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Breakfast of Champions

Who: LuLu and Josh
When: Morning
Where: Their apartment
Weather: ---
Status: Complete
Post-note:


Joshua joined LuLu in the kitchen. They were both taking part in their usual Saturday morning routine. The man had prepared a simple breakfast for the both of them, eggs with coffee for him and a coloring book for the sigel. A wooden chair creaked as he took a seat across from the rabbit. LuLu’s ears twitched softly at the disturbance. She had nagged him on countless occasions to toss the old furniture into the dumpster so they could finally get an upgrade. However, her guardian always countered that the solid oak dining room set had been a steal when he purchased it. She had let the issue go after a few fruitless years of complaining, but it was no secret that wished the fixtures would meet an untimely demise.

Her attention was pulled away from their squeaky house fixtures by Josh putting the finishing touches on his cup of coffee. He added a splash of cream and a heaping mound of sugar. His spoon chimed against his favorite mug as he stirred the concoction up. The sigel’s eyes scanned over the bold, black lettering printed on the white porcelain. ‘Keep calm and drink coffee’. She had gotten it for him last Christmas and was pleased that he used it nearly every morning.

LuLu watched Joshua take a sip of his coffee. His face scrunched up faintly at the lingering bitterness of his home brew. He then set down the mug and busied himself with flipping open the coloring book. It landed on an untouched page. The line work was in the shape of an owl nestled in a tree. He grabbed a red marker and began coloring within the lines. The rabbit could feel a faint warmth pulse within her rune. Its lavender light brightened to a nearly white glow as she fed on her guardian’s creativity. She was happy that she would not have to seek out a meal today. The sigel stretched out and sprawled her body across the table. Her chin rested on her crossed arms as she followed Joshua’s coloring with her eyes.

Her guardian was now reading through news articles on his smartphone. He paused every so often for a bite of eggs or a swig of coffee. Despite his multitasking, one hand remained diligently coloring. LuLu appreciated his effort, but noticed his coloring had been impacted by his divided concentration. She did not bring it to his attention though. In fact, this was her favorite part.

Her ears perked as Josh’s marker made a wayward streak outside the black outlines. It continued to dance just past the constraints of the predetermined picture. The rabbit’s lips spread into a grin. The framework created for them to follow was always charming, but it was only as good as what was printed. It was nothing compared to wanton creativity. She sighed in awe as Josh’s hand continued to scribble far from the picture of the owl.

Unfortunately, their coloring session was cut short when Josh looked down at his handiwork. His eyes widened. “s**t!” He blurted a few more muted curses as he set down his pen. “Sorry Lu. I messed it up, but we can do another one.” The man ripped the page from the book without a second thought.

He was about to crumple the paper, but paused when the rabbit rose from her seat. “Wait!” The sigel plucked the sheet from his hand. Her thin fingers ran along one of the crinkled edges to straighten it out. She mused at Josh’s squiggles. A few of the red loops reminded her of a school of fish. One of the scribbles looked like a house. Each one was unique and she felt like they all belonged on the page. The parts that her guardian had called ‘bad’ all summed up to make something better than the blank canvas he had started with. Realization dawned on the rabbit. She took her seat again. “I am selfish. I can be impulsive and mean.” Her amethyst eyes met Josh’s. “But, I am ok with some of that.”

Her guardian bobbed his head. “Well, I mean, if we are being honest. Yeah, you are.” He noticed the girl’s eyes squint into the start of a glare. He continued before she could have a meltdown. “But, we all have our cons we have to keep in check. I am a scatterbrain and a workaholic.” The rabbit nodded in agreement, a bit too easily in Josh’s opinion. His toned picked up some optimism. “Hey! We have our good parts, too. I know you are loyal and enthusiastic. You always make a statement when you enter a room. And me?” Josh motioned for the sigel to respond.

She pondered for a moment. “You can make pretty delicious cookies.” She smirked. Josh huffed and rolled his eyes. He picked up his dishes to take them to the sink. Lu called after him, “You are also kindhearted, and you are becoming a better listener, too.” Her ears picked up on his heartbeat quickening. Josh turned to face her again. He wore a strained smile that forced his lips together.

“I am still learning things, too.” He reached over and laid a hand across her shoulder. “Lu, I am proud of who you are becoming. Just let me know if anything is wrong, ok?” The man’s eyes softened. LuLu brushed her fingers across Josh’s hand and moved out from under his grasp.

She replied softly. “I will.” There was nothing more to say though. Nothing was wrong. In truth, this was the most right things had felt in a long while. LuLu felt at peace in her own body for once. She knew who she was and was not trying to be anyone else. Though it had been a difficult lesson, Selene had been the one to show her this. She had to thank the woman today when she went to the gym for training.

Training Day

Who: LuLu and Franco
When: Evening
Where: Knockout Gym
Weather: ---
Status: Complete
Post-note:

“Twenty three… twe-twenty four… twenty five!”

The rabbit fell onto the mat beneath her. Exhausted by pushups, she hit the ground like a sack of rocks. The skin of her cheek was tacky with sweat and stuck to the plastic-y material uncomfortably, but LuLu did not have the strength to peel herself away just yet. She gulped for a breath of air to fill her burning lungs. Her arms were trembling. She concluded that going for a sixth set had not been a wise decision. Nevertheless, she had made it out alive. The saying goes ‘whatever doesn’t kill you makes your stronger”, right? LuLu had been catching independent sessions on top of her scheduled time with her trainers.

