Author Note: Wow! This fic has exploded with a multitude of follows, favorites, and reviews. I believe this surge in popularity is partly due to the anime's recent conclusion (though I'm still only on episode 15, lol). I am incredibly grateful for the amazing reviews, especially the one from TheEmeraldMage. It truly made me ecstatic to see how much you enjoyed the fic! Thank you all for reading, and if you leave a review, I will definitely respond to it. While this chapter was quite lengthy, the upcoming ones will delve even deeper into the relationship between Aiden and Suletta. I simply can't contain my excitement! Although there were hints scattered throughout these last few chapters, just wait and see what's in store! Thank you all once again for reading, and please remember to follow, favorite, and review. Your support greatly influences my upload speed and motivates me to continue writing and developing my stories!
Review Responses
Aldaon: There are a few characters, haha. We have Aiden (the main character and the OC paired with Suletta), Deacon, Oscar, and Jack. Additionally, there will be an OC who will align with the story's antagonist. My intention is not to let the OCs overshadow the main characters, but rather to ensure they fit in well and grow alongside the primary cast. Striving for a healthy balance is crucial to me. Thank you for taking the time to review, and I genuinely hope you enjoy the story!
TheEmeraldMage: Wow, this review is quite lengthy! I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you put into writing it. Your feedback has been immensely valuable, as I truly enjoy receiving in-depth reviews. They not only help me grow as a writer but also provide insight into your thoughts and any questions you may have as a reader. While we're currently on chapter 7, I want to assure you that your questions will be addressed later in the fic. Trust me, all loose ends will be tied up and explanations will be provided as the story progresses. I understand that some confusion may have arisen, and I apologize for any uncertainty. It's important to note that this fic is a fusion of "Witch From Mercury" and "Titanfall," although I've incorporated my own creative inspirations as well. While terms like "Seers" or "psykers" may not exist in the established canon, I've employed them to further develop Aiden's abilities within the narrative. Rest assured, many of your questions will be addressed in due time, and I don't want to spoil the surprises in store for you and other readers. When writing OC stories, I'm fully aware that introducing new characters can significantly alter the timeline and course of events. In the case of Aiden's presence in "Witch From Mercury," it undoubtedly impacts not only Suletta's journey but also the trajectories of the entire cast. As a result, there will be multiple canon divergences, and the fates of certain characters may be altered—some surviving, others meeting different outcomes. I already have a distinct ending and epilogue planned in my mind, one that diverges from the canonical ending. Thank you for reading, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the story. Your review has brought me immense joy, and I truly hope you'll join me on this journey as I strive to complete this fic. Best regards, the author.
House Harmony, with its fraternity-like structure, was renowned for its legendary parties. These events were extravagant, fueled by donations from other houses and even paid attendees. They knew how to throw a mind-blowing bash. The air crackled with anticipation as the lively festivities unfolded.
Within the vibrant atmosphere, a group of House Harmony members gathered. They had a reputation for their connections to drug and alcohol suppliers. Today, an Earthian man arrived, delivering rum and marijuana. A smirking figure, he boasted, "Because you guys have been good buyers, I'll give this shipment to you half off. It was grown in some guy's basement in Eastern Europe. This shit will knock you on your ass."
Oscar examined the small piece in his hand, skeptically twirling it between his fingers. "Dude," he scoffed, staring at the dealer, "this is like half the size of a vitamin. You're telling me that—"
"I took it, and it knocked me on my ass," the dealer interjected, raising both hands in defense. "Strongest shit I've ever taken," he pointed at the drug with accusatory disbelief. "Had me tripping at my cousin's graduation, but it really makes time fly by and just... tones you down."
Oscar shrugged, exhaling deeply. "Fine," he conceded, handing over the money while revealing a jar of faintly glistening gummies. "You seem legit, so I'll give these a shot."
The dealer departed, disappearing into the spaceship, while other House Harmony members, including navigators, mechanics, and backup pilots, hastily packed away the contraband before the academy's police could make their rounds.
That had been yesterday, and now, Oscar had a sinking feeling that the day ahead would be monotonous and tedious. But he was one of the few individuals skilled enough to pilot a titan, possessing exceptional abilities to match. His attention, however, was drawn to the jar of gummies. "Maybe just one..."
