Disarmed (Fence #2)

by Sarah Rees Brennan

“Why would I bother you if all I wanted was to exchange pleasantries?” asked Seiji. “We can do that during winter break. No, I’m calling about something important. This is about Nicholas.” “Okay, wow, it’s happening,” said his father. “Right, Seiji, let me just move away from the others, give us some privacy. Listen, guys, save me something from the drinks cart—”

“I’m sure he has… qualities,” his father said at last.

He didn’t like it when Nicholas wasn’t able to have things Nicholas should have.

“Nicholas never listens. He just keeps talking, and he does whatever he wants!” “I must meet Nicholas someday soon,” Seiji’s dad added. “Why would you want to do that?” Seiji was baffled. “I really don’t think you’d have much in common.” “We have you in common,” said his father.

Nicholas could tell Seiji was happy about France, too. He was looking at Nicholas, and there was a faint curl of satisfaction to Seiji’s mouth that might have been a smile on someone else.

“Great,” said Harvard. “Me neither. I want to talk.” “But I’m starving to death,” protested Aiden as Harvard took hold of his elbow and piloted him down the brick walkway running along the quad, back to the dormitory. Once again, Aiden’s stupid body betrayed him, every cell too aware of Harvard’s hand—on his arm, for God’s sake. The cells were all in a rush of warm approval. Yes, go with Harvard; yes, do whatever Harvard wants, yes.

Okay, bro, be a pal and fall in love with me, Aiden snarled in his head. Only, Harvard had already made it perfectly clear he didn’t want to do that.

“You could get in real trouble. Seriously, he’s talking about taking you out of school if you keep getting in trouble. What if they asked you to leave school?” “Oh, please,” said Aiden. “Who’d do that? I’m so ornamental.”

Everyone rational wore pajamas, in every country. Nicholas was basically feral.

“The flight attendant said if we recline both our chairs and bring down the armrests, we can lower a small pod over ourselves and sleep in our small pod bed,” Nicholas told Seiji. “Want to be in a small pod?” Seiji turned a page of his fencing book without even glancing up. “I don’t.”

“It’s fine. Did you make up that song yourself?” Seiji asked, relenting and speaking in his I am taking an interest in Nicholas’s friends voice. The voice alarmed the other students even more than Seiji’s regular voice. Harvard sympathized. Seiji was a great kid, and an even better fencer, but seeing Seiji try to have normal social interactions was like watching the Terminator at a children’s tea party.

When Harvard moved, Aiden made a low complaining sound that, because something fundamental had gone wrong in Harvard’s brain, Harvard found sweet.

Bobby’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Do you think they were engaging in… debaucheries?” Dante’s faint smile was back, except now it was a faint smirk. “What kind of debaucheries?” Bobby hit Dante in the arm with a small fist. “Wild debaucheries! Don’t interrupt me. You talk too much!”

“You can listen to audiobooks at the gym, you know. I’ve got depths,” claimed Eugene. “Many depths. I’m a brocean.”

Seiji, plainly unable to deal with this situation, looked around for his security idiot, Nicholas Cox.

Seiji edged closer to Nicholas. He wished Bobby didn’t dislike him so much. It made everything very awkward.

“Since you don’t speak French”—Seiji cleared his throat—“you should stay beside me.” “Yeah, I will.” Seiji hesitated. “Promise you’ll do that.” “Sure,” said Nicholas. “I promise.”

Spoken in Harvard’s low serious voice, French was sexy, Aiden thought with horror. Aiden hadn’t heard Harvard speak French before. How could his best friend betray him by speaking French in France?

Seiji was a shade taller than Nicholas, which Nicholas kind of liked for some reason he couldn’t pin down. Nicholas tilted a grin up at him. It was far better to be silent and awkward with Seiji than to do anything else with anyone else.

Aiden made a complicated little hook shape with his mouth. It was like Eugene was allergic to pineapples, and Aiden was allergic to being believed in. Nicholas had no idea why Aiden got so many dates. He seemed like a lot to handle, honestly.

“Do you fence with that boy because he’s left-handed like me?” Jesse asked intently.

“My father keeps several yachts along the Riviera,” said Aiden. “What’s the alternative, rent a yacht every time you need one? We’re not peasants.” Colin from Iceland laughed. Don’t laugh, Aiden thought. What I’m saying is obnoxious. Harvard wouldn’t let me get away with this.

“Yep, they did, but for, like, a minute. Maybe the captain got tired of all the talking? Aiden talks a lot.” “Some people like that,” Melodie informed him wisely. Nicholas stared. There was no accounting for taste. If Nicholas were looking for someone to date, he didn’t think he’d pick someone super chatty.

There! This was what they’d come to. Bobby was being so weird that Dante was speaking in complete sentences.

“You could grow up to be a great man,” said Brianna. “You could grow up to be like him.” She sounded as if she meant it. That was sad. In a year, his father wouldn’t remember this girl’s name. Nor would Aiden. “The worst thing is,” Aiden said, “I really might.”