She finally rose from the ground and reached for her water bottle. At first, she reached in the wrong direction. She shook her head to clear it. LuLu was used to the format of Knockout where benches were on the left hand side. At this gym they were on the right. She quickly relocated the bottle and took a sip. Then she started to pack away her gear.

She had to get going. Franco would start her daily appointment at 3 o’clock sharp. The sigel did not want to be late. If she was, she might have to explain how she had been doubling up on her training. That was the last thing LuLu needed. After all, the rabbit wanted the fruits of her labor to be a surprise!

She arrived with two minutes to spare. Franco joined up with the rabbit shortly after he finished up with another client. Selene sometimes showed up later, always the more elusive of the two. Franco greeted the sigel with a cheeky grin, “Afternoon LuLu!” He ruffled her blonde hair out of its ponytail. She returned his rowdy welcome with a friendly punch to his shoulder. He yowled, “Ow, ow, ow! That had some heat!” She could tell he was bluffing though as his smiled never faltered once. “You know what? If you can toss punches like that, I let you off too easy yesterday.” He pointed at her, “I am going to bring the pain today!” A standing fan circulating air in the gym hit him at just the right moment. The light breeze caused a wayward strand of hair not bound within his topknot to wave gently.

The rabbit giggled from behind her hand. Franco was as over the top as ever. He looked like a personal training ad out of a sports brochure. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” She mocked the pose and pointed straight back at the man. Unfortunately, her timing was not on par with his. She had no wind to punctuate her enthusiasm. Regardless, she continued. “Bring it, Franco.” LuLu started to get ready for what ‘pain’ was to come. She set down her bag and re-tied her ponytail.

LuLu was greeted by a circuit training course. It was nothing new to her though. In fact, Franco had given her the pleasure of making acquaintance with many courses like this in the past. This one looked to consist of generous amount of… pushups. The back of her throat went dry. The rabbit gulped softly. This was bad news. Her biceps and shoulders were still aching from earlier. Still, LuLu’s only option was to complete the training. If she asked Franco to change the configuration of the course it would be the catalyst of two cataclysmic events. First, LuLu would have to admit the course was ‘too difficult’ and give Franco a boost to his already overblown ego. Second, she would have to explain why she was so tired. Her surprise would be exposed! LuLu sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She just had to survive.

The first few minutes of training went by with minimal distress. It was punching and dodging mostly, easy enough. However, the first set of pushups was quickly approaching. Franco barked overhead for Lu to hit the ground, and the girl knew exactly what was coming. She would have to complete twenty of them. It appeared reasonable at first, but the man had a way of taking things to the next level. He fixed a weighted belt on the sigel at the start of the course. LuLu had lost even the modest advantage gained by her ability to float. Now nothing stood between her and three solid minutes of excruciating pain.

Here arms had gone numb by number eighteen, but it was a blessing in disguise as it made the final two pushups bearable. If she could feel her arms, LuLu was certain she would have screamed out during the last one. She was relieved to have finished the set. Her victory was a short lived one though. LuLu was abruptly reminded that she still had half the course left as Franco shouted for her to move onto the next exercise. The sigel rose from the ground ready to dash to the next station. Her wings flapped in a few quick bursts to help her gain momentum. LuLu has halfway to the station when her vision began to tunnel. She was certain she was moving forward, but her destination was growing further and further away.


She never made it to the next set.


When she awoke, Franco was standing over. His expression looked to be a mix if worry and upset. He questioned roughly, “You ok? What is wrong?” His thick brows were knitted together.


LuLu smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I am ok.” She paused to think of a good tangent. “You outdid yourself on this one, Franco.”


Franco’s expression sharpened. He shook his head. “Bullshit. You finished up something like this on Monday without a problem. Now tell me what is up.” His green eyes narrowed.


LuLu frowned. She looked away from his gaze. She tried to fabricate another lie but the fact she had passed out only a few minutes prior made it impossible. The gears in her brain were barely turning at this point. The only thing that came to mind was the unfortunate truth. The sigel blurted, “I have been training at another gym.” The cat was out of the bag now. Her eyes searched out for Franco’s. Was he going to be angry? LuLu whimpered, “I am worried… I want to be ready for my first match.”

The man did not look furious like she had expected. Actually, his eyes looked glassy like two large marbles. Franco blinked a few times and put whatever emotion he experiencing to rest. He replied softly, “I understand you are nervous, but you cannot do that. My plan does not account for you putting in extra work. You are going to break yourself if you are not careful, LuLu.” Franco moved to help her up onto one of the benches. LuLu followed his guide. “The match is in two days. As your trainer, I advise you rest during that time.” He raised a brow at the girl. “You hear me? Rest.”


LuLu pouted softly. The match was so close. The last thing she felt like doing was resting. She doubted her opponent would be taking it easy. She began, “But-” Franco shot her a look that stopped Lu’s rebuttal in its tracks. She concluded, “I guess I can rest.” Perhaps Franco had a point. Even if she wanted to keep training, her body did not seem to be accommodating. Maybe a short break could do her a lot of good. She was willing to give Franco's advice a try.


