Twenty minutes had passed. Matthew stood just outside the club, freshly showered and dressed in plain pants and a white cotton shirt. He took a deep, unsettled breath, trying to ignore the way his chest tightened with each inhale, making it difficult to maintain a steady rhythm. His heart seemed to race with a mind of its own, each beat echoing in his ears as he struggled to calm the storm brewing inside him.

The nightlife of Isadora thrived around him. Drunken revelers filled the streets, their laughter and chatter merging into a chaotic symphony he barely registered. Pulsating music spilled out from the club, its upbeat dance beat driving the intoxicated crowd to grind against one another, kissing with the fervor of teenagers who had forgotten the ever-present shadow of war.

Matthew glanced around, his eyes scanning the sea of bodies without truly seeing them. His mind was elsewhere, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties that refused to be tamed. The club's neon lights cast a garish glow over the scene. 

In the shadows of a distant building, an onlooker watched, cloaked in darkness. She observed Matthew closely, her eyes keenly noting the slight tremor in his hands and the tension in his stance. A smile played on her lips—she was here to study him, the boy whom Cid held in high regard, the very same one he kept a watchful eye over, much to her disapproval. He was not to be killed, however; harmed was a different conversation entirely.

She took in every detail, from the way he nervously ran a hand through his hair to the subtle way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. To her, this young boy was a mere distraction, an obstacle in her quest to gain leverage over her husband, a hindrance in this war. She saw him as a pawn, a piece in a game she intended to win at all costs.

Her gaze never wavered as she watched him glance at the six-story building, his expression a mix of determination and unease. He shook his head, a brief, almost imperceptible gesture, and disappeared inside. She remained where she was, shrouded in darkness, knowing there was time. She held a world of patience, and she intended to use it.

****** ******

Entering into the pulsating music, Matthew was greeted by the bouncers at the front who nodded and let him in. The club's chaotic energy enveloped him immediately. As he passed through the rowdy crowd of cadets and soldiers, all eyes seemed to follow him, their voices merging into an unending cacophony. The pulsating, nauseating strobe lights made his head spin as he navigated the crowded bar.

He needed to find his friends, and luckily, they always occupied their usual booth when they came to this club. He pushed through loud bouts of screaming and laughter, the familiar voices guiding him. Finally, he spotted Mya and Jesse, completely and utterly wasted, singing into the microphone and butchering a song he actually liked.

Sawyer observed from nearby, his eyes flicking between Mya, Jesse, and the entrance. Fortunately, Matthew soon spotted Toni, Richie, and Jasmine. They had noticed him and gestured for him to join them.

"Well, look who decided to finally grace us with his presence!" Richie smirked, watching as Toni raised a free beer to Matthew as he approached.

"Calmed those raging hormones of yours from this morning? Jesse told us what happened," Toni teased with a smile, while Jasmine tried to conceal any form of emotion, aware of how volatile Matthew looked.

"Not a fucking chance," Matthew deadpanned, knocking back the beer to take the edge off. "Then I get this drunken phone call from Eko and Jesse," he explained, scanning the bar with a furrowed brow.

"The girls mentioned that you were now coming from their call," Richie seized the opportunity, handing him one shot after another. Matthew continued to knock them back without hesitation.

"Richie," Jasmine bit her lip, watching Matthew effortlessly consume alcohol. She knew he rarely drank and had a bad feeling about this. Maybe he was a volatile drunk? Whatever it was, something felt off.

"Shh!" Toni grinned. "We've committed to this. Just gotta rip the band-aid off now. Here, take another. Just knock these back."

Jasmine raised her eyebrows, worried about the dangerous mix of alcohol, heightened tension, and sexual chemistry, especially considering Matthew's and Eko's temperaments. Richie handed Matthew his fifth shot in the few minutes since he arrived, while Toni poured more tequila and vodka into the empty glasses.

Jasmine covered her eyes with nervousness. "Why are you mixing tequila and vodka? Oh my god, I can't watch this!"

Richie grabbed a sixth shot. "Liquid courage. You're gonna need it. Eko was at the bar, I saw him joining her after Jesse left. Hitting on your girl. I think you should deck him."

"Richie!" Jasmine's concern deepened as she watched the scene unfold. The alcohol was quickly taking its toll on Matthew, his anger bubbling to the surface with each shot. "He's going to lose it!"

