Olive

Walking back to camp, I strolled a snail's pace lost in my own thoughts. I had bound him with rope and shoved a rolled up sash into his mouth. Everyone seemed surprised and Ezra even shoved me after Michael hit the ground, out cold.

"What the hell is your problem?" He'd shouted at me and I quickly patted Michael down, disarming him. He only had two bloody knives and a small handgun with one casing of bullets. Checking underneath his shirt for any wires or tracking devices, I turned to look at Abe who stared at me choked.

"Did you bring a taser or something?" I asked and he nodded, "Give it to me."

"Oh c'mon you don't think he would have done that already? You'd think he'd put us in danger? YOU in danger?" Ezra shouted as Abe handed me the small taser and I bent over and tasered him, holding it to his neck. He shook violently waking up for a second before passing out again from the pain as I held it a little longer than I should. Again, Ezra shoved me to the ground and beckoned Little Jon over. Little Jon, without needing prompt, he bent down and picked up Michael with ease.

As they walked back to camp, Abe had approached me and I gave back the taser. "What do we do with him?"

"Put him with the other Golik. Question him and see what he wants and why he is here." I mumbled as I watched his head sway with the motion of Little Jon's steps. "You said that someone spotted their ship? How and where?"

"We have a guy who is a loner who hates the outdoors. Hates people too. He sits up at traffic control and watches all the city for us with all the cameras still operational. That's how we actually found you guys so quickly." He nodded as he folded his arms, "You going to the ship?"

"Yeah, I'm going to see what's inside before destroying it." I held up the semi-automatic and threw the safety back on.

"I'll come, show you the way." He nodded and I gave him a forced smile as I followed behind him, the rest of the group going back to camp.

They'd been nothing valuable on the ship and apart from some high tech weaponry which we unloaded before we threw four grenades. We watched it burn, in case any Golik hiding inside came out and once we knew it was empty, we covered it up, planning on throwing it into the ocean for safe keeping. Abe had found two trolleys and we had been pushing them through the forest, Abe way more ahead of me.

In all honesty, I didn't want to go back to camp because I knew there would be a shit storm waiting for me and for once Ezra was not on my side. Duke and the others had remained quiet about it all and I was hoping Mack at least let me have a few goes at Michael to let off some pent-up steam.

Then maybe we could rekindle in the bedroom...

Snorting to myself, I eventually hit one of the houses and turned the trolley in dragging it in between two houses. Connor practically jumped onto me, wrapping his arms around me and I jumped in shock, giving him a quick jab in the gut. Grunting he stepped back but couldn't stop grinning.

"Sorry, reflex," I muttered as I continued to pull on the trolley through the mud. Seeing me struggle, he gave me a hand but still didn't wipe the grin off his face. "What's with the grin mate?"

"Well, first Kasey and I kissed for the first time," my eyebrows shot up and he nodded, "and the reason we kissed was because we took out Ezra!"

Halting in my tracks, I turned and saw he was wearing a blue sash and I did see Ezra without a sash. Suddenly I began to laugh, laugh so loudly and Connor joined in.

"Oh, this is perfect. Go on explain what you did." I patted his back and his smile widened as we pulled the weapons towards the weapons unit. After we dropped it all off and threw the trolley behind the house, I went to the gymnasium, with Connor following in my stead.

"And with one flick, we managed to put him in a crucifix with Kasey on his lower body and me sitting on his chest. My best mate Sean began punching him before he screamed in surrender. It was brilliant!" He finished and I high fived him in congratulations. I was sitting on one of the tables and the sweet kid had gotten me some ice for my still closed eye. "By the way, Lucy and a few others are actually going around helping bandage up anyone who is hurt and your eye might need attending too."

"Trust me when I say this is not my first closed eye but your defeat over Ezra? Seriously that is the best thing I've heard all day." I chuckled, so excited to tell the class about this new development. Connor gave me a sceptic look and I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Really? Because I heard that Michael-"

"Was back in the flesh!" Ezra's voice echoed throughout the hall and in walked Ezra, Robin, Little Jon and Michael in tow with a shiner on his right eye. His cheekbone was red and looked a little swollen but already he looked better than when I left him. Grumbling with annoyance, I looked at Connor sweetly.

