"You have some fucking nerve," Kinsley said with a snarl, releasing Kira with a shove. "Now go, since you got what you wanted."
Kira pouted as she fixed her hair. "Why are you being so mean?" She replied. "It was just a kiss."
"It was just a kiss," Kinsley replied mockingly. "What do you not understand, Marcus is mine."
"No, he isn't, you're just blocking him from all other options, you can't claim a man you've only known for two months."
"Watch me," Kinsley said with a determined smirk as she pushed Marcus back into her dorm, before flipping Kira off and closing the door behind herself.
Kira stood in the hallway with a mixed expression.
There was a determined fire burning in her eyes, and a playful grin on her lips. "I'll have him." She whispered to herself as she turned on her heel. "It's only a matter of time."
— — —
Back inside Kinsley's dorm, Kinsley was angrily talking with Marcus. "You need to stand up to her," Kinsley said with a finger pointing to Marcus' chest. "I won't keep watching as you two twist your tongue like a pair of dogs."
Marcus sighed, in all honesty, he didn't even expect it.
But even if he did, he couldn't lie to himself. Marcus wanted to test the waters with Kira. As never having a girlfriend then suddenly having two girls interested in him was hard to deal with.
Not to mention the other swarm of other shit he was dealing with.
"Do you hear me, Marcus?" Kinsley asked with a frustrated tone.
"Y-yeah." Marcus stammered.
"I mean it Marcus, I want us to be a thing." She replied, pointing her thumbs to her chest. "I like you, and I know you like me. So you need to stop letting her disrespect both of us."
Marcus nodded. "I get that, I do, it's just I don't know how I feel about her, I kinda like her at least a little."
Kinsley frowned before slapping Marcus.
The impact was hard enough to slobber flying out of his mouth.
"Gyah." Marcus groaned as he reached for the cheek Kinsley struck. "Kinsley, what the hell?!"
Kinsley narrowed her eyes. "You need to wake up Marcus, and realize what you're saying."
Kinsley gestured towards the door. "Kira is nothing but a cute face and a hot body, she will play with you like a toy, then toss you aside."
Marcus frowned as he rubbed his cheek. "If that's the case, then why are you friends with her?" He asked.
"Because she's a good friend, she's smart, funny, and caring," Kinsley explained. "But when it comes to guys, she's not interested in a relationship, you need to understand that."
"And you're different?!?" Marcus asked angrily, "My mother told me people act like the company they keep, so if Kira is bad then what does that make you?"
Kinsley was taken aback by Marcus's words, her expression becoming slightly dispirited. "Are you serious?" She asked in disbelief.
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, I am." He replied. "I want to explore my options with both of you, it's not fair to make me pick when I'm already dealing with so much as it is."
"And you think adding Kira to the mix will fix it?" Kinsley asked.
Marcus shrugged, "I don't know, but I like how she makes me feel."
"I can do the same things she can Marcus, plus I actually care for you, before I even know what the fuck you had going on," Kinsley said angrily.
Marcus sighed. "Fine."
"You win Kinsley, I don't even care anymore," Marcus said, throwing a hand in the air as he turned around. He then tossed his duffel bag in the corner, next to the one he left behind previously.
"I like you Marcus," Kinsley said behind his back. "Why can't you feel the same?"
Marcus ignored her. "Turn the light off when you're done yapping." He said as he lay on the floor, using his duffle bag as a pillow. Luna walked over to his side, lying beside him.
"Ah, ah, ah," Kinsley said with the wag of her finger. "Luna, you're sleeping with me."
Luna frowned. "But I–"
"No, just because Marcus wants to be an idiot, doesn't mean you have to suffer."
Marcus rolled his eyes. "Just do what she says, before she hits me again."
Luna sighed as she rose from Marcus's side. Her expression was dissatisfied. It looked as if she wanted to argue, but Kinsley's stern expression left no room.
As Luna made her way onto Kinsley's bed, she gave Marcus a sympathetic look. Marcus looked back at her with a soft smile. "It's fine, I can handle sleeping by myself."
Kinsley watched the two interact with a soft smile. She then sighed as she approached the light switch. "It would be cramped, but there's room in my bed for you too." She said as she turned the light off.
Marcus remained silent. Listen as Kinsley walked across her room and settled into her bed.
Marcus didn't know how to feel about everything, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions and curiosity. There was so much he didn't know, wanted to know, and wanted to forget.
But what he craved most was something normal for a change.
With a sigh, Marcus rose from the floor and approached Kinsley's bed. "I'm coming down." He said softly.
Marcus could hear the sounds of Kinsley moving closer towards the wall, leaving a space for him to climb into bed.
He hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts and feelings. Then after a deep breath, he slipped in bed beside Kinsley.
The fit was tight, but he managed to make it work.
As he settled in he felt Kinsley grab his hand, she wrapped his arm around herself, placing Marcus' hand over Luna's stomach. Marcus felt a warm, calming sensation washing over him as he held them in his arms.
It was then that Marcus realized how stupid he was being. Laying in such a closeness with Kinsley, he felt the normalcy he'd been craving.
"Marcus," Kinsley whispered to him.
"Hmm?" Marcus replied.
"I'm sorry for… everything." She said, her tone apologetic. "I just, I don't want to lose you, not to her or anyone else."
Marcus sighed as he slid his other arm under Kinsley's body, resting it on her chest. "No, I was being stupid," Marcus replied. "I've just been stressed, with everything." He explained. "You've been nothing but kind and patient with me, and I just took it for granted."
