CHAPTER 73: [73] THREE-TWO, YOU WIN

"You’ve done this before," Aurora said.

Xavier pivoted smoothly, maintaining distance. "Once or twice."

His body felt lighter than expected, more responsive. This new form had good instincts—better than his original body in some ways. He caught Aurora’s wrist as she threw a hook, using her momentum to pull her slightly off-balance.

"Twice is understating it," Aurora laughed, recovering instantly. "Your footwork’s too good."

She broke his grip with a twist and dropped low, sweeping at his legs. Xavier jumped over the sweep, but Aurora had anticipated this. She rose with the motion, her fist stopping an inch from his sternum.

"Two-one," she announced. "Getting nervous yet?"

Xavier settled back into his stance. "Nah, I’ll still win."

This time, he didn’t wait for her attack. He stepped forward with a straight jab that Aurora slipped, followed by a cross she blocked with her forearm. She countered with a flurry of strikes that forced him to give ground.

She’s faster than she looks.

Aurora pressed her advantage, her crimson ponytail whipping around as she launched a spinning back kick. Xavier caught her ankle and pushed, sending her hopping backward to regain balance.

"Not bad," she said, grinning wider. "Most people can’t touch me when I get going."

"Then you’ve never fought a tactical fighter." Xavier tapped his temple. "You telegraph your kicks. Your eyes drop to your target right before you strike."

Aurora’s eyebrows shot up. "No one’s ever caught that before."

She came at him again, this time keeping her eyes locked on his face while throwing a combination of punches. Xavier blocked the first two, slipped the third, and caught the fourth. With a quick step inside her guard, he placed his palm against her solar plexus.

"Two-two," he said quietly.

They were close enough that he could see flecks of amber in her golden irises, could smell the faint scent of cinnamon on her breath. Aurora didn’t back away immediately. Instead, her smile turned appreciative.

"You’re something else, Xavier," she said. "Where’d you learn to fight like this?"

Xavier stepped back, creating distance. "Here and there."

"That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only one I’ve got."

Aurora laughed. "Fair enough." She raised her hands again. "Final point. Winner takes all."

This time, they both moved with purpose. Aurora attacked with controlled aggression, each strike flowing into the next. Xavier defended precisely, looking for patterns in her movement.

There it is.

After her third punch, Aurora always reset her stance slightly—a habit probably drilled into her by a former instructor. Xavier waited for that microsecond pause, then struck.

His palm shot forward toward her face, stopping just short of her nose. At the same moment, Aurora’s fist halted beside his ribs.

They froze, both breathing hard.

"Simultaneous," Aurora said, eyes wide.

"Check your distance," Xavier replied. "My hand would have connected. Yours is two inches short."

Aurora glanced down at her position and swore softly. "You’re right. That’s three-two, your win." She stepped back, shaking out her arms. "You’re good, Xavier. Really good."

"You’re not bad yourself."

"Not bad?" Aurora put her hands on her hips. "I’m ranked third in my age bracket for all of Metro City."

"Then I’m flattered."

Aurora studied him for a moment. "Double or nothing?"

"We just finished."

"One more round. If you win, I’ll do whatever you want for a day."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Whatever I want?"

"Within reason," Aurora amended, though the gleam in her eyes suggested her definition of "reason" might be broader than most. "And if I win, you do whatever I want."

The offer was tempting. Having someone at the academy willing to follow his instructions could be useful, especially someone as capable as Aurora. But Xavier glanced at his phone—7:35 AM. His mother would be waking up soon, and he’d wanted to make her breakfast.

"Raincheck," he said. "I’ve got family waiting for me upstairs."

Aurora’s bottom lip jutted out. "Scared I’ll win this time?"

"Terrified," Xavier deadpanned. "But I have company."

"Fine." Aurora sighed dramatically. "But I’m holding you to that raincheck." She gestured toward the weight racks. "Since you’re bailing on round two, at least spot me for some bench presses?"

Xavier nodded. "I can do that."

They moved to the weight bench, where Aurora immediately loaded the bar with more weight than Xavier expected for someone her size. She positioned herself beneath it, gripping the bar with confidence.