'Blood, sweat, I'll break my bones
Till all my scars bleed golden'

A New Star on the Stage

Who: LuLu, Josh, Selene, and Franco
When: Night
Where: Downtown Durem
Weather: ---
Status: Complete
Post-note:

Josh’s van pulled slowly into a dimly lit lot. The lines sectioning off each spot were completely eroded from the cracked pavement. The boy cursed under his breath. He followed some well-worn tire tracks and found his way to what he had to assume was a space. The engine fell silent. LuLu watched him as he turned towards her. She could read the look in his eyes even in the low light. He was worried.

Josh began, “Are you sure you have to do this?” His grip tightened on the wheel. “I know you have been training hard, but this all seems pretty serious. I was just expecting some sparring match. Not this.” Her guardian’s gaze trailed outside to where a crowd of spectators were starting to gather. Even Lu had to admit, it was not a friendliest looking group. Franco had given her some warning about the venue and, in his typical fashion, he had joked about how everybody has to start somewhere. He had also cautioned her to stay in the car until Selene and himself had arrived. Now she understood why.

The rabbit flinched when she saw a fight break out between two, likely drunken, men in the mob. The skirmish was quickly put to an end though by a glass bottle breaking against one of their skulls. The sigel sighed and turned away from the scene. She assured Josh, “I want to do this. Do not worry. I am not fighting the spectators.” The girl held out a single finger towards her guardian. She continued, “I only have to put down one person. And, I will.” LuLu’s words were bold. However, she could feel a well of nervousness bubbling up in the pit of her stomach. She was up against the local champion. From what she had heard, he was undefeated. Selene had assured her that most of his opponents had been street thugs rather than trained fighters. Still, his record had been impressive.

The sigel heard Josh grumble next to her, “Just be safe. Call it off if it gets to be too much. Okay?” LuLu scoffed in response and slumped back into her seat. She was starting to regret inviting the boy. At first, she had wanted her guardian to be a part of her first live match. In light of past events, she was trying her best to keep as few secrets as possible from him. The whole open communication thing had been working well enough for both of them, and Josh had been pretty supportive of her previous endeavors. She thought he would enjoy being a part of this, too. What she had not expected was for him to become a nervous wreck an hour before the event. Even worse, his anxiety was starting to rub off on her.

Josh spoke again, “Do not get offended. I am your guardian. Looking out for you comes with the territory.” He offered a smile. The rabbit crossed her arms defiantly, and his smirk faded to a weak quirk of his lips.

LuLu hissed, “I do not need protection. I will win.” She felt her stomach churn despite whatever confident proclamation she was spewing.

The sigel jumped when someone tapped against the window next to her head. Franco’s enthusiastic face greeted her just outside. He continued to rap against the window in a haphazard rhythm, encouraging her to get out. Josh was the first to poke his head out and protested the rough handling of his van. LuLu then shoved open the door energetically enough to knock the large man back. “You made it!” She chimed cheerily as she slipped from the van. The rabbit noticed Selene had settled in behind Franco. She waved to the woman.

Selene nodded, “I would not miss it.” She held up a duffle bag. “I brought some extra supplies for you.” The bag piqued the girl’s interest but she could not come up with any guesses as to what it may contain given its plain exterior. It looked like any other black gym bag she had seen countless times in the past. The sigel moved to grab her red duffle from the back of the van. She slung it over her shoulder and closed the sliding door until she heard the click of it locking. She made it back to everyone just in time to hear Josh finishing his introduction to Franco and Selene.

Having concluded their reception, the small troupe slid past the front entrance and around to the back of the building where the contenders entered. They were shuffled away into a small changing room barely large enough to contain the four of them pressed in shoulder to shoulder. The space was empty aside from a metal folding chair shoved away into a corner and a grungy looking mirror hanging from one of the graffiti covered walls.

Accounting for the obvious lack of space, Josh decided to take his leave. LuLu’s guardian wished her luck and gave her shoulder a concerned squeeze before he departed to find a good seat in the audience. Shortly after, Selene booted Franco out so LuLu could change in peace. It left her alone with the rabbit.

----

LuLu had slipped into most of her gear within thirty minutes. Selene was offering assistance when she could which sped things along. They had already finished wrapping the sigel’s fists and securing her gloves. The binding was undoubtedly the older woman’s work. Precise like everything else she did. Lu flexed her fingers and felt just the right amount of give. Selene had also helped spread a thin layer of gel along the rabbit’s face. It was gooey and rested uncomfortably on her skin in a way that made her grimace whenever her nose crinkled. Lu found the step odd but she trusted the woman enough to put up with the application. Fortunately, small exchanges of conversation during the preparation allowed Lu to eventually forget about the greasy sensation altogether.

The last step involved Selene pleating Lu’s blonde hair tightly against her head. Weathered fingers worked nimbly with years of experience. Lu felt Selene repeatedly tug against her scalp with a careful pressure. It was soothing and soon Lu’s head lulled back. Her trainer emitted a creaky laugh and tied off the last braid. “All done.” The sigel felt a pat against the back of her head.

The rabbit looked at Selene’s handiwork in the mirror and was pleased to see her hair had been split into three neatly placed braids. It was the final polish to a look punctuated by sleekness and functionality. LuLu had never seen herself this way before. Her soft features had been honed over weeks of training and it was now accentuated by Selene’s diligent artistry. She looked fierce. Like a warrior awaiting the heat of battle. She exclaimed in awe, “It looks great.” LuLu spun around to face Selene. “Do I look ready?” She set her gloves on her hips.

