13. Asch #2
Chanting starts up around us, equal parts “Fen-rir! Fen-rir!” as well as “ Asch! Asch! Asch!” Good to know at least some of them are on my side .
The knowledge rejuvenates me.
Fenrir gets in close again, going low like he’s about to attempt a take down. That doesn’t seem like his style, though. I realize I’m right when the blow redirects towards my face, and I can get my hands up in time to protect myself.
Even with the blow hitting my arms instead of my face, it hurts like a bitch. Fenrir isn’t holding back.
Fenrir hops back a few steps, keeping his feet moving from side to side while he reassesses me. “MMA wuss,” Fenrir says.
“Fight smarter, not harder,” I counter, circling closer. Boxers always think they’re the strongest on the block, but they only use a limited set of tools.
When Fenrir is in range again, I get my leg behind his knee and unbalance him. Fenrir’s eyes widen, but before I can celebrate my victory, he grabs me and drags me down with him.
We both struggle to get the upper hand, hitting each other wherever we can. I take several hard blows to my stomach, but I give as good as I get. Blood drips out of Fenrir’s nose.
He grins, too, and it’s the first real expression I’ve seen on him.
There’s a reason he’s called the Wolf of the Ring.
He’s a cold motherfucker on normal days, but when he’s fighting? He goes completely wild.
“Fucking stay down,” I snarl, slamming my fist into his jaw again, even while he rolls us over.
“Afraid I’m going to make you my bitch the way Blaze does?” he whispers.
I snarl and punch him again.
Blaze is the only one I’d ever let make me his bitch , but that’s never going to happen anyway.
There’s more yelling around us, and I’m ready to knee Fenrir in the balls— no rules —when somebody pulls on Fenrir’s shoulders.
“If you don’t get off him right the fuck now, Winters, I’m going to personally deliver your corpse to your parents. Got it?” Blaze growls.
I want to snap at him, to tell him that I don’t need him to fight my battles for me, but this has already gone on long enough that I’m surprised campus security hasn’t gotten involved. As long as Fenrir backs off, too, no one will think less of me for stopping when Blaze makes the demand.
No one says no to Blaze.
“That’s a pity,” River remarks behind me. “It was just getting interesting.”
If he doesn’t shut the fuck up, he’s going to end up punched in the face, too.
Fenrir gets off me, shoving Blaze’s hands aside. “Only if I don’t deliver your corpse first,” he says. Fenrir glances at River. “Offer’s still open. Ditch the Chaos losers. We’ll take you any time.”
Blaze sneers at him, but he lets Fenrir walk away. He turns to glare at the students. “You fuckers done gawking?”
Everybody immediately realizes they have better things to be doing, and the crowd disperses. When we’re alone again, Blaze extends his hand to me.
I take it and let him pull me upright.
“Christ, Asch. I can’t leave you alone for five minutes,” Blaze says. “And you call me reckless.”
“You didn’t have to intervene,” I say, sitting heavily back in the booth. “Fuck. Everyone already thinks I can’t do anything without you.”
“Can you?” River asks.
I clench my hands into fists again. They’re scraped and sore, but not so much so that I’d be opposed to throwing a few more punches. “Are you always this much of a shit-stirrer?” I demand.
“Only with people it’s easy to get a rise from,” River replies.
Blaze turns to glare at him. “Glass houses much, River? I saw how easily Pandora got a rise out of you .”
I should remind Blaze that I don’t need him to fight my battles for me, but I’m still panting, still off-kilter from the whole fight.
River has shut up at least, his expression dark as he scowls at Blaze. “I was just fucking with him. ”
“Just remember who your future brothers are,” Blaze says. “We take this seriously.” His smile gets darker. “And don’t forget how much we know about you. You want to keep your secrets? Then don’t make Kappa Alpha look bad.”
My eyes go to River’s hand again, and he notices this time, glaring daggers at me as he snatches his hand back off the table and rests it in his lap.
“You’re not the only one who notices weaknesses,” I say, my voice flat. “Don’t give us reasons to use them.”
River shakes his head, then picks up his backpack and walks off. His gait is off thanks to the paddling we’d given him yesterday.
I can definitely hold my own better than he can right now.
Once River is gone, Blaze gives me another once over. “That bruise is gonna be nasty. We’ll have to patch you up later. But are you still hungry? We can go to the Greek restaurant. It’ll be quieter, and the food is definitely better there.”
I’m not even in any shape to argue, and I want out of the public eye. Everyone has gone back to their own tables, but they keep stealing glances in our direction. “Yeah,” I say. Usually, I’d argue about him buying me more food, but I really did work up an appetite from the fight.
“Yeah?” he asks suspiciously. “Who are you, and what have you done with Asch?”
I punch him lightly in the arm, wincing as my bruised knuckles brush against him. “Shut up,” I tell him, “before I change my mind.”
Blaze grins at me. “No way. You already said you’d do it. No take-backsies.”
“Take-backsies,” I repeat dubiously, only to shake my head. “Let’s go.”
I grab my bag and blazer, leaving the uneaten food on the table.
Anywhere has to be better than here right now.