seven souls seven sins - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Natasha's pov:
We were in the middle of our duel when the doors burst open for the third time today. I was none other than the infamous and irritating Xander. I knew right then and there that he was my next opponent that I wanted to fight. I could even feel the rage bubbling from within my blood.
I also felt that everyone in the room could feel the tension between us.
I was desperate to fight him so urgently that I quickly wrapped my short legs around Adrien's leen 6'4ft frame and made my way to his neck. He collapsed onto the floor and tapped out whilst out of breath. The rest of my biological brothers laughed again except Xander of course. He didn't look amused but infact impressed.
Chase announces with a proud grin "Looks like Tash wins, yet again."
I bow down playfully and chuckled along with the rest of my biological brothers whilst soaking up the moment. They all individually congratulated me for my victory whilst Xander just stood there with his thick arms folded. I can't seem to read his expression in the moment.
He just stares at me like I'm a blank canvas and he's trying to study me.
"What do you want hm?" I directly call at him. He takes a moment to pause before saying "If you think you're the biggest champion within this room, you're heavily mistaken." He speaks with his head tilted and focused at me all at the same time. This asshole really thinks that he can psych me out?
Oh please. "This kitten has claws and she isn't afraid to use them dumbass." I remake whilst briefly rolling my eyes.
I also forgot to mention how petty I could truly be. He then walks around me in an everlasting circle. I know that he's trying to work me up, which isn't working. "Your worthless attempts at aggravating me aren't working buddy." I announce sarcastically. "Oh indeed they are. You plus me, in there, right now."
I take a moment to consider his offer even though we all knew the answer.
"Be my guest." I respond snarky. My hands gesture to the mats that were previously there from Adrien and my duel together. He against me. Xander versus Natasha. One of the more controversial fights that I have participated in. And came out victorious while doing so. His 6ft frame is opposite to my 5ft one.
Nothing I couldn't handle already.
Chase blows the whistle and the match commences. Xander lunges at me and I stand to the side to watch him shamelessly run into the open space. Pfft, amateur. Everyone's eyes are constantly switching between Xander's and mine. He comes at me again with a raging fist. I put all my force from my back leg to my core and then finally towards my forearm to gracefully grasp onto his arm and twist it to the side.
Not enough to do damage but just enough to hurt him.
He stumbles and shrieks out loud in a mixture of pain and frustration. I let out a small giggle of satisfaction. This only angers him more. He scoffs loudly "C'mere you little shit." I take a pause for a brief moment. His words replay in my mind "C'mere you little shit. C'mere you little shit. C'mere you little shit."
Mother used to call me that.
"C'mere you little shit." Is what she said to me when I didn't give her a bottle of liquor. The phrase holds bad memories for me and I get quite sensitive when the words are spoken. That sentence has never been used for good. I zone back into the present. I feel Xander punching me over and over again.
Hard, tough and rough.
That's what I'm supposed to feel, but inside I don't feel a thing. Behind of me, I hear the rest of my biological brothers shouting at Xander to stop and for me to hit him back. Strangely enough, I also hear their voices laced with concern directed at me. They sounded worried. Very worried.
Why would they be worried?
I snap back into the zone and with one big stride, I lift my leg to kick him in the gut. He flies backwards and hits the floor hardly. I pant out of breath with my chest rising up and down with no stop. My gaze swings to Xander on the floor clutching his stomach in pain. He murmurs some curse words briefly before slowly getting up and walking out with a limp.
Shit. Did I actually hurt him?
I was never known to show sympathy with people I fight but it seems that Xander was an exception. Weird. I feel the sudden urge to chase after him, to apologise. I know that Xander is one of the people that I shouldn't apologise to but I think that I may have hurt him and that could jeopardise his football career.
I wouldn't wish that on anybody. Maybe him, but that's beside the point.
I know that he just called me a 'little shit'. I know that. I just didn't want to hurt him using all the rage accumulated from my past. As much as I dislike him, he doesn't deserve that. Nobody deserves people taking their rage out on them. Nobody. I look over to my other 4 biological brothers.
They stare at me with blank faces.
Xavier even has his mouth agape. In the spur of the moment, Leo asks "Are you alright Tash?" His sudden question startled me a bit. My chest is still rising up and down. "Never been better." I pant out. I give them a little 'I'm okay smile' and mention "I'm gonna go upstairs now." Chase gives me a concerned nod but I dismiss the gesture.
The only thing on my mind was Xander.
I spot my headphone and phone lying next to the weights. I scurry over there and pick them both up. I exit the gym and make my way upstairs. Xander's room is the furthest away from mine. I quickly turn into my room and chuck my headphones on my bed whilst still clutching onto my phone. I hastily go into the bathroom to find my emergency first aid kit.
My heartbeats have slowed down.
