Dpov

I stood at the top of the gym and waited as the Moroi shuffled into the gym. Thanks to Queen Vasilissa's ruling and personal interest in the topic, she declared that Moroi combat classes where now mandatory for anyone who wanted to become a Specialist. There were many different roots they could take to become Specialists and different classes to allow them to become the most help. I, myself, instructed endurance fitness, combat solo and combat partnered which I did with my beautiful partner in crime and life – my Roza. It was because of her that this was all possible. She is the reason that all around the globe, in every academy, Moroi are no longer defenceless and Guardian numbers are no longer plummeting. My Roza along with Christian Ozera – sorry Specialist Ozera as he insisted we call him when he is being particularly difficult - built a curriculum and training program along with recruiting Guardians to help our world survive.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard my name being called from a small female who's name I think was Erin at the back of the gym. I looked at her and slightly nodded my head, instructing her to continue.

"Um Guardian Belikov? Where's Guardian Hathaway?"

If I hadn't already mastered the guardian mask she would have seen my lips twitch into a smile just at the mention of her.

"Rose is probably just running late. She should be here soon"

When everyone was settled and quiet I walked to the front of our demonstration station.

"As you are all well aware" I continued in my strict, no non-sense, and mentor voice. "Guardians and Specialists are partnered up based on their level of skill and compatibility. And of course, most importantly trust. You see, blind faith in your partner alone is what is going to keep you and your charge alive. Earning trust is hard I understand that but it's also irrelevant. So today we'll be doing some basic trust exercises. Like this" I raised my hand to point above me where a blindfolded Rose had stepped over the railing of the bridge on the third floor of the gym.

In the last three years Roza has shed any remaining baby fat while keeping her beautiful curves. Her dark- almost black- hair was shorter since she got pissed off with how knotty it was one day and cut it off. It now hung in beautiful waves reaching just below her collar bone. She was perfection. And she was mine.

Without so much as a hint of hesitation she released her hold on the railing and fell backwards freefalling in the air. As the Moroi gasped and screamed, Roza landed safely in my arms with a gentle thud. I held her for just a minute more and she removed the blindfold and dropped it to the floor beaming her excited Rose smile at me which I returned whole-heartedly.

"Nice catch there Comrade!" she said as she hopped down from my arms.

Both of our heads snapped around to witness shocked and frankly horrified faces gaping up at us.

The silence was shattered at the sound of a Guardian in the front row.

"No way in hell am I doing that! Over my dead body! Crazy bitch"

Wearing black yoga pants and a black tank top Roza slowly turned to him, resting her hands on her hips and with a big smile snapped. "It's an attitude like that that's going to get you killed Tom. I'm in change and you will do as I say. Besides, do you really think that we would ask you to do trust falls to gage your compatibility on a life or death situation? Don't be a dick all your life."

"You'll be doing this." She continues, ignoring the students teasing Tom, as she picked up six flying stakes and watched me walk to the wall. As many times as Roza and I have done this it never gets old to see the classes reaction as they realise what exactly was about to happen. My eyes locked with Roza's as she smiled a devilish smile at me and threw one on the flying stakes up into the air and catching it perfectly never breaking eye contact. I fanned my limbs out and pressed against the wall.

"Ready to be chopped sui Comrade?" she teased and cocked her head to the side. Not giving me time to answer she smirked, brought her arm back and realised the flyer and it shot through the air impaling itself in the wall between my thumb and index finger. "You see, it's all about knowing your partner." Another landed to my left beside my ribs. "And knowing that they would never bring you harm" another flyer landed to the right of my ribs and I just continued to watch in awe my beautiful badass partner hurling silver stakes at me. THUD, THUD! Two more landed either side of my neck. "Well…" she shrugged "not intentionally of course". She turned around and walked back to where she had dropped her blindfold swaying her hips as she practically danced with excitement at our big finale.

"Hey Belikov! Where would you say the most important place on a man's body is? The head or between the legs? Your pick."

I gave out a little chuckle shook my head and shook my head slowly and faked a sigh of boredom. "I don't know Roza. I guess it depends which he uses to think with."

She pulled down her blindfold and grinned a wicked ear-to-ear grin. The class was silent believing that if they even breathed they would throw Roza off.

"Well Comrade. I know which one you think with."

I was the one to break the silence this time letting out a booming laugh. The class didn't find it so funny though as they looked horrified at the fact that we could be bantering back and forth like this in a situation like this.

With that Rose lifted her arm and realised the flyer. It whizzed through the air and landed with a deafening crack about a millimetre south of that important place.

"Aww!" she said jutting out her bottom lip "I missed."

She spun around to face the class once more. "Specialist Ozera will pair you up with your partners that we have chosen for you. These partners are ones we feel that you will all work best with. If for some reason you do not feel that you are compatible go moan about it to Christian. I do not care in any way whether or not you agree with us. Suck it up. We know what we are doing here."

I walked beside her and placed my hand at the small of her back and leaned in to press my lips against her temple. "We have Specialist air users on hand that are going to protect your torso and head. Anywhere else besides these places will be hit and I promise it will hurt. Aim with your elbow and you shouldn't miss but if you do, we do have some spirit users here also. So have fun."

We walked away as Christian was coming onto to demonstration station to read the parings.

We exited the gym with my arm still around her waist keeping her close. As soon as the gym doors slammed shut behind us, I cupped her face in my hands and brought her warm lips to mine pressing her small body against the door.

"I love partner day." She sighed and burying her face in my chest

"ROSE!" a high pitched shriek came over the courtyard.

"Oh fuck! Hide me Dimitri quick I still have time!" she begged she grabbed my forearm and to pull me in the opposite direction.

"Sorry, Love. I think it's too late. You can take on an undead monster but not you best friend?" I chuckled stopping her before she made a run for it.

Lissa came storming over to us going pink in the face "Rosemarie Hathaway! our ride leaves in five minutes and you're over here sucking face?! How are you ever going to find a wedding dress if you point blank refuse to go dress shopping with me?"

"I could just wear jeans you know? I don't really care Lissa!"

"Over my dead body Rose."

Roza turned away from Lissa to face me "that can be arranged" she mumbled loud enough for only me to hear. I kissed her goodbye and watched as she is led off by a very pissed off Queen.

I turned on my heels with a big smile on my face back into the gym to make sure that nobody was dead yet.