Race. {5} First place?

{W-what did I just do... oh no...}

Iza's mind raced while her face burned as she replayed the kiss in her head. She couldn't believe she'd been so impulsive. But before she could spiral further into embarrassment, Alexius's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Can you put me down now? Ehem, I think we should be heading back... Oh, but we lost the bike. How are we supposed to get there?" Iza stammered while her face was still flushed with pink and despite her words, she was the one clinging to Alexius like a koala with her legs wrapped tightly around him.

Alexius chuckled, his voice being low and teasing. "Sure, I'll put you down now. And don't worry, we usually hide the bikes and walk to the meeting point. It's in the lower districts, and it'd be bad if the police found out about our little hideout, don't you think?" He gently patted her legs, a subtle hint that she was the one holding on for dear life.

"Oh, so it's like that? I thought we'd have to walk all the way to the border..." Iza mumbled while finally releasing her grip and sliding down while avoiding his gaze and brushing out imaginary dirt off her clothes to hide her embarrassment.

Once they'd both calmed down, Alexius led the way through the water pipe, his aether crystal casting a soft glow on the damp walls. After what felt like an eternity, they reached an emergency exit. "Here, give me your hand. I'll help you out," Alexius said while extending his hand to Iza, who was struggling to climb the rusty stairs.

"Oh, thank you," she said while taking his hand. His grip was firm and warm, a stark contrast to the cold, damp air around them.

Once outside, they navigated a maze of narrow alleys, steam pipes hissing and sputtering as they walked. The temperature had dropped to around 10°C, and their wet clothes clung to them, making the journey even more uncomfortable. Iza shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

"So, can I ask you something?" Iza glanced at Alexius once her curiosity got the better of her.

"Go ahead," he nodded and when he spoke, his breath was visible in the cold air.

"Well... what's the reward that makes so many people risk their lives in these races?" she asked since she was genuinely puzzled. She'd jumped into this without knowing the stakes, and now she was dying to understand what drove people to such extremes.

Alexius stopped in his tracks and stared at her like she'd just grown a second head. "Wait, you joined a race without even knowing the prize? Who does that?" He shook his head while laughing incredulously.

"Alright, I'll enlighten you. The cash prize of two thousand dollars is not bad, considering everyone pays a hundred bucks to enter. But the real prize? That's the aether rock. A five-kilogram chunk of pure energy. Slap that into a bike engine, and you're basically riding a rocket. It's every racer's dream."

He launched into an enthusiastic explanation with his eyes lighting up as he described the technical specs of his bike and how the aether rock could transform it. Iza only understood about half of what he was saying, but she didn't mind.

There was something endearing about the way his face lit up when he talked about his passion. For the first time since this madness began, she felt a strange sense of calm. Maybe it was the way he smiled or the way his voice carried a hint of boyish excitement. Either way, she found herself smiling too.

When they finally reached the meeting point in an abandoned warehouse tucked deep in the lower districts, Fitz and four other riders were already there, gathered around in a makeshift table. The place was dimly lit, with a few candle lanterns casting flickering shadows on the walls.

"Well, well, look who finally showed up! The 6th place finisher! Are you getting old, lad?" Fitz bellowed while slamming his massive hand on Alexius's back with enough force to knock the wind out of him.

"Cough! Cough! Cough! Man, one of these days, you're going to kill me, you overgrown teddy bear!" Alexius wheezed while doubling over as he tried to catch his breath. He patted his back uselessly since he was unable to reach the spot where Fitz had hit him.

But before Alexius could recover, Iza stepped in and gently rubbed his back. "Are you okay, Alexius?" she asked, her voice heavy with concern.

Alexius looked up at her with his smirk returning despite the pain. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just another day with Fitz around."

Fitz let out his signature booming laugh. "BAHAHAHA! It looks like someone's got a soft spot for you, kid! Better watch out, or she'll steal your heart along with your bike!"

Iza's face turned red again, but this time she didn't look away. Instead, she shot Fitz a playful glare. 