The woman smiled, “You tell me. Do you feel ready?” She quirked a brow at the girl. Just then, an announcement came through the door.

‘Ten minutes until you are on!’

LuLu’s confidence quickly plummeted like the floor had dropped out from beneath her. Her stomach was suddenly in knots. She drew in closer to Selene and whispered low on her breath. “Not really. What if I… what if I los-” She could not bring herself to say the words. Instead, her forehead sought purchase against the woman’s shoulder.

Selene brusquely exclaimed, “I think I know what you are missing. I have just the thing.” An uncharacteristic tinge of excitement had bled into her voice. A hand brushed against Lu’s back before the woman’s body drew away. The sigel watched Selene unzip the black duffle bag she had brought in. The woman paused and turned to Lu. “Close your eyes until I say you can look.” The rabbit followed her instructions and shut her lavender eyes tightly. She heard some more rustling and then felt a light weight fall into her shoulders and along her arms. Selene croaked gently, “Open them.”

Lu could not help but let out a gasp at what she saw. She was now swathed in a rich crimson robe that was completely drenched in sequins. She glanced at the breast of the wrap and noted the name ‘Scarlet’ was stitched in golden thread. Lu felt a flutter in her chest. She ran her glove over the embroidery just to make sure it was real. The rabbit murmured eagerly, “Is it really… yours?”

Selene nodded. Lu could tell the woman was doing her best to hide a smirk. She replied, “It is yours now.”

The rabbit’s breath hitched in her chest. All her troubles were forgotten in that moment. She twirled in place so that the sequins captured the dim glow in the room. It was dazzling, like watching stars glittering in the sky. She felt stunning and could not wait to see how she would look in the spotlight. The same spotlight that she had been dreading mere seconds ago now seemed like a welcomed friend.

Selene snickered, “Now that you have the finishing touch. Are you feeling ready, Scarlet?”

Pride washed over her as she donned the Star’s mantle. Her shoulders squared and a grin spread over her face. Win or lose, Lu would give her opponent one hell of a fight tonight. “It is show time.”

Selene returned to Lu’s side and scooped the rabbit up into her arm. She gave her a tight squeeze. The woman boasted to the sigel, “You will knock ‘em dead.” She then pulled the hood of the robe over the rabbit’s head. “Now get out there.”

----

A set of thin double doors was the only thing blocking Lu from the ring outside. She could just make out the rumbling of the audience. They were shifting restlessly as the start of the match loomed ever closer. Her opponent was announced first. The hype man wasted no enthusiasm in talking the man up.

“Good evening! Welcome to our main event folks. It is sure to be an exciting one. Of course, in the red corner, we have our local powerhouse. The undefeated heavyweight bruiser. The king of pain. Coming in at a rock solid 235 pounds! The Incredible Hulk!!” The crowd hissed with excitement as the man made his way to the ring. It was LuLu’s first time seeing her opponent. He looked more like a brick wall than any human she had seen before. The girl adjusted her hood so she could see his massive form more clearly. He was easily twice as wide across as Franco. The girl snorted, “The bigger they are, the harder they will fall.” That earned her a snicker from both Selene and Franco who were poised at her side. Her introduction was next.

“And now presenting tonight’s challenger! Some of you might be familiar with this name. Give her a round of applause. Coming in at a dainty 135 pounds. The Scaaaaarlet Staaaaarlet!!!” LuLu had expected her own wave of cheers. However, the crowd fell silent when she exited from backstage. The rabbit was certain she could have heard a mouse sneeze as she approached the stage. The faces in the audience were contorted with awe and confusion as if they were seeing a ghost. LuLu did not let it deter her though. She offered the crowd a few playful swipes and fake punches.

The rabbit climbed the steps to the ring and slipped her petite body through the ropes. She spun so her robe coiled around her and then pulled the hood down to reveal herself to the spectators. The silence was broken by a loud boo. Then, someone threw a bottle at the ring. Lu dodged to the side a narrowly avoided it. She could hear the jeers and taunts erupting from the crowd.

“Who is this poser?”

“Why the hell would they let some brat in the ring?”

“What were they thinking?”

The rabbit had heard enough. She slung her robe off and tossed it to Franco. The man caught it with a surprised yelp. She quickly made her way over to the announcer center stage and grabbed the mic from him. “Hey!” Her stern voice cut through the insults like a red hot blade. “Shut your mouths! Hold your opinion until the end. You will see a miracle. Scarlet Starlet is back from the dead! And, will defeat your champion!” She returned the mic back to the announcer and focused her gaze back on her opponent. The Hulk was appraising her with a broad grin and crooked teeth. He seemed amused by her threat. The man approached the center of the ring with three inhumanly long strides. He looked even larger now that he was up close and personal. LuLu could smell cheap cologne, smoke, and body odor wafting from him. She had to fight the urge to cover her nose.

He growled deep and low, “I will crush you, little girl.”

The announcer gulped loudly and resumed his rehearsed lines. Though, they came out a bit shakier than before. “Y-you know the rules! No cheap shots. Return to your corners so we can start.” LuLu spent each second she could staring daggers at the Hulk from down the bridge of her nose before she strode back to her corner. She would wipe the smirk off his face, and show the audience just who they should be cheering for.

