Marco woke up in a really messy state. He was still wearing his clothes from last night, his hair looked like he went through a tornado, and his eyes were really puffy along with a clogged nose. He's the exact of image of a miserable man right now.

He sat up and rubbed the sleep and puffiness off his eyes. Remembering that he had to meet Sir Lavabo for his daily training, he glanced to the alarm clock on his bedside dresser. He cursed and ran to his closet. He was late. One hour late.

Finding an extra pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, he slid off of his iconic hoodie and undershirt, replacing it with the t-shirt, followed by his jeans.

Putting on his belt, he grabbed his dimensional scissors and the short sword that Sir Lavabo got him for his birthday. It was a simple iron sword with his name engraved on the bottom of the blade. Sure, it wasn't flashy or had really intricate designs, but it was good enough. At least one person cared enough to get him something.

Sliding his sword into the scabbard he recently attached to his belt and the dimensional scissors into his pocket, he made a mad dash out of his room. His shoes squeaked along the polished floors of Castle Butterfly. He whizzed by the numerous potraits of the Butterfly family, dodging incoming servants and guards and drifting corners. The route he was taking was the fastest way to the basement he found, though he only used it for when he was late since the halls he was dashing through were almsot always filled with the castle's servants and workers during this time of day.

He slid into a corner and continued down the hallway he was now facing. At the end was the door to the basement, his destination. He sprinted down the hall with more speed than usual, something about the sight of the door motivated him to exert more effort into not being any more tardy.

"Oh man, I hope Sir Lavabo won't get mad at- OOF!" His mad sprint was brought to a complete stop when he crashed into a person coming from the hallway to the left. The sound of metal against metal was heard as he fell down to the ground on his butt. He watched as a dagger slid to his feet, rubbing his head in pain.

"Ow, watch where you're going, you-" He glanced up from the dagger and felt his face form into a scowl. A very hateful scowl.

"Higgs."

"Marco."

He really didn't want to deal with this right now. If it was anybody else, he wouldn't mind. He would just help them up, apologize, and be on his way. But this is Higgs, his rival squire, the one who humiliated him during the Quest Buy sale, the one who returned the same amount of hate he gave her, probably even more than him.

"You should really watch where you're going, Higgs." Her name was said with venom.

"Oh really?" She started, getting up and dusting herself off, "Says the nerd who ran into me full speed like a ram."

Marco got up and started dusting himself as well. He opened his mouth to retaliate but found that he didn't have a response. In fact, she had a point. It was his fault after all for running around the halls like he was being chased by a behemoth and not watching where he was going.

He scowled and mumbled curses under his breath in defeat. Seeing this, Higgs grinned. "What, can't think of anything?"

"Shut up, Higgs."

Higgs snickered at his defeat. Remembering that she had a reason to walk through the halls, she bent down and began picking up the numerous swords, daggers, and shields that were scattered around them.

Marco watched as Higgs began struggling with carrying the absurd amount of equipment. He sighed and began picking up a nearby sword. Higgs glanced at him through the pile in her hands and raised an eyebrow. "What the heck are you doing?"

Marco rolled his eyes, "I'm helping you, what does it look like I'm doing?"

Higgs furrowed her eyebrows, confused by his sudden act of kindness. Her confusion turned into hate, "I don't need your help, Diaz."

Marco groaned in frustration. "Well, from the look of things, you do. And don't use that 'I'm a real squire' excuse. Plus, it's sorta my fault."

Higgs stopped what she was doing to stare at him with a surprised expression. Marco glanced up from a shield he was picking up and noticed her expression, "What?"

"Did you- Did you just apologize to me?" Her voice was the very definition of dumbfounded.

"Yeah, why?"

Higgs narrowed her eyes, her face radiating with suspicion. Marco simply ignored it and picked the last remaining sword off the ground. He stood up from his crouching position and turned to Higgs.

"Let's go." Higgs furrowed her eyebrows once more as she stared at her rival.

"What?"

"I said let's go. I'm helping you carry these to... where ever you were going." If there was a world record for the most dumbfounded expression, Higgs would have smashed that record into the ground.

Without saying anything, she walked past him and continued down the hall while Marco followed suit with an annoyed expression.

They walked down the halls at a more lesiurely pace. Higgs was still surprised by the actions that just happened five minutes ago. She never thought that the day where Marco Diaz, rival squire who seemed to hate her as much as she hates him, would help her in any way, shape or form would be today. Marco Diaz, who she humiliated during the sale, helping her. Marco Diaz, helping her.

Either this is some really sick dream or she was starting to hallucinate some really impossible things.

She decided to bite the arrow and asked his reason for his help, "Why are you helping me?" If he was one of those shapeshifters the knights were talking about, then she's well prepared in the weapons department.

"Like I said, it's my fault I ran into you. Take this as an apology gift." He gestured to the pile of equipment in his arms.

But even with that, Higgs still couldn't wrap her head around the sudden and unexpected kindness. In fact, his answer didn't answer anything, it just made more questions. Why would he apologize in the first place? Doesn't he hate her? If he hates her, then why would he do all of this?

Her head was starting to hurt. She wasn't that much into people's emotions and the whole "psychology" thing. After all, the people she only ever talked to were Marco (more like insulting), Sir Stabby, and the vendors she would talk to when getting a few things for Sir Stabby.

But before she could start hurting her brain even more, they arrived at a wooden door by the set of stairs they descended from.

"Here." She lightly kicked the door open to reveal a small forge room. The walls were covered with racks containing swords and various other weaponry. There was corner that held a pile of shields and another for helmets and breastplates. In the middle of the room was a sharpening station with a table nearby, swords scattered on top it.

"Just place them here." She said as she placed her pile onto the table. Marco did with his pile and watched as Higgs grabbed a sword and started sharpening, placing the blade against the wheel.

Higgs felt eyes on her and glanced up to see Marco still there, watching her with a sheepish expression.

"What?" She asked, a little annoyed.

"You want me to help?" Marco asked sheepishly, as if he hadn't surprised Higgs enough. Higgs sighed and continued sharpening the sword in her hands.

"Thanks, but I don't need your help anymore. So get out please." She kept her focus on the sword.

Marco simply nodded and turned around, leaving Higgs to work alone as he closed the door. Marco stood outside of the room for a while, thinking about what the absolute heck he just did!

It was like he was on autopilot, except he was wasn't and was fully conscious of his actions. Yet, he felt the need to help her, the need to help his rival that he hates with a passion! All while having this feeling inside his chest that he can't describe with words nor his mind. Maybe there was something magic-related going on, maybe there was something in those nachos he ate last night, or maybe he was just plain coo-coo.

"I really need to sit down, jeez."

He started his ascent on the stairs he came down from while still thinking about the recent events that transpired. Then, something came into his mind, something that put that dumbfounded yet confused look on his face, something that made him think he was actually going crazy.

"Did she just say thanks?"

a glimpse of what's to come

reviews are appreciated yada yada yada

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