ViLeonce
Chapter 4: Unpredictable One
Vi practically skipped home. Her face was alight with a smile she hadn't worn in a long time. When she got to her home she ran up the stairs to change into her sparring uniform- a replica of her regular uniform that she didn't have to iron or keep pristine like her real one. She then ran downstairs and into the garage where her gym was set up.
She had some help setting the place up, but she had designed the layout herself. A boxing ring was sitting square in the middle with a weights on either side and a track that looped around the whole area. It was spacious and well lit. In the corner was a stand that held her gauntlets, and she went over to them and powered them on.
She disconnected them from the stand and fastened them to her own arms. The clamps sealed around her arms and she tested the fingers. They moved as she willed them to move. She then smashed her fists together twice, as was her usual ritual. She then moved over to the Dummy and popped her neck looking at it.
It was a large replica made of metal that would give a little, but was very very difficult to break or bend out of shape. Vi had it shaped to look vaguely like Caitlyn, as a joke, to which Caitlyn has never really approved of. Every time Vi landed a huge blow on the thing she felt better about the suspension. Maybe that's why she liked it.
After a few minutes of throwing some practice swings at the Dummy she got a knock at the entrance to the garage. She was breathing heavy, but she walked over to the wall and pressed a button with one of her large fingers. Caitlyn wisely suggested all of her buttons and switches be reinforced, gauntlets or no, Vi was pretty rough with her things.
As the door rose, the rays of the late morning sun swept in and illuminated the gym. Draped in the sunlight, Leona stood in her golden armor. She had a shield on her arm, and her sword was resting at her side. She hefted the blade and walked into the gym, looking around.
"This is a nice setup," she remarked then looked at Vi's flushed features, "Start without me?"
"Just warming up, you sure you can handle all of this?" Vi asked, flexing her arms in an Adonis pose.
Leona scoffed, "Bring it on, tough chick."
They both climbed into the ring and circled each other. Vi slowed her breathing back to normal as Leona rolled her shoulders in preparation. They both locked eyes, stern expressions on their faces. Vi clenched and unclenched her hands, just waiting. Finally Vi was about to speak when Leona rushed her and smashed her in the face with her shield.
She stumbled backwards, slightly dazed then recovered and ducked a sword blow. Leona pressed the attack; swinging the large and heavy blade down and then back across for another sweep. Vi gave ground and moved her back to the ropes, then ducked another swing and looped back around. She threw her first punch which Leona spun and blocked. The fist pinged painfully off of the hard metal.
"Gah! What is that thing made of?" Vi yelled shaking her hand.
"Honor!" Leona roared and then lunged again.
Vi grinned, but had to dodge another attack. She then swung her fists in tight wide arcs, looking for an opening. Leona tanked each hit and shrugged them off like they were nothing. She forced Vi to step backward and get in disadvantageous positions. It was after the first minute or two that Vi truly learned how effective a fighter this calm woman really was. She was fast and precise, never wasted any movement.
She was also forcing Vi to move where she wanted. Vi was a lighter fighter, and had obviously superior footwork. Leona turned that advantage into a liability by limiting angles of engagement. She was like a puppet in Leona's fingers- and she loved it.
As they traded blow after blow, Vi got more and more happy. She never felt so elated in recent memory. Leona was amazing to watch, and even more amazing to learn from. The lessons were painful though when Leona parried a punch with her sword, stepped in, and whacked Vi in the torso with a sickening thud.
Vi backed up, trying to catch her breath. Leona backed off and set her shield and sword down, and massaged her forearms, she also breathing harder.
"Your punches feel like falling mountains," Leona said, grinning, "My shield arm went numb."
"Your shield arm is numb?" Vi mocked in between gasps, "Every time I landed a hit on that stupid thing my whole skeleton went numb. Seriously, what is that thing made of?"
