Advocated Wars

Chapter Thirteen

                                                                                                           XIII

I felt a shudder involuntary run through my body as I put a little too much pressure on the man’s arm, and a crack resonated against the alley walls—echoing around the brick walls just as loudly as his screams. I frowned, moving my hand to grasp his forearm, instead. 

It’s not like I meant to break his wrist. It was just that he struggled a lot, and it annoyed me. I had only really meant to put enough pressure to mildly bruise him, so he’d stop struggling. I didn’t like to break bones. 

But, I had been distracted. In all truths, I had intended to let Naruto catch the target—as a sort of confidence boost, since I knew it would have been easy. 

I winced, again, as our argument replayed in my head. How did I manage to piss off both boys in one sitting? Although, Surge should have known better. Naruto, on the other hand, really didn’t deserve my sudden lashing out. 

My hand unconsciously tightened around the man’s arm. 

“If you’re going to turn me in, little girl, just fucking do it,” he groaned. “Don’t keep torturing me.”

This time when I tightened my grip, it was completely intentional. “I would advise you not to antagonize me, dirt bag.  I am, after all, perfectly capable of breaking this arm of yours—by which, I guess you already know, yes?” 

In response, the man groaned, again. But, he was quiet. 

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My first instinct was to look for either boy—and, I did. For once, I listened to the nagging feeling, having finished the mission. 

I frowned, thinking of Naruto. He had obviously been displeased that my job had come first. So, what would he have done? Would he have looked for Surge, like he had encouraged me to?

What would have been the right thing to do?

In truths, I guess I was liable to get some points for at least looking for them, now. 

“Sensei!” I called, running through his door—not really considering what that man actually did behind closed doors. Thankfully, from what I could tell, he had merely been sleeping , with his arm covering his eyes. “Sensei!”

He groaned, rolling over to look at me. He looked tired, and I assumed that’s why the whites of his eyes looked as red as they did—the bags under his eyes being just as prominent as ever. 

“Don’t call me that,” he lazily called out. “It’s annoying.”

“But—”

“I don’t like being reminded that I have to take care of you three.”

I sighed. “Fine. Izumi-san—”

“Champion,” he desponded, cutting me off again. “Nozomu; my name is Nozomu.” 

It was our first big mission as a team—as genin, even. And, Nozomu was just as laid back as ever. Except for when it came down to the actual mission. But, when a teammate went missing—

“Surge is missing!”

“And?”

“He’s gone!”

The man yawned, rolling the opposite way from me. “I’m sure he’ll show up, soon. Now, get out.”

“But—”

“Bye.” 

Sure enough, Surge had come stumbling through the door later that night.  Well, technically speaking, it had been the earlier hours of the morning—and, even though we were only fourteen, I was sure Surge had found some way to get wasted. 

And, I’m sure he would have gotten away with it, too. If not for one very important thing. He had stumbled through the wrong door. 

To say Nozomu had been completely livid was a bit of an understatement. 

I shuddered from the memory, pushing through the door of the room I was currently staying at. I had looked. I had tried. I had failed. 

And, when I plopped onto the bed, I couldn’t help but to notice the metallic strands of hair that peeked out from under the blanket. 

Or, the unmistakable snoring that came from the other bed. 

I huffed, pulling off my pants and exchanging my shirt for Surge’s discarded one that lay at the foot of the bed. 

And, as I crawled into the bed next to him, I couldn’t help but to kiss the boy’s forehead. Because, even though he had made a scene, and worried me sick, it was generally too much work to be mad at Surge. 

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. 

“You were already forgiven when you took your shirt off,” he whispered back. 

!~*~*~*!

I swear to god I’m so done with Surge and Nozomu’s shit I cant. They’re too much for me. 

Pic on side is surge because y not