The bell rung with two clear dings to signal the start of the match. The Hulk made the first move. He lurched forward towards LuLu, but the girl escaped his reach with her deft speed. He continued his advance and LuLu never missed a step of her choreographed dance around the brute. She had practiced with the best. Lu knew things would go well if she played this match smart like Selene. Her trainer had taken out countless men like this in her prime. LuLu was certain she could do the same. The first step was tiring him out. All she had to do for now was stay out of his way.

The first three rounds went by with very little action. The Hulk gave chase and sought to land a crippling blow on the rabbit, but it never made contact. She was too quick. By the end of the fourth round, Lu noticed he was starting to breathe heavier. Sweat was dripping from his brow like a waterfall and his face was flushed with effort. She decided she would go on the offensive in the next round.

LuLu shot forward like a sling shot at the same time the bell for the fifth round rang. Her fist drew back then collided with the Hulk’s right side. He doubled over and, for that moment, she thought she had him. However, she quickly realized her mistake as The Hulk enclosed his arms around her. She had not worn him out enough before springing her trap. He had recovered faster than she was expecting, and now she was in his clutches. The audience exploded into hoots and hollers when the Hulk threw her into a corner of the ring. He had her right where he wanted her. His bulk blocked off any escape she could hope for. His glove connected her face again and again until stars shot across her vision.

The ref pulled the Hulk away in time for the fifth round to end. LuLu wobbled to her corner of the ring. She could taste iron in her mouth and was certain she was bleeding from her nose. The ref tried to say something to her, but LuLu could not make out the words. The rabbit’s wits still had not returned to her. Everything was drowned out by ringing in her ears and the thump of blood pumping in her head.

Her eyes snapped wide open when a wave of cold water doused her. She squeaked in disapproval, but was relieved that the impromptu bath had shocked back into the here and now. Franco, Josh, and Selene had gathered near her. Each one was trying to speak over the other and all their voices spun together into a raucous din.

“Congrats on your first legitimate black eye! Now go return the favor!”

“Take a breath. Regroup. You still have this match. You have felt worse.”

“Lu! What the hell! You are hurt! Stop this craziness!”

LuLu cut them all off with a vicious glower. Josh was all too familiar with that look and was the first to slink away from her. Both Franco and Selene soon followed his example. The sigel rolled her shoulders before cracking her neck and wings. She declared resolutely. “I am not going to run home after the first punch.” She would not make a fool of herself in her first match by throwing in the towel this early. So, she had slipped-up. It was now time for her to get serious and stop playing around. She seethed between her clenched teeth, “I will end him.” The golden tattoos lining her eyes shifted to a deep Scarlet and bled down her cheeks into two thick streaks.

The bell for the sixth round sounded.

The Hulk was also ready to end this match. He stomped towards the girl with clunky movements and fists swinging. LuLu slipped past his first punch and countered by landing a blow to his right side. She aimed right where he was already bruising from her previous hit. Then, her other fist struck shortly after. She felt air escape the man’s lungs. He sputtered, but the rabbit backed off instead of going in for a third attack.

She circled just out of his range and goaded the Hulk on. “Come crush me, loser. I am right here. Come get me!” She could see the veins in the man’s temples throbbing under his skin. He was broiling with rage. The Hulk snarled and stomped his feet before he came after her again. This was what she had been waiting for. LuLu flared her wings and dodged away from his blow. She saw the perfect opening. Her glove collided squarely with his chin and she heard the crunch of bone breaking.

The Hulk fell back with a dull thud that made the whole canvas quake. He did note move aside from labored breathing.

A hush fell over the crowd. The announcer came over the speakers with uncertainty coloring his tone, “T-the champion was defeated by… a total knockout!” A cheer then erupted through the whole venue. Soon a chant built up volume as it spread across the crowd.

“Scarlet! SCARLET! SCARLET!!!”

Now that was the cheer she had been expecting! LuLu took a bow in the center of the stage. She then turned to Franco, Selene, and Josh before she took another one. The trio seized the ring and joined the rabbit in a group hug. The sigel squirmed in their arms and giggled, “I told you I would do it.”

Franco chuckled, “You really gave them a show.”

Selene scoffed, “I knew you could.”

Josh tolled hesitantly, “G-good work, Lu.”

LuLu’s first match had been a success in many ways and was the start of something much, much more exciting.

The Mysterious Benefactor

Who: LuLu and Samuel
When: Mid-morning
Where: Local Cafe in Barton
Weather: Fall
Status: Complete
Post-note:

It was a quiet day at Lu’s favorite coffee shop. Though it was already noon, only a handful of people had stumbled their way into the café. Upon pilfering their preferred source of caffeine, most of the patrons quickly found their way back outside. The sigel was one of a small handful of customers who stuck around to finish their beverage. She had settled into a back corner of the shop and had already purchased her own sugary concoction of the day, a mix of mocha and a peppermint swirl.

She absentmindedly took another sip from her cup as she used her other hand to manage her phone. She had an online article opened and was crawling through it. Her first victory made enough of a stir to earn her an commentary in one of Durem’s local newspapers. It was a brief editorial, only a few paragraphs at the most, that appraised her performance and congratulated the underdog’s victory. It concluded with a question to the audience of what was to come from the new Starlet’s budding career. LuLu smiled to herself. Even she did not yet know the answer to that. All she had determined for now was that she was not ready to stop.

