Glad to be back! Would you guys want longer chapters that are biweekly or shorter weekly chapters? I am still writing this so I want to get a better outlook on what would be preferable. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think!
I was going to be asking for more money, I did the job with a fucking concussion and I did it exactly to the book. I didn't care if the deadline was close, I did real work and had the spots of bullet fire to prove it. Luckily I had utilized my cape, but the suit didn't completely counter their force. My body was wrecked and this might be my last night. Once I got my smaller payday it might just be best to leave while these were my only injuries. I still had my life and those weren't something you couldn't buy back. This was potentially Ember's last night where I wouldn't have any lingering guilt leaving her alone if she wasn't going to be coming either.
I had gotten around to get her a little birthday present. A burner phone seemed like the best way to stay in contact. I had wanted to reach out beyond Friday nights and there hadn't been a way. There were just times I wanted to talk to another human being. Also I did kind of want to stay in contact if she left, she was mysterious and interesting. I would wonder if she was okay late at night and the phone would give me the chance. If she didn't ever get back to me, well at least I wouldn't have any what ifs. Though as I got closer to the club maybe it would have just been better to get some stolen diamonds and not something with this much thought. Would it come off creepy? Was she even allowed to have a phone? How could I get it to her where Fallen couldn't see?
They weren't there yet when I arrived from the lack of Fallen's bike. That was fine. I needed to get the files over to Boss Bitch and the sooner I could accomplish that the better.
That sentiment was multiplied when I saw familiar faces that I never wanted to see again. I had faint recognition that Ember tried to warn me something fishy was happening, but this was like a nightmare come to reality. It must be fucking Gotham night or something because hell was empty and all the devils were here. The clowns laugh coming from the distance was almost enough for me to book it out with research still on my person. Though it was no good to me since I didn't know what to do with it. I of course took photos on a digital camera, but hadn't connected them to the cloud yet. I just felt like I needed my own records in case I needed it.
How did they find out a way to make this place worse? This was a clear visual of almost everything I had left Gotham. There was no where to move up if you were broke and broken. If you got lucky you got out and tried to start over. I had made it through school, but the over 85% of my class weren't so lucky. I had wanted to be safe and have sunlight and well to stay with Isabel. She had wanted to attend the nursing program in this city from 2nd grade. She had for a time, but even in the sunshine and abundance of heroes she didn't make it. I wanted to scream. I had worked so hard not to worry about being taken hostage by half the people in this room. It was a completely different vibe too. The walls were redone with classier décor that graffitied posters. The lights had gone red which gave off reflections of blood. It had gained a more industrial vibe with just a touch of we have laundered money.
I quickly tapped a waiter and expressed I had a meeting in the balcony. They departed and I stood with my back to a pillar untrusting of my current company. Though fortunately I was met with a quick invitation up. I didn't feel like rubbing shoulders with my 'equals'. Luckily it didn't seem like I was being punished this time as I was able to walk right in to see her. She was dressed very much so to the nines with a dress that probably cost tuition and diamonds that were certainly worth more than my bid. Oh I was sure as hell going to request an extra 20% if you're going to show up like that when I am peppered with the hard work it takes.
"Good evening, Mr. Red X I see you have my long awaited package." She said with a smile that did reach her eyes which made it that much creepier. I did not appreciate her mention of my extra time.
"Good things come those who wait. Though I'm expecting a 5% increase for every bullet I took which is a neat 50%." It was only 7, but in haggling you start high.
"That sounds amendable." The fact she didn't even try and lower down my increase made me wish I had asked for more. Though I should have guessed to her money was a number, not blood and sweat. I wondered if the big prize was even a blip on the head's radar. What's lifechanging money to one is pocket change to another. I was tempted to do something to disrupt her visage of wealth and unconcern, but I did want the money. It would cover the rest of my education so it wasn't worth losing.
"When can I expect to get paid?" I was in it for the money not for anything else and I was read for that to be available to me.