"By the way, what happened to you two? You're soaked! Did you jump into the river or something? BAHAHAHA.... HAHA... haha...ha...." Fitz's booming laugh echoed through the warehouse as he gestured at Alexius and Iza. His question was meant as a joke, but the way the two of them froze and exchanged a glance made his laughter die down slowly.

"Wait... seriously?" Fitz asked while his bushy eyebrows shot up as he looked between them.

"Ehem, well... things happened," Alexius said while rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "We needed a quick escape route, and the river was the best option. So, uh, I used the unfinished bridge to jump into the water."

Fitz stared at him for a long moment, then let out a low whistle. "Damn, kid... you're really something else. See that, girl?" He turned to Iza, leaning in as if to whisper, though his voice was loud enough for everyone in the warehouse to hear. "That's why no girl wants to ride with him after the first time! BAHAHAHA!"

Iza's face turned bright red, but she couldn't help laughing along with the others. Alexius rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, old man. At least I'm not the one who got beaten with a broom by Amanda."

Fitz's laughter faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Touché, kid. Touché."

After a few more minutes of idle chatter, the announcer finally handed out the rewards. This time, neither Alexius nor Fitz had won. The champion, a wiry racer with a smug grin, held up the aether rock triumphantly as the others cheered or, in Fitz's case, groaned.

"Hey, Alexius! We just forced the champ into buying drinks tonight. You coming?" Fitz shouted from across the warehouse, already halfway to the door with a group of racers in tow.

Alexius waved him off. "Nah, I'm tired and cold. I'm heading straight to bed. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day."

Fitz shrugged. "Suit yourself! What about you, Iza? You joining us? Don't worry, it's a private bar, exclusive to racers. No one's gonna mess with you, or they'll get booted from the circuit faster than you can say 'aether rock.'"

Iza shook her head while stretching her arms as she stifled a yawn. "No, I think I'll pass. It's already late, and I should probably head home." She glanced at Alexius, who was watching her with a soft expression.

The candlelight flickered across her face, highlighting her slightly tan Valorian skin and striking bluish eyes. Her petite frame was dwarfed by Alexius's jacket, which she had wrapped tightly around herself.

Alexius cleared his throat once he snapped out of his momentary daze. "Mmm, fair enough. You want me to walk you home or something?" He offered with his tone being casual but his eyes earnest.

Iza chuckled softly while hugging the jacket closer. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary. Someone's coming to pick me up in a few minutes. But I appreciate the offer."

Alexius nodded, though he didn't seem entirely convinced. "Alright, but I'm not letting you wait alone. Lower districts aren't exactly the safest place for a cute girl like you at this hour. Come on, let's wait outside."

He led her out of the warehouse, the cool night air hitting them as they stepped into the dimly lit alley. Alexius gestured toward a stack of crates while brushing off one of them with his sleeve. "Here, take a seat. Should be more comfortable than standing around."

Iza smiled before sitting down and pulling the jacket tighter around her. "Thanks, Alexius. You're... not as much of a jerk as you pretend to be, you know?"

Alexius leaned against the wall beside her while crossing his arms with a smirk. "Don't let that get around. I've got a reputation to maintain."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the city fading into the background. Iza glanced at Alexius and her expression softened. "You know, for someone who's supposedly crazy, you're pretty good at taking care of people."

Alexius raised an eyebrow while his smirk widened. "Crazy, huh? I prefer the term 'adventurous.' But yeah, I guess I've got my moments."

Before Iza could respond, the sound of an approaching engine broke the silence. A sleek black car pulled up to the alley, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Iza stood while handing Alexius his jacket. "That's my ride. Thanks for... well, everything."

Alexius took the jacket while his fingers were brushing hers for a brief moment. "Anytime, Iza. Just... maybe next time, ask about the prize before jumping into a race, yeah?"

Iza laughed while her eyes sparkled. "I'll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Alexius."

"Goodnight, Iza."

As the car drove off, Alexius stood in the alley for a moment while watching it disappear into the night. He shook his head while a small smile played on his lips. "Crazy, huh? Maybe she's right."