Ch. 85 // Idiocy // Day 59
Contents (Warnings): Lynette starts her training (slight angst, vore mentions, character and monster info as always). Read full chapter on A03
Wordcount: 2,138 (Sorry, I've been busy with some irl problems and new puppy!)
Song I correlate to this Chapter: Not found yet!
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(Nov. 25th, Friday)
Lynette
We were still off for Thanksgiving 'weekend'. Work resumed tomorrow, Saturday. So, Wicks took it upon himself to stage our training today.
That's why I was a bouncy, nervous wreck. I never used a weapon to fight someone before.
I also wasn't thrilled to see Garter coming along. Not because I disliked him, I liked Garter, but I didn't want more people to witness my incompetence.
I don't want them laughing at me later.
A hand gently caressed my back, rubbing it rough and reassuringly simultaneously. It jostled my sweater. "It'll be fine. We are going over the basics today. You need to learn how to handle a knife first."
Knife? Wicks hadn't mentioned what the weapon was until now. I can't imagine a stab wound would do anything against them. They could use reversal magic and then crush me into dust.
I didn't like the idea of being a tub of protein powder.
Lev. My mind whirled back to the blender incident. I knew I'd be okay. I didn't end up injured, but I'd never want that to happen again, even if I had the shrink potion.
The umber-skinned male came into view. There was always a cheer in his smile, "If you do good today, we can get ice cream too."
It's a very tempting incentive. I had to act like it wasn't—Wicks remained on standby. He waited to joke with me about being excited for some ice cream.
I held it back. "That sounds lovely."
"You're trying too hard, Lentils." Wicks whispered to me.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I raised my chin and crossed my arms.
"And if you fail today, no ice cream," Garter said.
"What!"
Wicks pulled his arm back, "Yep. You even have to watch us eat it."
Garter pulled back when the elevator dinged for our floor. "Good idea, Boss. We get ice cream regardless. I like it."
"That's not fair," I whimpered. How can they be so cruel?
Wicks stepped out first. The elevator itself already looked to be of a higher class with the mirrors behind us and the sheer size, capacity, and trim. However, the inside of the building itself felt eerily imposing. Everything looked to be made from wood, polished and gleaming with an invitation I didn't ask for.
The space felt so vast I imagined it'd fit at least two Naga's comfortably, plus I could see there were several halls that looked to branch in different directions as if they were at the center of a maze.
And worst of all, it was quiet. I didn't hear much coming from any direction, except a light tapping that I couldn't see the owner of.
Another subject that made little sense, despite the ornate details done to the walls and grand arches above, there are no chairs, tables or artwork. Nothing.
I barely took a few steps outside, before Garter threw his head in front of me. "Don't worry, I can sneak you some ice cream if you do badly."
He's sweet.
"Thanks," I whispered back.
The mystery behind the tapping was solved.
Garter and I moved out of the way for the thin, stalky male, much like Garter, to scramble forward. He went straight for the elevator. I ducked under the long rolls of papers.
They look like building schematics. Is this place new?
"Oh, sorry!" Their voice left in a timid croak. He flipped back to face us—he huffed, and his short chestnut locks spurred out as rushed as he was.
"You okay, Zetsu?" Wicks put a hand on my arm and pulled me closer, unconsciously.
He nodded, then heard the elevator door closing, and blocked it with his foot and body. It made his papers fall from his arms and onto the ground. "Ah!" Garter got the door for him while Wicks and I helped clean up.
"I'm sorry my head has been spinning lately." I piled a few scrolls into his arms.
Wicks loaded the last scroll, "I also thought you were leading us to our block today?"
His loose smile dropped, "Yes! Good thing you caught me, ha, ha..." he let his head fall to the side. He muttered more apologies under his breath. "You're in block D, and the training weapons are out. I just got called upstairs." He bowed his head, "Thank you, Wicks, and..."
He stopped his bow. His vibrant violet eyes, which reminded me of Zilla and Zane's, inspected every inch of me. I felt like they picked at every detail of me.
"I don't think we've met?"
"She's a new recruit," Wicks said.
I was told to pretend Wicks and I didn't know each other and I was a rank, classless.
"Well, hello, I'm Zetsûboooooooo," he attempted to put his hand out to me and almost dropped them all again. I threw my hands against him to help keep them in place. He fixed his grip. "Thank you, and call me Zetsu for short."
"I'm Lynette, nice to meet you, Zetsu." I shared a smile, "No handshakes are necessary. You worry about getting to where you got to go with all of those intact."
As I said that, the elevator door Garter was holding open beeped.
Zetsu threw himself back into it so it could close. "Okay! Thank you, and nice to meet you too, Lynette!" The door closed after.
"Is he a friend of yours too?" I asked Wicks.
"Kinda..." Wicks shifted his gaze. Garter pulled back from the elevator in toe.
"Did something happen?" I asked, absentmindedly tugging at his hoodie. Is he dangerous? He seemed fine? I'm not the best judge of character, am I? My head scrolled back to Claudia. I would have never known...
Wicks peered down and gently put his hand on mine. "I'll tell you later."
Garter walked ahead of us, leading. I released his hoodie. Should I be worried? Did I meet some kind of terrible beast? Why would Wicks not want to talk about it now? Were they something to him before.
My eyes widened, and I gasped, "was that the person you were dating? IT wasn't a LIE!"
Wicks stopped in his tracks. He flicked his head to me immediately, utterly confused.
Garter quickly got to us. He used my head as an armrest and encroached upon Wicks's face. "YOU WERE DATING SOMEONE?!"
The anxious befuddlement grew on my brother's face. "What are you..." he trailed off. Put his lips together to keep his mouth shut and backed up.
