Pay (revised)

Original post is here.

 He was fifteen and tall for his age, still narrow in the shoulders, and completely and utterly grass-stained. Asia suspected, after the last time she’d seen him, any hope he wouldn't like Arcturus was futile. He even moved the same, which was uncanny. How could she still find things uncanny when she lived with a quislai, a genie, a fire elemental, and a dragon?

 The boy was fast, skilled from practice. Asia felt something tug in her chest when she saw the rest of his teammates stand in a circle around him for a pep talk. Arcturus had been fifteen when he pulled the sword from the stone, and he was king soon thereafter, leading his men into battle. She remembered how much Emrys had fretted that the only table he could find on such short notice for the inaugural council meeting was circular.

 The players spread themselves across the field once more, and James began shouting orders. Asia watched the teenagers move with ragged synchronicity. Even in practice, James ran his team like they were in competition. Then one of the boys made wild, flying kick, and the ball came right at Asia’s head. 


She reached up and plucked it out of the air.

 “Sorry about that!” James trotted toward her, waved his arms. “Give us a throw-in, would you?”

Asia sauntered down the bleachers toward the sidelines. She hefted the ball a few times, then looked at him, considering. “What will you give me if I give this back?”

The confusion on his face was priceless. Apparently he’d never been challenged like this before. “We’re in the middle of practice.”

 Asia spun the ball on her index finger. “Indeed you are, but as soon as this left the pitch it was no longer in your possession, and now it is in mine. So...what are you willing to pay?”

 “Pay?” James echoed. “That ball belongs to the school --”

 Asia remembered baiting Arcturus when he was king, just to see the way his cheeks flushed and his eyes burned bright.

 “Pay,” she said. “What will you give me?”

 James patted down his pockets reflexively. “I don’t have any money, but --" He lifted his head, green eyes blazing. "This is madness. Can we have the ball back, please?”

 The rest of the players were getting restless. Asia raised her voice. “What say you, lads? How much for your football? Is it worth a kiss? Maybe two?”

 The boys gaped at her. One of them laughed; another let out an indecorous whoop and holler. James turned bright red.

One lad was brave. “Go on, James, kiss her!”

 James prowled toward the sidelines, wary and still blushing. He was muttering under his breath, and any other mortal wouldn’t have heard it, but Asia did. She was going to share his first kiss?

Can I keep it 2

Can I Keep It?

(Original)

"He followed me home Sir," Joe said in response to his commanders questioning look. David had stopped Joe as he tried to walk quietly through the dining room and to his own room. He was holding a small ball of fluff and petting it gently with one finger.

Joe had tried to sneak it past his commander and into his room, hoping to keep the little creature a secret for a while. He held the kitten close to his chest, cupping it in both hands as if to protect it.

"Can I keep it Sir?" Joe asked in a small voice, his eyes large and pleading.

David stopped and carefully considered his answer before he gave it. He knew how hard their job was, how much it was important to having something to care about, something that cared about you. Cared unconditionally.

"Alright Joe," David said, "You can keep it."

#################################

The Mission: Get to my room.
Objective: Don't get caught.

I eased open the front door of our safe house with one hand and with the other carefully cradled my cargo. I knew the door would be noiseless but I wanted to make absolutely sure that no one knew I was there. The others were home, I could tell by the smell of Steve's cooking and the sound of Bryan and Mark watching the news in the front room.

I paused just after nudging the door closed behind me to listen. I couldn't quite tell if anyone was in the dining room, but I thought not. I paced closer towards the entrance to the dining room and the hall just beyond it. My room was the second on the left, the first belonged to Mark and Bryan, and the third was David and Joe. I shared my room with Steven, but I didn't think he would rat me out to David, even if he did find out.

I was just letting out the breath that I had been holding, thinking that I was home free when I heard someone clearing a throat behind me. I winced internally and turned to face the music.

David was sitting at the dining room table with schematics spread around him, working on the next mission. I looked at my commander and held the little kitten close to my body. I saw David raise an eyebrow at me in a silent request for an explanation for the little bit of fluff in my hands.

"He followed me home Sir," I muttered, dropping my gaze to the little creature as it sat purring in content. I petted it with one finger and the vibrations increased in volume and intensity as its little eyes closed. I looked up at my commander and I couldn't help the next words that came out of my mouth, "can I keep it Sir?

I held my breath as I watched him weighing his options and decision. I could almost see his choice in his eyes before he spoke, and I had to stop myself from hugging him.

"Alright Joe," David said to me with a small nod, "you can keep it."

Challenge #1 - Begin Again

So to jump in and get our feet wet, how about we take an old piece we have done and rework it. Less pressure to produce something new, and at the same time we can get used to editing and rewriting. (This is for me) Post the previous piece along with the reworked piece in once post.

Ready... Set... GO!!!

Happy Writing!