"Fuck," Matthew growled, knocking back the seventh shot. "Motherfucking fuck! Fucker!"

"So she really kissed him, huh?" Toni chimed in, keenly watching as Matthew knocked back another two shots, his palm twitching with heightened anger.

"He fucking thinks he can just make his move on her," Matthew muttered to himself, "fucking going after her like she's his! Where the fuck are they!?" His teeth gritted. "That motherfucking cunt."

Richie flashed a smirk and gestured toward the bar, well aware that his drunken state was taking hold,. Game on.

Matthew's steel-blue gaze scanned the dancing crowd until he spotted the brunette woman, accompanied by the asshole who seemed glued to her side like a possessive stalker. Bottles and shot glasses surrounded the pair, their laughter echoing at whatever pathetic joke he had made. The sight sent a surge of rage through Matthew, his fists clenching at his sides.

Suddenly, Luke leaned in and brushed a strand of her hair aside from her shoulder, murmuring something that elicited a laugh from her as she shifted on her seat, and she took his hand lowering it back to the countertop. 

Toni and Richie's eyes widened in shock, while Jasmine swiftly grabbed the tequila mixed with vodka and presented it to Matthew. "Drink this quickly!" she urged him. "Just figure out your words and go get your girl!"

"Here, take these as well!" Toni interrupted, gathering the remaining shots together as Matthew accepted the ones from Jasmine without a second thought.

"The fuck is in these?" he nearly spat it out but swallowed it down instead.

"Doesn't matter, drink," Jasmine and Toni ordered in unison. "You're gonna need it for what you're about to do."

"Fuck, fuck," Matthew muttered under his breath, passing the empty shot glasses to Richie.

"Now go! Go get your girl!" Jasmine cheered him on, observing as Matthew brushed his hair back and made his way into the crowd toward Eko and Luke.

"This could turn either way," Toni commented as the group sat at the table, drinks in hand, waiting anxiously for what was about to happen. They were here for this.

"This, my friend, is prime sitting!" Richie grinned as he leaned into the booth seats. "Seriously, if he pussies out, I'm gonna actually slap him!"

"You just want your money from Mya," Jasmine raised her glass to Richie. "I know what's going on there."

Richie smirked at Jasmine. "All is fair in love and war," he winked, and they both clinked their drinks together, turning to watch as Matthew approached the couple at the bar.

Just then, Mya, Jesse, and Sawyer returned to the table, plopping themselves down among the group. They were curious about what had caught everyone's attention.

All eyes turned toward Matthew as their mouths dropped.

"Is that ... Matthew!?" Mya shrieked, her raven-black hair pulled up in a high ponytail, looking excitedly around the table. She unknowingly slapped Richie's upper arm in her excitement. For Richie, the sudden contact made him nervous; he was sitting beside the girl who encompassed everything he ever loved about life.

Richie shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Toni before responding. "Uh, yeah, about that..."

Mya looked up at the guilty faces of the group. "In all seriousness, how many did you give him?" She pointed to the table again, then glared at Toni, Richie, and Jasmine, who gave her a puzzled look.

"A few?" Richie smirked at Toni, who nodded.

"He needed it to calm his nerves, you know how he gets."

"Like ten," Jasmine  trying to hold up her blurry fingers. "Twelve?"

"What's the problem?" Sawyer was confused about why Mya was suddenly flying off the handle. In his opinion, heaven forbid their headmaster drank once in a while; it might actually loosen him up given his strict mindset lately.

"You guys can't be this fucking stupid!" Mya roared, grasping the napkins and throwing them at Toni before whacking Richie's arm.

Then her eyes fell on Jesse, shooting daggers at her as she quickly chugged her wine. "Jesse, you know better!"

"Hey!" Jesse pointed at her, "I didn't give him anything. I was with you!"

"Tell Toni and Richie they're fucking idiots!" Mya commanded, her voice sharp with frustration.

"Relax, he's fine!" Toni pointed at the man by the bar.

"Relax? Are you aware of the risks of drinking? He—" Mya's voice was frantic, her worry turning to anger.

"Mya, we're watching him; he's fine," Jesse interjected, glancing briefly at Mya.

