┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ 🔮⛓🪩 ༉‧₊˚✧ ꒰ 𝓓ancing 𝓠ueen ꒱

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝗑          ⎯⎯ 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗍𝗁

                    THE DOJO was packed with students, all karate gi-clad. The class formed rows in front of their Sensei, facing him as he barked out directions.

          "Junbi!" Sensei Lawrence exclaimed, "Bow." All the students bowed, "Fighting Positions!"

          Albeit carelessly, Venus put herself into the fighting stance, but she quickly corrected it as Sensei Lawrence started to roam towards her area. Thankfully, he moved his attention to Eli or Hawk (Venus is still adjusting to the change) and kicked his foot forward, making him grunt. "Stabilize your base, Hawk," Sensei instructed, showing him an example, "Keep your balance. Full rotation when you strike." He punched forward.

          "Yes, Sensei!" The boy recited the actions. "Hai!"

          Johnny turned to another boy, causing him to recoil, "Did you just flinch, Virgin?" He strode to another student and stomped on the floor to test his theory. The boy drew back just as he had predicted. "Holy shit. We got a room full of flinchers."

          "Yes, Sensei!"

          "That was not a question!" Sensei yelled as he looked around the room, "Raise your hand if you've never been punched in the face." All the students, excluding Miguel and Aisha, raised their hands. "Put your hands down." He shook his head and walked towards the front of the group, "All your lives, you've been avoiding fights, so you don't break your nose or lose a tooth—this concussion nonsense. So, there's only one solution, and that is before you leave this dojo, each and every one of you is going to take a punch, very hard, to the face."

          The whole class looked stunned by his statement, Venus's eyebrows raised, and she shared a look of fear with Eli.

          "Ms. Robinson, line 'em up. Unflinch, this group." Sensei instructed before walking out of the room.

          "Yes, Sensei!" Aisha walked in front of the young boy who first flinched and punched him in the face. "Next!"

          "Oh my god." Venus gasped. She watched, appalled, as Miguel and Aisha "unflinched" the group of students. Most of them leaving the line with blood running down their face. Venus made it her mission to run and grab some tissues for the poor kids.

          "Let's go." Eli gestured his head towards the line of kids.

          Turning to Eli, Venus gave him a look of disbelief, she shook her head rapidly, "Nope! No. No, ma'am, absolutely not." In frustration, Venus sighed, closing her eyes, "I don't understand why I didn't raise my hand. I should've seen this coming."

          Eli smirked. Venus noticed he's been doing that a lot lately, "C'mon, V, I promise they'll go easy on you." He placed a hand on her shoulder. However, just as he said that Aisha punched a kid so hard that he fell back to the floor and began cradling his bloody nose while groaning in pain.

          "Yeah, I'm sure they will." Venus sarcastically smiled before walking over to the boy and handing him some tissues, slowly easing him up and directing him off the mat, "Apply some pressure to that, bud."

          Eli strolled over to Venus and gently grabbed her by her arms, "Venus, it'll be okay. I mean—who could hurt this face anyway?" His hand went up to squeeze her face, but she shoved his hand away with a slight grin. "Nothing bad will happen. Let's go line up."

          Reluctantly, Venus stood in line with the boy. She was biting her nails anxiously as she awaited her turn. Fearfully, her eyes widened as she saw Miguel gesture her forward. Venus begrudgingly made her way in front of Miguel, "Please don't hurt me."

          Miguel let out a small smile, "I'm not gonna punch you hard, I promise." His eyes floating towards Eli, who has been glaring warningly at the boy since Venus walked over. "I really promise."

          "That is not helping me." Venus pouted, "Please don't make me bruise. I'll cry. I have a game in two days, and I don't want to look even worse than I usually do in photos."

          "I don't think I will make you bruise." He shook his head with a chuckle, "C'mon, take a few deep breaths, and then I'll go."

          "Can you just like...not hit me? Sensei wouldn't know." She tried to bargain, using the most charming smile she could muster up.

          Miguel raised his eyebrows, "Venus, you want to do karate, yes?"

          The girl shrugged, lips pulling into a pout, "Not really, but I'm here now. So, I guess?"

          Miguel blinked at her, "Anyways, people get hurt in karate, and you can't be flinching whenever someone goes to strike. So, this should happen now than at a tournament."

         "I don't think I'll ever make it to a tournament."

          "Venus, please." The boy sighed, pinching his eyebrows together in annoyance.

          Huffing, Venus adjusted her stance, "I'm sorry." She closed her eyes tightly, "Just do it."

          "I'm sorry too," He spoke, alrighty feeling a bit guilty for having to hit the girl, but he thought it'd be better for him to do it rather than Aisha. Taking a deep breath, he threw the punch.

          Pain seared through Venus's cheek as she stumbled to the side, muttering "ow" over and over again. Miguel cringed and began to apologize profusely.

