I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
House Call
Michael opened his eyes, groaning and removing his nerve gear, setting it aside. He had ended up tying for third, since he and Archon died after Death Gun, but Sinon and Kirito tying for first left no second place. Michael set his Nerve Gear aside, walking to his bathroom and splashing some cool water on his face, hoping it would help his headache. It didn't.
He sighed, walking back to his room and flicking on the light, then freezing. There was a very long cord, like the one he used to connect his NerveGear to the computer reaching across the room to the closet. He knew for a fact there should be no cord eading to the closet because he had no NerveGear in it. He picked up a bat he kept beside the door and threw the door open. An AmuSphere lay on the floor of his closet. He backed away slowly. Only one person would dive from his room without saying anything, then disappear and leave the AmuSphere.
"That's impossible," Michael snarled. "He couldn't have."
Michael walked silently through the house, searching everywhere. Just as he reached the last door, he heard something move behind him. He spun just as Archon crashed into him, tackling him through the door and into a closet. Michael grunted as his head hit a shelf and he dropped his bat. He placed his feet against Archon's chest while holding Archon's hands so that Archon ciuldn't punch him or draw a weapon, then shoved. Archon flew backward, bouncing off the ground and rolling to his feet as Michael picked up his bat and stood.
"How'd you get out?" Michael demanded.
"I made a shank out of a toothbrush, then got my hands on a scalpel and walked out," Archon snickered. "Of course, I may have had help from a certain red-eyed SAO survivor."
"XaXa broke you out," Michael stated.
"Heavens no," Archon stated. "He just met me at the door."
Archon drew a Maddog Fighting Knife from behind himself. Michael sighed, rolling his eyes.
"You know, I'm getting really tired of your shit," Michael growled.
"I'm sure," Archon snorted. "And I'm sure you would love to go see that fetching girlfriend of yours. Truthfully as much as I want your head, I'd much rather have been thre too. Just think of the things I could have done while she played. But, that little selfish shit refused to allow anything but himself. I'm sure he's taking good care of her, though."
Michael narrowed his eyes at Archon who grinned. Then, Archon stpped forward, stabbing at him. Michael swung the bat to the right, hitting Archon's hand and sending the knife flying then swinging the other way, hitting Archon in the side of the head. Archon staggered to the sjde then caught the bat, grinning. He shoved it back, hitting Michael in the forehead then ripping it away. Michael lunged, tackling Archon and knocking the bat away then beginning to punch Archon. Archon caught his hands and laughed, kicking Michael in the left inner thigh, making it go numb then throwing him off. Michael began to stand but Archon caught his foot, yanking it and knocking Michael onto his stomach again. Then, Archon spun, hurling Michael across the room into the wall. Michael groaned as he slid down the wall, landing in a heap at the bottom of it. Archon picked up the knife and grinned.
"It's over," Archon snickered. "I can only imagine the look on that poor girl's face when she finds out you died. Hell, who am I kidding? She's going to be dead too."
Michael stood, glaring at Archon.
"Shut your mouth," Michael snarled.
Archon laughed and sprinted forward, raising his knife. Before he could attack, Michael spun and dropped his hands to the ground, driving his right foot up into Archon's face. Archon staggered back and Michael turned, throwing a punch at Archon. Archon leaned back then slashed at Michael. Michael ducked under it then stood, catching Archon's arm as he tried to stab him in reverse grip in the other direction. Archon put his other hand on the butt of the knife, pushing as hard as he could and Michael gripped his own wrist with his free hand. After a moment, Archon smashed his knee into Michael's side, dropping the knife down to his side in standard grip, trying to stab Michael again only for Michael to again catch his arm then clap his left ear, disorienting him.
Archon stumbled back and Michael grabbed Archon's arm, moving it up to stab Archon with his own knife. Archon grabbed his own wrist, pushing away as hard as he could. After a moment, Archon headbutted Michael, wrenching his hand free and tripping Michael. He flipped the knife around and drove it down at Michael. Michael jerked his head to the side, the knife stabbing into the floor. Archon wrenched it free and Michael pulled Archon into a headbutt. Archon reeled back and Michael grabbed him, rolling them over and taking the knife, driving it down at Archon's face. Archon caught his wrists and tried to hold the knife back. For a moment, he succeeded, until Michael smashed a knee between his legs. Instantly Archon's aarms buckled and the knfe burried itself in his brain.
"Good riddance," Michael snarled, turning and sprinting out of his house.
He spirinted down the road to Sinon's house and kicked the door in. Just as he did, Sinon sprinted into the room, throwing her arms around him and screaming about getting away.
