Almost

Atlas' gaze breaks from the computer screen as he took a breath and stretched his back against the back of his chair. He took a second to continue to stare up a the ceiling of his dining room and proceeded to take off the glasses that were in the way of him pressing into the bridges of his nose. He took a glance at the wall where he had placed a recently bought clock he and his girlfriend had picked out together. It was past 10 pm. His posture straightened and he took another glance towards the 32nd essay he was currently reading and then having to grade afterward. Atlas sighed and placed his elbows on the table to have support while he covered his face in his hands. He takes another moment to sigh and release one of his hands to once again take a look at his screen. With an almost defeated tone in his voice, "I need a drink. And the breadsticks from the bar down the street sound amazing right now." Taking a moment to once again space out in front of his computer he finally realized the noise coming from upstairs. He knew Sakura was probably in the training room punching the life out of the 2nd punching bag they had bought that month. Smiling quietly to himself he takes himself out of his chair and makes his way up the stairs towards the room is girlfriend is beating up a punching bag. Outside the door he could the harsh movement of Sakura doing her worst against the bag, the sound of her leg releasing built-up air pressure every time to bounces back and forth in between the jabs, but he also heard singing. Atlas knowing Sakura, probably has her earplugs in with music playing at the highest volume so she could get into the zone. Atlas cracked open the door and indeed, saw Sakura jabbing the bag with her music blaring into her ear,

"A little less conversation, and a little more touch my body. Cause I'm so into you, into you." Sakura rocks her head back to get that annoying few strands of shorter hair out of her face and stretches her hands, making them crack slightly, and crafts them into fists again. She steps back and squats quickly to the ground to jump forward towards the bag, which she strikes indefinitely and topples it over towards the opposite side of the room. She continues to hum the song she was listening to and rolls her head to crack her stiffened neck. As she continued to stretch out Atlas made his way into the room. Sakura noticing a sound coming out from behind her goes into fighting mode and goes in for a jab to the face, which Atlas catches, and softly karate chops the top of her head with his other hand. Sakura takes out her earplugs and dangles them around her neck, "Oh sorry baby. Was I being too loud?"

Atlas softly laughs as he makes his way over to the bag Sakura beat up and sets it back up for her, "No no I was coming to get you. Let's go get a drink together."

- - -

The feeling of cold crisp air transitioning an environment of alcoholic smell really makes someone wake up. The two love birds had decided to go to the bar Atlas wanted to go to, which was named, "The King's Crown." A few people spot Sakura almost immediately and start cheering for her which makes her feel a bit shy. She waves back at them and grabs a finger of Atlas' hand. In almost a whisper Altas laughs, "I told you that people were going to start recognizing you more." Sakura tries to hold back a nervous smile as she and Atlas make their way to the Bartender's counter where a rather attractive lady was currently filling a large jug of beer for one of the waiters to make off with for a table. The stools at this bar were nice and well maintained, it would make sense since the bar has been making as much money as it has been. Atlas takes his seat comfortably as Sakura has small trouble getting herself onto the tall bar stool. Once the bartender had noticed the two people sitting in her area of the counter she makes her way towards them. Once she sees Sakura she gasps and covers her mouth which couldn't happen since her smile was way too big to cover up. She places both of her hands on the countertop and talks with her, "The Robotic Hero, Joint! It's such an honor to meet you! I've been wanting to meet you ever since you showed up on tv. Please can I have an autograph!" The lady pulls out her waitress notebook and hands it to Sakura with a pen. Sakura looks at Atlas reluctantly, and with a small nudge for her to give the girl an autograph, she took the pen and started signing her name. The bartender started up again, "My name is Lotus by the way. I found it so cool that we both have a type of flower as our name! Sakura is so much prettier though, it really suits you." Atlas laughs and agrees, "I can drink to that. Sakura really is a beautiful name, and topped with such a beautiful woman must be a crime." Lotus giggles excitingly as Sakura hands her back her pad, you two won't have to worry about paying for your drinks or anything you ask for tonight. My father runs this bar and he would love to treat you two to a few drinks. Joint, please pick whatever you would like. It won't be a problem I swear!"

