Aero hated to admit it but the food at the Feral Base might actually be better than back home. In fact, he wasn’t going to admit it, he was just going to go get seconds of everything because he could. It wasn’t like his partner was using up his allocated rations today.
His partner. Hah.
Okay so maybe Aero shouldn't have been so vocal with his anti-Feral sentiments, I mean he knew that Cody felt exactly the same way but even he had managed not to make his partner actually throw a tantrum in the lunch hall.
And really, Aero's Feral looked a little too damn old to be throwing tantrums.
After lunch, they filed back into the gym area for a sparring session. The idea was that the Dolls and Ferals could get acquainted with each other's styles and therefore know how best to work as a team.
That was the intention of course, but the reality was totally a pissing contest between the two advanced species. Aero noticed Sienna was already stretching and Cody had his game face on from the moment they stepped on the mats.
Aero's Feral, Jago, was back but he was standing a little way away, leaning against a door frame with his arms folded over his chest.
Jago seemed to not be taking his eyes off of Aero which was just fine by Aero. If Jago was trying to put him off his game it wouldn’t work - Aero thrived on attention.
"We'll begin with a demonstration fight from the Dolls," Dr. Itagawa announced, gesturing towards them. "Then one from the Ferals. Handler Itagawa has volunteered Aero and Cody and I have volunteered Hannah and Thomas."
Aero grinned and winked at Cody as they took their positions on the mats. The fight that followed was text-book perfect.
Cody was trained and polished in his strikes, recovering fast and gracefully. He utilised his body for what it was - decades of honed genetic perfection.
Aero fought like he always did, he was startling quick and nimble. Natural agility allowing Aero to bend in ways others couldn’t. He heard an appreciative gasp from the audience as he doubled himself backwards to avoid Cody's fist, lashing out like a whip.
Halfway through, both of them pulled small training knives out from their uniforms.
The fight ended with Aero on his back, Cody crouched over him, his fingers clasped around his throat, a knife to his jugular. Everyone clapped and no one apart from Cody noticed that Aero's own knife was poised right above his friend’s heart.
Aero wiped the sweat away from his forehead and looked back round at his Feral to see if he was impressed. Sure enough, Jago was still staring at him, but now there was an amused curve to his mouth. For some reason Aero felt uncomfortably like it was at his expense.
Next on the mats were Hannah and Thomas. Aero was glad he was not the only one that flinched when the Ferals 'shifted' and their claws and fangs come out.
"She has sideburns. My female partner just grew sideburns," Sienna stated in an unimpressed voice.
The fight was...okay it was kind of cool, Aero had to admit. There was a lot more posturing than there was in a Doll fight - like the Ferals were trying to suss each other out or use intimidation techniques, Aero wasn’t sure.
However, when they did actually get on with it – it was pretty vicious. Not to mention the snarling, which was weird, like really weird and made Aero feel like he should be spraying the involved parties with water.
The Feral fight ended with Hannah pinning Thomas front down the mats, her claws raised above her head. For a minute Aero thought she was going to take the other boy's head off, but instead she brought them down to slice the mat open. Aero absently wondered how often the equipment had to be replaced.
"Excellent," Dr Itagawa stated, in a way that suggested he had seen it happen a thousand times - he probably had. "Now if you would please all pair up with your respective partners and begin sparring."
Everyone started assembling in their pairs on the assorted mats in the different areas of the room. And Aero... Aero stood awkwardly waiting for Jago to move from the doorway...which he seemed to have no intention of doing...great.
"Jago the answer is no," Itagawa announced without looking up from the ensuing Tyron versus Zach fight. "And Felicity, as you are here to ask the same question, I can assure you my answer remains a categorical no."
Aero frowned as he noticed another Feral stood behind Jago looking petulant. It was a broad shouldered girl with dyed turquoise hair and rosy cheeks.
"He doesn't even want to go!" the female Feral, Felicity, called back in a whine, "you know I've completed my training - I should be partnered. Jago doesn't want to be paired up with another Doll anyway!"
And wait, what? Another Doll?
"Is there a problem Kenzo?" Handler Itagawa stepped forward from where she had been observing Cody and Thomas's fight. Her eyes narrowed at Jago, "I thought you had informed your Ferals already that partnerships were non-negotiable."
Dr. Itagawa sighed and beckoned both Jago and Felicity over, Aero found himself taking an involuntary step forwards as well. Curiosity outweighing his desire to appear indifferent.
"Jago has already been partnered?" Handler Itagawa asked with a look of confusion, "that was not on the records I saw."
"It's under classified," Dr. Itagawa replied with a sigh, "but yes, Jago has already been through the partnering once. His Doll, Vera, went rogue on their mission and unsuccessfully attempted to frame her Feral."
"Bullshit," Aero snapped, causing everyone to turn round and look at him. "Dolls don't go 'rogue'," he hissed, "we're...we're..."
"Perfect?" Jago spoke for the first time, raising an eyebrow as if he was amused by Aero's reaction. "Yeah. That's what she used to say."
