She had expected a much harder fight, and she honestly had not expected to win. Conflicted about the outcome of the fight, she knew a win was a win, but for her, what point was there if he was not willing to go all out against her. She knew that she did not stand a chance against him in a martial arts fight, he had too much skill and far too much strength for it to even be competitive. Her win condition was always to keep him at a distance and off balance, but even though it happened, something simply felt off to her.
Reloading her guns, she began her surveillance again, trying to find her next target now that her primary one had been dispatched. With Phavian out of the picture, she was willing to intervene in any fight she managed to come across, if only to clean up the victor. After what seemed like an hour of searching, finding no one, she finally found someone, standing atop the tallest building of the City zone, almost as if it were some symbolic gesture that he was the final boss, standing atop the rest.
With his hair blowing in a gentle breeze, she notices his arm shoot up, and she barely moves her head out of the way before a small knife buries itself in her eye. Looking through the portal again, she sees him giving her a smile and a wave directly into her open portal. Closing the portal and recovering the knife, she opens another portal to the building, stepping out to meet him.
“Hey Meathead, how did you know I was looking at you, and better yet, how did you manage to get that knife all the way up there?”
Not even turning around to her yet, still looking out over the sun hanging low in the sky, “Lots of practice. I guess that idiot boyfriend of mine got himself shot pretty good?”
Shocked by his statement, having hoped she would be able to fight him without the added fuel of his emotions when someone he cares about is hurt or in danger, “And if he did?”
“I’d say thank you.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it saves me from having to fight him myself. So far, I have managed to avoid hurting the people I love. At least intentionally. I’d rather keep it that way.”
“So you aren’t mad? You aren’t going to go all meathead meltdown mode on me?”
“I owe you his life. If he decided to be arrogant and underestimate your abilities, then that is his fault.”
“You don’t think I could beat him if he was taking me seriously?”
Finally turning to her with a smile, “Not a chance.”
“Ouch. That hurts. I thought we were closer than that.”
“It’s because we are this close, I can tell you the truth.”
Given his acute sense for people’s abilities, and his massive intellect, Ripp knew that the way she was feeling after their match was accurate, and she had not truly won in the manner she wanted.
“Well shit.”
“You think we are the last ones standing?”
“It looks that way. You plan on correcting the mistake Phave made and going all out on me?”
“No.”
“So you are going to look down on me like he did?”
“I respect your strength, but I don’t intend on reducing the campus to rubble to prove a point.”
With such a statement, that chill she had felt from him all along was enough to freeze her solid. “So how do you plan to beat me?”
“Not underestimating you, and going all out on you are mutually exclusive.”
“That is some confidence. You know for a fact that you can beat me without it?”
“More like I don’t have a choice. We are both tacticians. Phavian probably didn’t take into account you know more about his patterns and styles than anyone else. You don’t have nearly the knowledge of what I am capable of to counter it.”
“I guess we should get to it then. I’m sure they are expecting a show.”
Giving her a shrug, “Let them get their kicks elsewhere, I’m just ready to be done.” Pulling out eight knives, four in each hand, he releases them with such speed, her eyes cannot even track them.
Taken off guard by the sudden engagement, she barely has time to open a portal that allows the knives to pass through, leaving her unscathed, and open to return fire. As she reaches for her pistols, she is riddled with excruciating pain, as eight points in her body, two in her neck, two in her kidneys, two in her buttocks, and two in her calves cause her to crumple with pain onto the ground. Gasping for air, she struggles to reach behind her to one of the points of pain in her neck, where with some difficulty, she extricates a small black knife covered in what must be her own blood.
Certain she portaled the knives behind her, she realized in that moment the reason behind his words. He knew she would be able to open a portal in time to get the knives safely behind her, or so she would think. Her own patterns were apparently more obvious than she thought, and even though she was not sure how he managed to get the knives to redirect into her, using that frightening mind of his, he was able to set her up into a trap of her own design.
Much like she had done for Phavian, Anaar waited patiently for the medical team to arrive with her as a sign of respect. Though she was not aware, he had even partially stabilized her, so when the medical team arrived, and he retrieved his knives including the one she dropped from her hand as she was reaching for her guns, there was no pressing danger that she was in. Being given a ride with the medical team, he found himself at the top of the standings in the school rankings, but when he saw the standings, by the looks of it, they were not quite over yet.
◆◆◆
Displaying that there were no hard feelings from the results of the match, Anaar, Maggie and Jesus agree to have dinner together so they could discuss their experiences. With Phavian still in the hospital, and Ripp not responding to his messages, it appeared to Anaar that only the Freshmen would get the opportunity to debrief.
“Who took you guys out?” Cutting his eye over at Anaar, “You don’t count you freaking maniac…”
“Wait, you guys weren’t given the ability to watch what happened after you were eliminated?” When they both shake their heads, Anaar gives a sigh, indicating that there was something he had figured out.
Prodding him with her finger, “Anaar what do you know?”
“Yes, oh gracious king of the school rankings, please enlighten us lower beings.”
