Chapter Thirty-Seven

Elia sat cross legged on the ground, tracing a finger on the ground waiting. It had been only minutes ago that all the men had left. Silence ringed in her ears, her head perked back up glancing around for any sign of Felix and when she didn't see him or his smile, her eyes returned to the ground. She cleared out her mind to be as blank as the ground, as a piece of paper. She had to focus on her blade, on the feeling of delight during that fight.

And even though she kept her eyes focused, she still felt eyes on her. Elia sighed irked and glanced at Noctis, who was up on his feet unlike her, and even though she had turned to meet his eyes he kept watching. Durante wasn't with him which was a strange sight to behold since normally he was like a shadow with Noctis. But Noct had sent him to go find Felix and Gareth so they could have their playful sparring. And as much as it pleased her, she felt shy with the two of them alone. Heat licked at her neck and in embarrassment she returned to gaze at the dull floor. Growing impatient, she placed her hand on her hilt and with a clear ring, the longsword slid out and settled on her lap.

"What's taking them?" she asked not tearing away for the boring gray ground. "He's going to be late."

She used the gleaming metal of the blade to look at Noctis fearful to be captivated by his blue eyes. He shrugged his eyes distant in thought.

The door opened then making the two turn their attention to it. Elia sighed relived as Gareth slipped in. She didn't know how long she could stand being in the same room with Noctis and his breathing taking eyes for a few more moments. Much to her surprise, Gareth moved quite fluidly despite his muscular build that seemed almost graceful to a point. Of course Gareth could never be compared to a ballerina in grace. Elia glared at Felix as he entered grinning at her as if clueless that he arrived late.

"Took you awhile!" she accused him, "Noct had to go send Durante to find you."

He stopped in his tracks and held up his hand apologetically. "Sorry but Myles caught us on our way here and he needed our help and we just got carried away—"

Noct's eyes widened.

"Felix!"

"What?"

"Get out—"The door slammed open suddenly before he could finish trapping him against the door and the wall behind it. "…of the way…" Noct finished lamely.

Durante's head poked in briefly scanning the room, "Where's Felix?" He blinked at Gareth who was trying his hardest to hold back that laughter that was clearly written on his face, "I swear I heard his voice…Gareth, wasn't he with you?"

Gareth shrugged, "He was here…now there…."

"Where?"

"I'm behind the door you idiot!" Felix's voice was muffled by the door.

Durante stepped out from the doorway and pulled back the door. Felix collapsed into a heap and his shotgun rolled against the floor.

"Sorry man but if you had arrived in time, you wouldn't be in this mess!" There was a barely audible response to this, "What?" Durante asked.

Felix's arm flopped to his side and put up a thumbs-up before collapsing again.

"Stop being such a drama king Felix!" Elia said tapping her sword impatiently, "Or are you just trying to waste our time?"

For a man who got slammed against a door and flat out on the ground, Felix was surprisingly quick to his feet. "Let's do this."

"Let's." She agreed.

They stood at opposite ends. Gareth and Durante were betting amongst themselves as Noct's calm eyes swept between Elia and Felix. She lowered her body to a crouch and watched Felix wipe some invisible smudge off his shotgun. One hand hung casually in his pocket as the other held his firearm that tapped cocky on his shoulder. Even though he looked lazy, she knew that his hands could quickly take action.

"I'm getting old waiting Elia." He called out to her grinning. "Let's pick up the pace."

She swallowed her irritation and inhaled. She felt her crystal for assurance.

And then she ran.

Elia pulled back her arm slammed her longsword against his shotgun that was held up to deflect her blow. She growled and swung back to stab again. Felix's shotgun intervened releasing a small spark. She bit back the growl as Felix laughed.

Her body skipped back a couple steps and with a flick of her wrist released a small knife. He rolled out the way and positioned his shotgun. The crack from the gun's barrel hurt her ears that nearly paralyzed her but she had no time to cringe and barely deflected the bullets with her blade. Soft rings echoed as the bullets as they bounced off her blade's steel frame.

