Chapter Text
Robby would much rather just keep laying in his bed for the rest of the day, breathing and processing each of his losses against Wolf, but that wasn't an option in this house.
His body was begging him to just fall asleep and never wake up and it was only his first training. They had spent at least four hours competing in that stupid rope circle and not once Robby had won. That was understandable, of course, but he would have felt much better if he had managed to stay in the circle for a minute at least.
He was too humiliated to go down and face Wolf, but he knew he had to. The lunch was about to start in a few minutes and Robby wasn't allowed to skip it - Silver insisted. So it was going to be a big family lunch, full of awkward conversations or embarrassing silence. And that would be the better case.
At least there would be Axel and Zara, too, so Robby hoped he wouldn't be the center of the senseis’ attention.
Actually, meeting Zara was the only thing he was looking forward to. He knew they shouldn't spend much time together, but seeing her was enough for now. And maybe he could steal a few glances and smiles from her, too. That was his only motivation to get up and change into something more formal.
He didn't pack any nice clothes, but he had a clean, white shirt with sky blue stripes that looked pretty decent, and jeans were always a good option.
He only had a couple of minutes to take a shower and his hair was still wet, but he didn't really mind. The worse he looked in this house, the better for him. He didn't need to draw Wolf’s attention all the time and trigger his…let's say, needs. Or wants.
He made his way down the stairs, grateful that he didn't get lost on his way to the dining room. Just as he got to the ground floor, he saw a familiar figure before him. She had her back turned to him and was obviously on her way to the dining room as well.
Robby’s heart jumped. “Zara!”
She didn't turn around.
It confused him. He suppressed it, though. Maybe she just didn't hear him and he didn't need to worry himself over useless things while he had other stuff on his plate.
He entered the room, noticing that everyone was already there. Axel was quietly sitting next to his sensei who raised his glass of champagne at Robby as soon as he spotted him. Silver was sitting at the head of the table, of course, enjoying his liquor as well.
Zara sat down only a few seconds before Robby without looking at him.
He took the opportunity and sat beside her, although it meant sitting right opposite Wolf and next to Silver.
One of Silver’s servants brought him a plate with steak and some vegetable and poured him a glass of red wine before Robby could refuse.
“Uh…can I have water, please?” The question was meant for the servant, but Robby should have expected that Silver would join the conversation.
“Not a drinker, Mr. Keene?” He laughed. “Come on. Have some! There are no parents here to stop you.”
That wasn't the problem. Sure, Johnny encouraged it and was actually really happy that Robby despised alcohol, but he wouldn't try to stop him if Robby wanted to start drinking. And mom didn't really care about that at all.
Neither of his parents wanted to see him drunk, obviously, but Robby didn't want to be drunk. Never again.
And they knew that he was responsible.
He suspected that Silver already knew that, he was just playing him.
“No, I just…” Robby really wasn't going to talk about his childhood trauma here. “I don't really like the taste.”
“That's strange,” Wolf commented, taking a sip from his own glass. “You sure did like it in Barcelona.”
Like you were there.
Robby sensed sudden tension coming from Zara who completely froze beside him.
He frowned at Wolf before pushing his glass away from him. “Well, I don't drink. You have a problem with that?” He held his chin high, almost challenging Wolf to say something.
They were interrupted by Silver’s laugh. “Mr. Keene, no need to get defensive. Bring him some juice, Charles.”
The servant nodded his head and disappeared in the kitchen only to come back a moment later, with a glass of purple liquid. Judging by the color, it must have been grape juice, but Robby wasn't sure if he trusted anything that looked like poison.
He came to the conclusion that Silver didn't want him dead, though, and took a sip. It was actually pretty tasty.
“So, how did you like the training, Robby?” Silver asked.
Robby noticed that Axel looked his way as if he wanted to know the answer as well. Zara kept ignoring him. Now that the “drunk” topic was over, she looked more laid-back and focused on her food.
Robby looked at the surface of the juice as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. He swallowed. “Yeah, it was…it was great. I don't know if I learned something new, but I guess that wasn't the plan.” He threw a look at Wolf who looked unfazed, even satisfied with the answer.
“Well, you don't have to like it,” the man shrugged, the tip of his finger tracing the edge of his glass. “That's not my intention.”
“That's right,” Silver nodded. “And don't worry about the progress. You have enough time. Maybe it's a good thing you don't have to fight at the Taikai.”
