♤SPRING SHIELD (MxM) ~fantasy~♤

The competition

Kristian

Elijah Lewis the freaking third was right. Time does fly and it flies like a jet in a spy movie.
Days went by and he'd come to my apartment every once in a while and avoid touching me like the plague. Although he jumps away from me and nearly hisses I'm kind of thankful,I don't want him surrounding me anymore.
I refuse to think about the feelings of safety and protection he invoked in me that night. I don't want to think about how he stopped time by putting his fingers over me,I still don't know how to do what he taught me because I wasn't actually listening to his voice.
I was riveting from his voice. It was smooth but rough at the same time... it felt like dry teeth grating against my skin slowly.
I remind myself to stop thinking about it. About him.
He's a jerk who thinks iced coffee is a sin. He calls you stupid names and laughs at your pain and thinks he's better than everyone.
"Red? What the hell are you doing?"his voice gets louder with each step. He's coming towards me,"Why are you looking at me like that? Was I not supposed to come?"he says,he's in yet another tailored suit,navy blue his second favourite colour.
"No,it's just your early. Did you pick the boys up from school?"
"Yeah,their with their nanny."he says looking up at the stage where the people are setting up lights and screens for people presenting. It's dark,like the theatre Oliver had his chess match in but much bigger. And more people will be here.
And the difference between me and precious little Oli is that he knew what he was doing. He knew no one was going to take his championship from him. He was confident and I'm not even worried about what I'm presenting I'm wondering if I can get on stage without pissing my pants,
"Stop freaking out,Kristian. You'll be fine."
"Easy for you to say. People competing have audiences here just for them. I have no one,"I think about how if I was in Tiliger my mother would come,maybe even with my dad's urn. She's always been funky like that and that's the beauty of it,we can all be funky together.
"Although you could be choking and I wouldn't bat an eye,I'm here for you Red."
"But you were invited by the board."
"I wouldn't have even come in person if it wasn't for you."he adds,and I look past his shoulder to the group of women and even some men who are fawning over him amongst themselves. I think I believe that.
He places his hand on my shoulder and gives it a reassuring squeeze. And yet I can't stop holding myself like I'm about to fall apart,hands on each side.
"Elijah Lewis,I wasn't expecting to see you here."Mr McConnell. He was put as a substitute when Elijah apparently turned down the position. He's wearing a special tag that makes him known as part of the panel. He looks at Elijah with disdain,I feel slightly misplaced in the tension,
"Why not?"Elijah says with his chin tilted upwards,he's signalling his power over him. But Mr McConnell doesn't care he takes a step closer and suddenly I feel like I'm watching to roosters fighting each other,
"Because last I heard of you,you were too busy to attend."
"And last I heard of you,you only got in because I left it."he tilts his head to the side,saying it like a joke but he's clearly mocking him. Brent grits his teeth,
"If you were too busy,you wouldn't be here but here you are anyway... with little Kristy."getting noticed by him feels like being helpless prey under the eyes of a cold appex predator. You're not getting away if you run nor if you hide.
"I suggest you address him with formal language,Mr McConnell."Elijah stands in his way blocking his view of me,
"I guess he hasn't told you,huh?"he says,and Elijah makes a face like he's about to turn around and ask me what he means. But for some reason I'm scared of whatever he has to say,and step in,
"I have nothing to tell,McConnell. I already discussed this in our previous meeting,"my face is hot with humiliation because people around can tell that we're not having a friendly conversation,
"Brent,I advise you to think of the consequences in case I decide to change my attitude."
"This,"he looks at me then points to himself," Is between me and him it has nothing to do with-"I blink,I simply blink and Elijah has balled the collar of Brent's shirt and shoved him foward,
"It has everything thing to do with me,McConnell. I'm warning you,it didn't end well last time and it won't change just because time has passed,"he lets go,causing him to stumble backwards and Elijah guides me away from him into the back stage room. Away from the prying eyes,
I notice the way his hands spark with green bursts of aether,like static. "You had a fight with him before?"I ask once,Elijah catches his breath,
"Rowin,the avatar of ice had a crowning ceremony. But before that Brent was powerful,so powerful that people rumoured that Lyria might chose him as the king of ice,"
"Then what happened,"
"Lyria chose Rowin,McConnell threw a fit and challenged him to a dual to prove it. Rowin was only nine,he was fifteen."picking on someone only half your age,is new type of low,
"Rowin got hurt?"I ask,invested in the story,
"No. As the eldest,I showed him the supreme,unforgiving power of the avatars."his eyes flash with the memory,it spells of a ruthless win. Of blood.
I don't think I want to know any more,"They're going to start calling out names soon,"I change the subject,
"Oh,what number are you?"he asks and I check my name card before holding it out to him,"Five."
"That's good,Red. A nice placement right before the judges get tired and after the high standards have been lowered."
"You think?"
"I know,Red. Don't stress,"
"I'm not. I'm very confident."I lie,and he knows. He just knows and I can see it.
"I can't be here actually,"
"I thought-"
"Nope,the backstage room is for participants only,I have to go. I'll be in the front row subjected to your nerve wrecked state so don't worry,"
"I'll be subjected to your wrinkles."he rolls his eyes before disappearing behind a door,and I'm left alone-
"Wait! Mr Lewis don't go...!"a young woman screams when Elijah leaves,
"Did you want to speak to him...?"I ask slightly startled by her panting,
"Yes! I wanted his autograph,this is the first time I've seen him in person! Gosh he's way hotter in real lifs don't you think? He's such a dilf."Ah,yes,common blood fever. Their known to go crazy over the avatars like their just one big boy band,
"Oh,"
"And you look familiar... Like Kristian White! The famous interior designer and business legend,he's totally my idol- you know him right?"She asks,her eyes full of dreams,
"Yeah... I get that a lot!"I say,nervously trying not to admit the truth. The announcer calls out a name,and she scurries over quickly,
"Got to go,see you."she whispers before heading out on stage.

