Another Year One-Shot
SilverWings ducked under the ball of fire as it flew toward her. It collided with the wall, throwing sparks, but she had already rolled to the side.
"Again?"
"Yes, please!" Another fiery projectile came at her. She dodged it easily, ducked under a second, and cart wheeled to avoid a third. She paused a moment to catch her breath, but leaped up as a final sphere shot at her. The flames licked at her heels and smashed into the brick wall.
Silver stumbled as she landed, breathing hard. Shutting her eyes, she rested her hands on her knees and leaned all her weight on them. A chuckle made her raise her head and open her eyes.
"That last one almost got you," Blaze said. He extinguished the flames that coated his hands.
"Me?" Silver said, as if the idea was too far fetched to exist. "Niccollo Canis best me? You've been inhaling too much smoke, fire breather." She set her hands in her hips as her breathing returned to its normal rate.
Blaze laughed again. "Have you forgotten the first time we sparred, Fox Cub?
"Of course not, Fire Mutt. I still have the scar from the fireball that almost knocked me off the roof."
"Maybe my aim wouldn't have been so off if it wasn't for that gash down my arm." He crossed his arms, as if to imphisize his point by presenting the thin scar that stretched down his fore-arm.
"So you weren't trying to dicapitate me?"
"Why do you always sound cockier when you have that mask on?" She faltered and he smiled. He had caught her off guard.
"I also remember when you wore a cape and that black hoodie and yelled 'I am the guardian of the innocent!'"
Silver pouted and looked away.
"So you've given up on your dream of being the Dark Knight's protégé?"
She only rolled her eyes now, involuntarily raising her hand to stroke the bat pin that perched in her hair. "I believe that slot is taken. Besides, I love being the apprentice of a pyromaniac."
"Really?" Blaze placed a hand over his heart. "I'm touched."
She smiled and shook her head, averting her eyes to the city lights that dotted the night sky, replacing the stars in a dazzling display. "Why bring up the past?" she asked.
"Marely readying myself for the future," her mentor answered. He came to stand next to her, his hands crossed over his bare chest.
Silver could feel the remaining heat radiating off of him. His muscles steamed as the breeze brushed their warm surface. There was a time when Silver may have fallen for that muscular chest, his dazzling blue eyes, the dark ruffled hair. But she knew how hard he was, inside and out. The hardness was accompanied by the fiery spirit that burned so brightly within him. She may have been able to handle him, but Silver doubted she could find comfort in the restless hot-head. It was a fact, one she had been aware of for a while and accepted. She was eager to meet any girl the could match his defiance.
"The future is a mystery," Silver said, deciding she had allowed her thoughts to run loosely enough.
"Agreed," Blaze said. "But it doesn't mean we need to sit around and wait for it to unravel."
"I'm not sitting still for anything."
"Trust me, Cub, I know." There it was. That snarky grin that seemed to challenge the universe. "But as you grow older-"
He was interrupted by a groan. "That's what this is about? No wonder you were so eager to meet me tonight. You want to give me a speech about growing older, about harder challenges in life? Is there going to be another lecture about falling for masked boys?"
"Did Dae already beat me to the birds and the bees talk?"
"Nic!" Silver shrieked. He laughed and she was glad the shadows hid he face as her cheeks flushed.
"I'm only looking out for you." Blaze checked his watch and his smile softened. "Midnight. Another year of surviving," he said. "Happy 14th birthday, kid."
"Thank you, Blaze," she said to the air, as her mentor had already disappeared into the night. She listened to the sound of a motorcycle engine rev and disappear before releasing a quiet laugh.
"Happy birthday to me."
SilverWings ducked under the ball of fire as it flew toward her. It collided with the wall, throwing sparks, but she had already rolled to the side.
"Again?"
"Yes, please!" Another fiery projectile came at her. She dodged it easily, ducked under a second, and cart wheeled to avoid a third. She paused a moment to catch her breath, but leaped up as a final sphere shot at her. The flames licked at her heels and smashed into the brick wall.
Silver stumbled as she landed, breathing hard. Shutting her eyes, she rested her hands on her knees and leaned all her weight on them. A chuckle made her raise her head and open her eyes.
"That last one almost got you," Blaze said. He extinguished the flames that coated his hands.
"Me?" Silver said, as if the idea was too far fetched to exist. "Niccollo Canis best me? You've been inhaling too much smoke, fire breather." She set her hands in her hips as her breathing returned to its normal rate.
Blaze laughed again. "Have you forgotten the first time we sparred, Fox Cub?
"Of course not, Fire Mutt. I still have the scar from the fireball that almost knocked me off the roof."
"Maybe my aim wouldn't have been so off if it wasn't for that gash down my arm." He crossed his arms, as if to imphisize his point by presenting the thin scar that stretched down his fore-arm.
"So you weren't trying to dicapitate me?"
"Why do you always sound cockier when you have that mask on?" She faltered and he smiled. He had caught her off guard.
"I also remember when you wore a cape and that black hoodie and yelled 'I am the guardian of the innocent!'"
Silver pouted and looked away.
"So you've given up on your dream of being the Dark Knight's protégé?"
She only rolled her eyes now, involuntarily raising her hand to stroke the bat pin that perched in her hair. "I believe that slot is taken. Besides, I love being the apprentice of a pyromaniac."
"Really?" Blaze placed a hand over his heart. "I'm touched."
She smiled and shook her head, averting her eyes to the city lights that dotted the night sky, replacing the stars in a dazzling display. "Why bring up the past?" she asked.
"Marely readying myself for the future," her mentor answered. He came to stand next to her, his hands crossed over his bare chest.
Silver could feel the remaining heat radiating off of him. His muscles steamed as the breeze brushed their warm surface. There was a time when Silver may have fallen for that muscular chest, his dazzling blue eyes, the dark ruffled hair. But she knew how hard he was, inside and out. The hardness was accompanied by the fiery spirit that burned so brightly within him. She may have been able to handle him, but Silver doubted she could find comfort in the restless hot-head. It was a fact, one she had been aware of for a while and accepted. She was eager to meet any girl the could match his defiance.
"The future is a mystery," Silver said, deciding she had allowed her thoughts to run loosely enough.
"Agreed," Blaze said. "But it doesn't mean we need to sit around and wait for it to unravel."
"I'm not sitting still for anything."
"Trust me, Cub, I know." There it was. That snarky grin that seemed to challenge the universe. "But as you grow older-"
He was interrupted by a groan. "That's what this is about? No wonder you were so eager to meet me tonight. You want to give me a speech about growing older, about harder challenges in life? Is there going to be another lecture about falling for masked boys?"
"Did Dae already beat me to the birds and the bees talk?"
"Nic!" Silver shrieked. He laughed and she was glad the shadows hid he face as her cheeks flushed.
"I'm only looking out for you." Blaze checked his watch and his smile softened. "Midnight. Another year of surviving," he said. "Happy 14th birthday, kid."
"Thank you, Blaze," she said to the air, as her mentor had already disappeared into the night. She listened to the sound of a motorcycle engine rev and disappear before releasing a quiet laugh.
"Happy birthday to me."