...As i said, i wont' abandon this!
Sorry for all the time that passed without an update, but as always the university is a whole mess: I had to take three exams from november to march, and in the little free time I had, I had also some writing block. Now, lesson's are almost over now, it will be just a matter of exams, so I think i can update more regularly now that I can organize everything better.

Now, enough babbling, here's the new chapter, where the new arc's starts!
Read, Review, Critique and, maybe, Enjoy!


Richard had only one word to describe that evening.

Weird.

Not awkward, or tense, or any other vaguely negative terms, because he hadn't found himself "bad" there.
It had just been a bit...unusual. He was already unaccustomed to attending extended dinners, much less if the guests were all members of a family he hadn't interacted with in an entire decade.

If you add that this festive and serene atmosphere had come not long after a dramatic outburst...the result was somewhat grotesque to say the least.
He had expected to be out of place all evening, but the next day, on the train back to Paris, he was sure he could tell himself that, from that day on, he finally felt at home.

He had felt welcomed and wanted, even by relatives he had never even met in photos. Even Sylviane, who had come in shortly after the "eventful" reconciliation, had been welcomed as he was (much to Laney's surprise at having already met her son's girlfriend), perhaps also considered part of the return of something that had been missing in that family.

Richard's return had been like the final puzzle piece that filled a hole in the center of a figure.

But there was another tile that seemed out of place, and it went by the name of Victoria. It wasn't very obvious to those present at that dinner table; she'd probably been good at pretending, but not good enough for Richard and Sylviane not to notice.
Now he had an older sister who came out of nowhere and he knew nothing about...but seeing how she had reacted, Richard had decided that, at least for now, he wouldn't try to dig into the matter; he wasn't good at that sort of thing, and it would probably cause more damage than anything else. Damage that would probably be done to him.

Also because now it was time to get back to work.

The truce phase was over.


Getting off the train, it didn't take them long to find Edward and Maya waiting for them. While the former seemed to have remained his usual self, the least affected of the four by the events of the past month, Maya had in a certain sense "updated". Now not only did her attire screamed 'pink' almost as much as her mother's, but Richard couldn't remember her having ringlets...a couple of months ago, she was decidedly more... plain.

-I didn't remember you liked to dress up as candy, Maya. -

-And I didn't think I could mistake you for a girl!
That sneer on her childish face gave no doubt: she was teasing him.

-Please, not you too, that's the second time I've been mistaken for an effeminate! - replied Richard, slightly annoyed. Did long hair have this effect?

Fortunately, Sylviane came to shake off his uneasiness.
-Remember that I think you look great like that. You're awfully cute. -

And it was Edward who drove it back.
-Sylviane is right, trust me! And if it's any consolation, if you'd been a girl, I wouldn't have passed up the chance... -

-Ed, do you have something to tell me? - Richard countered.

-...-

-That I missed all of you? -

The longtime duo immediately burst out laughing, before the entire foursome reunited in an exchange of hugs and pats on the back. Richard and Edward used to tease each other in these ways, and coming back to it after the last few months helped lighten this reunion.

-Now I'm curious, Richard: if this is the second time, then who told you you look like a female? - Maya was definitely curious, since her friend had brought the question up out of the blue.

-If you have enough guts, you can ask the giant I have for a sister. -

-Wait a minute, since when do you have a sister? - Edward asked, decidedly puzzled by this news.

-Short but messy story, I'll tell you later, for now the word "adoption" will be enough for you-.
He interrupted himself, and then turned his gaze behind him, looking for the person mentioned.
-In the meantime, if you already want to know who it is, you only have to look over your shoulder. -

So they did, and it wasn't hard to notice Victoria among all those people. Her stature and unfriendly face, along with the guitar bag she carried over her shoulder, made her easily identifiable.

-She doesn't strike me as the friendly type, or does she? - Maya said, slightly intimidated, as well as intrigued, by such a figure.

