Flowery Iris part 3

Rubber knives and wooden staves clattered as half a dozen people fell flat on the dark folding mats. One loud thump after another, the training ground emptied, until there was only one man standing, face to face against Felix.

Out of breath, an auburn-haired man spoke, “Come on, man. Everyone knows what you can do, so take it easy on us.”

“I was going easy, Lance. Any weaker would’ve been an insult to you as a fighter.” Felix replied, trying to hide his smug grin.

“Heh, an insult is being repeatedly knocked down.” Lance laughed, “Maybe I should apply for the Implementation, see how you like it.”

“Survive it and we’ll find out.”

“Dick. You know if David were here, he’d give you a taste of your own medicine.”

Felix’s eye twitched, forcing out an irritated smile, “Who?”

“Don’t be an ass, Felix.” Lance grinned in annoyance as he wiped off his sweat and tried to calm his breathing.

“You’re the one who tried to hit a low-blow.” Felix shot back.

“Whatever it takes to win. Anyway, I’m gonna hit the showers.”

“Good, you reek.” The blue-eyed man gestured fanning his smell away.

“Clean up after us, blue boy.” Lance waved.

As Felix’s last sparring partner headed to the showers, he was left to clean up the training room alone. He strolled around, picking up the equipment. His eyes were drawn to the dents on the worn-out punching bag hanging in the center.

He picked up a wooden staff and struck the punching bag playfully. Yet without a hint or notice, a familiar voice called out.

“What’s this? So you do know how to socialize!”

Sat atop a crate, Maria spoke while a strawberry was popped between her confident, smirking lips.

Her legs swung back and forth, dressed with a black sparring outfit with gold trim, with the Golden Lion’s insignia on the top right corner.

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough... I see the scratch on your face has healed up already.” She commented as she pointed to her own cheek.

“Is your head okay?”

“You calling me crazy?”

“That’s not what — Sigh. Never mind, you seem okay to me.”

“You were shot so many times, every bone in your body should be broken. Yet here you are, already sparring.”

“Right. Why are you here then? Weren’t you mad at me?” Felix asked while putting back the weapons to the side of the room.

“Mhm… a little.”

“Sorry about earlier, it’s just… how my mentor used to wake me up, so I wasn’t really thinking.” He admitted.

“Apology not accepted, you really should start thinking for yourself.”

Felix scratched his cheek, “Right. So what did the chief need you for?”

“Just tried to decrypt some files. It was a bit of a hassle. But enough about that, let’s talk about you… talking.”

“Lance is an old sparring buddy. And, well, I guess your silliness rubbed off on me.”

“Hoh? The stoic and somewhat sassy Felix telling an aspiring agent inspiring yet gentle words. Pretty out of character if you ask me.” She replied gleefully with wide gestures.

“Nobody asked you. Also, you’re the only one who calls me those things.” He retorted as he continued to wipe the sweat from the back of his head.

“Cause I’m the only one here who has the balls to do so.” She picked up one of the fake knives from the table, “I’m not particularly good at hand-to-hand combat. But how about we go for a round?”

He sighed deeply. “Why?”

“With your enhanced human potential, you’re probably tired of knocking down normies. And since you’ve got no experience fighting other elites, thought you might wanna polish up a bit.” Venom spewed from her words.

“Your wounds might reopen.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be the best?”

His eyebrows curled, “Don’t twist my words to your favor.”

Waving the rubber knife back and forth, she teased, “Was your first time really that scary for you? Don’t worry~ I’ll be gentle.”

“You’re still mad, aren’t you?”

“Take a wild guess!” She lunged, head low — closing the distance in a single breath.

She struck to the right with the rubber knife, but he effortlessly grabbed her wrist. His mismatched eyes narrowed, remembering how she fought in that night of bloodshed.

Maria followed up with a palm to the face. He released his grip, ducking.

“What’s the matter, chicken?”

His eye twitched, “Fine, show me the Vanguard that gave Harbinger so much trouble.”

Smirking, her arms went up as her leg shot down with an axe kick.

Felix dodged with ease and prepared to counter, but his hand froze mid-swing, trembling in the space before her head. His fingers twitched, unable to push forward or pull back.

“Huh? I can’t…” A cold sweat dripped down his face.

His eyes widened — Maria’s foot had stomped on his. She hopped away, and only then could he move his arm again.

As soon as there was distance between them, he felt like he could move his arm again. Like he could breathe again.

