Author's Preface
Wrapped fists collided with the heavy bag, thunderous impacts muting the sharp breaths Merkra took with each strike. The leather sank and recoiled, sending motes of dust into the air like tiny explosions. He would ordinarily have to take it easy or the bag would swing wildly out of control from the force, but today his sister wanted to have lunch. As payment for said meal, she got to hold the bag for him.
“This is…” She grunted after a particularly hard shot to the bag almost took her off her feet. “Insane. Can you cool it?”
Merkra chuckled but kept his sharp rhythm. This place was no Morgok’s Fight Club, not by a long shot. No stink of blood and sweat. No shouts of gamblers yearning for violence. High-society gyms smelled like violets and wealth. They were places where real celebrities bought memberships so they could post selfies on their social media.
He preferred it that way. If people recognized him here, someone more famous was just a few strides away. He let off a series of low right hooks, each coming with a grunt from his sister. She let go and stepped back before the last shot landed. The bag rattled on the chain, swinging back and forth until he reached out to stop it.
“Alright, you got it. Can we go eat now?” Skaeva complained.
“You’re a big weenie, you know that?” Merkra said, grinning at her. “Solana is half your size, and she holds the bag for me.”
“I am a delicate flower.” Skaeva narrowed her eyes at him. While she was smaller than him, she was still half Titanblood.
“Mhmm.” Merkra peeled off the wraps from his hands. “I usually run a few miles after this, you know.”
“Guhhh, I’m so hungry.” Skaeva shook her head, blond ponytail bobbing behind her.
“Such a baby.” He grabbed his bag off the bench and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “What do you wanna eat?”
“Anything! I’m dying.” She leaned against him, then drew back. “Gods, you smell.”
He left Skaeva outside the locker room to have a quick rinse, then rejoined his sister so they could head to the cafe.
As they wove through the busy streets of downtown Baisee, a pair of college student intercepted them asking for a selfie. Merkra plastered on a smile, chatted with them for a moment, then continued on their way. Skaeva waited until they were out of earshot before saying anything.
“You’re good with them.” She said. “Like, weirdly good. Ten years ago, you’d have told them to fuck off.”
“Everybody grows up eventually.” Merkra shrugged.
A short walk later, they entered the cozy little cafe just off campus of Aether Nexus College of Arcane Arts. The host led them across black and white tiled floors to a scarlet stained leather booth and gave them each menus before retreating.
“You talk to Mom?” Skaeva asked as she thumbed through the menu.
“She’s ignoring me.” Merkra rolled his eyes. “I don’t get it. I was just trying to help.”
Skaeva shrugged, not looking up from the menu. “She’s just pissed because you’re not Dad.” She said flatly. “Her loss, I’ll take all the help you’re willing to give. College is expeeeensiiiive.”
Merkra grimaced and folded up the menu, setting it off to the side. “What do you mean I’m not Dad?”
Skaeva looked up and bit her lip nervously. She’d obviously said too much. “Look, just take it as a blessing and move on. Maybe my niece won’t have to deal with her. Phoenix be praised.”
“Skaeva…” Merkra gave her a flat look. He’d caught her, now she was going to talk or he wouldn’t drop it.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “It was just something she said. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. It’s probably nothing.”
“If you open your mouth again without actually saying something, you can pay for your own lunch.”
“Ughhh…” Skaeva rolled her head around on her shoulder. “Fine. She said the only time she felt close to you is when you were fighting. Now you’re just some history teacher bumping uglies with a prissy rich girl.” She held up her hands when Merkra’s eyebrows turned in on themselves. “Her words, not mine.”
“She actually said that?” He struggled against his tightening jaw. Merkra’s biological mother died before he was old enough to make any memories of her, but Skaeva’s mom came pretty quick after.
“You’re better off, big brother. Trust me.” She reached across the table and set a hand on his.
He didn’t reply right away, his eyes locked on her comparatively tiny hand on his. Having a parent that could walk him through how he was supposed to feel would be really helpful right now. Solana’s parents had been more than helpful, but talking to them about how absolutely fucking terrified he was felt…wrong.
“You nervous? You’ve got an appointment today, right?” Skaeva tilted her head to look at his face.
“Fucking petrified.” He answered honestly.
“Good.” She said with a curt nod. “You should be. Fear will keep you from raising an absolute psycho.”
“Thanks.” Merkra tried to laugh, but the sound got lost in his throat.
A Halfling woman in the cafe’s signature scarlet and black pranced up to the table. Her curly orange hair pulled back in pigtails that were so tight they threatened to snap the bands at any moment. She smiled, but something about it made his spine tingle. Like it was a motion that was rehearsed, but not really felt.
“Hey, I’m Trixie. I’ll be your server.” She lifted a notepad from her apron. “What can I get you?”
Merkra ordered some sandwich and handed over his menu, but his eyes locked on his hands again. Scarred, bulky knuckles stared back at him. Tools of violence. Imagining a tiny baby in his grip was more frightening than any man he’d ever fought.
“I’m sorry.” Trixie’s voice shook him out of his trance. “You’re Merkra Grommash, right? I love your podcast.”
“Easy lady. He’s taken.” Skaeva’s shoulders stiffened, muscles in her arms tightening.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Nothing like that.” Trixie tucked a stray curl behind her ear in a motion that seemed almost ritual. “I just admire your work. Its… important. I’ll be back with your food shortly.”
“She’s gonna spit in your food.” Merkra shook his head at his sister.
“What? Gotta keep the groupies in check. You’re a big soft dad now.” She prodded at him. “Besides, how come all the cute girls talk to you? I’m literally right here.” She gestured to herself.
“Aren’t you dating that centaur? Phylos?” Merkra asked.
“Phelos.” She correctly. “He’s great, we weren’t really working…” She paused and grimaced like she was searching for something stuck in a cushion. “Logistically.”
“He moved? I thought he got that job at the emporium.”
“Not that kind of logistics.” Skaeva fought to hold back a laugh.
Merkra looked at her, confused, before realization washed over his face and turned his cheeks a bright red. “Why would you say that to me?”
“What?! He was great, it was just a little awkward. You know with the…”
“Please stop.” Merkra held up a hand. “Tell me about your classes. Anything. What are you taking this semester?”
They spoke at length about her classes, a professor she particularly hated, and the artifacts she was learning to use. Outside of Solana, Skaeva was the only person he could have these types of conversations with that didn’t utterly exhaust him.
After a while, Trixie returned. She sat their plates in front of them and looked up with her uncanny smile. “Anything else I can get you all?”
“I wanted to apologize for my sister. She’s been a little on edge since she broke up with her boyfriend, and she thought you were cute.” He took in a sharp breath as Skaeva’s foot slammed into his shin, but he manage to keep his face measured despite the pain. “Then she thought you were coming onto me. I think she got a little jealous.”
“Oh my… I’m sorry.” Trixie tucked the strand behind her ear again. Quick and precise.
“Obviously, if you’re not interested, that’s fine, but maybe you guys could exchange numbers?” Skaeva’s eyes went wide at his words, grey skin shifting to pink.
“I would love that.” Trixie pulled a phone from the pocket of her apron and offered it to her. “I didn’t get your name.”
“Skaeva.” Pink shifted to deep red as his sister took the phone and plugged in her number. “Nice to meet you.” She mumbled.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Trixie slid the phone back into her apron and grinned wide. “I’ll message you when I get off.” She started to slink back toward the counter but froze. “I forgot your pickles.” She reached over and snatched Skaeva’s plate. “Be right back.”
Merkra chuckled as she scurried away. “She definitely spit in that.”
“I’ll fucking kill you.” Skaeva kicked him again.