          "I thought you weren't going to punch me hard!"

          "Sensei said that everyone needed to be unflinched!"

          Venus sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I know." She began to rub her cheek, wincing a bit, "No, yeah, that's going to bruise."

          "I'm so sorry. Do you want me to get you anything?" Miguel offered.

          "No, it's okay. You just did what you had to do."

          "Are you sure, cause I ca—"

          "I'm sure, Miguel. Thank you, though." Venus gave a hint of a smile through her gritted teeth and began walking toward the restroom.

          Venus stood, gently splashing cool water onto her cheek. Sighing, she gazed into the mirror, thinking back to why she was even here in the first place. This is for Eli. It doesn't matter if you get beat up a bit. This is for him. She shook her head as she walked out of the bathroom, "The things I do."

          Speaking of the boy, Venus jumped back and put a hand over her mouth in shock as he slammed to the mat harshly, grunting.

         "He's okay!" Aisha called out.

          "I'm okay." As he began to get up, he reassured, "It's just a tooth."

          "Just a tooth?" Venus rushed forward, placing a hand on his arm, and pulled him to the side, "Jesus, E. You okay?"

          "Yes, I'm fine." Eli rolled his eyes at her worry, then narrowed when he noticed the red mark on her cheek, "Are you okay?"

          "What?" Venus's eyebrows furrowed. She wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying, more so trying to examine the red mark forming on his jaw. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. I think you need an ice pack."

          A smirk found its way onto Eli's face as Venus cradled his jaw, "I'm tough V, you don't have to worry about anything."

          The girl scoffed, a hint of a smile on her face, "Says the boy who cries when he stubs his toe."

          "I don't cry! I have allergies." He protested, "Besides, I don't know why you're talking. You cry when you bang your elbow on the door frame."

          "Hey! That is a completely valid reason to cry." She smacked him on the shoulder, "I was just trying to see if you were okay."

          A slight grin began to slip onto Eli's lips, "Aww, how sweet." He wrapped his arm around her head, pulling her to his chest, and began to pat her hair.

          The tips of Venus's lips were pulled into a wide smile while she shoved him away, "Shut up."

          Miguel stared at the two, walking back to his spot near Aisha, a sliver of a smile on his face. A relationship like theirs is what he would like with Sam. Minus the not being in an actual relationship part.

⎯⎯⎯

           Miguel talked about the date he scored with Samantha Larusso at eight while they warmed up and stretched for their karate practice. "I need somewhere romantic, but not too romantic," Miguel explained, prompting Aisha to roll her eyes at the mention of her ex-best friend.

          "You could take her to get tattoos," Eli suggested with a smirk adorning his features.

          "What?" Miguel scrunched up his face.

          Venus squinted in confusion as she turned her head to her best friend, "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

          Eli stood up and began to undo his gi, "I know a guy, just hooked me up with this bad boy." He turned around, revealing a large black-inked hawk sporting a blue mohawk.

          "Oh!" Aisha laughed.

          "Oh, shit!" Miguel gaped, looking at the tattoo.

          Venus's mouth dropped open, stunned, "Eli? What the fuck?"

          "That is badass." Aisha complimented with a nod.

          "Right?" Eli agreed as he looked at them over his shoulder, "Fourteen hours in the chair." He flexed in the mirror.

          "Again, what the fuck?" Venus asked, still in a state of shock, "When did you get this done?"

          "Wait, are your parents okay with that?" Aisha questioned.

          "Oh, they have no idea." Eli revealed as he pulled his top back on, "Definitely going to have to wear a t-shirt until college. Probably longer." A bit of Eli's true personality peaked through, "Please don't tell them."

          "Uh, any other suggestions?" Miguel turned his focus to the girls.

          Blinking away from Eli, Venus shrugged, "Um, maybe you could take her on a picnic, or like just go to a restaurant?" Her eyes shined brightly in excitement, "Ooh! Or you guys could like bake and cook dinner together!"

          "Don't look at me." Aisha shook her head, "Sam and I used to be friends. We're not anymore."

          "Okay, but I need your help," Miguel begged the girl.

          "Fine, um...I know she likes chocolates and astronomy." She informed him.

          "I can work with that." Miguel nodded.

          "Banned?" Johnny asked, his voice thundering from his office, "What are you talking about?" Miguel shared a look with the three before standing up and walking into Sensei's office.

          Venus shook her head and turned to Eli, shoving his shoulder with all her might, "I cannot believe you!"

          "What?" Eli's eyebrows furrowed, rubbing his shoulder with a frown.

          "You didn't invite me to get a tattoo? Or at least tell me? Send a picture?" Venus threw her hands up into the air, "Fourteen hours in the chair? Alone? Were you even thinking?"

          Eli stared at the girl with an amused expression, a smile tugging on his lips, "I'm sorry?"

