“Hey, Kass, how you-”
Psiksi’s attempt to be seductive failed miserably as Psiksi’s lungs and throat decided to have a coughing fit before he could finish his sentence. While Psiksi hadn’t been working, he’d been hanging around the Great Arenas, chatting with his fellow Skyan fighters. He was supposed to be at home, resting, but coughing to himself inside a mansion on his own was less enjoyable than breaking out in a coughing fit in pretty much every conversation.
“Do you want a drink?” Kass asked.
Psiksi continued coughing, struggling to open up his backpack. Kass frowned, then handed Psiksi her drink. Psiksi gave up and took it, taking a big glug and finally making his throat calm back down.
“You’re really not in a good way…”
“Tell me about it…” Psiksi grunted. He handed the bottle back to Kass, then found what he was looking for, an inhaler. “Fucking sucks. Not as much as being home alone, but… well, I am doing pretty fucking badly. I just want to stop coughing.”
“So… are you retiring?” Kass asked as the pair of them headed to the House Fighters private canteen. Kass had never officially been a house fighter, but she did a long list of jobs regarding gladiators, and one of those duties was keeping an eye on Skyavok who fought for the Arenas themselves.
“I… uh… I don’t have enough information to call it yet. But I fucking hate all of this. I’m supposed to be a mighty warrior and I’m being brought down by some water-like fluid in my lungs.”
Kass eyed Psiksi. “You… you have fluids in your lungs?”
“Yep. My doctors don’t know why. And my parents don’t know why either. They’re both A-Class, and they even had a chat with the Shadow. I’m famous, people want to know what’s going on with me and I have literally nothing to tell anyone. And I’m doubly pissed off because I think I might need to retire. If I do retire, there will be less Skyan house fighters than Spast ones… But also…”
Psiksi started coughing again. This time though, he had his inhaler ready to go.
“You’re not just ill, you’re having a full break down, it seems.”
“Well… yeah… My livelihood is at risk, as is my streak, which I’ve spent so long building. I don’t want to go down as “the guy who nearly made it”, and I don’t want to have to bow out because of an illness. I’m the Happy Cold, but right now, I am very much more one than the other. Especially since I keep on getting shivers from all the coughing and feeling weird sensations in my chest…”
Psiksi fell silent, but not because he could feel more coughs coming. He sniffed, then rubbed his eyes. Kass realised how upset Psiksi was and put a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m so fucking close…” Psiksi whimpered. “I don’t want to go out like this. I want to go out as a real champion, not a sickly weakling. But I also don’t want to lose my damn streak because I’m ill, and I don’t think Tromos is willing to hold off until I’m better. Especially since I’ll be fighting Timik or Levik.”
“Has it all been decided for you?”
Psiksi sniffed, then nodded. “Yep. Tromos intentionally made it so I have to fight the folks I wanted to turn into a team. That’s why I fought Abius and ruined their streak again. Tromos seems to have it out for me. I suppose, my biggest fear is that this stupid illness is destroying my legacy.”
Kass patted Psiksi on the shoulder. “Your legacy is already amazing. You’re a non-predator-race house fighter with one of the longest streaks in modern history! You have spent decades kicking ass, you are still kicking ass, you’re better than everyone, including Timik, someone you’ve ruined the streak of twice, AND you were the last person to defeat Retvik. You know, the unbeaten Triumphant Champion. And on top of that? You’re trying to make a mixed-race team and the only thing stopping you from being the next Xeno Dessaron One is that bastard Tromos.”
Psiksi was about to only vaguely agree, but something Kass had just said caught him unaware. “Hang on, you don’t like Tromos?”
“No, not really. He’s far more profit-driven than Phovos was. The Ancient Warlord, she was all about power and honour. Tromos wants riches and fame. With a small hint of Ksithan supremacy. I honestly think that maybe Tromos is holding you back because he wants a Temthan or Ksithan or someone not Threanic to get the Triumphant Crown before you.”
“HPMH!” Psiksi snarled, coughed a little, then snarled some more. “Well, he’s gonna be waiting for a long fucking time. Timik’s only just rebuilding his streak and none of the Ksithan gladiators are even at 50 wins yet!”
“Also I’m planning on challenging them all to stop that happening.”
Again, Psiksi was caught unaware by Kass’s words. “Wait, what?”
“I’m planning on signing up as a house fighter. I’m sick of being a sub, I want to fight more often. And Eksi’s willing to back me up as a trainer, to help me refine my shadow powers. Sure, I lost the end of my tail, but my prosthetic is fine and I could, like, put spikes on it or something. I have the power, I should be using it all the time.”
Psiksi’s eyes widened. “You’re really going to do it?”
“Yeah. Assuming Tromos lets me.”
“He might. Because he’s going to want to replace me…” Psiksi sighed. “Although, to be fair, you would be a great replacement. I can help train you up. I want to train you up, because I don’t want some loser to replace me.”
“Well, to be fair, if I did replace you, if anyone replaced you, they would kinda be a loser at first. But I get what you mean.”
Psiksi looked Kass up and down, coughed a couple of times, then smiled. “It’s alright. You would still be a great house fighter. And I’m totally willing to help you train.”
“Really?”
“Of course…” Psiksi’s smile faded. “But also… I… I would… I would like to date you again. We’ve not really had a chance to go on a date.”
Kass though, she smiled. “You’re the hottest Skyan alive and you’re nervous?”
“It’s less nervous about dating you, it’s more… well, I’ve not been feeling well, obviously, and it’s got me feeling like a bit of a failure already.”
Kass reached forward and took Psiksi’s hand. “You’re not a failure. You’re just ill. Hopefully temporarily. And I’d totally love to go on more dates with you.”
Feeling a bit better, Psiksi smiled too. “So, are you busy right now?”
“Not really. Finished all my training and chores for today.”
“Want to go out for cookies at the mall?”
Kass grinned. “I’d love to.”