Welcome back to a longer chapter, guys. We once again apologize for how the plot moves along with certain developments. We planned this out, but we're still pretty new to story collaboration so please bare with us. Anyways, as always, enjoy the story.
Note: I forgot to mention this the last time but the writer for Crea is me (Alba writer). Yeah, he isn't a very important character for this story so... yeah... sorry.
Heroes Aren't the Mafia. Right...?
Chapter 9
Weeks had passed since then. Alba was, more or less, sneaked out of the hospital once in better condition. Foyfoy was sent back to Teufel right before they left Germany. Although, the stay didn't go without punishment and some reassurance that Teufel would keep an eye on his subordinate.
Now, they found themselves in Canada, meeting up with Crea to gather some information. Waiting in silence for the other was not an option so instead, the two decided to spar. However, nothing could rid the air of the thick, growing awkwardness between them.
Alba blocked another oncoming attack from Ross and grunted. Just the fact that the other was experienced certainly made him a tough opponent, but the still healing wound was causing Alba problems in keeping up. But he pushed on, deflecting Ross' attack and taking a jab at him.
Ross easily dodged Alba's attack, narrowing his eyes. He knew Alba was still healing from his wound, even if it had been a couple weeks, but he still had to improve. No hitman would go easy on him if he was wounded.
"Come on, you can do better than that," Ross snapped, kicking Alba in the knee. "Just because you're hurt doesn't mean people will pity you. Especially not me." He liked seeing Alba grimace in pain and realized how much he had missed bullying the younger boy. The past events had sort of kept him from doing that for a while. Ross considered tripping him and stuck his foot out as Alba charged again.
As it turned out, the momentum of the trip made Alba ram right into Ross, who stiffened, his legs freezing up. Ross fell backwards, slamming his head on the floor, seeing stars. Alba had collapsed right on top of him.
Alba could only stare at Ross, his face only centimeters away from the other's. Ross' breathing was warm against his skin, and a blush was already beginning to form across his face. He wanted to move away from the other and forget the incident like the one only weeks before.
But how could this be forgotten? There was no personal space between the two of them, and with one simple move, they could… They would… Alba didn't know why, but he just felt so tempted to let gravity do its job and allow him to k-
Click.
"Shii-tan! I got some great news to sha-" Alba looked over at the entrance, seeing the door left wide open and Crea standing in the doorway. The grin on the informant's face quickly changed into a very confused look. The door shut behind him as he tilted his head. "Are you guys doing some weird training or am I interrupting something different?"
Ross felt like he wanted to die of embarrassment. Did Crea just have to enter the room the moment something like this happened?
"Alba, get off!" Ross blustered, angrily shoving the boy off him. He sat up flustered and breathing heavily. "Crea… what do you want?"
"I was able to gather some information, and from what I've been told, we're definitely gaining more and more allies for our overthrow. At the rate we're going at, more than half of the mafia should be on our side," Crea reported as he watched the two get out of their situation. Alba's face was still covered in a dark blush and didn't even make a sound as he was shoved. "So what exactly were you guys doing? Was it some kind of special training?"
"I…It was nothing, Crea. Just a slip up that's all," Alba mumbled, refusing to make eye contact with either of the two. The embarrassment was too much at the moment.
Ross nodded to the good news, feeling that the fact that the mafia was siding with him should have made him overjoyed. Yet all he felt was a feeling of complete mortification of what has just happened, and an urge to hit Crea for having to see that. He understood Alba was embarrassed too, as his face was the color of a bright tomato, and inwardly cursed himself for letting something like this happened.
"And it's nothing, Crea," Ross mumbled. "Thanks for the good news, but you shouldn't stay nearby for too long. It'll still be dangerous." He found himself wanting to be alone, trying to dismiss Crea from the motel. He thought of leaving Alba at the apartment and walking around town. Yet… no, that was a terrible idea. What if another hitman incident happened again when they were separated? He had to protect Alba, yet there was nothing Ross wanted more than to leave him, at least for a while. Ross gritted his teeth, wanting to punch something.
"Of course. If more information comes my way though, I'll be sure to let you know as soon as possible," Crea said, grinning a little before leaving as if nothing had happened.
Just as things had been with Teufel, only silence and an awkward tension hung in the air like a veil. Alba hadn't even gotten off the floor, a blush still ever present on his face. As awkward as the incident was, the fact that those thoughts spawned in his mind so quickly made his mind spin even more. There was no way that he willingly wanted that to happen.
Ross was sadistic and sarcastic, just waiting to see Alba in pain and enjoy it. Just why would he be in love with someone like that? But… when he thought about it, there were times when Ross was nice and actually cared about him. It wasn't often, but it still happened every now and then. And… the other was careful when he was still seriously injured. So Ross wasn't always that bad-
"Oh no…"
Ross' whole face was still felt very hot, and he just wanted to get the thought of Alba out of head. He didn't want anything to do with Alba. He was obviously not interested in any sort of relationship. Alba was just someone he had to mentor, and he refused to even process what he thought about Alba. Why did he care that much for Alba anyway? He needed air, wishing to leave the room.
But perhaps even acting in anyway different would show how much that had perturbed him. Ross took a deep breath, trying to settle his heartbeat. "Jeez…" he muttered, exhaling. He pressed his foot against Alba's chest, watching him flinch in surprise. "Who said we were done fighting?" he demanded. "Just… be more careful next time."
