"Lio..," A familiar voice called to me as I walked down the long tunnel like hallway, passing the silver green lockers of our school. I stopped and turned, casting a surprised glance at a somewhat calm looking Magnus. When he isnt sneering, or yelling, hes actually fairly normal looking.
"Magnus. What do you want?," I demanded, returning to my paced walk. He quickly caught up to me, falling silent as we walked down the hall, similar to that of when we were kids. However, back then I was following him around like a lost puppy. Now I can barely look at him.
I stop abruptly, turning to him.
"Magnus, I-" He cuts me off with his finger, before dragging me off to the side of the hallway to a dark corner, hiding us in the shadows.
"You wont hear this on the news yet... But Lyon is dead,". My heart dropped into my stomach, an overwhelming feeling of sickness filling me.
"What? How do you know?," I demanded, glaring at him, though deep down, I knew it was true. Magnus is many things, but he was never a liar.
"A few days ago... After our fight. A hooded man sought me out, congratulated me on how well I did, and apologized for the way it turned out. Then he told me there was a boy dead in a ditch not far from the school... ", He covers his mouth, his blue eyes filling with tears as his lips trembling.
"I was afraid that he was being truthful... I didnt want to... I told my mom, and as you know shes a deputy. She found the body Lio... Its him.. ," He starts to tremble, his eyes looking away from me, and to the floor.
"I hate you Lio... And I hated Lyon too because he meant something to you... He reminded me of you when we were kids... But god... I didnt want him to die..," He looks up at me, making eye contact with me. And for the first time in my life, I saw true fear in them.
"Now The only lead they have is me, and they dont quite buy the "I got an anonymous tip," Excuse, however true it is..." He glares at me.
"They saw our fight... They saw my anger issues and my worst failure ever to you. They found your contact in his phone and they made the connection. They want to put this on me Lio..," He finishes almost breathlessly. I freeze in my spot. Magnus.. A murderer?
"What the hell am I supposed to do about it!," I demanded. He shakes his head, his dark eyes flooding with tears of fear. In that moment, seeing one of the few people I've ever looked up to, someone who I aspired to beat. To be come better. I did the only thing I could think of. I hugged him. My worst enemy. My mentor, my ex bestfriend. My ultimate rival.
"I hate you too Magnus. But one things for certain. I will never just stand back and watch the strongest person I know break down into tears," I grumbled. I could hear a small gasp from him. Regardless, he didnt move.
"Dont touch me... Let go of me," He demanded, yet made no attempt to move, his head just buried into my shoulder.
"Ok then," I replied, going to let go. That's when the strangest thing happened. His fists clenched onto my shirt, holding me in place.
"Dont you dare let go..." He grumbled. I could feel my shoulder softening from his tears. He may be strong. He may be my rival. He may be older than me. But that doesn't change the fact that we're still teenagers. Were still kids.
"Make up your mind Magnus," I ordered, feeling flustered by his mixed emotions.
After a few moments, He let go, stepping away from me. He locked eyes with me, his eyes now calm instead of fearful.
" This didnt happen you damn nerd," He growled, before stalking off, his hands in his pockets.
But it did happen. And what did happen, Would forever change the course of my life.
"DAMMIT LIO!!! WHY CANT YOU CATCH RIGHT!!," Magnus roared angrily, storming up to me. He shoved me down to the floor, smirking as my back cracks audibly. I clench my fists, breathing heavily.
"Oh... Poor defenseless Lio... Are you gonna cry?," He cackled. I looked up with a steel gaze.
"I'll show you...," I screamed, before leaping up, slamming into him, launching us both to the floor. I sit on top of him, my vision slowly turning black as my arms swing. I cant feel anything. My body's numb. The world around me dark. The whole world distorted and echoing around me.
"STOP LIO,!" I could hear Mrs. Jones scream. I could barely feel the hands clawing at my back. I sit back, my vision returning again, but what I saw wasnt quite what I thought it would be.
Magnus lays on the ground in front of me, his eyes wide with an unfamiliar emotion. Next to his head, was a pool of blood from where I had been punching the floor repeatedly, my fists decimated.
