The Powerholders

Chapter 4:

"Ouch, my head hurts!"

A voice stirs Malcum from his sleep.

"I will get you for this. Ouch! Although I will admit you are tough and strong and handsome. Wait, what am I thinking, tch ouch! I will beat you someday! Ouch."

Malcum opens his eyes to see the girl, again, sitting bruised and battered, again, facing away from him on the other nursing bed in the infirmary. She lifts her shirt to reveal a few large bruises scattered about her lower back and a silky material wrapped around her top half.

I really shouldn't be looking, but... nah screw it. I'll look for my revenge...

As Malcum thinks this, she suddenly starts to turn towards him, and he quickly closes his eyes again.

A sniffle can be heard once, then again and then it is followed by sobbing. Suddenly, she is crying.

"Why must I be the scout? I just wanted to see him, now I got into a fight with him, got beat up by him and feel so sore! Why?"

What a big mess this girl is. She was supposed to scout me. I guess they finally realized that I was here and was also a SS-Class huh.

Her crying intensifies.

Ok, now I feel horrible. What should I do? Mom, Dad, I really hope your advice works!

Malcum spins on his bed and hugs her from behind. He braces his face for a slap or something, but it never came. He opens his eyes to see her sobbing in his arms, she is gripping the sheets in her hands.

I didn't really think about it before, but when she is not trying to kill me, she really is beautiful. Her blue hair and slender body really fit each other. The only thing needing work, is her mess of an emotional time bomb.

The sobbing slowly quiets down, her body slowly relaxing.

"Feeling somewhat better?"

She nods and he lets her go.

"I might not be the best comforter or the person you want to be with now, but at least I can help you calm down."

"T-Thanks."

A barely audible reply leaves her mouth.

"So, let's begin from scratch, I'm Malcum."

She turns to face him as his hand extends to shake hers.

"I am Claudia, sorry for all this."

"No no no. Remember, begin from scratch. It's a pleasure to meet you, Claudia."

Malcum smiles, which seems to make her smile shyly.

Never pictured her the shy type. But ok.

"So, tell me why you were looking for me."

Her eyes widen as her cheeks turn bright red as fury wells up in her eyes.

"How much did you hear? Tell me!"

"Only that you are a scout looking for me that's all I swear!"

She looks at Malcum with a stern look, then sighs in relief as her face calms down, but the red doesn't completely leave her face.

"I was sent by my employer simply to find you and then send your name and address, so he can find you later."

"Ok, but why though?"

"Oh, come on! If you weren't at least S-Class, then how would you have beaten me? I'm an AA-Class and you weren't even at your full power in that fight. You must be special."

"Good word used to describe many things, not me though. My power is a little strange and useful, but not to such an extent."

"Liar. You were using at least S-Class energy manipulation. So don't even try acting weak now!"

"Ok. But you must be at least S-Class yourself, miss Twin Powerholder!"

"That is not true, see I'm a Dual Conductor, so I can use two people's powers and use it or rather copy it against them. So, I could use your energy power and another's gravity power against you."

"And the catch is?"

"You don't need to know that."

She furrows her brows, making for a funny look since she does not have large or thick eyebrows. Now it looks like two blue arrows pointing to the centre of her forehead.

"Ok, ok. I'll leave you be. But a Dual Conductor and a AA-Class losing to thugs is a little silly though?"

If those arrows for eyebrows could make a straighter line, it would probably have been a sight to see.

As Malcum's thoughts finish and is brought to a sudden halt, a open hand slaps him across the face, sending him flying off the bed onto the floor.

"I was caught off guard okay!!! Don't ever bring that up again! I thought we were beginning from the start again!"

As Malcum looks back, he is met with a sight he will never miss, a blushing, slender blue haired girl is sitting on a bed, sun coming in through the window behind her with slight wind blowing through.

Never have I ever thought I would one day witness one of these cliches in my life. Wait, where is this cliche often used again. It might be important! Stupid, an angry beautiful girl is right in front of you and you're thinking of cliches? Unbelievable!

Malcum stands up and smiles as innocently as possible.

"Sorry, I was simply teasing you."

Just as she was about to reply, the teacher walks into the room holding a little notebook in one hand and a pen in the other.

"Follow me please, the principal would like to see you two."

Looking at each other, they simply sighed and stood up to meet their maker.