"You can pick it up at the bar when you leave tonight. Thank you." She said pointedly as I hadn't actually handed her anything. I did so and she did a quick scan before setting it on a table. "You're dismissed." She said and the door opened behind me. Cool, I was ready to be out of here anyway. "Actually.." I turned back around and saw she was holding a bottle of what looked like champagne with two silver bangles and a bow. "Why don't you deliver this to our lovely Miss Ember. You have been sending quite a lot of time with her." I didn't like the tone her voice took. It was like she knew something I did not. Though she was clearly making a point that Ember had more favor than I did. Was she trying something sinister or was this possessive.
"Whatever." I said and took the bottle from her manicured claws.
"Make sure you both mingle tonight, this is a rare opportunity and should not be squandered." I wanted to chuck the bottle back at her for insinuating I should mingle. I might wear a mask and be on the wrong side of the law I wasn't hurting anyone. These were monsters, terrorists, and people that needed to be put away.
I didn't respond as I left out the door with my hand at my side showing a specific finger.
The vibe of the club was different. Killer Croc was sitting at my booth, yet I did not have it in me to want to cause a stink. I was truly about to march right up to the bar and get my money when a tall figure fell into view. She fell from the rafters directly in front of me which caused me to jump and drop the bottle, which she swooped to catch before it added to the floor. The definitely cleaned up the club, but still glass was unescapable.
"Gorgeous, while I'm glad to see you, I also would appreciate not to have a heart attack." I said trying to be light, but I was too wound up from our current company. I looked up to see Fallen up above as well. There was a lack of seating without a Gotham elite already in it and I could not blame them to escape.
"Sorry, I've been worried about you all week. How are you?" The hand that wasn't holding the bottle hovered over my face. I appreciated she didn't bear hug me since I was feeling the bad choices I had made still. I had somehow done my job on Sunday, but the concussion had only just faded and my body had taken some bad bruises on the job. I wasn't doing well, not at all. Though I knew I was lucky I was just tenderized instead of Swiss cheese.
"Could be worse, Cutie. Don't suppose this is the night we ditch and run away together?" I exaggerated running away together so she's catch the joke. Was it a joke? I was ready to get out of here, but I didn't want to leave her the wolves either. Though I was conflicted what I could actually help her with. She was bigger and stronger, but I still felt as though I had more power.
"I won't stop you from running, only envy I cannot follow. Do you want this back?" She asked addressing the bottle.
"No that's actually yours, from Boss Lady." I saw Ember look down and see the note that had been tied to the bow.
"To our partnership." She read aloud and I saw her lips form a grimace.
"I think she might have a crush on you." I said since it was just the vibe I was getting. She laughed off my opinion.
"I think whoever is above her had plans for me and I do not like it. Would you like to come up?" She asked and I saw she was referring to the rafters. I didn't want to, but I wanted to find a way to talk to Ember and pass off my phone. "Fallen is concerned I'll start a fight with the wrong person if I talk to people." I mean there was evidence to that, but I wouldn't blame her.
"I don't particularly feel like hanging out with Fallen." I was being honest. Best case scenario I could get her to come outside with me alone, but I would go up if she didn't leave me with another choice at least I wouldn't be rubbing shoulders down here.
"I am sorry for him, he went rougher than he needed to last week. We could go to our table?" I looked and saw that Killer Croc was leaving. Maybe he found this wasn't his scene either. Maybe he was the smartest out of all of us.
"You decide, Birthday girl." I said and caught a tick in her cheek. Well good thing I didn't open with happy birthday.
"I think I can handle sitting on something intended to be a chair." She said to me and then clucked her tongue which caught Fallen's attention and pointed to where she was headed. He nodded and went back to writing what ever it was in one of her notebooks. She was wearing a jacket which struck me as a bit odd since she hadn't before. Though it probably brought some comfort considering there would be fresh eyes unaware of her power and boundaries.
"He's writing a synopsis of everyone here since I have not experienced the Gotham crowd. I think he was a little spooked when we arrived." I couldn't blame his this was like an unfun house.
