Glimmer of Compassion
“I. Will. Rip. Your. Face. Off.” Miho’s voice crawled out as Apollo stood between her and Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn popped another bubble with her gum, holding her towel behind her neck. The crowd still roared her name.
“Um, Miho. Remember, we have to get others to help us.” Apollo looked back at Kaitly,n and Miho noticed that he seemed scared of Kaitlyn. So much so that he was holding HER back. It bothered her like nothing else. It was bad enough she was in this town, that they cheered her loss, that she lost. Again. It was a slap in her face that he would risk his life touching her. Protecting her.
“Why are you afraid of her?” A tinge of curiosity mixed with equal parts jealousy and anger.
“I’m not afraid of her,” Apollo whispered.
“I can hear you,” Kaitlyn said, appearing by his ear. Apollo turned to face her while backing up into Miho.
“I um… I’m not afraid of you… I just respect you enough to not want to fight you on your turf.”
“What was that earlier?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She’s talking about how you attacked her before she spat her gum in my face,” Miho’s low, deep voice growled.
“Oh, see what had happened was…”
“Shut up,” Kaitlyn said. “So, what — you going to break the rules of the game?”
Miho looked at Apollo, who turned his back to Kaitlyn. Pleading with Miho to stop, put the beast back in its cage. Her anger, the bloodlust, wanted to tear into her worthy opponent. To get her back. But she thought of her siblings. How Nike needs to be brought down. Something about Apollo’s cocky nature being subdued to protect her made her feel unpleasant. But also something she wasn’t used to feeling. Trust.
She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “Fine. Nike is the bigger threat, but after we’re done with her, I’m taking your friend out… and this crowd.” The crowd started booing as they were expecting another fight.
“Aw geez, this bloody crowd is just as bad as mama bear over here,” Kaitlyn said to Miho. “Follow me — let’s go somewhere nice and quiet.” She started to walk around the ring, where another ramp led to an entrance part of a stage. Apollo motioned to her to follow, and again the beast in her wanted to snap, but she followed. Taking another deep breath, both of them moved several feet away. The crowd deafened them, booing but cheering Kaitlyn at the same time.
“I thought you were going to kill me there for a second,” Apollo said, his cockiness returning. “I would have had to put you down before we got started.”
“I was, but you’re right. For once, I need to keep my brother and sister safe. They’re humans. If she means to kill all humans…”
“Ah, so you’re not just a polar bear of the streets. You’re a mama bear.”
“Watch yourself, matchstick.”
“Believe it or not, it’s a compliment. Males in all species are protectors. Females are nurturers until their offspring are in danger. But bears? It’s different. The dads are horrible, and the moms are the ones who do everything.” Apollo put his arms behind his head.
“What’s your point?” Miho questioned him, both with annoyance but also that uneasy trust feeling. Something similar to what she had with Iceberg. Respect? Or something more? She couldn’t figure it out.
“That I imagine even polar bears have those instincts. You want to protect them from Nike. It’s… cool.” She noticed that his posture was relaxed, not ready for her to attack him like he was when they walked through Bridgeport. Was that because of Kaitlyn, and he figured she could save him? Did he think the two of them were bonding?
“Shut up. You don’t know me.” Miho quipped.
“And I don’t want to know you, just making an observation,” he said.
They followed Kaitlyn through the bright green entrance curtain on top of the ramp. A short black corridor with two doors on each side. One with Kaitlyn’s name on it. They went in, and to Miho’s annoyance, all there was was a sofa, a dresser, and a bookcase. A small desk with a TV and a computer desk. No Irish posters — pretty bare. Boring. Miho, despite her own self-awareness of her arrogance, still wanted a sense of glamour. This was a disappointment.
“I would say I’m sorry for our impromptu match, but I would be lying,” Kaitlyn said, propping herself on the sofa. She went to put her legs up before remembering she didn’t have a coffee table. “Damn it.”
“How did you know we were coming?” Apollo asked. “I didn’t call, and you were expecting me.”
“I have my ways.” Kaitlyn smiled and popped another bubble, which was starting to get on Miho’s nerves.
“It was me. I tapped her off.” A sultry, low voice said. The tone was warmer than Miho’s, though. In the doorway was a short girl. A side ponytail held together by a cover with a black snake pattern with yellow stripes. She had muscular thighs with the same snake pattern as a tattoo on her right leg. She wore a bright yellow cropped jacket, a white leotard accentuating her legs, and had a black taper on top with a small yellow lightning-bolt stitch in the middle of the black and white. Clearly a gymnast and a street fighter.
“Aira… is that you?”
“In the flesh, Shades. In the flesh.” Miho noticed Apollo looking at Aira with shock and then anger. He turned to Kaitlyn. “You got your information from her?”
Kaitlyn popped another bubble and didn’t answer. But Miho could see anger on the face of the girl who beat her — something she wasn’t able to make Kaitlyn show. Who was this girl?
“Trust me, Apollo. I almost punched her face in when she got her.”
“Almost? Honey, you did punch me in the face.” Aira said, rubbing her cheek.
“Why are you here… wait… are you following me?”
“Who is she?” Miho started to growl.
“The champion of the Gymrat Club,” Kaitlyn said.
“Oh, one of our rivals, very upscale despite the name,” Miho said, looking her up and down. “I see you’re as flat as your club. How old are you, twelve?”
Aira clutched her chest with a smile. “Oh, I haven’t heard that one before. Polar bear of the street got beat.”
“Keep your rhyming up and you’re going to get beat.”
“I second that,” Apollo said.
“And I third.” Kaitlyn stood up and spat out her gum. Miho knew what she felt from both of them. Their inner beasts were coming out. Something about Aira got them all riled up, and she liked it.
“Am I missing something here?” Miho asked.
“Oh, nothing at all, Miho. Aira used to be part of our gang.” Kaitlyn stood by Apollo, who didn’t take his eyes off Aira.
“Yeah, then she betrayed us and got us locked up in juvie.” Apollo sneered.
“Now, now, you two. Take accountability. We were doing wrong, and I told Dr. Ray. He’s the one who put y’all in juvie.” Aira shrugged.
“And not you…” Apollo snapped back.
“So why is she here if you two… don’t trust her?” Miho was ready to fight; she needed to take her recent loss out on someone.
Aira looked at Miho, not paying her former friends any attention. “Because Miho, Dr. Ray is like our father, and he’s missing, and WE all still need him. I’m here to help.”