You're Never Alone

Chapter 10

word count: 2041

A couple days later in the warehouse, Dan and Joe finally find a time to spar against each other after a day of working over plans. From sunrise to sunset, they've all been trying to get things organized and with the king getting more confident as he kills more people, the faith the people once had in the rebels is deteriorating. That morning the king had killed another person, a boy with bright blue eyes and toffee hair roughly around their age with eyes filled with pure terror as death quickly came upon him. Now Dan and Joe stand across from each other with devious smirks on their lips.

"Hmm I wonder if Princey can fight," Joe taunts and Dan rolls his eyes at the weak tease.

"Just you wait," Dan replies. "You won't being saying that when your ass is on the ground."

Joe raises a brow with confidence. "We'll see."

Joe dives at Dan but it's an easy move to avoid as Dan just simply steps to the side, forcing the icebender to collide with the floor. Joe quickly gets back up and Dan's ready with his hands by his face as he leans into a fighting stance. They weren't going to use powers because they both knew that would be unfair. Joe once again runs at Dan but Dan is more prepared this time. As Joe approaches him, Dan ducks to the side of him, appears directly behind him, and grabs him by the waist, using his strength to lift him over him head and simply toss him over his shoulder.

He lands on the floor with a thud and a groan which makes Dan laugh as he turns to look down at the smaller man. Joe doesn't give Dan time to think though as he springs up and lands a punch on Dan's jaw. Dan focuses once more and dodges Joe's blows while managing to get a few in himself. At one point Joe wriggles his way under Dan's arms and flip him over his left, making Dan land on his back with the wind knocked out of him. As Joe's guard drops, Dan swiftly knocks his legs out from beneath him and laughs as Joe falls while he stands. That's when he takes a moment to notice Phil watching from the doorway of the empty room Joe had managed to find.

"Having fun?" Phil asks, unamused with a frown. Dan scoffs as he helps Joe up.

"Phil," Joe responds with distaste. "We were only sparing. It's not like we blew up the city."

Phil glares at his friend and Dan gives a look of disbelief to Phil. "No need to be a fucking asshole. God what's got you in a bad mood?"

"As a matter of fact," Phil starts before his hand grabs Dan's throat and slams him into the wall next to the door. "It's you that's gotten me into a bad mood." Dan surprisingly laughs despite his lack of air supply. Phil throws Dan to the floor and Dan coughs and wheezes as air enters his lungs.

"Phil! What the fuck are you doing?" Joe yells but Dan looks up at him and shakes his head as he stands shakily.

"Stay out of this Joe," Dan says sternly and Joe nods as he watches instead from the side. "Phil, what's this about?"

"You know exactly what this is about!" he spits with furry and Dan takes careful steps backwards as Phil takes steps forwards. "I was beginning to like you but then I got some information from your father. He sent me a note himself and told me something that I should've figured out a long time ago."

"Phil, I have no clue what you're talking about." Dan internally cusses as actual fear makes his stomach churn.

Phil stops and laughs bitterly as he recalls the memories. "It was four years ago when I was only eighteen years old. I was running through the streets with rebels surrounding me as we all ran from you and your soldiers. My brother and father were both fighting with me and my mother was the second leader next to my father so she was helping rebels in need.