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[h1]Where the Phone Goes[/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/jw3F1O9.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/rF32h3E.png[/img]
[h2][color=B0C4DE]Brent[/color] | [color=ff57ff]Siena[/color][/h2]
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[hider=𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟙𝟛, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝟙𝟠𝟛𝟘]
Siena hadn't noticed that she'd left her phone in her rush, hadn't even stopped her incessant wandering for long enough to realize it until she was certain that it was too late to retrieve it from the cafeteria.

[i]'[color=ff57ff]You fucked up.[/color]'[/i] The thought kept replaying in her head, along with everything else that had just taken place. She shouldn't have done that...ah, but it was too late.

Gingerly, the girl rubbed her now-damaged hand, abrasions singing their praises for her less-than-professional need for some sort of release. A mistake, considering that she was still under the full assault of too many emotions. Anger, remorse, guilt--she shouldn't have been so harsh. A bigger mistake, considering her last vestige of sanctuary did not include any names that would heal her, only names that might have prevented the damage to begin with, had she bothered to remember. Despite all the sentimentality she carried for the booklet she'd looked through, Siena had tossed it aside near her bag, the pages open and splayed haphazardly over the sheathed blades. Absentmindedly, the Arbiter continued to run her fingertips over the abrasions--she'd have to find a healer to fix that later. 

Shouldn't have left her phone. Damn it.

[i]'[color=ff57ff]I should apologize.[/color]'[/i] Was that really the wisest course of action? Her stomach lurched at the idea of heading back to the dorm. It would be easier to apologize--it had really been her fault, right? For pushing so hard for an answer, even when Marcus hadn't wanted to give one. Her fault for not keeping herself in check when she should have been able to. Another mistake.

...at least she still had a few hours of peace. 

[color=B0C4DE]"Yo, 'ena, catch."[/color]

A beat later, a thin, rectangular object hurtled through the air towards the preoccupied literary girl.

[i]'[color=ff57ff]Wh--shit![/color]'[/i]

One hand shot up, the phone hitting her knuckles, earning a slight wince at the impact. The second hand moved to correct the mistake, managing to catch the device by pinning it against her torso. It took a few moments for the identity of the object to fully register in her head, grey eyes retracing the trajectory to its source. 

She failed to offer the weary smile she wanted to give, instead only managing a weary tone.

"[color=ff57ff]...thanks.[/color]" 

[color=B0C4DE]"Nice catch,"[/color] Brent replied, stepping out from the shadows, [color=B0C4DE]"Where you headed?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Does it really look like I'm heading somewhere?[/color]" Too sharp. Siena grimaced faintly at the tone. "[color=ff57ff]...sorry.[/color]"

Brent ignored the unexpected sharpness in her tone, rolling his shoulders instead. [color=B0C4DE]"If you don't have anywhere to go, wanna do some sparring? Haven't gone over my kickboxing routine in a while."[/color]

Sparring...an uneasy part of her warned her to tread lightly, but a firmer part stamped the queasy feeling away. It wasn't like she had to worry about controlling another name. 

"[color=ff57ff]...yeah, sure.[/color]" Pocketing her phone, the girl ignored the stinging protests that came alight across her knuckles. It was a welcome distraction, she told herself. 

[color=B0C4DE]"Training grounds then,"[/color] he nodded, before departing.

Past evening, the amount of people present in the place was even less than before, making it ideal for having a fight without getting into too much trouble. The subnaturals in USARILN East probably had better things to do than gossip about who's brawling with who, right? Right. Stepping onto the empty field and enjoying how open the entire place was, after the almost claustrophobic cafeteria, Brent breathed deeply. His eyes flickered back to Siena, up and down, before he asked, [color=B0C4DE]"Don't mind grass stains?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Probably the least of my concerns.[/color]" Siena replied, finding a sense of relief at how empty the space seemed. Fewer people meant less to think about, didn't it? [i]Less to consider in case the small pocks of starlight started to flicker out into flesh one by--[/i]goddamn it. Masking the momentary lapse of thought with a reflexive motion to brush stray locks of hair out of the way, Siena sent her gaze over Brent, not exactly looking at him, but close enough. Pulling her bag from her shoulder, the mage moved to drop it out of the way, the contents clattering against each other as the bag hit the floor. "[color=ff57ff]Probably won't need these either.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Entering a fist fight with a bag o knives would be pretty cheap, yeah,"[/color] Brent replied, before tapping fists with Siena. [color=B0C4DE]"Let's have a fair fight."[/color]
[hr]
Fair as it was, it still only worked out as exercise. Brent had stuck to the basics, no real effort made to rush Siena down, while the storm eyed girl seemed to be drifting off on her own. No conversation, no kiai, only a silent exchange of fists, elbows, kicks, knees, strikes without the intent to maul either party. Almost rhythmic, an ebb and flow of combat many times less frenetic than their last physical encounter. For really training their individual fighting skills, it was lacking, but for getting the blood flowing? For casting troublesome thoughts away with motion and muscle memory?

Suited that purpose well.

