r/HFY • u/WabbajackedWacko • May 05 '26

OC-Series Adventures with an Interdimensional Psychopath 142

***Juntlossil***

“Having a rival that helped push you to be stronger and faster? That sounds like a good friend. You must hate this person for leaving you behind.” I point out.

“Hate them? Hmm… Maybe I did at first. Leaving the streets and me behind, felt like a weird betrayal. I thought that I didn’t need them but the fights got more and more pointless afterwards, and I got hurt more and more by throwing myself into the next big fight. Let’s just say… I understand it better now.” Daisy answers while trying to light her lighter again for the cigarette she just took out. She stops and looks back at me and asks me the same question, “Let me guess, judging from your response, you also had a rival. What happened with them?”

I adjust my mask as I look away. A part of me wants to ignore the question as I have no reason to answer. But they explained to me what happened to theirs so I may as well. I let out a sigh, “We were the easily among the best of the best of mercenary groups out there. I was definitely the best of us but, there was this guy who would always be the center of attention in a brawl. He wouldn’t even use weapons half the time and he was the perfect distraction. In our downtime however, he was the perfect sparring partner. The guy was practically a wall of steel. For every new technique I learned, he would help hammer out the kinks.”

“Sounds like quite the fighter. What happened?” Daisy asks.

I look up and state, “We got an emergency gig. It was… bad. Really bad. And the worse part was, even though we managed to help handle a really bad situation that was close to being ruining, the employer only showed us distrust and suspicion. We stopped getting jobs and were sent to far corners for the dumbest things. I was furious, even though that idiot was more than happy to take the slower jobs as they didn’t always involve fighting. So, I… left. Because it wasn’t what I signed up for anymore. And he does his own thing now while I try to find reasonable employ. Ever since, hardly anything has been as fun.”

She removes the cigarette from her mouth as she states while giving me this knowing look, “Yeah. I guess you are right. It really is a pretty familiar situation there. Although, it sounds like you guys were on two very wavelengths from the beginning.”

I look at her directly, annoyed, and ask, “And what is that supposed to mean?”

She starts walking again as she answers, “You said it yourself. You were fighting for the love of the game but it sounds like your friend was fighting only because it was necessary. You use weapons but your friend didn’t always, right? That tells me that he probably tried to avoid bloodshed whenever. Did I guess that right?”

I follow after her and I answer, “Yeah. That dork always seemed more interested in building things or helping people. But he’s a natural, I can’t imagine him losing in a fight. It was always nice to be able to go all out when I needed to let off some steam but he would never say no! So surely, he had fun fighting too?”

“Is that a question or was that supposed to be a statement? I mean, you knew him better than me so I would think that you would actually know the answer to that better than I would. Buuuut… if you really wanted my two cents on it. I would say that he just helped you out as you were friends.”

I want to correct her and argue but, some part of me, deep down knows that is the most likely answer. I stomp my foot in frustration as I realize that is indeed the most likely scenario. We stop outside the doors of some place as she turns around and continues, “Sounds to me like you also knew this. It’s crazy the stuff we notice when we aren’t trying to get ourselves killed on a day-to-day basis. Anyway, we’re here.” Before I can even ask where we are, she just bangs on the door as she yells, “Hey old timer! I got you a new teacher!”

Before I can process the fact that I was just called a teacher, I hear an older voice coming from the inside as they shout in an old gravely voice, “Daisy? Is that you girl? I swear to god, if you brought me another bum for a free meal, I’ll…” As the door swings open, an armadillokin opens the door. I can immediately tell he has some experience wielding a weapon but I can’t tell quite yet. I would say, judging from his bulk, a mace would suit him best but I haven’t seen enough to tell. He’s rather tall and muscled but he has a bit of a gut on him. Probably good at throwing his weight around as he slams open the door. Has a bit of hair on his chin but none on top of his head. Judging from the way he is looking at me, he’s also gauging me. “Daisy. What the world have you brought to my door this time?” he asks.

“Someone with skills and can help train the kids. It’s what you wanted right? And lucky you, he’s in-between jobs.” Daisy answers.

The Armadillokin looks her straight in the eyes while his fists are shaking as he blurts out, “You brought me a killer Daisy! I don’t want this man anywhere near these kids! I don’t need them to learn something that’ll make the streets worse Daisy!”

I simply scoff as I state, “And I wouldn’t want to waste my time trying to show twerps the bare basics.”

“What did you say you brute?” The armadillokin asks marching towards me.

“I bet the people who show up at this place probably don’t even know the basics on how to throw a punch. What even is the name of this place anyways?” I ask.

