Décalcomanie
Julia sipped her rosé and allowed the soft sounds of a jazz band to wash over her as she twirled the stem of her glass. She turned in her chair and looked over toward the band, which was set up on a raised platform. The light coming from the candles along the edge of the bar mixed with the dim lamp shades above to create dancing patterns of light on the floor and tables.
A canopy draped over the top third, while plants and pots dotted the rest of the area. In fact, everything had been so carefully arranged that it resembled a large oasis within
The world championship was hosted in Vienna, the capital of Austria, surrounded by forests and mountains and a city rich with history that stretched back more than a thousand years.
The hotel where Julia was staying boasted a rooftop bar, which she desperately wanted to explore in good company. Sadly, instead she found herself alone. Not exactly how she had imagined her evening to be.
Her friends had set her up with another beyblader earlier that week, but as the evening progressed Julia discovered he was full of himself and not much else, so she made an excuse and quickly left.
The bartender gave her a friendly smile and asked, "Another one miss?"
She nodded and held out her empty glass. "Please."
He expertly filled her glass halfway with a Cune Rosado, which made her smile briefly; he'd picked up on the fact that she preferred Spanish wines to French ones. "You're very perceptive," she said.
"It's my job," he replied with a nod, putting away the bottle. He then inquired, "May I ask why such a fine lady is here alone?"
Julia glanced aside for a moment, taking a sip of her wine, before meeting his gaze again. "'Bad date,'" she answered.
"I see," he murmured as he began cleaning some glasses.
"It's not easy to find decent people these days," he added with a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Julia nodded in agreement. "It's not," she said, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. "But I guess it's better to be alone than with someone who makes you feel small."
The bartender smiled understandingly at her words. "I couldn't agree more. Sometimes, being alone can be liberating."
Julia finished her glass of wine and set it down on the counter. "Maybe you're right," she said with a smile. "Maybe tonight is the night I embrace my liberation."
The bartender grinned at her. "I'd be happy to make you another drink if you'd like," he said.
Julia laughed. "You know what? I think I will have another one," she said.
"Very well." he said, reaching for the same bottle again. "If you're willing to stay just a bit longer, you might have some pleasant company."
Julia's brows lifted in intrigue. "Really? Who?"
The bartender hummed thoughtfully. "He's a Beyblader competing in the tournament. He usually sits here on his own. Nice guy, though."
Julia pondered who it could be; she was familiar with almost all the others by now.
"Speak of the devil." The barkeeper murmured in her ear as they both watched a tall man climbing the stairs and onto the deck.
She was taken aback to see Tala, captain of the Russian team. His unmistakable features—red hair, pale skin, and azure eyes that matched the sky—were unforgettable.
"Do you recognize him?" The barkeeper inquired.
"Y-yeah…" She stammered. He had been the one who ruined Raul and her chance at winning the world championship last year; she still felt bitter about their defeat.
Approaching the bar, he gave a brief bow in her direction and then settled himself onto the barstool with a little space between them. Without saying a word the barkeeper had already placed a glass of bourbon in front of him.
From the corner of her eye she studied him from top to bottom. His hair was styled back, and he wore a simple white dress shirt that hung nicely off his physique. A pair of black slacks finished off the look, giving him an air of carefree confidence in this environment.
As soon as she felt his gaze upon her, she quickly averted her eyes and returned her focus to the glass in her hands. He always made her a little nervous, along with the rest of his team; they had a bad rep and people tended to avoid them.
Julia wasn't usually one to go off on other people's opinions but she nontheless hesitantly attempted to break the ice. "I never expected you to be a fan of rooftop bars." She began.
Tala took a sip of his bourbon, his eyes never leaving hers. "I didn't come here for the bar. I came for the view."
Julia couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine at his response. It was vague, yet had an underlying meaning that she couldn't quite grasp. She cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. "Oh, right. It's quite beautiful up here."
Tala nodded in agreement before turning to face her fully. "And what about you, Julia? What brings you up here all by yourself?"
Julia tried to suppress the sudden flutter in her chest at the sound of her name on his lips. "Bad date," she repeated, her voice a little quieter than before.
Tala raised an eyebrow. "Bad date, huh? That's unfortunate."
Julia shrugged, taking another sip of her wine. "It happens," she said, trying to keep her tone light. "But I'm making the most of it."
An uncomfortable silence filled the room and the bartender decided to help break it. "Ah," He started. "So, you two are competing in the beyblade tournament then?"
Julia lit up instantly at these words. "Yes!" she exclaimed joyfully. "We're definitely making it to the finals this year."
Putting the glass to his lips Tala looked to his side. "Is that so?" He murmered in a challenging tone.
Julia didn't miss the challenge in his voice, and she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the prospect of facing him in the competition. "That's right," she replied, a hint of competitiveness creeping into her own voice.
Tala smirked, taking another sip of his bourbon. "Well, I suppose we'll see about that," he said playfully. "Bring your best."
Julia grinned, feeling a sudden surge of energy. "You're on," she said, raising her glass in a toast.
As they clinked their glasses together, Julia couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Tala. Maybe he wasn't the villain she had always thought him to be. Maybe, just maybe, he was someone worth getting to know.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" she asked, feeling bold.
Tala looked a little surprised but not displeased. "Sure," he said, finishing off his drink. "Lead the way."
The bartender watched the two of them leave with a knowing smile. He had seen it before, the sparks that flew between two strong-willed competitors. He could tell that Julia and Tala were both equally matched in their skill and drive, and perhaps they were also evenly matched in other ways.