Initially, the effects were subtle. Oscar sought out Jack, Deacon, and Aiden, who were en route to the dueling committee. Arriving earlier than expected, they decided to indulge in a quick smoke. Oscar started to question the entire ordeal, thinking it might be a load of crap.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath while waiting for the elevator. "Can't believe I gave him that extra twenty bucks. That was over an hour's work and..."
The elevator doors opened, revealing Suletta and Miorine. They engaged in conversation, while Aiden and Miorine found themselves entangled in a peculiar love quarrel. Oscar played the role of mediator, assisting Aiden in communicating with Suletta. Aiden's beaming smile and flushed cheeks spoke volumes.
As they approached the dueling committee section, Oscar's discomfort grew. He spotted the prestigious committee members, heirs to powerful families within the Benrett group, destined to shape the fate of the universe. A gnawing ache churned in his stomach.
Oscar's gaze shifted to Jack. "Jackie," he croaked, feeling his tongue go dry and his words slurring.
"What's wrong?" Jack inquired.
"I feel sicky..."
That was all Oscar could recall, just moments before the world around him began to dissolve into a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues and a chilling sensation crept up his spine. His eyes shimmered with a captivating warmth, as if the very essence of beauty coursed through his veins. "Whoa," he whispered, enraptured by the sensation.
It had been five to ten minutes since then. They now found themselves in the dueling committee's area, grappling with the aftermath of Oscar's bewildering episode. "Is he... okay?" Shaddiq's voice echoed in the room. The typically composed and cheerful boy's expression contorted with genuine concern as he observed the members of House Harmony. Each one displayed a mixture of emotions—embarrassment, amusement, and a hint of disbelief.
The other dueling committee members stared, as did the members of Jetturk House, and even Miorine and Suletta, seated on the couch, stared.
"Is he okay?" Suletta whispered to Miorine, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Miorine shot her a look, her mouth slightly ajar, and her eyes wide with incredulity at the question's sheer absurdity. "No," she hissed angrily, taken aback by the apparent cluelessness. "Just look at him."
"I'm sorry," Suletta quickly apologized, bowing her head slightly in deference to Miorine.
Oscar's head tilted back, his gaze fixated on the blazing fluorescent light above. His eyes narrowed to slits, almost as if he were in a dreamlike state. A small droplet of saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth, while his legs remained half-bent, poised for flight or a sudden leap. In intermittent bursts, he burst into fits of chuckling and laughter.
"Colors..." he mumbled to himself, before succumbing to another bout of raucous laughter, clutching his sides. His peers stared at him in utter disbelief.
"Damn, man," Deacon muttered, turning to Shaddiq. "He'll be fine, I guess..."
"He's taken Dan's edibles," Aiden chimed in.
Jack and Deacon both redirected their gaze toward the heavily intoxicated Oscar. "Dan's edibles?" Deacon's eyes snapped back to Aiden. "How do you know?"
Aiden shot them a sly smirk. "How do you think?"
Jack sighed, his attention drawn to the men and women in the room. He moved closer to stand by Aiden's side when...
"Jackie..."
The melodious yet assertive voice filled his ears, causing him to tense up. "Hello, Cecilia," he sighed, bracing himself for what was to come. She perched casually on the couch, her teal blue eyes piercing his soul like a predatory hawk. With her fist resting beneath her chin, she wore a seductive smirk that adorned her rosy lips.
"It's been a while, Jackie," she purred, her words dripping with seduction and playfulness. But Jack remained unfazed. "You should've stopped by more often to visit me."
Jack chuckled at her remark. "Visit you?" He placed a hand over his heart. "You know how busy I am." He played along, enjoying the banter.
"You mind if I smoke here?" Aiden's gaze wandered toward the members of the dueling committee. Many of them shocked into silence to be asked a question like that. But before Elan could respond, Aiden interjected as he took the silence as his answer instead, "Good, thank you."
He popped the cigarette into his mouth, fishing out his lighter, all the while overhearing the conversation between Cecilia and Jack. "You've missed me?" Cecilia hummed.
