Battle Academia (The original one)

Chapter 33: Aftershock

"You okay?", Katarina asked casually pointing towards her own nose.

Ezreal had wiped clean most of the blood by now. It still hurt like a motherfucker and there were traces of blood but luckily the pain was beginning to fade now. At least that's what he had convinced himself was happening.

"Yeah", he scoffed holding a tissue over his nose.

She'd found him sitting on a bench by himself. Kayn had just left to get him some water. She took a seat a next to him without bothering to ask for permission.

"Had fun at the party?", Ezreal asked.

"Sure", Katarina DuCuteau shrugged. "But it looks like you're having more fun in class", she quipped.

Ezreal laughed at her witty commentary.

"Hope your headache wasn't as bad as mine right now". His voice sounded nasal as he kept the tissue pressed on his nose.

Kat fake laughed as she tapped the tips of her fingers on her knee. Initially, he hadn't expect her to be the one to break the silence.

"Just so you know.. I'm cool with your past. Most people here are way worse than you are. Just saying".

"Thanks", he replied. For some reason he was overcome with relief when he heard her words. This could actually be the chance to actually get myself out of that mess I made.

"Phew", he said. "Uhm.. The other night.. At the party.. I was actually so nervous you'd be mad at the way I handled the whole Jayce thing. I didn't expect you to be so cool about it", he said as he shot her with an interrogating look.

"The Jayce thing?", she echoed dully.

"Yeah! I told you at the party about the whole aspect deal! Plus, the little white lie I told Garen.. God Kat! Don't you remember? Don't drink that much if you can't hold your liquor is what I always say", he even scolded her.

"Ah.. Yes.. That was reckless of me", she said clenching her fist. She was probably mad at Neeko, he assumed. "What did you tell Garen exactly? It's all a bit fuzzy in here", she let out an awkward smile as she tapped her forehead.

Ezreal chuckled. "That you like him".

He could have sworn he saw her eye twitching. He had to admit. It was so fun to be in a position where he could rile up the assassin when all she could do was nod and smile.

"You said what?! What was the point"?!

"Oh come on Kat.. You were fine with it the other day", he pouted his lips. He could still smell blood with every breath he took.

Katarina was trying extremely hard to keep up that fake smile. It was almost hilarious.

"As i said before.. I had to give him some sort of motivation.. Aren't you glad I got rid of Jayce"?

"At what cost Ezreal? By forcing me to get a boyfriend? And it had to be Luxanna's brother of all people..", she huffed out a breath as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"You don't have to do that. You said you'd play along with it at the party. Why change your mind all of a sudden"? Ezreal hoped to lead her on with his questions. At this point, he could make her say yes to anything as long as she believed she was covering for Neeko.

"I did now.. didn't I", she exhaled defeated.

"I guess you owe me now", Ezreal said cockily only to be met with Kat's furious glare. "I'm joking! I'm joking!", he scratched the back of his throat as he chuckled nervously.