Twisted Metal Heart - Eve Langlais Page 0,66
seems like it’s tilted to the bullies.”
“Except for the fact that they can ask for a champion to fight in their stead. I won enough times I became the king’s own fighter in the ring. On matters that required a firm conviction, I was called in.”
“You won and then kept fighting despite winning over and over? One would almost think you enjoyed it.”
“I did. Besides, it helped keep me in shape while I waited.”
“Waited for a kick in the ass,” she muttered, but she smiled too.
“Keep in mind it wasn’t bad. The beds they provided proved better than the ground. Food was good. It wasn’t just some mush slopped into a bowl. There was meat and some kind of flat cake. Fruit. They even found me some books to read during my recovery time.”
“You read?” It surprised her.
“Yes, I read,” he hissed, obviously insulted.
“Don’t act so mad. It’s an honest question given not everyone learns to read. And books can be a tad scarce.”
“What do you mean scarce? All you need is access to a library on an electronic tablet. You can read modern to ancient classics.”
“I wasn’t allowed computers when I was young. All metal working was strictly overseen.”
“Seriously?”
“At times I was surprised they allowed me a steel fork.”
“A fork is a good weapon. I killed someone with a spoon once.”
“I have no idea how to reply,” she said. “Other than to say that’s impressive?”
“Unexpected for him too.”
“Did you at least have a reason to kill him?”
“He was hurting the other kids.”
“Wait, you were a child when this happened.”
“How do you think I had a spoon in my hand? He invited me in for a taste of his pudding. When he put his hand down my pants and told me to not make a sound, I rammed the spoon in his eye.”
She blinked. “A hero even back then.”
“Not a hero.” He looked away, and did his cheeks turn a bit red?
Veering the conversation, she found herself curious about something still. “What do you like to read? Gun books? How-tos on skinning monsters?”
At her less than subtle teasing, he laughed. “Those are all skills I learned hands-on. When I read, it’s pure fiction. Ancient literature kind of stuff about sprawling cities full of electronic marvels. And officers of the law, solving crimes. Back then, a guilty plea put criminals in a prison for a set time. For life if the transgression was particularly heinous.”
“Sounds expensive to maintain.”
“Never claimed it was efficient. Much of what is printed in books is the height of fantasy and waste. If even half-true, the world used to be bounteous place where everyone lived free and could work hard or not. The choice was up to them.”
He waxed eloquent about it, and that surprised her so much she couldn’t stop laughing, managing only to gasp, “You read the classics. Those are no better than fairy tales.”
“I do. I happen to like them enough that sometimes I will quote them.”
“Do it.”
“One does not just quote out of hand,” he said with a shake. “It has to flow with the moment.”
“And they call me a dork.” She snorted. “Must be nice to only use your gift when the mood strikes. If my mother said jump, you jumped higher than the last time, or you regretted it.”
“How did she punish you?” he asked.
“There were a few methods she used.” She didn’t get the impression he’d leave her alone until she answered. “Deprivation is the first one. How well we eat, how many blankets we get, minutes in the bathing chamber, even metal working time, which I loved, could be taken away.”
“That’s kind of normal. All parents do that.”
“Chores that would usually be done by a cleaning citizen were meant to show us humility. I scrubbed a lot of floors. Hated it so much the first thing I built in the citadel was a cleaning robot.”
“You mean to say Alfred’s handy with a broom?”
The bird hovered in front of Titan and flashed to a glaring Alfred. “I am not a cleaning bot.”
“Yet,” Titan snickered. “Could be your next body ends up being a vacuum.”
“A razor might be handier,” Alfred riposted.
Titan slicked a hand through his locks. “Alfred, never threaten a man’s hair.”
She found it fascinating to see how Titan treated Alfred as someone real with feelings who could learn. He was a pretty amazing robot. Maybe he could.
“I had my head shaved once for being vain, according to my sister.” It was actually Sarena who had the jealous fit when