"Yeah I'm not exactly thrilled myself, present company excluded, Cutie." I said as we sat down and she took in the bangles that had been on the bottle.
"Are you a former Gothamite?" She had a smidge of uptalk in her speech as if she was trying out the word.
"Yep, can't say I visit back much for a reason. Most of them are by the bar." It had been quite annoying to be in a hostage situation every month in school. We even had drills. The police force just sucked so bad and the Bat wasn't always as fast as the news made you think.
"I'm sorry, I have avoided it myself. I prefer places with more sun. Jump provides that sufficiently." She said and tapped the metal of the bangles with her nail and then together.
"Won't find much there. Are you staying in Jump?" I had resisted asking until it came up naturally, but I had burning with the what ifs.
"For now yes, though my meeting did not go well." She said and finally slid the bangles on her left wrist. They clashed with her copper, but she must of liked them enough or was being polite.
"What happened?" I was curious, relieved she would be staying, but her tone was dour.
"Bad things, my head just finally stopped ringing from all the electricity. I had a bit of a moment and they decided to shock me out of it." I knew she didn't like the electricity from Fallen's escrimas. She had asked me not to shock her if we did battle. I had been shocked too accidentally and purposely and I knew the ringing. "I had a seizure."
"Fuck, are you okay? Should you even be here?" My cousin had epilepsy and it had scared the shit out of me when one day she went down all the sudden on some stairs. Medication had helped, but I always kept an extra eye when I was with them.
"It was a minor one, but it was bad timing, in a bad situation." She took her hair pin out of her hair. "Though while I do not fully understand how, I have another year here."
"That's good at least, what you wanted." I said since I had plenty of holes still, but I wanted to give her some peace.
"I am conflicted in what I want right now." She said and twirled her pin before sticking it in the table. "Are you okay? I really was worried about you all week." She put her arm behind my neck and had gotten closer to say that quietly.
"I have a couple more bruises from my job, but I've felt worse. I was worried about you too." This was a good chance to slip her the phone. I pulled it from my belt and tucked it into her boot where she froze when I touched her leg. "A little birthday present, might be able to make it so you worry less." She nodded when she seemed to be less concerned with what I was doing.
"Thank you, I think worrying less would be quite a gift. Would you like some of this?" She asked as a waiter brought us empty glasses for the champagne.
"I'm kind of avoiding anything that can make my head hurt for a bit." A hangover was not in my plans after my week of a concussion.
"I can respect that, X. Do you need me to do anything for you?" She said referring to her pressure point tricks. Though a million responses flooded my brain and a good half of them would leave me with a palm print across my face.
"While I do enjoy Nurse Ember, I don't think there is much you can do for me. I'm gonna jet early, you know you can come with me if you want a break from Fallen." I offered hoping this time she would say yes since she wasn't happy with him and currently keeping a little distance.
"Thank you, though I need to stay for more details about my task. He doesn't know I am upset with him, anyway. I'm just trying to get over it quickly." She said and opened the champagne with a pop cork aimed straight up where she caught it's descent.
"Doesn't sound too healthy." I said as she poured herself a glass. I had doubt in her coping skills.
"I often lose when I try to fight him verbally. English is not my strongest language so he always has an advantage. We also have an arrangement where I can not be passive aggressive either. So my options are to forgive him quickly or hit him." I had suspicions that she wasn't confident in English with her inclinations when speaking.
"Can I state I am pro-hitting him?" She shook her head, but I saw a smile had come to her face.
"I think that is fair considering last week. Unfortunately for me that often has more consequences than it is worth. I expected this to be better for how expensive this likely is." She said scowling at the glass, but then proceeded to drink more.
"Somethings aren't worth the mark up." I said and decided to backtrack a little and try a bit. I was curious now. "May I?" I asked and she handed me the glass she was using with a ring of blue lipstick. It was champagne. I didn't have anything but the cheapest barefoot version to compare it to, but it was champagne still.
"People buy the pretty bottle I guess." I said confirming that I thought she was right. "It's better with juice." She smiled at my comment.