With a light gasp, he muttered, “What was that?”

He looked at her, and she smirked. He brought back his guard, more cautious than before.

She once again sprung forward.

This time her strike was swift, direct and predictable. Felix blocked, but the moment they touched, an electric current ran through his palm.

Her second strike followed, twirling the knife unpredictably. Something about it just moved the way she wanted it to.

Swing, slice, thrust. Each attack forward, he stepped back, letting her take more ground.

But as his eyes fixated on the weapon, he caught noticed her attack from the edges of his gaze.

Felix instinctively blocked her kick with his shin, but the moment they came in contact, he stiffened to the point where even his fingers weighed a ton, “My muscles… it can’t be.” His voice small.

Both eyes widened, shining blue. With a burst of blue, he quickly bounced out of the way.

An excited grin formed on his lips, “It’s working…”

But there was no time for relief. In the half-second he celebrated, Maria had once again closed the gap with a wide palm to his face.

He slipped under it, avoiding contact. She followed up by trying to kick his leg again, which he dodged.

“Touching her is—” Only for her to pull the mat from under him.

As soon as he staggered, she leapt at him. Before he even realized it, he was already on the floor.

Pinning him with all of her weight, she held the rubber knife against his throat, like a rat, caught by a serpent.

Underneath her small frame, a familiar sensation ran in his vein like an electric current. His mind exploded with rapid questions.

What is this feeling… How did she…

Her first attacks were a diversions. They weren’t bad, but they were amateurish and clear as day.

Yet she knocked me down.

She knocked me down, and I couldn’t move. She knocked me down.

I knew she was strong… but strength isn’t the right word for what she did… more like when Luna was training me… and the times I faced David.

The same power, but somehow different — a million times worse

It wasn’t an external pressure, it felt like it was creeping under my skin, and my body just… locked up. Like she was cheating.

What’s going on today? First, the red duo from before, with energy that’s neither blue nor orange. And now Maria with…

Remembering earlier this morning, how he tried to lift up the broken mirror shard. The blue glow sparking from it. The red glow from the pillow.

“Where was the energy? The light? The…” His voice hoarse.

Thoroughly overwhelmed, Felix looked at her with a stunned expression.

Staring into her deep, dark eyes… only for her iris to shine, radiating white veins stretching outwardly on a black canvas.

“... the flower.”

With a vibrant and satisfied smile, Maria poked the rubber knife’s tip on his nose, “Boop.”

“What just… how did—?” He snapped out of confusion, contorting into annoyance.

Never mind, I was still facing Marie after all.

The glow in his right eye faded.

“Since these normies weren’t up to par, I thought you would like to fight another enhanced human for once. But it didn’t take much to knock down the Black Cat of Ruin.” She teased as she got off him.

“… How did you… what did you?” He huffed.

“… There’s a reason why I’m an Elite Agent, y’know?”

“Right, the Venom Vanguard…” He huffed, getting back on his feet, “You didn’t lace my coffee with poison, did you?”

“We all have our experiences. The world is an ocean, and I’m the biggest fish there is.” She brazenly boasted.

“I’ve been trained by the best of them. I don’t think a lack of experience was all there is to it.” His eye twitched.

She reached out her hand and lifted Felix up, “Tell that to Harbinger.”

“That was… different.”

“Sure, it was.”

Pride wounded, he scowled deeper.

“Yeah, I’m not letting that slide.” He grabbed her shoulder, “We’re having a rematch.”

“The result will be the—” As soon as they made contact, she grabbed his wrist. But before she could anything, he swept her by the leg and flipped her over.

“Eh?” Her eyes widened as her back hit the mat, still gripping his wrist while he pressed it against her throat.

“What was that about Harbinger?” He asked.

Pinned, she looked down as he kneeled over her, only for him to place his lowered knee above thigh.

“No dirty shots.” His face obscured by the light, his left eye glowing a cold blue.

Flat on the floor, beads of sweat rolled down her face, “I thought you were afraid my wounds would reopen?” She smiled nervously.

His expression tightened, feeling a tinge of guilt as he gulped.

Letting her go, he stammered, “The way you… you shouldn’t be able to… A stage one shouldn’t… Forget it.”

“Didn’t expect you to be a sore loser.” She sat up with a sly grin.

“Shut it.”

Scratching her head, she asked, “Tell me, when you fought Harbinger, you went on all fours, and started fighting him like a wild animal. Why is that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You don’t remember? Does it have anything to do with you being called Black Cat? Gonna have to investigate.” She placed her hand on her chin.

