Iron Cyclone Bonus Chapter 2

Kasper

January

“Will I see you again?” the blonde I brought back with me asks. I think her name’s Stacy? Or was it Lacey? Who knows. It’s not like it matters. I’m never going to see her again.

“Of course,” I lie before giving her a quick kiss goodbye. “I’ll call you.”

She leaves with a huge grin plastered across her face.

I sigh as soon as she’s out of sight and run my hands over my face. It’s definitely time for bed. 

I’m just turning to go back into my room when some song about sex starts playing behind me. I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose, already knowing its source. 

“How long have you been waiting to do that?” My annoyance is clear when I glance at Harvey.

He smiles, then hits a button on his phone to stop the music. “Too long.” He squeezes past me and makes his way to Graham’s bed. 

“I’m guessing this means you’re staying with me tonight.”

“Yep. Graham’s with Ana and Millie’s with Nik so it looks like it’s another bachelors’ night for us single guys.”

“Whoo,” I respond drily before gesturing towards the TV sitting on top of Graham’s dresser. “Throw on whatever you want to watch. I’m going to go take a piss.”

It feels like my feet have lead weights attached to them as I make my way to the only restroom on the second floor. I’m so tired I’ll probably crash the minute my head hits the pillow. I just hope Harvey doesn’t try to talk my ear off tonight. The girls have already said they want to meet for brunch at ten. That won’t give me much time to sleep if I also have to listen to Harvey talk through an entire movie. 

I’m already yawning when I push through the door to the restroom. I pause mid-step when I see a pair of legs sticking out from the furthest stall. 

Dammit. I’m too tired for this right now. 

I slowly approach them, so I don’t accidentally wake whoever it is. If they’re sleeping, then I’ll just roll them onto their side, pee, and get out of here as fast as I can. That’s all I really need to do. I’m no one’s hero. 

I fight back a groan when I see that it’s Tony Telos. Because of course it is. At this point, I’m starting to believe the universe hates me due to how often it seems to thrust the two of us together. 

His eyes are closed and he’s barely moving which makes it hard to tell if he’s breathing. I nudge his foot, hoping he’ll groan or something so I know he’s alive. At least then I can go back to my room with a clear conscience. 

He doesn’t make a sound or open his eyes to give proof of life. Instead, he takes a bite out of the pizza in his hand. I roll my eyes and run my hands over my face. Why am I even bothering?

I find him smirking at me when my gaze returns to him—my greatest source of annoyance at this damn school. “You here to congratulate me on my big win today, Pyrrhus?”

“No,” I snarl. 

For our first week back, Professor Bracker thought it would be fun to debate which war strategy is the most effective in our Strategies of War class. After various rounds of voting and eliminations, it came down to me and Tony this morning. Like it always seems to. Ultimately, a majority of the class voted for his strategy but I think it’s just because he’s more likeable than I am. There’s no way they actually believe an indirect approach is more effective than attrition warfare. 

“Too bad,” he responds with a smile before taking another bite of his pizza. “I was going to say you had good points during the debate, but I guess neither one of us feels like lying tonight.”

It takes all the strength I have not to throw the insult at him that I desperately want to. I can’t stand guys like Tony Telos with their carefree attitudes. It’s usually because life has been too easy for them, so they’ve never had to worry about the consequences of their actions. It’s not fair. 

“Whatever. I’m too tired for this right now,” I grumble before I realize how weird it is for him to be alone. His roommate is usually always with him. 

So, where's the obnoxious earth bender?

A groan falls from my lips when I hear someone shout, “Tony! I found more pizza.” Looks like I spoke too soon.

“Yessss,” Tony drawls mid-bite while Steven hurries into the restroom with a pizza box in hand. He then collapses onto the ground next to the sinks and grabs a slice from the box. I take that as my cue to leave.

“Well, I’d say it’s been fun, but…” I start, then decide to get one final jab in. “I’m assuming you two tucked your precious Grand Leader into bed before this?”