-You could say that for sure- replied Richard, with a tone mixed between sarcastic and bitter. -On our first meeting, he almost broke my nose. At the very least. She seems to have a very short fuse. So please, if you have to interact with her, don't upset her; I'd rather not come in and be a negotiator for you. -

Edward, on the other hand, despite the fact that such a figure didn't hold much promise as a person, he couldn't deny to himself a certain charm she exerted over him. Charisma, shall we say.

-Well, now we can all say we have a sister. -

-Er, I'm an only child - Maya pointed out. She would have appreciated a younger brother in the future, though...

-But with us, Maya, you're practically our little sister. Even if only a scant year younger. -

-Eddie's right- added Richard jokingly -So know that if you ever have a boyfriend, there will be three of us to keep an eye on him. Consider us your guardians, princess of the towers. -

The hoped-for effect came in the blink of an eye: Maya was blushing like a chili pepper, and not knowing what to say, she chose an embarrassed silence.


On the way to the Kadick, they had exchanged important news.

Jeremy and Aelita were slowly decrypting the file they had found in October, but it was going to take a long time, since that version of the Hoppix language was proving very difficult to translate.

About school, their literature teacher had resigned after continuous absences. They would have a substitute teaching for a few weeks before they met their new teacher. From the rumors, Maya could only guess that it was a woman.

Finally, Edward was visibly charged: in about ten days, the college was going to set up an entire day dedicated to martial arts matches, and they had included historical fencing in a series of mixed-arms duels in which also grappling was allowed; two small tournaments on the same day, basically. Of course, the group had vowed to all assist him together.

The routine would begin again soon. But with XANA giving no sign of life, the questions were already starting to pile up.


On the stands of the gymnasium sat Richard, Sylviane and Maya, who, in order to not miss a single minute of their friend's upcoming performance, had shown up early and were now watching the hand-to-hand martial arts matches. And ironically, among the participants was Victoria, who seemed to be beating most of her opponents; and it wasn't just because of her size, since each participant was assigned a fighter of similar height and size. That giant of a girl was knocking out one opponent after another, and when she was hit she seemed to take it like it was nothing.

-Hello, welcome back! Did you have a good vacation? -

Yumi then announced, along with Ulrich, her arrival, greeting the new Lyoko Warrior guard.

-Hello, Auntie Yumi! - Maya greeted in turn, while Richard and Sylviane just nodded their hands. So far they had only seen Jeremy and Aelita since they had returned.

And in response Yumi feigned offense and tousled the little girl's pink curls.

-Don't ever call me that again. You already make me feel like an old woman! -

-Anyway, we had a good time, thanks for asking. We really needed a break- Sylviane answered the previous question.

-Let me ask you something, what are you doing here? Are you surprise judges for this Fight Club? - Richard asked in turn, since none of the quartet practiced hand-to-hand martial arts.

-No, but some students from our gym compete, so we thought we'd come and check them out. Quality check of new recruits, let's put it that way - replied Ulrich. -Rather, why are you guys here? Is a friend of yours participating? -

-More or less. Edward will be fencing, and in order not to miss him we came here a bit early. Right now the one you're seeing throwing the poor guy to the ground is my sister. -

And again, the news made his listeners, in this case Yumi, perplexed.

-Your sister? If so, she doesn't look anything like you. She's...very tall...-

-I think she looks a little like you, Yumi. - Ulrich dared to joke, teasing his wife.

-Oh, no way Ulrich! She only has a somewhat similar haircut, and that too, it's dyed. Besides, I don't look like a mindless berserk...sorry Richard, just saying...-

-Don't worry, I joke about it too, but unfortunately I have to object to the brainless part. Your turn, Maya. -

The latter replied promptly, after drawing from the bag full of mixed candy she had brought with her.
-Victoria in most subjects is average, but on Chemistry and Physics she has the same scores as me! I was surprised too...hey Richard! You could have gotten your own bag instead of grabbing from mine! -

-But yours is so full it counts for three. Don't be such a little spoiled princess... - sniggered Richard, amusing himself by prodding his friend, who in turn had promptly stuck her tongue out at him.

