— 𝐌. | 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫. before the duo prepare: they ( @kryptoian ) smile as she promises to keep her competitive streak at bay. the floor beneath them knows this dance well, make - believe and serious all at once: a practice round for refinement, a game of tag between small friends. the parameters have been set: the feet remain against the mat, their soles never to kiss the air for more than a second at a time. they spar with their hands, wrestle with strong shoulders, nothing else. now: there is nothing but space between them. vast emptiness, enough room to run towards or against each other. Are you ready? she calls against the hollow space, a bell of a voice against still air. the firm Yes that is returned, the nod of his head, brings a grin to her cheeks. Then we go on three.... and count correctly. underneath her feet, under the soles of her shoes, she feels the coolness of the floor; it is familiar to her, almost another ( beloved ) part of her. [ 1.... ] she watches as their stance changes, and for a moment she feels as if they are preparing for something more serious than this. [ 2... ] the air shifts and stills. its molecules twist and her eyesight, By Athena, sharpens. [ 3... ] their eyes meet. they are in the throes of combat.
it is a quickfire of movements. a jab, dodged; an elbow thrust, dodged. they spin against each other as if caught in a breeze. from both their mouths fall a steady stream of sound, living words made null in this space; they communicate through grunts, the scuffling of shoe against the floor. they are close to each other now. He throws punch her way, fist closed and swift --- and the world seems to slow down. a step is taken backwards with one foot, the hands reach up and one wraps around their wrist, the back of the other against opposing chest; the upper-hand, however slivered, is something she finds comfort in, and it is lost as soon as it is gained: they are quick to knock from her grasp ( she, quick to regain her footing, ) and they separate once more.
❝ you are better since last we fought. ❞ in this lull of combat, she takes a moment to banter –– she gives a breathy laugh, stretches one arm behind her back. she returns to her position, one foot behind the other, body prepared for movement. ❝ it is impressive. let us go again. ❞