Richie sighed, rubbing his arm where Mya had hit him. "Alright, maybe we went a bit overboard, but it's too late now."

"Myaaa," Jesse lulled in her drunken state, "it's fine, we literally have a doctor here if anything goes wrong!"

"Jesse, that is NOT the point!" Mya cut her off, her face red with frustration, pointing at her. Before she could continue lecturing them, Jesse cut her off again.

"Mattie! Just tell her you love her!" Jesse shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the music, forcing Mya to stop in her tracks.

"If he keels over and dies, this is on you idiots!" Mya threatened, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Keels over and dies?" Sawyer found the choice of words peculiar.

"Figure of speech," Jesse interjected quickly, raising her wine glass and winking, immediately trying to shift the conversation. 

"Orrrr... we can all just shut up and watch the drama unfold," Richie smirked, pointing to the bar where Matthew, Eko, and Luke were.

"Oooo!" Jesse squealed, trying to get a better view. Toni pulled her into his lap, and they all settled in the booth, glued to the unfolding events at the bar.

With Sawyer and Jasmine suddenly taking bets that had been months in the making, Mya peered up at Richie, who sat beside her. "If you guys end up giving him a fucking heart attack because of this..."

Richie took a deep breath, fully aware that this was neither the time nor the place for what he was feeling when he looked at her like that. Her scolding attitude and sarcasm always made him smile. It was the little things he loved about her.

"Breath flick," he whispered, and that's when he saw the edge of a smile on her cherry lips that sent his world into a whirlwind. She kept eye contact with him for longer than either of them had before.

Before he could say anything, there was a commotion at the bar. He redirected his attention to Matthew, as everyone at the table did, waiting with bated breath for what was to come next.

***** *******

The music hit the next beat, the lights in the bar flooding the entire room, and Matthew made his way toward the bar. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Luke poured a drink for Eko, once again trying to place his hand on hers. She giggled almost awkwardly at something they had been talking about, and then quickly took her hand away from his.

Matthew stood before them within moments, his presence imposing. Luke stared up at him, realization dawning on his face.

"You can leave now," Matthew barked, his gaze fixed on Luke, asserting his authority.

"Matthew!?" Eko whispered in shock, leaning over her and nearly engulfing her with his body. Matthew's steel-blue eyes narrowed on Luke, warning him to back off from his girl.

"Hey?" Eko called out, pulling Matthew from his daze of intoxication and violent rage. He turned to look at her, suddenly frowning as he took in her rosy cheeks and overly bright eyes.

"How much have you had since I last spoke to you?" Matthew asked, his voice stern.

"She is perfectly fine with me," Luke sneered in response. "We are fine here, Headmaster. Your fan club is over in that section of the bar."

"I wasn't fucking asking you," Matthew snapped, his voice dangerous now. "I said, fuck off already!"

Eko pressed her hand to Matthew's chest, attempting to diffuse the situation, feeling his heart pounding against her palm. "Matthew, hey," she pleaded, as Luke continued to antagonize.

Luke chuckled darkly. "Seriously, what are you even doing here? Your fan club is over there waiting for you. Did you not see the horde of girls nearly throwing themselves at you?"

Suddenly, Matthew lunged, shoving Luke back against the bar. "I'll say it one more time, Luke," his voice cutting through the raging music, "Fuck off!"

Eko quickly grasped at Matthew's arm to pull him back, and she watched as Luke steadied himself, this was starting to get out of control. 

"Ah, Headmaster, is that an order?" Luke met his stare. "Huh? You think you're a fucking god in your position now?"

"Fuck off, Luke!" Matthew shouted, the two men now standing inches apart. Luke's cocky smile was only making matters worse, and Eko quickly tried to get between them, her hands against both of their chests, trying to create a divide.

"Matthew, please," she begged, her voice desperate. "Come with me, okay?"

But Matthew's rage was boiling over, his entire body trembling with the effort to hold back. "Stay the fuck away from her. Do I make myself clear?" he commanded. "I will fucking end you if you come near her again!"

Luke's smile faded, replaced by a glint of malice. "I'd like to see you try."

"What the fuck did you just say?" Matthew's voice was a low growl, his anger intensifying.

"Jesus," Eko muttered to herself, her anxiety rising.

