Atlantis

Chapter 11 (Part Three): Test

You were still worked up from embarrassing the Number 2 Pro Hero. But to be fair... he really did bring it upon himself with that bet.

When you had told Hawks that he was cute when he was flustered... you were doing backflips in your head when you had leaned in dangerously close to him to say that. It took every ounce of control to not blush the shade of a tomato when you veered close enough to catch a whiff of his soft cologne. But you wondered... did he become flustered because he embarrassed himself in front of the entire Pro Hero world? Or was it because of you - on how you inched towards him; mustering up the best seductive smile you could conjure up?

Regardless of which reason, you had him stumped for words. That much was obvious. And you would gladly take this victory for today.

You were now in a room down the hall with Aizawa. He was practically your mentor for the time being; as he was explaining where you would be transported to - and what the next test would consist of. You only had about an hour breather before you were going to be escorted to the next challenge.

"Most of the Officials and the Pros will have an option to view you on a live feed from here..." Aizawa continued. "Or watch you from the sidelines. And mind you... the Pros who stay to watch the next tests, are typically the ones who are interested in granting you an internship."

You leaned your lower back up against a table; your arms crossed as you listened to Aizawa.

"The second test is split into 2 challenges. You must get through 1 Villain Bot armed with excessive firearms to proceed to the next group of multiple, lower-grade Bots. The lower-grades are just as big... but less weapons."

"Christ. It's like 3 or 4 tests total!" You exclaimed. "Not 2, like you originally stated."

"Things change." The Pro Hero continued. "The Hero Commission can change these things on a whim. I only go by what was done the last time. And with the display you put on in there...." Aizawa masked any form of emotion, but the determination in his voice was easy to detect. "Who knows if they'll change it even more in the next hour for their own curiosity."

"Government corruption." You seethed. "Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations...like changing the tests that are supposed to grant you opportunities. Instead - they try to bring you down due to their own... 'curiosity'. It's the same here as it was back home. Just different circumstances." Without thinking you pounded the table with your fist. And at the same time, someone walked through the door. "What the fu-..."

But before you could finish, you realized who just walked into the room.

He casually closed the door behind him; crossing his arms against his chest - and acted as if you were the most amusing thing in the room.

"Uhh, I'm sorry, Hawks." You rapidly blinked your eyes, ashamed that your temper flared for a split second - as he apparently witnessed the end of it.

"Oh, by all means, please continue." The winged-Hero mused as he leaned up against the door. "I love a fiery woman."

Your mouth hung slightly open as you just blankly stared at him.

Hawks stared back - that amused smirk never leaving his face.

It was a few seconds before you shook your head as if that would bring you back to reality. "You just made it awkward."

"I did?" Hawks questioned.

"You did."

"I did."

"Yes... you did."

"Okay, we've established that I did."