Chapter XIII – C for Combat

Feliciano's eyes stared in the unwavering watchful emerald eyes he adores so much of the man he adores even more. Arthur nodded with a determined expression and suddenly spoke his thought.

"Feliciano … you need to learn how to fight."

"V-ve?!"

Feliciano paled significantly at the words. He would do anything Arthur asked him but he really did not want to do something like that! Moving his brush across the screen of his frame, Feliciano glanced at his friend seated in front of him and obviously posing as his model. They were working in pairs in Art class too and Feliciano being the real talented one for Art, Arthur agreed to be the model most of the time.

"B-but … Arturo I'm not …"

"It'll be fine! I think you should at least try to learn some self-defence in case you get into trouble again. This is the second time you got beaten up and I couldn't save you! If you won't tell me who did this, then at least make sure you don't get hit next time! I hate seeing you get hurt!" Arthur almost pleaded those last words, making Feliciano's heart jump and butterflies to flutter in his stomach.

"If it makes you happy … I can try but I'm not really good …"

"It's alright! That's why it's called learning!" Arthur smiled softly, relieved that his friend had agreed. For a moment, his Omega aura spurt out suddenly, catching everyone's eye, but it settled back down just as suddenly that people ignored it and returned to their paintings.

But Feliciano didn't miss it. He didn't miss the beautiful way his friend had smiled. Arthur always has such a gorgeous smile, pity he doesn't smile much … … no, actually it's good. It's good because that means only Feliciano gets to witness that sweet smile. It was something that made him proud of being Arthur's closest friend.

"Just meet me at the school gym after class." Arthur said, before he froze and stopped talking, allowing Feliciano to continue painting for the rest of the class.

It was a beautiful painting.

Feliciano knocked softly on the door and hearing no answer, he opened it and walked into the gym. He jumped in fright and slammed himself against a nearby wall, screaming, as he saw Arthur getting flipped over by Kiku and landing flat on the tatami mats on the floor … since did they have tatami mats?

Arthur looked up and pulled himself back to his feet as if he hadn't just gotten thrown to the ground. Smiling he motioned his friend over. In a corner of the room, a 20 year old looking Asian was seated, dressed in Chinese Kung-fu clothing, next to him, a younger boy that could be his brother but held a bored expression and preferred playing on his cell phone, and a girl in a pink fighting outfit. Kiku was wearing a traditional jujitsu kimono and Arthur was the only one wearing just joggings and a red tank top revealing well his toned body covered in a light sweat. Feliciano blushed at the view and pried his eyes away, looking into Arthur's eyes to avoid looking at the rest of his body.

"Feliciano! Glad you could come. I asked Kiku to help out! Oh, and sorry about the spectators." Arthur pointed at Yao Wang who glared back at them.

"I only asked Kiku but apparently, Mr Wang decided he wanted to come too! And I don't know who the other two are." Arthur frowned and shot a glance at the Japanese.

"Master Leon Wang is Master Yao's younger brother. He's still 14 and is only here because he wished to check something out with his own eyes. Miss Mei Wang is also another cousin to the main branch like I am. She is here because she is Leon's personal servant, like I am to Master Yao."

Arthur rolled his eyes. He really hated this secondary branch-main branch, servant-master bullshit! But he's not going to waste his breathe on an ideological argument with Yao just now. His first concern is to teach Feliciano to not get hurt if he gets attacked. If only that.

"Let's get started then."

Two weeks later …

"This is pathetic, aru! You're doing it wrong!"

"Ve! Sorry!"

"Feliciano-san, your position is incorrect."

"Ve! Sorry!"

"We've done it ten times now! Why are you still making the same mistake, aru?!"

"Ve! Sorry!"

Arthur blinked. Feliciano was not just bad … he was utterly terrible! Almost as bad as Arthur is with cooking … god, that's a scary thought.

"He's really something … why do you still bother?" A dull voice asked him and Arthur turned to the younger Wang, Leon. The boy was still glued to his mobile and hadn't even bothered to look up to speak to him. Arthur didn't mind though. These past weeks, they had often talked together while watching Feliciano's failed attempts to follow Yao's orders and Kiku's instructions. Arthur actually got along really well with Leon, more so than he did with Yao who just irritated him beyond belief.

"Why do you still keep coming if you believe it's a lost cause?"

"… I'm bored back home. This looked interesting. But it's getting boring."

Arthur chuckled, making Leon finally look up and Mei glanced at them in curiosity.

"If you're that bored, let me show you something interesting." Arthur winked in a brotherly complicit way as he stood up and walked towards the three other teens.

Leon watched him, an odd feeling of excitement and anticipation run through him. Why was he expecting something? And why did he actually like the way Arthur had talked to him? It almost felt like the blonde was his older brother … and he was doing a much better job at it than his real always-complaining cold-hearted brother.

Feliciano was now crying, rolled up in a ball in a corner of the gymnasium and refused to do anything anymore. He was only getting worse and it frustrated him to be this bad in front of Arthur.

"Feliciano, stand up."

The order snapped in the air like a whip and the Italian was on his feet. Arthur smiled at him reassuringly and walked to position himself next to his friend, positioning their bodies parallel to each other.

"Here … Let me help you." He spoke in a gentle and patient tone.

