Tusktaker's Secret Part 7

“Hitchhiker’s Guide is excellent; I don’t know what you’re bitching about.” Lorka told Thomas.
“It IS good. I’m just saying, a couple idiots read it and think ‘Oh I can make towel jokes and be so lol random, I’m so much smarter than everyone else’!”
Lorka rolled her eyes. “So some annoying people like something you like. Big deal. Not like it makes the book any less good.”
“It does for me.” Thomas muttered under his breath.
Lorka jabbed him in the side with her elbow. “Don’t be a dick. Here, take another sweet root.”
His eyes light up as he bit into it. “Man, I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of these.” Lorka smiled at his compliment. Always nice to know he appreciated her efforts.
The two were eating lunch on the bottom row of the bleachers again, their main meeting place since they started dating. It had been two weeks. They had been able to meet afterschool a couple times but Lorka’s father had kept her pretty busy lately. Well that and Lorka’s friends. Rakka, Nerada, and Loni had been getting in some scrapes with the local oni hoodlums. And Lorka wasn’t going to let her sisters go into a fight without her.  Hopefully they could plan something. Maybe a movie, since nobody could see you **hold hands** in the dark.
Thomas nudged her. “What’s up, you look like you’re thinking about something?”
“Oh just the girls. Nerada thought it would be a good idea to start shit with Fujiko again.” She said.
“Man, I will never understand why she wants to pick a fight with those oni thugs.”
“Me neither.” Lorka agreed.
“What did she do anyway?”
“She swapped all of the sake in Fujiko’s personal jug with Pabst Blue Ribbon. She said, and I quote, ‘I doubt that red-skinned bitch will be able to tell the difference anyway.’  Fujiko almost broke Nerada’s jaw. ”
“Your friends sound lovely” Thomas snarked.
“Ah they aren’t so bad when they aren’t messing with you. Rakka’s pretty funny. She’s the youngest. Super into fighting games. And you’d like Loni. She’s basically our leader. She’s pretty chill compared to Nerada and Rakka.”
“Yeah I don’t think Loni has ever bullied me directly. Nerada on the other hand…”
Lorka gritted her teeth. Nerada was a bit over “enthusiastic” when it came to messing with people. She always took it a step too far. “Nerada has a large chip on her shoulders.” Lorka agreed.
Lorka decided to change the subject. “You have any friends Thomas?”
He shrugged. “I did for a while. Ken was a pretty cool guy until he started dating a Cheshire. Now I almost never see him, and when I do, he’s always looking over his shoulder. Jared moved, and I sort of outgrew Dylan. He was always kind of a dick anyway.  I miss Jared though; he was a pretty good guy. “
Lorka frowned. “Still, you should have somebody you hang out with.”
“It’s a lot harder when everyone you know is either gone or being terrorized by their girlfriend.
Lorka pressed her body into Thomas’s side and she nibbled his ear “Oh I terrorize you, do I? “She said in a low sensual voice.
Thomas laughed. “You’re a holy terror, but I enjoy every minute of it.”
Lorka smiled as she handed Thomas another sweet root. “By the way, I never told you how the last English test went. I got an 85%!”
“Excellent! We should celebrate tonight!”
Lorka rubbed her hand across his thigh and gave him a salacious grin. “I was thinking the same thing Aru’ka.”
Thomas got flustered “Uh…I...”
Lorka laughed. “Don’t worry; I got a special concoction from mom’s herb books. It’s pretty potent stuff, I’ll be able to ride you the entire night if I wanted to.” she said with a grin.
“Great, I need Orcish Viagra and I’m not even 50 yet.” He said, a bit of bitterness creeping into his voice.
 “Hey, don’t be so tough on yourself. Orcs typically have more stamina than humans and well…you’re kind of a bookworm. So how bout this, you’re helping me with English, so I’ll get you in shape. Sound good?”
Thomas arched an eyebrow. “Why do both of those things sound like they benefit you more than me?”
She leaned in close and gave him a smoldering look. “Oh believe me; you’ll enjoy what we can do together after you’ve built up some endurance.”
Thomas blushed. “Okay… it’s a deal then.”
Lorka kissed her boyfriend on the cheek. “I knew you couldn’t resist me!”
“You are very convincing. So Lorka, what do you want to do this weekend?”
“HEY! The hell is going on here!?” someone shouted.
Three orcesses had snuck up on the pair while they were talking. They were wearing similar clothing to Lorka, school uniforms with leather arm bands and fetishes woven into their hair. All three of them look like they had just been in a fight, and they were all scowling at Lorka.
One of them stepped forward and growled. “You better have a good explanation for this, Lorka.”
Nerada. Shit.



“So this is why you’ve been ditching us at lunch, to hang out with this little nerd?” Rakka said.
“Seriously, what the hell Lorka? We got jumped by the onis a couple minutes ago, and you’re here eating sweet root.” Loni said
Lorka froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. Luckily, Thomas’s quick wit saved them.