"Don’t just stand there looking pretty," she said. "Get in position."

Xavier moved behind the bench, hands hovering near the bar as Aurora began her set. Her form was impeccable, back arched slightly, feet planted firmly on the floor. Each repetition was smooth and controlled, her breathing steady.

"So," Aurora said between reps, "what’s your story, Xavier Valentine?"

"No story. Just a student like you."

"Bullshit." She pushed the bar up with a controlled exhale. "Nobody fights like that without a history."

Xavier shrugged. "I’m just that talented."

"You are full of crap." Aurora completed her tenth rep and racked the bar, sitting up to face him. "Your technique is too refined. You’ve had professional training."

"I have watched a lot of martial arts movies."

Aurora laughed. "Fine, I’ll find out eventually." She wiped her face with a small towel. "Your turn."

Xavier hesitated. "I should really get going."

"Five minutes. Just one set." Aurora patted the bench. "Unless you’re afraid I’ll show you up on strength too?"

Sighing, Xavier switched places with her. Aurora added more weight to the bar without asking, her eyes challenging him to object. He didn’t.

As he positioned himself on the bench, Aurora leaned over him, giving Xavier a full look at her in her sports bra.

"I’ll spot you," she said, "but I won’t save you if you bite off more than you can chew."

Xavier gripped the bar and lifted it from the rack. The weight was substantial but manageable. He lowered it to his chest and pushed up, establishing a rhythm.

"Not bad," Aurora said, after Xavier finished 15 reps. "I like you, Xavier Valentine. You’re a puzzle."

"And you like puzzles?"

"I like solving them." She gathered her water bottle and towel. "Same time Monday?"

Xavier hesitated, then nodded. "Same time Monday."

"Good." Aurora headed toward the door, then paused to look back at him. "And don’t forget—you owe me that rematch. I want my chance to make you do whatever I want."

The way she said it, with that predatory gleam returning to her golden eyes, made it clear she had specific ideas in mind.

"Looking forward to it," Xavier said dryly.

After Aurora left, Xavier took a moment to check his phone. No messages from Calypso or his mother, which meant they were probably still asleep. With that, he started making his back to the apartment.

Aurora was good—better than good. Her technique was solid, and her Essentia ability would make her formidable in a real fight. If he hadn’t had years of combat experience from his previous life, she might have beaten him.

And she’d clearly enjoyed every second of their match. The way her eyes lit up when they were trading blows, the flush in her cheeks that wasn’t just from exertion—Aurora Fitzgerald lived for the thrill of combat.

That could be useful. Or dangerous. Maybe both.

Whatever I wanted for a day...

The possibilities were intriguing, but he’d need to be careful. People who offered such open-ended promises usually didn’t expect them to be collected on.

Back in the apartment, Xavier found his mother in the kitchen, already brewing coffee. Elaine Valentine wore his borrowed t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, her white hair tousled from sleep.

"Morning workout?" she asked.

"Just meeting a classmate from 1-D," Xavier said, moving to the refrigerator. "Thought I’d make breakfast before you woke up."

"Always the considerate son." Elaine sipped her coffee, studying him over the rim. "This classmate wouldn’t happen to be female, would they?"

Xavier cracked eggs into a bowl. "Aurora Fitzgerald. Irish. Enhancement-type."

"Pretty?"

"Mom."

"Just asking." Elaine’s red eyes twinkled. "Calypso is still asleep."

"Yeah. She’s not a morning person."

Elaine nodded, watching as Xavier whisked the eggs. "You know, when I was your age, I dated a boy with red hair. Terrible temper, but very passionate."

Xavier focused on preparing breakfast, ignoring the obvious fishing expedition. "Omelets okay?"

"Perfect." Elaine leaned against the counter. "So, tell me more about your classes. I know you left out details last time."

As Xavier described his first week at the academy, carefully editing out the supernatural elements, he started relaxing into the conversation. There was something comforting about this domestic scene, even knowing it was built on fabricated memories.

Maybe this is what having a real mother would have been like... I kind of like it.