It took an additional two days before Bella was fit to return to work. Although she hadn't actually sustained any injuries, it seemed that Charlie was taking his newfound zeal for parenting to another level.
During those two days, Theo had lived a relatively sedentary life—at least, to a certain degree. Instead of his usual workout routine, he simply went for runs in the evenings, his weighted combat clothing ramped up to their maximum settings as he pushed his legs to move faster than ever before.
The results were obvious; within those forty-eight hours, he had transformed from a blur into something essentially nonexistent in his movements. With that speed came an increase in his coordination, senses, processing speed, and dexterity. Utilizing the forest as a training ground, he had created a personal 'hell mode' for himself, often weaving through narrow gaps between trees, dodging specific rocks placed on the forest floor, and even attempting to navigate at slower speeds with his eyes closed.
He had come to the conclusion after reaching his current state that rudimentary training would eventually become pointless. At the moment, he was a walking, talking mass of muscle and force, but he lacked finesse.
The adage that a blunt weapon is still a weapon was an accurate representation of his current capabilities, but it wasn't enough. With the assistance of his Instant Physical Mastery, he understood that combat training was the next logical step until he could find a decommissioned train or truck to utilize for weightlifting.
With that realization, he found himself seated at the checkout desk of the bookstore, a newly purchased laptop in hand as he browsed through YouTube. The store was quieter during school and work hours, giving him the space to himself.
'I can simply watch some masters demonstrating their combat skills through video and hope that this muscle memory goes to town downloading the movements.'
He was fortunate enough to be blessed with modern technology and the internet; otherwise, he would have needed to visit practitioners and learn in person. Well, 'learning' was the polite word, but it was more accurate to call it pirating.
Typing into the browser, Theo first found a comprehensive list of the deadliest close-quarters combat martial arts. Noting the sheer number of different schools of combat, he made a quick list on the notepad beside him before opening YouTube.
First on the list was Muay Thai, the 'Art of Eight Limbs'. He found multiple videos featuring the previous year's world champion and, with a grin on his face, began to watch. It only took a couple of minutes before Theo was absorbed into the combat style, observing strikes using knees, elbows, shins, and fists. He idly noted that it seemed the combatants required bones denser than normal, as their strikes were so powerful he wouldn't be surprised if a normal person's bone snapped upon impact.
Lost in his own world, Theo missed the sensation of his body slowly rewiring itself. If he had paid attention, he would have noted that his nerves were firing at alarming rates, a physical representation of the combat data being downloaded into his entire physiology.
Hours passed as Theo moved on from Muay Thai to Judo, Krav Maga, Kyokushin Karate, and Taekwondo. His luck seemed to hold into the early afternoon; hours of uninterrupted 'study' had accumulated into years of combat mastery, melding and blending into his body to create possibly one of the deadliest combat styles the world had ever seen.
Unfortunately, he couldn't continue further as the sound of the front door opening snapped him back to reality. Snapping the laptop shut, Theo turned towards the customer, pausing before a smile broke across his face.
"Bella! The car crash victim has returned to the land of the working. How are you feeling?" he asked, standing up to greet the wayward employee.
"Please, not you too. The van slipped on the ice and missed me completely. Everyone's acting like I went to war," Bella said as she walked around the counter, stowing her bag underneath.
"Damn, someone's snippy today," Theo remarked, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry," Bella muttered as she took the seat beside him. "It's been a rough couple of days. Dad's gone full helicopter parent, and everyone is walking on eggshells around me."
"Nah, it's fine. Honestly, I just missed having someone do my work for me."
"Har har, funny," Bella deadpanned, though a slight grin tugged at her lips. He watched as she tied her hair back and stretched before looking around the store. "No Alice today?"
Theo scoffed as he started making another coffee for himself.
"Haven't seen her since you've been out of work. Seems like something happened at home and she hasn't come to 'have tea' since," he said, using air quotes to emphasize the absurdity of a vampire drinking tea.
Bella paused at his words, and Theo noted she looked confused. His newly enhanced hearing picked up her muttering about 'Cullens' and their 'weirdness'.
"What was that?" he asked, coffee in hand.
"Uh, I—nothing, never mind."
"Nah, try me. What's up?"
Bella looked around the bookstore once more, and when she noted that there was no one inside, she began speaking.
"It's... it's Edward, again. He told me I was seeing things, but I could swear he pushed me out of the way of the car before it hit. It's like he just appeared next to me from across the parking lot, but he keeps denying it, saying I was imagining it."
Theo raised his eyebrows at her description, which was close enough to the canon event. Edward had truly been across the parking lot, and as the van slipped on the ice, launching itself towards Bella, he'd used his vampiric speed to appear between her and the vehicle, stopping its movement with a single hand.
'So he's going the original gaslighting route. Not the best option for a girl who struggles with her anxiety and nerves—making her question her sanity is a low blow. But, it's also something to preserve the safety of his family.'
