Flight (Book 1 of Arrow Hawk Series, Also Prequel)

Val Likes Me?? - Oh Gosh...What?? How Can I Pick?!

Val's POV

When Valeri Nichushkin woke up, after being resurrected by Kelly and kissed by Evelyn, he was bewildered honestly. Truthfully, he had been revived by Kelly, but he had purposefully remained unconscious so he could get a kiss from Evelyn. He didn't know that Jonathan was there too.

After he pulled back from the heroine's embrace - and she walked over to talk to Jonathan - Val felt guilty and a little embarrassed. He hoped that he hadn't upset either of them. That was the last thing he wanted to do. But he couldn't hold his feelings back either. He loved the heroine, who loved the Blackhawk player, who cared tremendously for his teammate. It was getting more and more difficult to hold back his feelings for her.

"Hey, Val, what's going on with you? Talk to me, Russian, cause I know you well enough to know that something's going on with you...you're in love with Eve aren't you?" Brooke said, dropping down to his level.

Crap, she knows! Val blinked at her and then dipped his head finally. "I am."

"I knew it! I always had a feeling that you had some kind of feelings for Eve, the way you are always uncomfortable around her. You sly, poor little Russian player..."

"I like Eve, but she like Jonathan. I know...I can no like her." Val looked down at his feet, looking depressed.

"Well, that might not be the case, sweetie..." Evelyn's voice spoke out.

"Huh?" Val looked up to see Evelyn and Jonathan walked back over to them.

Jonathan put an arm around Patrick and hugged him closely, grinning at him. The blond Blackhawk hugged him close and smiled back. Val got to his feet at once. He had to do something. He couldn't be silent anymore and possibly explode. That wasn't healthy. He had to tell her how he really felt!

"I got tell her, Brooke," Val stated to Brooke. "I tell her my feelings."

"No Val, not here, not now--Val!" Brooke tried to stop him, but he shook her attempts.

Val ignored her and stepped forward. "Eve," he began. "I'm madly in love with you."

Evelyn blinked in awe. She looked at Jonathan, who was busy embracing Patrick and talking to him. She turned back. She looked heartbroken, but sort of curious. "Thank you were telling me, Val. Listen, you're a great friend and talented hockey player, and yes, Jonny's a superhero now and things will change, but look, Jonny and I are still together for now. We just talked."

"But I love you and I no want to stop love you."

"You can't stop loving me? Sweetie, it's okay, Brooke's here."

"But I no love Brooke, I love you!" Val demanded, throwing his hands down to his sides like a little kid.

"I need some time to figure things out, Valeri, please."

"Val, she can't love you right now. She's under an incredible amount of stress - just finding out about Jonathan being a hawk too...just give her some time and space," Brooke explained, grabbing Val's arm and yanking him backward.

"But--but...how can I--? I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART! I WANT HER AS MY SAV--!" Val began to protest, yanking his arm free and turning back to Evelyn. He was cut off by a ferocious hawk screech.

Jonathan had darted over and he roughly shoved Val to the side. "She's my savior, not YOURS! You pathetic Dallas Star Communist!" He grabbed the blond hockey player by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall of the tunnel. "Back off!"

"I will not back off! You hero now, you save Kaner! Leave her for me!!"

"She's not yours!!!!" Jonathan snapped, glowing bright orangish red again. His eyes changed to the brilliant color and he looked furious.

"Ah! No! Get off of me!" Val screamed.

"You're a bloody communist!!"

"I love her more than you!"

"She's mine, not yours!"

"Пошел на хуй, Джонатан! (Uh...he cussed: Screw you, Jonathan!)"

"Russians suck!"

"Возьмите свои слова обратно, вы жадина! Отстань от меня! Отпусти меня! (Take that back, you meanie! Get off of me! Let me go!)"

Jonathan punched Val in the face and cut his lip. Val defended himself though, but versus a superhero, he was not really that strong. He was losing badly, like if Patrick Kane picked a fight with John Scott. He was badly outmatched, luckily help arrived.

"JONNY!!" Evelyn screamed, darting forward. "Back off and let him go! You're not a killer!"

He spun to her and let out a hawk cry, which she returned with one of her own. (I'm getting a Grimm-like visual for this scene...they woged (Pronounced: vogued) ha-ha) They continued to screech at each other in anger, as though they were communicating like hawks. Brooke, Patrick and Kelly all raced forward and grabbed them, pulling them back, away from each other. Screaming and chaos filled the air.

Val managed to duck to the side and he ran right into the waiting arms of Brawler and Vanek, who'd gotten free from their traps. Brawler grabbed him, yanking him into the dark shadows to the side and out of sight and slapped a hand over his mouth to silence him, while Vanek had a hold of a pistol gun, which he locked into position at the side of the poor man. Val struggled, trying to tear himself free from the hold on him.

He watched as the two hawks calmed down and their eyes returned to normal. They apologized to one another and then more chaos broke out as they realized Val was missing. It seemed that Evelyn had told Jonathan to apologize to Val, but...Val was not there.

"Val!!" Evelyn screamed. "Where are you?"

Jonathan looked ashamed at himself and he looked at his feet. It was his fault.

"Look to the shadows, Hawkgirl!" Vanek's voice sneered.

They all finally turned and Val felt Brawler dragging him from the shadows. Vanek stayed to the side with the gun trained on him.

"Vanek! Brawler!" Evelyn growled, as Jonathan raced to block Patrick, snapping his head around. He was in full protect mode.

Vanek smirked evilly. Brawler cackled.

"Dammit!" Kelly's soft, squeaky voice piped up. "Sorry, guys."