Affinity

Chapter 6

"Come on Robin! Shoot the arrow already." a roar of angry patrons behind him yelled.

Brady stood there, arms outstretched and shaking as he gripped the bow and tried to keep it straight. He never thought the Archery club would be so impatience and full of rage, he expected kind and gentle people. He tried to steady the bow but the setting sun soon flashed its rays in his eyes as he finally let go of the arrow. The arrow zipped through the air but lost its altitude and lazily dove towards the ground. The arrow head grazed the ground, making it flipped a couple of times before it finally laid flat on the grass. The other members began uproar of laughter; his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as he sat back down on the bench.

"Don't feel bad." a hand touched his shoulder. Looking he saw the blond haired Noire again.

"It takes time to adjust and get better." she smiles at him.

Brady felt his heart lift up with such encouraging words. He was glad Noire was here, she's better company then the rest of the people here. If it weren't for her, he would have quit.

"Alright, let's stop laughing at Mr. Robin's unfortunely weak muscles and get on with business." a medium aged woman with a clipboard said.

"Now, before we try again I must remind you that this program isn't just for fun, this program is going to be hard. I won't lie to you, your arms will hurt but that's beside the point- the point is I need a team together. A team to help bring glory back to this college once again." she began to pace the length of the bench the members sat on.

"Too long have we lost to both the Plegian and Rega Feroxi archery teams? We need to pull ourselves out of the gutter and win- that means you too Mr. Robin." she point at Brady, snickers can be heard from the other members.

"We need to be strong, vigilant, and most importantly- better than them."

Brady tuned out of the coach's little rant, he wasn't interested in officially 'joining' this club. He turned to see a starry-eyed Noire, she watched as the coach paced and ranted back and forth. He could plainly see that this club meant a lot to her, but he never knew she was one for archery. She was a meek little girl when he last saw her but now? She's seemed to have taken on a completely different route of interests. He wonders what else was different about her now.

"... In conclusion, I want you all to win! I want us to win-"

Before the coach could finish, the bell rang and all the members got up and started to walk out. The coach looked slightly annoyed but said nothing as they left. Brady sighed with relief when he was able to go; he got up with his bag and headed towards the building. Noire followed close behind him as they walked through the door and through the halls. It was quiet between them for the most part but it was also kind of awkward, none of them really said anything to each other since they went to the archery meeting. Well, nothing other than encouraging words really. Brady was the first to speak up.

"So, I didn't know you liked Archery. When did that happen?" he smiled at her.

"Oh, that's kind of a long story- you want to hear it?" Noire asked, looking a little embarrassed and shy.

Brady shrugged. "Sure, kind of interested in hearing how your life was after you left."

"Well, alright- it started some years ago. Before we moved back to Ylisse I was attending a Plegian high school. They had an archery club like this one, except the coach was a little nicer. Anyway, I watched them practice a few times and well; liked it. I asked to join but they wouldn't let me, they said it was for trained archers only." Noire sighed with frustration.

"They sound really pretentious, if you ask me." Brady scoffed.

"They were. They hated anyone who wasn't already skilled in archery so I made it my goal to try my best to get in. I asked my mother for a bow but she wouldn't buy me one because she wanted me to learn magic like her- of course I still don't know if I'm even able to cast spells. So I asked my father instead, he didn't want me to get involved with people like them so he refused as well." Noire looked kind of sad as she ended that part.

"But you must have somehow got a bow right? I mean you didn't just give up." Brady stated. Earlier he saw her skill with the bow; she was practically an expert already.

"Yeah, well I did give up on joining them actually but I didn't stop want to actually learn. I worked a few part time jobs after school to work up enough money to buy my own bow. It even took longer to actually learn to pull the string back, but in time I got gradually better at it and soon enough I was pretty adept at it. I could shoot a target from a long distance while landing close to the bull eyes. My father really encouraged me to keep practicing but my mother was still resistant to me continuing this practice. Said it wasn't 'a typical interest for a child of heir's'" Noire put extra emphasis on the last bit.

Brady rolled his eyes. "Yeah, believe me I know. I can still feel the burns of her tossing fireballs at me- good thing you stopped her from using that purple tome or I would have been in trouble."

Noire giggled. "Yeah, but I have to ask, how did you know what the purple tome was? No one ever knows the name of it then the other tomes."

"Oh, my father is a dark mage as well- minus the creepy worship of a long dead dragon." Brady snickered

Noire blinked before she spoke. "I didn't know that, I thought he favored the sword more."

"Yeah, he kind of switched interests. Maybe it has something to do with your mother? I remember him saying they were friends once before either of us was born." Brady said, scratching his head trying to remember.

"My mother says that too, never said why they never keep in contact anymore though." Noire shrugged.

"Yeah...hey Noire, I know you have to like go home but you think it would be alright with your folks if you come over to my place? It's only fair since I went over there for dinner and a visit." Brady asked.

Noire stopped walking and just stood there as she shifted uncomfortably; thinking about his offer. Brady waited next to her, eager to hear her response but hoping she says yes.

"Well, I guess I could. I just need to phone them." Noire said as she continued to walk again.

Brady smiled widely as he caught up with her. They walked out the door and saw a bus rolling up the stop and they quickly rushed over to bus before it left. They scanned their cards and took a seat near the back.

