Conflicted (Brothers Conflict)

Chapter One

A/N: Images used are just found from google searches (unless otherwise stated as fan art given to me).. I don't art well

I woke with a start, it was the same nightmare I'd had off and on ever since I could remember. Car horns, flashing lights, sirens, people screaming and the sound of crushing metal and breaking glass, it was all a blur in the dream, but the sounds were so vivid, it always shook me. Careful not to disturb my younger sister, Ema, from her slumber, I crept to the bathroom. After a quick shower to get rid of the film of sweat, I changed into a black sports bra, black stretch capris and a simple black and neon green stripped sleeveless track jacket.

Juli, my sister's cute pet squirrel, stopped me at the door, "Where are you off to, E?" His indigo eyes were filled with curiosity.

"I'm going for a run, Juli. Keep an eye on Ema, I won't be out long." I scratched him lightly beneath his chin before stepping into my simple black tennis shoes, and walking outside.

It was a brisk spring morning, I could still see my breath in the air. Pulling my hood up, I jogged down the sidewalk heading for a nearby park I liked to run at. After graduating from high school, dad allowed me to take a break. All I wanted to do was fight professionally, I'd been scouted by several talent scouts during my high school martial arts matches. Dad didn't want me to pursue fighting professionally, he thought it was too dangerous, but it was my passion in life.

Jogging past a coffee cart stationed outside the park entrance, I was hit with the smell of espresso and pastries. I popped in a pair of earbuds as I reached the park and wove in and out of the casual park goers trying to find a large vacant stretch of the trail along the riverside to let go and sprint.

Running always relaxed me, whenever I had a rough day in the past, I'd just go for a run, clear my head and feel like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Dad was pushing me to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, apparently working at a gym part time and training wasn't good enough. He only wanted what was best for me and wanted me to further my education so I'd be able to make a good living, but all I wanted to do was fight on a professional level. I'd been asked to join an underground cage fighting ring in Europe, it was only for a few months, just the preliminaries and if I made it through I could join the worlds division and would be able to fight locally, but my father would definitely not go for it.

After I passed all the leisurely walkers, I broke into a sprint, stretching my legs. My gaze fell on another runner about twenty meters ahead of me and I felt a sudden competitive urge to pass him. He too had decided on a similar color scheme with his workout gear, black and bright green, with bright green headphones. From what I could tell from the distance and from observing him from behind, he was tall, seemed fit and had orange hair that was perfectly tousled. I kicked myself into gear and ran as fast as I could, resisting the urge to laugh as I ran.

I darted past him after catching up to him in no time and chanced a glance over my shoulder as I raced past him curious if he'd try to race with me. He glanced up as I ran past him and our eyes met for a brief moment, he had breathtaking violet eyes. His eyes widened for a fraction of a second as our gazes interlocked and I couldn't help but smile before turning away and picking up my pace.

A laugh bubbled up in my throat as I heard him behind me, over my music, he'd picked up his pace too, and was trying to catch me. Perhaps I'd finally found a running partner. I'd been running at this park nearly every day for a few years now, I'd met a few nice people but no one that could keep up with me.

He held my pace. I chanced a glance and met his gaze once more, those violet eyes were light and filled with interest and amusement. He looked like he was enjoying himself.