"I think most alcohol is, if you're drinking it for taste." She said and then ordered a whole bottle of Vodka. "Though I may crave to feel free from my current circumstances, Jinx last week made me grateful to have a different metabolism than humans." She pointed to where Jinx was surrounded in the big table with a mix of lower Gotham villains and the HIVE Five. She seemed bored as she was checking her phone on and off. She had been rather wasted and it had been a weird relief she had a hero on speed dial to save her day. Though something in her sentence caught me funny. She had not really included herself in the human or meta classifications she threw out.
My current theory was she was an Atlantean. Makes zero sense with the fire powers, but the lung capacity and the height fit. Also why she was willing to show so much of her face. Atlanteans were more like humans, but some had weird eyes. Fish eyes would definitely ruin the aesthetic. They were also supposedly hardier and could be targets for some mad scientist. It would also make the language barrier make sense, but only a theory.
"I think that my experience watching you after those fries, makes me grateful too." I didn't want to bring up bad things when she was having a shit day, but it came to mind. I didn't want her to fall into an unintended stupor in a place like this again.
"Now I want fries…I wonder if its safe to eat them again since now they want me to work for them." She seemed speculative. I was worried about her getting deeper in this web just as I was getting out.
"They don't have any reason to 'motivate' me, but it's your gamble." I said though I was of agreement that those were somehow the best.
"Your job went okay?" She asked tentatively.
"Got shot, so I have some sore spots, but I could be worse off." She put her bottle down and studied me.
"Your suit did it's job well enough?" She had gotten close again as if we were trading secrets. I respected she did not want to expose any of my weaknesses.
"It's not as bulletproof as you seem to be, but nothing I can't handle." I said and decided if this was going to be my last night here I might as well play dangerous. I ordered the fries when a waiter passed. "Will you be mad if this is my last night?" I was curious and she was still close enough we could whisper.
"I will be envious and relieved, though I will miss your presence. It's very smart X and I hope you do it." She grabbed my hand at the last part. It was nice to have her blessing since I really was ready to get out of this. No contracts, just a rare moment of playing Robin hood here and there.
"Aye what are we whispering about?" This was Seemore's voice as he settled himself across from us and brought over a friend. He was at least a decade older than us, red haired, and seemed to have a boomerang strapped across his chest. I didn't immediately recognize him as a high level Gotham villain, but maybe he was new. " Thought you would like to meet someone who speaks your language, Ember." Ah he had to be Australian.
"I do not think I asked you to think for me. Ember." She said and held out a hand which seemed like an automatic gesture.
"Captain Boomerang. I have to say while you're not the typical Sheila I go for, it certainly is a brat party." He was looking her up and down. He seemed sleezy, but I didn't exactly feel like making an introduction nor abandoning her.
"You're not the typical Sheila I go for either, mate. Sorry I am more in the mood for throwing punches than small talk tonight." Her tone was dismissive and I probably should have passed along the recommendation to mingle. Though if I was out it wouldn't really matter. It's not like Ember had tried to make friends in her time here anyway, besides me. Though I also caught the sapphic undertones as loud as Emily Dickenson. Well that was interesting information, but then again she had clarified her type was human rather than a gender.
"Maybe you are more like the typical chickie I go for." He laughed and caught a waiter to bring him a beer. I had to assume if he was getting pawned off on us, no one wanted to deal with him any longer. Or someone in the HIVE Five wanted Ember to do her thing.
"Maybe you should look elsewhere, now and otherwise." She took her half filled bottle and drank down a decent gulp. "Seemore I think you had better go back to your table and take care of Jinx, I do not want another week like the last." She had definitely taken a more aggressive posture, yet she entwined our fingers in a gesture I knew she meant to imply she was taken. I didn't have her like that, but I was happy to keep my mouth shut and play along.
"Yeah, from what she remembers I'm glad at least you were there. For the record I never doubted you." Seemore seemed to take half the hint and took off back to his table. I realized Jinx must of collected on her bet. Though Captain Boomerang hadn't taken the hint.
