Sorry this update took so long, I re-read it several times to fix mistakes. I want to make it pretty to read for you people! Also I just have to thank the reviewers again! You guys are so awesome!
Disclaimer: I do not own Huntick, I wrote this story purely for enjoyment. All the OC's are mine though.
Breakfast was mostly uneventful; Lok plowed through his homework while occasionally stuffing his face, while Sophie and Zhalia chatted about world cuisine. Everything was running smoothly until Zhalia and Sophie's conversation took a heated tone. It was one of the worst "verbal duels" (as Lok had taken to call them) they'd had in awhile. Always the fast thinker Dante vaguely, and loudly to be heard over the girls, mentioned the time; catching on immediately Lok shoved his homework in his backpack, and pushed a protesting Sophie out the door.
On the walk to school, Lok finished his over the summer school work and in celebration hugged Sophie in an almost bone-crushing embrace. Despite a little protest from Sophie, they both enjoyed the closeness. It had been a few weeks since they told each other their feelings, but over that time, they'd bonded quickly, six delayed flights translates into a long time to sit in the waiting room.
Finally arriving at school, they were handed their class schedules. Disappointment hung over Lok, like a little grey cloud, when he read over his schedule, but it was just the opposite for Sophie. She smiled and shoved her schedule in his face.
"Lok look at this! All the classes I asked for!" Lok compared his schedule to hers and scowled. A little confused Sophie questioned his expression. "What's the matter Lok?" Sighing he handed back Sophie's schedule.
"We only have one class together, and it's the last class of the day!" Frowning Sophie checked over both the schedules. They had lots of the same classes, but at different times. Indeed the last class of the day was the only one they had together. Despite that Sophie smiled brightly. Handing the schedule back to its sulking owner, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I admit that it's a bummer that we only have one class together, but look what it is, Mythology! Also we both got self-defense class, granted they're not the same time, but it's like they made our schedules knowing we're seekers!" Lok cocked one of his eyebrows at Sophie.
"...Bummer?" With a slight huff Sophie punched Lok playfully in the shoulder. The play-fight was stopped short when the Academy's Bells rang out. Walking for a while together, they both went to their respectful destinations. Sophie had no trouble getting to her class, but Lok bumped into some unpleasant characters.
"Watch where you're going, Indy!" Said unpleasant characters were two boys, Brizio, and Carlos. Brizio was a nasty tan boy, who didn't have a sharp tongue, but what he lacked in wits his brute strength covered. Carlos wasn't as tan as Brizio, and wasn't as strong either, but he had some muscle and sharp wits, Brown hair was combed to perfection on both their heads, but only Brizio had a few whiskers on his chin. Brizio followed Carlos everywhere, like a dog eager to please his master.
Ignoring the insult, and the laughs that it received, Lok made to walk past them, but Brizio seized his wrist in a tight hold. Now thoroughly annoyed Lok had to keep reminding himself not to touch-ram both of the two losers into the next school year, they were only two school bullies not organization suits! Using a self-defense trick Dante had taught him, he twisted out of Brizio's grip, much to the other boy's surprise. Lok then hurriedly made his way to his first class, advanced physics, and leaned against the hallway wall. He jumped when his backpack let out a yelp in pain. Holding his backpack eye level Lok questioned its cargo.
"Cherit, is that you in there?" The small titan's muffled voice replied.
"Aye, I'm here." Lok rolled his eyes and exclaimed in a small voice,
"Cherit, what are you doing here?! What if someone found you?" Silence emanated from the boy's pack, and just when Lok thought the titan had no answer, it came.
"Well, I'll pretend to be a stuffed toy! That is what kids are into nowadays, right?" Lok just groaned.
"Cherit!" Lok figured that Cherit had his arms folded across his chest and was pouting.
"I just wanted to see what a school day was for you!" Suddenly becoming aware of the weird look other students were casting him he slung his backpack on his back and walked into the room, quietly he spoke to Cherit.
"I know you had good intentions, but you should know what they say about those! Just think Cherit, what if someone found out you were a titan! Dante and Sophie would have to move and the Foundation would have to clean up the mess!" Realizing Lok's point Cherit smiled at the boy through his backpack. The boy had grown so much over the summer!
"Okay Lok, you win, I won't sneak in your backpack to go to school, but will you clear something up for me"
"Sure what is it?"
"What do they say about good intentions?" Lok scratched his head.
"Ah, well I don't really remember, but I know my mom used to say that to me when I was younger." Being careful of his backpack Lok sat down in a desk and hoped that the day would go by fast.
