Clitus strolled around the back court with as much bluster as he could. This stupid feud had gone on long enough; he needed to end it definitively with a humiliating victory.
The others were taking longer than expected, probably due to either Krystal or Stephen issuing a verbal dressing down - "So Thomas, why did you end up going along with this? You're hardly the type to take up arms for the sake of it."
The blue haired boy sighed, "See that is exactly what Stephen is talking about. You're so self absorbed that you don't know anything about anyone around you! Even those you say are your friends!" He spat with disgust and hefted his weapon onto his back. He made the maneuver look effortless despite the damage it had done to the ground, and bore the huge weapon on his shoulders easily.
"My family is sworn to the Oaktrees; when Stephen is Lord I will be his Red Leaf – as my father serves his now. If you had ever thought about anything besides your own ambition, you would know that." He pointed an accusing finger. "My master's honor has been stained and we will be the ones to take vengeance." Thomas intoned with stone faced detachment.
Clitus opened his mouth to defend himself, but it was then that the rest of his opponents made their entrance. Stephen took up stance with Thomas, both standing between Clitus and Krystal – whose weapon was still in bow form.
The Faunus held what looked to be some kind of elaborate guitar case. Seemingly ignoring the impending battle, he opened the lid and began assembling something. "Well Clitus, it's over. It's four vs one and you're unarmed. You're not going to trick us again either." Stephen grinned.
Clitus returned the smile, cracking his knuckles for emphasis. He spotted a piece of dried wood and picked it up in one hand. It was nice and solid, a little wetness had set in but it would do the job. The sun fell behind the clouds and the teens were drowning in teeth flashed, Stephen retreated a step – high school sparring taught him that smile was bad news. Thomas' extensive training demanded he protect Stephen. He took a step forward, shielding his master from any impending attack.
"Wood won't win today Imperator." Krystal said.
"Oh I know, I'm just showing you..." He tossed the wood up in the air, watching it flip round slowly.
"That I am far from unarmed." He threw a sharp jab right through the wood, the whole time locking eyes with Krystal.
She fired an arrow, materializing ammunition made from her shimmering silver aura; the other two rushing forward at the signal to attack with coordination that bordered on inhuman.
He dashed forward meeting them halfway, ducking under Thomas' swing. A brief moment of indecision, not even a second.
'Target Thomas or Stephen?' He mused, until his hand shot up to block Stephen's backhanded slash.
The two former friends smiled, forgetting the circumstances, getting into the zone and dancing the familiar dance they had danced throughout their high school. Only this time, the stakes were raised.
Clitus closed in, trying to get past the two blades of Stephen's weapon, but was kept at bay by his erratic fighting style. He had got much better since the last time they fought; he forced Clitus to parry more blows than he dodged.
But one opening was all Clitus needed and Stephen always was too keen to end fights early. He dodged two slashes with side steps and finally slapped away the follow up stab. Stephen's eyes widened and Thomas had a look of horror on his face – the Red Leaf's weapon far too unwieldy to use in such close quarters.
But a silver arrow took Clitus in the back sending him sprawling into the alley. He rolled, digging his feet into the dirt as he slid back, everything beginning to add up.
"So you're calling the shots Krystal?" He charged while Thomas pulled the trigger on his weapon; the blade of the claymore spinning until the titanic warhammer took its hammer swung towards his head with terrifying force and Clitus barely leapt back in time. Forced onto the defensive, he could only dodge as the flat end of the hammer came in time and again.
He gave up too much ground; he tried to kick at Thomas' ribs – only for Stephen to fire the two blades of his knife before hit foot ocnnected. The twin chains wrapped around his bicep keeping him in place and no matter how hard he struggled Stephen held him fast. Krystal lined up her shot, too late Clitus realized the plan had always been for her to exploit any gap in his defence, he frowned, underestimating them had been a mistake.
Krystal launched an arrow straight at his heart as Clitus let his arm go slack, feigning resignation. The arrow shimmered in the air and all eyes followed its path; even Stephen's. This was why Clitus escaped.
In the moment of distraction Clitus yanked his arm as hard as he could, pulling Stephen closer and blocking the arrow with the chain. The back alley filled with light and the broken chains fell to the ground with a dull thud. Clitus rolled his shoulders with a fierce grin on his face.
He ran a hand through his bright red hair as his enemies' jaws dropped, in that moment he was no soldier - but every bit the triumphant child; "A very good try guys. Almost had me; but it's time to end this."
He dashed forward and sunk his fist into Stephen's stomach, ducking Thomas' wild hammer swing on the way. He kicked out at the bodyguard and blocked Stephen's weak punch with his left forearm. He kept his momentum and thrust his palms out to the two boys.
"Told you I was armed." He quipped as metal barbs fired from Jupiter, painfully embedding themselves under skin and a heartbeat later coursing electricity from Jupiter into Stephen and Thomas' fell to the ground in two clouds of dust, groaning and barely conscious. Clenching his fists brought the wires back into place – but he was already in combat with a whirling dervish of steel and fury.
Two scimitars dancing and singing against Jupiter, Krystal was unrelenting and vicious in her assault and she was forcing Clitus to give up ground with every spin and slice. He tried to step inside her guard, but the momentum Krystal had built up prevented him from doing so – if it weren't for her cautious nature she would be a fury on the battlefield, but she didn't have the recklessness necessary to attempt a final blow.
Clitus knew the wall was approaching and fired Jupiter from his left hand. The added weight of the ensnared blade was enough to stumble Krystal's technique and ruin her blade dance's momentum. Clitus yanked the blades down, exposing Krystal to counter attack, an opportunity he exploited with a fist to the face.