"Word of advice," Luke continued, his expression returning to one of smug indifference. "Maybe you should be paying attention to her instead of being surrounded by your fan club if you're so interested," he taunted. "Like I told her, you have all your airheads to fuck, you don't care about her. You are off everywhere else except here, the one place that counts!"

Matthew's fists clenched, and he grabbed Luke by the collar, pulling him close. The fury and now intoxication overrode his common sense, and the fact that Luke had pushed him to his limit.

"Luke, enough!" Eko slurred in her screams as she tried to wedge herself between the two men. "You have no idea what you're saying!"

"You don't even fucking care about her!" Luke spat back, his words dripping with venom and contempt.

"Seriously, you're making this worse! BACK OFF!" Eko screamed, desperately trying to separate them.

Matthew's grip tightened on Luke's collar, his knuckles turning white. The music pounded in the background, its tempo rising with the tension. "You know nothing about our relationship!" he roared, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "So stay the fuck away from my girl!"

****** *******

It was in a blur that Sawyer rushed forward from the stunned group at the table, pushing his way through the crowd to intervene in the escalating situation between Luke and Matthew. He knew that if he didn't stop his best friend from provoking their headmaster, Luke was about to have his head kicked in, and there would be nothing to save him from the repercussions.

"Don't stop them now, babe! Come onnnn!" Mya screamed over the music.

Richie leaned in towards Mya, who playfully whipped her ponytail at him. "Your boyfriend is such a dumbass," he remarked.

Mya stuck her tongue out in jest. "He can take a joke, unlike your cranky ass."

Richie leaned closer, his lips almost touching her ear so she could hear him. "I took your jokes."

Mya grinned widely, feeling his breath on her skin as she pulled back. "You did. But you were happier back then."

"Flick," he replied, eyes never leaving hers. "I was always happy with you."

Mya's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh yeah? Prove it."

Richie smirked, his gaze dropping to her lips before meeting her eyes again. "I think I just might." Except their flirtation was interrupted by the escalating chaos at the bar.

**** ****

Luke's eyes flashed with defiance. "You think you can just bully me into backing off? You're don't fucking own her!"

"Luke, enough!" Eko roared, annoyed by how things had turned.

Matthew's rage boiled over, his entire body trembling with the effort to hold back. "I don't have to own her to protect her," he growled. "But I will do whatever it takes to keep scum like you away from her."

Eko's hands were shaking as she tried to push them apart, her eyes wide with fear and frustration. "Matthew, please," she begged, "come on."

"Luke!" Sawyer was quickly there between them as were a few bouncers immediately trying to separate them. "Luke, let's go upstairs and have a drink with Erin, Cassidy, and the other girls," Sawyer said, attempting to calm the situation and pull the two men apart with the help of the bouncers. "Luke! Come on, mate!"

"That's a good fucking idea," Matthew agreed sharply, shoving Luke and prompting Sawyer to intervene and hold him back.

The bouncers placed themselves between the men, looking between them, and Eko quickly stood in front of Matthew, not wanting him to go at Luke again.

Luke's cocky smile faded, replaced by pure anger. "You're pathetic, you know that?"

The bouncers, sensing the escalating tension, moved in just as Matthew was about to lunge again. They grabbed him, pulling him away from Luke  while Eko remained.

"If you really wanna do this, I'll do it—I don't give a fuck who you are!" Luke retaliated, pushed backwards by the other bouncers. He knew Matthew's tactics and how he trained. Even if Matthew was renowned for his skills and Luke was no match in comparison, it wasn't going to stop him from taking a few good swings to bring Matthew back down to reality.

"Matthew, hey?" Eko demanded. "Stop it, come on."

Eko grabbed Matthew's arm, her possessiveness simmering as she pulled him back to her seat. His temper slowly reached thermonuclear levels. "Matthew, look at me," Eko's voice was sterner, trying to refocus his attention on her.

The bouncers were helping Sawyer restrain Luke as they all spoke over the pounding sound of the music.

"Oi! Look at me!" Eko screamed at Matthew, finally managing to turn his head towards her. She gripped his neck tightly, forcing him to focus solely on her.

As she met his gaze, Eko could see the fury burning in his eyes, his jaw clenched tightly with anger. Sawyer, along with the bouncers, managed to finally separate Luke from the bar and lead him up the darkened staircase to defuse the situation, while the audience around them watched intently.