______________

"Contestant number Five! Please step out!"I breath in the breath out,remembering everything me and Elijah practiced.
In,out. In... out.
When I walk out I find myself searching the crowd just to see his face,and I find him. Speaking to one of house hold names beside him,he gestures to me on the stage like they were just speaking about me.
Then people start clapping on my entrance,and he does giving me soft smile when he notices I'm staring at him. He jolts his chin out silently telling me to start.
Elijah told me that I won't get anywhere shaking like a leaf on stage and just talking. He made my presentation into less of that and more of a play,more of entertainment.
Look like you're having fun or no one else will,he told me. I smile and start doing everything as best as I can,
"... thank you for your time."I bow,with the same smile that I started with on my face,just a little wonky. A few mishaps here and there but it can't be seen as terrible. I race off the stage. And take off my tag and start breathing hard,letting go of my held breath.
But I keep walking until I'm seated beside the chair Elijah kept for me.
I sigh sliding into my chair,"I have an image to keep so get the hell up,I don't want to be known as some man who socialises with weirdos."I groan and sit up straight.
I fall into a loop of thinking that I might not win until it's all over and its time to look at the scores. "Pay attention now,"Elijah whispers,
I count one by one until its time for my score. Brent is the first judge to give me a score,and after a moment the crowd breaks out into skeptical murmurs.
A two. A freaking two out of ten.
My breath catches in my throat. As I rethink this entire event,I'm panicking. Maybe ,y mistakes were bigger than I thought. Maybe I-
"It doesn't mean you've lost,Red. Breath."Elijah reassures me wanting to touch my hand but stopping right before he does. Making a frustrated sound. I wish he'd just forget about that and just-
I don't know.
I guess I'm not in my right mind,over here wanting Elijah to hug me.
I can't hear the rest of the scores because I'm devastated. My mean just plummeted all because of some past I don't remember. Royalty drama I'm not even involved in. I'm pissed,pissed at the whole world right now.
Maybe even a little pissed at those two rooster like men,trying to out crow each other at every turn.
"First place is... drum role please! Mrs Veronica! Congratulations,"the announcer says. She got a perfect score of thirty,the most you can get in this competition. "Second place is..."
I'm screwed.
"Kristian! Congrats,come on up!"... what?
"Go on then,"Elijah knocks me with his shoulder when I blank out. I stare to smile and volley between him and the stage. Running,I get to the stage and runner up trophy.
Elijah mouths a simple,told you,from the audience when everyone claps. The event is over just like that and when I run back down. I don't think I just throw my arms around Elijah's neck,he makes a sound from the impact.
"Thank you,Lewis. Thank you,thank you,thank you."I keep repeating and wait for him to say something cocky,but he doesn't. "Lewis?"
"Too hard,I can't breath."I let go of him and he gasps for air,
"... sorry,"
"It's alright. But we are in public,though not too close,Red."he puts some distance between us,and I smack his shoulder,
"Thanks for being my audience,Lewis."
"....You're welcome."