"So where are you from, certainly not the North with that accent?" He must of really gone through the lot of people if they didn't want to talk to him.
"The accent is from Bondi, though I am not. I spend most of my time in your neighbor." She answered trying to get him disinterested since he was playing blind anywhere else.
"Oye so you're a kiwi, not a lot of heroes down there. Wonder how you ended up here? I particularly like the diamond supply, but you can't beat the food." This dude reminded me of Control Freak he just wanted to talk at people. She let go of my hand and leaned over the table so he was in arms length. I couldn't see her face now, but her posture changed as she reached forward to touch his face.
"Do you want to know my favorite thing about men with Beards?" Her voice had changed from dismissive to flirtatious and I knew nothing good was going to come from this. "They remind me of candles, with easy to lit wicks." Her hair fired up and I saw a blue flame engulf her thumb. He jerked back before anything could actually light and he had the audacity to laugh.
"Well never met a chickee that's a functional Molotov. I get the point, I'll get out of your hair if you get out of mine." He said and scooted back hands up in surrender and went to walk over the bar leaving his beer behind. That seemed unnecessarily aggressive, but she had given fair warnings.
"Well that was a good reminder to shave." I said once he was out of earshot. I needed something to break the tension. She was still leant over the table, I couldn't see her face but I knew she needed something else on her mind. Though that a very informative conversation. I had learned a bit more about her origin and well some of her preference.
"Just take that as a reminder not to be a jerk." She said as she relaxed her spine back to sit. "I want to go home." She said sinking to the table. I patted her back since there wasn't a lot I could do to make her feel any better.
"I'll take you." I offered though I knew it would be brushed off again. I was sure it would be better driving half way across the country than be here.
"I wish." She said and rose back up and started to finish the bottom quarter of her beverage.
"So you like women?" I just wanted to get my facts straight. I knew she had kissed Jinx on a dare, but mooned over Fallen. I went to college so I was fairly aware that heterosexuality was becoming less of a requirement. Though I had also learned to let people give their own labels instead of doing it for them.
"I always find it interesting what humans chose to absorb from conversations. I like women, I like men, and I like those who define themselves outside of those categories. I just like people who treat me well." She said this with confidence like she was sure of this. It was cool with me, I just was curious.
"Cool, though it's a limited market here. The Gotham ladies are more dangerous than half the men. I'm not saying don't I'm just saying fair warning." I was very much so attached to my manhood and didn't want it off my person. I also didn't know why I was immediately trying to play wingman, I just didn't want awkwardness to fall over us again.
"I think I am okay, X. Thank you." She said and kissed the side of my head and leant her head on top of mine for a moment. I felt the warmth flood my stomach at her affection. "Though I do feel the need to wash my hands after touching Captain Boomerang." I chuckled and wondered if he was greasy. I let her go and caught her motion of moving the burner phone to her jacket pocket. I assumed she was also going to see what I had given her since she didn't glance down.
I was left alone and debated if I should put up some sort of signal to stop socializing. I didn't want to share a beer with the Joker or Bane or most people here. The only one I didn't mind too much was Dr. Freeze, but that was only since he didn't come out too much. Though I wasn't here to make friends that had never been the goal. Ember had happened, but it wasn't something I could help when she was so…friendly. I wanted to get to know her outside this space and away from Fallen when I think she could actually relax. Even if it was just eating takeout and letting her take a nap, I just wanted to be around her. There was still so much to learn about her and even if she had secrets to keep, I wanted to know what she would share. Even if she didn't want to do everything I did, I just wanted more of her time not deflecting scumbags.
Would it be worth it hanging on a couple more nights and keep a chance at the big prize? If I left she and Fallen would have no chance of grouping points. She had burned most bridges, maybe she could get Control Freak back for a price. I didn't want to think of her lowering herself to pay. Fallen had limited social skills as he was still up in the rafters. She had wanted to pay off a debt and would me leaving compromise that entirely. Would I be leaving her trapped to Fallen if I left? Though she acted like she did not mind. There were just things I wouldn't know unless I asked the right questions.
