pspspspsp Of Discordant Fists and Bloody Keys Chapter 6 has been published, feel free to read on your favorite platform!
[4.3k, no warnings, oc x killer]
[ao3]
[ffn]
[wattpad]
[quote]
"What are you wrapping your hands for? You didn't for the raid." Mays eyed Renna curiously from where he laid atop the helm, head dangling off the edge upside down.
"I always should," she remarked as she finished fastening one wrap and moved on to the next. "But I didn't have much time before the raid. Wrapping protects my carpals and metacarpals from potentially breaking upon impact. If I do not have time to do so, I can simply fight relying more heavily on my legs and sturdier joints."
"Uh-huh..."
It was something Renna had learned from an early age—how to properly fight so she didn’t irreplaceably damage her own body in the process. She fastened the end of her second wrap, then curled and flexed her fingers experimentally, punching her fist into her palm. It felt good and supportive, neither too tight nor too loose. She stood and began jumping quickly back and forth, giving her arms several experimental swings. It wasn’t a complete warm-up as she would prefer, but she doubted she would have to go full out, so she could treat it as if the spar was a warm-up itself.
“Alright boys, I’m ready.”
“Hell yeah!” Mays rolled backwards from the helm and landed in a squat over Beck, who sat leaning against the helm on the deck.
“Any rules?” Beck asked.
“Anything goes. Win by pin or submission?” They nodded their agreement.
“Can we do one on one?” Renna nodded and got into her ready position.
Beck pulled a coin from his pocket and flipped into the air calling, “Heads!” Instead of catching it though, he let it fall to the deck. Mays punched the air triumphantly and squared up with her first, while Beck retrieved his coin and retreated to the upper deck.
On the upper deck, nearly the whole crew was gathered to watch them, including Captain Kid and Killer. Overall, the crew seemed to agree it would be entertaining to watch no matter the outcome. A few had their biases for bets they had placed, though. Renna didn’t care if they gambled or not, this was simply another way to keep herself sharp. Placing herself against a variety of opponents ensured she never got foolishly comfortable in her abilities, always looking for and strengthening her weaknesses.
“Kick her ass!” Rascal cheered.
“Wipe the floor with ‘im, doc!” Mikio yelled in an attempt to drown out Rascal.
Bolt seemingly maintained an air of strict professionalism as he handled the bets, but Renna had her doubts. With the way he and Mikio were like two peas in a pod, she had a feeling whomever Mikio rooted for would also have his full (indifferent) support.
Beck raised his arm, “Ready… Fight!”
