Compass - Banana Fish x Reader

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Repressed

Two more days passed by, but I still hadn't properly recovered from my panic attack. Even when Shorter took me down into one of the old abandoned subway stations to keep his promise, I wasn't all there.

"Maybe we should call it a day. You're obviously still feeling like crap." He sighed, picking me off the concrete by the scruff of my shirt.
"I'm not! You're just a shitty teacher!" I whined, brushing the dirt from my rear and knocking his hand away. "You've got it easy! You're tall, and have muscles! I'm like a twig compared to you!"

My voice bounced off the walls, and I could hear Sing muttering from his place on the stairs, bored out of his mind. He had insisted upon tagging along, but wasn't proving to be the best company.
"Not our fault you're a chick. Give it up already."

He may be adorable, but he's a little turd!

Shorter glanced between the two of us and thought to himself, finger moving to scratch around his eyebrow piercing.
"Sing, come here for a second." On command, the boy strutted over, and his boss rested his arm on his head. "So, what can you do, sweetheart? You said you took self defence classes, but you kinda suck."

Pouting, I crossed my arms and focused on the faded grafitti on the walls.
"I did gymnastics for eight years. Dance for twelve. Unlike you, I wasn't raised on violence." The youngest of the two didn't seem to take my quip well, but Shorter just chuckled, leaning a bit more weight onto his underling's head.

"I think I can work with that. Flexibility can be a weapon on its own. Let's try something." Ushering Sing forward, he beckoned me closer, and once I had complied he explained his idea. "Pretend you're dancing with Sing, but stay apart. He's leading, so you use his movements to direct your attacks."

It made sense, in my mind, but at the same time it wasn't exactly fair. Even though he was a kid, Sing had experience, whereas all I could do was aim and pull a trigger.
"This is so lame..." Still, Sing took an offensive stance, and I mimicked him to the best of my ability.

It's been a hot minute since I've done any of this shit...

We began to circle each other, and I took two steps each time my opponent took one. Despite his age, he was still taller than me, and the way he glared told me that, whatever I chose to do, I had to move fast.
"Good, good...now, land a hit." Shorter seemed pleased with himself as he stood off to the side, watching things unfold. "Whoever lands first gets a meal, on me!"

I was glad that I hadn't been focusing on the pineapple head as he spoke. Sing lurched forward, but I was ready. Of course, I stumbled when I jumped out of his way, but I didn't fall.
"Tch, do I really have to hit a girl? She'll probably start crying." That pissed me off, but it also gave me an advantage. It told me that he was going easy on me.

Again, he came at me, this time with a little more speed, and for no reason other than to show off, I threw myself into a cartwheel. That in itself didn't go awry, but when I landed back on my feet, I couldn't help but take a few steps back to regain my balance. I hadn't realised I'd gotten so close to the edge of the platform.

I was lucky that Shorter was standing close by. With a grunt, he grabbed me by the arm, stopping me from falling to what would have certainly ended in a concussion. Still teetering over the edge, I deflated when Sing padded up to me, reaching out and flicking me directly between the eyes.
"There. I win. You owe me some ribs."

"Not gonna lie, that was still a pretty good trick, even if you nearly died." Shorter laughed, dragging me back onto solid ground. "Let's head back. Sing, you can go tell Big Sis I promised you food." The boy had already started wandering off, waving over his shoulder.
"Thanks, Boss."