"They're going to be so stoked to see you. They haven't seen you since you moved away, I bet their going to be as surprised as I was." Brady tapped his feet on the ground in excitement.

Noire smiled at his excitement and nodded. "I suppose so, which I have to ask- you have a sister now?"

"Oh yeah right, you moved away before she was born. But don't worry; I'm sure Morgan will be glad to see you like I am." Brady offered a reassuring smile.

Noire accepted it and laughed. When they felt the bus stop they got up and got off the bus in an orderly fashion but stopped in their tracks. Around them were tall buildings, long straight and wide streets with narrow sidewalks- this wasn't the suburbans. They turned to get back on but the bus already closed its doors and drove away. They froze in their tracks, neither wanting to scream or panic, fearing what might be attracted if they do. Brady was the first to speak up.

"Okay, let's not panic- let's just call our parents to come pick us up." Brady dug through his bag but felt nothing that resembled his phone's shape.

"Shit, I must have forgotten it. Noire, do you have one?" Brady turned to her.

Noire had a sad and guilty look as she looked downwards. "...I don't own one."

She flinched, as if waiting for him to yell at her for being stupid- but nothing. She looked up and saw Brady running a hand through his messy hair as he looked straight ahead. She walked up beside him.

"What are we going to do?" she asked meekly.

Brady sighed. "I guess we walk forward until we find a phone booth. I got coins if we do." Brady said as he grabbed Moiré's hand.

Moiré's face went red at the sudden touch; she looked up at him but didn't question him. She just attached herself to his arm; tighten her grip she won't let go. Brady felt this but refused to look down, he wasn't about to let her see him red in the face like a love struck school boy. As they walked forward the sun began to finally fall behind the mountains in the background, turning the sky from its orange purple tints to pitch black darkness. No light but the streetlights illuminating their way along the narrow sidewalk.

Noire bit her lip as she looked around nervously. "Brady, I'm scared."

Brady looked down at her, seeing her nervously search every corner of darkness. He wanted to tell her he was just as scared but he couldn't- he refused to show her just how vulnerable he really was. He huffed and stood tall.

"don't worry, I'm here for you." he forced himself not sound shaky- he wanted her to feel safe and if making himself seem like he's someone she can count on, so be it then.

Ahead of them they see some guys, two stationed on a doorstep to a building and another leaned up against a streetlight. They all looked pretty intimidating in the dim light and the shadows casted around their faces. Brady and Noire stopped in their tracks, not sure what to do.

"M-maybe we should go back..." Noire suggested.

Brady looked ahead of him, seeing there were only three guys. He thinks to himself that he could take them on if things go weary. He sucked in a breath and walked forward, Noire being surprised; trying to pull him back but Brady was rigid in his movement and kept going.

"What are you doing? Let's go back, please." Noire pleaded but it was too late. They were already in the presence of the three scary men.

Noire kept close to Brady as they walked forward but she could feel their eyes on her as if she was wearing a welcome mat on her back. Noire yelped, feeling fingers pitch her bum; Brady turned around and put Noire behind him.

"Tch, nice girl you got there. What did you have to do to get that?" the guy who pitched Noire spoke up. Leaning to one-side to try and get a look at her.

"None of your business now leaves her alone." Brady said, effectively blocking the guy's line of sight of Noire.

"She's gotta charge like a good bit of cash, you must be rich." another man says as he gets up, also trying to get a peek at Noire.

Brady's eyes went wide with that statement- did they think she was a prostitute? Brady gritted his teeth together, without think he punched the closest guy next to him. He then threw himself at them and starting a wailing on them. The other two guys saw this and completely ignore Noire as they ganged up on Brady. A quick punch to Brady's back made him stagger but he kept himself up as he turned his fist making contact with the one who hit him. The guy Brady was beating up gave a quick gab to his back, the sharp pain in his back made him fall down. The three guys them started to repeatedly kick him.

Noire froze with fear when the fighting starts. She watched as Brady was getting beaten by these three men, she couldn't bear to watch but she also couldn't her eyes away from the horrid scene. Tears ran down her eyes, she wanted them to stop but she couldn't move- she felt helpless. Then something snapped inside her, she narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth.

"You dare hurt my companion with your cheap punches and unfairness? HOW DARE YOU!" she shouted.

The three guys drew their attention to Noire. They could see the anger in her eyes as she stepped forward.

"Ha! Look she's trying to act tough!" the three men burst in to laughter.

Noire did not take kindly to this and instead ran up to the first guy punched him square in the jaw. He was knocked back by the sheer force she came at him with, but he did not fall. The other two looked at her with utter confusion.

"You dare belittle me?! I shall show you the power of BLOOD AND THUNDER! HAHAHA!"

Brady could barely focus his eyes, he couldn't see much but he did hear Noire. He tried to keep his eyes but it slowly went dark when the three men moved towards her.

"Noire..."

Ugh I am so sorry that I took long to update but I am facing major writer's block. Plus I have a side project that is taking over my free time. but I am determined to finish my stories and start the upcoming ones, I promise to update more often now.

I hope this chapter will satisfy your Brady/Noire feels until i can write the next chapter.