Angelico made his way slowly to the arena. He
took his time with his strut. Keeping his smile in perfect position, making eye
contact with every fan, not wanting anyone to feel left out. He paid special
attention to anyone who could be with the media, any kind of media. Several
children ran up to him with autograph books in their hands. He was more than
happy to stop and sign his name and a short message. "Maybe one day you
too will be as great as me. -Angelico." As a final show for the kids, he
extended his fully functional wings. The kids jumped with surprise, laughed,
and returned to their parents to describe their experience.
At last, he saw a woman who looked him over and wrote something on a pad of paper. A journalist, perfect. Angelico strode up to her. He fixed his curly blond hair, which needed no fixing, as it was held in place by a mass of hair gel and spray. He stopped and posed heroically, hands on his hips, wings extended, a self-assured smile. He wanted to be prepared in case she had a camera or at least a sketch artist.
"If I may ask you a few questions?" she started. Normally she would step in front of the gladiator on their way to the arena to talk to them, but Angelico made it easy for her.
"Of course, always a man of the people," he smiled.
"The question on everyone's mind is why you've joined the Ophidian Circuit. Is it as punishment for...the incident?"
"First off, Daniel Grace was acquitted of all murder charges. Secondly, I am no longer that man. I've changed my name, I've changed my hair, and of course..." he gestured back to his wings, which he extended yet again. "No, this is not punishment, I joined of my own accord." The journalist started to speak, but Angelico went on. "I've joined because the fans need me. People on vengeance missions, criminals escaping jail time, the crowds can't relate to them. They need someone like me, someone who has been a cheering fan like themselves, someone who fights for the people." He raised his arm in the air to encourage the crowd to cheer him. He did not get nearly as big a response as he hoped for.
"About those wings, are they real?"
"Of course, they're real. You can see them. You can touch them." He paused. "Go on, touch them." She did so hesitantly and recoiled upon contact. "I can fly with them. They're real."
"What are they made of?"
Angelico's smile started to fade. He wanted to talk about his recent victory in the Volke arena, not about his artificial wings. He was going for an image, an angel who walked amongst the people. He didn't want people to think he was a phony. "Why, bone and flesh, just like the rest of me, just like everyone here." He raised his arm for another cheer. It was less than spectacular. They were actually aluminum frames wired into his spine, covered in a wax-like plastic that was especially adept at catching air, helping him jump extra high and glide down, giving the illusion of flight. They were decorated with goose feathers for that realistic look. He had paid good money for them, leaving him poor. But a few more fights and he'd be living the comfortable life again.
"What are your thoughts on today's fight?"
Angelico paused a moment. He thought it was a pity match they had given him. He was going up against Hammer Hands, a gladiator who wasn't really a gladiator, he was just reinforcement. Angelico, back in his days of glory, had been a 2 VP gladiator. He fought with and against many of the greats and legends. Now, due to his absence, he was just the warm-up act. It was a tradition, the first match was someone strong and powerful up against someone weak, someone who was just a joke, just to see an experienced gladiator wail on them. The crowd liked it. Who was he to complain?
He bit back his disappointment and answered the journalist, "This will be an interesting match. I'm not worried, confident in my abilities. I've been training hard for this. I don't want to let the people down."
"Thank you, Mr. Grace," said the journalist.
Angelico leaned over and whispered in her ear, off the record, "It's Angelico now, consider Daniel Grace dead." He smiled, she smiled in return, both meaning something different. He didn't change his image just to have more "Fallen from Grace" headlines, he was here to start over fresh.
He waited by the entry gate, anxiously anticipating the crowd cheers. He could not wait to hear his name, to walk out in front of all the fans, not just the few that had gathered by his entrance. Then, show them all he was back and better than ever. He was thinking of his game plan, showboat a little, grab a nearby weapon, do the defensive dance with plenty of flying. That was going to be his trademark, flying.
Then, when they could not cheer any harder
without breaking the barriers that separated them from the arena, finish off
the weakling. Oh, it was going to be great!
The crowd quieted down as the first match was being announced. "A newcomer to the Ophidian Circuit, half-human half construct..." Angelico flinched. Filling out the paperwork he had checked "Other" and wrote in "Angel." Still, what the announcer said was technically accurate. "Let's hear it for the Guardian of the People...Angelico!"
Angelico strutted his stuff into the ring, raised his arm to wave at everyone, not letting anyone feel left out, stretched out his wings, and turned around a few times so everyone could have a good look at them. He folded them back, put his clenched fists on his waist, and stood like a statue, with only a few feathers flapping in the wind that whipped through the arena. It was cold on his bare chest and legs, but he wouldn't show it.
The announcer continued, "There is a change to today's match-up." A change? Oh great, Hammer Hands probably thought he was too good for this. They were going to bring in someone who was a failed Reinforcement Gladiator, maybe a lackey to a failed Reinforcement. Angelico looked at the gates to see who it was. He saw someone, a gladiator he had known previously. He trained under him, fought beside him. Everything he knew about War and weapons and fighting came from him. He stood in the shadows, but Angelico knew his silhouette. Even if he hadn't, he would've known the smell that carried on the winds. It was like a hospital that had recently been cleaned. Not the most pleasant of smells, but certainly better than most portal creatures.
A wave of nervousness washed over Angelico, followed by a wave of sweat. He could feel the body glitter starting to slide off his muscles like houses in a landslide. The soles of his feet were turning the earth beneath him into the mud. This was not a match-up he was ready for. He had to force himself to breathe.
The announcer yelled, "Let's give a cheer for LLLLOTHARRRRRRRRRRRR!" The crowd went wild as Lothar, in his solemn facade, strode confidently into the arena. For any gladiator to face Lothar, it was a privilege, a sign of importance, a symbol of many past victories...unless of course, it was the first match of the day.
The fight was on. Angelico saw a pole that was pointed on both sides, a favorite weapon of his. He spread his wings and started his jump, ready to fly over to it. A few strikes from that would weaken Lothar for certain. He was stopped not four feet into the air by a hand clenching his ankle. Lothar slammed him down on the ground, one wing pinned behind him. Angelico tried to block with his other wing and his free hands, but Lothar landed a spiked fist across his face. So much for handsome pictures of him decorating the newspapers.
Angelico didn't know how to block another punch, and he could not take many more. Lothar, however, backed away. Angelico figured he had lost the flow of his attacks. He was going to try and take advantage of the moment. He stepped forward to attack, but before he could do anything, he felt a burning feeling in his throat. He had never drunk acid before, but he imagined it was a similar experience. He fell to his knees, clutching his throat. Something was critically wrong.
Lothar pulled out a small vial of liquid and shook it to catch Angelico's attention. "If you beg for mercy and forfeit, I'll give you the antidote. Otherwise, we can continue this to the death."
There was only one choice, and Angelico knew it. He had known humiliation previously, why should this time through be any different? He could only hope the headlines tomorrow ridiculed Angelico, and not has-been Daniel Grace. "I just can't escape my past," said Angelico, once the foul liquid had cleared his throat.
"No you can't," said Lothar sternly, and then kicked him squarely in the jaw.
The End
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