A Transient Versus The Regular
by APs
A/N – Hi there. Seems about time I got back into these, so here you go. First of the post war matches. Not sure how it is, honestly. I haven't decided if I'll do another non-pilot match at the end, but I'm willing to hear suggestions. Maybe one will catch my fancy.
i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i
. . . no battle is ever won . . . they are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and Victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.
-William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury)
i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i
The heel found his face before the back door of his favorite, crappy dive bar banged closed behind them. Spinning back with it, a fist breezed past his nose. His forearm flashed up on pure reflex to catch the second kick like a spike through the bone. Finally, he lashed back. Hitting air inches from the lithe body.
"Shit!"
Green eyes smirked. Long powerful legs flew, peppered with sharp jabs. He snared a grin with bloodied teeth. The answering blow smashed him back into rough brick. He pushed off, ignoring inertia and the skin he left behind. Launched for the other's stomach. Stumbled. It wasn't there. A faint landing tap from behind and he hit the dirt. The kick snapped his braid to the side. Spinning, blind, he swept the other's legs. Shooting to his feet as the lithe body collapsed, he stomped hard. His foot was caught, jerked.
He met concrete, hard. Long legs tangled his, weight on his chest. Fist hammered face, once, twice. He caught the thin wrist, twisting and kicked. Long limbs trailed as the lithe body flew overhead. He scrambled round. Grabbing, wrenching, clawing. A withy arm slipped around his neck and he dropped his chin, sinking teeth in deep. It pressed further into his jaws, forcing them open and chocking. He sputtered and the arm tore from his mouth. Breath brushed his neck and he jerked his back, smashing what felt like nose.
He swung an elbow back and ribs bent. Kicking free, they fell over each other. Knees and hands and scrapes and fists. He claimed the bitten arm and yanked it into a bar, tumbling until he managed to scissor it between his legs. They sprawled against a dumpster, straining in near silence.
He smiled, "We done, or you want me to snap your arm?"
Green eyes stared at him over the long, broken nose, actually considering the question. Considering whether he'd really do it. He held the fine hand and willowy wrist tight, torquing it ever so slightly. The distinct pop in the silence was just as surprising as the jagged yelp it ripped from the taller man's lips.
He released the arm gently as possible, "Shit, man, you okay?"
The other just laid for a long moment, green eyes screwed closed. Slowly, shakily, the taller man stood. The voice that came from the unsteady body was jarringly even, "Dislocated. It does that sometimes. Sorry."
"It's alright. What do I do?"
The other held up his good hand, taking a deep breath. Then he rammed his shoulder into the dumpster. A long fingered hand clenched the bin's edge for support when strong legs buckled under hot agony. For stretching moments, the only noise in the alley was pain hitched breathing. When the taller man finally straightened, pale and trembling, green eyes avoided him behind a curtain of bangs.
"When'd that happen?" His voice seemed hushed, even to himself. Low and dark.
A green eye slid to his. He knew perfectly well when. It was the same answer as when he'd gotten all his wounds and weak spots. The same when he'd accumulated his skills and nightmares. The when that had taken more than its fair toll on their young bodies. Neither felt particularly inclined to say it out loud, though.
He spat blood, "Hell, we won."
"Hate to see the losers."
It was so deadpan, all he could do was laugh. Mostly because he didn't want to, not at all. That was when he laughed the hardest. Wiping away tears and blood, he chortled, "C'mon, I'll buy you another drink. How long you in town?"
"Only tonight. I didn't know you were here."
"Nobody does. That's the point."
They stared at each other, but green eyes didn't flinch. Done was done.
He shrugged and grinned, making toward the bar door, "Next time you're buying."
i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i
Xardion – Yes, I was trying to keep that infuriating easy to his action. I'll take your rant to mean it worked. I actually really like Une and the dynamic between those two is oddly compelling. Thanks for reading!
Hugglesbunny – Thank you and here it is.