Two Sides to Every Coin (OPM Garou x OC)

Chapter 10: Man?

The tournament was now over, Garou was the winner of this year's Super Fight. However, Garou's main priority, right now, was to make sure Kaana was okay. For some reason, he blacked out in the middle of the match and when he came to, he was suddenly the winner. Kaana, however was unconscious and taken to the Medical Bay.

The officials had made Garou stay for the closing ceremony, although he really didn't want to. His thoughts were only on what happened when he was fighting Kaana and if she was okay.
Bomb and Bang noticed how unsettled Garou seemed during the ceremony, so they went to go check on her for him. Garou had noticed them leaving, but didn't care where they were going.
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The ceremony ended and Garou got the check for the prize money. When he got it, he immediately went to go find Kaana, or at the very least, find out if she was okay.
The Martial Artist rushed down the corridor, looking for the Medical Bay. As he turned the corner, he nearly ran head on into someone. He dug his heels in to stop from ramming into this person, but when he got a good look, he blinked, "Kaana."
It was, in fact, Kaana. And Kaana didn't look as though she had been through a big fight, either. In fact, she was out of her Gi and wearing regular clothes.
Garou was a bit confused, but before he can  say anything, Kaana gave a smirk, "Thanks for not holding back. That was more fun than I thought it'd be."
Garou blinked at her, before grabbing the bridge of his nose, "Wait, how are you okay, right now? You were unconscious."
"Despite how it might've looked, I actually wasn't hurt that badly. The double palm you used simply threw me from the platform and I slammed into the wall. Master Bomb and Bang came to check on me, but I was already awake and leaving when they came by. Aside from a mild headache, I'm fine," Kaana then asked, realizing his slight distress, "You were that worried about me?"
Garou's eyes widened and he averted his gaze, his cheeks turning red. Kaana held her hand close to her mouth, concealing a giggle at his bashfulness, "You don't need to be embarrassed."
"I'm not," Garou quickly denied, then rubbed the back of his head, "If you're fine, then I just worried for nothing. We can leave the stadium."
Garou was about to turn to head to the locker rooms when Kaana shot a hand out to grasp his wrist, "Um, Garou?"
Garou looked back at her, "What?"
Kaana pursed her lips, looking hesitant, but finally asking, "Can I take you out to celebrate?"
He furrowed his brow, "Take me out?"
"You won the tournament. Don't you want to celebrate?" Kaana gave a hopeful smile, "My treat. I insist."
Garou had a gut feeling that this would not be a good idea. He was about to say no, but the words got caught in his throat. He found himself staring. He saw how hopeful Kaana looked, her eyes giving a sparkle and that soft smile.
He knew he couldn't deny her, then. Garou shut his eyes, heaved a sigh and relented, "Fine. Let me get changed."
He pulled his wrist from her grasp and went to go get changed. Kaana stood there for a moment before smiling brightly, happy that he willingly agreed.
~
Back in the locker room, Garou pulled off his ruined shirt, feeling the dried blood pull at the fabric. He figured that he'll have to tend to his wounds before heading back out. He took a cloth and started dabbing at the blood covering his right arm.
Garou then grew perplexed, as he wasn't feeling any sting from his wounds. He wiped the blood away and found that his wounds were no longer there, 'They're gone already? Can't remember the last time they healed this quickly. I guess, when I was on my journey to become a monster. Perhaps, fighting this hard triggered some old abilities of mine. Whatever.'
Garou paid this development no mind and continued to clean the blood away, then pulling on a black T-shirt and jeans on, pulling his brown jacket on, as well. Heading back out, he saw Kaana waiting down the hall for him.
Silently, he walked up to her, hands in his pockets. Kaana noticed and smiled his way, "Ready?"
He gave a disinterested grumble before inquiring, "So, where are you dragging me, anyway?"
Kaana just gave a giggle as she grasped his hand, "You'll see," Garou tensed at the feeling of her skin touching his, but said nothing as she led him out of the stadium.
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"No way," Garou stood on the sidewalk of a back road, Kaana stood at the entrance of the establishment.
Kaana argued, "It'll be fun, just trust me, will you?"
They were currently standing in front of a bar, and as soon as Garou saw it, he was adamant about not going in.
Kaana wasn't having any of it, "Come on, what's the big deal?"
"Alcohol dulls your senses, and I don't think either of us want to worry about goons and being plastered," Garou argued, but his reasoning weren't entirely true, 'If I wind up drinking, who knows what'll happen. I won't be able to control this thing clawing in the back of my head. I can't chance that, especially not with Kaana around.'
