Never Tell Me The Odds

Chapter 23

Leo's POV:

I fall to the ground after Qi'ra knocks me to the ground for the 20th time today, out of breath. "I think.. I need.. a break." I say between breaths.

"Fine. I have to use the bathroom anyway, I'll be back." She drops her staff and walks away off to the bathroom without another word.

"Hey RJ?" I sit up looking over at RJ who beeps in response to me. "Does Qi'ra seem... mad at me?" I query thinking how hard she's gone with our training today.

"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?" He asks walking over to me and sitting himself next to me.

"It just seems like it, with how hard she's been kicking my ass in training right now. If she is, I have no idea what I did" I sigh and look down at the dirt ground beneath me.

RJ just beeps sadly, then I hear footsteps. I look up thinking it's Qi'ra back from the bathroom but I'm instead met with Kyly holding a cup of water. "Hey. I thought you could use some water, here" She smiles squatting down in front of me and handing me the cup.

"Ah thanks Kyly. I am pretty thirsty" I chuckle and chug the water hearing her laugh. "That was very refreshing, especially after being knocked on my ass so many times." I chuckle softly handing her the cup back.

"I saw that. She's pretty tough on you huh?" She queries raising her eyebrows at me.

"Eh not usually like that. It's fine though... or she's going to kill me from being mad. Who knows" I shrug laughing to myself as she stands up and rolls her eyes.

"Here get up" She holds out her hand to me smiling softly.

"Thanks" I grab her hand and get up as she pulls me to help. "You know you could always sit out here and watch us train. Even though today its me getting my ass beat left and right." I grumble making her giggle.

"As entertaining as that sounds, I think I'll pass for today. We can hangout tonight though." She smiles beginning to dust my shirt off as I look at her confused.

"If you say so." I chuckle and look behind her seeing Qi'ra standing at the door shooting daggers at me with her eyes. "Oh h-hey Qi'ra"

"I'll head back in now. Have fun" She kisses my cheek taking me by surprise then quickly scurries inside past Qi'ra.

"What was that about?" She asks coming back outside and grabbing her staff from the ground.

"Oh nothing, she just brought me out water" I squat down grabbing my staff and stand back up. "We can get back to training." I hear her hum while starting to spin her staff. RJ quickly retreats back to where he was stood before. "Go a little easier on me ok?" I chuckle wearily and stand in a defensive stance.

She smirks taking an offensive stance, "Fine. Let's practice evading attacks. I want you to block my attacks and then roll away to evade another attack. Got it?"

"I can do that. Probably" I shrug and get ready for her to begin attacking. Then she jumps forward striking down and to the right but I quickly bring my staff up and block her. She spins around striking me from the other side but I'm able to block that one as well. Then she strikes straight down so I quickly roll out of the way and try to quickly stand back up. But I stumble back leading her to smack my arm.

"You need to be smoother when getting back up to your feet. Not being able to keep your balance and falling back leaves you vulnerable. Try again" I groan getting myself balanced on my feet. She begins the same sequence of strikes as before. I again roll quickly out of the way but this time I'm able to balance myself better but she's still too fast and kicks me back. "That was better. Let's try it once more" we do it again, I evade her strike and have better balance than before. She swings at me again so I quickly block her attack then swipe her feet out from under her making her fall.

"Now who's been knocked on their ass?" I chuckle now standing over her as she rolls her eyes. "Here I'll help you up" I hold my hand out to her smirking slightly. She takes my hand letting me help her up. Once I help her she moves her staff to smack me but I move my staff up blocking her and him in amusement. "You're not getting me with that this time"

"You're getting smarter" She winks, chuckling then steps back. "I think that's enough knocking you down on your ass for the day"

"Hey I just knocked you on yours!" I jab my staff into the ground in a huff making her laugh.

"Yea yea. I'll give that one too you, I didn't think you'd do that" She smiles walking past me and lays her staff outside the back door.

"Hey do you want to-" I turn to her to ask something but I see Gil waving from inside the house.

"Hey kid! I need you back at the shop. Mind coming with me?" He comes up to the back door smiling.

"Sure I don't mind. You want RJ to keep you company?" I look over at Qi'ra as RJ makes his way over to us.

"No it's ok. I think I should shower and then maybe go back to the ship to lie down" She smiles softly while dusting herself off.

"Feel free to use our bathroom to shower of course. I'll have lover boy here back in no time!" Gil laughs grabbing onto my shoulder as I laugh nervously.

"I'll be right back" I kiss her cheek then set my staff down with hers and follow Gil out with RJ close behind.

"She doesn't seem mad anymore." RJ beeps hopping besides me as we walk to Gil's shop.

"I still wonder what she was mad about before." I scratch the top of my head confused about earlier. "I'll have to talk to her later. For now let's help Gil" I reach down picking RJ up and setting him on my shoulder continuing to follow Gil to his shop.