School Spirit (Part Nine)

The next morning came way too quickly for my tastes. A few hours of shuteye had done nothing to get my mood out of the pits. Over the last few days I had run the entire spectrum of being at an all-time high and feeling as low as a speck of dirt.

How could you make what you did matter?

It was hard trying to know how to be a good superhero. Maybe that was why I was in school for it? Eh, even heroes that had been doing the job for years still had certain aspects of the life that they needed to work out, though that usually lent itself more to their personal lives.

My problem-solving skills needed work. If only I were smarter. Miss Pryde said that I was smart enough. Smart enough for what? Clearly not this.

The answer to your problems never came from staring at the ceiling, no matter how effective a method it was of wasting time.

I turned to my side where I saw Saberwolf sleeping across the room. It was weird that he slept, but I didn't know enough about how he was made to ask. It wasn't like I would understand much about it.

I debated talking to him about how I felt. What was my life that an A.I. designed to hunt mutants was my confidant?

"Wolf," I said, "You awake?"

The lights across his eye panels softly glowed red as he slowly lifted his head, "I am now. What do you need?"

I thought about saying something, but I'd been complaining to the poor bastard enough already. He didn't need to hear my belly-aching every day, even if he was the only one who would listen.

Sitting up, I got out of bed and went to start my day, "Never mind. Don't worry your big, metal head over it."

Wolf seemed to hesitate for a moment, but eventually set himself back down and settled into what I assumed was 'sleep mode'.

He was just staying with me for a while, after all. It wasn't like he was mine or anything. When he left, he didn't need to be saddled down with any fallout from something he helped me do.

After dressing in my gear, I sat down and played some video games for a bit. Grand Theft Auto Online was a good way to relax for a bit. No pressure, and an opportunity to vent some stress, if I so felt the need. Wolf woke up properly and sat on the floor beside my bed to spectate.

"Do you think you will do well today?" He asked, "It is the last day of your competition."

Indeed it was. The big mysterious final event for the top ranking teams left in Field Day. The only one that no one taking part knew anything about.

I nudged Wolf with my foot, "You want me to win? I didn't think you cared," I received a swat from his cable of a tail in return, "Ow, damn you."

"I understand the concept of competition, Bellamy," Wolf said. That was obvious. He was the dirtiest gamer I had ever played. If he associated himself with me in any way, shape, or form, my losing would likely piss him off, because mentally it would reflect on him in some way, "Do you believe you can focus enough to perform well?"

"I guess we'll find out," I said, getting up and handing the controller over to Saberwolf's tail, "Don't play on my character if you're not going to get me a tank. I made another one for you for a reason," He looked at the controller before setting it down, "You don't want to play?"

Wolf shook his head and stood up, "I would like to watch the end of your competition. I am... curious," He had gone along with us yesterday to watch as well. He kept to himself

"Sure. We could use a cheerleader," I said gesturing for him to follow me to the competition site, "Want to compete?"

Saberwolf let out what passed as a sigh from him, "...Were it possible? Yes," He admitted, seemingly depressed by that fact, "However, it is too late for me to join any squads. Also, I am neither a mutant, making me ineligible to be a student."

If he had been eligible and would have joined, we would have had Field Day in the bag by the end of the second day. Alas, it was not to be so.

As we started out from my room, I took to flattering him. He was proud, which I thought was supposed to be something beneath higher intelligence, "For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure you'd literally shred any kid we're facing today, which probably isn't allowed."

"True," Wolf mentioned. His mood actually seemed to improve after I said what I did, "It would not be a very sporting competition were I involved."

It was official. My wolf-bot had an ego. A big one. I suppose I should have gotten wind of the signs sooner.