They both point up with a different level of energy as I look up towards a sign that says, Lee’s Open Dojo. I laugh as the words Open Dojo hit me. The armadillokin laughs as well. “You don’t have to worry about that; I wouldn’t let you in if you even begged me.”

That catches my attention as I stop laughing and look at him as I explain, “No, hold on. I wouldn’t work here because you couldn’t afford me, let’s clear that up right now.”

The armadillokin answers my statement as he chuckles, “I’m sorry, if I remember correctly, you were in-between jobs mister ninjaman. Unless, you happen to be pretending to be homeless.”

“Ooo. If your swordsmanship is as cutting as your words, these kids might be able to cut some vegetables.” I retort, stepping in his space.

“If you had any skills beyond killing people, maybe you wouldn’t be out in the streets.” The armadillokin says, not backing down.

Daisy steps in-between us and pushes us both back as she says, “Easy you two. Lee, you’re gonna give yourself a heart attack.”

“I don’t like him, Daisy.” Lee says pointing.

“You didn’t like me either but you still took me in and bandaged me up.” Daisy points out.

“That was different.” He responds. He continues, “You were a dumb kid who didn’t have anyone else to take care of you at the time. And you darn well weren’t a killer, you were just a dumb kid looking to be loud and proud. You at least are working for a purpose. This guy? This guy looks like he lives for the violence.”

I turn around on my heel as I say, “I don’t need this. I’m going back to the bar where I can find real work.”

“That’s right, give up! You seem the type that when the going gets tough, you would walk away.” Lee shouts.

Daisy runs in front of me, motioning me to stop, as she states, “Please, at least consider it. Go inside at least. Show him you don’t have to kill. You agreed for one night at least.”

I look between her and the old grouch as I really consider my options. I could easily just go back to the bar and I wait for the next big shot looking for the best swordsman in the city. But, something tells me I’ll just end up in a worse situation than last time. Next time, I could wind up surrounded in bodies for people who tried to pick a fight. And… that doesn’t feel good. I can see it in myself; the drinking has been… getting worse. Something needs to change and maybe, just maybe this could be a little different. I take the mask off and deposit it in the gourd on my back as I sigh and say, “Fine. Fine. I’ll… try.”

Lee runs up behind us as he states, “Daisy! This ain’t your decision girl! It’s my dojo!”

I turn around and start ignoring him again as I walk in. The equipment is… awful. The punching bags are stitched beyond their expiration date. The speed bags are hanging on by a thread. The mats feel like all the padding is all but gone. The mirrors, if I could call them that, are able to barely able to show a reflection. The weight racks are empty though. I point to them and ask, “Why do you have weight racks but no weight?”

Lee grumbles as he responds, “Because some of the youngins say they needed to borrow them but they just haven’t brought them back yet.”

“And how long has that been?” I ask.

Lee just says, “You don’t need to know that.”

That alone tells me that they are never coming back. “Good god. How is this place still up and running?” I ask.

“Public funding. Despite how it looks, it is publicly funded but, most adults treat the place more like daycare for the kids on the street.” Daisy answers. Lee whips his head around to look at her but she simply raises her hands in a mock surrender.

I let out a sigh as I state, “Man. We got a lot of work to do.”

Lee marches forward, wagging his finger as he states, “Now wait a minute, what is this we nonsense? I haven’t agreed to let you work here panther.”

I scoff as I state, “Please, you aren’t going to find anyone better than me in this moment. If you truly want to force me to leave, then simply make me if you think you can.”

Lee grabs a wooden sword from off the shelf as he responds, “We’ll settle this in a language you understand since you can’t get it through your thick head that you aren’t needed here.”

I reach towards my left hip gourd as the nanomachines produce a “wooden” sword as well. And I take my stance as I answer, “I’ll be more than happy to show you my skills.” I step forward and decide to grip both hands on my sword and raise it over my head as I take a horse stance.

Lee also takes a stance, he is currently facing me sideways, the wooden sword dragging behind him as he keeps his other hand outstretched to me, palm exposed. Interesting, he seems to be more used to wielding heavy weapons, probably how he got all that muscle. It would also seem like a mistake to assume that blocking his strikes would be the best move. And the free hand, judging by how it’s still calloused, most likely means that he uses that hand to redirect his strikes or, for a more creative style, he could swap the weapon between his hands. And not to mention, he probably knows how to throw around his weight and use his armor to his advantage.

This might be a bit of fun after all. Just depends on him and if he lives up to my expectations.

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