"Missed you, really?" Jack chuckled, repeating her words with a smirk. His eyes narrowed as he maintained his confident stance. "Do you really think I've missed you?"
An eyebrow arched on Cecilia's flawless face.
Suletta leaned in closer to Miorine, whispering, "Who's she? What are they talking about?"
Miorine sighed, her gaze shifting toward Jack and Cecilia. She realized she would have to fill Suletta in. "Cecilia is a member of the dueling committee, and he is a member of House Harmony. They had quite a tumultuous relationship, from what I've heard in class, and it didn't end well." Miorine's eyes widened at her own realization. Why was she suddenly taking care of Suletta? She turned to meet Suletta's gaze, her light blue eyes locking with Suletta's, accompanied by a faint anxious smile. When did she become responsible for her?
"Come on, you must have missed me," Cecilia purred.
"Nope," Jack retorted, turning to spot Guel and his brother shooting daggers at them. His gaze then shifted toward Aiden. "Once you're done sparking up, pass it over, I need a hit."
Aiden nodded, but frustration spilled from his lips as he struggled with his lighter, now devoid of fluid. "You were one of the weirdest boys I've ever been with," Cecilia said. "Should've listened to my friends. They told me you boys of House Harmony do strange things with your mechs."
This elicited a snort and a faint chuckle from Oscar. His gaze fixed on Cecilia as the heavily intoxicated boy's eyes focused on her. "Funny," he muttered, momentarily coherent within his hazy surroundings. "I heard you like doing strange things with lots of boys."
Cecilia's eyes blazed with fury. The tension in the room escalated as Oscar had just called one of the members of the dueling committee a whore.
House Harmony erupted in laughter. Aiden and Jack nearly keeled over, struggling to contain their mirth. Even Guel and Shaddiq had to suppress a giggle. Cecilia attempted to hide her anger behind her well-placed smile, but the intensity of her rage radiated through the room like a searing steak on a fiery grill.
"Alright, everyone," Shaddiq intervened. "Let's calm down and get down to business, even though there was a lot of..."
The room was filled with tension as Oscar continued to chuckle to himself, his arms briefly reaching up into the air before limply falling back to his sides. His laughter echoed through the space, filled with an otherworldly quality.
"Distractions," Shaddiq sighed, his voice heavy with weariness. "We're here to discuss the disagreement between Guel Jetturk and Aiden Winters. I've already spoken with Deacon, who hopes for a peaceful resolution to this situation."
His gaze shifted toward the two boys, their eyes locked in a fierce stare-down. Aiden, now puffing on his cigarette, blew out the smoke with a patronizing smirk aimed at Guel. His eyes flickered toward the dark bruises that adorned Guel's face, a visible reminder of their previous altercation.
Deacon stepped forward, positioning himself between Aiden and Guel. His eyes darted between the two, his tone filled with a sense of reason. "Listen, I know there's bad blood between you two. But whether you think you're right or wrong, engaging in a duel and risking something that the other wants or needs is a futile endeavor. You've already fought, and you both landed your hits. I propose we let bygones be bygones. You don't even need to shake hands. Just agree to leave each other alone. Can you do that?"
Guel's gaze drifted toward Aiden, his mind clearly weighing the options. But Aiden's mind was already made up, spinning with determination, and he responded without hesitation.
"No," he declared, flicking the cigarette onto the floor of the dueling committee. Shock and disapproval rippled through the room at the blatant disrespect. Aiden's sneaker crushed the cigarette into the priceless wood as he continued to provoke Guel. "How's that black eye, Guel? Struggling to see? How about you listen to the sound of my voice, blind fuck."
Guel's neutral expression contorted into a sneer, but his brother's hand quickly intervened, halting his advance. "How's your dead world?" Guel retorted.
Deacon moved forward, stepping in to prevent any escalation. Aiden's features twisted, baring his teeth at his rival. "Easy," Deacon whispered into his ear, holding him back with a firm grip. Aiden struggled against his hold, but Deacon kept his grip tight. "You started with the insults. You can't get mad that he fired back."
Aiden's features remained tense, but gradually, his muscles relaxed as he took a step back from Guel. "Alright then," Shaddiq interjected, maintaining a forced smile on his face. Deacon observed the enigmatic boy, wondering if he was the only one pondering the foolishness of it all.