"Connor was just telling me about his victory over the great Ezra Tremor. Once called the greatest fighter of all time." Shaking my head mockingly at him, "Taken out by three high schoolers."

Ezra kept walking but I noticed that Robin made Michael wait back and my heart ached to be closer to him. Even now, my mouth was dry and my stomach wouldn't stop flipping around. I didn't meet his eyes however he did try to meet mine. I saw Connor take a step towards me and I could see Michael's face frown at the closeness of the two of us. Well, let him look.

"You know that I let them!" Ezra shrugged but I knew he was lying.

"Liar, I cannot believe you. Even I got jumped by three of them and I kicked two of their asses before chasing down another and giving him a lifelong lesson."

"What? On sucking dick?"

"No on how to beat the fuck out of you." I snapped at him, my ears going red and I tried hard not to look at Michael who was being held back by Robin, who was whispering at him furiously. I couldn't hear them but it was obvious they were talking about me. "Now if you don't mind I need to go see Lucy and the girls about my eye."

"Oh yeah, I ran into Abe. Said he gave you that." Ezra continued to drone on and I rolled my eyes before nodding to Connor to follow me. Still trying not to look at Michael, Ezra added, "He said if the alarm hadn't sounded he would have had you surrendering."

Unable to stop myself, I spun around wiping poor Connor with my long braid. Apologising I looked at Ezra with clenched teeth and he knew he had me, "That's a lie!"

"It's true, he said it. Oh, speak of the devil..." He pointed behind me and there was Lucy walking with a white first aid kit with Abe behind her.

"Oh, there you are Olive! Abe told me about your eye and I had to check-"

"Oh, I bet he did." I handed the ice to Connor before clenching my fists, "Care to finish our match? I believe I was about to break your arm."

Lucy gapped at Abe who rolled his eyes up at me, "Hardly but sure I'm game. Though Lucy should probably look at your eye. I seemed to have done a bit of damage off only a few punches." Abe's green eyes were practically daring me to attack him and if he hadn't had smiled so smugly I might have shown restraint, especially in front of Michael. But clearly, he was asking for it, right?

Running towards him and, not wanting to put Lucy in danger, he sprinted towards me. Before making contact, I slid across the mats on my knees and grabbing his ankle, I pulled at him. Abe landed on his stomach with a hard thud and I scrambled onto him before putting my hooks in and snaking my arm under his chin. Panicking, he throws an elbow at my left eyebrow which I didn't see coming and seemed to connect because I felt something wet running down my cheek. Tightening my grip, I held onto his neck like my life depended on it and he began to barrel roll in an attempt to wiggle out of it but I was not having it.

"Tap out Abe," I grunted under my breath as I tightened up and when I was on my back, I threw a leg over his stomach before putting it underneath my knee, tying him into a body lock. His breathing began quicker as my legs tightened around his waist, making it hard to breathe. "Tap out Abe..." I was sung and after a few more seconds of gasping, he tapped on my arm three times. I let go immediately and he collapsed on top of me, his body weight crushing my tiny frame and suddenly I was having a hard time breathing. Not able to speak, I began pushing him but my arms were like spaghetti.

Coughing out, I tried to take a breath when suddenly Abe was sent flying off me. I inhaled a deep breath and rolled onto my knees and there he was, glaring at Abe with the same viciousness that I found so bloody hot. Michael was giving Abe the death stare while Lucy runs to Abe, who was getting to his feet.

"No. No!" Lucy spoke sternly to Abe, grabbing onto his arm and he wouldn't look at her, his eyes only for Michael. "Olive help me!"

Standing up, I looked at Michael and sighed inwardly, cursing the person who created this beautiful man. Ironically it was my father. "Michael back off," I spoke and a rush of goosebumps covered me from head to toe. His big blue eyes darted to me and my lungs seemed to suddenly be empty.

"You're kidding? He was crushing you!" He argued and I raised my eyebrow at him, crossing my arms as I shrugged.

"And? It's none of your concern. In fact," turning back to Abe I glared at him, "What is he even doing out? Shouldn't he be on a leash in your basement or something?"

