A Heated Exchange

[JadeRooster]

It was one of those days. The sky had clouded over, a chill hung in the afternoon air, and rain threatened to splinter the cool breeze that passed through the courtyard at a moment's notice. Having forgone most of his lunch period to sprint up and down one of the school staircases, Yu Gong Ji had filled his belly with fatigue in place of food. Making his way towards the boys' locker room, it was his misfortune to overhear the tail end of a sentence as he passed by a familiar pair.

"...And silly chicken heroes."

It was Jacob Jones' voice, there was no mistaking it. A mild tension hung in the air after the statement, a grin playing across the elder student's face as the self-proclaimed Jade Rooster froze in his tracks. This wasn't the first time the jest had been made, and whether Jaygo was truly getting on the martial artist's nerves or merely catching him on an "off moment" no longer mattered. Mustering a smirk, he offered a joking reply, though the edge to his tone was unmistakable. "Best watch out, before I brutally beat your fists with my Iron Face technique. Just ask Detective." In his time at the school, he'd learned to wield humility like a shield.

An elbow found Jaygo's side as the other student spoke up, the peacebringer called Sage Lupus. The merry atmosphere was swiftly vanishing. "Careful, he might peck you to death. That's not a pretty sight. I think Detective is still getting over his 'beating' from yesterday." "You can try all you like, Green Chicken," Jaygo smirked and uttered as he rose to his feet, "I'm not Detective. I hit back." Jade's fists clenched at his sides, his face flushing at the confrontation. "Give me a few months' training and there won't be any of your fawning schoolgirls that can stop me. Mark my words."

A chuckle passed between Jaygo and Sage while the former replied, "Oh, that's the issue? They're not fawning after you because they're talking to me. Now I see the real problem." Jade was flustering, and fast. He clenched his teeth, continuing to escalate the verbal skirmish. "Well there's no accounting for poor taste." It was clear where the balance was, Jaygo's cool grin never leaving his face as he continued to retort. "Yeah, look at your code name. Look, bro," the word left his mouth with a hint of venom, "You'll be okay. Hit puberty, and the world changes."

By this point the two had begun to attract attention. All eyes were on the exchange and the pressure was knocking Jade's feet out from under him. He'd faced countless villains and thugs in combat without breaking a sweat, but this was something fully new and utterly foreign to him. "Counting on it, are you," he bit back, his voice cracking ironically at the peak of his tone. The crowd that had begun to gather gave a low laugh, moving into the traditional high school circle - leaving the two enough room should an actual fight break out. Sage had maneuvered himself into the cluster by this point, leaving only the pair.

Jacob gave a glance around at the students gathered, keeping an eye out for any teachers that might pass by. Their eyes locked and the elder spoke once more. "No, I see it in your eyes, hidden by the tears," the quip struck home. A low "ooh" rose from the onlookers and Jade snapped back again, "The only tears you'll see out of me will be from the laugh I'll have with my foot on your back!" Things were coming to a boil, and there would only be two ways for this to end - with a bang or a fizzle. To Jade's advantage, it seemed his "opponent" was pressing for the latter. "I'm not really into wrestling with guys... Thanks for the offer, though." With that, Jaygo tucked his hands into his pockets and began to move through the crowd, a half-hearted muttering meeting his turned back. "Coulda fooled me."

As the spectators gradually went about their ways before the lunch hour concluded, Jaygo paused to turn on his heel and offer one last parlance. "Not bad, Rooster. Soon enough you'll grow into the attention you desire. Not today though. I'm bored with you now." With that, he turned a corner and vanished, leaving Jade embarrassed and fuming.

The bell cut into Yu Gong Ji's angry haze, startling him back into awareness. It was time for class, and all he had to show for this last hour were a pair of sore legs and a wounded ego. He would be strong enough someday, strong enough to prove to them that sometimes hard work and discipline surpasses supernatural talent. His style, his master and his own image would receive the respect they deserved. For now, however, he was still a freshman, and he was late to English Lit.

[Stasis Kiss]

/stands up and applauds.

encore! encore! i clap with enthusiasm. nicely, NICELY written.

(Jaygo, you are SUCH a jerk. cute, but a jerk. how COULD you do that to Rooster? Sage should have dumped you on your head.)

[Sage Lupus]

Sorry about that remark Jade. I find our mutual friend to be a jerk and i meant it more on your side than his. I could have phrased it better. Jaygo comes off as a jerk to me. Pushing the kids around until one stands against him.

Personaly, i find that you have great courage and that's why i am abit ashamed that my words came out as they did. It's easy to beat down freak tanks. harder to face your peers. Trust me.. i know.

[Jaygo Jones]

(( omg when did I become the villain. it was just me being a jerk.. not a bullie))