Stabbing at a piece of asparagus, popping it into his mouth, he looks between them wondering how long it would take them to figure it out. When they simply sat there with expressions degrading from expectant to simply annoyed, he finally says dryly, “It isn’t over.”
“What do you mean, ‘It isn’t over?’”
“I would think that would be obvious. There is no other interpretation”
Giving Maggie a disbelieving look, “How do you deal with this guy all the time?!”
“You get used to it the more you are around it. Be happy, it used to be much worse. I was the pioneer in this field.”
Clearly not happy with the response from either of them, “So what in the hell do you mean it isn’t over? Where are you getting that from? We clearly just had a Melee involving the best of the best in the school.”
Stuffing his mouth with food while shrugging, “They said that we should be prepared for anything, and then basically put us in the exact same situation we were used to, except with different people. Sure there was the whole random abduction thing, but that was nothing really and truly.”
“That still doesn’t explain what makes you think it isn’t over. You are clearly number 1, what about that doesn’t indicate it is over?”
“Maybe the fact that I’m not ‘number 1,’ I just currently have the most points? Technically it isn’t ranked, it just goes in descending order based on quantity of points. They wouldn’t let you see what was going on with the rest of the fights, why? That doesn’t seem odd to you? With the fanfare and hype it created, if it were over, why hasn’t there been official announcements?”
“Oh shit! Are you telling me I have to deal with those evil Seniors again?! The Artillerites in our
class can’t even call themselves Artillerites compared to the Seniors! I always thought they were just boastful, but I can’t even pull up earth fast enough to block a weak blast from them. I just had to run. They are fast too. The best I could do was cause the ground to quake in hopes to throw off their aim, though it didn’t do much. Here I was thinking we would actually stand a chance against them. At least we know the education will be worth it. How’d things go for you Maggie?”
“My guess is I got taken out by a Senior too judging by their rankings. Juggernaut jumped me from the trees. It was over before I knew what was going on.”
“Yeah they are hardcore. I expected the Juniors to do better. They are always going on about how crazy their defense is. Most of them are near the bottom. Makes me wonder if Titans really aren’t as strong as people think. I mean it isn’t like they have much offense. They just don’t go down easy. Speaking of which, I wonder who took out Corey. Given he is a Quintessence, I just knew he’d get a chance to redeem himself from getting his ass handed to him by Maggie.”
“I did.”
“What?! You are taking out your own?! And from the looks of it he was the first person to go! I can understand Scrotes being at the bottom, no one likes him so that is okay, but what are you doing sabotaging our class man?”
“He knows why, and now he will never forget it.”
With the beginnings of tears welling in the corner of her eyes, Maggie leans over to give him a small hug, as she whispers her thanks to him. Straightening back up, she looks at her Vizer to examine the current standings.
“I thought maybe it was because he was the first person to be eliminated that there is a red haze over his name. Why do I now get the feeling it is because he is incapable of continuing whatever it is you think they have planned for us?”
“I only kicked him through a few buildings and buried him under burning rubble. He’ll recover. Mostly. I guess whatever they have planned is coming sooner rather than later. Probably tomorrow. I’d sleep with everything prepared if I were you.”
“Hold the fuck up. You can’t just casually say you put a person through multiple buildings, then left them to burn, changing the conversation like none of that happened!”
“Well it did. Was I supposed to lie to you?”
“You people aren’t normal. Well considering you put one of our top contenders out of commission, you better pick up his slack.”
Chugging his juice, he shrugs, “I’ll do what I have to do.”
Mocking his tone while making a face, “I’ll do what I have to do… I don’t know whether to be happy you represent our class, or just hit you in the face.”
Changing the topic, Maggie looks to Anaar, giving him a little nuzzle. “Thank you so much for getting stuck in the Caverns during the Melee. If you hadn’t told me about that and given me that flashlight, I probably would have still been stuck down there!”
“Guessing you took the whole five minutes to get ready?”
Though she wasn’t surprised, she still gave a gasp. “What makes you think that?!”
“Dark cave, plus bowman equals bad. They said you would be punished if you took time to prepare.”
“Are you trying to tell me you were ready to go the moment they got you?”
“Yes.”
“That is because you are weird!”
“I was ready too.”
“No one asked you! The ground is literally your weapon! You don’t need to get ready! Where did you start?”
“The City. I’m not exactly sure what they thought would be adverse for me, but clearly the City is at worst neutral, and at best advantageous in their opinion.”
“This next thing you are expecting, better or worse?”
“No idea, but either way it is going to be different,” he says with a shrug and a sigh.
“Well I’m going to get some sleep before they grab us in the middle of the night. You coming Jesus?”
“To your place, or…”
“Ugh, nevermind. Good night.” She gives Anaar a slight hug from behind as she leaves them sitting there.
“Can I stay with you then? I have a much better chance at getting a good ranking being near you.”
Anaar simply stares at him with a deadpan expression for a long moment, then picks up his tray, leaving him alone.