During these days Sylviane had noticed that Maya was behaving in a slightly different way than usual. She had always been a serene person, but if before she had been very quiet and a bit stiff in her relationship with them, now she seemed to be showing off her sympathy. Not that it bothered Syl, on the contrary, but she was trying to understand this sudden shift of personality.

Meanwhile, Yumi and Ulrich watched the various matches with interest, with the former sharpening her eyesight well each time Victoria returned to the field.

-She's holding back, and a lot. -

-What do you mean, Yumi? - Sylviane asked, thinking that basically one should hold back in regulated fights.

-That this girl is toning down every move way too much, even for fights like this one. She often chooses either to throw to the ground or to deliberately target the legs, arms and flanks, but in all these cases she seems to be limiting herself a lot so as not to hurt her opponent too much. And she's not using precise techniques, she seems to be adapting from time to time. -

-What are you trying to say? - Richard asked, intrigued and at times disturbed by this reasoning.

-I'm sure your sister has participated in real beatings, and if she doesn't hold back like she does here and now, she's fully capable of breaking your bones. - Yumi concluded, in a very serious tone.

Sylviane, observing the fights better, seemed to understand what she meant: Victoria seemed to fight instinctively, at times like an animal, and focusing better on her face, she noticed a satisfied expression. He knew nothing about psychology, but Syl found herself speculating on two possibilities: either that satisfaction came from the consecutive wins, or, in the worst case, Victoria liked to fight for the sake of hurting.

This person who had dropped in from nowhere had managed to disturb them all, even Yumi.

But perhaps witnessing their friend in the fencing tournament would lift their spirits.


He had prepared fervently these days. He'd spent the hours going over every technique he'd learned, and spent his afternoons more in the gym than anywhere else. After what had happened, this tournament was a great release valve for Edward, and as he checked the protections one last time, he made his way to the dueling field. Looking at the stands, he noticed his friends all present, ready to assist him, and Richard, who had blown a loud whistle to encourage him.

Ed he noticed that his opponent was already there, helmet already on, obscuring her appearance. And he noticed at once that the weapon used by her would be a saber.

This was the aspect that touched a remote corner of Edward's brain. It reminded him of that fake duel, but that, to him, had been far more than terrifying. The fight hadn't even started and he was already breaking out in cold sweats.

He tried, however, to take courage in his hands, and wearing his helmet, he raised his sword high, the hilt at face level, as a sign of greeting, which was reciprocated.

As soon as the referee gave the go-ahead, Edward tried a first approach based on a couple of lunges, to test the enemy in front of him. Enemy that turned out to be surprisingly fast, because after deflecting Edward's two-handed sword, she mulled a series of blows that were poorly parried, coming to catch his shoulder and score the first point.

Edward's nervousness had deepened, and his confidence had cracked. Three more blows and he would be gone, without even beating his first opponent. He couldn't afford it.

The second round seemed to go better for him: with a series of more violent blows, concatenated and conducted advancing uninterruptedly, he had broken the guard of the adversary, managing to score three times; unfortunately his eagerness was repaid with two more blows suffered by her who, at the cost of taking them, had inflicted one to the leg and the other to the right rib.

The referee separated them after this exchange which had been very intense, so much so that Sylviane, as a spectator, seemed to be able to synchronize her eyes with Edward's movements.

They were both down to one point each, in this decisive round to move on to the next fights.

If he wasn't shaking, Edward then had an iron temper in controlling his nerves. Every time the fight started all over again, he seemed to superimpose on his opponent the black knight who had forced him to the most drastic solution of all, in a duel at arms.

Edward therefore was spurring himself not only to win...he wanted to beat his enemy without any hesitation, entrusting his sword with the task of thinking. He had to give everything of himself, even to drive away his fear. If he made it through this first match, he would come out hardened, and the rest of the tournament would be nothing in comparison.

When the referee gave the green light to begin, both duelists stood still, assaying every possible movement that would betray the other's move. Their ears no longer picked up the surrounding noise, as their senses were focused on one individual.

