Chapter 2
You would think that in the past four days since Mr X's death that the team would be in a celebratory mood, but on the contrary it's quite the opposite. So far this morning, Blaze has sat in front of the TV with her hot cup of English tea, watching the news. Since having been granted 'vacation leave' from work, she has purposely distanced herself away from the rest of the group, having remained in her own confined solitude.
She briefly checks her cell phone, noticing eleven missed calls from Adam and four from Max, all accumulated from the last few days. The reality of it all is that she is exhausted and tired of fighting. The last thing Blaze longs to do right now is talk about what happened. The events of Mr X's death have already played out in her head at least one hundred times. Unsurprisingly, there are no missed calls on her phone from the man who went through the ordeal with her, the same man who she killed Mr X for without a second thought. The sad reality is, if Axel were to call, she would answer that phone in a heartbeat, but Blaze knows that there's no point in hoping for the impossible.
She suddenly notices a message from her older sister, who is still living back in London where Blaze was born. She and her only sibling have never been close, which is something that Blaze often regrets. The distance between them only furthered after she left London to start a new life in America. Blaze figured that a message from her sister means one of two things, either something is wrong or more likely, she wanted something.
Reluctantly, Blaze takes her phone to her ear after selecting the dial.
"Hi darling, how are you? I'm sorry it's been a while…"
"What do you want this time, Amira?" Blaze snapped.
"Is that anyway to greet you big sister? If you must know, I was actually just calling to check up on you. I can't help but wonder why I bothered now…"
"I'm sorry," Blaze gave a guilty sigh. "I'm just a little stressed and on edge. But thank you for checking up on me, it means a lot".
"Sure honey, any time!... Listen, I wanted to share some big news with you…"
For a minute there, Blaze forgot the third reason for her sister reaching out to her - something to brag about.
"Let me guess… you're getting married again? Or divorced? Or…."
"No," Amira laughed. "Doug and I are having a baby! Looks like you're going to be an aunt!" Excitement appeared from her voice.
"Who's Doug?" Blaze's initial reaction was at first one of disbelief.
"Don't you remember anything I tell you?!" Amira snapped. "You're so into catching the latest criminals, start thinking about your own family for once! Anyway, the baby is due in the Spring so I'd really like it if you could visit us perhaps?"
"Congratulations!" Blaze smiled, genuinely happy for her sister even though she could be a pain in the neck.
"What do you say? Fancy coming back to England for a while?" Amira asked.
"Ok, I don't see why not",
"Great!" She excitedly shouted. "I'll book your flight closer to the time, ok? Take care of yourself Blaze," she said before hanging up.
Blaze started to stare into space, contemplating for a moment about her sister. Often she was the one who felt like the older sibling instead. After their parents died in a freak accident, Blaze at the age of 15 took care of her 17 year old sibling, keeping her off the streets when she went off the rails. Although Amira worked and supported the two of them for a while, she always felt envious of her younger, talented and beautiful sister, so she carried a lot of hate inside of her. Any opportunity to brag in making herself feel better was often the case. Little did Amira know, but Blaze was the one who had more of a reason to be jealous. Her older sister had a good life, and by the time they were 21 and 23, she had built herself a stable career, her own home, a good relationship, plus she had managed to travel the world, leaving her younger sibling to fend for herself.
Blaze yawned then sunk back into her couch whilst the next bulletin on the hour came on the TV. As fast as she reclined back, she immediately leaned forward in her seat when the reporter interviewed two children who were both around the same age as Sammy. They were identical twins, one boy and one girl who spoke in a very clear, calm manner. Their fair skin, white hair and blue eyes glistened under the sunlight as they stood at the edge of a cemetery.
The boy was the first to speak out. "Today, we bury our father with great sadness in our hearts. He wanted to do good by this city, but out there lies a murderer who took his life. One of whom we believe the Police Force could have stopped. Now, we are orphans under the care of the system…."
Blaze can't help but tightly run her fingers through her hair, anxiously pulling on the strands by the side of her head. Viewing the sadness in their eyes, even through a screen is heart wrenching for her. Mr X was evil, but his children never deserved this. She wishes that things were different but the fact is, she is to blame for his death and she is the one who lost control.
Suddenly, a knock at the door startles Blaze away from her thoughts. She is pleasantly surprised when she opens it to find her good friend, Adam standing there with two cups of coffee and a take out bag containing chocolate brownies.
"Can I come in?" He smiled, holding up the treats.
"Sure," Blaze stepped aside.
"You know, I've been tryna call ya for the past four days….are you ignoring me?" Adam frowned then placed the paper cups on the coffee table, raising one eyebrow towards his friend.
"I'm sorry, I've just had a lot to deal with." Blaze sighed, sitting back down on the couch by his side.
"Wanna talk about it?" Adam queried.
"Not really," Blaze gave him a cheeky smile, playfully slapping one hand on his leg. "How about we talk about you Hunter?" She suggests.
"What'd you wanna know?" He shrugged.
"How's Cherry? I haven't seen her in a while, you must miss her if she's staying with her mom. And what's this rumour I heard in the precinct about you and some new blond officer?" Blaze grinned, making Adam smile with embarrassment. One thing she was good at was brushing stuff under the carpet, but if it meant that the low down on Adam's love life cheered her up, then so be it.
"Well," he let out a slight hint of laughter, sinking back into the couch with his palms behind his head. "Cherry is good but she's growing up fast! Already playing the guitar at the age of 5" he proudly nodded. "And the officer you are talking about is Estel…"
"Ooooo, is that her name huh?" Blaze teased, nudging her elbow against his arm. "What is she? A lieutenant? A cadet? I sure as hell have never seen this mystery woman at the precinct before!"
Adam can't help but chuckle. "Actually er, she's Special Intelligence Forces" he grinned.
"Really now? Looks like your moving up in the world, Hunter" she joked. "Be careful though, those SIF officers don't fuck around. You'd better be on your best behaviour Adam!" Blaze laughed.
"You know I always am!" He smirked to himself.
"Well, this Estel lady, whoever she is, I'm sure she's gonna say yes when you ask her on a date. She'd be stupid not to. Make sure you take her somewhere nice. And pay the bill on the first date…" Blaze advises.
"So what about you, huh?" Adam glanced down at her, hoping that Blaze also had some good news.
"What about me? You know me, I've been single for how long?" She laughed.
"Come on, you can have any guy you want Blaze!"
"Easier said than done. Most of them who try to hit on me are jerks though…" she huffed, turning her gaze slightly away with annoyance on her face.
"You know, Axel has moved his leaving date now three months early. He's planning to go out to the wilderness as early as next week…"
"Good for him!" Blaze bluntly replied, trying to hide her disappointment.
"For years now, he's been talking about finding 'True Strength.' I reckon he's planning to dedicate all his time to training out there and finding the answers" Adam explained.
"Well, now that Mr X is dead I guess there's nothing left keeping Axel here. It makes sense." Blaze nodded as she rose to her feet. "Want some soda?" She asked, changing the subject once again.
"Just tell him how you really feel, maybe he'll change his mind about leaving…" Adam can't help but persist with optimism.
"As if that's ever going to happen!" Blaze replied, giving him a defeated smile. "Axel has made his choice, it's what he wants. I'm not gonna complicate things for him and get in the way of that. I'll probably never see him again…" suddenly a frown appeared on her face, full of sadness and dread.
"Well this Friday Max and I are throwing Axel a leaving party. I'm sure he'd love to see you there to say goodbye…"
At that moment she took a deep gulp. That word, goodbye already hurt just hearing it here. How the hell would she hold it together if she actually had to hear that word straight from his mouth?
"I'll think about it…" Blaze sighed.
"If there's anything you need, you know where I am, ok?" Adam gave her a supportive hug.
"Sure!" She forced a smile before he left.
Friday night had finally arrived and the venue was L-Devo, one of Wood Oak City's trendiest bars. It had barely been a week since the death of The Syndicate, but already the streets of Wood Oak felt like a safer place with Mr X and his highest ranking criminals out of the picture.
With the exception of Sammy, due to his age, the three men along with the Doctor excitedly arrived at the bar, only to be greeted by more of their friends once they were inside. The bustling venue was just what they needed with great music, drinks and their own section of booths.
"You realise, this is your last opportunity to get wasted with us before you become a hermit!" Max joked, raising his shot of whiskey in the air.
"Amen to that," Axel laughed before the four friends saluted their glasses together.
"You Ok Doc?" Adam asked Zan who was sitting next to him. They could see that the old man was starting to feel uncomfortable as the music got louder. This nightclub really wasn't his scene. Eventually, after several more shots and two hours later, he rose to his feet then said his goodbyes to Axel and the others.
"So? Three more days and that's it. I'm gonna miss you, man" Adam cleared his throat as he poured Axel another drink.
