4.A Shock to the System

4. A Shock to the System

The air in the hallway feels stuffy, like maybe the novice firebrands in training filled the corridor with smoke again. Maybe it's me. The electric wizard responsible for the study stands in front of me. But wait a damn minute, it's the same arrogant jerk I met earlier at the coffee shop near campus. I can't believe my luck.

"Can I help you?" he asks.

"You're the one in charge of the study, right?" I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Yeah, Az Serrano." He nods at me, not showing any recognition. "Nice to meet you."

Is he really feigning ignorance?

"You've gotta be kidding me," I mutter. Not just about his act but about the universe's own twisted sense of humor .

Turning on the charm and convincing him to resume the study won't be easy. I've already struck out with him once today.

"What's wrong?" He smirks. "Do we know each other?"

I roll my eyes. "Oh my god. You aren't funny at all."

"Wow, what a rude thing to say to someone you just met." His smirk grows wider.

Yep, he's really being that petty and… and… asshole-y. That's one more problem. Do I want to convince him to resume the study, or should I just be done with the whole thing and murder him instead?

Murder sounds pretty tempting right about now.

"I wish I could forget," I say. "The conversation we need to have about our research would be much easier if you forgot me. But it happened an hour ago, so I know you remember me."

He shakes his head and shrugs like he's actually baffled. "Don't know what you're talking about, Marty."

"Seriously?" My left eye twitches. "You just used my name."

"Damn, busted," he admits, laughing like the little shit he is.

This is the second time he's pretended not to know me. It's clear he's lying this time. He's not hiding how much he enjoys his obviously fake lie and getting a rise out of me. I'd love to rise above this petty bullshit and not give him the satisfaction… but I've already failed. He knows he's getting to me. I already satisfied him, just gave him all the satisfaction on a silver platter. Uh, that sounds dirty.

I try to back track.

"Look, we don't have to like each other, but this is important." He's much taller than me, but I still stare him down easily. "You're going to hear me out."

"Am I?" He scoffs, turning away from me. Without a backwards glance, he strides down the corridor, leaving me standing there, fuming.

How much jail time would I really serve for such a justifiable homicide? Maybe none, if I made it look like an accident. All I'd need to do is get Az Serrano alone near a really steep cliff. If my magic happened to create a strong wind and knock him over said cliff…

With effort, I pull myself back from murderous fantasies. Remember why you're here, Marty. This electrical curse offers a previously unsolvable puzzle, just begging for the right person to come along and reveal everything.

I just know I'm the right wizard for the job.

If I can mitigate or lift a curse that's gone unsolved for years, I can find a purpose for myself and help someone in desperate need of relief .

All I have to do is persuade one electricbrand asshole and suffer through his company.

In theory, being colleagues should involve less hassle and jail time than a potential first-degree murder charge.

"Hey!" I call out, springing into action. "We're not done here!"

I catch up with him outside as he walks down the path away from the magical studies building. He sighs when I jump in front of him.

Gearing up for a confrontation, seeing him out in the sunlight for the first time stops me in my tracks.

I can't help but notice how hot Az looks in the sunlight. Who wears a leather jacket in the summer? He's dressed in layers and black from head to toe. I tell myself he looks stupid, but...

At least six feet tall and packed with solid muscle, Az Serrano practically towers over me. His bronze skin must be a genetic gift because despite the summer season and sunny day, he's extremely covered up. How is he not sweating and panting in the heat? Maybe his bad attitude fends off the heat.

Is he one of those supernatural creatures with a genetic predisposition to always look irresistible? Come on, supernatural beauty and wizard powers? That's just not fair. And isn't he hot ?

Yes, very hot, my brain supplies instantly. Not what I meant. Az should look hot temperature-wise, but instead, he looks sexy hot.

The only part of him sizzling in the summer heat is his eyes, light brown and full of fire as he glares at me impatiently.

I force myself to focus and start clearing the air.

"So, you do remember me."

"Of course, from the coffee shop this morning." Not from the encounter at Airadise. "You made quite an impression. Whatever you're here for, the answer's no."

"Really? I haven't even started yet!" The absurdity of his stubbornness almost makes me laugh, but I clench my fists and press on. "At the coffee shop, we were just people."

"Two strangers," he corrects me without missing a beat.

"Whatever, forget about that," I say. "This is professional."

"Really?" That evil smirk and glint in his eyes only makes him less hot, I tell myself firmly. "Tell that to your eyes, they keep undressing me."

Okay, the urge to kill him returns, even stronger than the lust. A body that sizzling with a personality so vile should really come with a warning sign, and I immediately protest.

"No, my eyes are doing no such thing. If anything, they're putting more layers on you, Az. You must be delusional. Az the delusional ass. Has a nice ring, doesn't it? Or maybe just Az the ass. Hey, Az…" Eager to get off this topic, I let the unusual name distract me. "What kind of name is Az, anyway?"

"Short for Azure," he grits out because even pulling basic information out of him is apparently too much.

