Target:Lock On! - Chapter 4 –
Aisha locked her bedroom then cheerfully headed for the stairs. She had to catch the next bus to the mall. She was surprised when Raven called to tell her he was back in school. Now a college junior, he was visiting his old school to reminisce his high school days. Since his best friend, the Grand Archer, Rena, hadn't come along because she had to go visit her family, he called Aisha so that they could catch up over dinner.
He'll probably ask me about Elsword, Aisha thought. Raven was always curious about that, but she doubted that he'd be impressed by the crazy relationship they were in.
Aisha turned a corner then gasped when a hand shot out and wrapped around her upper arm. Before she could react, she was pulled into a closet with a hand clamped over her lips. The door slammed shut and she found herself standing against another person in the dark.
"Your senior friend, Raven? Are you kidding me?" Elsword hissed in her ear. When he was sure she had identified him and wouldn't scream, he let her go. Aisha turned around, squinting at him in the shadows.
"The janitor's closet? Are you for real?" she retorted. She stood straight, her hands on her hips. "Is this another one of your perverted fetishes?"
Normally, Elsword would've just said 'yes' then possibly taken advantage of the situation, but that was for another day. Preferably one when he wasn't so infuriated by the girl he could be dating. Nothing put him in this mood as effectively as the Reckless Fist, Raven, did.
"Well played, Elemental Master." he muttered darkly. "Calling out a target practice, saying I can't interfere, and then getting your old senior to come back. Well freakin' played."
She laughed. "This isn't about you at all. Even if we weren't fighting, I'd still be meeting up with Raven."
Like that made him feel any better. Elsword turned to flick on the closet lights so that they could stop arguing in the dark.
"You can't go out with him. That's foul." He turned to her. "What do you think is going to happen? What would that achieve? What— what the hell are you wearing?"
Aisha smiled then gave a little twirl. "It's nice, right? Don't you remember? We bought it two weeks ago at when we went to the mall."
"I was there?"
"You picked it out."
Elsword was almost ready to believe that he really was a boyfriend because, for the life of him, he couldn't remember ever picking out that dress. But then again, it did look like something he'd choose for her. The light fabric draped softly over her figure, making her feminine curves stand out in all the right places. The v-neck ran low but was modest enough to leave the rest to his imagination. Her skirt hung just above her knees, showing enough of her legs to taunt him. And the color?
It matched his eyes.
"So what do you think?"
Elsword could have said many things to put her off. Her hair was too long. Her skirt was too short. Her neckline was too low. Her heels were too high. But instead, he clamped his mouth shut, and a vein in his jaw ticked dangerously.
"You don't like it?"
No, damn it. He liked it too damn much. That was the problem. She was playing this game her own goddamn way and was doing it damn well.
"Are you swearing at me in your head?" she asked mildly.
"Shove off."
"Why are we in a closet?" He didn't answer, so it was left to Aisha to piece things together. When she got there, she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Are you still being chased around?"
"This is your fault!" he exploded. "I haven't had a proper meal in two days. Chung keeps bringing me salami sandwiches like it's the only sandwich he knows how to make. I can't walk into my room because there's a sea of fan gifts outside my door. Everyone thinks it's hilarious…"
Aisha stepped closer to him and straightened his collar.
"You wanted to see other people."
Aisha glanced up at the quiet accusation in his voice. "Not really." She brushed at his shoulders then quickly straightened his tie. "What I wanted was an apology."
Damn it to hell and back again. She knew he wasn't good at that.
"Look, I'll give you a tip," she said when he didn't respond. "Choose someone. Go out with one girl. Your fan girls should calm down when they see you're off the market again."
Why are you so ready to get rid of me? he wanted to yell, but that wasn't manly. He looked away. "Fine, I'll do that."
Aisha frowned slightly. "I didn't think you'd jump at the suggestion."
"Jealous, already?"
She raised an eyebrow. "I'm hanging out with Raven tonight. I think we both know who's more pissed off right now." Sometimes, Elsword could impale himself with his sword for rubbing off on her like this.
"Foul. That's just foul," he said again as he reached for the door.
Aisha sighed heavily. She had a soft heart but she knew being too soft around Elsword wasn't help her win this fight. Elsword glanced over his shoulder.
"Hey grape-head, you said I picked that dress out, right?"
"Yes."
"Then only wear it for me," he muttered. Elsword stepped out and left her alone in the janitor's closet in her pretty red dress.
