CHAPTER 80: CH 80: SUCK IT UP.

Aegon’s grin spread. He tapped on his wrist from Ren to see. "We’re out of time."

"..."

The both froze as the world silenced all around them. The screams of survivors cut short, the smell of ash gone in a second and even the smoke stood in place.

Just before the construct came crashing down,the building warped. In the blink of an eye, the ground underneath their feet disappeared and they fell back onto the white floor of the simulation room.

Aegon raised his head to see the other awakened clustered at the side along with Alex.

He turned slightly to see Ren marching towards him with what appeared to be a shadow sword—as black as night yet looked as firm as a real blade.

"What’s your problem man?" Aegon raised his voice as he scrambled away from Ren whilst on the floor.

He continued to march on, reaching a good distance from Aegon and raised his blade—

Alex stepped between them. He cast a knife-edged glance at Ren, who still hadn’t dropped the sword.

No one moved. Everyone was captured in a state of awe as they watched Ren and Alex.

"Move." Ren said finally.

Alex’s eyes darted from the blade back Ren. "You sure you wanna do that?" He gestured to Aegon. "You’d definitely kill him but then you’d have to handle everyone else here." He slid his hands into his pockets and stepped closer to Ren. "And I’d have to send you back to the hole."

The sword didn’t drop, not yet. But Ren’s grip on it loosened. He looked Alex in the eye, as if unsure whether to trust him or not.

"Don’t throw this away kid." Alex said flatly.

The sword dissolved into the darkness and was gone. Ren nodded his head lightly and he turned back to join the group.

"Alright." Alex addressed them, ignoring Aegon who was still on the floor with his hands in the air. "That’s it for today. See you all same time tomorrow."

And with that he took off, not soaring anyone a second glance as he strode out of the simulation room.

"...!?"

"What the fuck?" Aegon muttered on the floor as he watched Alex’s fleeting figure. He immediately stands up and runs after him. "Al— Principal Miller?!"

Alex’s pace quickened as he tried to avoid Aegon until he ran ahead of him and forced the conversation.

"You saw that." He gestured back towards the building at the altercation which just occurred. "You saw him try to fucking kill me!"

"Suck it up Dhalar." Alex said with a side smile, trying not to alert the students who were passing by. "He tried to kill you. The key word being ’tried’."

"So we should wait for him to actually fucking kill me!" He raised his voice.

Alex’s fake smile remained plastered on his face long enough for a group of awakened to pass before he snapped. He continued to smile but his voice turned sour.

"Grow the fuck you man." That alone shrunk Aegon back to size. "You’re not the only one doing things they don’t like here—I’m stuck babysitting your dumbass, who apparently can do nothing but complain.

I have meetings with the government, hero associations, licensing committees, and now—" he let out a short sarcastic laugh. "PT-fucking-A. So don’t come to me with your PMS bullshit.

Suck it the fuck up and do your part." He straightened his suit. "And to make things easier for you. Hey, if you can find me the mole then I’ll send Ren back to jail myself."

He slid his hands into his pockets. "Now if you excuse me I have a fund raising party to plan." He eased out of Aegon’s figure and proceeded ahead.

But he stopped and turned back. "You and Mira Stark should get ready, you’re gonna be the first batch of the Next Gen Program. So, I’ll get a car ready for you to go meet the tailor."

"Wait why us?"

Aegon couldn’t help but ask.

"The hero association is generally against the Next Gen Program so I have to make sure the first batch is competent enough to deal with things...

That’s why the first batch had to be from the top five. But unfortunately, our Number one is his son, number two has personal issues with him, number three—let’s just say has some stuff to deal with.

"So Nightwalker’s gonna be our mentor?" Aegon said sarcastically. "Oh great."

"We don’t have a choice." Alex placed his hands on his waist. "The press is against the idea of enabling kids as Awakened heroes and that means anyone who trains you will be public enemy number one. Unless—"

"Unless it’s the number one hero of the nation himself."

Aegon finished the sentence for him.

"Bingo." Alex affirmed. "So I have to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible, so do me a favour and hide your utter distain for the man."

"I’ll try."

"Thank you." He adjusted his sleeves. "The car for the tailor will be here in an hour or so. I have to go run this academy."

And with that he was gone. Aegon watched his fleeting figure for a moment before turning back to see Ren approaching him.

But he wasn’t going to cower in fear. He straightened his back and raised his head, waiting for Ren.

He finally closed the distance between them as he stood face to face with Aegon, but said nothing.

"..."

"I don’t like you." Ren said simply in his monotonous voice, before walking away. A man of few words indeed.

---

Aegon stood at the Academy’s gate as he waited for Mira and the car which Alex sent.

He finally caught a glimpse of Mira, as she approached him. Hair pulled back in a ponytail and simple dress—he was sure he’d still be in love with her if she didn’t almost castrate him.

She closed the distance with her arms folded. "The car isn’t here yet?" She asked.

"Oh it is." Aegon answered sarcastically. He gestured at the empty space in front of them. "You can’t see it. Must be an invisible car."

She rolled her eyes. "What’s your problem with me dude?"

He tilted his head back, unsure if that was a legitimate question. "You’ve been lying since I met you. You almost cut off my dick and you’re still hiding something."

"Were you in love with me?" She arched a brow.

"What?!" His tone immediately rose. "No! I just don’t trust you."

Stepping closer to him. "I let you finger me because I had an inch that needed to be scratched. No emotions, no feelings. Don’t be such a girl."

"I’m not—"

Before he could raise a proper argument the car pulled up and the driver rolled down the mirror. "Aegon and Mira for the tailor?"

She grabbed the door, before entering, turned to Aegon. "You don’t have to worry about who I work for. As long as you don’t insert yourself you’ll be fine.

Besides, this is way above your pay grade."