My gaze immediately focuses on Tony’s face, searching for a reaction. I’m convinced he loves Xander and I’m determined to prove it. 

He just smirks again and says, “Yep. Gave him a little forehead kiss, too.”

Gods, I hate him so much.

“Not me,” Steven chimes in. “Mine was on his lips.”

I ignore Steven and glare at Tony. Yep. It’s definitely time for me to go. These two can die in this bathroom together for all I care. 

The thought has barely left my mind when another freshman named Sean Levinio comes strolling into the bathroom. His eyes immediately dart between me, Tony’s legs, and Steven before a slimy grin forms on his lips. It’s a concerted effort not to bare my teeth at the light bender. We had quite a few run-ins last semester because the prick likes picking on Graham because he’s ungifted. I really don’t like the dude. 

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” He tries to get a glimpse of who’s lying in the stall, but I block him with my body and give him a pointed glare. He laughs darkly in response. “For someone who comes from such a powerful family, you sure do like slumming it, don’t ya Pyrrhus?” He nods his head toward a now half-conscious Steven to emphasize his point. 

Flames gather along the tips of my fingers before they crawl up my arm. “Keep talking, Levinio, and I’ll show you just how powerful my family really is.”

That disgusting smile of his returns as he puts his hands up in a placating manner. “No need. I’ll leave the three of you to whatever it is you’re doing.” I hear hurried movement behind me, then the sound of Tony puking. Great. Sean laughs at that and says, “I thought that might be Telos. I'm glad to know I was right.” He winks at me. “I’ll be back soon. Maybe then you’ll let me join in on the fun.”

Nope. Not happening. I’ve seen Sean’s type of fun firsthand and it usually involves his fists. Sadistic prick. 

After he leaves, I wait one full minute before saying, “Alright. Time to go, you two. This bathroom is officially closed for the evening.”

Steven pops an eye open and gives me a confused look. “What? Why?”

“Because you have your own room” is my frustrated response as I force him to stand. “You don’t need to be sleeping in the bathroom.”

“But Tony…” 

I shove him toward the door. “I’ll deal with him. Just go.”

Once Steven’s gone, I lean against the stall Tony’s in and sigh. He’s now slumped over the toilet and looks very pale. “Time to go, Telos.”

“Just leave me here to die,” he grumbles and I roll my eyes. 

“As satisfying as that sounds, your death would end with this bathroom being closed for gods knows how long and I’d rather not have to go downstairs just to take a piss.” I grab his arm and pull him up. “Come on. Let’s go.”

He stands with a groan and I give a frustrated sigh when he stumbles after only taking a step. We really don’t have time for this. 

When he starts to protest after I wrap his arm around my shoulders, I say, “Shut up. This is for both our sakes. But you better not puke on me. This shirt’s custom.”

“I hope I do then,” he mumbles before somehow growing paler.

“I’m serious, Telos. You better not puke on me.”

He nods but doesn’t respond. That makes me very worried for my shirt’s sake so I guide us to his room as quickly as I can. 

Thankfully, his door is ajar when we reach it.

I see that Steven’s already passed out in his bed, arms wrapped around the pizza box he found earlier, while I help Tony to his. I then grab their trash can and place it within arms reach of him because I’m not a complete dick. 

“What?” I demand when I turn to find him watching me with a smirk dancing on his lips. 

“I just never realized you’re such a softy, Pyrrhus.”

“I’m not,” I bite back. “I didn’t do this to help you. I just didn’t want the bathroom to be closed because you did something dumb like die in there.”

“Uh huh. Whatever you say...”  

I roll my eyes and leave his room before he can say anything else.

This is exactly why I don’t help people. They always try to read too much into it. I don’t care about Tony. I just didn’t want Sean Levinio messing with him. Or hurting him for that matter. That doesn’t mean anything. 

As I make my way back to my room, I see Sean and two of his friends heading into the bathroom and my shoulders instantly sag in relief. I quickly brush away the feeling.

Ugh, I really need to get to bed.