Unlike Yao who's an Alfa and gets impatient extremely quickly with no understanding of the word restraint, or unlike Kiku who's a beta and takes a methodical almost robotic approach to everything without the understanding of adapting to others, Arthur was an excellent teacher, like most Omegas. He guided the Italians through the moves, showing them to him then helping him execute them. Yao watched them with an unreadable expression while Kiku wore a small knowing smile.

There was that strange atmosphere again. Like Arthur and Feliciano were the only two people in the world … in their world. In a world that no other can enter. But this time, Kiku didn't feel threatened by this. He actually enjoys to watch his friends seem so happy. Feliciano was all smiles and nodding eagerly to whatever Arthur was saying. The English teen wore a calm and understanding expression and for the first time, he was not emitting his usual Alfa dominance. Instead, a sweet Omega scent spread in the gym and Arthur's soft smiles seemed to glow.

Yao clenched his fist, feeling it hard to breathe and he didn't understand why his heart was beating so loudly, almost threatening to break his chest. He wanted to walk up to the blonde and hold him. Kiss him. Never let him go. Always. Possessing.

But he didn't. Why? Because Arthur was the kind of Omega you feared to touch. The kind of Omega you were afraid to break, to harm, to hurt. An Omega that looked so precious you felt in no right to lay hands on him. So why …

Why did that Italian imbecile get to be so friendly with Arthur? Why could he touch him? Why could he hug him? Why could he talk to him? Why could he smile at him?

Unfair.

Leon smirked as he noticed the change in his brother. Glancing back at Arthur who was now showing Feliciano how to avoid a hit, the young Chinese noticed how strange Arthur looked. After getting used to Arthur's Alfaness, people often forget that he is indeed an Omega. But why would Arthur lower his guard so suddenly? Why was he willingly letting out his Omega side in front of Alfas.

No. Not in front of Alfas.

The way he was behaving, Arthur had completely forgotten Yao and the others' existence. He was offering his unguarded self only to one person. Only to Feliciano.

Leon chuckled, amused for the first time since as long as he can remember. He was going to enjoy watching Arthur and this Italian Alfa. But he'd have to keep watch on Yao, in case his brother does something stupid.

Like killing Feliciano.

Another couple of weeks later …

Self-defence is a good idea.

Pity Feliciano is so bad at it. After a month of tutoring, the Italian was finally able to relatively dodge hits … when the opponent is slow and inexperienced and if the Italian hadn't frozen up in fear already.

Arthur sighed as he waved off his friend and they both walked home their separate way. Feliciano lived quite near to the school so he could walk when he finishes late and Lovino had already left with the limo. The bloody limo. Who goes to school in a limo?! Well, apparently everyone in his fucking school! Stupid rich people! Although … he can't really talk since his family is probably the wealthiest of the lot. And that's saying a lot!

Hearing the sudden ring of his phone, Arthur glanced at the caller's id … and his glare darkened. He had to answer. The bastard won't give up until he answers. And if he waits too long, it'll be even worse when he does answer. Oh joy …

"I'm on my way home. Can't you just give me a break?" Were the first words the blonde spoke before getting a loud laugh from the other side of his mobile.

"Oh aye! I know you are! Just calling to remind you that we are having that party thing tonight … you remember, right?"

"Uh? What party … Oh! Shite! Another one of those?"

"Aye, sorry sweetheart! But you're going to get a lot of attention tonight!"

"Can't you go without me?"

"We could. If someone had not told a certain Mr Wang that he is an Omega and from the Kirkland Clan."

Arthur mentally cursed himself for agreeing to visit Yao that day. He should have seen it coming.

"The Wangs are organising this?"

"Bingo. We're leaving at 8 sharp. Be ready, brat."

Arthur gritted his teeth as he heard Alistair suddenly hang up on him. In his mental infuriating state of deadly rage, Arthur did not notice the way people avoided walking on the same side of the road as him. His aura had turned into something foreboding the apocalypse … or something close to it anyway.

As he was deep in his thought, the Omega didn't notice the way his feet seemed to aimlessly wander of their own will and soon enough … well, he's always been good at finding trouble. Considering he's in the low parts of town, he shouldn't be surprised. Well, it's still better than hanging around those arrogant pricks at school!

Arthur glanced up as he suddenly found himself surrounded by a gang of delinquents. He hadn't paid attention to how he got here nor why these guys were pissed at him. But he didn't care. Smirking evilly, his emeralds glowed of fury. He had a reason to beat someone up. Anyone! And now, he even had the someone provided on a silver platter! It'll help him vent out before the party.

Knocking down half of the bastards, Arthur grinned sadistically as he prepared to finish off the other half. He winced suddenly as he felt an odd familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach. Not fear. How could he fear such low life scums like them? It wasn't fear … it was much worse. He is going to have one bitchy week, he just knows it! Arthur cursed.

It's official: Fate hates him!

Driving through the nearby street a car suddenly stopped as Arthur walked out of the small alley. His clothes looked impeccable as always and not a stain of blood on them. Well of course. It would be unsightly for a Kirkland to not be able to punish people in a neat and elegant manner. Not a sound had been heard but in that alley, 11 unconscious bodies lay as their blood painted the walls. They were alive. Barely.

The man in the car chuckled at this. He wasn't surprised. He wouldn't expect any less from his sweet love of his life.

"I've finally found you …"