“Hey, uh don’t mean to butt in…whatever this is.” All three orcs shifted their gaze to Thomas. He winced slightly at their angry expressions.
“Lorka needed help with English and we’ve been meeting at lunch so I could help her. She didn’t want to say anything to you guys because she’s embarrassed you’d judge her over it. So don’t be too mad at her, okay?”
Loni relaxed a bit. “Jeez Lorka, we’re your sisters. Not like we’d judge you over something like that.”
 “I was wondering why you told us to leave that little runt alone.” Nerada grumbled
Thomas packed up his stuff and hopped off the bleachers. “Anyway, I’m gonna get out of here. Lorka, we’ll meet again tomorrow okay?” he forces a smile and then starts to walk away.
Lorka was feeling very conflicted. She’s spent so long trying to hide her real self from the people around her. Now she was forcing Thomas to lie to cover up her own problems AND keep her relationship underground. This isn’t how things should be. She liked Thomas a lot. She shouldn’t have to lie to others about their relationship, and she sure as hell didn’t want to make Thomas lie too.
“Thomas, wait.” Thomas stopped and turned around.
“Thomas wasn’t lying, he is helping me out with some school stuff…but we’re together because we’re dating. He’s my Aru’ka.” She explained.
Nerada and Rakka’s jaws dropped.  “What!!!” they yelled in unision.
A large grin spread over Loni’s face. “Finally. I was wondering when this was going to happen.”Loni nudged Rakka. “Pay up bitch, you owe me.” Rakka grumbled as she forked over a twenty to Loni.
“Why the fuck are you dating this guy Lorka, you have like a million better options? I mean I can get dating a humie, but this guy?” Nerada shouts.
“It’s a long story…but I really like him. And if you have a problem with that, we can settle it here and now!”
Loni was still grinning. “Hey I’ve been wondering when you were going to hook up with him ever since you started messing with him. He’s weak, but I think he’s kind of cute”
Rakka shrugged. “Not my business, you can date who you want. I just didn’t think it be…him.”
Nerada scowled. “They might not care, but I think you’re making a huge mistake. What are your parents going to think about this? Your dad sure as hell isn’t going to like this.”
“That’s my business. “ Lorka told her.
“No it IS my business. You’re a clan sister and Loni’s second. Do you know how weak this is going to make you look to your clan?”
Rage flashed across Lorka’s eyes as she bared her teeth at Nerada. Her body shifted into a fighting stance. “If you think I’m so weak, why don’t you test me and find out.” If she was going to insult her strength and imply being with Thomas made her weak, she had another thing coming
Nerada growled as she shifted into a fighting stance as well. “Fine. Gor’mak Chauva.”
Loni walked next to Thomas and sat down.
“What’s going on?” he asked her.
“Lorka’s my second. She’s the boss if I’m not around.  Nerada thinks dating a wimpy human like you, no offense, is a sign that she isn’t fit to be my second. So she’s challenging her to a fight to decide who’s right.”
 “Should we stop them?”
Loni shrugged. “Nah, it helps them vent and there aren’t usually hard feelings after a Gor’mak. It helps keep bad blood from festering. Besides, there’s a reason Lorka is my second. Now sit down, toss me a sweet root, and watch the show.”
Lorka and Nerada stared each other down as Rakka, Loni, and Nerada watched from the bleachers. “They aren’t going to hurt each other, right? Like not seriously, I mean?” he asked.
Loni gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Nah stringbean. Worst case scenario, some bruises and maybe a broken tooth or two.”
“That sounds awful!”
Loni laughed at his ignorance. “Hah, nah they grow back quick. It’s a nice little feature of bein’ an orc.”
As Lorka and Nerada growled as they circled each other, their lips contorted into a snarl.  Thomas shifted in his seat nervously as he watched the two. Lorka let out a primal growl and darted forward. Nerada backed up slightly and let out a cry of her own.
“What are they doing?”
“Just a little bravado before the fight. Usually for sizing up your opponents ego, lookin’ for weaknesses and the like. Helps to pump you up too.” Loni explained.
All at once they stopped circling, and the two orcs lunged at each other.  Nerada’s left fist barely missed Lorka’s chin as she pulled back at the last second. Lorka’s leg swung up as she moved back, her kick aimed right at Nerada’s knee. Nerada was able to see the blow coming, and grabbed Lorka’s foot with both hands and pulled up sending Lorka off balance. Lorka rolled with her fall and got back to her feet. “You made that punch sloppy on purpose.” Lorka spat.
Nerada laughed “Just wanted to see if you still fought like a cow.”
Lorka let out a curse and dashed at Nerada. Nerada was caught off guard as Lorka plowed into Nerada with her shoulder. She let out a roar as she grabbed Lorka by the shoulder and flipped her off balance; Lorka held onto Nerada and the two fell into a pile on the ground. Thomas could barely make out who was who as they traded blows. Thomas could barely force himself to watch. The two struck each other with everything they had, with teeth, claws, and fists.  Lorka landed a blow on Nerada’s mouth that sent a pointy tooth flying into the air. Nerada grabbed Lorka by the collar of her shirt and gave her a vicious head butt.  Dazed, Lorka sank onto the ground as Nerada straddled her and struck her in the face again and again.