I shut my bedroom door and step closer towards Xander's room. I gently knock on the white wood about three times before his door swings open. "What are you doing here?" He asks confused. I then proceed to question "Are you hurt?" He scoffs "You think your petite kicks hurt me?"
I was just trying to get this man help and he's doing this? Oh please.
"I actually do mate. Now lift up your shirt." I demand. He stares at me blankly for a few moments before he sighs in defeat. He lets me into his eery burgundy room. He slowly yet surely, lifts up his black shirt and there is one big bruise right smack over his stomach. I examine his injury and ask him "How bad?" I ask. "What?" He asks back in disbelief that he heard wrong. "How bad is the pain dumbass?" I roll my eyes at his oblivious stupidity.
He groans "A 6 out of ten. Why?"
I don't answer his question while I whip out the first aid kit and search through the box until I find BioOil. I hand it to him and begin packing up my things. "What's this for?" He calls out to me. "It's for the bruise. It should heal, within three to four days." I flash him a thoughtful smile and leave his room.
Woah, that felt strange.
As much as I disliked Xander, I somehow couldn't resist the urge to tend to his injuries. I feel an odd sense of sympathy working its way up my veins and I don't know how to feel about it. It was also the first conversation where he didn't deliberately try to insult me. It was progress I think. I stride into my own room and prepare myself for bed. I find and lay my Peter Alexander pink satin pyjama set on my bed.
It's so comfy and gorgeous. I even feel like a Victoria Secret super model with it on. Adriana Lima who?
I strut my way into my bathroom and take off my clothes. I turn the shower on and feel the warm water droplets splash onto my tanned skin. I scrub myself a with vanilla scented soap and rinse off the excess. Vanilla was my signature scent. Some people said that they could smell me a mile away.
One of my favourite compliments to receive.
I turn off the shower and walk towards my bed. I put on my pyjamas and finish doing my skin care. I only sustained a small bruise on my shoulder from Xander but the rest have almost vanished from my body. BioOil works wonders. I lie on my bed whilst scrolling through social media. The day was coming to a close.
Real relaxation.
times passes
I was scrolling on Tiktok for around the last hour when there's a sudden knock on my door. I flick a glance at my phone and the time reads 23:10. I groan in protest because I have to leave my comfortable bed. I walk up to my door and open it only to find Xavier standing there.
Why would he be here at this hour?
I greet him nicely "Hey Xavier." He wavers a small smile before asking "May I come in?" Why would he need me at this hour? "Yea of course." I respond in confusion. Why is he here? He steps up to my bed and sits on the edge of it. I close the room door and sit beside him. He turns to face me and asks "What happened there?"
I stare at him cluelessly before I understand what he means.
What happened when Xander said 'C'mere you little shit.' I look down to my fingers and back up to Xavier. He explains "You didn't seem like your usual self after he said what he said." I feel my breaths getting heaven by the minute. His gaze reached mine and then I open my mouth "Yeah. That phrase hasn't been used in the best of terms when it comes to me."
His chocolate brows furrow deeply.
"Who told you that? Who said that to you Tash?" He asks suddenly. He pauses for a moment expecting my answer but the words couldn't come put of my mouth. He starts again in a calmer tone "You don't have to tell me but I want to help you. I don't want you to struggle alone when you have a house full of people that want to help you."
My gaze reaches my palm yet again.
"My mum." I mutter so lowly that I didn't even think he heard me.
"Your mum?" He asks again for clarification. "Yes. Mary Clark. Or you guys might know her as Mary Morales." I repeat for him, louder this time. He nods slowly whilst he proceeds the information. "Did- did she hit you?" He questions me with worry. He looks down to see my hands shaking. He brings them into his and encloses them with his warm hands.
"Sometimes." I muttered briefly.
His lips part for a short moment before he connects them again. His jaw clenched. "You won't have that here." He assures. "Never." He adds on. "I know that Xander is a dickhead, I know. Vincent is sorting out his behaviour as we speak, and you won't need to worry about him in the future." He declares whilst rubbing my hands.
Why are they all being so nice to me?
"It's okay, you all don't have to go through all that trouble for me." I counter back quietly. "We do. As much as it pains me to say it, we weren't there for you when you needed us. Let us make it up for you." He pauses again. "Please Tash, let us make it up to you. We haven't spent time together all these years and it's better late than never, right?"
The corners of my mouth tilt a little before I hug Xavier. He hugs me back tighter than ever and I whisper into his ear "Thank you, for everything." I rest my head on his shoulder. "No, thank you." He restates.
We spend the next 45 minutes talking about all the things that I've missed from when Xavier won his first league football game till when he got his first girlfriend. Life in Brazil didn't seem as bad as I thought. I actually might grow to like it here. I check the time on my wrist which stated 23:55.
By the time I knew it we were snuggled in bed and my eyes were too tired to keep open. I drift off into a deep slumber, not knowing about next week's chaos.
times passes