Info and Rivalry

Selena and Ciaran unchained Madelyn and Erik and made them sit on the ground.

"Here, have some water." Parker said passing the bottle of water.

"Are you both fine?" Selena asked.

Madelyn nodded while Erik was gulping water.

"They are heavily bruised, we should take them back to camp quick." Jacob said.

"You are right. (To Erik) Come. We shall get going." Aaron said.

"Yes." Selena said to Madelyn.

They all sat in the car, Jacob was driving, Ciaran was in front passenger seat. While others were behind.

After an hour of drive or maybe two, Madelyn started to feel better, so she decided to ask Parker some things about Captain, to know more about him.

"Parker, I need your help." Madelyn said.

"Yes I shall help you but now please rest." Parker replied with a worried look om her face.

"I am fine. I need answers." Madelyn said with serious look.

"Answers?" Parker asked with a confused look on her face.

"I want to know details about Captain." Madelyn said.

"Lionel? What do you want to know about him?" Parker asked.

"Whatever you know about his past, I want to know." Madelyn said.

"Why? What happened?" Parker asked.

"His past is related to my mother that's why." Madelyn said.

"I see." Parker nodded and begun, "Well to be honest I myself don't know much about his past. All I know is he's a descendant of Great Noble Family of Shiroganes, one of the greatest Ninja Clans. His father was a great man as well, so great that even our General knows him. Due to this, Lionel joined the army. He was said to be the soldier who free a captured tower alone, when everyone was giving up. He's known as one of the best warriors humanity has ever produced."

Madelyn listened closely.

"However, when I went to know more about his past, I got to know his secret of becoming so strong." Parker said.

"What secret?" Madelyn asked.

"Well you see, they say, Love either makes you stronger or makes you weaker. He became strong for a girl whom he truly loved, who betrayed him. It is said that ever since he returned from War, and found that the girl he loved cheated on him, the smile on his face vanished like an extinct dinosaur." Parker said.

"Parker, you know so much I see." Naomi said smirking at Parker from behind.

"Shut up Naomi! Its a serious talk going on." Parker said blushing a little.

Madelyn appeared confused.

"I see Madelyn doesn't know, I shall tell her then." Naomi said with a teasing smile on her face.

"No! Naomi No!" Parker screamed.

"Tell Naomi, it sounds interesting." Selena said with a smirk on her face.

"You see, Madelyn, our Deputy Commander, has fallen for our Captain, ever since he saved her from the Tyrant that attacked a remote village near Duadella city." Naomi said in a teasing tone.

"Remote village near Duadella? You know we are from that village only." Erik said waking up suddenly.

"Oh really?" Parker asked.

"Yes." Madelyn said.

"Damn! We met before I didn't know." Parker said.

"Not really. I met only one." Madelyn said.

"Oh who?" Parker asked.

"The man of her dreams." Aaron said grinning.

"Oh yes, you're right Aaron, Man of Madelyn's dreams." Erik said with a grin.

"Stop it Erik, Aaron." Madelyn said with an irritated look.

"Oh my my, I didn't know Madelyn loves someone as well. Tell me who is that lucky fellow. I'll try to set you both up if possible." Parker said with a grin.

"Yes Madelyn, did you identify who he is?" Erik asked.

"Uh yes, but I need confirmation." Madelyn said.

"Confirmation?" Parker asked.

"Tell me everything that happened when you all arrived to save us." Madelyn asked.

"Um, well, you see..." Parker begun, "Back then we were in lower posts. I was Assistant Commander back then, then Deputy Commander died after few missions when I attained his post. Back then Lionel was also a normal soldier, but his performance so good that he was recommended to become a Captain. He was even allowed to use his clan armour and equipment.

When we reached the site, Lionel appeared absent minded looking towards the Tyrant destroying a house."

Madelyn's eyes widened. She remembered her house being destroyed.

"Then the Tyrant approached us. Generally, it would have been an easy task to take it down, but it was an S-Rank Tyrant. So we were in difficult situation. I called for Lionel but he didn't listen, so I stepped in. Sadly, I got caught quick. I thought my time is over.

Suddenly, Lionel went above, as if he was flying, making a cut in the Tyrant's hand, freeing me, went above. He seemed enraged, but his expressions appeared different. He made many cuts on its body, and at the end he used his explosives to end it. I was amazed by his grappling techniques and the way he was using his sword to make the cuts, and at the end when he used the shuriken and explosives, by the time I guess I fell for him."

Naomi started smirking towards Parker. Parker patted Naomi's back.

"Then the Tyrant started falling, I noticed there was a kid so I quickly informed Lionel. He turned mid air and grappled towards the kid and saved her. He looked so heroic then, and the way he asked the kid "Are you fine?", oh my gosh! I fell for him." Parker said covering her face, blushing hard. Meanwhile, Madelyn's face turned red as well, while Erik and Aaron went serious and silent. They shared a look to each other.

"I see." Madelyn said.

"By the way, Madelyn, may I ask you something?" Parker asked.

"Yes." Madelyn said.

"How is your mother related to Lionel?" Parker asked. Madelyn started looking down when Parker asked this.

"The girl who cheated on Captain was my mother." Madelyn said.

Everyone went silent. The silence created an awkward tension between everyone present there.

Parker broke the ice by asking, "Anyways, so tell me who's that Man of Dreams of yours, I'm eager to know."

Aaron and Erik started looking at each other, as if communicating via eyes, saying to be prepared for what is coming.

"You remember I said that I met only one Ops Member?" Madelyn asked after a short pause.

"Yes, the Man of your Dreams right?" Parker said.

"You remember the kid that Captain saved?" Madelyn asked.

"Uh yes, why?" Parker asked in a confused tone.

"That kid was me. Captain was the one who saved me, the one whom I met, the Ops member, my Man of Dreams." Madelyn said with an expressionless face.

Again everyone went silent due to awkwardness.

Parker suddenly smiled. Everyone, including Madelyn was confused.

"I guess I found my successor." Parker said and started laughing.

Madelyn had a confused look on her face.

"You see, we are not the first ones to fall for Lionel. Knowing Lionel's strength and financial status, many girls tried for him. But the one who love him truly are Phoebe, I and now may be you." Parker said and again started laughing.

"Phoebe?" Madelyn asked.

"You see, after being betrayed, Lionel started hating love, so whoever loves him, he stays away from them. One such was Phoebe. When I got to know Phoebe liked him as well. I was jealous. So I went to her to tell her to stay away from him. She laughed and told me about this, about that he always distances himself from love." Parker said.

Madelyn was listening seriously.

Flashback

"Don't worry Parker, if he chooses you, I won't mind." Phoebe said.

"You sure?" Parker asked in shock.

"Of course. You see Lionel knows about my feelings, so he'll distance himself from me, that means no matter how much I'll be dying to be with him, I can't. I too want to hug him and tell its ok, take rest, everything will be fine. Sadly I can't. So if he chooses you, please do that for me. All I want to see is him being happy, the extinct smile to come back on his face, even though I'm not around. Make him feel cared, loved even when I'm not around. Tell me Parker, will you do it? Can I trust you with it?" Phoebe said with tears in her eyes.

Parker nodded in silence, then started looking down.

Present time

"So tell me Madelyn. Can I trust you with it?" Parker asked Madelyn.

Madelyn was silent.

"Its ok Madelyn. Take your time. I don't need an answer soon. Answer me whenever you want. Else I won't let you have Lionel." Parker said with a smirk.

Madelyn started looking down. Parker gave her a hug. Everyone started smiling.