Somewhere in Europe night had made its home in a discreet little village. Despite that being so, nocturnal animals where not the only ones awake. Deep within the towns newly acquired secret tunnels two men were meeting. One had short brown hair, while the other had medium black hair. The brown haired man leaned in his chair with his legs propped up on the desk. While the other stood rigidly. Eying the black haired man, the relaxed man spoke orders.
"Sadiki, I have thought up a mission to test your loyalty to me." Eager to prove his devotion to his new master Sadiki nodded his acceptance. "I want you to follow four certain seekers and find out what they are doing. Report to me every day and do not make contact with them until I tell you! I am understood?" Sadiki nodded vigorously
"Yes, master."
"Good you are dismissed, Here are their pictures, be wary of the man in the trench coat, he is especially slick, I don't want any screw-ups on this!" Taking the four photos Sadiki left go get his things ready. His master smiled evilly. 'Things are going to be different this time, Dante Vale, oh yes. Just you wait! Your death is approaching fast.'
For Lok the first week of school slid by at snails pace. So when the bell rang out signaling the beginning of the weekend Lok was the first out the door. Sophie had to push past a few people, while apologizing profusely to a few teachers, to catch up with him. When she did he promptly slung an arm around her shoulders. Surprised and a little angry about the assumption of the action she tried to pull away but he held tight.
"Sophie stop for a second, I think we're being watched!" Stopping her resistance immediately, she too had felt like she was being watched over the week, the eerie feeling had came Wednesday morning during her first class. She whispered back to Lok.
"Do you think it's the organization?" Lok shook his head.
"Who could? The Organization's big players are gone, so who is left that can stalk us for almost a full week and not be seen?" Sophie had to agree, without Defoe, Grier, Rassimov, and The Professor, the Organization seemed to have crumbled in on itself. Let's face it; the suits aren't exactly leader material.
They walked the rest of the way home like that; Lok's arm over Sophie's shoulder and her arm resting on his back, talking in quiet whispers. The shadow that had been following them since that morning, turned away and headed in the opposite direction.
"Dante! Zhalia!" Lok's call rang in the virtually empty house. When nobody answered a horrible feeling crammed its way into the pit of Lok stomach. Running into the living room he was relieved to find everything in order. There was no sign of Dante or Zhalia, but the sleeping titan on the couch was there. Shaking Cherit awake, Lok asked the titan his question.
"Cherit, where are Dante and Zhalia?" Rubbing his eyes Cherit pointed at the empty coat rack and door.
"They went to get groceries, anything the matter my boy?" Lok hesitated for a moment before deciding that the house was a safe place to tell Cherit his suspicions.
"Yeah, Cherit, Sophie and I are being followed by someone!" Cherit gasped.
"You're being what?!! Since when?"
"Wednesday morning."
"That was two days ago! Why haven't you told anyone?!" flinching slightly at the obvious thing he should have done, Lok was saved from answering when Sophie entered the room.
"We thought it was only our imaginations, but apparently not." Sitting down next to Lok all three of them waited in silence for nearly a minute when Lok burst out impatiently.
"Where's Zhalia and Dante?!" A smooth male voiced answered Lok's plea.
"Right here." Lok, Sophie, and Cherit all turned in unison towards Dante, who, like when Lok first met him, had sunglasses on and was carrying a large bag of groceries. Zhalia stood behind him holding another bag.
Setting both bags down on the counter Dante took off his sunglasses and went to put the groceries away. Zhalia questioned the two teenagers' sudden need of them.
"What is it kid?" Lok didn't hesitate in telling them their story. By the time Lok was done explaining Dante was finished with putting the groceries away. Standing up strait he frowned.
"Well that makes things a little more complicated." Sophie cocked her head to one side.
"How so Dante?"
"Zhalia mentioned to me on Thursday that she felt something watching her, since Wednesday, I too have been having that feeling." Lok pondered this for a moment.
"So that leaves out people who just have a grudge against one of us?" Dante nodded.
"Very good Lok. If it was someone who knew and hated one of us already, I doubt that they would be stalking all four of us." Zhalia and Sophie spoke at the same time.
"But Dante, what about-" The loud ringing of Dante's T.V./Phone interrupted the two girls.
"Must be Guggenheim." Striding over Dante pressed the receive button and sure enough the familiar figure of Guggenheim was flickered on.
"Hello all, ready for a mission?" Despite their problems Lok jumped up and gave a loud loop. Guggenheims laugh was cut short when he spotted the two females glaring daggers at him.
"What's the mission Guggenheim?" Dante asked casually. Focusing his attention away from Zhalia and Sophie he started to fill the most successful team in on its new mission.
Like it? hate it? Press that review button please, and let me know! Also cookie for whoever guess the identity of the main villian, its sombody you all know!