Dom sat on a low brick wall behind the school, her gaze fixed on the gentle gurgling of the creek below. She absentmindedly flicked bits of stone into the water, the tiny splashes oddly satisfying in their simplicity. The chill of the breeze didn’t bother her; it matched her mood too perfectly. Her thoughts were a swirling mess of frustration, longing, and resignation, but at least out here, she could let the world fall away for a while.

“Hey, Dom.”

Nile’s voice broke through her reverie like a pebble tossed into still water. She jolted slightly, turning to see him standing there with his easy grin, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket.

“Hey,” she replied, her tone neutral as she turned back to the creek. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Nile stepped closer, hopping onto the wall beside her and picking up a few stones of his own. “Where’ve you been? It’s like you’ve been ditching me all week.” Weeks, she corrected mentally.

Dom shrugged, her movements stiff. “You know, I’ve been around. The usual… Just been busy, I guess.”

The air between them felt heavier than it should, weighed down by unspoken words. Nile tossed a stone into the creek, watching the ripples spread.

“Yeah, well, you know what’s coming up next week, right? It’s gonna be pretty epic.”

Dom glanced at him, trying to read his expression. He gave her one of his lopsided, goofy grins -the kind that always managed to disarm her, no matter how mad or sad she was. She couldn’t help but smile back, though it felt more like muscle memory than genuine happiness.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be pretty badass,” she said, her tone light.

“More like legendary. Wait for it -oops.”

Dom laughed despite herself, the familiar banter easing some of the tension. It was their running joke -Nile always mangled the line, and she always teased him for it. For a moment, it felt like old times.

But the moment didn’t last. “Though honestly,” Dom started, her voice quieter, “I’m surprised you’re bringing it up. I mean, you’ve been spending so much time with Ash lately that I thought…”

She let the sentence hang in the air, unfinished but heavy. Nile shifted beside her, his smile faltering for a moment before returning, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Of course I’m bringing it up. Why wouldn’t I? I know we’ve been out of touch a bit recently, but Dom, you and I are -we’re a dynamic duo. And I still want to spend time with you. Just because Ash and I are, well… Just because we’re what we are doesn’t mean I want to lose you.”

Dom’s heart twisted at his words. She wanted to believe him, but the distance between them felt like more than just a few missed conversations. Still, she nodded, not trusting herself to say anything without her voice cracking.

Nile glanced at his phone and blanched. “Damn, hey Dom, I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to run. Mr. Jacobs will kill me if I’m late for class again. But I’ll see you there, right? Eight o’clock sharp?”

“On the dot,” Dom replied, forcing a smile.

“Damn straight-” Nile started, hopping off the wall.

“And sideways,” Dom finished, their laughter mingling in the crisp air. For a brief moment, it felt like the last few weeks hadn’t happened, like they were back to being just Dom and Nile, two halves of the same whole.

But as Nile disappeared around the corner, the sound of his laughter fading into the distance, the hollow ache returned. Dom stayed on the wall a little longer, staring at the rippling water and the scattered stones, before finally making up her mind.

Dom jogged through the parking lot, her breath visible in the cool air. She was determined to catch Nile, to say… something. Anything. She wasn’t sure what, but she knew she couldn’t let things end like that. But by the time she reached the lot, his car was already gone, the space he’d occupied now an empty void.

She hesitated, her resolve faltering. As much as she wanted to chase after him, reality pulled her in another direction. She glanced at her watch and groaned -her self-defense class at the Boys and Girls Club started in fifteen minutes, and even at full speed, the drive would take twenty.

With a resigned sigh, she hurried to her bike, her skull-emblazoned helmet in hand. She slid it on, the familiar weight grounding her as she checked her bike for any issues. Satisfied, she kicked it into gear, the engine roaring to life with a satisfying thrum that blended with the distant roll of thunder from the gray sky above.

As she sped away, the wind tugging at her jacket and the rhythmic pulse of the engine vibrating beneath her, Dom let the road pull her focus.

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Dom made it to class with barely two minutes to spare. It was enough time to dart into the changing room and swap her school clothes for her worn-down workout gear: a faded black t-shirt loose enough to let her move freely, a sports bra for support, and her trusty martial arts gi pants that had seen better days. The fabric’s frayed edges and softened texture were like old friends, comforting in their familiarity.

As she emerged, her students were already filtering into the room, a mix of eager newcomers and familiar faces. The air buzzed with the low murmur of chatter and the slap of feet against the padded floor. Dom wasted no time in getting them started, clapping her hands once to signal the beginning of warm-ups.

"Alright, everyone, spread out," she called, her voice firm but not unkind. "Let’s start with stretches. Remember, every movement matters -every roll of the wrist, every twist of the torso. These aren’t just stretches; they’re techniques. In a fight, even the smallest action can make the difference between walking away or not."

The students obeyed, moving through the motions as Dom walked among them, correcting stances and demonstrating proper form. Her sharp eye caught every misstep, every misalignment, and she guided them with practiced ease. It was a routine she’d mastered, but tonight there was an edge to her focus, a determination to drown out the thoughts swirling in her mind.