He disarmed her and pulled his barbs back into Jupiter, grabbing her right leg and sweeping the other – she was suddenly on her back with ringing ears. He planted his foot on Krystal's stomach and twisted her leg, pushing against aura and years of physical training until eventually the ankle popped with a sickening finality. She just bit her lip all the time he twisted – determined not to scream, she stared into Clitus' eyes with hellfire burning in her stare.
"Well that explains it." The Faunus said, sitting on the case he brought.
He had a huge mace lying across his lap, forged entirely from exquisite blue metal, the mace sprouted cruel yellow fangs that would shred skin bone or armor with ease. The weapon culminated in a rounded spike more commonly seen on shields – giving the wielder the chance to utilize a stab in mid range engagements. It was an impressive weapon: savage, deadly, dangerous and yet there was something distinguished about that barbaric instrument of death.
"Well it explains why I was so confident sure, but I get the feeling you're going to say something else." Clitus snapped.
"It explains why they felt they needed me." The Faunus hefted the mace as he stood.
"You say that like you're a big deal and if you are, I'd like to know whose ass I'm about to kick." Clitus smiled, his whole body thrumming with energy.
The Faunus grinned back, Clitus got the sense he was looking forward to the fight. "I am Liam de Baskerville. I'm a mercenary – originally came from Vacuo, but I'm not going to be let back home anytime soon." The dark skinned dog flashed his teeth. "You might know me as The Hound of Baskerville, it's what the press called me."
Clitus flexed his hands, pacing back and forward – a short kick making sure Krytsal's bow/scimitars were well out of crawling distance; "So not only do I get to embarrass the old gang, I get an actual challenge, too? Man I'm going to miss this place."
"Now then, let's see if you've got enough in the tank to take me on." Liam wondered aloud, his brown eyes already analyzing and calculating the alley. They settled on Clitus as he took a defensive stance; every muscle on his dark skin as taut as a coiled spring. Liam's whole being radiated violence, the only telegraph of his charge was a slight twitch in one of his ears.
"Okay, it spins when he holds that switch on the handle." Clitus noted with detachment. He used both hands to block the first blow and felt his legs tremble from the force.
"He hits too hard to block, dodging is a priority." The second blow was overhand and a thirs and fourth followed quickly. Sidestepping and ducking got him out of danger, but Liam easily swatted away his counter punch with the mace.
His aura took the hit easily, but the speed Liam had shown meant striking and counter striking were out, the only chance he had was to force Liam off balance. The two warriors circled each other, eyes analyzing every inch of each other.
Clitus feinted, throwing a false haymaker but following it up with a right hook that found home – Liam barely staggered before swinging his mace full force. Clitus met the blow with his own, Jupiter clashed with the mace once, twice, thrice and Clitus came off worseeach time. The fourth blow managed to slip through his guard.
"Sloppy, Clitus" His dad lectured in his head.
His lecture was cut short as Liam's backhanded blow connected flush with his chest – the flangs of the mace ripped the left side of his shirt clean away, the Imperator crest embroidered there falling into the hit the wall with a terrifying crash, his ears ringing and eyesight blurred. Liam put his mace over his shoulder, casually strolling past his fallen comrades. The mercenary assumed the fight was won and was in no rush to deliver the killing blow.
"I need to finish this now, or else it's over." Clitus thought.
He summoned what aura he could, forcing himself out of the wall and falling to one knee. His face contorted in pain as he noticed the wound the mace left on his chest – painful but not life threatening.
"I still have full movement, I only need three seconds of complacency."He raised his head, staring defiantly at his executioner. Clitus nursed his left arm and fired Jupiter from his right hand. Liam dodged to the side, barely even breaking stride. The hound whistled a tune.
"You know, I think you were worth coming out of retirement for. Rich kid like Oak there paying me ten times my rate for a very enjoyable little scrap? That's an easy decision." He raised his mace, instinct or training making him extend his left arm for guidance.
"But I got to hold up my end of the deal, nice knowing…" Liam began before being interrupted.
Clitus grabbed his wrist, clamping his right hand around it like a vice. The Faunus hissed in pain, but before he could react Clitus slammed his left palm up under his enemy's bicep.
Liam called out in pain, but Clitus followed it up with a trio of lefts to the chest – driving the wind out of his foe. Liam tried to pull away, Clitus was inside his range – an area where the Atlesian excelled; a final left punch form Clitus sealed Liam's fate. Delivered with military precision to the exact point Liam's shoulder met his left arm – the mercenary howled in pain.
Clitus slipped under his arm and slammed a knee into Liam's back, forcing him to his knees. He locked his arms around the Faunus' throat – cutting off his air, making sure to pull the windpipe upwards to bring the fight to an end powered to his feet, struggling to the last. Clitus wrapped his legs around the mercenary's waist – securing his position and increasing the pressure on the Faunus' windpipe. With his left arm useless Liam had no way to dislodge him.
"You lost this fight Baskerville, all that a military trained grappler needs is three seconds. You gave me seven." Clitus huffed, gasping for breath. His every muscle screamed, but Liam was fading fast, all he needed was a little longer.
"Next time, take me seriously- then we'll see what you've got." He said, adding a bit of aura into his hold – the Faunus collapsed forward unconscious. Sending knives through Clitus' wounded chest. Clitus saw stars, but when he rolled over to his back, he couldn't help but grin.
The sky had turned stormy during the fight and with the rain beginning to fall, small puddles were forming, washing away the blood and silk which had been spilled. For a moment Clitus considered attempting to salvage his crest and the shirt his father had gifted him. Then he realized Liara was sleeping off a good meal while he fought a bunch of noble brats and their pet mercenary.
He pushed the swing door into Vert's feeling five years older than when he walked out into the alley a few minutes earlier. The thrill of battle was fading quick, so he needed an artificial high to replace it.
"Black coffee Vert. Strong as you can please." He asked, ignoring the chef's squeals at his wound.