His foe, blade resting on his shoulder and ready to cleave, moved one step closer... two steps... and when he attempted a sharp blow, Edward's mind recalled in that millisecond a technique he remembered trying to replicate in the past, without success. But he might as well play all the cards.

Edward raised his sword upwards, crossing and moving his opponent's saber towards the same direction, which was now supported by the free hand clasped on the wrist holding the weapon.

Just what he needed!

Then, crossing his long sword, Ed lowered his enemy's saber and, at the same time, grabbed his opponent's joined arms.

The whole thing, carried out simultaneously and in a smooth, swift movement, had resulted in the disarming of the enemy duelist, who was now also trapped in his grip. And as the saber was projected out of the ring, Edward's arm prepared to land a blow on the helmet, without thinking about it, as if it really wanted to damage her head... but the mind remembered the context in which he was, and Ed's arm immediately froze, as if the nerve had been pulled like a violin string. Both combatant were still, while a light filckered.

With Edward distraught and surprised at himself at the successful gamble, and with the referee announcing him as the winner, this fencing tournament had started with a bang.

-Hey, you did good, but next time, try not to break my wrist! -

The opponent had spoken, the female voice muffled by the helmet which, when removed, revealed to the surprise of the entire foursome a Jacqueline Auguste red in the face from exertion.

-Jacqueline Auguste fencing? The world must be ending! - Richard commented incredulously in front of this news. He didn't expect at all that that coward would take pleasure in fencing, and what's more, historical fencing with real weapons!

-From the way you talk about her it seems you know her and that she is not a friend of yours. Is she like the new Sissi Delmas? - I ask Ulrich, quite intrigued.

-If you mean the pain in the ass you told me about, she is sort of, and maybe worse. But I didn't expect this... -

Sylviane, on the other hand, had remained silent, not because of the funny discovery, but because of something else. Maybe she had been following the fight with a lot of interest and had just been a little suggestible, but when Edward had held back from that last blow, Sylviane was sure she had felt her own arm tingle.

Almost certainly it was just a coincidence...but following her friend's movements almost in sync, combined with the tingling...made her think, that's for sure. Thoughts that she kept to herself.

Also because this sensation did not recur in the following matches, where Edward felt much more relaxed and confident.

And in the middle of the tournament, Richard's phone buzzed. Stepping away to take the call, however, he noticed that it was an unknown number. Who the hell could it be? Maybe an acquaintance he had given his phone number to a while back? To find out, he had to answer.

-Hello? -

-You did a good job stealing my file, but next time, clear the supercomputer's phone calls register. -

His blood froze as he heard an unfamiliar woman's voice, who not only knew about the supercomputer, but had implied that she was the hacker he had stumbled upon on Halloween night.
There was no point in asking if it was a joke or not; by now experience had taught that it was no such thing.
The only sensible thing to do was to answer, preferably in a low voice so as not to be heard.

-How the hell do you know about the supercomputer and how did you get into it!? -

-Because I partially coded it myself.
Listen, it's best not to stay on this line too long, so I'll be brief: I'll help you and your friends, but you'll have to be willing to meet me in person in the first few days of February. I'll tell you where.
And I don't think it's convenient for you to bring any friends from the police department or anything else with you. For whatever reason.
We'll be in touch.-

Richard stood still for a few seconds, processing what had just happened.
Should they have trusted someone who out of the blue was calling them and offering help?
Maybe it was a trap and they would have all been pierced by bullets, or kidnapped...but to be honest, this could have happened much earlier and without so many tricks.

In any case, he returned to the stands and began dialing Jeremy's number.

-When the fights are over we all need to get together, this is serious. -

What little good cheer had been created was definitely shattered now that everyone was worried.

-What happened? It's not XANA? - Maya asked, hoping for the opposite.