"Oh fuck this," Aero replied, "I don't need a Feral anyway."
"Aero," Handler Itagawa warned, holding out her hand to stop him from stalking away.
"I am surprised Kenzo," she continued, "that he was chosen for another partnering then."
"It was my decision," Dr. Itagawa replied, "Jago is an exceptional Feral when it comes to combat, also his experience in the field will make him a valued asset to any scouting mission. Especially on one where hostilities are expected."
"But he is unwilling?" Handler Itagawa questioned, glancing at Jago who had crossed his arms over his chest and was still staring at Aero with a frustratingly unreadable expression.
"He is reluctant," Dr. Itagawa answered after a pause. "and Felicity - you should be in class right now, please leave the sparring hall."
"But I am willing!" Felicity half shouted to be heard over the noise of the surrounding fights, "just swap me in for Jago!"
"It's not that simple Felicity," Dr. Itagawa sighed, "the partnerships are not chosen at random, each Doll and Feral is carefully and methodically assessed in terms of compatibility potential.
"Because that worked out so well last time!" Felicity groaned. Aero could see Jago flinch beside him, his eyes flickering from Aero momentarily and staring at the floor.
"The incident you are referring to is precisely why I have invested so much extra time and consideration into Jago's partnership this time round," Dr. Itagawa replied in a firm voice. "Felicity, I am sorry, but none of the Dolls I considered you compatible with were cleared for this mission. You may very well be eligible and trained enough to go, but not on your own."
Felicity looked as if she was going to argue again before shutting her mouth with a snap and turning to storm out of the sparring hall.
"May I ask about the specific compatibility procedure you observed when matching my Doll with this Feral?" Handler Itagawa asked with a frown.
Dr. Itagawa turned to her, raising his eyebrows, "If you'd like to discuss this further Momoko, please follow me to my office after the session is over. In the meantime, Jago, Aero, I suggest you begin your fight before all the others have finished."
Aero huffed loudly as he went to take his position on the mat, Jago lined up opposite him.
"Begin," Itagawa instructed from somewhere to the side.
Aero's head was swimming with thoughts and questions as he eyed the Feral in front of him.
He took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind, to let the Doll within him come to the surface and begin the fight in a manner he hoped to end it - with Jago's face beneath his fist...or foot...Aero wasn’t fussy.
Aero stalked forward, tensing his muscles, ready to strike. Jago, however, remained motionless, looking altogether bored.
Aero threw his shoulders forwards, attempting to spook the animal within the Feral, but Jago just raised his eyebrow and glanced off to one side.
"Oh I'm sorry - do you have somewhere better to be?" Aero bit out angrily. Jago continued to ignore him, not even making eye-contact.
"Well fuck you," Aero muttered under his breath as he spun into a jump-kick. His heel connected with Jago's chest, sending the larger boy staggering backwards. Aero landed in a crouch with a satisfied grin. He looked up, however, and saw Jago strolling lazily back onto the mats.
The fight continued in this aggravating fashion, Aero landing all the blows and Jago, Jago doing nothing.
"What's wrong with you?" Aero hissed after he caught Jago in a headlock on the floor, "Why aren't you fighting?"
"Congratulations," Jago stated in a monotone voice as he pushed himself up off the mats for the umpteenth time, "You won."
"Are you kidding me?" Aero snapped, "You didn't even try! Look - I don't want you as my partner either - but if you think just acting out is going to get you kicked off the mission, you're wrong. They're just going to retire you or something!"
"Retire me?" Jago asked with a bemused frown.
Aero looked around to see the Itagawa siblings still talking to each other over in the corner.
"Yeah," Aero hissed, "you know - retirement - I mean it's not worth the risk dude. There are plenty of times I don't like the rules either, but you keep breaking 'em and they'll put you down."
Jago's face screwed up like he had just tasted a lemon, "Jesus," he muttered.
"Yup," Aero agreed whilst nodding, confident he had made his point to the ridiculous manchild in front of him.
"No, what I mean is - what the hell are they doing over at the Doll Base?" Jago shook his head and laughed grimly, "Retirement? I'd heard the Doll Handlers were fucking psychos but..."
Jago's last words were lost as Aero charged at him, knocking the wind out of his chest and throwing him to the floor. Aero began to throw punch after punch when suddenly fingers gripped tightly round his wrists and turned him over onto his back.
Jago was on top of him now with an icy glare.
"Finish," Dr. Itagawa's voice commanded loudly across the room.
Aero squirmed angrily under Jago for a moment as the Feral leaned in, his stubble scraping Aero's cheek. Jago's mouth was right by Aero's ear now, his hot breath ghosting over the skin there.
Jago made a noise as if he was about to say something but a moment later he drew back and clambered up off Aero, evidently having changed his mind.
"Pretty sure you're the psycho," Aero muttered, feeling half furious at Jago and half at his own body for deciding now would be a suitable time to react to a warm weight on top of him.
He could only hope no one noticed. The knowing judgemental glare Sienna was sending him should be enough to kill it before he embarrassed himself anyway.
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