"Counterpoint," Theo said, taking on a scholarly vibe which caused Bella to chuckle. "Could he have run through the parking lot in the time you watched the van veer towards you? I'm not saying your theory is incorrect, but maybe you perceived time oddly in the moments before you thought you were going to be crushed?"
"But it's still impossible. That parking lot is huge and we were on opposite ends facing one another."
'Yeah, not the most logical approach. He probably broke the land-speed record multiple times in the act of saving her.'
"Fair point. Sounds a bit batshit insane, really."
"That's it? I honestly thought you'd come up with some realistic reason," Bella said with a tired sigh.
Theo merely shrugged his shoulders in response. "Maybe he's some mystical supernatural person and used his powers to save you? If you need some research material, we have a new stock of Naruto and One Piece!"
Bella deadpanned at his blasé response. "Nice try, but I'm not reading manga. I'm very happy being anchored in reality."
"Ha, you called it manga, not Japanese comics! I knew I was slowly converting you. It'll only be a matter of time my dear Bella; eventually, you will come to the dark side."
Before she could respond, Theo picked up his cup of coffee and made a beeline for the stairs leading to his apartment, ignoring Bella's yelling that she'd never like his "kid's books."
Nestled comfortably back in his apartment above the bookstore, Theo was having a grand time listening to music while he performed the Gacha draw for the day.
'C'mon you bastard, give me something nice. These past four days have been absolutely abysmal. What do you mean a used pair of Sakura's underwear is a reward? Or the smooth rock, the pen with never-ending ink, or the wooden sword?'
Shaking his head at the previous useless draws, Theo crossed his fingers and prayed to the Gacha Gods to shine upon him.
Pulling up the panel, he willed it to execute its primary function. Closing his eyes, Theo waited for a couple of minutes in hopes that he'd be granted a boon.
[Drawing...]
[Congratulations on drawing Spider-Sense!]
[Passive Skill: Spider-Sense (The Way of the Spider)]
Source: Marvel Comics (Earth-616)
Description: A precognitive "Sixth Sense" wired directly into your autonomic nervous system. It connects you to the environment on a psychic frequency, alerting you to threats before they manifest in physical reality.
"H-holy shit," Theo whispered, his eyes widening as the words threw themselves at him.
'This is bloody busted!'
Without any additional thoughts, Theo instantly accepted the skill to be merged with himself. A buzzing sensation akin to electricity flowed through his body, lighting up all his nerves before settling into a calming warmth and disappearing.
'This... This is actually one of the best things I could have gained from a draw this early into my new life. I have the speed, strength, durability, and combat abilities, but having something reminiscent of precognition is a game changer. It's literally the lifeblood of Spider-Man's survivability.'
With a large grin, Theo stood up and paced around his living room. Though he couldn't truly test the power unless in combat, he trusted the System given that it had successfully merged the legitimate power with his physiology. In the days of his previous life, Theo had always enjoyed the Spider-Man comics, and he linked Spider-Sense to a somewhat 'lite' version of Defensive Omniscience.
With those thoughts percolating in his mind, Theo decided it was time for dinner. Even though he only ate one meal a day, with the sheer caloric density of the Sea King Meat, he'd eat whenever he felt the desire.
Pulling out the kitchen knife he'd been rewarded from Food Wars!, along with a pan, he quickly diced the monstrous steak into smaller pieces. His movement was precise and skillful, thanks to a combination of his adaptability, muscle memory, and finer motor control.
The smell wafted throughout the apartment as the steak pieces began to sizzle in oil. Theo held back a gulp as he watched the magic of food being prepared. The faint sound of a knock on his apartment door sounded, forcing him to pull away from his feast to check who was outside.
Opening the door, Theo folded his arms and looked at the unexpected guest.
"Alice, what are you doing up here?"
"Hey Theo! Bella told me where to find you," she said with a gentle smile.
Raising his voice slightly so the eavesdropper he spied at the bottom of the stairs could hear, Theo spoke. "And why did Bella think it was a good idea to tell you where I was?"
He contained a chuckle as he heard Bella, hidden around the corner down the stairs, jump slightly before escaping back to the store.
"I wanted to have a chat; I haven't seen you in three days. Are you going to invite me in?"
Giving a flat look to the charismatic vampire, Theo finally nodded before stepping aside, allowing her to move past him as he closed the door.
"Wow, I had no idea you lived above the store. It's so nice in here, did you do the decorating yourself?" Alice asked as she paced through the living room, her eyes jumping from furniture to the paintings on the walls, bouncing back and forth like a pinball.
"Nah, my grandmother did. I have no sense of design, so I left it as is. I'd probably accidentally burn the place down if I attempted anything."
Alice giggled as she spun around, her eyes twinkling in happiness, though Theo felt a shiver run down his spine as he saw a spark of something mischievous. Going back to the stove, he continued to cook his meal as he left the vampire to her own devices.
