Normally Basic Training made getting up in the morning worth it. Not today. Not after that weekend.

The moment he arrived for class, Jay could feel people watching him the way they did at the beginning of the semester. And he was still off his game because he couldn't shrug off the attention. Every nerve was just waiting for someone to pick a fight. For someone to be brave enough to challenge him again.

Despite not being the ones in trouble, his pack was a target again because no one was going to believe they were actually innocent. That much was obvious with the way some students were watching Ben too. And the fact that he hadn't fought back wasn't going to be overlooked. Idiots like Chad were going to think it meant they could beat him in a fight.

No he wasn't as strong as some of them, but he beat Chad once already so he wasn't completely outclassed. The problem was one, he couldn't actually fight back if he wanted to stay out of trouble, and two, he didn't know who was strong enough to beat him and who wasn't.

For all he knew, the one who punched him was one he couldn't have beaten if a fight broke out. Just the fact that the other man landed a punch on him made his skin crawl. He shouldn't have been hit so easily!

"Jay."

Shaking himself, he focused on Lonnie. "What?"

His voice was sharper than normal and she frowned, but didn't push it. "I asked if you were ready to spar."

"Yeah. Sure."

Frown deepening, Lonnie opened her mouth. He didn't give her a chance, lunging forward and forcing her to meet his strike.

A clash. A twist of her wrist. Disarmed. Legs swept from under him.

Cursing, Jay hauled himself to his feet. "Again."

"Jay-"

"Again."

And again. And again. And again.

And again.

On his ass every single fucking time in only a matter of seconds. Even though he knew he could last longer than that. Had lasted longer than that in past matches.

"Fuck." Fuck! Godsdamnit. Jaw aching from how tightly it was clenched, Jay forced himself back to his feet. A few feet away, Lonnie watched him, her dark eyes too soft, too kind, and it took all his self-control not to sneer at her.

"Jay. Maybe we should tal-"

No. The last thing he wanted to do right now was talk. He had nothing to say. At least nothing that wouldn't start a fight. And even he wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight with the closest thing they had to an ally. Let alone one that just kicked his ass seven times.

Pointedly ignoring her, Jay dodged around her outstretched hand and set off down the track. He needed to move. Needed to do something. With his pack out of reach and out of sight, this was the best he could do. Not only was he stuck in class, but even if he wasn't, he didn't have anyone else he could casually fuck around with, someone who could handle his rougher side.

It wasn't important right now. All that mattered was burning off the anger. The frustration. Running the trackuntil he couldn't go any further. Which could take a while with his stamina.

He stopped counting laps after seven and by the time Ben walked down to the edge of the track, Jay had almost forgotten that class was still going.

"Jay."

Ignoring the prince, Jay jogged past him. When Ben fell into step beside him, Jay shot him a look.

"Want to spar?" Ben asked, keeping pace, gaze on the track ahead of them.

Spar? Honestly, he wasn't sure. Training was always more effective than running, but getting his ass kicked again wasn't appealing. Then again, Ben wasn't as good as Lonnie. Jay stood a better chance against him. Even if he lost it wouldn't be nearly as bad.

"Fine," he agreed, voice clipped.

Ben didn't comment. Instead he led Jay over to an open area of the field where there were already two swords.

So he'd planned this. And Jay didn't know how to feel about that.

He settled on irritated. Easier than thinking about it.

Grabbing a sword, Jay stepped back into his starting position.

Ben copied him.

They lunged at the same time, blades locking at the same time as their eyes. And for a moment, Jay thought he saw a similar anger in the Prince's eyes.

With a twist of his wrist, Jay broke away, circling. Ben mirrored him, both of them watchful and ready to strike. Ben was the one to close the distance first. Sword raised, Jay met Ben's strike, parried, and struck out. Without breaking away, Ben blocked before throwing his weight forward, trying to knock Jay off balance.

Jay managed to keep his balance and he brought up his sword to return the favor. They went back and forth, Jay trying to lose himself in the spar. The rhythm of the fight. But it wasn't working.

Things were supposed to be less complicated in a fight. Straightforward. Easy to understand your place. But today it wasn't. Fucking. Working.

Ben was holding back. The prince who never had to fight for his life was holding back and Jay was still losing. Jaw aching, Jay tried to swallow his anger. It would just make him sloppy. And sloppy made you lose. Got you killed.
But he could feel people watching them and he couldn't focus and godsdamnit!

Those Ascendancy bastards needed to stay out of his pack's business and drop what happened over the weekend. That way things could go back to the way they were last week. But everywhere around him, people were watching and it was putting him on edge. He just wished everyone would drop it so they could go back to how things were last week.

"Alright!" Coach Brolk shouted. "Wrap it up! Swords away and all of you off to the locker rooms."

When Jay hesitated, Ben nudged his shoulder and nodded towards the track. That was definitely more appealing than dealing with everyone in the locker room. With a shrug, Jay followed Ben to the track. Together, they walked in silence for a while.

"How are you holding up?" Ben finally asked.

Frowning, Jay glared at him. Nope. Not happening. He was not in the mood for this conversation. Now or ever. Not with a fucking prince.

"It's fine if you guys need some space," Ben assured him with a small shrug. The prince offered him a tired smile. "I'd need some too after that shit. I just…I don't know. Figured I'd ask."

"You're right." When Ben glanced at him, Jay held his gaze for a few seconds. "We do need space."

Ben winced and ran a hand through his hair. "Alright. I'll let the others know."

Jay didn't really have an answer for that and Ben didn't push for one. They finished another lap of the track in silence before heading back to the locker room.

The more he talked with the prince, the more questions he had. What was Ben after?