          Venus raised her eyebrows, "You should be sorry!" Her frown deepened, a flash of hurt going through her eyes, "I can't believe you didn't tell me."

          Eli frowned, his head tilting slightly to the side as he looked at her slouched stature. His heart strings were tugged as she pouted, "I'm sorry, V. I didn't think it was that big of a deal."

          "You got a hawk tattooed on your back for fourteen hours," Venus gave him a blank look, "And you didn't think that was a big deal?"

          Eli sputtered a response, "Um—at least it looks cool?"

          "You're lucky that looks cool or trust me I would have lost my mind," Venus let out a scoff and mumbled under her breath, "Fourteen hours in a chair for a damn bird. I can't with you."

          Eli laughed loudly at her and shook his head with a grin.

          Suddenly the pink-haired girl jumped up and looked the boy in the eyes, "Does Demetri know?"

          "Nope!" He shook his head, his grin still growing prominent. Imagining the reaction he'd get from the dark-haired boy.

          Venus heaved a sigh dropping her head into her hands, "Oh, God."

⎯⎯⎯

          Since Venus dyed Eli's hair, a re-run of her and mother's conversation constantly played in her mind. As much as she tried to distract herself, the sneaking suspicion of something always crawled back into her mind. The pink-haired girl felt anxious to the point where the girl was sick to her stomach. She couldn't eat, couldn't drink, and she literally couldn't think of anything else.

          She has seen that look her mamá wore once before. Celia's shaken frame and sudden defensiveness felt all too familiar for Venus, and that was terrifying. But Celia was clean...right? She wouldn't go back. She swore to Venus she wouldn't go back. The feeling grew stronger and stronger as the thoughts polluted her brain.

          She needed to know.

          The Torres girl felt dread fill her stomach as she stepped into the hallway, her feet dragging her to the cracked-open door of her mother's room.

          A shaky sigh fell from her lips as she pushed the door open and crept into the room. Honey-brown eyes scanned the room before landing on the bedside table. With her lips tugged into a nervous frown, she reached the table and opened the drawer, eyes dancing upon the one-dollar bill she had seen days before. Shaking her head, the girl slammed the drawer shut. She leaned slightly back from her kneeling position and reached a hand under the table, finding nothing. Moving her attention to the bed, she stuck her hands under the mattress and felt for anything; much to her relief, she came up empty-handed.

          Venus sat back on her heels, a hand reaching up to rub her temples. She found nothing. The feeling in her chest simmered down a little. Like always, she was just paranoid.

          Walking back to her room, she couldn't help but feel guilty. The girl just broke one too many boundaries. Venus truly felt sick with herself. Sitting on the floor of her room, the girl felt tears well up in her eyes. The Torres girl thought she was doing good with helping her mother. Waking up early on Celia's workdays to get her pills and breakfast, when it was the weekend, she'd make a large breakfast if her Mamá was home and sit and talk with her. Venus would try to get her out of the house, plant and paint with her, and go out on walks and picnics. She tried to do everything to make her happy.

          Anything to keep her clean.

          How could Venus expect Celia to see the young girl as a safe place when Venus couldn't even trust her own mother?

          A feeling of dread captured her shaken body into a tight embrace. Its weight crushed her chest as she sobbed into her knees. The world around her spun as she tried to catch her breath through the tears rapidly rushing down her face.

          Venus felt like she was drowning, a cold hand grasping her kicking legs and pulling her farther and farther down into the dark as she tried to keep herself afloat.

          She felt paralyzed.

          The pink-haired girl couldn't gain control. No matter how hard she fought, it barely grazed her fingertips and yanked itself away. The distance grew larger as she felt herself get dragged deeper and deeper into the abyss of her mind.

          Venus felt weak. Her legs could no longer move to keep her afloat. Her mind was screaming at her to move. Her body was exhausted, and she couldn't fight any longer. And then, her body went limp.

          She had sunk.

          The world became quiet just for a moment as she slowly sunk deeper and deeper. Her thoughts come to a halt. Her body felt weightless as she moved, and suddenly Venus felt calm.

          The feeling was blissful, and she wished she could bask in it forever. But unfortunately, she would be brought back to reality. She was left feeling unfulfilled and drained.

          And so, the pink-haired pixie laid idly on the floor of her bedroom, her big bambi eyes in a seemingly hypnotic state as they fixated on the colorful tapestry strung above her—a yearning feeling trapped in her chest. The hair atop her head sprawled around messily from her yanking, and her face was red and puffy. The sound of her phone dinging made her leave her trance. Reaching for it blindly, she looked at the message; a trace of a smile began to dance on her face, and warmth replaced the feeling in her chest.

eli <3

glad u got home safe

btw this reminded me of u

goodnight v :]

001. 𝑨𝑼𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑹'𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑬.      edited june 14 , 2022.
posted july 16 , 2022

venus's outfit !