Chapter 17: Confident

Two days later,

The Ki storm finally subsided, however, Howard's training had only grown more intense.

Harley and Una sat on his left and right side, with clouds of fire around their bodies. Sitting in the middle of the two opposing forces, Howard's face twitched. The two opposing forms of fire began to merge, sending out sparks and spirals of flames over Howard's body. A second later, all three of them appeared sitting inside of a circle of fire. Woozily looking over at Harley wearing a black dress with tights, he held up his thumb before collapsing into his embrace.

"He's mine. I'm keeping him," Harley said while grinning and smiling. "However, I didn't think he'd actually be able to do it."

"Me either." Una wiped the sweat off her head, and snapped her fingers. The fire ball around the three of them soon disappeared, revealing Monica and Lera clapping a few feet away.

"He did it! Now give him back to me," Monica appeared in front of Una and Harley, crossing her arms when she realized Howard's current position. When he fell over, his head dropped onto Harley's blach leather pants while his legs spread out and nested against Una's legs. Seeing him scattered and tired, Monica tried to hold in her rage, but nearly blew a circuit when Harley said "No."

"What do you mean, no? He's my boyfriend!"

"He's our boyfriend," Harley yawned and stuck out her tongue. "There is only two boys for hundreds of miles. Do you think you can keep him for yourself?"

"Harley, enough playing around," Una patted her on the back. "She's young."

"I'm sort of serious," Harley rubbed Howard's hair before picking him up in her arms. "Monica, think about sharing. Here you go." Harley tossed Howard over to Monica, causing her to fall with the weight of Howard in her body.

Catching him, she hugged him in her arms before looking into his eyes.

"Idiot, you work too hard."

"If you keep this up, you'll leave me behind.' Monica kissed him once gently against the lips and smiled before walking over to Lera. She put Howard down on a beach chair that had been placed out, and gently placed a blanket over his body.

"Lera, what do you think? Do you think Howard is different than me?" Monica pouted and sat down on Lera's beach chair, gently nudging her to the side. Their bodies barely fitting into the chair made the sight look awkward from afar. "Do you- do you think he'll leave me behind?"

"Monica, I think you underestimate yourself," Lera yawned and patted on her lap. "Now, come sit on me so I can give you advice!"

"Ugh, fine. There isn't enough room anyway," Monica grinded her teeth together and forced herself into Lera's lap. Looking over at Howard sleeping against the green beach chair, she felt the fumes in her body die down. Sitting against Lera's lap, she turned back and looked into her sparkling eyes.

"Anyways, can you stop looking so pretty, Lera, and give me advice!" Monica pinched her cheeks, and pouted. "Do you think I'm holding Howard back?"

"No, not at all. Doesn't he sleep in your room every night."

"Yes, but nothing happens. I just let him hold my hand," Monica said while blushing. "Maybe, maybe he puts his arm around me, now, but that's it! We don't even kiss when he's awake."

"You mean you kiss him when he falls asleep. You're so cute," Lena laughed and rubbed her nose against Monica's face. The two of them had become sort of like sisters in their year together, and gave off a feeling of warmth to each other that reminded both of them of a real family. "Monica, you just need to become more confident. Howard is handsome, strong, and powerful, yet he isn't complicated. If you are there for him, I'm sure he'll make you happy."

"You think it's that simple," Monica bit her lip and looked down at the amulet laying nestled against her skin. She gripped it tightly, and felt a twinge of guilt growing inside of her. "I-I didn't tell you this, but on the day he arrived in the Furnace. I got there 30 minutes before he fell. I-I watched him fall and enjoyed it."

"So what? You probably thought it was a trap, right?" Lera shrugged her shoulders. "I'd probably do the same thing."

"Yes, but I keep thinking if only I woke him up he'd only have eyes for me. Am I an idiot, Lera?"

"No, but you're boyfriend is waking up. If he finds you rubbing noses with me, he might get jealous." Lera laughed and rubbed her back. "Monica, I believe in you. When we get to the shrine, you should try the third challenge again! I think you can do it."

Monica nodded her head and smiled.

'Maybe I can do it. Maybe because Howard is around, I'll do better at the shrine this time." Monica felt a warmth growing inside her before walking over to Howard. Seeing him awaken, she couldn't help but sigh and gently kiss him on the cheek. Her skin flushed red as usual, feeling the warmth of his skin, before that warmth seemed to expand across her entire torso.

"Howard, we got to go," Una said with her arms crossed. "You and your girlfriend can have fun on the bus."

"Okay, thank you!" Howard forced himself up from the chair before he felt a gigantic pang travel down his back. Falling into Monica's arms, Howard reached up to grab his head, feeling a pain kicking at him over and over again.

"Howard, I have a secret to tell you. I kissed you on the lips," Monica blushed beet red. "Because you make me proud! I just wanted to tell you that!"

"I kissed you last night too!" Howard smiled and stood up. "Anyways, that training hurts! Give me a back massage!"

Monica nodded her head and walked with Howard over to the bus. Dozens of days worth of supplies had been tucked into the back. A few ice cubes she'd made rolled against the floor of the bus, keeping the fruits and vegetables cold. In the front of the bus, a fire burned floating in the air, causing a balmy territory in the gray seats in the center to welcome them on board.

"I'm serious about sharing," Harley whispered and turned the ignition. "Unless, of course, you can make another man fall from the sky."