How foolish for House Jetturk's ace to be beaten by a member of House Harmony. It had started as a simple fistfight, but now both pilots' egos were aflame, craving a full-blown fight. However, Guel stood to lose the most in this confrontation.
"So, what does each of you want from the other?" Shaddiq inquired, directing his gaze toward the president of Harmony and his ace.
Deacon shrugged his shoulders, his attention shifting toward Guel and his brother. "Why don't you guys go first?"
They nodded in agreement, the tension in the room palpable. Guel's voice filled the air, dripping with annoyance and self-righteousness. His gaze swept across the members of House Harmony before settling on Suletta, his smirk widening, emphasizing his malicious intent.
"If I win," Guel declared, his words hanging in the air, "I want House Harmony and its members to be expelled."
The room filled with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. House Harmony had anticipated this demand from the start. Unbeknownst to Oscar, who was still in a haze from his drug-induced state, the gravity of the situation began to settle.
"You do realize that House Harmony can match the magnitude of what you're asking for, right, Guel?" Shaddiq rose, his voice filled with a firm resolve.
Guel nodded, his gaze returning to Aiden, who remained unaffected and carefree. Aiden, on the other hand, reached for another cigarette, holding it casually between his bionic fingertips. This nonchalant action only further infuriated Guel, but his attention soon shifted back to Suletta, his eyes fixated on her. His lips parted, the words meant for Deacon, but the intent clearly directed at Aiden.
"And also, the girl," Aiden's eyes widened, and the members of House Harmony turned their attention to Suletta. Even Miorine's gaze shifted toward her. "She'll be expelled as well if Aiden loses."
Aiden's eyes widened further, the whites now visible. The cigarette slipped from his fingertips, forgotten in the face of this shocking revelation.
"What?" Deacon snapped, disbelief etched on his face. His gaze narrowed as he scanned the room, his focus settling on Shaddiq, Elan, and the rest of the dueling committee. "Suletta is not part of this. She isn't even a member of House Harmony..."
Deacon's realization came too late. As he saw the blur of movement, he understood that he should have been paying closer attention to Aiden. Time seemed to slow as Deacon's hand shot out, colliding with Jack's as they lunged towards Guel, who had taken a step backward.
"What is wrong with him..." Guel's brother muttered to himself, bewildered by the sudden outburst.
"You fuck!" Aiden's voice reverberated through the dueling committee, his fury unleashed in a thunderous roar. Suletta instinctively covered her ears, lowering her head to her lap. Even Miorine trembled beneath the weight of his words.
Jack and Deacon gripped Aiden's shoulders, their combined strength almost lifting him off the ground. His legs kicked wildly, his mouth frothing with uncontrollable rage. "I warned you," he seethed at Guel. "I warned you, and you didn't listen. Fine, you're dead meat!"
"Direct your anger at her!" Aiden snapped, echoing the warning he had first issued to Guel. Guel sneered, struggling to maintain his cool facade. But he had awakened the beast within Aiden now. "You wanted your duel? Fine then," Aiden continued, still restrained by Jack and Deacon's firm hold. He seethed with pure rage, his eyes blazing with an inferno. "You'll get your duel... you'll get your fight."
Yet, his gaze wavered, his sly smirk faltering, and the anger that had consumed him momentarily subsided as he turned to his side. There she was, Suletta Mercury, her hands tightly pressed against her ears, her long crimson hair cascading around her. Her teal gaze locked on him, wide-eyed and filled with shock. Aiden felt a strange sensation stir deep within him—a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Anger and hatred had always fueled his strength in battle. But as he witnessed the fear mirrored in Suletta's eyes, the same fear he had once seen in Miorine's secluded sanctuary, a wave of realization washed over him. Tears threatened to spill from Suletta's delicate features, her vulnerability exposed after enduring so much in such a short span of time.
Aiden came to a startling revelation: Suletta Mercury... was afraid of him. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. The girl he cared for, the one he yearned to protect, had become frightened by his very presence. Shame coursed through his veins, seeping into the depths of his being.
