Chapter Eight: Second Battle
Ravyn stared up at the two Gundams, Shadow and Astral, overwhelmed by the sheer hugeness of the familiar fighting machines. Her breathing hitched as a sharp pain lanced through her side. Almost immediately, Schwartz was by her side, his face full of concern. Ravyn impatiently shooed him back towards the group of Gundam Fighters.
"So, you're saying we have to leave our Gundams behind?!" Sai Sachi cried out. Natasha nodded solemnly.
"Then, that's a not a true solution. We'll have to think of something else." Schwartz said.
"Yes, but I am not seeing any other." At Natasha's words, a silvery laugh bubbled up from Ravyn.
"I say we repair the Shining, Astral, and Blood Gundams, then hi-tail it out of here!" None of the others had noticed her before, and the men all drew in a sharp breath. She stood leaning against a steel frame, her jet black hair cascading around her like an ebony waterfall. When he saw her, Chibadee cracked a huge smile.
"Hey, good lookin'! How ya feelin'?"
"Better. I can still beat Fal into the dirt." Schwartz glanced at her disapprovingly.
"Sparring with the Wild Card, Ace?" At his words, Rain stepped out from behind her, muttering, "I know I told you not to."
"Guys, I was bored! Now, how long would it take to repair those three Gundams?" Domon looked over at her from where he sat brooding.
"Shining Gundam won't be fixed for at least six hours, Gundam Blood at least three, and Astral Gundam's pretty much screwed." Ravyn smirked, saying, "Oh, I think Astral's about finished repairing itself, wouldn't you say, Schwartz?" To his surprise, Domon had to admit the strange machine looked almost brand new, with no evidence of the beating it had taken.
"Astral Gundam has self-restoration or whatever it's called. Alia, Schwartz and I will fix Gundam Blood, so you can help Rain with Shining Gundam. How about the rest of you work on defense against the enemy? I know they'll be back."
"You just take charge, don't ya?" Chibadee snapped. Her eyes widened in realization.
"You're right, I'm sorry. Old habit."
"It's still a good plan, Chibodee. You don't need to yell at her." Domon said. "Come on, let's get started."
* * *
"How's it going, Ace?"
"Schwartz, don't baby me!"
"I was only asking a simple question." The masked fighter protested. But the truth was, he really was worried about her. Her breathing was labored, painful; her skin was pale, almost translucent, icy cold; her hands were visibly shaking with fatigue. "Ravyn, are you sure you're alright?" Sweeping back her dark hair, she flashed him a sweet smile.
"I'll be alright. Don't sweat it, 'kay?"
"I can't… I can't lose you. Not again. It'd kill me." Ravyn shushed him gently.
"Schwartz, you have a job to do, and no matter what I know you'll do it. That's how you are. You can't afford to worry about me, so don't. I can take care of myself."
Pushing his mask up, she kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Holding her against him, he kissed her passionately, thrusting his tongue aggressively into her mouth. Pulling off a glove, he slipped his hand under her shirt. His fingers gently brushed slow circles over hard peaks as he shoved her against the wall of Gundam Blood, pushing his body against hers suggestively. Unbuttoning her shirt, he broke the kiss, turning his attention to the tight bud of flesh he pulled into his mouth, making Ravyn cry out softly. Forgetting their surroundings, Schwartz lost himself in this sweetness, and the Ace was no better, making soft keening noises that turned his thoughts to hotter, more erotic things. A call from below made them both jump.
"Ravyn? Schwartz? You two up there?" Ravyn nearly died when Chibodee's voice called out from behind Schwartz, "Yeah, there up here! Good show, too."
"Chibodee Crocket, get lost before I wring your neck!" The Neo-American fighter leapt down as Ravyn threw a wrench at him.
"All right all ready! God, Ravyn!"
"That's what you get, you little sick minded twerp!" She turned back to Schwartz, buttoning her shirt back up. "We oughtta get back to work." The young man cleared his throat, and Ravyn laughed. "You have a smudge on your collar."
"They won't notice." Ravyn smiled up at him and slipped her arms back around his neck. "You're so beautiful, Ravyn."
"You're so easy, you know that?"
"You've got me perfectly trained. You know, when we get out of here," he nuzzled the silky column of her throat, "when we get out of here, and get to Neo-Hong Kong for the Gundam Fight, we could… take all this up a notch."
"I'm interested." Schwartz ran his tongue lightly over her cheek, down the side of her neck. Popping two buttons, he softly nipped the exposed, vulnerable swell of her breast. "Very interested. Oh…"
"I thought you might be."
