Didn't want to keep you guys waiting too long =). Written whilst listening to The Humbling River by Puscifer and Rest Calm and Song of Myself by Nightwish. Thank you to TheLoveDov and Screamer's girl for reviewing, and thanks to UnForGettable323 for faving this story and putting it on your alert list! I don't think I have anything else to say, so, on with the chapter!
P.S. - If there are any mistakes, I apologise in advance, I'm not exactly feeling too great and probably shouldn't be sitting in front of a computer screen, so this has only been proof-read halfheartedly =P.
It was coming to an end. Bloodied and battered, Twilight and Cyclonus faced each-other at opposite ends of the ring. They were both covered in gashes and leaking a steady trail of energon. Twilight removed her mask.
"Surely you're not giving up now?" He chuckled.
"Don't count on that for a second." She grinned wickedly. The three 'entrepreneurs' had started taking in credits for bets again, finding a way around the tables that ensured that their optics didn't leave the fight.
All Decepticons froze as Twilight swung a perfectly-aimed punch at Cyclonus, only to have him meet it with his own fist. He winced as her claw blades cut deep into his hand, but didn't lose sight of his plan. Without giving the femme time to react, he drove his fist down towards the floor with so much force that her claw blades snapped. They snapped. She flinched, but stayed silent.
Shaking his hand, three sharp pieces of metal fell out of the gouges she had left, her claw blades now reduced to useless little stumps. Once again, quicker than anyone could react, Cyclonus used his other hand to grab her remaining set of blades. The razor sharp weapons sliced into the thinner armour of his palm, but he did not relent until he had snapped the other three.
Twilight growled, wrenching away from his grip, warnings blaring all over her processor. She sheathed what was left of her claw blades, watching as Cyclonus raised his hand and dropped the three blades to the floor.
Sighing, she held back a smile. She had fought with all she had, and he had defeated her. For the first time in her life, she had been beaten at her own game. But of course, she had to show the damn mech that her blades weren't her only means of causing damage.
So, to everyone's surprise, the fight continued, but only for a moment. True, Twilight had different styles of attacking other than her claw blades, but she was greatly hindered without them, and the pain emanating from where they once were was too strong to ignore. She soon found herself on the floor, Cyclonus' foot placed firmly across her neck.
"Now do you yield?" She scowled at him, reaching into her subspace to pull something out. Thinking it was a weapon of some sort, he subspaced his own and aimed it at her arm. But, to everyone's shock, she pulled out a white cloth, that quickly became soaked with energon. Sighing with a crooked smile, she spoke up.
"Yes, Cyclonus, I yield." He couldn't believe it. He'd done it. He'd actually fragging done it. The crowd was silent and still as neither warrior moved for a moment. Cyclonus eventually lifted his foot and held out a hand to help her up. With that same crooked smile, she accepted his help, allowing him to pull her to her feet. She spoke to the crowd, surprised that she could even find a voice loud enough to address them all.
"Decepticons! Cyclonus has defeated me in single combat! Rules are rules, therefore I am staying stationed on Chaar!" The crowd cheered, chanting the names of the two soldiers. Twilight laughed.
"And may I just say, I am fragging grateful that that wasn't a fight to the death!" The Decepticons laughed along with her. She walked back into the ring, picking up the six slivers of sharp metal that were once attached to the backs of her hands.
After Frenzy, Rumble and Swindle had finished sorting the credits - and probably keeping more than they gave the winner - Twilight and Cyclonus shook hands, bowing slightly to each-other as a sign of respect. It wasn't long before Hook ushered them out to the med-bay, and Soundwave sighed to himself.
'Don't get cold feet now, Sister.'
After Scavenger had finished welding Twilight's claw blades back in place, and Hook was absolutely certain that the repairs would hold, the two soldiers left the med bay. They were stuck in an awkward silence as they walked back to their quarters. Cyclonus was the one to break it.
"Apologies for the damage to your blades." She sent him an incredulous look, giggling slightly.
"Why are you apologising? The whole point of the match is to cause as much damage as you can so that you come out as the victor." He sighed.
"I know, but... Looking back on it, it seemed a little... Unnecessary." She laughed again.
"Don't worry about it, it was impressive. No-one's ever thought of that before." He sighed again.
Why was she praising him for causing her pain? He would never understand this femme. Her visor flipped up and she smiled at him. Cyclonus hadn't noticed until then that they'd reached their quarters.
"Well, I'll see you later. If you want to comm. me the time that you want us to go out, I'll make sure I'm free." His optics widened and he stammered for a moment before finally getting his words out.
"You were being serious about that?" She laughed at his reaction.
"Yes, Cyclonus, I was. Okay, so maybe at the time I wasn't, because - narcissistic as it sounds - I didn't expect to be defeated, but rules are rules." A slightly sheepish look took over her face-plates.
"Unless, of course... You don't want to, then that's fine." He shook his head frantically.
"No! I didn't mean it like that! Umm... How about tomorrow evening, around eight?" She nodded, sending a crooked smile his way.
"Sure thing, I'll meet you at the base entrance." He nodded.
"See you then." She shut the door to her quarters after her, leaning back onto it. Sighing, she smiled.
"I can't wait."
And it's all coming together nicely so far (I think XD)!
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers or any of the characters I use in this story, apart from Twilight.