Her words had a ring to it, he couldnât deny that. Whatever his motivations were, they didnât mean muchâonly impactful as long as it fed the flame, pushed her forward, inspired her to be better. Flashing her a somewhat smug and tight-lipped shrug, he may not be the best with kids, but he knew a fighter when he saw one. And he heard of her, a prodigy, name to rememberâgold and shimmering, unbreakable will.
Heâs not good with children, though, nor aims to beâher groans are fickle entertainment, inspiring a faint side-smile to sprout on his lips. âAh, then youâre not the best?â He asked, disapprovingly, shaking his head and averting his gaze elsewhereâall a show, feigned sigh, childish antics.
He wasnât expecting her request, though. Brows shooting up, he was visibly caught off guard at the waterfall of questions, blinking her way first in surprise and then in disbeliefâfollowed by a huff and furrowed brows.
âOf course I am smart!â He exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loud. Now, truth be told: he was never the top of his class when it came to grades, but of course he had to be smart. He was chosen, after all.
âBut I got a lot more to concern myself with than your grades, pipsqueak,â he teased, tantalizing words laced with mockery. Her reaction, albeit expected, had him snorting at the hot-tempered kid. âAh, yeah? I have a feeling Iâm gonna need to sit down for that one.â
There wasnât much that didnât get under Gabiâs skin â even if most of it was all because of Falco going on about becoming the armoured titan, or the other candidates trying to deny that she was the best. Short jokes certainly made it on that list of do not touch, and the fact that her grades werenât the best only irked her more.
âI am! I am the best! The very best, in fact. My grades are gonna be better than Udoâs someday if thatâs what I need!â Arms crossed over her chest, brows were drawn together in her annoyance at the topic at hand. What was this, pick on Gabi day? It didnât matter to her if her grades werenât good or she was too reckless, she would do anything to make sure she could be the best. If thatâs what it took, thatâs what it took.
Though sometimes that proved to be too much. His exclamation went right over her head, given the question she asked was completely genuine; she just seemed happy that he was, indeed, smart. âThen why donât you help me? Or... do you think Ms. Pieck would be better at that?â
Clearly deep in that thought, her bubble was burst the moment the terrible, terrible nickname surfaced. Her lips parted into an âoâ shape, surprised by it. âWhat?! Iâm not a pipsqueak! Iâll be bigger than you soon, I bet! Iâm getting taller every day, and my birthday isnât far either!â