LuLu’s ears perked when she heard the clatter of a chair near her. It was an unmistakable squeal of metal legs being pulled closer. The sigel drew her lavender eyes away from her phone. “Oh!” She was a bit surprised to see a man seated across from her.

The man was in his late thirties to early forties judging by the wrinkles creasing his brow and the corners of his eyes. His icy blue irises were complemented by his fair complexion and pale blonde hair. The flaxen strands were clipped short and slicked back. Not a strand strayed from place aside from a single deliberate curl. He wore a crisp blue suit who’s every seam was perfectly tailored and pressed. A dried rose pinned to his lapel was the only thing that seemed discordant, the dusky red being a contrast to the swathes of rich cobalt. His fingers were laced together and perched atop the table just under his chin. LuLu could not help but notice the gilded cufflinks resting on his wrists. Two identical S’s gleamed in the overhead lights. The corners of the man’s mouth slowly drew into a gentle smile. He greeted the rabbit, “Hello, Scarlet.” He addressed her in an even tone with his rich voice.

The use of her stage name piqued the girl’s interest further. She inquired, “Hello. Can I help you, Sir?” LuLu set her phone aside and gave her full attention to the striking man. Her own fingers curled on the table.

He responded with words so measured it was as though they were picked just for her, “Yes, you can. In fact, only you can. I came here for you Scarlet.” He eased forward in his seat. “I saw your performance in Durem. It was fascinating. One may even say exquisite.” His smile grew wider until a flash of teeth appeared from behind his lips. “I would love to see more of your performances. I am hosting an event in the next few weeks. I think you will find it to be a good opportunity.” The man produced a neatly enclosed envelop from his coat’s breast pocket and held it out to the sigel.

LuLu reached out to pluck the paper from his hand. She found a slight resistance as his fingers held onto it just a moment longer than needed before he released it to the girl. She unfolded the bundle and skimmed over the advertisement. Her jaw fell open.

It was an invitation to the event Franco had been going on and on about. It was THE match of the season and the prize money for winning was exorbitant. LuLu glanced up at the man. He was the one hosting it? Well, that explained the fancy suit. The sigel inquired, “Thank you, but… what do I have to do?” She was waiting for the catch to this deal. It was uncommon to have something this good handed to you without there being some hidden cost.

The man nodded, “Very astute, but all you have to do is show up and give a good show. Everyone will be watching, including me. I will be very invested in your performance.” The man rose from his seat, “I look forward to it, Scarlet.” He withdrew from the table and made his exit. LuLu watched as a tall bodyguard enrobed in a pitch black suit greeted the mystery man and led him away to an expensive looking car. He looked to be speaking over an earpiece the entire time.

The girl looked back down at the invitation in her hands. She ran a thumb over the thick cardstock and read the embossed signature concluding the letter. “Samuel.” She was certain this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths. The man had made that very clear.

Punch Drunk



Who: LuLu and Lazarus
When: Night, soon after LuLu's boxing victory
Where: Wherever the wind takes them
Weather: Fall
Status: In-progress
Post-note:


----

Date Night

Who: LuLu and Franco, LuLu and Samuel (later)
When: Afternoon
Where: Barton
Weather: Fall
Status: Complete
Post-note:

It was the first time in a long while that LuLu could stretch out on the couch to enjoy some sweet, sweet solitude. No training. No work appointments. It was just her and a whole day of nowhere to be. The rabbit was busying herself with flipping through channels on the television aimlessly. Her head hung off the cushions with her neck craned back so she could watch the screen. She paused on an infomercial to enjoy the gimmicky announcer before she passed onto the next wave of stations. It was the perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday morning.

A knock on the door caught her attention. She blinked in its direction for a moment and the second knock finally jarred her from her haze. The girl called out to her guardian, “I got it!” She rolled over and lifted herself from the sofa. She tried to list off potential visitors in her head, but no one really came to mind. The sigel certainly had not invited anyone over for a play date.

The rabbit squinted through the door’s peephole. She was surprised to see Franco’s broad frame blocking out most of the view. LuLu quickly smoothed a hand over her hair to tame some of its frizz. She undid the door’s deadbolt and poked her head out. She greeted Franco with a sly smile, “In the neighborhood?” Her smirk broadened, “Or, did you want to see me especially today?” She leaned her body against the doorframe as she awaited his response.

The man offered her a cheeky grin, “I needed to get a good laugh so I decided to stop by. You delivered. Isn’t it a little late in the day for PJ’s?” He nodded towards the girl’s pink nightshirt.

LuLu flushed as her hand instinctively moved to cover up the slogan printed on it. She managed to conceal some of the design. Still, in spite of her best effort, it was easy to read ‘Gym Bunny’ embellished across her chest. She eventually gave up hiding the design altogether. With a frustrated sigh she decided it was best to own the look so Franco could not leech anymore amusement from her embarrassment. She shifted her weight to one of her hips and shot him a pout, “I earned a day off from saving your butt. If you have a problem, take it to the complaints department.” The rabbit ended her sentence by stamping a fist into the palm of her hand.

Franco was beyond overjoyed that the rabbit had used one of his own lines against him. He leaned forward and ruffled her hair with one of his large hands, “Good one.” The man decided to drop their game, much to LuLu’s relief, and started to pursue a more earnest conversation. “No complaints here, Lu. I actually want to thank you for all you have done for Selene and me lately. How about an afternoon around town? I will take you anywhere you want to go. Just us.” His green eyes glinted playfully.