Atlas insists, "If you won't take payment for Sakura's drinks please make payment for mine. I've been going here since college and I would hate to stop being a patron here. Sakura, pick anything you want, You seem to be the queen to this King's crown tonight." Sakura laughs nervously and looks at Atlas with a small blush on her face. She was getting flushed with all the people that have been talking with her tonight. "Could I have a fireball cinnamon whisky? I need a firestarter tonight.." "I'll take the same as the lady." Lotus solutes the two of them and goes to make the two guests drinks, "I'll have that right up! Please get comfortable."

After a few conversations with fans of Sakura's, Lotus had come back with a freshly poured whiskey with an orange slice placed neatly on the rim of the shot glass. The couple cheers each other and Atlas takes the shot quickly while Sakura swirls the drink in her glass. Atlas makes a sound and asks for water from Lotus, "That was way spicer than I expected. Water please, water please." A few women shout for Sakura from across the bar and Sakura takes another look over at Atlas, who again, gestures for her to go see them. As she trips off her chair towards the girl's, Atlas laughs as she walks away from him, "My stars do I love that woman." He had suddenly felt a pulsing sensation in his head and was having a little trouble breathing. When Lotus had made her way back with his water he motioned to tell her something, "When Sakura comes back tell her that I had to run to the bathroom." Lotus nods.

As Atlas made his way to the bathroom his legs started growing weak beneath his own weight, he grappled to the wall and gripped his shirt above his heart, which was beating out of control. He felt hot, he felt dizzy, he didn't feel right. His grew heavy and he sank to the floor, "Damn it." His forehead was sweating heavily as he continued to lay on his stomach on the floor right in front of the bathroom. The bathroom's hallway was farther away from the public seating, and no one was in sight. He panted heavily and he gripped the floor in front of him trying to crawl his way to the bathroom. Something was wrong. Atlas heard footsteps behind him and let out a small, "help." The footsteps were calm, they clicked on the floor like woman's heels. He saw the red pumps of a woman in front of him, and as his gaze went upward towards the face of the person, he saw Lotus. "Was it too spicy, sir?" Lotus squats down and smiles devilishly at Atlas. With a red smoke emitting from her mouth, Atlas thought he was seeing things. He lets out another defeated help as she grabs his chin to look at him better, "You don't look too hot there Atlas," she laughs with a hint of resentment in her voice, "The boss will be happy with what I'm going to bring him."

"Oh my lord Atlas are you okay!?" Sakura hurries her way over to her boyfriend and looks at Lotus, "What happened? Did he collapse? Is he okay?" Lotus mentally curses herself, "He looked sick when he said he was going to the bathroom. I thought I'd come over to check on him to make sure he wasn't gonna pass out. But when I found him he was already on the floor, he looks like he's gonna lose himself." Sakura repeats the word, "no." She grabs her boyfriend around the armpit and props him on her shoulder, "Baby, can you hear me. Can you walk?" They both slowly walk toward the exit of the bar. Sakura looks behind her and softly smiles with worry still plastered on her face, "Lotus. I'll be back tomorrow to fix Atlas' bill. I'm so sorry about this." and the two disappear outside the door.

Lotus smiles and waves her, but as soon as they leave she leads herself to the back of the bar. She paces a few times around the back and quickly turns around to punch the cold, hard bricks of the building. The brisk air stings her now bloodied knuckles. Lotus sighs, making the air out of her lungs turn into smoke against the cold air. She angrily takes her phone out of her pocket and dials a number, "Hi boss.... no... I didn't... but sir...but.." She stood there listening to the other end of the line. "I won't let her out of my sight." With a click of her phone, she stuffs it back into her pocket and uses a strong toothy smile to hide her anger. Red smoke seeps from her mouth as she laughs agitated, "Looks like a certain hero has earned herself a stalker. Let's do this." She makes her way back inside with a click of the door.