"Garou, you're always all work and no fun. Quit being a stiff and let loose, for once," Kaana got in his face, "Besides, I can hold my liquor better than you, so I'll make sure nothing happens."
Garou felt a vein pop in annoyance, "Is that some kind of jab at me?"
"Well, fighters are known to be lightweights," Kaana gave a light smirk, she knew Garou enough that he didn't like to be proven wrong, "I'm the exception, though. Bomb likes to reminisce over some sake on occasion."
Garou gave another grumble, "You're trying to goad me."
"Is it working?" Kaana teased. Garou wanted to walk away from this, but Kaana had good intentions when suggesting celebrating his victory.
Scowling at his lack of will to deny her, he ground out, "Fine, just one drink."
They both entered the establishment, Kaana first while Garou followed behind, brooding. Kaana took it upon herself to have them sit at the bar at the back of the place. Garou sat on her left, Kaana sat and smiled at him before being addressed by the bartender, "Hi, there. What can I get you folks tonight?"
"Um, we should start with some food," Kaana then looked at Garou, who wasn't paying attention, "Garou?"
Garou, who had his head in his hand, just waved dismissively at the man, "Some burgers, if you got any."
Kaana just sighed in annoyance at his attitude, then addressed the man politely, "Two burgers with fries. We'll have some drinks, later."
"You got it," the bartender left as soon as he wrote down their orders. When he left, Kaana's polite demeanor dropped and she frowned at Garou, "You don't have to be so rude, you know."
"I don't want to be in this dump," Garou replied simply. Kaana just huffed and turned her head away angrily. Garou caught it, but didn't say anything, although he felt guilt twist in his gut.
The bartender who had taken their order was by the pick up window, talking with the chef when they both looked over.
"Well, don't they look all happy?" the chef said a tad sarcastically, but was sympathetic, "Are you sure they're a couple? It seems like that guy doesn't even want to be there. Feel bad for the lady."
The bartender replied, "I don't know. I've seen this happen, before with other customers. Two people who seem to hate each other always manage to wind up making out in the corner after a couple of drinks. The guy looks like he's just too wound up."
"Well, what do you suggest, get them drunk?" the chef asked.
The bartender gave a smile, "No, but maybe they do need an icebreaker. Do we still have the special stock?"
Meanwhile, the two friends were giving one another the silent treatment when the bartender came back with two glasses filled with a gold liquid.
Kaana noticed and was quick to say something, "Um, I'm sorry, but we didn't order any drinks."
"This is complimentary; on the house," the bartender smiled at her, "It's a cocktail made with our special brew of Japanese whiskey. It's strong, but there's no burn."
"Oh," Kaana was kind of flustered but was quick to smile, "Well, thank you."
The man gave a nod and turned to help the other customers. Kaana was quick to pick up the glass and examine the contents. Garou noticed, and an unusual feeling of paranoia set in as he watched her. Before Kaana can take a sip from it, Garou had plucked the drink from her hand.
"Hey!" she snapped at him. Garou held the drink to his nose and he gave a sniff, his inhuman nose trying to pick up anything that wasn't supposed to be there. Aside from the smell of the alcohol, there was nothing dangerous. Still, Garou didn't want to take any chances, so he switched their drinks.
Kaana was bewildered, "What are you doing?"
"Making sure your drink isn't laced with anything," Garou explained, "No one just gives away a free drink for the hell of it."
"You realize that they can lose their liquor licence if they did that, right?" Kaana then reluctantly added, "But, thank you for looking out for me."
Garou gave her a side glance, his hardened gaze softening slightly. Silently, Garou held the drink to his lips, hesitant. It's true, what Kaana said about fighters being lightweights, as the sugar in alcoholic beverages can make you gain weight. With that being said, Garou had never really drank.
Still, he was there, and if he didn't like it, then he just won't do it, again. Garou took a sip and he was pleasantly surprised by the taste.
"Oh, it tastes like honey," Kaana spoke, a smile of pleasant shock on her face, "but it isn't overbearing, either."
Kaana was right. It tasted like honey, but the sweetness of real honey wasn't there. There was a warm zing as it went down their throats. Garou wouldn't admit it, but he kind of liked it.
Pretty soon, their food came around and they ate silently. The air wasn't as tense as before as they drank their beverages.
"Was everything to your liking?" the bartender asked. The food was gone and their glasses were empty.
Kaana smiled, "Yeah, it was. I was hoping we could get another round of those cocktails?"
"Certainly," the bartender went off to get them more. Kaana looked expectantly at Garou, who had grown very quiet.
Garou, after having finished the first rink, felt pleasantly relaxed, but didn't feel drunk, at all.
"Garou?" he lazily glanced at Kaana, "Are you okay with another?"
He gave a shrug, "Whatever," Which was a yes.