Val swallowed nervously, Alex's eyes were boring right into his making him afraid and excited at the same time. Excited because Alex actually noticed and cared. Afraid because according to Symon this kid was a hunter who could out him down in ways he wouldn't like.
And he still wasn't sure if he could tell the truth, what if Symon was right and they did have ulterior motives, what if Alex didn't really like him back, what if-
"I know you're a wizard, did it have something to do with that?" Alex asked studying him intensely.
"How..."
"I'm a hunter, I hunt magickal creatures and-or humans. Did your friend notice? Is that why he dragged you off?"
Val had to give him credit, this guy had thought everything through. He let out a breath of relief, he didn't have to come up with some crazy explanation. Then again, he quickly remembered the part about hunting humans. "Listen Alex whoever is paying you to hunt me, I can pay you more. It'll take a few years but I will I promise."
Alex's eyes narrowed in amusement and soon he was laughing. A very musical sound that had Val's heart fluttering.
Not now, He pleaded with his brain so it would remain working.
"You're so cute." He smiled up at Val, "No one has asked us to hunt you, still I'll take that payment but...in something other than cash." As he said that he traced a well manicured finger down Val's chest to the hem of his pants. "What do you say Val?"
Val blushed at loss for what to do. "I-um-can we...uh go slower...not that you're too fast...I mean I'm not..."
"Its alright Val, no need to have a mental breakdown." Alex grinned taking a step back, "I'll wait for you but in the mean time you can't date anyone else."
What the fuck was going on? "Wait, excuse me?"
"You're my boyfriend now."
"I don't think that's how this works Alex."
"You like me I like you. What's there to it."
"We have to go on dates and stuff."
Alex pouted, then grinned again, "Oh I see, you're playing hard to get. Sure I'll pay along."
Val thought about giving a better explanation when his phone suddenly rang. He scowled and pulled it out to check who was calling.
It was Bridget. "I'm sorry, I'm on my way-"
"Dude shut up and get out here. There's this super hot guy just standing outside school you've got to see him."
Why did Val suddenly have an idea of who she was talking about? Probably because he knew only one person that practically survived on attention. He hung up.
"Alex I've got to go."
"I'll walk you to the exit." Alex said.
Val accepted without comment, despite what had happened between them he still felt very comfortable around Alex, he seemed easy to talk to and less stuck up than Val had thought of him.
"So you and your sister hunt? Not sure if I should be worried."
"We mostly take orders for artifacts or creatures. The payment we get is enough to last for a few weeks before we have to take another job."
"What do you guys need money for? Your parents do pay for stuff right?"
Alex gave an easy smile, "Our parents are dead. It's been almost three years."
Val felt terrible almost immediately, "Sorry for bringing it up if it makes you-"
"No, it's fine. We've gotten over it. Our aunt takes care of us but she's not a hunter so the responsibility to get enough money to sustain the mansion falls on us. We'll be able to take over the agency once we're older."
"You have an agency...for hunting?"
"Work is work once it comes to Magick. Our family's agency is pretty well known so our parents had been training us for years so we don't make a fool of them." Alex explained. "It's sort of like the mafia of the Magick society."
Val smiled at that. It was nice have someone who spoke so openly about the fact they were involved with Magick. Unlike his parents and best friend who hid that side of themselves for years.
They stepped out of the school building and Val could see other students crowded at a particular area, but from his spot he could see just fine.
Symon was standing beside his bike dressed in very expensive looking clothes and a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. Such an attention whore.
"Its your friend." Alex said, tone cold. "I'll see you tomorrow Val, don't forget, you can't date anyone else." He said before leaving.
"Sure," Val waved before making his way towards the crowd the girls met him halfway.
"I heard that he was at the twins' party with someone, did you notice?" Katie asked.
"Fuck that, did you talk to him?" Bridget added.
Val was about to say something when he heard Symon call out his name.
"Val! You brat, I've been waiting for bloody hours." Symon huffed marching towards him.
"Don't be a drama queen now, my friends are here." He scowled hinting to the girls so Symon would act less...Symon like.
"Val, you know him?" Bridget gwaked.
He broke a sweat at the question and said the first thing that came to mind. "He's my younger cousin."
"Felix, pleasure to meet you." Symon added shaking both girls hands. He then took off his glasses.
"You don't really look alike." Katie said studying him.
"Obviously, Felix is obviously into cosplay, your contacts are fire by the way." Bridget said appraisingly.
"Thanks."
"Hey there." A new voice joined their conversation.
They all turned to see one of their female classmates approaching. Val rolled his eyes, of course it would be the school's resident bitch, Helen Bishop.
"What do you want Helen?" Bridget snapped.
"I wasn't speaking to you," She said with the air of brushing off a peasant. She turned to Val and Symon, especially Symon. "You're a friend of Val's right? I just wanted to invite you two over to my birthday party tomorrow it's happening at-"
"Slow your roll princess, your advances are cute but I'm very gay."
