Crying Out
The ground split the moment her fist collided with it. The hero threw himself backward, eyes wide and lips pulled back in a nervous grimace. He could feel the flames coming off of her. There was a part of her that hesitated, he'd noticed that at the last minute. That piece of her was the only reason he'd managed to avoid the blow. Akio stood up straight, brushing his tunic off and, uneasily, lifting his fists.
Why was she doing this?
"Miss Berserk? I don't mean to seem rude, but this seems very unnecessary. Why are you fighting me? You haven't committed a crime recently, I have no reason to scold you," he questioned.
Berserk spat and glared at him, speaking through clenched teeth, "I'm not a little kid for you to coddle! I'm not a fucking baby! You...you're just…" she clenched her eyes shut and trembled. The Oppressor had told her about him. His power to influence thoughts with his words. How he could convince someone to see things his way with a kind word or gentle touch. The way he was making her feel. Her cheeks began to flush.
The way he made her heart race. The warm fuzzy feeling she got when he was around. It was all a lie! It was just a trick to use her! He was not better than the Oppressor! He was just...just another user!
"You're a liar!" she screeched, hurling herself at him, with enough force to shatter the street beneath her feet.
Akio slid back, just barely avoiding the punch. He grunted, quickly bringing his fists up, blocking and deflecting the onslaught of attacks. He'd been watching her battles, even battling her himself, for the last three years. His eyes narrowed; he hadn't seen her attack with this much ferocity since the incident a year ago.
Akio caught her fist, quickly blocking a follow up attack, "Miss Berserk, I assure you, I would never lie to you. That would be rude, not to mention downright mean. I have been nothing if not completely honest. Please, believe me and we can put this silly fight to an end."
"LIAR!" she roared, unleashing her fire breath right in his face. Akio was forced to endure the full brunt of the attack, sliding along the ground with the force. He thrust his arms back, splitting the flames in two. He cringed, dodging another deadly punch. Her take off, the ground erupting again, had given her away. He made sure to thank his lucky stars, and his good ears!
No sooner had he blocked her next attack, she screamed again, unleashing another torrent of flames. This one he brushed away with his cape, only to take a vicious punch right in the chin, knocking him through a window. He quickly climbed to his feet, dodging her next attack. He blinked; he wasn't imagining things, she really was coated in flames. She spun at him, roaring and breathing flames all around her.
Even he had to cringe in the heat of that fire.
"Miss Berserk, calm yourself! You're going to make a mess!" He insisted, dodging another blow and cringing when it tore down the wall behind him. He had to get her away from any possible bystanders. Apologizing under his breath, he managed to catch her in his cape and hurl her back into the street.
Berserk managed to get free much sooner than he had hoped, bursting from the cape like a tornado of hatred and fire, spreading her destruction across the, thankfully abandoned, city block. That fire though...it was quickly becoming a problem. Already it had spread to another building.
"Miss Berserk. Please, let's talk about this misunderstanding. Whatever you wish to know, I promise to tell you only the truth. I swear it on my honor," Akio pleaded, to no avail. She charged again, somehow even faster. He tried to dodge, as he had before, but she called his feint and spun on a dime, swinging and catching him in the cheek.
He grunted, stumbling back step after step with each blow. Screaming, she slammed his cheek with a mighty hook, nearly knocking him to the ground. Akio caught himself, panting and rubbing his face. He glanced up at her.
His heart ached to see it, but he could see she was crying. Her face was bright red, her sobs interrupted by her own bitter screams and breaths of fire.
"L-liar, you lied to me, you're all just filthy fucking liars! You're ALL THE SAME!" She lunged at him, only for her fist to pass harmlessly through the air. With a frown, tears in his eyes, Akio slammed his hand down on the back of her neck, knocking her to the ground unconscious.
He quickly knelt down, turning her over and cradling her in his arms. Her face was streaked with hot, angry tears. But, she seemed almost at peace now that she'd been rendered unconscious. He bit his lip and held her closer, caressing her hair.
"Miss Berserk, I am so sorry. Please forgive me for every wrong I've made against you. Please, forgive me for this and I swear I will make it better…" He gasped when he felt her moving. He pulled back, mouth hanging open.
She slowly cracked her eyes open. Her lips quivered and she hiccuped, "You...were...holding back?" she asked, her words slurred, uneasy.
He sighed and nodded, "It is not your fault, Miss Berserk. This whole situation is mine and mine alone. Please forgive me, I never meant to hurt you."
She swallowed and bit her lip again, a few more tears rolling down her cheeks. With another hiccup, she wiped her eyes, "I'm s-sorry, Akio,"
He shushed her and held her close again. His eyes were wide, his mouth still hanging open. How had she recovered so quickly? Was she...Akio looked down at the little girl in his arms. Had she been holding back as well?