Strike force - Assemble

Chapter 7

"Welcome back." Luke greeted Damian as he arrived at the Academy. "There is an hour before we have our first official lesson."

"Ok. I didn't know that I would actually miss this place." Damian laughed.

"I know what you mean. The academy is like a second home to me." Luke admitted. Damian looked at Luke.

"Do you stay here a lot?" Damian asked.

"Yeah. Without parents, I have no real need for my house in Australia. Only when I'm visiting friends or competing in an event their do I go stay at that house." Damian was shocked with this news. He, like most of the world, had believed that Luke had parents, just because that was what most people had.

"I'm, so sorry." Even though it wasn't Damian's fault Luke didn't have parents, he still felt he had to apologise.

"I can't bring them back, so I think about other things. There is no point feeling bad for me. I'm used to it." Luke spoke sincerely, but in a tone that said the conversation was over.

"What have I missed while I was off saving some of my family members? Damian asked.

"Just progressing and enhancing skills. Everyone is almost up to Sara's skill with a sword." Luke seemed grateful for the change of subject, despite what he had said earlier.

"Wow. Hopefully I can catch up." Damian was starting to feel like catching up would be impossible.

"Well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how far behind you are. We are just having solo lessons today to teach you more about your superpowers." Luke said.

"Could I rather have group lessons with everyone else? I have figured out a lot about my superpowers recently." Damian asked.

"Okay, you may. But then you only have an hour till lessons." Luke told him.

"That's fine." Damian replied.

"Ok, your first lesson is hacking. Followed by sword training, then archery." Luke said.

"Ok. I will get ready." Damian said.

"Oh, and Sara has subtly tried to figure out when you were coming back. I noticed, and I just wanted to warn you." Luke whispered cheekily. Damian's cheeks reddened.

"She has been acting weirdly towards me." Damian said.

"I know. It is obvious she likes you." Luke was starting to get on Damian's nerves now.

"Yeah? Well she needs to know that I'm not interested." Damian growled.

"Tell her you don't want to be sappy with her." Luke teased in a high pitch voice. Damian punched him in the arm, and they both started laughing. Luke rubbed the spot Damian hit. "Yeesh, that actually hurt."

"Not such a big tough man, hey?" Damian teased. Luke punched him back. Damian started rubbing his other arm saying he had an itch. Luke punched his arm again, but not on his 'itch.'

"Shut up." Luke tried to keep the laughter out of his voice, but Damian somehow detected it and laughed. Luke glared at him. "You are the worst."

"I know." This made it impossible for Luke to contain himself, and he laughed. And laughed. And laughed. "Why are you laughing like that?" Damian asked. He looked very concerned for his friend's sanity, which made Luke laugh all the harder. Damian stood there watching Luke for what seemed like hours, before he finally stopped with his outrageous guffaws.

"Best you get ready for your lessons." Luke said, with a hint of teasing still in his voice.

"Yes sir!" Damian said with a mock salute.