Val could almost hear the hearts of all the girls around him break. Coupled with the confidence with which Symon had said it, it would definitely feel like an insult, like literally no one was up to his standards.
Helen's pretty girl face turned into a scowl of disgust. "That's disgusting," She scoffed turning to walk away.
"So is the shape of your ass Missy," Symon called after in snark.
The students who heard burst out laughing. Val honestly thought it was funny, but there was really no reason to laugh when Helen would get any of her boyfriends to take her anger out on him.
Thanks a lot Symon, big help you are.
"You're pretty cool Felix." Bridget said. "I wanted to ask everyone out to get some drinks on the way, you down?"
"Please say yes." Katie added.
"You can say no and leave right now." Val suggested with undertones of warning in his voice. He had a feeling things would be disastrous if both he and Symon were in the vicinity of his friends. That and there was a chance they could figure out he was Symon. His mum had so what was stopping Bridget; who was suspecting him, and Katie; the most observant person in the world, both from figuring something out.
He was still having his mental break down when Katie's voice burst his bubble. "Val let's go. Felix says you've got lessons as five, we have to hurry."
"I'm mad you didn't tell us you've started getting private lessons. We're your friends aren't we?" Bridget added.
Val nodded, they really were his friends. He made a determined promise to persuade the Governors to let him tell share his secret with the only two people outside family who cared for his safety. "Just let me grab my bike first." He said. After getting said bike he jogged up behind them, leaning close to Symon he whispered, "Thanks for the excuse."
"You're welcome."
"Doesn't mean I'm going to ignore the clothes though. Where'd you get the money? "
Symon nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "I asked your parents." Val waited for further explanation because he knew how cheap his parents were when it came to giving money. "I may have also borrowed a bit from that little box under the bed."
He was so killing this cat.
***
The following evening, the elevator thingy which Symon had said was called a Travelator arrived at the lowest floor of the Committee building.
Val stepped out feeling nauseous, now his brain was properly functioning he could tell he didn't like this means of transport.
The two took a floating platform to the sixth floor where the training ground F, which was also Blaise's work space, was.
Val was surprised to meet Kenta waiting there.
"Val, you're finally here." She beamed running to meet him at the door.
"Hi." He greeted quickly before checking to see if Blaise was in. He spotted Blaise not far off from the redhead from the other day, there were also a few other people around. Val guessed they were trainees as well. As soon as their eyes met Blaise grinned and left off his discussion to come over.
"You're five minutes late Val," He said in a low, purring voice moving closer, "I might have to punish you."
"How many times do I have to tell you? Stop flirting with trainees." An irritated voice said. It was the redhead and he was pulling Blaise back by the hair.
"Mika you're hurting me." Blaise said calmly. The remaining trainees just watched with plain expressions like they were pretty much used to this.
The boy named Mika let go. Blaise sighed, "This my apprentice Mika, he's very rude but that's beside the point." He waved his hands and a stack of folded clothes appeared and made their way into Val's arms. "Here's your uniform, changing rooms are that way."
"How come the white haired guy doesn't get one?" One of the trainees watching them asked.
Before Blaise could reply another trainee answered, "He's Reiner Discourse, remember? The higher ups are making him an exception. He's probably not going to train with us."
Val saw Symon's jaw twitch I annoyance, he really didn't like that name.
"That's rubbish if you ask me, I say he should wear the uniform to prove he's not some Incursion spy, he could also use the training, his old man bones might slow a team down." A blond guy in the front scoffed.
The movement was faster than Val could make out. The guy who had spoken noticed and tried to throw an energy blast which Symon dodged with ease and with the agility of a panther he flipped through the air landing on the kid. A few punches and twists after he had the boy on the ground, face first and lips in the dirt, hands pinned behind his back.
"Now listen up brats, I'm not doing your pissy training course because I am stronger than you pussies will ever be by the end of it." He looked up, "If you want to find out for yourselves, I dare you to run your mouth like this guy down here, as you just saw I did this without Magick." He got up dusting his hands, "And just so you know, the name's Symon, keep that in mind."
Val watched, stunned. Symon walked back towards him. "You're amazing...and scary."
"Better not disgrace me kid," was all Symon said before leaving, this environment was beginning to irritate him.
Val nodded and turned to see the rest of the class watching him, he got the feeling he wouldn't be making any other friends besides Kenta.
"How could you let him do that?" Mika was yelling at Blaise who shrugged.
"You always said Alison ran his mouth, what's wrong with someone putting him in his place?"
"But that someone insulted your course," Mika threw back.
"And he's right, I could do with some improvement." He turned to trainees, "Chop chop people, were beginning with laps. Val quit standing, your handsome face won't keep me from giving you more work."
Val groaned inwardly.
Kenta patted his back. "This is just a tip of the iceberg mate, your life's about to get much harder."
Great. Just great