A/N: God, hopefully I can get back to fluff again. But I have to admit, it was rather fun writing Berserk Asterios and Endurance Asterios. Hopefully the future lets me write it much more quickly.
Anger filled the heart of a Riser Phenex. The Devil stared down at the beast that had not only dared to harm his sister, but had the audacity to strike him as well.
And then it had the gall to threaten him.
Riser allowed himself to smirk, he'd enjoy torching this Minotaur to ash.
After all, it was dumb enough to throw its only weapon.
"Get Yubelluna," He spoke to his sister "Tell her to finish her fight, and get here right now." She nodded, and quickly flew away.
With his wings of fire, and his body good as new, Riser shot towards the beast with his hands alight with his fire. If anyone were to look from afar, they would see him as a streak of orange.
He saw the beast raise his other arm, presumably to swing and punch him.
'Dumb,' Riser thought to himself, as if he would allow himself to be within reach. He allowed his fire to grow brighter and stronger as he charged closer. He would stop, the beast would whiff a swing.
And he'd take its head clean off with a blast. And the rest of his fiancé's Peerage afterwards.
He stopped out of reach of the beast, it's fist would not touch or dirty the High Devil. He pointed both hands forward, the flames gathered in his hands were primed and ready.
All it would take is a th-
Pain.
The smug look on his face shifted as he felt pain on his left side, and a moment later he lost all sensation of his left side.
He felt the ground shake, and he heard sound of something heavy slam underneath him. His eyes glanced to his left, and they widened as the sight of his left side separated from the rest of him.
An axe, with a blade that was almost as large as he was, embedded into the ground underneath him.
His shock turned into further rage, the flames in his remaining hand exploded outwards. A stream of fire that engulfed the beast's head entirely.
His body was already regrowing, the flames exploded outwards and they took the vague shape of his left side. He moved the firey limb towards the Minotaur, to add more fire powe-
Pain.
Again he winced as he felt a sharp pain, this time on his right arm. The stream of fire stopped, and it revealed the head of the Minotaur.
It was smoking, the metal piercings on its face was heated red hot. But the Minotaur looked no different, if only slightly dazed.
His eyes turned to his right arm to see a blade of ice has severed his arm, and coated the stump with it. Rias' Knight meet his gaze, his blue eyes were staring at his own with a steely glare.
Presumably, the Knight that had severed it thought it would be enough to cut his regeneration.
He sneered, taking his attention away from the Minotaur and pointed his left arm towards the Knight. The gout of flame melted the ice on his stump, and blasted the Knight away from him. He frowned when the flames seemed to disperse with the blade of Ice he had used to block most of the fire.
He turned his attention back to the Minotaur, before he had to quickly raise his arm when another member of his fiance's Peerage leapt over the Minotaur. She aimed a blow to his face, but met with his arm instead.
He felt it crack on impact, the bones snapping from the sheer force of the attack. She was the other Rook.
The bones within healed themselves, to those who didn't know it was as if he wasn't injured at all. He saw her eyes widen a slight fraction at her failed attack, before he reached out with his other hand to grab her.
His hand wrapped around her face, he held her above his head as the hand holding her glowed red with fire. His other hand reached for her chest, also glowing orange with his flames.
He relished as her eyes widened even furth-
He hacked out a wad of blood as more pain wracked through his body. The grip on the Rook faltered, and immediately she kicked him in the head with all of the strength of a Rook, forcing to snap back and broke more than a few of the bones on his face and his neck.
They healed just as quickly as they were broken, and Riser snapped his head back. He looked down, and saw the tip of the massive axe had stabbed him clean through the stomach, and he could even feel the rest exit out his back. His eye twitched as he felt the pain once more, and grabbed the axe.
He blasted the metal he was gripping with as much fire as he could. He looked up, to glare at the Minotuar.
But saw the foot of the Rook instead.
His head snapped to the side as it slammed into his face. As soon as they healed, he snapped his head towards the Rook to glare at her only for it to snap to the other side, when she kicked it again.
As the bones in his neck and face was healing, the Rook slammed her foot onto his chest. Once more she showed her strength and the bones under her foot cracked.
More importantly, the kick was strong enough that it launched him off the axe that had speared him, he tumbled in the air for a good moment, before he flared up his wings. He stared in front of him, his flames already repairing his body.
The Rook was balancing on the shaft of the axe, the tip of it was still red with his blood, as was the blade of the weapon. That damn Minotaur was glaring at him, the daze look was gone, instead a sneer that showed his teeth was on his face.
The Knight had returned to their side, the ice blade still in his hands. And the Pawn seemed content to just stand and glare.
"What's the matter Riser?"
He clicked his tongue at the tone of his fiancé, his eyes glanced at the axe. His eyes widening at the sheer length of the weapon, and quickly flew higher in the air.
