Not my world - Xaden Riorson reader

Oh, this dick of a man

I Instantly look at Violet's left knee. She's masking it well, trying to bear weight equally on both legs. This was becoming a more challenging task, giving her a slightly shaking left foot.

"Is your knee okay?" I asked hushedly so no one else would hear, not even Rhiannon, who looked around like we were in Disney Land.

Violet's eyes go wide. Rhiannon is solely wrapping me up with her arms while saying.

"I can't thank you enough, y/n. I would have fallen off at least three times if I hadn't gotten your help. You were right; the soles had no grip. Have you seen the people around here? I knew I just saw a girl with pink streaks in her hair, and one guy has dragon scales tattooed up his whole bicep." Wonderment is dripping from her words.

"Conformity is for infantry," Violet says when Rhiannon slips one arm through each of ours and we walk as a trio. We make it maybe ten feet before Violet falls onto Rhiannon.

"Speaking of which, y/n we need to trade back boots. Oo! There a bench right–"

Stopping Rhiannon's sentence is a tall man in an immaculate black uniform charging us. Rhiannon has good reflexes. I happen to see what asshole is headed our way. Violet has neither advantage. Smacking right into his chest.

"Violet?" a concerned male voice asks. Thank God he grabbed her, or she would have hit the ground...again. He is attractive, no doubt about that. His skin is light like Violet's, but he has puppy-dog brown eyes and swooping brown hair on his face from having to look down at Violet. I can see his jawline from here, and it's lovely. He could cut your finger nicely, and he's pretty fit. But I think I am going to have to get used to having muscular men around me.

'He is still a dick, but he was a pretty dick," I think as he snaps at Violet.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Dain. It's good to see you too." Violet gets out the words before her knees crumple from beneath her. 'I swear if I drank every time you fall/get injured Violet I would be dead'. Dain pulls her back to her feet and quickly guides her away from us. They are in an alcove of a wall, its shady enough, and there is a wooden bench Violet is sitting on. Rhiannon and I turn and give a quick look before heading over at a brisk pace to meet with them. As we approach, Dain rubs Violet's back, and her head is between her knees.

"Who the hell are you two?" Venum seethes

"I'm Rhiannon and this is y/n. We're Violets...Friends." She says, unsure.

"Listen here, girls. Violet is fine," he commands. "If anyone asks, it's just adrenaline working out of her system. Understand?"

"It's no one's business what's going on with Violet." She responds just as sharply as Dain.

I ignore both of them, and I am untying Rhiannon's boot to give back. I am hoping to have time to dirty up this one as well.

"You'd better mean that." He's warning her.

"I could ask you who just the hell you are." She retorts. 'Asshole, disloyal...' I start thinking, getting up from my knees.

"He's one of my oldest friends." Violet's voice is trembling, and she probably looks green.

"Oh," Rhiannon backs down a bit.

"And a second-year rider, cadet." He growls. Rhiannon takes a step back, and I slip her shoe off my foot and pass it to her, trying to be subtle. So far, it seems no one has noticed.

Dain is looking after Violet, and Rhiannon takes the hint to untie my shoe, and I shuffle through the gravel with my hands to get to some dust or dirt. The grit gets underneath my fingernails and makes my sweaty hands dry. But my boot no longer looks as bad of a sore thumb. I've ignored Violet and Dains' conversation until now when it involves me.

"You trust these too Vi?" He nods towards us.

She nods, definitely deep in thought.

"All right," he stands and turns to us. "I'm Dain Aetos, the leader for Second Squad, Flame section, Second Wing." Rhiannon looks a little impressed. Me, not so much. I slowly shuffle backwards to ensure he does not reach for a handshake. He holds a hand out for Rhiannon, and they have a firm but brief shake. Then he turns to me. My eyes widen as he holds his hand out for mine to meet.

"My family is against handshakes with people of higher ranks," I say fast and lace my fingers together behind my back. "It's not respectful to meet their touch if it's not earned." I lie through my teeth, just hoping that he won't press.

"Ok then." He gives me a pointed look and is either intrigued by me or suspicious. It doesn't matter to me if his hands stay to himself.

"Parapet should be over in the next couple of hours, depending on how fast the candidates cross or fall. Find the redhead with the scroll; she usually carries a crossbow. Tell her that Dian Aetos put three of you in his squad. If she questions it, you tell her she owes me for saving her ass at Threshing last year. I'll bring Violet back to the courtyard shortly." Rhiannon and I glance at Violet, and she nods.

"Go before someone sees us." Dain demands.

Rhiannon is shoving her shoe into her boot. "Going" and quickly lacing it.

We make our way away from old friends and arm in arm back into the crowd. There are so many people. Most are second or third-year riders, all of which are different from the redhead Dain described.

"Do you think she has a soul?" I say with a laugh. Rhiannon looks at me funny and raises her brow.

"Why wouldn't she?"

"Since she's a ginger," I say like it's a fact. Not noticing how she looking at me, still looking for the redhead.

"How does being a ginger and having no soul relate?" Rhiannon takes my arm to look me in the eyes. She seems curious and confused by my statement.

"Oh, I just mean it's something the people from where I am from say. I didn't realize it was just us. It's just a joke." Under her gaze, I shrivel like a worm. My stomach turns into a knot. I've never been the most liked. Other people saw me as weird until I found my group of people. Now I don't have that. I must mask my jokes and hobbies since I don't want people to know where I am from.

Rhiannon doesn't look convinced by my answer and says, "Where are you from? I am from the Morraine Province, right by the Cygnisen border. My parents own a blacksmith shop. I've been training to become a rider my whole life. What's your story, y/n?"

"It's not much. I have a family, but I don't talk to them often. I'm from in the mountains and live away from most people. There is not much to know about me. Have you seen the girl Dain mentioned?" Trying hard to change the topic and looking at anything else but Rhiannon. To my happiness, she doesn't question me further.

"I haven't spotted her, oh but I spotted her." Rhiannon is checking out a woman with dark brown hair in a pixie cut and hazel eyes. She's much taller than I am but looks to be an inch shorter than Rhiannon.

"I'm gonna go over and say hi if that's ok?" She gives me a slightly pleading look.

"Of course," I say, giving her shoulder a slight push towards the frankly hot woman. I am just going to wander. Don't worry; I won't go too far." I say with a smile. I want to look around. She gives me one last smile before sauntering off to the lady I am pretty sure is Tara.

I stand still and take in the environment. Some people wear nice black uniforms, and others have flight jackets, which adds to the effect. But one man stands out among the rest. He is a full head taller than the men around them. He will probably be two heads above mine. His back is facing me, but I can see his blonde hair. It is cut shorter on the back and the sides but seems left flowing on the top. I am staring at him and taking in his everything. I stare at him briefly when he turns and makes eye contact. His lip turns up into a slight smile. I immediately turn around, embarrassed for being caught. My face, and ears feel so hot.