"Hey?" she mouthed at him, feeling confused and overwhelmed. Eko looked at Matthew with bright, wide eyes and tilted her head, hoping for an explanation. However, he snapped his head away from her, his attention now directed towards the bartender, who was watching the scene unfold.

Unsure of what had just happened and having called security over in case a fight further escalated, the bartender, with slick black hair tied up in a bun, looked at the pair nervously.

"Water, now!" The tension in the air still hung around them as Matthew barked his demand at the bartender, who quickly complied by bringing him a large glass of iced water. Eko rolled her eyes at his commanding presence, feeling as though he could control anyone with his assertiveness.

"Drink!" Matthew shouted his order to Eko over the deafening music.

"You need a drink," Eko muttered under her breath as she took the glass from him and sipped slowly. "Calm those raging hormones." 

The moving lights in the bar were swirling and flashing in time with the music, casting a kaleidoscope of colors and shadows all around them. Matthew's attention was fixed solely on her, and she couldn't help but stare back at him, mesmerized by his ever-changing appearance in the shifting lights.

"All of it," he shouted, insisting she drink all the water, but Eko shook her head and placed the glass down on the table.

"Tell me what you are actually doing here," she snapped at him, her voice rising with annoyance. "Did you come because you couldn't stand the thought of Luke kissing me? Or is it simply your fucking ego that's been wounded?"

Whether it was the effect of the tequila and vodka or the loud music that drowned out any voice of reason, Matthew leaned in towards her.

"Don't you dare go pinning the blame on me with this shit!"

Then he grasped her chin, pulling her face toward his. "Jealousy, then?" she murmured. "I'm not yours."

"Yes, you are," he growled, his lips so close to hers that Eko instinctively reached up and ran her fingers along his cheek, feeling the rough stubble that reflected his stress over the situation. He closed his eyes as she continued to stroke his face, his breathing hitching in his throat.

She ran her other hand through his hair, pulling him closer until his mouth was on hers, consuming her possessively. Their lips collided in a fiery kiss. Eko boldly slipped her tongue between his lips, her hands exploring the contours of Matthew's back as she drew him closer. He responded desperately, feeling Eko's body pressed against his own.

The soft curves of her body pressed tightly against him, and his hands traced down to her waist, drawing her in even tighter, as if he couldn't control his desire for her. Matthew's heart pounded as the world around him faded, consumed entirely by Eko. Her soft lips rolled over his, and her demanding tongue sought entrance to his mouth again, urging him to surrender to the euphoria.

For a moment, everything else ceased to exist. The loud music, the crowded bar, the confrontation with Luke—all of it melted away, leaving only the intense connection between them. Matthew's fingers dug into her waist, pulling her even closer, deepening the kiss.

Eko's hands roamed over his back, her touch igniting sparks that spread through his entire body. She moaned softly against his lips, the sound sending a thrill through him. He responded by tilting his head, capturing her mouth more fully, his tongue dancing with hers in a rhythm that matched the pounding of his heart.

Then, their friends' cheers shattered the moment. Matthew's eyes widened as he instantly pulled back, the world a swirling mixture of colors, the floor appearing to melt and the walls spinning around him.

He then looked down at Eko, her infectious grin and sparkling eyes revealing a mix of amusement and something more. She bit her lip as they heard another round of screams in the distance. The couple turned to face their friends, who continued their whooping and hollering over the music, screaming like lunatics. The commotion drew attention from cadets, soldiers, and particularly the fan club.

"Fucckkkk," Matthew cursed under his breath, running his hands through his unruly hair. As the eyes of everyone in the club remained fixed on them, gobsmacked and bewildered, he grabbed Eko's hand and pulled her away from the bar. Ignoring the screams and shouts of their friends, who were going crazy over what they had just witnessed, they moved swiftly towards the exit, their fingers tightly intertwined.

"Outside," he demanded, his voice firm and commanding, and Eko didn't object one bit as she passed the stunned faces of the fan club that had watched the entire event unfold.

Matthew needed fresh air, he needed the effects of the tequila and vodka to subside. He had never been so irrational before, and this woman just brought it out in him. This doe-eyed, amazing, ignorant, frustrating, and beautiful creature knew how to hit every nerve in his body—the same drunken idiot that he was in love with.