Shouting after him as he leaves, “So is that a no then?! I mean I’m down to cuddle or some shit if that’s what it takes!”
Ignoring all his shouts, Anaar leaves the Cafeteria, making his way back to his room for the night. When he arrives back at his room, he finds a set of clothes identical to what he is wearing ready to go for him.
I guess he figured things weren’t over either. I need to figure out where he is getting this money from. Is it coming from my stipend? Either way he makes better use of it than I do so I don’t mind.
He takes the opportunity to check in on his mother, who had gone back to work against Ixnes’ wishes when she heard from Anaar that things had been ‘dealt with.’ After working through his school assignments, even going so far as to do some additional work he expected would be upcoming, he decided to cap off the night by practicing his violin. Though he was not in the mood to compose anything as it was getting quite late into the night, he found himself making small tweaks to things he already had become quite familiar with, taking note how he felt it sounded for later.
When he was content with his practice, he made his way into the shower where he simply allowed himself to simmer and relax under the scalding water after he had bathed. He did not feel like dealing with blow drying his hair, or going to bed with it wet, so he had learned that for some odd reason, turning it into its elemental form made it waterproof, despite being living water itself. That also did nothing to explain why it became prehensile as well, allowing him as much control as he would his fingers, but his mind had no time in the mood he was in to contemplate such things. As he was still enjoying the cathartic embrace of the powerful steaming hot water, he picked up on a presence, and was soon joined by Phavian in the shower.
Kissing him wearily on his back, he simply slumped lazily into Anaar, happy to be done with a long day. “I fucked up.”
“I noticed.”
“Did you get Ripp back good for me?”
“Why would I fight your battles for you? What happened between you two had nothing to do with me.”
“When somebody beats up on Maggie, you go apeshit. When it is me you give them a pass?”
“We both know that is far from true.”
Shuddering as he remembered the scene from his kidnapping, “Ok fair point. But what made this different?”
“What made this different is you were an idiot who thought you could go against someone who may not wield your level of power offensively, but more than compensates with her skill, tactics, and tenacity. You deserved to lose if you didn’t give her the respect she not only deserves, but commands.”
“Damn, who are you Master Shin? Here I thought I’d get some nice loving and support from my boyfriend, and instead I get a lecture.”
Turning around, wrapping his arms and hair around Phavian, “The lecture is the love and support. I’m making sure you don’t fuck it up next time.”
“Next time?”
Resting his forehead against Phavian’s with a sigh, “Why does no one pay attention… I’ll give you a pass since you were in the hospital all day. Finish showering and I’ll explain later.”
Leaving him in the shower alone, Anaar dries himself off, stepping into some underwear and turning back the bed. After lying there for some time, Phavian joins him in the bed, moving as if he is in pain.
“Five fucking hours of surgery to get those bullets out. Fuck that shit hurts.”
“Didn’t they heal you after got done?”
“Yeah, they patched me up, but the Medics are drained man. They didn’t think a twenty-person Melee would warrant the need for additional world class Medics. Apparently when you bring the best in the
school together, we fuck shit up. That Titan kid from your class almost died.”
“Yep.”
“Like who can manage to do that much damage to a dude who… What the fuck did you do?!”
“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. Probably. If he isn’t, it’s not like he can do anything to me anyway.”
“You know what, I’m not touching it. I don’t like the kid anyway. So uh… you think you can do something about these injuries?”
“Only because I’d rather you be in top form for whatever is coming. Otherwise I’d let you suffer.”
“Seriously, where is the love?!” Grunting as Anaar straddles him, placing his hands along his body checking for injury, he continues. “Now what is this thing you are talking about is coming? Aren’t we done?”
Sliding from atop him, “Flip over, I’m pretty sure there is still a fragment left in you. It is easier to get it from the back.”
“What the fuck! That normally would make me horny as a rabbit, but I don’t like the sound of that! Why did they leave it in there?!”
“It’s in a really impossible spot, normally something like this would have just come out the other end. Did you negate the bullets inside you?! I have half the mind to leave it. You will live.”
“Is this really the time for a teachable moment? Just get it out of me! Wait, are you going to really perform surgery in your bed? Isn’t there something about sterile environments and all that?”
“I’m more concerned about messing up my sheets. Just shut up and flip over already, I have an idea.”
Doing as he is told, Phavian flips over, with Anaar sitting down on his butt. “You know…”
“Shut up.” Running his hands along the small of his back, he stops, closing his eyes to focus. “Bite the pillow.”
“Ok this shit is getting really hot and kinky…”
Slapping him in the back of the head, “I swear I will leave this in you.”
“That usually ain’t so bad of a-” His statement is cut short by him screaming in agony for a few seconds, as a small orb of water burrows its way out of his skin, floating up to Anaar’s face.
Turning on the lights with a mental command, he examines the contents of the small orb floating in front of his eyes, satisfied. Giving Phavian a couple pats on the rear, he climbs back over him, bringing the orb down for him to see.
Divulgence (Song of Sophangence Book 2) Page 22