-No, but it's just as important. Maybe even more so. -


-So, let me get this straight -Jeremy began, visibly tense. -One of the people who worked on the supercomputer was the hacker who tried to steal the file we're currently decrypting, was able to retrieve your phone number, and was willing to help us? -

-Basically, yes. - replied Richard, not knowing what else to say.

They had all gathered in an empty classroom, Lyoko Warriors old and new, looking for a solution to what to do.

-I don't know why, but my "feline senses" suggests it's a trap. Either XANA's or something else's. - Odd suggested, throwing his skepticism into sarcasm.

-But then you remember that any XANA activity is signaled by an active tower, when he's interacting with the real world. - reminded Aelita to everyone, turning out to be more open to the possibility of unexpected help.

-Unless he found a way to act undetected, but that would be such an ironic coincidence that, frankly, I doubt it. Besides, he has been off the radar all this time, so if he had found a way to attack without activating towers, we would be dead by now. - added Edward, excluding the possibility of a XANA trap. But then what else could it be?

-The only other alternative is that it is not XANA, but someone who has discovered us and wants to end us. Maybe the secret services, though ... - Ulrich tried to suggest, not knowing which way to turn.

-Though if that was the case, they would have made us "disappear" from the beginning. So, this hypothesis also goes. - Richard pointed out.

-All right. So you suggest we take the bait and accept her proposal? - Jeremy asked, looking for a unanimous decision.

-I'd say it's the only way we can find out the truth. We have time until February for now, we can prepare for any eventuality, if necessary. - concluded Sylviane, not being protested.

-All right. Until then let's try to remain vigilant, in case XANA also decides to return from his vacation. - said Aelita, ending the meeting.


It was past midnight, but Edward hadn't been able to get to sleep.

It wasn't because he'd had nightmares about the dark knight; those had happened the first few days after XANA's kidnapping, but they'd soon passed.

This time he couldn't sleep for a simpler reason: he wondered what he had tried to do in that first duel against the unexpected Jacqueline. He knew he'd held back from that last blow, but what partly troubled him was that he was about to use a potentially deadly blow, if there was no helmet or tournament going on.

It was as if there was, for a few moments, a second instinct within him, ruling the sword. He had never fought with such eagerness, readiness, or swiftness, until now, except on Lyoko.

Either way, whether it was true or just a complex of his own that would later pass, Edward needed to stretch his legs rather than stare at the ceiling of his room. Which is why he now found himself taking a walk in the woods that flanked the Kadick. Woods that by now, with all the times he had come and gone from the factory, he knew almost like the back of his hand.

He thought that once he got into the woods he would be totally alone, but he soon seemed to notice puffs of smoke coming from not far away. It was probably just an older student who had taken up smoking, but curiosity drove him to go check it out.

And he was partly right, because yes, someone was smoking, but he hadn't expected to find himself in front of Victoria, intent on taking puffs from an e-cigarette, who now, having heard him, was squaring him. Although her face retained those features that didn't suggest a kind look, she didn't look so scary.

-You're my brother's little friend, aren't you?
And what do you want? If you've come to find someone to report to the principal, know that I will be generous in allowing you to run. -

-Yes, Richard is my friend, i'm Edward and no, I didn't come to snitch. I simply can't sleep and so I was taking a walk. That's all. -

While Edward didn't understand that preemptive threat, Victoria seemed to relax for a moment. Maybe she really was getting ready to chase after him, or maybe she just wanted to scare him. But now she seemed less prone to getting angry.

-Oh, good for you then. Are you Insomniac too? -

-What? No, I don't have insomnia. How about you? -

-Why do you think I asked? -

-Ah... right. -

Silence. Just awkward silence for almost a minute, in which Edward didn't know how to continue the conversation. Just walking away out of the blue seemed a little...rude. On the other hand, he didn't know how to continue, having an idea of her based only on Richard's anecdotes, rich in irony and poor in interactions with his sister.

And it was she who decided to break the silence.

-What, did I unwittingly eat your tongue? -

-Excuse me? -

-Let me guess: right now you don't know what to say to the giant six-foot killer you're scared of, and you're afraid every word might be used against you in the form of fists? -

-What? No! Why should I be afraid? -Edward replied with conviction, partly because it wasn't actually true, and partly because he didn't want to let his pride get dented.