Deacon accompanied Jack as they led Oscar back to the House, ensuring his safety. Now, it was just him. Aiden should have been preparing in his titan, and Guel should have been doing the same with his mech. They were about to engage in a fierce battle, each fighting for their own desires, their own rewards.
If House Harmony emerged victorious, they would claim the Holder Position, and Aiden would become the heir and fiancé to Miorine. Fifty thousand dollars would be transferred to their main house bank account. And as an added bonus, House Harmony would have the freedom to taunt and torment House Jetturk on three separate occasions. It may have seemed like a minor victory, but if they succeeded, it would be a memory etched forever in Guel's mind and the legacy of his family's house.
However, if Aiden lost... everything would fall apart. House Harmony would crumble, and all its members, including Suletta, would face expulsion from the academy. The stakes were incredibly high, and the consequences dire.
Suletta hurried down the hallway, her steps determined and purposeful, with Miorine closely trailing behind her. Against her better judgment, Miorine called out to her, desperately trying to catch up. "Suletta!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency. The girl remained focused, her mind set on her destination. "What are you doing?"
Miorine's question echoed in Suletta's mind, causing her to pause briefly in her steady stride. Her hands clasped tightly together as she slowly lowered her gaze. "I don't... know," she stammered, her words tinged with uncertainty. "Maybe to apologize, I guess?"
Miorine let out an exasperated sigh, sweat glistening on her forehead. "Your stamina is unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, her gaze fixed on Suletta. "At this point, it's best to let them have their fight and see who comes out on top. You'll only make things worse."
Miorine still couldn't comprehend how things had escalated to this point, how everything had spiraled out of control. Her hand brushed against her forehead as she looked at Suletta, worry etched on her face. But as she pondered the chaos, her attention shifted back to Suletta, observing the girl's awkward movements. It all came back to her. However, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of two boys arguing in the distance.
Reacting swiftly, Miorine grabbed Suletta and pulled her close, shielding her behind the corner of the hallway. Suletta let out a muffled gasp of surprise, quickly stifled by Miorine's urgent whisper. "Stay quiet," Miorine cautioned, their hiding place providing temporary refuge.
Miorine tilted her head, observing Suletta's wince. "Mom would say that this is wrong, listening to other people's conversations and..." she whispered, but Miorine hushed her. They huddled together at the edge of the expansive dueling committee center, concealed within the corner of the hallway. If they peered around the corner, the hallway would stretch out like a T, while Jack and Deacon engaged in their conversation.
Deacon leaned against the bannister of a window, the fading afternoon sun casting a rich orange glow. "Should've told her," a voice murmured softly. They heard the rustling of pockets as the figure produced something. The sound of a carton opening followed. "Why did I wait so long? There were countless opportunities with Nika, so many damn times, and I blew it."
Deacon sighed, brushing his long blonde hair away from his face, then ignited a cigarette. Suletta's breath caught in her lungs. "He has feelings for... Ms. Nika," she whispered to Miorine, though it was too late to keep it to herself.
"Hello!" Deacon called out suddenly, rising from his leaning position and rounding the corner. Before they knew it, Deacon was standing before them, his eyes fixed on the pair. Suletta instinctively hid behind Miorine, seeking refuge in her presence. She knew she shouldn't have eavesdropped, and now she wished she could disappear.
However, Deacon merely offered her a small smile. "Hello," he greeted, turning to face them and flicking the cigarette onto the floor, crushing it under his boot. "My name is Deacon, though I suppose you already knew that," he chuckled to himself.
Miorine and Suletta watched him and his smile, a shiver running down their spines. They sighed, particularly Suletta, who had experienced too much in relation to her encounters with men on campus. Guel's aggression, Oscar's lust, Jack's indifference—though Aiden was protective, she hardly knew him. There was something endearing about his protectiveness, but deep down, a sense of worry lingered. When does protection become possession?
Suletta averted Deacon's gaze, taking a hesitant step forward with her hands at her side, fingers intertwined. "Hello," she murmured softly. "My name is Suletta."
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment; he obviously knew her name. Deacon simply nodded, and she continued, her voice faltering. "I just wanted to apologize for all the trouble I've caused you and your house. I'm truly sorry, and..." She paused, bowing her head before the young president of Harmony, prompting even Miorine to wince and step back. Deacon muttered a curse under his breath. "Please forgive me, and I'll take responsibility," she stuttered.
