Yay for short chapter!
jk. no.
*sobs in corner*
Arya's POV:
I got up, slamming my alarm clock in the process. 6:00 in the morning. I hated mornings, especially when I had to get up early. But, I had to start training.
I got off the bed and fell on my knees. Groaning, I rubbed my calves from yesterday's fight. I stopped and pondered whether I should take it easy or train today.
Shrugging, I grabbed my cloak and strapped on my belt.
My charm bracelet never left my side of course, it was gift from my parents.
I ran my finger over each charm, treasuring the memories of how and why I had made each one.
I stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind me. It was dead silent - the sky was still a light, dusky, blue. I walked through the halls, still pondering the events of yesterday and my conversation with Rogue. Replaying the moment, I tried to figure out my relationship with him and what he must think of me now.
On one hand, I hated him for kidnapping me in such a brutal way. But on the other…
Snapping out of my thoughts, I walked out of Sabertooth and saw a little cliff in the middle of a forest, quite a distance away. Maybe 2 miles. I decided to run there to get my exercise. I arrived there about 17 minutes later and pouted - running never was my strong suit.
Scaling the cliff I noticed a little alcove opening over the forest next to a waterfall. Pulling myself I up, I placed my belt and started practice.
I guess I'd start with basic body training: push-ups, sit-ups, and such.
Rogue's POV:
I frowned as I heard some noise coming from the alcove where I usually trained.
Twisting out of my shadow form, I watched the girl lift up two heavy weights fashioned out of rocks.
She turned almost immediately to face me. "Oh…"
"I usually train here." I said.
She nodded, eyes averted and went to pick up her belt and cloak.
"…but you don't have to leave. This alcove is big enough for two."
"Are you sure?" she murmured. Jeez, for the strongest member in Sabertooth she certainly was acting timid. I shuddered to think how Sting would act if he was given such an honor.
"Yes." I said and shrugged. "I'm interested in your magic though."
"What about it?" she answered.
"You noticed my presence as soon as I entered the alcove. No normal person can sense at that rate."
"I can feel things through the earth… your weight upon the stone triggered it."
"What about now?" I said, twisting into a shadow and scaling the area where there were shadows.
"Nope," she said. "Not anymore." I studied her face. Her eyes were still averted, a nervous aura drifting from her.
Frowning, I stalled. "Arya?"
"Yes?" she said, her eyes falling on my face for a brief moment.
"How about we train together? I'm sure it can benefit both of us."
"Sure."
This time she looked at me with a bit of a smile.
"…I'm sorry about yesterday," she concluded. "I lost my temper."
"Just make sure it doesn't happen again – non of Sabertooth will tolerate it."It hurt me to scold her, but it was the truth.
She nodded.
"Let's start with basic training."
As the day progressed, both our skills seemed to evolve. I used my shadow in order to help her improve her aim and targeting skills, making rocks burst up from the ground where my shadows would lie. Likewise, I weave around her obstacles.
We continued training together through this way of complimenting each other's skills. She was certainly powerful, I could tell.
What bothered me though was her confidence. Even when we paused to take a break, she would avoid looking at me.
I frowned. I couldn't blame her. She suddenly had been thrust into an environment that really didn't suit her. Placed in a high position, hated by many people, not sure who she could call a friend.
I learned more from her while training. She fought with vibrancy, giving it her all and expending her energy until she was panting. Her eyes narrowed, she thrust and parried, only to collapse and get up again.
We continued until the sky was golden.
I had no idea time could pass so quickly.
" We should go now, before it gets dark." I said.
I turned towards her to see she had fallen onto her knees. "Arya!"
Crouching next to her I put an arm around her shoulder and grasped her arm with my other to steady her form. One of her hands was placed on her chest and she was wheezing heavily.
"Are you alright?" I asked before mentally slapping myself. Her injuries from yesterday had probably led to this. I should have told her to lay off today.
"I'm fine," she said.
Getting up she began to scale down. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah," I replied.
Arya's POV:
I fought the blush that threatened to spread across my cheeks. Scaling downwards I faced the rock and hoped that he hadn't noticed. My shoulders still tingled from where he had touched me. His touch was cold.
Training with him had been a pleasure – I just wasn't sure whether I could call him a friend.
One side of me said that he was, while the other whispered, "He's playing you like a harp… trying to get close to the strongest. He's going to betray you in the end."
I had to acknowledge this. His friends hated me, he was probably acting on their behalf
Shaking my head to get rid of these thoughts, I hopped off the cliff. He was already there of course, damn that shadow magic.
We turned to walk towards Sabertooth, and I couldn't stand the awkward silence.
"Race you!" I said to him, trying to smile but knowing it would come out as a grimace.
Dammit. I realized a second later that I sucked at running.
I turned back to see that he was smirking. "Sure."
He twisted into his shadow form and raced through the trees, feasting on the shadows that they caused.
I ran and tried to catch up to him.
He stopped a second later and faced back. He was about 10 feet ahead of me.
"You should probably take it easy," he said. "Your wounds already bothered you once, we don't want it happening again."
We don't want it happening again? What did that mean? He actually cared about me? Grrr. I was so confused.
"Alright," I shouted back and went to catch up with him. And then fell on the on the ground face flat as something small flew into my back. "Ouch…"
"Frosch is sorry!" I got up to see a small… froggy… flying, talking, cat?
"You're an Exceed!"
"You're pretty."
"What?" I blushed, holding the small cat.
"Frosch thinks you are pretty."
"..thank you." I smiled, giving him a hug.
"Do you know him, Rogue?" I said.
"Yup, he's with me." He replied.
I talked a bit more to Frosch and so we walked back to Sabertooth, enduring each others company. Or at least that's what I wanted to tell myself, because I actually really enjoyed it.