"The smiths of my ancestors forged it long ago, I don't know the metal or the technique," Leona admitted, strapping her shield on again, "Now are we going to have a history lesson or are you going to get up so we can fight?"
Vi just smiled and heaved herself back into stance. This time, Leona stepped forward aggressively like before but Vi decided she was done giving ground. She stepped forward too and pushed Leona back by her shield. Leona raised it to cover her face, and in a second lost sight of Leona. She had stooped low, and when Leona lowered her shield to look she must have thought she had vanished.
Leona lowered her guard for a second and that's when Vi sprang up and hammered a blow right into Leona's midsection, knocking her back. Leona seemed stunned for a second, and Vi viciously pressed the momentary advantage. She dropped punch after punch on her shield, knocking her to the ground. Vi backed up and let Leona get back to her feet. After a quick nod Vi rushed her and dodged over to the side. Leona wheeled her shield over and was about to hit her with it when Vi caught it.
She opened her hand up, palm forward, and caught the shield wrapping her fingers around it tightly, she then yanked the shield out of Leona's hand.
Leona gasped in surprise, but took hold of her sword with both hands. She tried to swing and lunge, but without her shield she was a goner, and they both knew it. Vi tossed the shield away and lunged at her. Leona tried to parry but a few hits knocked her sword out of her hand. Leona stood there, defeated, and stared deeply into Vi's eyes.
She held the stare for what was probably only a few seconds, but it felt like hours to Vi. She couldn't tear her eyes away. She was flushed from the fighting, but she instantly felt her cheeks get hot and she could feel her heart beating in her throat. Finally the only sound in the room was the sound of heavy breathing. Vi nodded and went over to the side of the ring to get out, desperately breaking the stare. Leona retrieved her gear and exited the ring as well.
"That was a good fight," Leona asked, trying to get her cheerful demeanor back.
"Yeah it was," Vi said, awkwardly deadpanning before putting her gauntlets back on their stand.
Leona started to say something, but she just sputtered off and she walked over to the door.
"I guess I'll see you someti-" Leona began.
"What the Void is going on between us?" Vi demanded, turning and almost yelling.
Leona just looked at her, not upset, not anything really. Just a blank stare.
"Because, I can't stop thinking about you, and you won't stop being all cheerful with me. What's going on?" Vi demanded again.
Leona for the first time looked really timid. She looked at her feet and breathed in deeply. She then tossed her hair and looked back at her. Vi thought the whole action was really sexy.
Vi then caught herself thinking like that again and threw up her arms in defeat. Leona cleared her throat awkwardly and said,
"I just, I really like you Vi. I like you a lot."
Vi turned to face her and took a few steps towards her.
"Like me? You like me how?" Vi said, still hot and bothered.
"You said you can't stop thinking about me. Does that mean you like me too?" Leona asked, suddenly turning the advantage to her.
Now it was Vi's turn to be shy. She scratched the side of her head and thought about it for just a second.
"When I look at you, it's like I get really hot. And sick. It's hard to explain, but the feeling is great. It's, it's intoxicating actually," she said.
Leona smiled.
"And, I just, I don't know. Is this right? Should we even be doing this?" Vi asked, helpless.
Leona took a few steps towards her and when they were at arms reach she stopped and looked right into Vi's eyes.
Vi was a tiny bit taller, so she had this cute way of looking up at her. Leona smiled sweetly and said,
"I guess we'll just have to find out," she said.
Vi grinned dumbly then nodded her head up and down coolly, "I guess we will."
Leona left right after they spoke, but Vi didn't stop thinking about her all day. She was flustered, but also excited and terrified. The feeling was exhilarating. Vi rolled her shoulders in her kitchen before getting a drink. She downed a gulp and realized she didn't want to get drunk again. So she shelfed the drink and got a non-alcoholic one instead. The sweetness of the day and the beverage carried her off to bed where she slept soundly. Her dreams were filled with smiles and sunshine, and she couldn't wait for the next time she got to see her.