Suletta closed her eyes tightly, her back aching from the awkward position. But then she heard Deacon approaching, causing her to flinch as...
She felt his reassuring pat on her shoulder, and Suletta opened her eyes, gazing up at Deacon who appeared rather awkward in this peculiar situation. He mustered a smile, attempting to convey that everything was alright. She smiled back at him. "You're good," he assured her, releasing her from his touch as she twirled her finger around. "You don't need to worry so much, you're okay."
She nodded along, raising her head upright once more. Deacon sighed. "You're all good, Suletta," he repeated, nodding affirmatively as Miorine returned to her side. His gaze shifted to the white-haired girl. "How are you doing, Miorine?"
Miorine shrugged her shoulders. "I don't really know why I'm here," she absentmindedly stated.
"Well, you're a good friend," Deacon remarked, his gaze returning to Suletta. "It's nice that you've been supporting Suletta."
Miorine snorted at that. "More like she keeps following me around like a stray cat, and I need to make sure she doesn't get into any more trouble," she said, turning her gaze back to Suletta, who once again buried her head.
"I'm sorry," Suletta sighed. "To both of you. I really didn't expect my first few days of actual school to be like this. I had a whole list planned, and nothing like this was on it."
Deacon sighed in response. "Yeah, I can understand that feeling. This week has been a bust for everyone, really."
Suletta's gaze shifted back to Deacon as she peered into his eyes. "What do you think will happen between Guel and Aiden?" she stammered. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt, and I feel like I'm the cause of everything, and..."
Her words began to break into sobs, her knees quivering as tears welled up in her eyes. Deacon stared at her, not due to a lack of empathy, but because he didn't know what to do. He wasn't close enough to either comfort her as a friend or offer a comforting embrace.
He glanced at Miorine, and she returned his gaze with a look of uncertainty. "Hug her or do something comforting," he silently mouthed to her, shifting his gaze between Miorine and Suletta.
Miorine let out a heavy sigh, a reluctant groan escaping her lips. "Fine," she muttered, causing Deacon to release a relieved sigh.
"Stop crying, foolish girl," Miorine's arms wrapped around Suletta. Slowly and gently, Suletta's tears began to subside, and for a moment, the only sounds were the sniffles from her runny nose.
"I'm so sorry," Suletta whimpered.
"There's nothing for you to apologize for, Suletta," Deacon interjected, his arms hanging at his sides as he looked at her. "What makes you think you did something wrong?"
Suletta shrugged her shoulders, wiping her nose and still sniffling as she averted her gaze. "I... I messed up your escape attempt," she forced the words out, tears forming once more. "Then I messed up Aiden's landing. They had to help soften his landing, but he didn't need help. I should have kept my mouth shut and not interfered with the situation between Guel and Miorine. If I hadn't, Aiden wouldn't have..." She stumbled over her words, but they spilled out from her lips.
Deacon and Miorine exchanged sighs, both unsure of the proper course of action and what to do next. Miorine's icy exterior cracked, revealing a surprising display of humanity. Her wavering eyes gazed at Suletta, filled with empathy and remorse.
Deacon sighed once more. "I keep saying it, but it's not your fault," he said heavily, shifting his attention from Miorine to Suletta. "You can't blame yourself, Suletta. Aiden wasn't even supposed to be on that ship. He disobeyed a direct order, putting not only his own life but the lives of everyone at risk. Afterward, I told him to go and talk to Miorine, to see if..."
"Wait!" Miorine interrupted, her eyes locked onto Deacon. "It was you?" she questioned. "You sent Aiden to talk to me? Why?"
"Well, I was hoping that if he seduced you, maybe you'd push your father to pay for our mechs," he waved it off, but Miorine's horrified expression spread across her features. Deacon's gaze shifted back to Suletta, who was still whimpering and crying. "That was in the past, we moved on. That's all we do—just move on and..."
"Screw that!" Miorine snapped back. "You wanted Aiden to seduce me, to toy with my feelings so that my father would pay for your mechs. Do you have any idea how..."