"Oh, get a room, you two!" Chibodee cried.
* * *
"I never thought the day would come when I'd be saving your butt, rich boy!" Chibodee crowed from Gundam Maxter's cockpit.
In Neo-Hong Kong, a silent listener frowned at the young man's words. A tap line had been dropped into the communications, giving the shadowed figure complete access to all that was said.
"I'd prefer you didn't call me that!" George de Sand cried, and attacked the Gundams behind Chibodee. "Rose Bits!" This fight wasn't critical yet, as far as the computer hacker could see, but soon it would be out of the Shuffle Alliance's control.
* * *
Natasha stood watching Argo pushed back against the rocks inside Bolt Gundam. The Dark Gundam soldiers were gaining the upper hand, and no one was coming to help him. She was worried, but couldn't show it, not with Anastasia in the room. Argo's seven-year-old adopted daughter was praying in a corner, her eyes huge and round as they watched the fight. Natasha's heart clenched with pity for the girl. Praying with her, she whispered, "Come back alive, Argo."
* * *
"Schwartz, do ya think we should help them?" Ravyn looked over at the silent fighter, uncertain as to what she should do. "Schwartz? Talk to me." He couldn't look at her, not right now. If he did, he'd be trapped in that slumberous, sexy gaze of hers for eternity, unable to leave her side. He wouldn't look at her.
"Why did you decide to fight the Dark Gundam, Ravyn?"
"I…" she thought for a minute. "To protect my loved ones, to help Domon, and… to be with you." Schwartz smiled under his mask, even laughed a little.
"Do you really still love me so much?"
"Of course I do. Don't… don't you love me any more?" His response was one her father used to use when she asked that question: "I don't love you any less."
"Don't do that! My dad used to say that. It annoyed me a lot."
"Why?" She shrugged.
"Ya got me, it just did." She snuggled up to him sweetly. "Tell me how much you love me."
"More than anything. Remember that."
* * *
"You guys all go on. I've got some unfinished business with Undefeated of the East." Domon said, then, "Epona? Shikon? Good luck, you two." The older girl blew him a kiss, and the little one smiled at him. Then, looking like she was somewhat scared, she darted forward and hugged Domon, then went back to her sister.
"Thanks, Domon." The others took off, and Domon turned back to Master Gundam and Dark Gundam.
"Do you still think you can defeat me, Domon? Both me and your brother?" Atop the Dark Gundam, Kyoji began to laugh madly.
"What? Kyoji! What's so funny? How dare you! What's so damn funny?!" Domon charged towards the two, but almost at the last minute he was dragged to a halt by two pairs of strong arms. "Ravyn! Schwartz! Let me go now!"
"You idiot! You can't beat him without the super mode! Jesus!"
"You fool, Domon! You can't attack them with anger and without the super mode, and you can't activate the super mode with anger!" Schwartz shouted angrily.
"Domon, please! You've got to control your anger! You haven't learned to control your super mode, now stop it! If you use anger to activate the super mode, the power's tainted! It's strength is lessened, and that margin of loss can be the difference between winning and losing! You've got to calm down!" Asia could see the young woman's sweet voice was getting through, and Domon was starting to cool off.
"Shut up, you annoying witch! Get mad, Domon! Get really mad! You hate my guts, don't you!?" Savagely, Domon tried to free himself from Ravyn and Schwartz's grip.
"Aaah! Schwartz, what are we supposed to do now?" He whispered something to her that the King of Hearts didn't catch. "Okay, then… sorry, Domon!" The two dragged him out of sight away from the battle.
* * *
"Ravyn Elliot, Wild Ace of Hearts, how dare you?! What did you think you were doing? And you, Schwartz Bruder! Why did you stop me?"
"To activate the super mode on Shining Gundam, one must have a serene state of mind. You must not activate it out of anger." Schwartz murmured calmly. Domon focused all his anger on him. Ravyn looked about ready to cry. She hated having Domon angry with her.
"How would you know?"
"Domon, Schwartz does know what he's saying. Please listen to him. What is it you say when you attack… 'my love, my anger, and all of my sorrow?' Anger is a small part of the soul you put behind those fists. To fight out of anger is to fight without your soul. You must fight with love, with acceptance, serenity… the serene state of mind." The young woman looked away.
"Ravyn, come on. We should leave. We have to get to the tournament." Domon could only watch as the pair flew off out of sight.