As they walked down the crowded street and through the busy nightlife of Vienna, Tala's arm brushing against hers, Julia felt a strange heat rising in her cheeks. She had never been so close to him outside of the stadium before, and she found herself drawn to him in a way she couldn't quite explain.
"So, what's your strategy for the tournament?" Tala asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
Julia bit her lip, thinking for a moment. "Well, I don't want to give away too much," she said with a teasing smile. "But let's just say I've been practicing some new moves."
Tala chuckled. "Fair enough. Not like I'm going to lose anyways."
Julia sighed in frustration. This man had no limits to his own ego. Even though it wasn't as bothersome as her date from the evening, who wouldn't stop talking about himself. She'd seen Tala fight before and, realistically, he certainly had earned the right to be arrogant.
A mischievous grin formed on his lips. She was so easy to provoke.
"You know," he said in a low voice, leaning closer to her. "You're always welcome to try though."
Julia's heart pounded in her chest at his words. She had never felt this kind of attraction before. Tala was dangerous, unpredictable, and yet something about him drew her in like a moth to a flame.
Trying to regain her composure, she stepped away from him slightly. "Is that so?" she said, hoping her voice didn't betray her nervousness.
Tala simply shrugged, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Make sure you bring your best then," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Who knows? Maybe you'll surprise me."
Julia felt her face heat up at the suggestion in his voice. There was no denying the chemistry that crackled between them. He was the last person she thought she'd ever walk around a the city with, under the night sky.
As they strolled down the street, Tala's gaze always seemed to be on her, and Julia could feel the heat emanating from his body. The tension between them was palpable, and she couldn't deny the attraction that she felt towards him. There was something about Tala that made her want to break all the rules.
"Have you ever been to Vienna before?" Tala asked, breaking the silence between them.
Julia shook her head. "No, this is my first time here. I'm really enjoying it though. What about you?"
"First time." He replied.
"Ah," she uttered thoughtfully before hopping onto a low brick wall. As time went on, she felt more and more comfortable around him. She moved over it with ease, her heels barely slipping through the cracks between the bricks. "Maybe I was wrong about you, Tala," she said.
Tala raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How so?"
Julia shrugged, her emerald eyes bright. "I always thought of you as this cold, ruthless competitor. But tonight, you seem different. Like there's more to you than what meets the eye."
Tala chuckeled slightly. "You're not the first person to think that," he said cryptically. Then, barely audible, he said something that took her aback "But I suppose I can be... complicated."
Julia laughed softly. "Aren't we all?"
He was suprised by her boldness; usually, people were very tense around him and never wanted to stay in his presence for long. Here, however, she had stayed with him the whole evening and hadn't shied away from any of his comments. He began to appreciate her for that.
As they kept going, Julia and Tala seemed to lose track of the passing minutes. They talked about beyblades, made small talk, and Julia even spoke fondly of Spain, her hometown. She also mentioned her grandfather who was renowned for crafting beyblades. His admiration for her grew with each conversation, something that he had never experienced before.
They ended up in a quiet corner of the park, surrounded by trees with leaves rustling gently in the wind. Tala leaned back against a tree trunk, his hands in his pockets, watching Julia as she gazed up at the stars.
"It's peaceful here," she said softly.
"Mmm," he replied, his voice low. "It is."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, until Julia turned to face him. "Can I ask you something?"
Tala raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
"I know this might be a bit forward, but have you ever been in love, Tala?"
He was taken aback by her question, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. Love was a foreign concept to him; he had never let himself get attached to anyone before. But as he looked at Julia's sincere gaze, he found himself opening up.
"No," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't."
Julia's eyes widened in surprise, and she stepped closer to him. "Never?" she asked softly.
He shook his head. "Love is a weakness. It distracts you from your goals and makes you vulnerable. I can't afford that."
Julia's expression softened, and she placed a hand on his arm. "Not all love is a weakness, Tala. Sometimes it can make you stronger. And vulnerability isn't always a bad thing."
Tala couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. He had never spoken to anyone about his beliefs on love before. Yet, here he was, discussing them with Julia - a girl he had met only a few hours ago.
"I don't know," he said after a while. "Love just seems like a complicated mess to me."
Julia chuckled. "I know what you mean. But sometimes, it's worth the risk."
Tala considered her words for a moment and then looked at her. She was still gazing up at the stars, a peaceful expression on her face. He noticed how her hair was falling over her shoulders, how her lips were slightly parted as she breathed in the cool night air.
Julia had always been one to take risks, whether balancing on a rope high up in the air or competing to become a world champion. Taking a chance with Tala felt the same. Throughout the night he had been respectful and entertaining, and she became curious to see just how far they could take it.
Out of nowhere, Julia whirled around and stood in front of him. He gazed into her eyes as she forcefully grabbed his shirt, pulled him near and kissed him. His eyes widened at the suddenness of it all, yet he did not move away from her, caught up in the heat of the moment.
Tala's mind was racing as he kissed her back, his body responding to the hunger that was building up between them. It had been so long since he had felt this way, so long since he had let himself be vulnerable with another person.
As they broke apart, Julia looked at him, her eyes shining. "Does this feel like a weakness to you?" she asked, a teasing smile on her lips.
Tala gave a soft laugh. "That doesn't mean I'm going to let you win, though," he said.
Julia feigned a pout with a devilish twinkle in her eye. "Shall we have one more drink?" She grabbed his hand and tugged it towards the hotel.
"I guess so," Tala answered with a sly smirk.