Arch Frenemies

Part 23: Playing The Part

"Winning and losing isn't everything; sometimes, the journey is just as important as the outcome."
- Alex Morgan 

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Ah yes, playing for the audience, good idea. He thought in response to her sudden, unexpected embrace. Wrapping his arms around her back, he spun her around in a manner he'd seen in many movies. After a few full rotations, he set her down. That was all he could manage; physical strength not being his forte.

"We nailed it!" She cheered excitedly to him once they reached the set of tables that had been set up for the finished competitors on the other side of the room.
"We did indeed Hero. Very nice touch at the end, I am certain they bought it."
Her face furrowed in confusion.
"The hug?" Her brows furrowed slightly. "Oh,... I didn't even think about them." Answered the hero. "That just happened on it's own. I was excited, I mean we pulled off a miracle." She admitted honestly.

"Oh?" Toxic was surprised to say the least. "But if you ever tell anybody that I hugged you on purpose, I might just have to break the hero code."  She chuckled, elbowing him under the table.
"Hey," he paused and shrugged.
"What happens on dance tour... stays on dance tour."
After the dancers had all finished; the scores were measured, and the 15 couples with the lowest scores were to be eliminated.
A giant black electronic scoreboard beside the judges was powered on.
By Toxic's calculations, with their ridiculously low starting score of just 6 back in Italy, there was good chance that even with their new score added they could be eliminated.
They had a total of 34 points, but would it be enough? He hadn't taken note of the other dancers scores due to their arrival time.
Galaxy noticed all the other couples holding hands for support, so as not to appear out of place, even though Toxic  was back in his coat and gloves, she placed her hand over his.

She breathed a loud sigh of relief when the final spot was filled and it was theirs, or their false identities for that matter. Even though they had placed third in the cha-cha division, they were now dead last. Their false names, along with the German ambassadors and one other couple were called back onto the dance floor to receive small medals for placing in the category.
When the names of their alter, alter egos were called for third place, Toxic gripped her hand back and led her up to the lowest step of the three tiered winners platform.
Hans and Liesal followed next, stepping up onto the second tier, leaving only the first place spot left open between them.

"Anika and Gainer Bram of the House of Orange." Was the final couple announced. With another polite smattering of applause, the crowd parted to let the first place winners through.
The hero's hand began to tremble.
"It... It’s them!"

Galaxy Girl loudly gulped as the odd sensation of fear, began to slowly creep up on her, causing her skin to crawl. There they were. No more than an arm's length away. The man was tall, not quite as tall as Toxic, but tall.
The ones who’d been out to get her- the ones who’d actually gotten her, and left her for dead!
The duo looked so similar to each other, to the point that it was a little off-putting. Both had identical, shining dark hair, thickly lashed brown eyes, and glowing, exotically bronzed skin.
They looked like Gypsy Royalty.

Galaxy hasn't told her new ally this, but she had been experiencing nightmares of that fateful night, each time she fell asleep. The fear was quickly replaced by anger as she felt her fists clenching by her sides as the drew closer. Glancing over at the woman more closely she found herself drawn to her eyes.

As soon as the gold medals were draped around their necks, the pair stepped off the podium and briskly walked towards the exit. Instinct told her to follow them, but Toxic gripped her arm when she tried to.
"Stay in character; you don't want to fight in here."
He whispered into her ear. His cool breath on her skin sent another wave of chills running down her back.  The pretty hero looked up into his eyes, a sense of déjà vu prickled her skin, and they were the same. That particular shade of dark chocolate that rounded, almond shape.
Coincidence, she thought. Millions have those. Toxic was right, though, too many innocent bystanders, plus she wasn't wearing her mask, she'd expose both of them if she did anything rash at that point. Was a fit of rage really worth blowing their cover, and now too? So she bit back her rage and plastered the biggest fake smile on her face as possible; the smile usually reserved for the peskiest of tabloid reporters.

"Great, now they're gone."
She moaned quietly in annoyance as the elevator door carrying her murderers dinged close.
"Patience grasshopper. This is how I always get the upper hand. You're so impulsive."
"I'd like to see you try making movie references with my foot shoved so far up your..."  A rare threat from the hero  was cut short when a medal was draped around her neck.
"Bet you just love this." He smirked, gripping her hand tight when it was his turn to be adorned in bronze, his stomach turning with nerves at the feeling of bare human hands so close to his deathly skin, but he squeezed her hand a little tighter, and did his best not to let it show how uncomfortable the process made him.
"Not Really. I get medals, awards and keys to the city on like a monthly basis."
She shrugged; her closet back home was overflowing with them.

"You want to know something? This is the first real award I've ever actually won."
He admitted, running his thumb over the engraved metal disk.
"You're kidding? But you're like the karate kid? And all those doctorates?" She gazed up at him in question.

"My black belts are all figurative. I never studied at any dojo, and my doctorates, aren't exactly registered, or legal for that matter. Truthfully, it's mostly all in my mind."
He chuckled slightly.
Galaxy felt a small wave of pity for him, but then quickly thought better of it. He was a villain, it came with the territory.
"Though I do hold second place for most prison escapes ever. And first in my age category." He beamed proudly. "Only second?" she teased.
"Hey, the villainess who holds first place can actually walk through walls. Try as I might, I can't compete with that."
He elbowed her with a smile.

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A/N: HEY GUYS! IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
Im having a contest this week and I'm giving away a signed hard copy of Bedding Camp as the grand prize. Go to my Facebook page (link in my bio) to find out how you can enter to win.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. More will follow soon.
Love you all.
-QueenOfGeeks