"Tell me again why I'm here?"
"You're a decoy."
"Flattered," the Yama Raja said, rolling her eyes.
Elsword turned to his fake date to clarify. "I can't show up in public without being mobbed and that stupid grape is annoying me. I need the fangirls to leave me alone for a minute."
"So why are we here?" The Code Battle Seraph asked from her end of the table.
"We're on a double date." Chung told his girlfriend. "Elsword thinks it's much more believable than just going out with Ara."
"So we're decoys too?"
"Quiet!" Elsword hissed then he suddenly brought the menu up to his eyes. Instinctively, his three companions turned to see Aisha enter the restaurant with Raven.
"Ooh, that violet dress suits her well." Ara said in approval.
"She looks better in red," Elsword muttered, though he was somewhat happy that Aisha had changed. They all turned back to him at his rather bitter remark.
Ara hid her smile behind her glass of tea. "If it helps Elsword, I think it's really cute that you're so jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
"You should be nicer to your date." Eve cautioned. "She might walk out on you."
"Aisha is looking this way." Chung warned everyone before Elsword could snap. "Why don't we order?"
Instead of listening, Elsword put down his menu to glare at the Reckless Fist who had also looked over. Raven wasn't put off and simply raised his eyebrow. Elsword growled.
"Didn't they teach us tactical operations in class?" Eve asked sarcastically. "Because I must say, this is a low-caliber strategy for a Rune Slayer."
"I'm with Eve," Ara chimed in. "I don't think seeing the two of us together would make Aisha jealous."
"I'm not trying to get her jealous," Elsword said irritably. "I'm just doing exactly what she told me to do."
"Aisha asked you to stalk her?" she asked in surprise.
"I'm not stalking her. I'm not jealous. And would you all just pretend to have fun?"
Snap!
"Oh, don't worry, Rune Slayer. I'm having loads of fun." Eve smirked as she took a picture of the infamous Rune Slayer. "This should sell for quite a lot..." she mused.
"Seiker, control your woman," Elsword said through gritted teeth.
Chung laughed. "As soon as you handle yours, buddy." Elsword narrowed his eyes when his best friend fist-bumped with the Code Battle Seraph.
"Clearly, you don't have my back today," he grumbled.
"Quiet, quiet!" Ara said urgently. "He's saying something to her!"
Raven leaned close to Aisha and said something that made her blush madly.
Stupid, cute, little idiot, he thought. Raven suddenly laughed out loud at something Aisha said. In response, Elsword viciously stabbed his dinner roll with a fork.
"We really should order before they throw us out," Chung said, glancing uneasily at the hacked bread. They opened their menus.
Eve's finger ran down the selections. She glanced at Elsword. "Are you paying?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to check out the buffet." Eve said, gliding toward the food aisles. Chung laughed, before throwing a not-so-apologetic glance at Elsword and following his girlfriend.
"What's our objective?" Ara suddenly asked. She glanced at her date who shrugged. "You might as well tell me what we're trying to do here so that I can help."
He exhaled. "We're just watching. You can order anything you want."
Ara studied him. "I thought you told Aisha that you wouldn't do anything if she did go out with somebody."
Did everybody remember what he said in class? "I'm not going to do anything," he grumbled. "I'll keep my word, and Raven will walk out of here with both legs."
Ara giggled. Elsword looked endearing even when he was throwing daggers with his eyes at the neighboring table. He barely restrained himself from murdering Raven but kept his temper in check because he swore not to harm any of Aisha's dates.
Adorable.
"I used to wonder on why you liked Aisha so much," she commented casually.
"And?"
"Well, it was never really anything that I could see..."
"Hn."
"Why do you like her?"
It was a million dollar question with an easy enough answer that Elsword didn't think he ever said out loud. "She gets to me," he said curtly. "Nobody else does."
"That's it?"
"She got to me then," Elsword said grimly when he heard Raven laugh again. "And she's really getting to me now."
"You know, people who are just friends don't stalk each other on their dates," Ara spoke carefully, watching Elsword. "And they don't keep looking over when they're supposed to be with someone else."
"Guilty as charged." He ran a hand through his hair before standing up. "We're on a date, right? Let's eat something."
Things would've gone smoothly after that if only Aisha and Raven didn't head for the buffet at the same time. Chung and Eve were nearing the end of their rounds but when they saw the two couples on the floor, they stopped to watch.