Wiping sweat off his brow, Brent let out a sigh, breath misting in the cold, night air. Above, a purple night sky dappled by clouds. Around, fluorescent lamps shining searingly bright light.

[color=B0C4DE]"Guess we can call it a day."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Sounds like a plan.[/color]" Regaining her breath had been easy, but regulating her temperature was a task that might have been more easily completed if it had ever occurred to shed her coat. As it were, grass stains were the [i]least[/i] of her concerns, heat trapped against her, a light coat of sweat clinging to her skin. The movement wasn't quite as distracting as she'd hoped--at least, it hadn't been until the first time she'd hit the floor rather unceremoniously--but it had been enough, for the time being. 

Part of her wished that it had been more, but a greater part understood [i]why[/i]. If she wanted to be honest about it, the temptation was enough to make her stomach squirm in discomfort. [i]Would they count? If she allowed just a little bit of that hunger course through her veins, would it have sated her long enough?[/i] Again, she imagined scarlet welling up over skin, of how quickly the unrelenting heat might pull back if she just indulged one time.

And she knew the only reason it kept coming to mind was because it was getting harder to believe that light would shine with a pristine white on anyone. 

"[color=ff57ff]Thanks for the sparring practice.[/color]" [i]It was nice to stop thinking for a bit.[/i] "[color=ff57ff]It's nice to get some air.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"No prob,"[/color] Brent waved, [color=B0C4DE]"Looking forward to seeing you punch out a DC monster now."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]You mean the ones that look human?[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Pretty sure you've already done that,"[/color] he replied, always so light, [color=B0C4DE]"Gotta move on to CQC against Black Dogs now."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I think I need more protection than a Burberry coat before I try that.[/color]" Only half-joking, she realized, but casual was...easier, right? She tried to stoke the usual flame. Easier, even if the expression felt forced. "[color=ff57ff]Contrary to popular belief, I want to [i]keep[/i] my arm intact.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Tsk tsk, that's the problem, 'ena, you [i]think[/i] instead of do,"[/color] Brent laughed. [color=B0C4DE]"And really, your arm will be fine if you just don't get hit."[/color]

Terrible logic, of course, but everything lead somewhere.

[color=B0C4DE]"How are you feeling though, after Marcus?"[/color]

She faltered. Of course. 

"[color=ff57ff]I don't know.[/color]" [i]Liar.[/i] "[color=ff57ff]It's...a lot to take in at once.[/color]" [i]Liar.[/i] 

He peered into her eyes, through her eyes.

[color=B0C4DE]"That's the general response, yeah."[/color]

[i]Fuck.[/i] 

Out of habit, Siena turned her gaze away. It had been worth a shot. 

"[color=ff57ff]I'll take a wild guess and say that's not cutting it for you.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Thought I cleared that up before. If you don't wanna answer, just say so, instead of bullshitting."[/color]

A smile crossed his features.

[color=B0C4DE]"Pegged you as someone who would know more times that not, anyways."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]You'd be surprised.[/color]" Siena made no attempt to hide the faint, bitter tint in her voice, one hand jammed into her pocket, tracing the edges of her phone again. Comfort or courage. She didn't know which one it provided then. 

But she did know what she was feeling then. Too many things that she had to compartmentalize. Too many things to know which one was taking the lead at that point. 

"[color=ff57ff]I [i]want[/i] to be angry.[/color]" Because anger felt [i]good[/i]. Better than the other emotions it usually came coupled with. "[color=ff57ff]..but I'm honestly just...disappointed.[/color]" Not disappointed. Hurt. Aching. Disappointed was just an easier emotion to express because there was only one form of it. Again, her fingers traced the edges of her phone. Comfort or courage. She didn't know which one she wanted more.

[color=B0C4DE]"Suppose I'm the same,"[/color] he said, glancing skywards, at the stars that have yet to fall, at the invisible veil that Dreamcatcher enshrouded the world in. [color=B0C4DE]"Though to a lesser extent. Had a long time to let my thoughts on it settle and numb."[/color]

She couldn't suppress a bitter fascimile of a smile. 

"[color=ff57ff]So did he.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Gonna be pretty awk rooming with him after, huh?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Understatement of the hour, really.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Well, if you don't have a doghouse to banish him to, you could always chill at my place. Doubt Grant minds."[/color]

It was a tempting offer. More time to put her thoughts together, more time to pull everything in and get the worst of the backlash under control, and most importantly, less time to let the storm get the better of her. It might be the wiser move--there would be no need to try and explain to Callan if the girl saw anything wrong either. 

"[color=ff57ff]If...if you're sure,[/color]" Siena started the carefully formulated reply. "[color=ff57ff]It's...probably better if I make myself scarce around my dorm for now.[/color]"

She was the most expendible one there, after all.

[color=B0C4DE]"Cool, let's call it a sleepover then. Haven't had one of those before, have you?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Unless recent lodgings count, no.[/color]" It took more effort than it should have for her to piece together the smile she needed. "[color=ff57ff]No bodyguards to try and eviscerate you here for the suggestion either.[/color]"

[color=B0C4DE]"Just as planned,"[/color] Brent chuckled.
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