Lovers or liars

Chapter seven

Kai and Chris' jaws dropped after watching me hit every target.

After giving me a gun and talking me through the basics of how to use it, they looked so smug thinking I am just a ditsy girl who's never shot a gun before. Jokes on them though, I actually own two pistols and go to the shooting range every Thursday. My aiming is almost never off.

I turn around to face the two men, tilting my head. "What?" I ask innocently.

I can feel the grin forming across my face as both guys don't respond. Not knowing how to of course. They have just rightfully been put in their place. I can't stand when people think I can't do something just because I'm a girl. I always find a way to prove them wrong, but it pisses me off, nonetheless.

"That was...um that was really good" Kai said clearing his throat. He sounded really impressed but looked exactly the same. Sometimes, I wonder if the muscles in his face simply don't work.

"Really good?! That was fantastic! I've only ever seen one other person shoot like that, and he's stood to my left. Heck! I bet you're even better!" Chris blurted out. Everything about his voice and body language showed me how amazed he was.

"Tch. Alright calm down. It was good but not that good. Don't push her ego" Kai said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest.

"What? Jealous that a girl might actually be just as good as you? If not better." I questioned, trying to make my voice sound playful and cold at the same time.

"No. Of course not. You've got a good aim, sure. But shooting a still target is a lot different from being in an actual fight or hitting a moving target" 

"Why don't you guys just fight it out?" Chris interrupted.

"I can't hit a girl" Kai smirked.

"I would never of thought that the great Kai would scare out of fighting a girl" I already started making my way over to the mats, knowing that he would follow.

When I turned back around, it was to no one's surprise that he was following me. If I received a dollar every time this guy scoffed, I'd be rich.

As he took off his jacket, I took off my jumper to give myself better movement. I've been watching Kai for a while now, the way he carries himself when he walks, the way he moves when he stretches. I know his preferred hand is his right but, he is also pretty skilled with his left. He is also right footed, not so skilled with his left. Kai seems so have a lot more strength than you'd think.

At first, I stay defensive. Watching and learning how he attacks and how he falls back. He swings first with his left hand, aiming for my rips. I pull my hands down and block his shot. He is light on his feet and his eyes never leave mine.

After about five minutes of Kai attacking and me defending, he stands himself up a little taller and smirks. "When you're done dancing, let me know" He said, winking at me as he dropped himself back down.

That was enough. I had the information to know the right attacks and I was ready to fight. Kai seemed to falter slightly as I began smiling and lowered myself even more. He knows I am only just getting started. I stepped forward with my left foot and swung my right first forward, making contact with Kai's left rib. He was shocked. He hadn't taken me seriously and I know now that he regrets it.
His eyes glare at me as he steps towards me using his left foot, I step forward to put him off but, to my surprise, he doesn't budge. Slamming his fist into my stomach. He winded me. I fell back against the floor, clutching my stomach. His face lightened knowing he beat me. But I wasn't finished yet.
Surprise spread across his face as I stood back up, glaring directly into his soul. In that moment I was truly pissed off, and so was Kai. I listened to the sound of both of our panting breaths, embraced the heat rising in my body from anger and exercise. My mind turned blank. My best ability is to be able to completely shut off, turn down my mind to almost nothing. The taste of iron in my mouth made me release all my anger onto Kai.
We hit each other, knocked each other down but got back up every time. We didn't stop. Back and forth for what felt like hours.
Slowly we became more and more fatigued. Unable to give the same power as we started off with. My muscles were burning through my skin, I still pushed on. I needed to be the last one standing.

Suddenly I felt something tugging me away from Kai. I snapped out of my trance to see Chris ripping my body away from Kai's. Kai dropped to his knees, panting. I did the same as Chris let go of my numb body. We both collapsed and lay on the floor, trying to catch our breaths back.

"Never have I seen something like this."  Chris stated, looking like he's solving the worlds hardest maths equation in his head.

"Who...won?" I asked in between heavy breaths.

"It's a tie!"

"WHAT?!" Both Kai and I shouted, painfully sitting up.

"I know! I have never seen anyone get that close to beating Kai before...ever. I mean Kai is the best we've got! Yet, you're telling me that some random girl he just so 'happened' to meet a few days ago, can last over an hour in a fight with him...and still not lose? No, I don't think so"
Chris stopped to think before starting again,
"Astrid, your aim is impeccable. Your fighting skills match our top fighter. And don't think I haven't noticed how perceptive you are...Who the hell are you?"

Kai sat up, finally able to breathe again. He looked all over my body, as if it would answer his questions then stood up next to Chris. I did the same, mainly so everyone wouldn't be looking down at me.

Chris looked at me once more before asking "where did you learn to shoot and fight?"

I waited a moment before answering, hoping that they would just give me a minute to rest up after what's just happened. After standing in an uncomfortable silence for a minute or two, I spoke up.
"My father."

"Who is your father" Chris started interrogating.

As I was about to speak, my eyes shifted over to a very tense looking Kai. He shot a glare over to Chris - which he did not notice - before scrunching up his fists and dropping his head. Confused, I carried on anyways
"Alexander Cruiser"

"A-Alex?? Alexander Cruiser is your father? But... he?" Chris' eyes darted all over the room before slowly turning to Kai, who was still looking at the floor. A weird look plastered over Chris' face before he turned back to face me.
"I didn't know Alex had a child."

"Children...he had children." I tried so hard to hide my emotions, but I was never the best at doing so when talking about this subject.

Kai's head shot up at my statement. "Had?"

I opened my mouth to explain but couldn't bring myself to do it. My mouth immediately closed again. I locked my eyes shut and bowed my head down towards the floor. Silently telling myself I'm not going to cry. Chris swiftly changed the subject, seeing my state.
"Uhh...Kai, I will go and sort out the rest of the...um equipment that you need. I'll be back in a minute" He then shot off.

Silence grew over the room. It wasn't awkward but wasn't comfortable either. It was a needed silence.

The sweat clinging to my damp shirt made me shiver under the breeze. My sore muscles ached even more as they tightened under the cold. I felt a warm material being placed over my shoulders and a lump slide up next to my body. Kai fixed his jacket over my body and stood next to me.
The silence never left but I didn't mind it. It was peaceful.
I crossed my arms over my chest and wrapped Kai's jacket around me, tighter.

When I turned to face Kai, I noticed a small smile, peacefully resting on his face as he looked to the room in front of us. Turning back to look forward, I couldn't help but smile too.

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