Elia back flipped at the shower of bullets at her feet and scrambled to keep her footing. He cheeks flushed with anger as his laughter traveled through the air as she avoided to be hit by the bullets. With a heaving gasp, her body twisted flipping parallel to the ground and threw a trio of knives. She landed clumsily to the ground forced herself back up to see what have become of her attack. Felix's feet remained planted and with amazing accuracy (not to mention with also a cocky grin), she watched as with the three shots fired, he had managed to hit the flying knives. They fell out of the air, loosing their speed and stuck into the ground. He was different then the last time that they had fought. He's more familiar of what I can do. She realized. Felix's smile confirmed this.

She bit back a growl of feeling cheated somehow.

A click made her gasp as something fast hit her blade making her hands release for a sharp burn flamed her hand. Her longsword flipped and fell again the ground with a clatter. She reacted to the sound of gunfire and twirled out a small dagger from a small sheath attached to her thigh and deflected a bullet. The bullets sounded like silver chimes as she tried to maneuver her way free from the line of bullets.

Ignoring Felix's taunts from the other side, heard even through the sound of the firearm, she pulled out a spare knife from her bottom boot and flung it at Felix. She didn't care if he stopped it or not but once she felt the weapon leave her grasp she sped towards the other direction. Towards her fallen sword.

She rolled back to her feet quickly and felt her left shoulder jolt back harshly. Elia brandished her longsword and small dagger in the air and glanced around her surroundings. Felix wasn't a friend now but an opponent. They were matched for speed but he overlooked her too easily. Even if he was stronger then her, he wasn't any different then all the other men she had fought and killed.

Besides him being her friend anyways.

Elia ran at him again and watched him take aim. She snaked to her left feeling the heat from the bullet brush against her cheek. Then she found her opening. The crack of the gun made her jump. She spun through the air and cleared over Felix's head. Her sword embedded into the ground and with a sharp twist, she propelled herself back towards him. He staggered back eyes wide clearly not expecting that from her. Her attacks came swiftly and she ducked under the blow of his gun and with a swipe of her foot, made him stumble back. She stifled a smile and lunged forward with her blade and like the times before, his shotgun acted as his shield.

She frowned with her free hand with the dagger, sliced at him. He yelped maneuvered out of the slice and rolled backwards. But even for his speed, he was slow. Her longsword crashed against his shotgun making it fumble out of his fingers and crash to the ground.

Felix fumbled to recover his firearm but stopped as cool metal slid beneath his jaw with a steady foot upon the gun's handle. His brown eyes flicked upwards towards hers.

Their heavy breathing broke through the stillness that settled in the air. Elia permitted herself a smile but was unable to find her tongue. She jumped at the sound of clapping hands forgetting the other watchers. But that knowledge was torn from her as her left shoulder felt exceedingly heavy and sore.

"You took me by surprise." Felix said smiling, his voice breaking from the pain that began to spread from her shoulder, "That was amazing."

Elia began to thank him before her eye caught something drip from her blade. It was scarlet. With a startled yell she pulled back realizing what it was.

"I cut you." She shouted horrified but she couldn't find the strength to sit down.

Felix blinked at her, "Really?" he touched his jaw and looked at the blood smeared across his fingers, "It's just a scratch. Don't worry about it, it'll heal." She took a bandage from her pocket and gave it to him instead. And though he pushed the rag away, she insisted forcefully shoving it into his hands.

The sound of footsteps seemed to bounce of the walls of her mind as Gareth approached him absolutely beaming, "That was so amazing! I'm never seen such stamina!"

Elia merely smiled but could speak literally for she suddenly felt lightheaded.

"Hm?" she murmured hearing someone say her name.

"Are you alright?" It was Durante but she was aware of another presence besides him, Noct's.

She opened her eyes, at first fuzzy but it cleared. Then her vision swerved as a raging burn intervened, it burned her, "It hurts." She whispered.

"After a fight like that, I'm not surprised. You're limbs must be sore right now…"

Elia couldn't hear him. The constant beat of her heart drummed in her ears. She heard her labor for breathe. Her hand flew at her left shoulder as the burning inside intensified. Her sword clattered to the ground. Elia didn't know she had dropped it. She couldn't contemplate anything besides the fire that erupted from her skin. It was sticky and...warm

"You shot her!"

*evil grin* So...tell me you thoughts...

Anyways, I don't know if I'll be on later today so...this is the last chapter (because I'll be off this computer for almost this entire week. Ex: vacation)

So youll have to be patiant!

~Animangame02freak