"Why...," Magnus murmured. I looked up at him weakly, feeling exhausted, emotionally and physically.
"Do you think I'm weak... HUH YOU DAMN NERD?," He screams, yanking me from Mrs. Jones with brute force, glaring down into my eyes angrily.
"Is that why you did that to yourself? To show mercy on me!? YOU SHOULDVE JUST BEAT ME INTO A BLOODY PULP LIKE WE BOTH KNOW YOU WANTED TOO!! FACE THE MUSIC LIO!!! YOURE JUST A WEAKLING CRYBABY WHO PULLS PUNCHES WHEN IT TRULY COUNTS!," He erupts, shoving me down.
"Magnus calm down," Another student, Ryan, ordered.
"Yeah dude, dont you think you have put him through enough?," Says another, a boy named Charles. The two of them stand in between us, glaring down at them.
"Especially if hes, as you call him, A crybaby Nerd," Says Sarah, the girl that I versed against in the competition for the boost on my powers. She walks up and gets between us too.
"Charles, Sarah, Ryan take Lionel to the office. Magnus, Lio, you'll both have detention for a week, I'm fine with small bickering here and there, but the second it becomes physical, I intervene. Now get them put of here," Mrs. Jones yells. As Charles and Ryan start to carry me, my vision dots with bright colors, as I slowly drift off to sleep.
Magnus
I glared at my fists, my mind haunted on the image of Lios casual green eyes as he does the most brotherly thing possible for me. He hugged me. So why does it feel like something more than that. He will never be a brother to me, and hell never be my friend either. It was just a stupid hug, one of the only hugs I've ever received outside of my family.
Why the hell did he injure himself instead of me. The thought that he thinks I'm weak really pisses me off, especially coming from a weakling like him. I'm not weak...
My mind flashes back to a faceless father, smashing beer bottles. The word weak repeating on loop in my ears. I will never be called that word again.
I enter the weights room, enjoying my one free period after gym. I take off my shirt, replacing it with a muscle top. I glance around the painted room, noting all the different excercise machines in the room. Still fresh with my hatred for Lionel Hall, I started my workout.
Lio
Later that night, the students of our school would see the news of Lyons murder all over social media, news networks, and anything else the media could spread it on.
His murder was claimed to be unidentified at that moment, but only two people outside the police station in our area know the truth.
They have sights set on Magnus. Magnus is one of the most horrible people I've ever met, but the fear I saw in his eyes that day, proved to me what I knew all along. Hes just a dick, not a killer. But theres no way for us to prove that.
I look down at my shattered fist, angrily picking at my other hands nails.
"That's what you get for being an idiot Lionel. I'm fed up with you and your problems with that kid, it's nothing but trouble. He is nothing but trouble," Michelle grumbled annoyedly, glaring me down as she continues her conquest of vacuuming the living room.
"I'm sorry Michelle. I truly am," I apologized, looking down at my hands. She smiles at me.
"But hey, the doctors confirmed your power while you were there. Do you wanna know what it is?," She asked. I nod, sitting up as best as I can.
"They named it Glazed mending. Originally, you just had ice abilities, but the extreme boost you received from that tournament, it evolved into something even stronger. According to them, you can freeze any wound that you have. Once it has melted, you'll be entirely heal. They also said it should now grant you creative freedom, and if you practice long enough on it, they think it can become one of the strongest powers ever created. They're also changing the name of the abilities everyone's gaining from simply powers to naming them apart of the Celestials Community. Anyone with a special ability is now called A celestial. I thought you would've liked to know," She informed me. I nod, Looking down. I'm a Celestial now. A powerful one according to the doctors. I look at her.
"I can heal myself?," I ask. She smiles.
"Yep. They actually wanted you to try it when you get the chance. They said all you have to do is freeze your injured body part and when it melts you'll be good as new," She replies. She stands with a smile, before climbing the stairs to her room without another word.
I grin, looking down at my hands. Maybe with this power, I can finally beat him. Il finally beat Magnus at his own game.