System Notification

Skill Enhancement Activated: Instructional Precision

Effect: +10 Student Progress, +5 Focus.

Sub-Effect: Suppresses Emotional Distraction (Duration: Temporary).

Dom’s lip twitched as the notification flickered across her vision. Normally, she’d dismiss the messages without a second thought, but lately, they’d felt… off. The words carried a weight they hadn’t before, as if the system were watching her more closely, judging her actions with an intensity that made her skin crawl. She shook the thought away and continued the class.

Once the warm-up concluded, Dom shifted them into grounding techniques. Each student moved through the basics of blocks and strikes, their movements slow and deliberate. She stepped in to help one student adjust her stance, pressing gently on her fists, arms, and hips until the girl’s posture locked into place.

"Feel that?" Dom asked, applying more pressure to test the stance. The student nodded, her expression a mix of concentration and pride. "Good. Remember, a strong foundation is everything. Physics beats brute strength every time."

As the class continued, the door creaked open, and a latecomer shuffled inside. Darrel B., one of her regulars, tried to sneak in unnoticed, but Dom’s finger shot out to point at him without even turning her head.

"Darrel," she said, her tone calm but commanding. "Corner. Now."

Darrel groaned but didn’t argue. He slumped over to the designated corner, where a wooden plank stood vertically from floor to ceiling. Without needing further instruction, he dropped into a horse stance, aligning his eyes with the knothole in the plank.

"Eye level, Darrel," Dom instructed, her voice sharper now. "You stay there until you figure out what it means to stick to your obligations. This isn’t optional."

The class murmured quietly among themselves, some casting sympathetic glances at Darrel as beads of sweat quickly formed on his brow. Dom, however, didn’t spare him a second glance, focusing instead on guiding the rest of the students through their techniques.

System Notification

Behavioral Discipline Activated: Unyielding Presence

Effect: +5 Respect (Class), +3 Resentment (Individual).

Sub-Effect: Doubts Sown in Authority Structures.

The words flashed ominously, and Dom’s stomach twisted. Subtle unease gnawed at her, but she forced herself to focus on the lesson. The students needed her, and she couldn’t let her doubts show.

An hour passed before she finally released Darrel from his punishment. His legs shook as he collapsed to the mat, sweat pouring down his face. Dom stepped closer, her gaze unyielding.

"Stand up," she ordered. Darrel struggled to his feet, his movements stiff and sluggish. "Back stance. Hands up. Defend yourself."

Darrel’s eyes widened, but he obeyed. Dom immediately launched into a flurry of attacks—punches, kicks, and sweeps that came fast and hard. Each strike tested his endurance, forcing him to dig deep as he stumbled across the mat. By the time she called for a switch, Darrel was barely standing.

"Your turn," Dom said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Attack."

Darrel threw a series of punches and elbows, his movements heavy with exhaustion. Dom deflected each one effortlessly, her footwork precise and measured. The bout ended with her unscathed and Darrel looking ready to collapse again. Still, when she shook his hand, she ruffled his hair with a small smile.

"Not bad, kid," she said, her voice softer now. "Show up on time, and you might just get me one of these days."

The class chuckled, the tension easing slightly. But before anyone could fully relax, a cough echoed from the entrance.

Dom looked up to see Nile leaning casually against the doorframe, a playful smirk on his face.

"There you go again," he teased, his voice warm and familiar. "Picking on someone bigger than you."

The tension she’d been holding onto all day seemed to melt at the sight of him. Damn it, what’s wrong with me, Dom thought.

Dom rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. "And here I thought you’d gone soft, slacker."

Nile grinned, stepping onto the mat with an exaggerated stretch. "Oh, I’m still hard -I mean- damn it. That’s why I’m here -to remind you who the real champ is."

“That’s what he said,” Dom quipped, then she folded her arms, her smile sharpening into a smirk. "Big talk for someone who can’t even throw a decent roundhouse."

The students gathered at the edges of the mat, their whispers buzzing with excitement. Nile’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he slipped off his shoes and took his stance opposite Dom.

"Fair warning," he said, rolling his neck. "I’m a bit rusty. I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself."

Dom snorted. "I can hear the creaks from here, old man."

"Alright, alright," he shot back, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Let’s do this."

The class roared with approval as Kyp stepped forward to referee, her voice cutting through the noise. "Alright, you two, I want a good, clean fight. No cheap shots, no whining, and no breaking the mats."

System Notification

Challenge Accepted: Sparring Duel

Opponents: Dominque "Dom" DuMonte vs. Nile “the Pharoah” Kinnison

Objectives:

* Dom: Demonstrate dominance through superior technique.

* Nile: Survive.

Rewards: Increased XP, Relationship Tension Modifier (Variable).

The message sent a chill down Dom’s spine. The system was acting strangely, included relationship modifiers in sparring matches, and the phrasing felt loaded, almost foreboding. Shaking off the unease, she nodded at Kyp.

"Begin!" Kyp shouted, dropping her hand.