The Spiritguard

All of the results are in. Of the people I care about, this is how it all shook out:

Me - I won, obviously!

Kael - He lost to Marc. I was distracted while talking to Kavella during their match. I can still hardly believe it. How does someone lose to Marc of all people?

Kavella - She took Lance out and didn't have to take a single step!

Natalia - An easy victory. If anyone is going to go 3-0, it'll be her.

Marc - A winner, of course. But to win against Kael...

Mira - A respectable attempt, but a loss. I hope she's able to pull out a win. I don't want to see her go.

I'm standing at the posting for tomorrow's match, to see who I'll be up against. I don't like what I see.

"You and me, huh?" Kael scoffs. "They do this on purpose, or what?"

I'm staring at our names right next to each other. Something in my brain refuses to compute. 

"I'll just surrender tomorrow," I say calmly. "No need to get ourselves worked up and tire ourselves out fighting in front of everyone, right? And that way, we'll both have a win, so we'll both-"

"No." Kael is clenching his teeth. He doesn't like what I've said. Not at all.

"I want to fight you, Sigmund. This is a good opportunity for both of us."

I try to laugh it off. "What are you talking about? Don't be silly, Kael. We spar all the time. If you ever want to spar, we can just..."

Kael taps the posting with his finger. "We can just do it tomorrow, then, in front of everyone. Is that what you were going to say?"

I know the look in his eyes. We stare at each other for several moments, neither of us saying a word. As cute and innocent as he is, there's a fiery side to him. He doesn't like it when I treat him differently. To him, we should be equals.

Why do I struggle with that? Is it because I see him like a younger brother, like someone I need to protect? Do I think less of him? No...I think the world of Kael. 

"Alright," I say, but I'm not sure my heart agrees. "We'll have our match tomorrow, fair and square. Let's see who wins, eh?"

"That's what I want to hear."

I clear my throat, because I'm about to say something else that Kael won't want to hear.

"Hey," I start. He gives me a side-eye without fully turning to me. I can see it in his stance. The tightness in his throat. He's incredibly guarded, right now.

"If you don't want me to, I won't...but Kavella asked me if I wanted to have dinner with her tonight. Just her."

"That's fine," Kael says, his tone seemingly pleasant but his body language anything but. "I need some time to myself tonight, anyway. If I'm fighting you, I have some things that I'd like to practice. I'll catch you later, Sig."

He turns on his heel and walks away from me, faster than his normal gait. He needs some time to himself. I get it.

Damn it. I didn't even get a chance to talk to him about his loss to Marc. By the time I realize this, he's already gone from the area.

When I get back to my room in the barracks, neither Kael or Marc are there. That's fine. Maybe I need a little bit of time to myself as well.

Is this a dinner date, or are we just going to be 'kicking the can'? Normally I'd talk something like this through with Kael, but that's not an option. I guess it's best to air on the side of caution.

I strip down to my underwear, and open up my dresser, looking at my clothes. If it is a date, I should dress nicely, shouldn't I? But not too nice. I don't want to make it seem like a date if it's NOT a date.

Then I look down. Should I change my underwear? I didn't really do much physical activity today, so I didn't sweat. Should I put on nicer ones?

I slap my cheeks. It's just dinner, I remind myself. Kavella won't be seeing my underwear. Man, it really is nice to have Kael around for times like this. I feel like an alien.

I put on a nice, form-fitting, low-cut v-neck. It's dark blue like my eyes, and should help make them pop. She might not be seeing my underwear tonight, but that doesn't mean I can't up the charm a little bit. Show a bit of skin. Show her the muscles! I've got a pair of shorts that match perfectly, but we're well into September now and the air gets a bit cold at night. Maybe she'll want to go for a walk after dinner or something...

I opt to just put my training slacks on. I don't want to look like I'm making too big a deal out of this.

I head down to the cafeteria at the appointed time, and I find Kavella is already there, waiting for me. She springs up as soon as she sees me, and fast-walks to my side. She's so excited for our date!

"Well, let's get some food."

A bit of a slow start to our date as we get some gruel (or as Kael would say, granny-style ambrosia) from the cafeteria, and sit down in the back-left corner, far away from prying eyes. 

"Thanks for agreeing to this." She sounds meek and mild-mannered when she speaks. Almost apologetic. 

"Kavella, I've wanted to do something like this since the day we met," I blush. She gives me a strange look, her eyes darting down to my shirt before looking back into my eyes. Is she checking me out!? Score for me!

"That's a lovely shirt," she says flatly. "It brings out your eyes."

I could die right now and I'll have lived a full life. The girl I've been crushing on for months is showering me with praise and asked ME on a date. Heaven does exist, kids.

"Anyway," she starts. "I wanted to ask you a favor. Just between you and me."

"Yeah? Anything for you, Kavella." We're sparkling in the warm light of the cafeteria. This is true romance.

"Do you think you can convince Kael to teach me some Animus techniques? Today made it clear to me that I'd be better off learning some non-lethal, non-torturous attacks. I'm a bit shy to ask him myself, but since you and he are coupled, and you seem...approachable, for some reason..."

Wait a sec...

"Don't worry," she says, holding her hands out as if to caution me. "I am happy to reciprocate. In fact, I have multiple techniques that I would be able to teach you both as well as compensation. Not the kind we'd use in duels, of course..."

"You didn't ask to have dinner with me just for that, did you?" I blurt out. 

She cocks her head to the side. "No. I also wanted to privately thank you again for cheering me on. I feel as if Mira is my only friend here, but with the reality of her likely dismissal from the program, I am needing to diversify my friend pool."

I'm dead. I'm floating away from my body. Beam me up now, I can't go on.

She notices my despondency. "Did I...say something to offend you?"

"Uh, no, I guess not." I take a deep breath. "Well, two things. Maybe three. First...Kael and I aren't a couple. Second...he's a nice guy! I'm sure he'd be ecstatic if you asked him yourself, but I'm happy to put in a good word for you! He knows that I like - er, that I...enjoy...your presence. Yeah. And third...Kavella! We're already friends. We've been friends! You can talk to me whenever you like. About anything."

"Hmm. Yes. I suppose I can agree with that. We are friends, Sigmund."

"Most of my friends call me Sig. I'd like it if you did, too."

"A shorthand nickname feels somewhat childish, don't you think? Why not be called the name your parents entrusted to you?" As she says this, she looks down to the side and retreats into herself. She holds her arm defensively at her side.

"Childish? Even if it's childish, who cares?" I chuckle. "We're friends, not business partners. How about this. You call me Sig from now on, and I'll call you Kav."

"I prefer Kavella. But...I suppose a 'Kav' here and there would be fine, if you insist."

"Awesome, Kav. Then it's settled!" I notice I haven't taken a bite of my food yet. Eating here is certainly more tolerable than it once was, but its still a struggle. I dream of the day I can be a vegetarian again.

"So, uh...just to triple down on an earlier conversation...I am single."

Kavella takes a bite of food. It must be hot, because she covers her mouth. As I tell her I'm single, she gives me the strangest look I've ever seen. 

She swallows her bite of food slowly and averts her gaze, opting instead to stare down at the cracked wooden table we're sitting at. "I see. I must have offended you by suggesting otherwise. I apologize...Sig."

It's cute that she used my nickname, so I decide to brush off the whole topic. "No offense whatsoever," I beam back at her, as I 'dig in' to my food as well. So much for my dinner date, but she and I have a nice conversation before parting ways. Afterwards, I see her take my advice and check in with Kael herself. 

"Well, that's my good deed for the day," I mumble to myself as I head back to my room. Hey, at least she complimented the shirt.