"Is that so, Azur—"

"Nope. Don't even try. Only my tias and abuelas call me Azure. Are you my tia or my abuela, Marty?"

"Okay fine, just curious." I raise my hands and remind him why I'm really here. "Let's talk about the study you canceled. Is there any possibility of going forward?"

"Nope. The poor cursed bastard canceled the study himself."

"Wow, it's hard to believe he passed up the opportunity to work with someone as sensitive and compassionate as you."

He rolls his eyes and actually freaking shoos me away with a hand. "Bye now."

"Why don't you save yourself the trouble and tell me what's really going on? Why would someone plagued with a curse like this just give up when we could help? "

He laughs, though it sounds strained. He must know more than he's saying. "Let's not pretend you understand what he's been through."

"Who is this person?" I press, hoping to gather more information.

"It doesn't matter."

With the way he's acting, with this whole situation, there's something going on. Something that bothers me. I just can't quite put my finger on it. I know it's staring me right in the face and I should be able to put all the pieces together… but Azure Serrano is just so damn infuriating, he's blocking out everything else.

I never expected the sexy mysterious stranger I met while flying to be the stubborn combative jackass standing in front of me. All I can focus on is wiping that smug smirk off his face.

He looks me over, and this time there's nothing remotely approving or interested in his gaze, so unlike the night we met. "You wouldn't last a day on this study, so there's no point in pretending otherwise."

"I have what it takes to contribute," I grit through clenched teeth.

"No, you're an overconfident newbie who's going to run away scared at the first unexpected zap."

"Bring it on. "

"Oh yeah?" To test my resolve, the lunatic reaches out and touches my wrist, sending an electric shock coursing through my body. I grit my teeth. The jolt isn't strong, but it's a struggle to not react. Especially since the smartest thing for an air caster to do is to not get shocked.

But he needs to know he can't scare me away that easily. I'm not running away. I'm not afraid of a challenge and I can do this job.

"See? I didn't run away at the first unexpected shock." I stand my ground, but he still doesn't look impressed.

"Handling an unpredictable curse is vastly different from a single zap of electricity," he says.

"Bring. It. On." I repeat, not about to come this far and back down now.

"Fine, you think you can handle yourself around wild electricity? Prove it."

Standing so close and staring him down, I'm ready for him this time. I feel his body move, but he's fast, following me as I pull away. I narrowly twist out of his grasp and avoid the hit.

"Real tough," he mocks. "Shying away from a shock. Aren't you supposed to impress me?"

"I'm trying to prove I can do this job. It's smarter to avoid a shock than stand around getting electrocuted."

"You can't avoid every hit. "

"Oh yeah?" I smile grimly as it's my turn to issue the challenge. "Prove it."

Our eyes meet in an intense, silent standoff. The rest of the campus fades away as I focus on him, waiting for him to make a move. I have to show him I can keep my wits about me and avoid getting shocked. I can take care of myself.

Az darts forward and I spring away.

Just like that, we're off.

I spare a fleeting thought for how absurd we must look, two grown adults playing what essentially amounts to a game of tag outside the hallowed halls of magical academia. But the rush of adrenaline and the thrill of the chase quickly drowns out any sense of embarrassment.

I deftly sidestep the electric bolts, zigzagging through the shimmering energy projectiles. Some of them come so close I hear the electricity crackle right behind me.

With a flourish of my own magic, I feel myself lift off the ground. I soar gracefully over a bolt of electricity that had been aimed at my knees.

"Are you sure you want to keep going?" he taunts. "Looks like you're getting tired."

"Shut up."

Despite the inherent danger of the situation, I find an odd thrill in the challenge. Every near-miss and nimble dodge makes me grin. This asshole can't scare me away that easily .

However, he isn't wrong about everything. I am getting tired. Cardio isn't really a core skill taught in magical classes. Thankfully flight has improved my stamina.

"Dammit." Az buckles first, stopping mid-chase as he hunches over on the grass, hands on his knees as he catches his breath. "I'm tapped out."

Holy crap. This means… victory? Victory. I won.

Proving Azure Serrano wrong feels amazing. Almost as good as it felt to perform for him before, soaring through the air and—anyway.

Ready to be a gracious winner, I walk back to where he pants on the campus lawn and offer him a hand. Az rights himself and sneers at my hand until I withdraw the peace offering. Figures he's a sore loser.

"Brujo pendejo," he mutters.

"I know what that means."

He responds with a long string of Spanish, far more than I can understand or keep up with.

"Okay, I don't know what that means, but I know it isn't good."

Damn, I need some water. He cracked first but the workout wears me out too. Fortunately, he holds up a hand and gestures to the nearest shady spot. I follow him to a large tree where the shade from its branches can protect us from the sun .

"Did I measure up?" I finally ask once we have a chance to catch our breaths.

He says nothing, still watching me with a cool expression. He might be thinking about what to have for dinner. I have no idea.

The longer he takes, the less patience I have.

"Come on," I say.