After a couple of minutes of comfortable silence, Theo took his plated food to the couch and sat down; Alice followed him and sat close by.
"Really, why have you come here, Alice? You're not stupid, and you know I barely know you enough to think about anything further than friendship."
With a sigh, Alice leaned back into the couch. "Is it actually because of my age, or is that an excuse?"
"You want honesty?"
Seeing her nod, Theo continued. "I don't know you, Alice. Sure, you're beautiful, but we've spoken a few times downstairs, and within a couple of days, you're openly flirting with me. You can't expect someone to move that fast. Plus, I've only just moved to town, and you might just be interested in me because I'm the new toy."
Theo had spent some time in the days he hadn't seen Bella or Alice thinking about how she had blindsided him, considering theories regarding her interest. Even if he was physically attracted to her, this was the real world, and the 'mate bonds' mentioned in fiction weren't necessarily real.
Oh, he'd done his research when he was younger. The books had only mentioned 'mates' in passing, and fans had decided that it was canon knowledge. In actuality, vampires were beings of heightened emotions, and as their vampiric states froze them in time, when they found a partner, their heightened emotions of love, lust, and attraction would freeze as well.
Plus, he wondered about her relationship with Jasper. Were they together? Did they have a previous relationship? Why was it different here?
"That's... fair," Alice said, her smile dimming slightly. "But it wouldn't hurt to get to know me, right? I'm not saying we go on a date, but maybe spend some time and get to know one another."
Theo thought for a moment before subtly nodding.
"I can do that, but I need to clear up some confusion. Can you help me?"
The enthusiastic girl hummed happily as she nodded for him to continue.
"I've heard you're dating your 'brother'. Now, before you think I'm being a gossip or judgmental... I know none of your siblings are actually blood-related, but people talk, and it confuses me."
"Ah, that rumor," Alice muttered. "If I'm being honest with you, it's true, but also a lie."
Now that made Theo look at her questioningly.
"What I mean to say is, when we first moved to town, my siblings and I decided to create a rumor that we were dating. It sounds stupid, but in the last town we lived in, the amount of people that tried asking us out was insane. We thought it would be easier on all of us if people thought we were some weird family; plus, they'd think we're all taken."
"That's batshit insane, Alice," Theo stated matter-of-factly. "That would just create more rumors than necessary."
"Well, it wasn't the best plan. We realized it quickly, but by that point, the gossip had spread, so we decided to stick with it."
"So, no adopted siblings dating one another?"
Alice almost nodded before stopping herself. "Well, Rosalie and Emmett are actually together. That was before we moved, so it added some validity to our stupid plan. But Jasper and Edward are nothing but brothers to me."
Theo could feel the honesty in her words; though he couldn't say he was the best at reading people, he heard no deceit in her voice.
"Can I ask a question?" Alice asked quietly.
"Sure, it's only fair if we're going to get to know one another better," Theo said with a genuine smile on his face.
"Are you interested in Bella?"
Theo instantly regretted his words as the piece of steak in his mouth got lodged in his throat at the question. With a fist slamming into his chest to dislodge the food, Theo washed it down with a glass of water before looking at Alice in disbelief.
"God, no. If anything, I see her more as a friend, or if we stretch it slightly, like a little sister. She's nice and funny, but that's all hidden under the anxiety. You thought I was into her?"
"Well, you spend a lot of time talking to her, and I thought maybe you were slowly liking her. That's good though; my brother seems to have some weird obsession with her."
Oh, Theo knew about the obsession, but he feigned ignorance. He'd only interacted with Edward once, and that was limited to fewer than a handful of words.
"The one who came in with you? Tall, brooding, and looks like he's always depressed?"
Alice giggled and nodded. "Yeah, that's our Edward. It's his default face, but most people think he's stuck up."
"So he's interested in her? From what Bella mentioned, your brother seems to flip-flop from being friendly to rude on a daily basis."
"Hey! You can't choose the family you end up with, and that's one of his shortcomings, but he's a nice guy if you move past those problems."
Theo snorted at that, as he wasn't sure she was being completely honest with herself. Though he did hold his reservations, he hadn't truly had a conversation with Edward.
"Well, good luck to them. May it be as messy and complicated as the two of them are."
With that, the duo got lost in a long afternoon of conversation. Theo still held degrees of reservation about the vampire, but she seemed to come to him with no malice in her heart, and he was willing to see where it would get them in the future.
*********
Yahallo! This is a longer chapter, at 3k + words. I was supposed to post it earlier, but I fell asleep watching YouTube. Anyway, we've got some more interactions, a new draw, plus Theo and Alice actually start talking. I hope you're all liking how I'm fleshing out the characters? Let me know!
I'm off to bed, but if you comment, review and donate powerstones, when I wake up we'll get 2 - 3 chapters released!