"You," a voice snarled from the door Sinon had come from.
"Shinkawa," Sinon breathed, terror clear in her voice.
She hid behind Michael, clutching the backnof his shirt.
"You..." Michael growled. "You're Spiegel aren't you?"
"Yeah," Spiegel snarled. "You should have listened to my warning."
"Did he hurt you?" Michael asked, looking back at Sinon.
"No," Sinon said. "Let's just go."
"You're not going anywhere," Spiegel snarled, pulling out a small silver object that kind of looked like an arrow head with the point missing.
Michael felt Sinon crynge at the sight of it and was able to guess what it was.
"Poison," Michael guessed. "Good thinking. Disappears after a short time and after a while you can't see the hole. Too bad you won't get me with it."
Michael reached back, pulling Sinon's hands off his shirt and walked forward. Shinkawa sprinted forward, leaping at Michael. Michael caught him by the shirt, spinning and flipping Shinkawa over himself, slamming him down on his back, kicking the syringe away. Then, he dragged Shinkawa away from Sinon. Shinkawa kicked him in the head, knocking him off, then lunged for the poison again. Michael grabbed Shinkawa by the leg, dragging him away from it then jumped over him, grabbing the syringe. He hurled it away just before Shinkawa pushed Michael off, climbing on top and punching him. After three, Michael caught Shinkawa's hands then kicked him off.
Shinkawa stood and sprinted for the syringe. Michael jumped up, grabbing Shinkawa and dragged him back, rolling him over. Just as he did, Shinkawa drove the syringe at him. Michael caught his arm then switched it to his oppisite hand, using his newly freed one to break Shinkawa's arm. Shinkawa screamed in pain and Michael slid the syringe away. Then, he picked up Shinkawa's head and smashed it back down three tikes, knocking Shinkawa unconscious.
He tied Shinkawa's hands together and then tied him into a chair. Then, he picked up the syringe, setting it on the counter. Lastly, he turned and walked to Sinon, pulling her into a gentle hug, feeling her dissolve into tears in his arms. He led her to the living room and sat her doqn on the couch, sitting beside her. She sobbed into his shoulder and he lifted her into his lap, gently running his hand over her hair. She sobbed hadder as they sat there for a time, before starting to calm down.
Finally, the police arrived and Michael opened the door, letting them in and allowing them to put him in hand cuffs for the second time. Sinon explained what had happened to one officer while Michael explained his side of the story, including what had taken place in his own house, and the officer locked him in the back seat of the car then drove to Michael's house and went inside. After a few minutes, he walked out and took down Michael's official statement then drove him back, letting him out and the other officer walked over.
"That guy that slaughtered his way out of the psych ward broke into his home and tried to kill him," the officer informed the other. "He was forced to kill the guy but judging by his face it was far from an easy fight. His house is also trashed and there's signs of a fight everywhere so he's obviously telling the truth. It was obviously self defense. I'm heading back over to wait for the undertaker. I got his statement already."
"Alright," the officer that had stayed with Sinon nodded. "You're free to go, sir. I'm sorry for the way your night turned out. I'll get Mr. Shouichi over to the hospital then to the station so he'll be out of your house Ma'am."
Sinon nodded and the officer untied Shinkawa and then put cuffs on him, put him in the back of the car, and removed Michael's. Then, he drove away and Michael walked into Sinon's house, inspecting the damage to the door. The latch was destroyed and the door wouldn't be staying closed on it's own. He slid a chair in front of it to hold it closed then walked to the couch, sitting down and pulling Sinon into a hug. Sinon wrapped her arms around him as well but didn't start crying again.
"You know, I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves," Michael said after a bit. "I'm Michael Johnson, gamer, swordsman, sniper-in-training, SAO surviver, and expert hacker."
Sinon looked up at him in surprise and he smiled knowingly.
"I at no point hacked in GGO," Michael said. "All of it was actually skill."
Sinon nodded, smiling and resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm Shino Asada," Sinon said.
"Pleased to meet you," Michael smiled. "And I'm glad I did."
Sinon nodded, squeezing a little tighter just as someone knocked.
"Michael, Sinon, it's Kirito," Kirito's voice called from the other side of the door. "Can I come in?"
"Coming," Shino called out standing.
The two of them walked to the door, Michael looking through the peep hole before moving the chair and allowing Kirito in.
"I'd have been here sooner but I figured Michael had the situation handled," Kirito said. "Plus I doubted the cops needed someone else to deal with."
"So you're Kazuto?" Shino asked. "You look better with short hair. A little more male."
Michael covered his mouth, stifling a laugh and Shino laughed as well.
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