He raises an eyebrow. "Nervous?"

"No. I know I'm qualified. The only question is whether you are too dense to realize that."

His jaw clenches. "Fine."

Blossom wasn't lying; he's already cranky and difficult to work with. Opening my mouth to argue, I realize… there's nothing to argue?

"Really?" I wonder. "You'll work with me?"

"Sure," Az huffs and rolls his eyes. "I said fine, didn't I?"

"Yeah…" I nod, trying my best to let it go. "Seriously? You're serious?"

Turns out I can't just let it go.

"Yes," he grinds out. "You're hired."

"I-I am? If you're joking—"

"For fuck's sake, McFly." He throws up his hand. "I'm in. I thought you'd stop bugging me if I agreed but apparently you can't even take yes for an answer."

Yes, I proved that I could dodge some electricity and can protect myself on the study. I still expected more push back from him. Az leans against the tree nonchalantly. I think he's hoping for me to go away now that I've won.

I can't leave. Something else stumps me. "What about flying?"

"No, McFly." He points to me. "That's you."

"It is?" That's news to me.

"You know, McFly. Marty. Fly." He waggles his eyebrows, emphasizing each word like he's a genius. "Your name is Marty and you're an airbrand . Like Marty McFly, from the movie? McFly is perfect, understand?" When I only stare, he heaves a dramatic sigh. "Never mind."

"I understand." Eventually, I do realize what he's getting at. I'm just not expecting this turn of events.

"Then why did you make me explain?" he grinds out through clenched teeth.

"That was all you," I say with a laugh. "I understand. It's just stupid."

"Whatever." If looks could kill, I'd be dead.

Wow, this got so out of hand.

Playing tag with our powers is only the icing on the cake. There was also our disastrous encounter at the coffee shop. And the sensual encounter the night we met, something we will never speak of again. None of this screams ‘colleagues' to me. We need boundaries.

"We're professional colleagues now," I remind. "We aren't on a nickname basis. "

"Been on the job two seconds and you already think you're the boss?"

"No nicknames. No squabbling." Yes, I'm partly to blame for the last one. Whatever. "This is a professional arrangement. We're going to act professionally."

Az salutes. "Yes, Mr. McFly."

"No nicknames."

"It's a last name," he counters.

"Not mine."

"So what am I supposed to call you?" he asks in exasperation. "Martin? Se?or McFly?"

"Marty."

He points a finger with such serious accusation on his face it's almost funny. "That's a nickname."

"Oh my god." I resist the urge to rub my temples as a headache builds behind my eyes. "Not a personal nickname—I go by Marty. That's what you'll call me too, got it?"

"Whatever you say, Mc—no, uh, Marty."

"Good."

Is this what it's going to be like working together? We both seem to have the same doubts and regrets. Barely being able to handle a civil conversation doesn't bode well for a professional partnership.

It's hard to believe the nice day is continuing around us. Students are walking to classes, the sun is still shining. The little storm cloud brewing over our heads doesn't hurt anything else.

Az starts edging away. He makes it out from under the shade of the tree, and he's about to get away when I speak.

"One last thing," I say before he leaves.

He groans and waves a hand, telling me to spit it out. I open my mouth but then he shakes his head and holds up a hand. Sweat beads on his brow because he's the idiot wearing a leather jacket on a sunny summer day.

Taking his sweet ass time just to annoy me, he slowly saunters back under the tree's shade. He even makes a show of leaning against the bark and getting comfortable again, adjusting his position a few times until he finds just the right spot. Finally, he raises an eyebrow at me, giving me his attention so I can speak.

"You should probably fill me in on his reservations."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Who?" I repeat incredulously. Is he kidding right now? "Obviously, you know who."

He scoffs and waits, giving me a huffy look. I just return the look and wait. And wait. There it is again, the niggle of unease that I'm missing something. But if he just filled me in, then I wouldn't be in the dark .

"No, I don't know what you're talking about," he says. "You need to use your words."

"Come on!"

"Those aren't the words I'm looking for. You can keep doing that cute little pout and staring all you want. I still can't answer you unless I understand what you're talking about."

"The reason we're here," I spit out. I struggle to hold back my frustration. I struggle to ignore his comment about me being cute. "The subject of our study. Obviously, that's who I'm asking about."

"Oh..." Az clears his throat, adjusting his lazy sprawl against the tree again. No, he isn't readjusting. He's fidgeting. Something has changed and I swear the air gets a few degrees colder between us. "I thought you figured it out. It's me. I'm your guy."

"Excuse me?"

"Not yours, not like that—obviously." His face grows dark, reacting to whatever he sees when looking at me. "Get that horrified look off your face."

"I don't understand what's going on." But I think I do.

What he just told me is pretty clear. It's all pointing in one direction. He isn't an electricbrand like I thought. All the pieces are finally slotting themselves together, forming the truth that's been staring me in the face.

"I'm the cursed guy," Az says. "The study. The poor bastard. Marty, it's me."