-Then prove it to me. Come on, sit down, face to face. If we can talk for at least ten good minutes, you will have convinced me that you are not a pansy like the others. - invited Victoria, with a clearly defiant tone.

Edward would never admit to being afraid of just anyone he didn't even know, so he decided to sit down and maintain eye contact, trying not to appear intimidated by the girl's size and attitude.

Now he just had to find a way to talk to her without sounding too forced.

-...I saw you at the competition today. You were...phenomenal, I would say. I don't think I've seen anyone fight like that. -

Whether she was surprised or simply interjected she couldn't tell, as the only expressive nod from Victoria was the raise of an eyebrow.

-Thanks, i guess.
You, on the other hand, seemed quite furious at the first meeting. What, you knew the poor thing and wanted to teach him a lesson? -

-No! I mean, I know her, but I didn't have any loose ends. -

-Then why were you fighting so hard? You looked like a rabid dog, like myself. -

-I... well, that's none of your business! - Edward answered, without realizing he had raised his voice. He was not used to it, and if it happened, it meant that something was making him very angry. And he immediately regretted getting pissed off in front of Victoria, fearing some kind of retaliation...which didn't happen, since the girl just puffed more smoke.

-All right, suit yourself.
Finally there's someone with some balls to reply me that way. Usually people who even try to ask me anything end up biting their tongue and babbling like a dumbass. Or they just shut up. Like my brother: he's probably such a wimp that he chose to avoid me so as not to scare himself! -

Edward remembered the episode Richard had mentioned, but knowing him, especially after all they had been through together, to hear someone call him a coward...no, he wouldn't accept that! Especially if the person in question was also laughing with a mocking grin. He stood up, as if ready for a new fight.

-I happen to know Richard very well, and he is anything but a coward, so don't talk about him like that! Or else...-

-Or else what? What are you going to do to me, let's hear it? -
And Victoria decided to stand up and walk over to him, leaning over to see him face to face, just a few inches separating them to put him in awe, staring at him with those wild eyes.
-Come on, you already demonstrated a ball just now! Let's see if the other one comes out too! Show me what you're capable of! Or after all, you're a pussy too-UGH! -

In teasing him she hadn't reckoned with the possibility that Edward would move without warning, thus ending up receiving a kick on the side of the knee, forcing her to duck, followed immediately by a punch to the pit of the stomach, making her pull away with her breath partially cut off.

-I may not have done martial arts, but I know a little something myself! -

Victoria was perhaps exasperating her condition a bit, as if she was teasing him by pretending to give him a hard time. She was soon back on her feet, with an amused grin on her face.

-Hahahaha! Okay! You got the other ball too, I see! You fooled me while I was taunting you; you're smart too, I'll give you that.
Now, let's see what you can do in three minutes! -


Despite what it might seem, it wasn't a full-blown fistfight, as no one ended up with broken noses, broken ribs or bleeding knuckles. Aside from a few punches in the stomach and a couple of bruises on the shoulders, they were pretty much intact. It had been more of a test of their skills. In a spirit equal to a kid's fight.

Victoria at this moment was displaying a...more serene air, whose laughter, though not as innocent as Maya's, or as thoughtful as Sylviane's, because of her more profound voice, no longer looked like that dog-like, taunting grin.

And although at this moment, both of them sitting side by side, the amusement stemmed from her recounting of a somewhat crude anecdote, that during a fight she had broken her attacker's arm with the sliding door of a van, Edward, at least in part, felt that he started out prejudiced against Victoria. Okay, someone so attuned to her own violence was a little unusual, but after that little altercation, she seemed like someone he could interact with.

-Come on, take a shot! - Victoria said, offering her e-cigarette to Edward.

