PSIonic Gladiators part 9

"Cold Hearted"

"For the last time you are not a monster Lucas," Ness states with a pointed stare aimed at the blonde. It had only been a few hours since his fight and thankfully he was doing much better. Much better as in he is still conscious. He couldn't really move around quite yet. The medical treatment that came later after Ness and Ninten did what they could helped heal the boy. But the damage was rather extensive. Muscles had been torn, bones broken, and Lucas definitely had a type of infection. However, he was alive which was all that mattered. He's covered in bandages that hid severe wounds, although they were assured within hours the wounds would close, his bones would reset, and Lucas would be fine. Still, Lucas nearly dies and the show had continued going on below them. Ness and Ninten hoped that they would have a bit more time before something else happens.

Lucas however didn't see this in a positive way. He had made himself the monster of all monsters, and he seemed to truly believe that idea.

"You did what you had to do," Ninten adds from his place beside Lucas. Giving the boy support as Lucas leans on him. Ninten didn't seem to mind too much. Lucas struggled with just sitting up straight without leaning awkwardly. "That doesn't make you monster."

"You guys don't understand…" Lucas states with a dull look in his eyes. "I didn't realize it till you guys starting talking about how your PSI works and passive abilities."

"You are powerful PSI wise, but that doesn't make you a monster Lucas. If anything, that makes you amazing!" Ness exclaims.

"Seriously, I've never seen someone use PSI like you do. It is pretty amazing!" Ninten confirms.

"My passive ability, the one you guys were asking about," Lucas continues seemingly ignoring the praise he was given. "It makes me a monster."

"Lucas that doesn't make any sense…"

Lucas eyes cast downward, "I really shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be talking to you guys like this. This was a mistake, but I felt so overwhelmed with emotion!" Lucas closes his eyes as he lets out a loud slow sigh. It felt strangled as if he was on the verge of tears.

"Lucas," Ness states sternly. Lucas looks at the other boy with tired expression. "I am sorry, for making you feel like crap. That was uncool of me. I've been giving you a hard time since we got in this mess. You may be annoying to deal with, but you are not a monster. You can't let yourself believe what MC calls you. If anything he's the monster of all monsters!"

"…You have a point there…" Lucas admits as his gaze moves downwards.

"So what is your passive ability?" Ninten asks.

"It's something I can't really control. It's just, at certain moments all my emotions just…shut down. I can't feel anything. Hatred, sadness, fear, anxiety, or anything. It allows me to focus, act without hesitating, and see things as they are. It makes me cold and unfeeling."

"Wow, that's a really different passive," Ninten mutters with a hand on his chin in thought.

"But it's hell!" Lucas exclaims. "Because I can't control it. I could be stuck in that state for days, weeks, or even months!" Lucas' hand moves to the collar around his neck. "This is the longest and most consistent time in a while since I've been able to feel…emotions again…"

"So when you first got here?"

"I was still in that state, but I manage to pull myself out of it for the first time. With this collar on I can switch it on and off. But when it deactivates partially I can't force it on anymore. So only when the collar is fully off does my mind switch into that state. So, honestly I wouldn't mind this place. If I could retain myself, become that monster when I fight and then come back. At least I won't be stuck like that for creator knows how long…"

"I'm sorry…" Ninten states.

"You didn't do anything, you don't have to be sorry," Lucas responds as he moves to lean off of Ninten. However, he ends up just laying his head on the table. Ninten still places a hand on the boy's back.

"I mean I know that, just at a loss for words. But you are giving us way too much credit. We weren't exactly patient and understanding. I know I wasn't," Ninten looks to the side.

"How could you be? I hardly spoke to either of you and you didn't know me," Lucas sighs. "I'm not a good person you guys. I've accepted that. But you guys aren't like me. Honestly, I shouldn't be doing this…"

"Doing what?"

"Talking, with you. MC said…it doesn't matter now I guess…"

"Did he threaten you?" Ness asks. Lucas doesn't say anything as he stares at the wood on the table. "Oh my god he did! It didn't really make sense to me why you would fight so hard after you said there was nothing left to save of your home! Does it have to do with us?"

"It doesn't matter," Ninten cuts in before Lucas could answer or neglect to answer. "After Lucas' brush with death he's finally decided to talk with us. Weather it's some type of emotional high or near death experience. Whatever it is, we won't worry about it. Let's just make sure Lucas will be okay. This place is awful I wouldn't wish this on anyone, and you think we'll just abandon you here?"

"Good point, you must be starving huh Lucas!" Ness exclaims jumping to his feet. Lucas was about to protest but he sees Ness head over to their new kitchen that was just installed. Also expanding their room. Apparently, the expansion happened as soon as Lucas won his fight. As a way of giving fighters incentive to keep trying hard to win. MC must think that after a hard fought battle it would be relieving to come back to see your prison more like a home. "We have TV dinners mostly, but I guess that's fine." Ness says taking out a meal.

"Ness you-,"

"The cabinets are empty though, guess we need to request what we want in them. Or something…"

"Man this place is really coming together," Ninten states glances around surprised that the dirt little four wall room and evolved into this. It was strange.

"Don't get too comfy, remember we're planning to leave," Ness says sticking the meal in the microwave. He briefly thought of using the oven, but figure Lucas wouldn't want to wait too long for his food. Despite the boy continuously trying to get Ness to stop what he's doing.

"I know, I know, but even some apartments aren't this nice. Granted it's just one room, three dudes sharing one bathroom, and some people have feet that really stink…" Ninten cast his eyes in Ness' direction.