Nicholas was a clumsy idiot, but he would rather cut off his left hand—his fencing hand—than hurt Seiji.

“I don’t want you to share your wisdom with me. You carry a teddy bear around with you wherever you go. You appear to have deep-seated emotional problems.” “One day I’ll make some lucky therapist very happy,” Aiden confirmed.

“You’re doing fine at Kings Row,” said Aiden. “Everybody on the team likes you. One of your little friends has such a big crush on you that he can barely open his mouth when you’re around.” “I—what?” asked Seiji. “Who?”

It was slightly worrying, to think of how many bad experiences Nicholas must have had to be able to dismiss them so easily. Seiji didn’t enjoy thinking about that. It would be better if Nicholas had no bad experiences in the future.

“Well. You might’ve heard some guys at Kings Row hinting that I’m a delinquent.” “I would never think you were a delinquent just because you’re socioeconomically disadvantaged, Nicholas,” Seiji assured him. “Yeah, I appreciate that, Seiji,” said Nicholas, shoving Seiji’s shoulder gently with his own in the way Nicholas did when he was pleased. “But I actually am kind of a delinquent?”

There could not be any grand theft auto. If Nicholas needed a car, Seiji could get him one.

“See, sometimes Coach Joe would get tired in the mornings, or sleep the whole day away with a hangover, you know?” said Nicholas, as if it was normal for adults to be wildly irresponsible around him.

“I’ll still be your best friend. If that’s what you want me to be.”

“I know you always try to play fair. But what if the other person doesn’t play fair?” “I still do,” Seiji answered. “Oh, Seiji,” said his dad.

“I will. I have another question. Do you think I should do my hair differently?” His father sounded surprised by the question. “It might be time for a change. A lot of people tell me that my ponytail is dashing.” “I am not ready for a ponytail,” Seiji said flatly.

“I dunno. It’s a million-to-one chance,” said Bobby. Nicholas grinned. “… But it might just work?” “I wasn’t going to say that,” said Bobby. “I mean, I’m with you to the death, Nicholas, but I’m actually very worried it won’t work! Can we get banned for life from Camp Menton?” “The dream,” murmured Dante.

“Seiji, is this person a criminal?” demanded Jesse. “No!” exclaimed Seiji. “Unless you mean in the sense of, Has he committed certain petty crimes? In that case, yes.”

Then Harvard realized Bastien’s eyes weren’t gloating. They were bleak. “Aiden whispered in my ear, ‘You’re going to lose.’”

“I heard everything. Sneaking off tonight to have a duel, are we? I see my duty clearly. It’s obvious I have to”—Aiden braced himself and sighed and took responsibility—“come with you.”

“There. Was that helpful at all, or was I just bullying you?” Seiji paused, the fixed expression on his face easing a fraction. “It was slightly helpful bullying. Thank you.”

“Are we going to hug?” Aiden asked in dread. “Oh, no, thank you,” said Seiji. He retreated behind Nicholas, his human shield from society, with obvious horror. Nicholas eyed Aiden in apprehension.

He often measured the world through Harvard’s eyes, but it had never occurred to him to measure himself through Harvard’s eyes and discover he was worthwhile.

Seiji had tried doing his hair a little differently, but it had been a failure. Nicholas and Jesse had both given him the same strange look. Now, on top of everything else, Seiji had to bear the knowledge that he looked ridiculous.

i bet it looks cute as hell tbh

“I’m not fencing anyone!” Aiden declared. “I already fenced James.” “Jesse,” said Jesse. Aiden smirked. “Jesse James?” “Jesse Coste.” “Settle down, Sundance Kid. I should be at a party right now. You people and your priorities disgust me.”

Then Nicholas said, “I’ll pass. Stop being gross. Seiji’s my friend. I’m not gonna trade him in like a Pokémon.”

“He’s fast,” Jesse admitted grudgingly. Seiji leaned forward, elbows on his knees, so he could watch more closely. “Yes,” he agreed distantly, mind on analyzing the match. “Nicholas is the fastest fencer I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh my God, you people had your chance for a big, tense fence-off, and you didn’t take it. Knock it off before I bang your twerp heads together. I’m hosting a glamorous after-party, and I’m going to be dazzling in formal wear, and since I had this bonding experience with all of you, I just want to say”—Aiden took a deep breath—“stay far away from my party. Seriously, I hate your faces.”

Coach Williams was wearing an off-the-shoulder red dress. Possibly to celebrate Harvard’s victory. Possibly to celebrate her winnings. Assistant Coach Lewis’s glasses had almost fallen off her nose when she’d seen the coach.

There was a single lock of black hair falling into his eyes, which was huge for Seiji. Several people at the party were staring in a dazed fashion. Good for Seiji, Harvard thought fondly. Not that the kid was ever going to notice the stunned admirers.

i was right

“No, I was glad to hear it. That’s great,” Brianna told him. “You stick to that. You seem like a good kid, Aiden.” “No, I’m not,” Aiden said. “I am devastatingly good-looking, however.” Brianna laughed, then sniffed. “Sorry I won’t get to meet you.”