She clawed at her head, her hands digging into her skull, dishevelling the white strands of her hair in the process. Letting out an irritated groan, she tried to find some semblance of calm. "Whatever," she grunted. "I don't care anymore."
Deacon nodded, understanding that this was a conversation for later. "I was the reason Aiden and Guel got into that fight," Suletta stammered, turning to face Deacon. "If I had just..."
But Deacon shook his head. "This whole thing between Guel and Aiden has spiraled out of control," he sighed. "You may have been the spark, but many factors could have led to a fight between Aiden and Guel. They're both aces, and House Harmony has never been involved in the race to become the Holder... and now it's become deeply personal."
Miorine shrugged her shoulders. "I told you in that elevator that Guel wouldn't have harmed Suletta. He may be aggressive and rough, but he wouldn't..."
Deacon shot her a look that silenced her. "You keep saying that, but that's based on your understanding of Guel. We don't know him," he said, turning towards Suletta. "I don't know what world or worlds you come from, where it's alright or appropriate for a big guy like Guel to get aggressive and invade a girl like Suletta's personal space."
He looked at her again. "You did the right thing, Suletta," he spoke with a smile. "You saved Miorine..."
"More like you stopped my escape attempt," Suletta shrugged, but Deacon continued.
"You tried to save Aiden, and you stood up to Guel when he was being a bully," he smiled at her, and that smile reassured Suletta that she wasn't a bad person who needed to apologize. "You did the right thing, Suletta Mercury."
She paused, wiping the tears from her face and taking a moment to collect herself. Her hand rested on her chest as she spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Deacon."
"Well, you don't have to be so formal with me. Deacon is just fine," he waved her off. "And you're someone who is really nice too. Thank you."
Silence settled between them, but Suletta's gaze returned to Deacon. "Sorry to intrude, but I heard what you said... about Ms. Nika," Deacon paused, and a second later, his eyes widened. His hands instinctively went to the back of his neck as a faint smirk and a red tint appeared on Suletta's and Miorine's faces.
"What are you talking about?" he tried to dismiss it. "Me and Nika... we're just... we're just..."
Suletta shifted her gaze to her hands, fidgeting with her fallen hair braid. She closed her fist and then extended her fingers. "My mother has a saying," she began, looking up at Deacon who was now intrigued. "Are you going to tell Ms. Nika how you feel?" she asked.
Deacon huffed, his face turning even redder as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "You know, maybe, maybe not. Should've done it months ago, but it is what it is," he chuckled awkwardly. "It's just... it's never been the right time. I was going to do it during class, but..." He sighed, his back slumping.
Miorine wrapped her arms around herself and observed him. "This is the president we're talking about. He's not afraid to fight and can control the wildcards in his own house, but confessing to a girl seems impossible?"
However, Suletta looked at him with sympathy, sighing softly. ""If you move forward, you gain two; if you run, you gain one," she murmured the words to Deacon.
Deacon heard her and nodded. "That's what Aiden always tells me about Nika," he said.
Suletta sighed, no longer stuttering or in tears. She stood tall and proud. "If you keep on running, you'll only delay the inevitable answer," she paused, determination shining in her eyes. She raised a second finger, capturing his attention. "But if you move forward, if you tell her how you feel, whether she likes you back or not, you'll still have the strength and knowledge of what you accomplished."
Deacon stared at her as her words sank in. His breath hitched as he realized it. How long had he been postponing this? How much time would he waste before getting that answer? How many hours, days, or even months would he let slip by for a girl who might not even feel the same way?
There was the brave choice, and there was the choice that would lead to never knowing. And here was this strange girl from Mercury offering him the answer to that question.
He chuckled. "Thank you, Suletta," he said with a smile. "You really helped me out."
Suletta bestowed a heartwarming smile upon Deacon, but Miorine stepped forward, her expression serious. "What would Aiden tell you to do?" Miorine inquired, earning curious glances from the others. "You mentioned that Aiden had a way of speaking to you about Nika."
"Oh, that," Deacon chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips as he scratched the back of his head. "He just tells me to stop being a bitch about it and get it done."
Before any of them could respond or react, their notebooks emitted a blipping alarm, capturing their attention. Deacon's face lit up, his determination evident. "It has begun."