Silver was right, but he didn't have to say it like that. As a reminder to Robby that he was giving this huge opportunity up.
But Wolf promised him plenty of others in the future if he behaved so this, hopefully, wasn't over.
Although it meant that he would never fight by the side of his friends again.
“So, what's the plan?” Robby asked, looking curiously at Wolf. “I’m gonna live here until the tournament and then we’ll go to Hong Kong?” He didn't wait for the answer. He already knew this, he just wanted to confirm it by saying it out loud. “I guess I’m gonna need more clothes and stuff. I packed only a few.”
“You’re not a prisoner,” Wolf said. “You can go and buy anything you want.”
“In Hong Kong or here?”
“Anywhere,” Wolf gave him another shrug. “I trust my students not to betray me.”
Only because you have leverage.
Robby didn't want to risk Zara’s well-being, and his job was not done so why would he leave, anyway? Maybe he would be off to Hong Kong in a few days, after all, even though he was afraid of that happening.
“So I can leave whenever I want?”
“Yes.” It was Silver who answered. “But we would appreciate it if you didn't stay in touch with our enemy. You know what I mean.”
All Robby could give was a nod. He would love to see his dad, but he knew he wouldn't be able to face him. And he couldn't say that wanted to see Miguel with that captain band on his head and all the others that helped to get rid of him. Maybe he was too tough on them, but he doubted they cared about his feelings. He doubted they questioned where he was at the moment. They were probably happy for Miguel - their favorite one. They must have thought the sun shone out of his ass or something.
The rest of the lunch passed in silence which Robby was thankful for. He could feel almost everyone’s eyes on him, except for the one person he wanted to smile at. Zara kept ignoring him, almost like she didn't even know him. Was she mad at him for getting her in trouble? Or had her sensei strictly forbidden her from talking to him?
Her face and body looked clean and healthy, he didn't see any bruises nor signs of pain so it was safe to assume that she wasn't hurt. But Robby knew that Wolf must have punished her after Robby's secret visit. It was probable that it already healed, though.
It wasn't like her to be quiet like this and it worried him. Her eyes didn't avoid only Robby, she refused to look at anything and anyone, except for her plate. The fact that her fingers were slightly trembling didn't ease Robby’s nerves.
He tried to read Wolf’s face, but the man looked like he completely lost interest in him and everyone around. He focused on the food and wine only and Silver seemed pretty ignorant as well. He didn't want to have a conversation with them, but he would be less stressed out if he knew where they stood. If Zara was normally this silent or if they had done something to her. He would like to know their plans a little more, but they didn't seem to be sharing.
And Axel… Yeah, Axel wasn't afraid to look Robby in the eyes. In fact, he kept looking at him all the time. As if he was trying to let him know that he was making a huge mistake. But what was his problem? Was he really worried about Robby’s wellbeing? Or was he afraid that Robby would take his spot?
Or did he really know that Robby was mostly here to give them a hand if needed?
Once the lunch was over and they were all free to go, Robby decided to finally talk to Zara. He kept knocking on her door until she opened and it took her a while - she obviously knew it must have been him.
She looked annoyed. There was an angry wrinkle between her eyebrows, but her face was unnaturally pale which gave away her worries. Something was off here.
“Hey,” Robby started with a kind smile. “Can we talk?”
“Robby…” Zara hesitated, looking down at her feet almost like a shy person. But he knew her well enough to know that shyness and Zara didn't go together. “I need to do some assignments for school…”
“You go to school?”
“Online,” Zara answered, almost offended by his question. Robby didn't mean it like that, he was just curious about her personal life. He wasn't even sure where her school was located. Was she taking online classes from Hong Kong? Or from…wherever she was originally from?
He doubted she wanted to talk about that.
“Oh, it’ll only take a second. I can help with your assignment even,” he tried, but by the look in her eyes, he already knew that she was going to say no. And school was a poor excuse.
“It's not a good idea for us to talk,” she shook her head and closed the door before he could say anything.
So it must have had something to do with Wolf. He threatened her or scared her for life or…or she just didn't want to disappoint him. But that hadn't stopped her before. She had even invited Robby to sneak into her room behind his back before so why was she afraid now?
He pressed his palm against her door and whispered loud enough for her to hear him: “Did he hurt you?” Because of me?
But it fell on deaf ears as expected.