Kinsley breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you realized that because I didn't mean that apology." She said with a chuckle. "I knew I was right."
Marcus smirked. "Psh, whatever."
The duo chuckled softly, before falling asleep in his embrace.
— — —
In the morning Marcus awoke to Kinsley stirring awake in his arms. She yawned softly as attempted to rise.
Marcus released his grasp on her, his face still etched with exhaustion. "You just rise out of bed?" Marcus asked playfully, "Not even a little procrastination?"
Kinsley chuckled softly as she stretched her arms up high. "Not even a little procrastination." She replied with a smirk. "Goals don't accomplish themselves, you have to pursue them, even the stubborn ones."
Marcus averted his gaze. "Oh, never heard of a stubborn goal, must be a new age thing." He joked.
Kinsley rolled her eyes as she slipped out of bed, "do you have any work today?" She asked curiously, heading toward her drawer.
Marcus shook his head. "Nope, got the whole week off." He replied. "No mercenaries, no anomalies, and no secret missions."
Kinsley smiled as she pulled a change of clothes from her drawer. "Good, then maybe you can attend a few of my classes today."
"You can do that?" Marcus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, the academy isn't against anyone attending classes, just don't expect to get credit or a degree." She explained.
"You know, this academy is surprisingly accessible." Marcus replied, "You can bring family to your dorms, anyone can visit the classes, I wonder how the students feel about this."
"Mixed, as most things," Kinsley explained. "Some enjoy the academy's open door policy, while others feel like it's disruptive."
"But don't think the academy isn't protecting its students, there are measures in place such as certain classes being for students only, the gates closing past eight, female training facilities being separated from the males, and so on."
"But I noticed you share dorms with boys."
Kinsley nodded. "Well yeah, who you invite into your dorm is your own business," Kinsley explained as she headed toward the bathroom. "Just know that I'm responsible for you while you're here."
"What does that mean?" Marcus asked.
"Do anything stupid, and it's both our asses," Kinsley replied, she then took a heavy breath. "Anyway, do you want to shower with me, or…"
Marcus smirked. "Will it be like the last time we showered together?" He asked with a smirk.
Kinsley blushed. "No, just a simple shower." She replied.
Marcus shrugged. "I'll take it." He said with a smile as he got out of bed.
Kinsley shook her head with a smile playing on her lips. "I'm serious Marcus, I have no intention of doing that again, it was the spur of the moment."
Marcus nodded as he began taking off his shirt. "Yeah, yeah I get it." He replied.
Kinsley rolled her eyes as she left the bathroom door cracked open.
Stepping into the bathroom, Marcus was greeted with the relatively new sight of Kinsley undressing herself. Having only seen her naked one other time.
Kinsley blushed hard as she noticed Marcus eyeing her. "Aren't you going to get undressed?" She asked, sliding down her underwear.
"R-right." Marcus stammered with a chuckle. "You know, sometimes I wonder if everyone does this." He asked curiously.
Kinsley's eyes followed Marcus's hands and he removed his underwear. "No, especially not this early in a relationship." She answered.
"Really?" Marcus asked. "But this just feels right."
Kinsley smiled as she eyed Marcus's crotch, "you can thank Kira for that." She replied, turning her attention towards the shower. "She suggested it."
Marcus smirked as he raised an eyebrow. "You sure you won't hit me again?" Marcus joked, following Kinsley into the shower.
"Just don't say anything that stupid again," Kinsley replied as she turned to face Marcus in the shower, lathering soap on her hands. "And you'll be spared hot cheeks."
Marcus grinned. "Can I make yours hot?"
Kinsley's cheeks grew redder, "shush." She said as he placed her hands on his shoulders.
The duo continued to shower and converse.
Kinsley went on to explain their schedule for the day, and points where they had to separate. Marcus quietly listened to Kinsley talk while he lathered her in soap. He would ask a question now and again, which Kinsley would answer to the best of her ability.
Though in the end Kinsley eventually gave in to her earlier proclamation after Marcus poked her one too many times with his penis.
Luna stirred awake to the moans they made in the shower a wry smile spreading around her lips. "At least they're happy." She said softly to herself.
But while Marcus was enjoying his downtime with Kinsley, his brother Felix was having the battle of his life.
— — —
"Tammy, go left," Felix called out, hurriedly moving his body to the right as he narrowed his eyes.
Each step had to be perfectly timed and executed, otherwise, he could lose everything he had fought for, all the progress he made, the sleepless nights training and studying.
It could all be lost in a single misstep.
Tammy hastily moved to the left. "Like this?" she asked with exhausted breath, before dropping to the ground.
"Game over!" The arcade machine announced, in a cute Japanese accent. "You scored 36 thousand points!"
"God damn it!" Felix cried in disbelief as he dropped to his knees. "Three weeks." He whimpered, "three weeks…"
Tammy looked at Felix with a panicked expression, "Oh no." She cried as she crawled over to him. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly, rubbing her hands on his shoulders.
"You're ass Tammy, you're so…. ass." Felix whimpered as he covered his mouth, tears welling in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Felix, I'm such a terrible dancer." Tammy said soothingly, "It's really unfortunate isn't it?"
"I can't tell if you're messing with me or not." Felix sighed as he wiped his tears.
As Felix was busy feeling sorry for himself, he and Tammy's phones vibrated.
"Hmm?" Felix curiously reached into his pocket, retrieving his phone he noticed it was a call to investigate Yakuza behavior. "Tamagawa huh?"
A grin climbed on Felix's lips, his earlier despair disappearing, replaced by newfound determination. "Finally, something you're good at."