LuLu’s confident expression shifted to one of bewilderment at his last words. She squeaked enthusiastically, “Yes!” By this point, her ears were standing on end with excitement. She held out a hand against Franco’s chest. “W-wait here! I will be right back.” The girl hastily shut the door on the man. LuLu suddenly felt weak. She pressed her forehead against the wood entryway and tried to center herself, but her whole body was trembling. She could not believe this was happening right now. At last, all of her flirting had finally passed through Franco’s thick skull. She had almost thought he was a lost cause. Yet, here she was. It was a date! Franco had finally asked her out on a date! The rabbit returned her attention to her pitiful appearance. This was no time to be in pajamas! She had to find an outfit to wear, fast!

The sigel pulled her oversized shirt over her head in one fluid movement and tossed it over the back of the couch. Her buck naked torso was on display as she floated at top speed across the living room and towards her closet. LuLu heard some dishes clatter in the nearby kitchen. Josh cried after her, “Clothes! You need to wear clothes in the apartment! Why do I need to keep telling you this!?” The rest of his sputtering fell on deaf ears as the rabbit passed him by. She had more important business to take care of; for instance, if she should brave wearing a dress despite the chilly fall weather. After a few minutes of contemplation, the girl settled on a warmer alternative. She shrugged into a sweater with a few well place cut outs in the fabric and a light jacket to go over it. She glanced in the mirror and adjusted her tattoos a bit to add a little extra oomph to her eyes and lips. Her hair was quickly pleated into a loose braid and the look was as complete as it was going to get. Around ten minutes had already ticked by and she could not let her date wait any longer.

----

The two had gotten close enough that Franco knew her interests to a T. He had started things off on a positive note by taking LuLu out for some sweets. It was something light for them to enjoy and also served to fuel them up for the fun ahead. The man had prearranged a full day of romping outside in the dusting of snow covering Barton. The plan perfectly suited the girl.

Time seemed moved faster when the two were together. A whole afternoon went by in what felt like a few fleeting moments. The date had gone well in LuLu’s opinion. So well enough that she wished to drag on the one day for weeks so she could enjoy each and every second for as long as her heart desired.

The rabbit breathed a warm puff of air into the palms of her hands. The digits were starting to become numb in the cold. They had been outside for hours by now, and it was starting to show. A shiver ran through her and ended at the base of her spine. Franco took notice. He grasped one of her hands in his own and tucked her small fist into the pocket of his jacket. LuLu gasped softly. She flexed her fingers instinctively against the warm confines. He commented, “Let’s get you out of the cold.” The man then guided them towards a bench shielded from the wind. He took a seat then motioned for her to do the same. LuLu settled in beside him.

Franco inquired, “Besides being a little frozen, are you having fun?”

The rabbit nodded. “I will warm up.” Her hand squeezed his a little tighter underneath his coat’s fabric. “It has been wonderful, nearly perfect.” LuLu’s voice lowered. “It is only missing one thing.” She bumped her shoulder against his to get the man’s attention. The rabbit turned her head to face Franco and at the same time he chose to look down at her. He was so close that she could clearly make out the hazel buried in his green irises. She felt a magnetizing energy between then. She began to lean in. Or, maybe it was Franco moving in. Either way, the distance was quickly narrowing. Her eyes fluttered shut just before their lips brushed together.

Time seemed to melt away once again as she rested her mouth on his. The kiss sent a shock through each of her nerves. It was warm and soft in just the right ways, like a cozy blanket hugging against her. LuLu barely noticed her cold hands anymore now that her whole body was warmed from within. She felt a hand seek purchase on her shoulder. His long fingers tightened briefly on her skin. Then, Franco gently pulled her away. LuLu could not help the frustrated grunt she released when their kiss was ended all too soon.

Once their mouths were free, the man started chuckling. LuLu tilted her head in confusion. Franco’s hand was now covering his face so the girl could not make out his expression. She finally asked, “What is so funny?” Though, she really did not understand the joke. She let out an uneasy giggle herself.

Franco moved his hand away. He was still laughing, but his eyes looked so uncertain and fearful. When he spoke his usual bright tone had dulled to a faint whisper. “I dunno what I am doing, LuLu.” His snickering started to sound more like desperation than amusement. “It…. feels like a just kissed my little sister or something. You know?” The man shrugged helplessly.

LuLu blinked slowly as his words sunk in. “What?” Her mind was digesting them slowly and working frantically to comprehend them. “What are you saying?” The rabbit pulled her hand out from his pocket and her fists began to clench.

Franco shook his head and looked away. “I did not mean to lead you on. s**t. You do not know any better. I should have had more control. s**t, s**t, s**t. ” He sighed, a deep guttural exhale. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” He kept repeating the sentence over and over again. Each time it left his mouth LuLu found that she grew angrier.

She finally snapped.

The sigel screeched, “Stop it! Stop saying that!” She grabbed the man by his stubbled chin and reeled him in roughly. “I am not a stupid child. You did not charm me or lead me. I chose to kiss you. I wanted to.” Her eyes narrowed. “You can’t handle that choice. But, I can.” She wound her fist back like she was ready to punch the man. However, she could not bring herself to land the blow. Her arm fell to her side limply. “******** you!” She left the man on the bench so he could recover from his shock unaccompanied.