"I kick so much butt I guess the smell just clung to em," Ness jokes as he performs a mock kick.

Ninten makes a face, "Gross…"

"Do you need help eating Lucas?" Ness asks as he brings the meal over to sit it on the table in front of the blonde. It was a simple meal of macaroni and cheese and Saulsberry steak.

"You didn't have too…" Lucas states plainly.

"So yes…no…"

Lucas lets out a defeated sigh, "No," Lucas says taking the fork Ness offered.

"Your armor got trashed so I don't think you'll be able to use that again."

"Did it even help?" Ness asks.

"Somewhat, definitely weren't as tough as Ninten's barriers," Lucas says between bites.

"Not a lot of things are, which is why I use barriers as boxing gloves."

"Nice humble brag. But maybe we should decide who gets what from the armory. We didn't ever discuss that," Ness said.

"Just stick with what we know. I mean, anybody know how to use a gun?" Ninten asks. Both Ness and Lucas shake their heads at the question. "Well I'd hate to waste a resource, but it doesn't seem like those things will be of any use to us."

"Speaking of that," Lucas speaks up surprising both Ness and Ninten. They were startled he spoke without being prompted to. "While I was out in the arena I had a chance to scan the crowd. We definitely aren't on Earth. But from the look I could take a stab at how the hierarchy works here."

"What do you mean?" Ness asks.

"Many of the creatures…looked…rough…like many of them looked like they had rough lives. Malnourished and the stench wasn't very pleasant either."

"How could you tell they were malnourished, maybe that's just their body shape?" Ninten asks.

"The different amounts of creatures in the arena didn't vary that much. Also, I saw some sitting in seat higher up being served food and they were separated from the rest of the crowd."

"Like box seats," Ness surmised. Lucas didn't seem to understand the term. "Ya know, like seats for people with lots of money. Like a box seat at a baseball game, those seats are the best seats in the house when it comes to events like this," Ness then gasps seeming to come to a realization.

"What?"

"My dad plans to take me to a ball game with box seats for my birthday this year!" Ness exclaims jumping to his feet in utter outrage. "I am NOT missing that, we are getting out of here!"

"Normally I'd say your priorities are all mixed up, but right now…" Ninten gives Ness a serious look. "I will see to it that you may also have that experience."

"Thank you Ninten!" Ness cries happily grabbing Ninten's hand to shake it

"It's what any decent human being would do," Ninten states casually as he puffs out his chest. Lucas can only look on with confusion. He rightfully assumes he won't understand so he moves to stand to throw away his food.

"Relax dude I got it," Ness states snatching the plate and gesturing for Lucas to stay seated. He moves to throw the trash away.

"Well…getting back on track. So we have a clear difference in class, how does that help us?" Ninten asks.

"Don't know yet, but we should gather as much information as we possibly can. When we plan to leave this place, we may have to lay low in the city. So getting to understand the people living in it can't hurt."

"True," Ninten states with a nod.

"So what should we do now?" Ness asks rejoining them at the table to lean on it. At his question eyes are cast between the three of them. It seems the matches have ended for the day considering the noise is dying down. Ness and Ninten had worried that they would both be sent out leaving Lucas alone. Thankfully that was not the case, but if they didn't fight today. They were sure that they would tomorrow. MC said it himself that they are rare creatures, showing them off would be ideal, especially since Lucas won his first match. However, despite everything the three of them have a quiet moment that for the first time isn't tense. Though Ness had asked a question, the answer slowly began to become apparent. With his question silently answered Ness just sighs.

"Why not just…talk?" Ninten suggests with a shrug.

"We do that all the time. Heck we just did it now…" Ness whines.

"Well the two of us anyway," Ninten says looking over at Lucas. "Lucas is actually exchanging words with us. It still so neonce that I'm a little eager to have an actual conversation with him."

"The word is nuance," Lucas corrected.

"See learned something new already. He's a grammar Nazi."

"That's not grammar that's just pronunciation."

"I don't know seems more like a know-it-all…" Ness states resting his cheek on his hand.

"I've been called that. I don't think I'm all that smart honestly. I'm just good at observing…"

"Well with PSI you can observe a whole lot better it seems," Ninten points out. "Tell us about your powers."

"It's like Ness said. I don't have a lot of offensive skills. I'm more built for support and defense."

"But that support has a lot of power behind it! Your reserve of PSI energy is basically Ness and I combined and then some. You can manipulate it in ways I've never thought about before, how did you learn to do that?"

"…Well a bit of experimentation."

"Yeah, but your practical combat skills aren't very good though…" Ninten says with arms crossed. "Anytime something gets close you just try to either overwhelm it or push it back. Its good your aim is so good otherwise you'd be in deep trouble. You should learn to be more versatile."

"Well my options are limited. I'm not as fast or strong as either of you."

"Makes you more of a glass cannon then," Ness mutters. "Trying to train you to fix that may not be such a bad idea. You won that fight by the skin of your teeth, but it didn't have to be so close. So in case you do end up in a fight alone maybe this way we can still help you."

"So…you guys are going to try helping me?"

"Obviously dumby. If we haven't already made it clear, were in this together. We have to look out for each other."

"And you should consider being a little more selfish," Ninten adds.

"Selfish?" Lucas questions confused.

Ninten lets out a sigh while shaking his head, "Can't even tell when you're being a selfless jerk huh. Well, guess it can't be helped."

"Guess not," Ness says with a snicker. Lucas could only look at the two boys confused.