"You were lying to me!" I exclaimed. Garter was still using my head as a rest.
He yelled out, putting his hands over his face. "I'M SORRY! I couldn't think of anything else to say that might sound plausible! I couldn't tell you the truth yet."
The fingers he tangled with his hair pulled more strands out, and it fell over his face.
His best friend finally let me move freely. "You shouldn't lie about a bond mate if you're embarrassed. I'm without one, but I carry it with pride."
"It wasn't for that, Garter!" Wicks pushed himself ahead. "No more talking about this, especially not in the halls. Let's get your training started."
...
Wicks
I can't hurt her. He didn't realize how hard it would be to simply grab Lynette out of things.
He constantly hesitated and retreated from any slash she did.
Thus, he called a break so she could keep going over the feel, weight, and motions he taught her.
"What's the matter, Boss?" Garter questioned. His friend loved getting up close and personal with people and to make himself their "height". Every time you do that, I feel smaller...
"What did I say about-" Wicks cut himself off and exhaled. He wouldn't argue about the 'boss' nickname today. He pressed his back further into the wall. "I'm so afraid I might hurt her."
Garter looked over at Lynette, who had her back to them. She was determined, to say the least, even though her form was subpar at best. Especially when she stood before Wicks or Garter with the training weapon. Her hands shook like a chihuahua outside in a thunderstorm.
"You put a cloak on her; she'll be fine." Garter gave two thumbs up as reassurance.
"yeah." Wicks bit the bottom of his lip. I would never go that hard on her, but I don't know why I keep imagining it. "I don't know."
Garter stood up straight. He tilted his head to stare at the high ceiling. Then, a bright grin peeled open his lips, his very subtle incisors were shown. "Let me take over. I'll gladly train her!"
What?! "Garter-"
He didn't even let Wicks rebuttal.
The tall lad made his way across the grounds and to Lynette. "Hey Lynette, I will be your training partner today instead of Wicks!"
Wicks glanced back and forth between her and Garter. She looks tiny.
The Oni of the mountains waved both of his hands at him when he saw Wicks's concern. "It'll be fine, boss—I'll go super easy on her! Trust me!"
Lynette peered at her big brother. He wouldn't dare... Garter had a track record of hunting smaller prey. They got most of those urges out with training, yet he still falls victim to it occasionally.
The only reason I even brought Garter was because I promised him we'd get some training in today. "Sounds good." Wicks shouted back. He said it for Lynette's nerves and gave the go ahead to Garter. I'll trust him.
Wicks thought, though he intently watched every motion Garter made.
So far, his best friend didn't purposefully try to break the cloak; instead, Garter never gave her a chance to strike him. He'd quickly grab her out of a strike, pin her down, disarm her, or hold her arms up so she couldn't attack him.
He's just bullying her.
Wicks sighed, he undid his ponytail entirely. He pet at his straighter hair. He gathered a few things so far. I should start training her in basic combat too. If she knows how to properly move and hit someone, she'd be more effect with a knife. She's relying on the strikes too much.
Garters tease echoed out in the empty, magic enfused steel room, "Do you like getting caught?"
"No!" Lynette whimpered with slight frustration. "I just never fought anyone before!"
Garter returned her knife after he poked her stomach with it, "Weird. Where I came from, you learn to fight as soon as you can walk." He waited for her to get back into a stance. He did the same. "How about I call you what we do to those who haven't learned to fight yet."
"An insult?"
He snickered, "a ginkoose, which translates to a child with newborn strength."
Lynette shook her head in protest, "It's not my fault you guys are stronger than me—you guys are monsters."
"In human cases, most monsters aren't much stronger or faster than humans." Garter laughed and pounced at Lynette, "So you're using excuses~!"
Lynette avoided him and continued to do so. Garter gave chase. It's going better than I thought it would.
And, of course, as soon as Wicks thought that, he noticed Garter's black hair shifting white and flaring with volume.
Wicks pushed off the wall and ran at them, specifically for Garter. "HEY, GARTER, STOP, DON'T YOU DARE!" He couldn't let his friend try and eat Lynette.
Wicks got to Lynette, yanked her out of the way and took the force of Garter's hand as his case broke. He slammed back into the wall, it wasn't that hard, so at least Wicks knew Garter didn't lose all sense of, 'being gentle'.
Once the Oni realized his mistake, now standing at thirty or so feet tall, his four arms out and one pinning Wicks to the metal wall, he let out a nervous chuckle from between his giant fangs.
"I went a little overboard huh?"
"You think?" Wicks asked with an eyebrow raise.
"Are you okay?" Lynette got closer.
Wicks shot her a glare, warning her not too.
Garter didn't let his grip go, "does this technically mean I win since I trapped you?" His best friend said, "and if it does that mean I can eat you?"
A dastardly laugh broke out of Wicks vocal cords, he stared at Garter, "you're in direct contact with a magus, I'm not unconscious nor even trying to use any magic. Then, after trying to get my sister, you have the audacity to ask me if you can eat me?"
"Yes?" Garter said, plainly.
There was a long pause before Wicks noticed the seriousness on Garter's face, accompanied by the innocent puppy dog eyes. Wicks flailed his legs, "YOU AREN'T GOING TO CONVINCE ME, NOW PUT ME DOWN BEFORE I MAKE A SNACK OUT OF YOUR ENERGY!"
...
Hey, you, thank you so much for reading. I'm glad I put out a story that people can enjoy! I hope you continue to enjoy it as WE have a LOT more to go! YOU BETTER KEEP PROSPERING! (Nonnegotiable, as always~).
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