Chapter 53: LIGHTS OFF, HANDS ON.
They stayed where they were for a while — perched on that broken ledge like two gutter kings looking out over a kingdom of rot and ruin. Dancer lurked a few beams away, eyes glinting whenever the moon broke through the cloud cover.
Savier leaned back on his elbows, still catching his breath, a smile tugging at his battered mouth. "Shit... feels good to do that again. You ever miss the old runs? The drills? Damn, Johnkiss... nothing like burning your lungs out, huh?"
Johnquis grunt, rolling his shoulders where the harness straps bit in. "Back then I thought it was hell. Now? I’d kill for another hour in that School gym. Just bruises and instant noodles waiting at the end. God... I miss those cup noodles."
"Ha! Yeah..."
Savier trailed off, tapping his fingertips on the rusted beam. Then he lit up like he’d remembered a filthy joke. "Oh — did I tell you? A new student after your batch. You’d like her. Real sexy piece of work. God, her boobs were huge — like a pair of full moons. A real goddess. You’d lose your damn mind."
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "Name’s Paula. Precious Paula."
Johnquis gave him the driest look he could muster. "Precious Paula? That her real name?"
Savier laugh. "Hell no! Paula’s her real name. I added ’Precious.’ She’s precious, okay? Had to stitch part of her patch onto my bomber so I got her with me at all times."
He tugged at his bomber jacket’s shoulder where a stitched lady clutched her boobs. "There she is, my precious Paula. It’s like a lover’s lock, but creepier."
"You’re a twisted bastard, Savier."
"Don’t pretend you’re surprised."