"Hey, Aisha, fancy seeing you here," Ara said nervously as they all fell into line at the soup and Salads bar. They glanced at their dates worriedly before stepping between the two men to keep them apart.
"Yeah, what are the chances?" Aisha sighed. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Raven and Elsword sizing each other up.
"Rune Slayer."
"Loser."
"Elsword!"
"Reckless Fist." he amended. He grabbed a plate then handed one to Ara. Aisha was still giving him worrying looks like he was about to start a food fight with the seafood chowder at any moment.
They moved down the counter. Raven and Aisha began discussing the selections. Elsword picked up a plate of expensive-looking food and handed it to Ara.
"You'll like this," he said quickly before looking at the other pair and growling. Raven was standing a bit too close to Aisha.
"Oi, grape!" Elsword snapped. "There are plenty of grapes here that match your hair. Go ahead, get them and turn into an actual one."
"You moron!" Aisha retorted back. "If you really want to insult my hair, you should take a look at yours! Even cherries can't compare!"
Their progress was slow since Aisha and Elsword seemed determined to disagree on everything. Raven and Ara watched them while helplessly smothering their laughter. At one point, Aisha forgot herself, seized a slice of cherry pie, and dumped it on Elsword's plate.
"There! Eat that! Now shut up so that we can return to our table."
Elsword's eyebrows twitched. "We didn't come together, idiot."
Aisha reddened. "Our table— Me and Raven's. Who the hell invited you here anyway?"
Raven turned to whisper to Ara. "The hell. When did my sweet, little Aisha learn to swear?"
"It's the Elsword effect."
"We're never going to a buffet with Elsword and Aisha again." Chung muttered to his girlfriend.
"We should consider it again. It's kind of... Amusing," Eve countered as she snapped another picture that captured Elsword ducking as Aisha flung a piece of pie in his direction.
Elsword laughed. "Why are you being such a pig?" he asked in exasperation. "Don't you have enough on your plate already?"
"Hardly!" Aisha snapped back, "Because half of what I wanted to eat is on the floor!"
"Aisha," Raven broke in before Elsword could answer. "It's really all right. We can just come back for second servings. I think you should listen to your boyfriend."
Taboo!
Aisha's lips twisted into a sneer. She scoffed at Elsword. "What boyfriend? I don't have one."
The heat from the buffet seemed to rise exponentially, the tension thick enough to be sliced with a knife. Raven caught the furious look on the Rune Slayer's face. Eve snapped pictures like a madman. Chung and Ara looked equally scandalized. Seeing some damage control was needed, Raven cleared his throat. His eyes darted from Aisha to Elsword and back.
"Are you sure?" he asked, hoping she'd take it back. "I mean, that's not what I hear. Aren't you— at the very least— seeing each other?"
"No, we're not." Aisha seethed.
"But just supposing—"
"I do not have a boyfriend."
Elsword did not appreciate the pitying look the Reckless Fist was giving him. Only an idiot would try to save the situation by pursuing the subject further. Raven was clearly trying to prod Aisha into some kind of a confession, but the whole school could testify that getting a confession out of the two of them was like trying to get a turnip to dance.
It just wasn't possible.
Burn him, an inner voice coaxed earnestly. Burn him to a crisp and he'll shut up.
But that couldn't be done, because regardless of how he felt about it, Raven was Aisha's date for the night. And because he promised that no harm would come to anyone who was with her, Elsword decided to vent his anger on someone else.
"Elsword!" Aisha shrieked when her hair suddenly caught fire. Raven scrambled for a glass and poured soda on her head. "I can't believe you!" She put down her plate then stomped off to clean up. Raven hurried after her. The others approached Elsword wtih varying degrees of annoyance on their faces.
Not have a boyfriend?! Elsword fumed. Where does she get off? Stupid, sympathetic Raven. Why does she have such a good relationship with him anyway?
"I'm not jealous," he hissed. His classmates exchanged knowing looks, but only his best friend was brave enough to say it out loud.
"You just set her hair on fire." Chung grinned. "Either you're ten years old or you're jealous."
A/N: I've gotten a few complaints about the length... So, is this chapter long enough? O.O I hope so. Sorry for the late update by the way... Anyway, I like to thank those who followed, favorited (is that even a word?), and reviewed!
Many thanks to my reviewers:
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