----

LuLu floated down the sidewalk and created distance between herself and Franco. With each passing block, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease. But the slack in her muscles did not bring her any relief. Instead, she felt a new pressure building just behind her eyeballs. She blinked a few times as her vision became hazy. The sigel rubbed away the first wave of tears and mumbled, “Stupid jerk.”

The rabbit jump when a car’s horn honked at her. She looked around to make sure she was not doing something stupid while she was distracted like trying to cross a busy street. LuLu was even more confused when she noted the road was a few safe feet away from her. Her attention was drawn to a sleek black sedan pulling up onto the curve. It stopped just short of her and honked again. “The hell?” The girl mouthed to herself. LuLu tried to peek through one if its tinted windows but it was too opaque to make out anything meaningful.

The pitch black window in the back passenger’s seat suddenly slid down with a mechanical whirr. Unexpectedly, Samuel’s face greeted her. LuLu waved feebly from her spot on the walkway and tried to clean away the rest of her tears quickly. He appeared to be his usual immaculate self. Except, his generally stoic expression was replaced with one of concern. The rabbit had not seen his brows drawn together so deeply, yet. The man’s normally rich voice creaked as he asked, “What is wrong?” Samuel looked like he was holding something back. His cold blue eyes held the intensity of an ice storm. As though, he really wanted to ask ‘who did this to you’.

The sigel looked away from his heavy gaze. “N-nothing. You do not have to worry over it. It is my concern.” Her wings fluttered as she began to take her leave. “Have a good evening Samu-”

The man asserted, “Please, do not leave!” He was already halfway out of his car by the time LuLu’s gaze returned to him. He marched after her and continued, “It is freezing out. I can at least give you a ride home.” He motioned towards the car’s opened door. After a moment of thought, the rabbit conceded. She could not deny that with the sunlight outside fading it was only getting colder and colder. A warm ride in a luxury car definitely sounded more appealing that a trudge through the slush. She slipped past Samuel and into the car. The rabbit was briefly distracted by the interior of the vehicle. It was a large expanse of lavish leather that dripped with opulence. As if Lu was not already certain that the man was loaded, the crystal whiskey decanter and matching shot glasses stowed away were the final clue. Samuel slid into the car behind her and shut the door with a soft click. He called to the driver, “Turn up the heat.” He turned to the sigel. “Where are we driving to, Scarlet?” LuLu gave her address to the driver and settled into her fine, likely Italian crafted, seat.

The drive was relatively quiet for the first few minutes. LuLu was still distracted by thoughts of Franco and was not interested much in conversation. Samuel was the first to break the stretch of silence. “Forgive me for being forward. Misery is not becoming of you, Scarlet.” The rabbit then realized just how scrunched up her face had become while she was lost in her own head. She started to apologize but the man interjected, “It is not my concern, but I want to know what could bring a woman such as you to tears. I can see it is weighing on you. Perhaps, I can share some of that burden.”

LuLu had tried to spare Samuel from the drama in her life, but the man seemed determined to impose himself. It was still a good fifteen minute driver to Josh’s apartment and the rabbit did not have the energy to keep dodging the subject. She decided that offering him a little information would not hurt anything. In fact, the man was probably right in that sharing her plight might relieve some of her suffering. The sigel began, “Franco and I had a date today. Our first. Well, maybe I was the only one who thought it was a date.”

Samuel inquired, “Franco? He is one of the trainers you registered with, correct? The tall man with green eyes.” He seemed contemplative as her recalled the other man.

LuLu bobbed her head. “Yes. That is Franco.” The girl frowned. “The date was going so well. He was enjoying it, too. Until, I kissed him. He freaked out. He said it was like kissing his sister.” There was a soft thunk as she set her head against the door’s window. “What is that even supposed to mean?” he felt tears welling up in her eyes again

Samuel did not miss a beat in replying. “It sounds like a boy who is uncertain about what he wants and lost control of the situation. It is unfortunate his indecision broke your heart.” LuLu pulled away from the window and looked at Samuel. He offered her a handkerchief from his breast pocket and continued, “You are different, Scarlet. You know what you want and you let nothing stop you from attaining it.”

The sigel took the handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. She contemplated his words. An ability to appear in control was not innate to LuLu. Decisiveness was something she had cultivated in herself after meeting Selene, and it was just one of many talents she had developed over the past year. Though, it felt good having it recognized by Samuel she could not help but wonder if it had scared Franco away. She pouted, “I came on too strongly then.”


Samuel shook his head and a gentle smile fell on his face. “Franco does not see what you are. You are tenacious and powerful. If he cannot handle that, he is a child who does not deserve your time.” LuLu’s ears perked. Samuel was the first person to acknowledge her maturity. Josh saw her as a daughter to protect while Selene saw her as an apprentice to nurture. In Franco’s case, she was a sibling to cherish… or maybe something more. However, to Samuel, she was a force of awe and an equal.

Their fifteen minutes soon expired; the driver pulled off the road and spoke up to LuLu. They had arrived at Josh’s apartment building. LuLu gave Samuel one last glance. “Maybe you are right. Thank you for listening to me today, Samuel. I do feel a lot better after talking about it.” She offered him a smile before she slipped away.

Christmas Delivery



Who: LuLu and Dair
When: Evening
Where: Some seedy looking parts of Aekea
Weather: Winter chill
Status: In-progress
Post-note: