Tala's POV

Every second waiting before the infirmary was like balancing gallons of water on my head. It could fall and splash at any moment. Such was the tension in the air.

Kai had been admitted an hour ago. Nothing serious, just collapsing out of exhaustion. That's what all the medics here were telling me, but I knew that Boris's minions are liars, just like him. But I couldn't argue back. Tonight, I wasn't here as Kai's friend or lover, but as his team captain. And all I was supposed to worry about was whether he can make it to the opening match scheduled for Friday. No other emotion could be projected on my face.

"He's awake" the doctor informed me.

"Will he be back to normal by tomorrow?" I asked in a nonchalant tone.

"Of course. Just let him rest for a few hours. He overworked himself"

'As if it was his choice' I didn't voice this. It would just take moments for this comment to reach Boris, and as much as I wanted to be by Kai's side, I wasn't begging for a visit to the medical wing.

That man's name alone was enough to infuriate me. Kai definitely wasn't the sort to shut his mouth and follow instructions till he collapses. Boris was involved in this, and there was definitely more to it than he was letting us know. Moreover, he made Kai practice in that room. That was no coincidence. Glimpses from my past visit there still haunt me, and I'm sure Kai also has long-suppressed nightmares about that place.

My stomach grumbled; I hadn't eaten anything along with the others. Now I sort of regretted pushing Spencer off when he tried to take me for dinner. But I wouldn't have had much of an appetite knowing that Kai was lying still in the hospital bed. Totally defenseless. If any of the scientists tried anything, who would know? Now that he was awake and out of any danger, I could go and eat peacefully.

The canteen was packed with boys. The wounded kids and the healthy ones were mixed, but none of them bothered to help each other. Everyone was busy trying to stuff their own plates, and not even glance back if they stepped on someone's fractured leg. I was reminded of that one time I had gone out to the butcher. The cages were packed with chickens that were waiting to be slaughtered. Still, I could see the relatively healthy ones pluck off and feed on the feathers of the weaklings. All those filthy birds who only cared to fill their mouths, oblivious of the fact that they would all be killed together and served to someone by the butcher. After so much technological advancement, and housing the most brilliant minds of the Bey blading world, this was the primordial mess this Abbey was reduced to. I knew that before getting selected as a member of demolition boys, this was exactly how I survived. The only exception was that I wasn't alone… I had Kai.

Now that I had a better life and was in a position to watch the others without fighting with them, I could see shackles on each one. They were all prisoners of their minds, minds that had succumbed to Boris. When I was smaller, I thought that the worst part of being in this place was that I was chained and simply couldn't find a way to break it. But now I knew the frustrating truth that the key to open my cage was just in arm's reach, I could see it, but it was impossible to get hold of it. The reality was that I wasn't sure whether I wanted it anymore. I had been outside the abbey walls many times, but one trip was more than enough to show me this: I didn't belong there. this place was my prison. And my only home.

There was no point reflecting like this. Kai was here now, and he was planning to stay. I just had to keep him safe and win this tournament. I had to win his heart. Within 2 days the tournament will begin, and based on the data we had no team other than the blade breakers was even worth our time. Kai's old teammates seemed good, but if they still thought Kai was on their side, and only here for treatment, then they weren't very bright. And strategy and strength were what it took to win. We were going to crush them. The special training session would begin tonight.

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"Out. 2 minutes water break, then put your gloves on and get ready."

We all called our blades back. Kai was also back to form. He was a fast healer, just like me. Now we were going to have our kickboxing session. In the Abbey, all bladders learn martial arts and fighting. Boris said that this kept us in shape and also made us aggressive and sharp. He has gone to do some last-minute preparations, so it was another fighter who was coaching us today.

"Tala?" I spilled some water out when I saw Kai. Well, I had seen him plenty of times before, but right now he was breathtaking. I could see the thin jersey sticking to his skin and the sweat bringing out all the chisels in his lean body. He was shorter than me and a little less broad, but his entire complexion screamed perfection.

His wet slate bangs stuck to his ivory skin which made his deep crimson eyes look like they were glowing. Lately, I could see specks of amethyst on the blood-red iris which looked a little pink when the light fell on it, but that was rare and only lasted a few moments. The beautiful scene was obstructed by blue boxing gloves.

"Tie this for me," Kai said.

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"We will be splitting the team. There will be a dual between Bryan and Spencer. Kai and Tala will fight in the second ring."

I mentally whistled. I really wanted to know which one of us was stronger (I might need it for the future.. hehe)

I put my own gloves on and got ready to face Kai. The familiar thrill of getting ready for a good fight was gripping me. Kai may be a little lighter than me, but what my boy lacked in weight, he would make up with his speed.

When the round started Kai took the first blow with a punch directed at my chest. He was just testing the waters. I easily dodged it. What followed was a rough exchange of punches and kicks, but within a few minutes, I understood that he wasn't giving his best. That was weird.. Kai was hyper-competitive, and right now he had multiple chances to strike a hook punch or snap at my back... My back? That's when I got it. Those wounds he had cleaned... Kai didn't know that I was an abnormally quick healer. He probably thought the skin was still raw, just waiting to split open. For the first time in years, I smiled innocently. I couldn't continue to hit him while he was slacking on me. The coach had gone to the other side to watch Bryan fight. Taking the opportunity, I stopped fighting and simply blocked his blows.

After a while, Kai got worked up. "Stop insulting me and do something Ivanov" he growled. "There's so much I want to do with you that I don't know where to start" nothing like pissing my firebird.

The flirting seemed to have blown away all of Kai's ethics. "Fuck off"

"I need you for that" the look on his face was meme-worthy. Our unholy Whispers were drowned by Bryan and Spencer's bouts and yells. "There's only one fight I'm interested in -"

"AhAHhhhHHHHHH"

Kai kicked my balls.

The coach heard us and came running. He was busy reprimanding Kai, but he was just giving me the 'I didn't think it'd hurt so much' look. Then he took a bit of pity and came to help me up. The other idiots were laughing.

"KAI! You didn't need to do this. If you wanted to touch me so badly you could have asked"

.

.

And that friends, is how I got my first love - slap.

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Kai's POV:\

I came out of the shower. The lights were out and I was relieved to see the redhead sleep and not wait for me. I regretted hurting him, though I had given the weakest kick (his reaction was just EXTRa drama) and that just made me angrier. Still, I felt sad. The nurse at the hospital wing told me that Tala was waiting outside till I woke up. I was touched by his concern. No one had ever done something like that for me, and now I had accepted that this boy had earned a little space in my heart. I was trying so hard to push him away but he kept coming back. His stupid flirting was annoying, but it was becoming an inevitable part of my day. I got onto my bed. What I had seen in the training room had been terrible. I didn't think I could survive another encounter with those ghosts. It scared me so much that I was even reluctant to sleep. After battling to keep my eyelids open for a long time, I finally gave in. Before closing my eyes I hummed a tune that was the closest thing to a prayer I knew. I wasn't a believer, but I never used to believe in ghosts also, and that changed today. I just had two wishes: Tala shouldn't be hurt and I shouldn't have nightmares.

Of course, only one of them was granted.

Hope this chapter made up for the annoying small ones. I gotta say, It's hard when I have the plot and ending chapters planned but have to struggle with the fillers. Still, I'm doing my best to include all the drabbles I had planned.

Thanks to everyone who faved this story since the last update. Bye! as always a review is welcome ;]