The morning light broke through the cracks in the metal walls of the room, casting a soft glow over the tangle of sheets. Javier sat up slowly, his mind clouded with regret. His eyes scanned the room, landing on Brunnhilde, still asleep, her breath steady.
He could still feel the heat of their embrace, the kiss that had ignited a chain of actions he didn't fully understand. The night had been a blur, an escape from the tension, the jealousy, and the chaos surrounding him. But now, as reality settled in, Javier's heart sank. What have I done?
He thought of Mantis. Her kindness, her trust in him, the bond they had shared. He had never meant to hurt her, yet here he was, trapped in a situation that seemed to spiral beyond his control.
The sound of movement behind him made Javier turn his head, and he saw Brunnhilde stirring. Her eyes fluttered open, and when she met his gaze, there was no hint of regret in her expression—only a quiet, almost amused satisfaction.
"Morning," she said, her voice husky, yet calm. "Did you sleep well?"
Javier didn't answer immediately. His throat was tight with the weight of what he had done. But as Brunnhilde sat up, a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Don't look so serious," she teased, her eyes glittering. "You knew what you were getting into."
Javier's mind was racing, but he forced a smile. "Yeah, I guess I did." He stood up, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I need to go. There's something I need to take care of."
Brunnhilde gave him a lazy grin. "You've got a lot on your plate, don't you? But don't worry, we'll see each other again."
As he left the room, Javier felt an odd mix of shame and frustration. How did it all come to this? He knew he had crossed a line, but the temptation to escape from everything—Mantis's jealousy, his responsibilities, and the constant manipulation by the Grandmaster—had been too strong.
But as the sun rose higher, Javier's thoughts turned to Mantis. The last time he saw her, she was distant, hurt. His actions last night had only complicated things. How could he face her now? He needed to make things right, but he knew it wouldn't be easy.
---
Meanwhile, Mantis was struggling with her own turmoil. She had sensed something was off from the moment she and Javier had arrived on Sakaar. The brief interactions with Brunnhilde, the Valkyrie, had stoked the fire of jealousy she had tried to suppress. And when Javier had disappeared from her side the night before, she had felt it—felt that something had changed.
He's avoiding me, she thought bitterly. And he's probably with her, isn't he? The thought of Javier with Brunnhilde made her stomach turn, but she pushed it down, trying to focus on something else.
Yet deep inside, she couldn't escape the gnawing feeling of betrayal. Did he really choose her over me?
Mantis had tried to distract herself with the tasks she had set for herself on Sakaar, but it was impossible to ignore the hurt that had started to build. She knew she had to confront Javier, to understand what was happening between them. But she wasn't sure she was ready to face the truth.
---
Javier found Mantis later that day in one of the quieter corners of Sakaar, away from the noise and bustle of the city. She was sitting by herself, her posture stiff and tense, as if she were trying to hold herself together.
When she saw him approaching, she didn't smile, nor did she show any sign of the warmth she usually had. Instead, she looked at him with guarded eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Javier opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. How do I even begin?
Mantis looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "You don't have to explain yourself, Javier," she said softly. "I already know."
Javier felt a pang of guilt. "Mantis… please, I never meant for this to happen."
She shook her head, her voice low and filled with hurt. "You didn't mean to? But it did. And now I have to figure out what I mean to you."
Javier walked over to her, sitting down beside her, though he kept a respectful distance. He wasn't sure how to fix this, or even if he could. "Mantis, I care about you. More than you know. But I messed up."
"You did," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "You hurt me, Javier. You left me behind without saying a word. I didn't deserve that."
He wanted to reach out to her, to pull her close, but he knew it wasn't the right time. Not yet. Not when she was this angry and hurt.
"Mantis, I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I made a mistake. I can't undo it, but I want to make it right."
She looked at him then, her eyes searching his face, trying to gauge his sincerity. After a long moment, she spoke again. "You have to prove it to me. You can't just say sorry and expect everything to go back to how it was."
"I know," Javier said, his voice firm. "I will prove it. But please, don't push me away. I don't want to lose you."
Mantis's gaze softened, but she didn't say anything else. For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the weight of their unspoken words hanging between them.
---
Meanwhile, in the grand halls of the Grandmaster's palace, the Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, was finding herself caught in her own internal conflict. The attraction she felt for Javier was undeniable, and there was something about him that drew her in. But she couldn't ignore the fact that Mantis was clearly important to him.
Brunnhilde had seen how Mantis and Javier interacted—there was something deep there, something real. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a desire to stake her own claim.
As the evening fell, the Grandmaster called for a meeting. His usual theatrics filled the room, but his eyes glinted with a knowing amusement.
"Ah, it seems our two gladiators are at an impasse," the Grandmaster said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "The game is always more interesting when emotions are involved."
Brunnhilde gave him a tight smile. "I'm not here for your games, Grandmaster. But I won't deny the entertainment value of watching them play."
The Grandmaster laughed, raising his glass. "Ah, but that's the beauty of it all. Watching the chaos unfold—watching them tear each other apart. That's what makes it fun, don't you think?"
Brunnhilde's eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. "We'll see who tears who apart."
---
The stage was set for an emotional and dangerous game, one that would test relationships and bring out the deepest desires of those involved. For Javier, Mantis, and the others, the lines between love, jealousy, and betrayal had blurred. What would be the cost of their actions? Only time would tell.