When Ember returned she had a halo made out of sunflowers and a smile on her face. It was a clear change of disposition, she also seemed to be holding a bundle of paper towels.
"Whatca got there?" I asked since whatever she held seemed to have done 180 in her mood of the evening.
"A plant." She said simply and I looked over to see Poison Ivy leaving the area of the bathrooms. Well she had at least made a positive impression on her.
"Is it a special plant?" I asked since her tone had been giddy and I wanted to hear more.
"Sort of, it's a plant I have been wanting for a long time. I have a little garden at home. It's called a string of pearls and it's a fitting name for how she is wearing them. I have one already, but this one is variated which makes them rarer." She motioned a wave at Ivy and she sent one back with a smile. I saw that around her neck looked like vines marked with little orbs. I didn't feel like asking to meet her since she was definitely one of the more deadly people in the room.
"So you're a bit of a green thumb? I'd probably kill a cactus." I could barely keep myself alive, I didn't want another thing to take care of.
"It's not for everyone, but I like helping life grow and bloom. It's balancing for me." She said and tucked her bundle into her bag. Fallen suddenly descended finally from the rafters on top of the table with no warning. I reflexively jerked back, but Ember did not. He took the seat opposite from her and I noticed that he had gone through some upgrades. His suit seemed reinforced now with two lines of the red LED going through his sides and padding. It looked expensive which pissed me off since I didn't have the resources around to make a suit and play bad guy. This was permanently borrowed and didn't fit right in all the places.
"I see you met Ivy." Fallen said and his tone had some familiarity. She mentioned he was from Gotham so it wasn't that strange. Her flower crown did give her away.
"I did, she was nicer than I thought." She said and touched her crown. She kept her tone neutral, but it was obvious she had enjoyed the interaction.
"I doubt anyone else in the bar will get the same treatment." He said and handed off the notebook where I saw he had reasonably condensed notes. He had written a danger scale in general and to her. It was thoughtful and she immediately started to dive in her thumb marking the place she had read.
"Most people aren't as lucky to get the same reaction from her. You could of stepped in with Boomerang." I said since if I was going to leave for good I needed to trust in his ability to step up and protect her from the men here.
"He's not a real threat, just a rogue." He said and I wanted to point out that it was different for her. Then I remembered that the villains of the Flash were called Rogues and yeah weren't the stuff of nightmares.
"Eh I guess saving her from creeps falls entirely on my shoulders then." I said wanting to get the point across that she should have more buffers.
"She does fine at rejecting people, you should know." He said and I wanted to give him another black eye like last week. How could he make everything piss me off.
"Fallen." Ember snapped at him her tone communicating the order of shut up. She had her head down in her notebook still though I knew she had an ear to us to make sure we didn't break out fighting. I knew she was already unhappy with him, and part of me wanted to make it worse. Though she mentioned she would likely just end up forgiving him.
"Boss lady insinuated that we should mingle tonight, you might want to pick up the pace." I said hoping to get him to just go back to leaving us alone.
"Please do not leave. I do not know the faces to all your data. Some I can guess, but some guidance would be nice. Why is Scarecrow my biggest threat?" Ember asked holding her hand out showing for him to stop moving.
"He has fear toxins and if we end up fighting against them, he could mean big trouble if he launches you into you know." He ended vague and open ended. Though I knew if her she had fear controlling her the damage would be extensive.
"Wonderful." She said though her tone made it clear it was the opposite. "I was expecting him to be higher up." The way she said him was obvious she meant the Joker.
"He doesn't know you so he has less to use against you. Though I'd avoid drawing his attention period, he can fixate." He said and I felt shivers run up my spine since I heard his laugh ring out again.
"Joy, I can try to make contact early so we can go home early. My social skills are lacking tonight anyways." Ember said and I knew she was trying to get him to say yes for both their sakes, but put it on her.
"You seem to be doing just fine. Though I don't have a need to linger tonight." He was answering without giving her anything finite. I wondered if she had anger at him more often and just pushed it down.