"Mack seemed to think he was okay, though he has to be heavily monitored." Abe sneered as Lucy pulled his face so he would meet her eyes, "Relax." He spoke to her smoothly and she sighed, taking his advice.

"Are you alright?" Michael murmured to me now and I turned back to look at him. His demeanour had changed to hostile to relax in a nanosecond and I gave him a quick up and down. He had changed out of his imperial clothes and had borrowed Ezra's tight shirts and jeans. His hair had been windblown from running and he wore the sweetest smile anyone has ever seen.

Fuck.

"I'm fine." I snapped and he smiled at me. His hand was reaching towards me suddenly and my body yearned to be touched by him. I wanted to be in his embrace. I could have killed someone to be in his arms again but I quickly reminded myself of what he did and slapped his hand away from me. Looking around him, I asked Robin, "Is he sleeping at Lucy's?"

"Yes." Lucy replied behind me as she rested her hand on my shoulder, her grey eyes looking at me with worry, "Please Olive I need to tend to your eye."

"Fine fine, but I'm moving out." Turning to Connor I bit my lip, "Got a spare room?"

"Yeah, we do. Mum will be thrilled, don't stress." He grinned a toothy smile and I returned it. Michael didn't seem too pleased about this but kept quiet. "Lucy you can set up in our living room."

Thanks to nurse Lucy and nurse Tracy, I was sent to bed with an ice pack. My nose was not broken thankfully and I could finally breathe again through it. I was told the swelling would go down in two to three days and I should take it easy in the meantime.

Sweet Connor and Kasey kept me company for the most part but not wanting them to feel sorry for me, I told them to go and not to worry. Though I was bored out of my mind, I did enjoy the quiet comforts of being alone with your thoughts. I tried unsuccessfully to think of Michael and every time the door opened I hoped it was him.

"Jeez, no need to look so disappointed." Robin rolls his eyes up at me a couple of days later and my eye has finally opened. Not completely but enough that I would be able to go back to class.

"How did you get Michael a pass?" I asked curiously because everyone else didn't seem to know. Ezra was Michael's constant companion and even though Little Jon had come to see me, he wouldn't tell me about Michael. He said if I wanted to know, I should talk to him myself.

"He was interrogated by Duke and Frankie. It was funny watching them play bad cop versus emotional bad cop." I looked at him confused and he sat on my bed grinning, "Duke let him have it. All his frustration and anger about how you've acted over the last few months just poured out of him. Ezra filled him in any way but man, he looked sick. Frankie just stayed on track, asked who else knew we were here and who knew he was coming here."

"And?"

"He said the princess knew he was leaving but not the specifics. Apparently, there is a major fight going on between the princess and the prince and letting Michael 'escape' will make Drax look back as a leader giving the princess a chance to step up." Robin smiled at the idea and I had to give it to her, that was a pretty good plan.

"And that didn't concern anyone?"

"Well no and he kind of also got Drax's plans for their battle formations around Las Vegas. Given he said that it changes a lot but these were loose plans. So he kind of won everyone over."

"Except me." I sighed as I stood up and he nodded slowly, looking out the window.

"Except you." He agreed, "You don't think you'll talk to him then?"

To everyone else, I would have fired back a no and that would have been the end of it but this was Robin. Robin didn't care what I did, just so long as it didn't hurt his brothers. I knew I wanted to speak to him, though I didn't know what I wanted to say. My body wanted to be near him, it was beginning to get uncomfortable now that I knew he was around and wasn't with me.

"I don't know Robin. What do you want me to say to him? Hey, thanks for leaving. You kind of broke my heart and according to everyone I went crazy." I didn't snap at him, the fire burning out of me and Robin shook his head.

"You tell him how you feel. If you're mad, tell him. If you missed him, tell him. Be honest." Was all he said on the matter and I took it in stride. "Oh, and the real reason I came up was because you don't want to miss class today."

"Why? Is Abe going to apologise for lying?" I teased as I picked up my shoes and threw on a hooded jumper.

"No, but Michael is going to fight the kids. See if they've learnt anything and he can't be biased because he doesn't know them like you did with Connor." My eyes widened as I practically scrambled to get out of the door, Robin chuckling behind me. As I made my way over, I could Abe's voice coming from the gym and I nearly tumbled into Mack and Lucy who were rushing to the gym.

