Arrow Inferno
Chapter 48: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Combat!

***

By the time the van from the cleaning company left the driveway that evening, it was almost nine. All the guests had left so the house was quiet. Will entered the living room to find Sharon lying on the couch. She was waiting to be picked up by her husband. Will lifted his sister's feet and then sat down. Then he placed the slightly swollen feet in his lap and began to massage them.

"Oh, that feels good." She groaned.

"You did a great job, Shay" Will murmured. "How were you able to pull that off in just three days?"

"All I did was nod at suggestions." She scoffed. "The planner said she was under strict instructions not to stress either of us out."

"Instructions from who?" But even as he asked, Will knew it was the admiral. That man got off on giving instruct...

"Stanley Norris."

"What?" His fingers stopped their massaging as his shocked gaze locked on his sister's.

"Said he's your friend." Sharon yawned. "Spoke to him once. One of your soldiers huh? He sounded so authoritative but was also absolutely lovely. He made me laugh."

"So this planner organized the reception?"

"Everything, Ian. Décor, Mum's gown, casket, everything. That casket was so expensive." Sharon groaned. "She showed me pictures to choose from. I only saw the price after I'd chosen. I tried to change it but she wouldn't allow me. And that gown... didn't know shrouds could be that expensive."

"Mum looked beautiful." Will breathed as he took out his wallet and pulled out his credit card. "Here."

"Stanley has already paid for everything."

"What?" Will all but bellowed.

"Hey, he insisted," Sharon said. "Said it was his responsibility or something like that. He's such a sweet person." She pointedly ignored her brother's shocked expression. "I can't wait to meet him. How come I've never heard you mention him?" Will didn't respond. He dropped the card on the coffee table and resumed the massage. To say he was shocked at what Stan had done would be an understatement. He knew Stan loved to take care of him but footing an entire funeral bill? That was over the top. And what did he mean by his responsibility?

And even after Sharon left, Will still couldn't stop thinking about what Stan had done. Yes, it was thoughtful and sweet but too much. As usual, he took a cup of tea and then went to lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He hadn't eaten anything since morning and didn't feel like it. He hadn't been eating much since he got back. He'd heard his mother's voice inside his head the day before, telling him to eat something which had made him smile. She used to say that to him when he was younger and would ignore his meals and rather spend all his time playing video games. Maybe she was there with him as Jean had said, Will chuckled. Jean was crazy. He laughed softly when he remembered the doctor calling him a Delilah for deceiving the guests with his fake phone call.

He contemplated calling Stan to thank him but decided to wait until the next day. It was already ten p. m, which meant it was six a. m. in Ghana and Stan was probably out training the recruits. He would call him later.

**

Meanwhile on the training quadrangle in the Jungle Warfare school that very moment, a werewolf and a vampire were going head to head in a fierce combat that shocked and awed the onlookers.

Gaia had noticed how agitated and preoccupied her friend was and had insisted on a good workout for him. For a werewolf who was also a warrior, the best way to release tension was through sex or a no-hold-barred combat. Since sex was out of the question, they had to rely on combat. And since no soldier around could take the kind of beating Stan was bound to dish out, Gaia thought she would be the best candidate. And she also thought it would be a brilliant show for the recruits. She told Stan not to hold back because she didn't intend to go easy on him. Well, so far, the people watching them fight, including Jackson, were not only awed by the classic show of strength but were also scared one of them might very well lose their life. It was that intense.

"Stan!" Jackson bellowed when Stan slammed Gaia's back so hard on his thigh they heard a crack. He started towards the pair but stopped when with agile speed, Gaia rolled off that thigh and smoothly locked her legs around Stan's neck and slammed him down. "Oh, for fuck's sake," the Arrowhead groaned.

As the combat went on, the recruits began to clap and cheer at the classic moves each person made. At a point, Gaia, who had been pinned down by an amber-eyed Stan shouted for Miller to throw his knife to her. The wonderstruck recruit hesitated for a moment but threw it when Gaia screamed at him to just do it. When she lifted a hand and caught the knife mid-air, the recruits erupted with roars and applause. But Gaia didn't appear to hear the ruckus. In the next instant, the cool blade was pressed against Stan's neck.

"Let go, honey." Gaia breathed, trying to get through to Stan. "Stanley..."

Stan blinked. "Oh, shit." He quickly let go of Gaia and dropped down by her. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?" His eyes were back to their original blue.

"Peachy." A grinning Gaia leaned on her elbow and looked down at Stan. "Woofy was enjoying it a little too much. How are you feeling?"

"Much better." Stan got to his feet and pulled Gaia up into his arms to thunderous applause from the onlookers. "Thank you," He murmured into Gaia's hair. "I needed that."

"I know."

"Hey, Gaia," They heard Miller call out even before he got to their side. "Don't you have a knife in your boot? Why didn't you simply use that?"

Gaia turned to face him with an incredulous look on her face. "And miss that applause? Hell, no!" She gushed, making the recruits laugh. But as they turned to go, she murmured to Stan, "Clearly the idiots didn't see that I was in trouble." Both Gaia and Stan chuckled. "How the fuck was I to get to my foot when my upper body had been pinned down by a brute?"

"Fuck you," Stan mumbled, watching the recruits excitedly discuss the moves they'd witnessed as they went. "Look at them. Their goddess can never go wrong in their eyes, obviously."

Gaia's lips curved wryly. "Make that their sexy goddess." She giggled at Stan's snort.

"You two nearly gave me a heart attack," Jackson said when he got to Gaia and Stan. "I wish I'd gotten that on camera. Dayum!" Gaia and Stan laughed. "That was amazing. You sure you're okay, Gaia?" "I am."

"You should be asking me that question, not her." Stan chuckled. "She's a beast. Pun very much intended. Ouch!" he groaned when Gaia elbowed him.

"Dude, you went in so hard I feared for her bones." Jackson drawled as he turned to go. "I owe you an outing for that amazing resilience, Gaia." "I'll hold you to that." She purred.

"Hey Kwame," Jackson called out as he waved at the man who had appeared at the entrance of the school. He looked like he'd been out for a morning jog.

Stan heard Gaia swear beside him but said nothing. The feisty vampire had ordered her boyfriend not to ever come near him. And Kwame had respected her directive and stayed away...Until then.