"She sent down champagne and these already." She handed off her bangles and he took a glance at them trying to see if there was anything inscribed on them. I hadn't seen anything on the outside they seemed very plain.
"Are these made out of?" He cut off when she nodded.
"She's been watching, closely. It's a good gift for me. Something I actually would want." She said and I knew I was in the middle of an inside conversation. Ember pulled her jacket tighter over herself.
"Do you think they know too much?" He asked and handed her back the bangles.
"She has more experience in deflection than I do, but whatever they know they still want me to work for them." Ember shrugged and I wished I knew what was going on.
"They posted the matches." I said trying to get the hint I was still there and that their vagueness was still annoying. I was interested when I saw the first match was between both of them. Well I guess she would be hitting him tonight, unless she was going to throw it. I was up against gizmo which was not my ideal, but I had juice and a couple Cyborg deterrent Xs. Maybe I would bail beforehand if I came up to a final decision.
"Do not shock me. I am content to give either outcome, but no more electricity tonight." She spoke harshly until she reached out for his hand. "Please."
"I won't. It's probably the best match either of us could of gotten tonight. I assume it's not completely random though. Miss Friday likely wants to see you mangle me up from how she acted last week. She seemed annoyed when I came up." Well maybe she just hated men and I wasn't so special.
"I think she was annoyed that I was not acting independently. Though I suspect they want more entertaining matches with guests. That was my previous experience." She said. "We're rather suited for that, Fallen." I didn't know what they meant, but he nodded.
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I soon found out what they meant when there match started. They moved like their battle was choreographed. Like they had done it a thousand times. At the start it was very balanced with Fallen pulling the different metal elements to him. Though every time she managed to make that his problem either by lighting superficial flames or giving in to the magnetic draw and using her weight to bring them to the ground. He rolled through any strategy she gave. It almost seemed like dancing with how each of them moved with such fluidity. Each blow traded was shifted into the others next move. It could have been over if he used his escrimas or she tried, but it seemed like they were content doing their dance.
Though it seemed to keep escalating in levels he was now on the roof of the doom held on by his gloves where she was across from his her heels linked in the fencing. I did not know what kind of ab strength it took to stay solid. Then moved upwards being pulled in by her hair before he grabbed ahold and fell. Her shoe locked keeping her suspended and suddenly I couldn't focus on anything since he deployed his strobe. I looked away since strobe lights still made my head hurt from my concussion. I had to trust the crowd's sounds and whatever was happening must have been interesting from the gasps.
Eventually I stopped seeing the bright pulses from behind my eyelids and saw that they had shift back to the floor Fallen had shifted to using his escrimas in the same summoning technique he used for me. She acted like she had eyes in the back of her head since she dodged each stick right before it hit her while exchanging blows. She had her hair barely lit and was not using her powers that I could tell. He used his glove to pull at her boot and she leapt using its draw and closed her legs across his neck and flipped his ass. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen and it must of hurt since he switched on his escrimas as if on instinct. Though he didn't get very fair since Ember moved to grab his wrists forcing them to drop. She moved them into one hand. I heard a roar like a Tiger ring through the air as she moved to pin him to the ground falling forward using her size against him. The countdown started and Ember let out her infamous fireball in mass. It engulfed the entire surface area of the cage and I could feel the heat. It lasted past the countdown and the top of the cage glowed red when she ended it.
She moved herself up and brought him with her in the same motion. That felt like I just watched a cirque de soleil show, but I knew from the expression on her face she was left unhappy. That there would not be an encore. She left him behind as she left the cage as he collected his things. The first thing she did was catch a poor waiter and whisper something in his ear before releasing him where he ran to the back of the bar.
"I wonder if I have made a wrong choice." She said as she settled back down at our table. My mind went to her sidelining me, but she didn't say anything else for context. Fallen came back and they exchanged words in the language I did not know, but I was lost in the possibilities she would change her mind. I could stick around for her in the coming weeks. Maybe not forever, but I couldn't in good faith leave her alone when I couldn't trust Fallen to do the right thing.