His eyebrows furrowed as he tilted his head.

She pointing two fingers toward his eyes, “Anyways, good to know you’re learning Blue Mode.”

Maria’s words made him remember the warm touch of the red-eyed girl.

Felix got back on his feet, stretching out his hand.

She took her hand, and swung upwards as he pulled her.

“Does… do my eyes look like a flower to you?”

“Huh?” Confused, she let go, “If you’re trying to flirt, try not to sound so self-absorbed.”

“Ugh, it’s something that white-haired girl… never mind.”

Verbally defeated, he sighed and looked into her eyes, the flowery-like light was gone.

Stretching out her arms, Maria walked towards the exit — only to stagger.

“Marie?” Worried, he reached for her.

“I’ll be fine…” She gestured for him to stop.

The training room doors opened, and an agent with old gray hair and a black suit entered with a clipboard in hand, “Sir Felix, the chief wanted to—”

Before the man could finish, Felix let go of Maria’s hand, pointing his finger towards the agent’s feet.

“No shoes in the training ground, Murphy.”

Maria almost toppled over, but caught herself just before she fell, stomping her foot.

“I apologize, sir. I simply came to hand you your next assignment.” Murphy awkwardly responded as he took off his shoes and placed them at the side of the entrance.

“A mission?” Felix muttered as he went over the documents.

“Indeed, sir. You are to leave shortly.”

“Welp, my mood’s ruined. Looks like we’ll have to settle this another time.” Maria shrugged.

“This isn’t over. We’re gonna have a rematch when you’ve fully recovered.” Felix declared before following after her.

“Sure.”

With the spar cut short, the two agents were set out for their next mission.

*

In a cramped, moist room with dimly lit red lights sat two figures. Above them hung a meshwork of leaking pipes and staring rats that skittered through the shadows.

Rust and decay permeated the air.

Beneath them was the stained concrete floor full of dark puddles that echoed with every drop.

“So, which card is it gonna be this time?” Asked a young man with orange hair wearing a brown, fur-collared jacket. His voice sounded giddy with excitement as he held up a card from the deck he was holding.

“Eight of Clubs.” Answered the older, sharply dressed blond, who wore sunglasses that reflected light from the smartphone in his hand.

“How do you keep doing that? You weren’t even looking!”

“Don’t you get tired of—”

“How about now!?” The orange-haired young man thrust another card forward.

“Queen of Hearts.”

“You wouldn’t happen to be cheating, would you?” His voice dripped with distrust.

“Of course, I am.” The blond man sighed, his expression was cold behind his sunglasses, “You’ll just never figure it out.”

“Ah, that so…” The orange-haired man’s expression soured, and he started to shuffle the cards, the sound of cardboard slapping together filled the damp room, “So Julius, has Harbinger answered yet?”

“It’s been a week since I last heard from him. It’s possible that he’s been compromised.” The blond man, Julius, said dismissively, placing the phone on the table, “Here I thought he was one of the stronger ones.”

“Maybe someone stronger was in the way… or maybe I didn’t fill him up with enough juice?” The orange-haired young man mused, his voice dripping with hostile glee.

“You gave him every steroid and drug enhancement you had. Any more and would’ve turned into a vegetable.”

“This stinks…” The young man sank into the old leather couch, making himself comfortable on the grime, “So, what now?”

“We continue moving forward. I’ll have to find someone new. In the meantime, would you get rid of the freeloaders?” The older man said with a hint of exasperation.

“Right.” The orange-haired young man walked over to the room behind him, one that was not lit, and was in near total darkness.

“Try not to leave a mess.”

“Please… don’t hurt me…” A woman with dark hair pleaded, her body shivered while her heart raced.

“Sorry, miss. Unfortunately, rent is due…” The young man cocked the gun, “And your husband, Harbinger, skipped town.”

“Wait, please! I’ll do anything you want!” She cried out.

“Okay then! I’ll spare your life, if you answer this one question.” He smiled brightly and pulled out a deck from his back pocket, and picked out a card, “Which card is this?”

“K-King of Hearts?” Tears blurred her vision, almost begging him to have a heart.

He flipped the card, and a red joker stared back. “Wrong answer.”

An unfortunate pop echoed in the dark room.

He then looked at the rest of the cards and added, “Well, you wouldn’t have gotten it anyway.” All the cards in his hands were red jokers.

~