"I'll miss you too bro," he sighed.
"I'm just putting it out there, but why are you venturing out there anyway? Apart from nature and peace and quiet, what are you expecting to find?" Max queried.
"I don't know. It's something I always knew I had to do though. I don't think I have even reached half my fighting capabilities yet…"
"What?! Hold up, hold up!" Adam slapped the table with shock in his voice. "You're the best fighter I know. We've defeated the enemy, set out what we had to do, how much more do you want?"
"I just know I have more to give. I'm empty right now, but I know I'll come back as a better man and a better fighter one day. Maybe I'll show you the ropes then you can really learn to fight…" Axel teased.
"As if!" Adam chuckled.
"Hey, does anybody know where Blaze is at? She was supposed to be here hours ago!" Max frowned, noticing the disappointment looming over Axel's face.
"Beats me," he shrugged before downing his drink.
"About that… there's something you should know Ax…" just as Adam finished his sentence, Axel was back up and out of his seat by the bar once again.
As he ordered another drink, Axel suddenly felt a familiar scent of perfume brushing past him from behind. He turned around, immediately spotting a beautiful brunette in the distance wearing a short red dress, her favourite colour. If anybody could grab his attention, it was certainly Blaze Fielding.
She was always gorgeous in his opinion but lately, the two of them had only witnessed each other on the battlefield so to speak. Bloodstained, bruised and in fight mode. But tonight was different. This was the first opportunity in a long time that the group of fighters had any downtime together. They were able to relax, dress up and live a little. Seeing her in that red dress in her element brightened up Axel's whole night. Before the other vultures in the bar preyed in on her, he took it upon himself to step forward in Blaze's direction.
At first, Axel was unsure whether to approach her in the usual casual friendly way, but with the way Blaze looked tonight, that wasn't an option.
"Hey beautiful…" He stepped behind her then gently reached for her hand. At first, Blaze hadn't noticed him there so she quickly turned around, almost ready to snap at him with her fists.
"Jesus you scared me!" She caught her breath, placing one hand on her chest. It wasn't long until her startled face turned into laughter. "Don't ever do that to me again!" She jokingly warned.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself", Axel grinned, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Did you just say what I think you said?" She tilted her head to one side.
"What beautiful?... mmmmhmmmm" he nodded.
She couldn't help but blush back at him "you don't scrub up so bad yourself", Blaze smiled, taking in his comment with a pinch of salt. "I wouldn't be surprised if you had half of those chicks by the bar lined up. They're drooling over there already as we speak…" she giggles, gesturing towards the bar, remembering the fact that this type of man in front of her ain't the relationship kinda guy, even if he is her close friend.
"So? They got nothing on you. None of them ever did Blaze." Suddenly the tone of their conversation becomes tense as Axel locks eyes on her, laying his cards right out on the table after that revelation.
Blaze can't help but stare back at him nervously, hearing the serious tone in his voice.
Within seconds, their bodies start to draw in closer to one other.
"I,.. I shouldn't have come here…" she starts to breathe heavily.
"Just dance with me," he softly whispers in her ear, placing one hand at the base of her back to pull her in close to him.
Everything, from the sound of Axel's voice to his scent is intoxicating yet at the same time, his touch sends shivers down her spine. The softness of her skin and hold on him is also overwhelming but deeper than any lust he has ever experienced before. The chemistry between the couple could almost be felt sizzling in the air above them, like fire meeting electricity. Everything about this moment has never felt more right for either one of them before.
"You don't understand how long I've wanted to get close to you, ever since I first met you…" he says to her.
"I really do," Blaze replies with her arms wrapped around his neck, slightly gazing down with her head resting against his cheek as they dance together. He then looks down at her, gently placing one thumb on her chin to lift it to meet his gaze, tilting his head forward until their lips lock together to passionately kiss for the first time. Everything changed that night and there was nothing more that either of them wanted than to be together. During their kiss, Blaze closed her eyes and forgot all about why she was here. That word, goodbye no longer existed in her mind, at least in that moment. The two of them could have remained there forever as the rest of the world passed by.a
She quickly caught her breath, pulse racing as she pulled back staring up at Axel with a pretty smile on her face.
"So you got three days left then huh?"
"Yeah," he smiled back, still fixed with his gaze on her whilst tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Wanna spend it with me?" She asked, with a slight hint of anxiety in her voice.
"What do you think?" Axel gave her a reassuring grin before he kissed her once again.
