabbing him in the chest with a finger. And again, without waiting for his response, she sauntered over to the motorcycle and ran a hand over the seat, shrugging a shoulder. "... sounds fun. 've never...--" she paused. Dated a guy who owned a bike? Er... gone out with one? She didn't know what to call this, their sneaking and his rescue of her and... "Rode one of these before," she settled on, nonchalant and aloof. She moved to climb onto the back of the seat, shooting a glance his way.

goldcaught

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

Bloody right, he’d climb back up again. With an apology and a smirk and the suggestion they shimmy down the outside of the building this time. But, recalling her warning about her mother earlier, he couldn’t help but grin. “Is skinning a thing with Tyler women, then?”

Her reaching hand turned the grin crooked and he followed her to the door, bypassing the outstretched fingers and brushing up close behind her to peer out in the hallway. His hand found her waist and his lips brushed her ear again with the apparent intent of being as quiet as possible to avoid skinning. “V’got a name.” Then he moved out into the hall, bringing her with him by default.

Rose was right behind him then, leaning up on her toes to whisper right back, "Sorry-- Adrian." She lingered there for a moment so he could feel her breath on his ear, but was gone in a flash with a soft laugh, dashing ahead of him and silently down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she looked back up and beckoned him with a finger and a mouthed 'c'mon'. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but she couldn't think of a better way to spend her Friday evening than with the charming punk, exploring the empty streets of London. It seemed unreal, nearly... the way he looked at her and seemed to enjoy having her close. Jimmy had liked that, too, but he'd never stared like Adrian. Never.

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

Adrian licked his lips only subtly, watching her dress. She seemed to have no qualms about doing so in front of him, and it afforded him a view that only solidified his resolve that this had been a fantastic idea. Of course, he didn’t look away. At least until she looked at the window. He pulled a face and shrugged, shoulders lifting and then falling, hands never leaving his pockets. “I was actually rather hopin’ we could walk out the front door,” he said, trying for serious though a smirk edged his lips. It wasn’t an option for entering, but the last thing he wanted was his date’s lovely hands all scuffed up with rust and dirt. So, maybe a gentleman after all. A gentleman who watched a woman dress.

Rose had felt Adrian's eyes on her. So he wasn't afraid of looking. In a way, she was glad. Maybe it had been a little bit of a challenge, but she wasn't going to be admitting that anytime soon. Turning on her heel and placing her hands on her hips, she thought a moment. She supposed they could head out down the stairs, but it would be a risky move what with the beast slumbering just across the hall. She frowned, humming. "All right, then. But you better be quiet, or I'll skin ya. I'd rather not be locked in this house for the next month." She fought a smirk. "... but you'd probably just climb up again, wouldn't ya?"

Without waiting for his response, she moved towards the door and opened it quietly, pausing in the frame to turn back and reach a hand out for him. "C'mon then, punk," she whispered, trying not to grin too wide and failing miserably.

` london's own r + j || AU adrose

She was pressing right back for his every nudge, just like the first time. And he faltered—actually faltered—when she actually literally pressed closer, fingers curling in his jacket. He opened his mouth—not to reply to her question, though, he was too speechless for that. But he was struck by the urge to kiss her.

And then she was gone, off across the room and pulling denim over those gorgeous legs. Adrian remained facing the way he was for a moment to compose himself. Then, with the harsh brush of a hand over the lower half of his face, he turned back, hands in pockets again, grin back in place. “M’bike’s out in the street.”