-Oh...actually I don't smoke. -

-I'm not asking you to start smoking and spending money on cigarettes. You just take a puff. Consider it a sign of...sympathy. I do that with anyone who has fought me and not run away like hell was behind him. Although usually instead of a cigarette, I give half a beer, but I'm out of it for now. You'll have to make it enough for you. -

Seeing nothing wrong with this convoluted reasoning (and a bit to not risk disappointing her, or worse, annoy her) Edward took a long breath, inhaling and then exhaling that vapor that tasted like... Caramel.

-Caramel, huh? Seeing you, I'd expect something stronger. -

-Like what? Whiskey, motor oil, blood of virgins? Hah! I do or think about something else besides fighting! -

-Don't worry, I believe you. I noticed you carry a guitar. Do you play? -

-Yeah, but I'm a little rusty. I need to find someone who plays metal here. So, if I ever play in a band, you'll know what fee you'll have to pay to avoid incurring my wrath. Translated to: you're invited to spend your savings on tickets. -

-Then goodbye savings! I won't mind seeing you at a concert. I'll have a way to entertain myself. -

Now that Edward had managed to gain some sympathy, he was curious to know more about this singular individual. Had she mentioned anything about being an insomniac in the beginning?

-Give me some curiosity, if I'm not getting too far into your business:
Why do you suffer from insomnia? And how did you end up here in France? If I'm not mistaken, you're American... -

At that moment he could have sworn he saw Victoria's face contrite and gloomy. Edward was afraid that she would come back inclined to beat him up, perhaps by being too indiscreet, but again his expectations were betrayed.

-Yes, I would say that you are minding my business, but since I like you slightly, I can give you a little something.
You won't know how I ended up here; I'm sure you've figured out that I was adopted by my brother's family, but I won't tell you any more than that.
As for the insomnia...I won't tell you the sob story. Suffice it to say that two years ago there was a shooting at my school. The son of a bitch even pierced my arm. - added Victoria, lifting her left sleeve to show two scars that showed where the bullets had hit her, fortunately without damaging her limb irreparably.
-So suffice it to say that from there on out I was diagnosed with difficulty getting to sleep without the sleeping pills. -

Edward on his side didn't know what to say: maybe he had found the reason for his grumpy and violent facade: a trauma maybe? But how could he tell, it wasn't like he was a psychologist.

-...Fuck. I'm sorry. -

-Hmm? Why are you sorry? You didn't shoot me or anything.
The only things you have to be sorry for is what you did wrong, or what you failed to do.-

-...-

-Well, Eddie, that's enough fussing and fighting for one day! I'm going back to the dorm, before I get caught outside and get thrown in detention. -

-All right then, cause I'm sleepy again.
Before you go, could you give me your phone number? I mean, if when you play live you'll need to tell me, or whatever... -

Victoria replied a frown, puzzled. She then turned it into her mocking smile.

-What, you can't ask me tomorrow? You don't want to be seen with the giant bonebreaker, right? Or have you gone crazy and are you trying to play the letch on me? -

Edward found himself goes so caught off guard that he couldn't come up with a meaningful answer. He admitted to himself that he was a tad intimidated.

-No! No no no no no, none of those things, really, it was just to ask- -.

-Because if it's the former, I understand.
And it's basically your own damn business.-
Again, Victoria's gaze seemed to harden for a moment.
-If it's the latter, remember something: if and when you want to tell me something, just say it. I might tell you to fuck off for that one time, maybe, but if there's one thing that's pissing me off, it's people who go around things.
Especially if they do it to me.-

Rather than speak up and risk making his position worse, Ed decided to keep quiet, not understanding if she was test him again.

Victoria, for her part, took his cell phone without asking, and entered the number into the address book, only to give it back to him, turn around and finally go to the dorm.

-See you around, Eddie! Be careful not to let Garreau find you out here! -

He stood where he was for two whole minutes, trying to process what had been a decidedly unique encounter. He didn't know what to think of Victoria.
Feeling sleep finally return to weigh down his eyelids, however, he headed back to his dormitory.

He could sleep a little better now, with his mind on something other than a saber-wielding black knight.