Wade growled. This fight wasn't going his way at all.
He'd headed to Luxembourg with Star under the impression that he'd be fighting one other fighter before leaving. Instead, he'd been thrown into a cage with nine other men, and he knew this would be a fight for his life.
Star had used X-Ray Eyes on the other men, so he had some advantage, no matter how small. Alas, Star had also pointed out that he had an injury of his own – one of the muscles in his back was tighter than it should be.
So far, three of the other men were unconscious, two looked wrecked, and the others were sporting various cuts and bruises. Wade wasn't in good shape himself, a blood nose, a black eye, sore ribs and a limp weren't helping his cause.
Star sat quietly in a corner, praying no one would notice her. She knew she could easily escape with Wades training and her ninja skills, but she wouldn't leave her best friend. Wade looked beat up, and she was worried about him.
Wade waited, not wanting to make the first move. The other men had the same idea. All of them wanted out of the cage, but they all knew that the only way they were getting out was through the other fighters.
Wade decided he had to do something. He feinted, and one of the other fighters fell for it, rushing at him. Wades fist connected with his face, and as he fell Wade kneed him in the guts, dropping him. The other fighters decided that Wade was the biggest man there, he had to be taken out.
Even Wade couldn't take on five men at once. Blows rained on him, and he felt the muscle in his back give out painfully. One foot hit his nether regions hard, and all the breath left his body, replaced with pain.
Star was crying. She didn't want to see this happen to Wade. She wished so badly that he hadn't banned her from using Puppet Eyes, she could have taken over one of his opponents and used them to help him. She sucked her fingers, trying to stay calm.
Wade slumped against the cage, feeling sick and sore. The other fighters had now turned on each other, giving the Englishman some breathing room. He looked towards Star and saw that she was upset. He had to get out of here and get her to safety. If she got too more upset she might do something stupid, and he'd never forgive himself if he let that happen.
Autumn had fallen around them, and it was almost a year since he'd found the poor girl in Budapest after the Battle of Buda. The fight itself had become legendary, he often heard it spoke about in underground circles. He'd almost forgotten about the fight after what had happened afterward.
The other fighters were starting to tire and thin out. Soon, there was only one left. Wade knew he had to take his chance. With a great effort against the pain, he heaved himself up and back into the fight. His opponent was wounded too, but had instinct enough to make life difficult for Wade. The pair exchanged pained blows, both of them surviving on guts alone.
Wade felt a hard blow against his face and stumbled. Sensing blood in the water, his opponent followed it up with a kick. To this day Wade has no idea how he managed to dodge the kick, but the kick missed, and Wade capitalized by clotheslining his opponent to the ground.
The fighter hit his head hard on the concrete, knocking him out. Wade had only just barely survived.
He heard the cage wall being pulled away (what, do you think underground fights bother with doors?) and he was pulled out of the carnage. Someone roughly shoved a bag of money into his already sore guts and sent him on his way.
Star hiccoughed. Wade stumbled towards her as the crowd dispersed, heading upstairs to get smashed on drugs and alcohol.
"W-W-Wade..." She sobbed as he finally made it to her, coughing up blood.
"It-it's okay L-Lucky..." Wade gasped out. "I...I'm fine..."
Star looked at him with tears in her eyes. He rested his head on her shoulder. She looked over him with X-Ray Eyes. He was in bad shape. No internal injuries to any organs thankfully, but the muscles over the back of his ribs were torn and he was covered in cuts and bruises. It looked like he had a broken rib too, and a broken cheekbone.
"Poor Wade." Star sniffled. Wade had to have a small laugh at that.
"I'm fine, really." He sat down next to her gingerly. "Ow."
"Y-your ribs are broken...y-your cheek is broken..." Star pointed out. Wade shrugged, and regretted it.
"Help me get my shirt back on kid, and let's get out of here. This is no place for a girl like you." He said. With great difficulty they got Wades shirt back on. They emptied the bag of money into Wades bag, and they headed off into the chilly night.
"Wade!" Star cried as Wade slumped over on the street against a wall.
"I'm FINE." He insisted.
Star wanted to argue, but she was too timid. Wade coughed again. Star held him tightly, trying to keep his heavy body off the cold pavement.
"C'mon...we gotta get to the airport..." Wade tried to walk, but it was difficult.
"S-should we get a t-taxi?" Star asked.
"At this time of night?" Wade looked at her. He was right, the streets were mostly empty. Star groaned.
They shuffled slowly down the street, Wade stumbling every couple of steps, his weight falling on Star, who did her best to keep herself upright.
They were sitting ducks, which was evident when two young thugs saw them and picked them as easy targets.
"Hand over your money, and we might let you go." They approached, grinning.
Wade groaned. He knew what was going to happen next. It had happened to him enough times – all of his hard-earned money was gone and even more injuries were on their way.
"G-go away!" Star tried. She couldn't let them hurt Wade! Not after everything he had done for her!
"Star, get out of here, now." Wade commanded her.
Star looked at him, shocked. Run away?!
"Good idea poppet, wouldn't want you get hurt now would we?" One of the men leered at her. Star grimaced. She wasn't going to abandon Wade. Not now. Not when he needed her.
She set Wade on some nearby steps and pulled out her headband. The men laughed as she tied it on.
"What are you doing?! Get out of here!" Wade cried, before wincing in pain.
Star activated X-Ray Eyes. Both the men were in pretty good nick, but one had a bad elbow and the other had a dodgy knee. She grinned. This was going to be too easy.
"Ooooh, we got ourselves a pretty ninja girl here!" One of them clapped his hands together gleefully.
"Rat! Tiger! Monkey! Snake!" Star weaved her hand signs.
"Lucky NO!" Wade tried to get off the steps, but the pain was too much.
"We'll have some fun with you. Make your boyfriend watch." The bigger of the two men pulled out a switchblade.
He attacked, but Star was too fast.
CRACK!
A sound like a gunshot rang throughout the street and the man howled in pain. She'd gotten him in his bad knee with Paralysis Slaps. She finished him off with a kick to the back of the head, knocking him out cold.
"You BITCH!" The other man also pulled out a switchblade. He stabbed at Star, who got him in the ribs with another Slap. He roared in fury and pain, striking out with the blade and slicing Stars forearm.
She hissed with pain, before getting his bad elbow. Furious, he slashed again, getting Stars chest this time.
"LUCKY!" Wade felt tears in his own eyes. NO! This wasn't how this was meant to work!
Actually, yes it was.
Star hit three more Paralysis Slaps before the power in her hands dissipated. That was the drawback to Paralysis Slaps – it was only good for five strikes.
The man was winded and wounded, but still able to fight. Star checked him out with X-Ray Eyes again.
"Rat! Tiger! Mon-," She tried to weave the signs again, but she was knocked off her feet by the brute. She landed heavily on her back.
Wade felt his breath catch in his throat. Without thinking, Star rolled out of the way, getting some distance between her and her attacker.
"Rat! Tiger! Monkey! Snake!" She cried. The attacker tried one more time, but five more Paralysis Slaps left him on the ground, twitching.
Blood oozed from Stars new wounds, and she started sobbing. Wade stumbled off the stairs and wrapped her up in a fierce hug, ignoring the pain in his body.
"We'd better get going before they get up." He said finally. Star nodded miserably and helped her guardian up.
They slowly made it down the street as the dawn broke over the horizon.
Awww, Stars first fight. So cute!