A Month Of Kaider

Seventeen: Not Really A Battle

A/N: Warning: Bullying, some violence.

Cinder drops the bag she'd just been handed, rage running through her veins.

She can see the silhouettes of Kai and Cress inside the media classroom – she can see the silhouettes being shoved against the wall. They both fade immediately but she knows that's not necessarily a good thing.

Out of their group, Cress is the only one who can't physically fight very well and Kai is the one who's too peaceful to hurt others. But their group doesn't mind it, simply becoming way too protective, and that's saying something, considering that they're known to protect each other to every limit and beyond.

She swears under her breath, making the boy in front of her gasp.

"What, you've never heard a girl swear before?" she asks sarcastically, not waiting for his response.

Of course the door is locked, of course it is.

It takes her a full five minutes to pick it, breaking two of Winter's bobby pins in the process.

Once she's inside, the sight of Kai curled into a ball shatters her heart, each shard travelling through her until she can't take it anymore.

There are two boys and a girl who are clearly unconscious, slumped against the wall. Cinder whistles, knowing that Kai must have done it, then swears because that means Cress was in danger.

Kai doesn't fight... Unless he's being protective. And it was definitely an unfair fight because there's four of them left.

Without missing a beat, she strides forward, curls her fists like Wolf told her to and punches the boy closest to her. Her hand throbs painfully but the boy's explosive cursing and the look of pain on his face is worth it.

"Cinder, don't-" Kai's protest is cut off as another boy kicks him, hard.

Kai gasps and Cinder makes a show of clicking her neck. She waits until each boy's focus is solely on her before clicking her knuckles.

"Step away from him," she orders.

"Why? Trying to suck up to him and avoid detention?" one of them jeers, clearly new and ignorant.

Cinder just smiles. "Not quite."

She lunges forwards, punching the boy so hard that his nose cracks and he stumbles backwards, cradling his bleeding nose with a yell.

"He's my boyfriend. Touch him and you'll regret it."

"He knocked ours out," one argues.

"To get back for Cress, I'm sure." Cinder glares.

She can see the proud, loving smile on Kai's face but resists the urge to smile back, instead focusing on the boys in front of her: One of them has the audacity to scoff so she sighs and kicks him in the solar plexus, smirking as he falls to the floor.

She lets Kai pull himself up using her as a ballast and they exchange a look to ask if the other is alright.

"Come on, give up already. He deserves it."

Cinder pauses for a moment, knowing what Kai's reaction will be if she seriously injures another student.

The boy mistakes her self-restraint for weakness and moves to deal a blow but she steps back, evading the punch and kicking him in the abdomen. Kai punches him to finish off and the boy groans, wraps his arms around himself, then curses.

"Anyone else want to try? I'm just warming up." She glowers at them.

They do, stupidly.

She and Kai both punch someone at the same time, both of them laughing as they grin at each other.

"Touch-the-freaking-é," one of them mutters, backing up.

Soon enough, the whole group has stumbled out, all of them muttering about a ruined opportunity. Clearly not known for loyalty, they leave the three unconscious students slumped against the wall.

Cinder watches them leave before steadying Kai, who's currently leaning against the wall.

"I'm okay," he breathes, wincing.

"You're leaning against the wall," Cinder points out.

"Hey, being upright is the first step to walking," Kai argues. "Cress..."

"Where?"

"Dark room..." he points to the small, locked door.

"I hate to do this but needs must," Cinder mutters, knowing that it would take her forever to pick that lock.

She sighs as she calls Thorne. He picks up immediately, laughing, "What is that that you need my excellent skills for?"

"Cress. Pick the lock?"

"Dark room again?" Thorne sighs before hanging up, and Cinder knows he's on his way.

Cinder brushes Kai's hair back, gently rubbing the bruise on his forehead. "Are you okay?"

Kai nods, "Really, I'm fine."

"Does this... Does this happen often?"

"As far as the school hierarchy goes, I have a fairly powerful position."

Cinder frowns, "So?"

"So I've given their friend a detention and this is just their revenge."

"What? I don't agree." Cinder says bluntly, both loving and hating his quixotically optimistic outlook on life. "What about locking Cress in the dark room then?"

"Cress was simply accompanying me, unfortunately. A case of bad timing..." Kai looks guilty so Cinder kisses him, properly.

They're both giggling as they pull apart and Cinder whispers, "It wasn't your fault."

Kai kissed her forehead, "It's worth it if I get to see you in battle."

She blushes, smiling despite her anger. "It's hardly a battle."

"Of course it is, you punched him... and more!"

"You knocked some of them out!"

He just grins. "You're still more of a natural warrior."

Cinder chuckles, "I wouldn't have to be if you'd stop being such a damsel."

"Who's a damsel?" Thorne asks, dramatically sashaying into the room.

"Shut up and go rescue your girlfriend," Kai mutters softly, and Cinder has to applaud his uncanny ability of knowing how to get everyone's attention.

Thorne looks speechless before aiming finger guns at Kai and pulling something out of his pocket. Probably whatever he uses to pick locks.

Kai and Cinder watch as Thorne quickly, with a touch of swearing, unlocks it and Cress practically falls against him, gasping.

Thorne freezes but quickly pulls her into a hug, one hand around the small of her back and the other around the back of her head.

Cinder smiles a them, sharing a look with Kai, who winks. She shakes her head. "I still can't believe you think I'm a warrior."

"I don't."

"You just said..." Cinder frowns.

"I didn't mean it," Kai tells her but he's smiling so she just grins back.

"What did you mean?"

Kai leans closer so he can whisper, "You're not a warrior but you're my empress and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Cinder gapes at him, almost overbalancing. "Stars, Kai, you can't just say things like that!"

Kai shrugs and entwines his fingers with hers, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand, "I love you."

And, now unafraid to call it love, Cinder leans up to kiss his nose, "And I love you."

They don't even care that Thorne and Cress can see them.

They're too caught up in each other.

This has 2000 views on FFN and I'm just... *screams* so yeah... hope you enjoyed, see you tomorrow!