"Going to see the spectacle as well then?" Mack asked as Lucy scolded me for not being in bed. Wrapping my hand around her mouth, I silenced her before nodding. "Should be interesting to see the difference between the two of you."

"Trust me, if Olive has it her way, the two of them will fight." Robin chimed in and I grinned at the possibility as I walked in with Lucy under my arm who was still worried about my eye.

The room was filled more than usual and I stood shocked for a few seconds looking at some of the parents of the students standing looking worried. Abe continued on like he hadn't noticed us come in but Michael and Ezra had turned to see me gawking. Ezra smiled before saying something to Michael which caused him to smile a little but half-heartedly.

"So if you don't want to participate then don't. This isn't compulsory." Abe finished his speech and suddenly parents were calling their children to come to them. Except none of the kids moved, their eyes on Abe and me looking at us for help. Walking over I stood next to Abe and folded my arms.

"Abe and I will be here the entire time and we'll coach you through it. It won't be like our first day." I winked at them and they gave nervous giggles at the memory, "We'll start off slow so you can get used to the idea of fighting him and then when you do fight him properly, I'll be in your corner. I promise." I looked at them all and they all slowly nodded and even though there were protests from the parents, they all stayed.

I felt like a proud parent.

"Anyone would think you wanted to hurt him," Ezra called out during warm up as him and Michael came over to Abe and I. There was a cold look between Abe and Michael but I ignored it as I continued to stretch.

"If I had it my way, I'd be fighting him but alas no."

"Maybe after?" Michael answered quickly and my heart leapt into throat. Everyone looked between the two of us and I could feel my cheeks going red. "What do you say?"

Looking at Robin for help, Abe answered for me as he stood up. "I think everyone would really benefit from seeing you guys fight. Two halflings going at it would be extremely educational." Lucy snorted from her dad and Abe sent her a wink as I rose next to him.

"Fine." Was all I said and Michael's face lit up. I was going to wipe it off that smile off his face.

During practices whenever a student needed help, I would have Abe demonstrate while I explained. Usually, I would demonstrate but I couldn't trust myself to be that close to him. His eyes were rarely on the students, I could feel them over me and every time I thought he was looking my cheeks would burn up. Everyone listened intently and I think this was the most I had ever seen them engaged. I don't know whether it was because of Michael or from the game, but I didn't care. Even George listened to me and he was normally a handful. He asked more questions than anyone and took all my critics without complaint.

"Okay now everyone knows the rules. Everything except below the belt, eye gauging and six o'clock elbows to the head." Abe understood and everyone nodded. "We'll fight one on one and if we have time, go into group work. Any volunteers?"

The first few fights were over within a few minutes and Ezra cheered on happily. I tried to coach the best as I could but it was like they were scared of him. Connor was up next and I grabbed him and whispered a few things before ruffling his hair. This pissed off Michael and within seconds the match was over. After ten minutes all the kids had lost and I was fuming.

"Group work it is then." Abe seemed a little shocked by the results and I nodded as I gathered them into their groups that they had been in.

"Guys listen when I say this. That wasn't even him at full speed. I honestly think your best form of attack is to attack from all angles. Improvise and think on your feet. Don't do something we expect." I instructed and they all nodded before beginning to prepare.

George, his friend Kane and Sam were up first and from the word go, they attacked. Sam, making herself look weak as possible went straight ahead and Michael, showing mercy, quickly took her out as Kane and George went into his arms. Sam who was sprawled on the ground, got to her feet and charged at him spear tackling him to the ground. Cheering them on, I called for them to lock down his limbs and for Kane to hold his head down. Using the move I happened to use on him, except not having so much control.

Realising they had the upper hand, Michael bucked and since he was a thousand times stronger, the boys all fell off but Sam held on tight, her legs straddling his waist. A flare of jealous burned in the pit of my stomach as I watched Sam pull back and punch Michael in the face. On the second punch though, she cocked her hand too far back and Michael bucked again, rolling on top of her, her legs wrapping around his waist.

My fists clenched as I called out for George to get him off her and George tackled him on the side and they sprawled to their feet. They began exchanging punches, Michael clearly holding back but not