Work and baby baking really exhausted me this week so I skipped two days, but here's today's update.

Prompt - Academic rivals except it's two teachers who compete to have the best class

"You realise my class is better, right?"

Dimitri arched a brow and closed his book with a finger between the pages. "What makes you think that?"

I laughed, flipping my hair over my shoulder with a wink, "Because I'm teaching them."

"You forget, Roza," he started, "I'm the one that taught you."

Another laugh bubbled from my mouth. I climbed onto the bed, crawling my way up his long legs until I straddled his waist, rocking my hips a few times just to see his eyes darken. "Yes, but you won't be teaching any of them the same things you taught me."

Dimitri's hands grasped my thighs, the book forgotten on the covers. "How about a bet?" He offered in a low tone, eyes dragging down my body. "At the end of the month, we have a competition and see which class is better?"

He knew my weakness. "What do I get when I win?"

A grin pulled at his lips, rolling his eyes at my assumption that I would win. Why wouldn't I? I was a part of the Royal Guard and killed my first Strigoi as a novice. Sure, some techniques I taught were learnt from Dimitri, but I made the classes more fun than just running and zen lessons.

The fact those things had helped me was beside the point.

"Bragging rights," Dimitri stated, hands creeping up as he spoke, "of course."

"Of course. What else?"

"Loser has to buy the winner's class drinks."

"Lame," I snorted, "Deal." Dimitri smirked as I lowered my face to his, hovering just above his lips, "I would have done it just to brag about being the better teacher."

"You're going to lose," I teased Dimitri in passing; my class joined in with the cheers from across the field. Both classes were running, an eagerness from them all as they pushed themselves.

The competition was easy, comparing the running times, weights, and a final sparring match between the students until we had a winner. It was only fair as teachers, we also had to spar. The thought of kicking Dimitri's ass gave me enough motivation to win.

Dimitri was a better person than me and didn't return the teasing, just a half smile and a roll of his eyes. Christian didn't hide whose side he was on, booing me from the sideline; Lissa told him off when she had time to watch. Word travelled around the guardians, and the betting pool grew.

While everyone loved the idea of Dimitri being bested, he was still a God among guardians; no one expected me to win.

It would make it all the better when I made them eat their words.

"I offered the bet as a joke, but I think the rivalry is beneficial," Dimitri commented one night as we got ready for bed. "They are all improving."

I hummed from the bathroom, noticing the same thing with my group. They were already trained guardians, most fresh from the academy, but they could be better. Hans had pushed the idea through, convincing Dimitri and me to train them to be better. The Strigoi were overpowering guardians and we needed to get ahead of them.

"Competition is good. Why do you think I got so good so quickly?" I joked.

Dimitri puffed his chest out. "Because I'm a good teacher."

I rolled my eyes, "I wanted to beat you." I climbed onto the bed and kissed his cheek, "And I did." The day I bested him in front of the school was still a highlight.

His arms curled around me, pressing our bodies up together. Dimitri's lips brushed the shell of my ear; his warm breath made me shiver. "I let you win," he teased.

"Liar."

"Fuck."

Lissa patted my shoulder. "It might get better."

I looked over the recorded times and weights again—it would not get better. My group was losing. "I'm going to have to kick his ass," I declared. I couldn't lose now, not after weeks of claiming he would.

"Your students are good at sparring," she offered, attempting to cheer me up again. I nodded, feeling better.

"They are." It was their best skill. From the start I had challenged them, training them how to keep up with my speed in a way that even Dimitri would struggle with at times. I lifted my chin, "We can do this!" I turned to my group, determination renewed. "Let's kick their asses!"

Dimitri's arm slipped around my shoulders, tugging me against his side with a kiss pressed to my temple. "It was very close."

I resisted pushing him away, settling for taking the drink from his hand—the drink I had to buy.

It was close. My group would have won, but Dimitri played dirty and managed to take me down. I couldn't believe I was the reason we lost. It was a blur, and I hadn't realised he had caught me off guard until I was on the ground and he was straddling me with a practice stake pressed to my heart.

"Enjoy it while you can!" I pouted between sips of vodka. I reached up and gripped the collar of Dimitri's shirt, pinning him in place with a determined glare. "We will do this again, and I will win next time."

A wide smile spread across his lips. "I look forward to it, Roza." His lips met mine, kissing me with more passion than he would have when completely sober. "But until then," his tone low, then his voice rose, "I'm the winner."