Thomas tried to get up and stop them but Loni placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t” she warned him. “This is between them.”
“But she’s just beating Lorka’s face in. It’s not even a fight anymore!”
Loni flashed him a knowing smile. “I told you there’s a reason she’s my second. Look closer.”
As Nerada attempted to land another blow, Lorka shifted her head, causing Nerada’s blow to land square on her forehead. Thomas winced as the impact made a dull crack. Nerada let out a feral scream as she cradled her wounded hand. Lorka took advantage of distraction and got out from under Nerada. Still reeling from her injury, Nerada didn’t react as Lorka got behind her and slipped her arm around Nerada’s neck in a sleeper-hold.
“Do you give?” she said through gritted teeth.
Nerada growled and a stream of what Thomas could only guess were curses flew from her mouth.
Lorka tightened her grip. “I said Do.You.Give?” her gripe tightening with every word. Finally, sensing defeat was inevitable, Nerada went limp.
“I give sister. You win.”
Lorka let go of her and Nerada sagged to the ground. The defeated Orc spat a tooth out of her mouth and turned to her clan mate grinning. “So I see rutting with a human hasn’t softened you yet.”
Lorka slugged her on the arm and Nerada let out a raucous laugh. She tried to stand, but stumbled and sank back onto the ground.  “Damn, you still hit like a truck.” She muttered.
Lorka grabbed her by the arm and pulled Nerada to her feet. “You do too. Did you have to go for the face so much?”
“Sorry, I got carried away.” The two walked over to the bleachers, Nerada still propped on Lorka’s arm.
“Lorka, good job. Nerada, nice try.”
Lorka gave Loni a toothy grin and Nerada grumbled something under her breath.
“Now, do either of you need to go to the infirmary?”Loni asked.
Nerada gritted her teeth as she extended her hand. “Yeah, think I fractured my hand on Lorka’s face.”
“I’m fine” Lorka told them. Thomas got up and ran a hand over her face. She was covered in bruises and Nerada had given her a black eye.
“You don’t look fine.” He told her, worry in his voice. He felt bad. She got hurt because she was standing up for him.
She smiled as she saw the concern in his face. “It’s fine. Orcs heal quickly.”
Thomas didn’t say anything else, but he still looked concerned.
“C’mon Nerada, I can take you to see the nurse. Rakka, come with me so you can give me a hand.” Loni told her.
As the trio started to walk away, Nerada turned around and looked at Thomas.
“Hey human. I don’t know what she saw in you, but Lorka was willing to fight for you. I still don’t like you…but I respect Lorka’s decision. So take care of her. If you break her heart, I break you. You understand?”
Thomas nodded and Nerada smiled. “Good. See you around shrimp.” And with that, the three orcs left.
Lorka sat down and breathed out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad that’s over. “
Thomas pulled out an icepack from his lunch and put it over Lorka’s face. “I feel responsible for all this. I’m sorry you got hurt over me.”
His girlfriend waved a hand dismissively. “No, don’t worry about it. Nerada was out of line. She shouldn’t have tried to tell me who I can date. “
“I still didn’t like seeing you get hurt like that…”
 “Stop worrying so much. These won’t even take two days to heal.” Lorka told him.
“Now,” she continued, “I think you owe me something. I did defend your honor and the right to date you in front of my friends after all.” She said with a playful tone in her voice.
Thomas leaned in and gave her a kiss. Lorka blushed slightly.  “Thank you.” He told her as he squeezed her hand.”How does dinner and a movie at my place sound?”
Lorka’s eyes lit up. “Sounds wonderful! What are you cooking?”
“Something with lots of meat right?”
Lorka nodded her head enthusiastically. "What about the movie?"
"We could watch Simon Birch."
"What's that?"
"Well, it's basically an adaptation of Owen Meany but it skips the part where he goes to college and ends with him still in high school, so the director thought it would be best to give it a different name and…"
"Owen Meany has a movie?" Lorka said, excitement in her eyes.
"Kind of? It's not perfect, but I still liked it.We could always curl up on the couch and cuddle while we watch it."
“And maybe we could…have sex afterwards? I-if you don’t mind my face that is.” She said as she self consciously rubbed the edge of her black eye.
“Of course we can. You’re my girlfriend. Some bruises aren’t going to make you any less pretty in my eyes.”
Lorka stayed quiet for a moment before wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a hug.
“I did a good job.” She told him.
“Yeah, you put up a hell of a fight.”Thomas agreed.
“No, I meant choosing you.”
This time Thomas was quiet for a moment. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
The school bell rang and the two quickly packed up their stuff.They didn't have much time to get to class.The fight had eaten up more time than they thought.
“See you in English okay?”Thomas told Lorka as she put the last of her tougher wear in her bag.
“Yeah. See you.” Lorka said with a quiet smile.