Free Web NovelChapter 7: Frost Spike and Flipping Pancakes
The spike flew straight, as it pierced the air. It was faster than Luke’s sleep-deprived eyes could track. A cracking sound erupted from the Frost Spike as it exploded upon impact, shards of ice scattered everywhere around the dummy.
Speaking of which, the dummy was now covered in frost. Luke’s shot had ended up precisely striking its head, with frost coating all the way down to its waist.
Of course the dummy was able to withstand the blow, not even a scratch could be seen on its surface underneath the frost.
"That would totally have pierced through human flesh." Luke said, shocked.
He even suspected the frost left behind might be able to slow whatever target it landed on. Without a living target to test it on, his guesses wouldn’t be answered.
Luke was already tired before testing his spells, but even with the brief adrenaline watching the Frost Spike hit its target, he was still dead tired.
With the remaining time until morning, he decided that he would continue his workout routine from Earth. Even though the body was technically his, its strength wasn’t comparable. It took all of his effort just to carry Valeria, who was fairly small due to her primarily static life.
Luke moved to the weight room and focused on building a strong base. Push-ups, pull-ups, and dips were the focus, making sure that he hit his core and legs with slightly less intensity.
Before he knew it, almost two hours had passed. Luke was drenched in sweat, soaking the suit pants and button up he was wearing.
Feeling the muscle fatigue, Lucius exited the training room and pressed the button once more, sealing the metal door.
’I need a change of clothes.’
The only place he could think to find any was the closet inside the bedroom.
The problem was, Valeria was currently sleeping and he didn’t want to wake her up.
Lucius checked every storage space around the house, making sure that his clothes weren’t sorted separately, finally sure that the last remaining spot was the bedroom
Luke walked to the end of the hallway, where the bedroom door stood. His hands worked with sharp precision as he slowly turned the doorknob, making sure not to make a noise.
He walked on his tip toes, eyes bouncing between the bed and the closet. The closet door slid open quietly, as Luke attempted to see through the dark space. Starting from left to right, he shoved his face up close to all the clothes trying to discern their shape and color.
Most of the closet was dresses.
A ridiculous amount of dresses.
Luke was beginning to suspect his parents had stuffed every piece of clothing Valeria owned into a single closet.
It wasn’t until he reached the final few hangers that he found male clothing. He recognized a pair of pants and a shirt as his academy uniform. He slowly removed the hangers from the rack, tiptoeing out of the bedroom.
Luke paused before closing the door, realizing his plan had one critical flaw: The bathroom was connected to the bedroom and he needed a shower.
Doing his best to stay quiet, he entered the bathroom and turned on the lights.
***
Valeria woke up to the sound of water running in the bathroom. She rolled around in the bed before finding a good spot to secretly watch the door. She knew he was showering, but it was still early.
The water stopped after only a few minutes and Valeria listened as the man behind the door dried himself off before putting on clothes.
The light turned off as the doorknob turned. Slowly the bathroom door opened and Luke was silently standing in the doorway, looking at her.
Reacting instinctively, Valeria held her breath, pretending to be asleep. Luke seemed to find it believable, as he tiptoed out of the bedroom, leaving her alone again.
She didn’t spend too much time thinking, turning over and falling back asleep soon after.
When she woke up the again, the smell of bacon flooded her nose. She could hear pans rattle in the kitchen. As moments passed, the smell became a form of torture, her empty stomach groaning as she quietly sat against the headboard of the bed.
She couldn’t take it anymore, finding her wheelchair still next to the bed, she maneuvered her body into its seat. Finally having the freedom of transportation, she wheeled herself through the dark bedroom. She opened the bedroom door, finding a hunger-inducing smell waiting behind it.
Valeria spun her wheels slowly, moving as quietly as possible. When she reached the doorway to the kitchen she stopped and slowly peeked her head around.
Inside the kitchen was Luke, whistling and humming in front of the stove, which had 3 pans over top burners. She watched as Lucius used a spatula to flip items in all three pans. Pancakes came from the first, as he added them to a pile stacked on a nearby plate. From the second pan he transferred multiple pieces of bacon to a separate plate. Finally from the last pan, he pulled off scrambled eggs, putting them in a large bowl.
Valeria finally moved herself into the kitchen, sitting in front of the table. She watched him grab two clean plates and divide the meal evenly between them before he turned around and froze upon seeing her.
At this point she remembered the pen and paper was sitting on the nightstand.
Luke walked towards the table, wearing a tired grin. He placed the two plates across from each other before signing to Valeria.
Good Morning
For a second she hadn’t even realized what he did, already about to sign back, before she remembered Lucius didn’t know sign language.
Yet he fluently signed to her.
’How does he know sign language.’
She started rapidly signing to him.
Good Morning. How do you know ASL, you said you never learned any.
Luke’s eyes tried to keep up with Valeria’s signs before giving up.
No Understand. Eat
She finally noticed the bags under his eyes.
’Did he stay up just to learn a few words in sign language.’
For a second she felt her heart flutter, before calming down.
She nodded before picking up the fork next to her plate. Luke did the same as they began to chow down the breakfast.
Valeria had started to despise breakfast after her injuries, she could only remember the Sunday mornings that her mom would cook for her.
That was before her mother’s visits became weekly.
Then monthly.
Then stopped altogether.
But as she ate the memories seemed to fade, with new ones taking place. Memories made as two people quietly ate a dining room table. Memories of Luke happily flipping pancakes and whistling while doing so.
For the first time in two years, she finally felt like someone saw her as a person and not useless, like a puzzle that was missing pieces.
Without noticing a small smile formed on her face as she finished the last of her pancakes.