"I thought that you said that he would just be a delicacy?" The taunt was accompanied by the crackle of her energy "And to see you run away from my Peerage as well?"
The Phenex whirled around, and fire a stream of fire. Just in time, his Hellfire slammed into her Power's of Destruction, cancelling it out.
She hovered in the air, one hand held forward still crackling the dark red energy.
Riser let out a chuckle "Don't be so hasty my dear fiancé," His eyes narrowed "I'm merely getting started."
"And so are we." Rias pointed her hand at him "Listen to me my Peerage, the enemy leader stands before you." Power gathered in her palm, such power that even Riser had to admire it "And your King commands you-"
His focus on Rias was broken when he felt a presence behind him. The sight of the Minotaur caused his eyes to widen, the beast had leaped up high enough that he had reached his height. The white haired Rook was on his shoulder.
"-Tear this Pheonix apart!"
"Die." The beast growled, and Riser felt his heart skip a beat as it raised the hand carrying the axe.
Before his chest was hacked into by the axe and he was sent plummeting to the ground.
[Scene]
"Asterios, throw me at 'em!" Koneko jumped from Asterios shoulder, the Minotaur snatching her out of the air at her command, before pulling his arm back and threw her down.
The wings of the Phenex exploded, stopping him just as he slammed into the ground.
Koneko fixed that right quick, and slammed both of her feet into him. Making sure to dig deeper into the wound that Asterios had made with his axe.
The ground shattered underneath them, she saw his eyes and face lit up with pain. Before they tuned to anger.
"Uh oh," Koneko couldn't help but sound out when both of Riser's hands were pointed her way, and quickly crossed her arms. In her mind, she figured that she could tough out the flames and keep attacking.
When the flames touched her skin, Koneko was quickly proven wrong.
"AHH!" An involuntary scream escaped her throat as she felt her skin burn at the sheer heat. She shut her eyes and let out another cry as the flames were strong enough to lift her off her feet, and more importantly off from Riser.
With the burns on her arms and legs, Koneko felt that she was in the air longer than she actually was. The pain was immense and it took all she could not to just pass out at that moment. She was aware of the gravity, and tried to curl her body inwards to avoid as much skin contact on the ground.
"Shit, I gotcha!"
Only to land in the arms of the sole Pawn in her Master's Peerage.
Koneko hissed in agony as her burnt skin came into contact with the metal gauntlet of Boosted Gear. Despite that, she managed to choke out a 'Thank you' to Issei.
If he said anything, she didn't hear it because the next moment Issei, and her by extension, were knocked flat onto the ground by a sudden shockwave right in front of them.
The absolutely furious scream told her that Asterios had descended from the sky, and from the feeling of the earth shaking underneath her, was currently tearing into Riser. Koneko couldn't help but smile slightly at the mental image.
A moment later, the pain of the burns faded away and when Koneko opened her eyes she saw the bright green glow of Twilight Healing as well as the worried faces of Asia and Rias looking over her.
"Thank you." She nodded as she sat up. She caught sight of the rather amusing sight, and sounds, of Asterios using the blunt side of his axe to pound Phenex into the ground. Once more splattering blood all over himself. Each time, flames would burst out from where he was smashing into, only for the axe to slam into the source just as quickly.
"Woah," Issei muttered as he sat up next to her, Asia was quick to rush to him to heal what injury he might have had, his eyes watched the screaming and growing Minotaur in front of him cratering the ground deeper and deeper "I guess we win then?"
Yuuto winced when the earth shook as Asterios lifted his foot to stomp onto the Phenex, before raising a hand to smash down with the blade end of his axe when the regenerating flames scorched his skin.
A moment later, a ball of fire slammed into the back of Asterios' head. Following the ball, a magic circle suddenly appeared under his foot. Both of them exploded into a massive swirl of fire that forced Issei and Asia to cover themselves from the flames, while Koneko and Yuuto were quick to put themselves in front of Rias to protect her from the flames.
When the smoke cleared, Asterios had stopped in his onslaught. He snapped his head upwards as where he had been attacked. His eyes were wild with rage.
Rias wanted to call out for him, only for a moment later, another explosion of fire blasted him from the front and sent him stumbling off from the Phenex, and fell onto the ground next to them.
She saw Riser sit up, only his top half remaining for the moment, and pointed his hand towards the Minotaur with a frenzied look on his face.
A crackle of her power erased the hand. He snapped his gaze towards her, but she met it with a glare.
"Not yet," Rias stated "It would be easy if Asterios could attack unimpeded." Her eyes flicked towards the sky, seeing both the younger Phenex and Riser's Queen. The Latter was being supported by the former, and was in horrible condition "But that would be asking for too much I guess."
Rias noticed the lack of an announcement despite the appearance of the enemy Queen. "Akeno," Rias eyes flicked to where the two Queens had just been fighting "What happened?"
"Ambushed by the younger Phenex Rias," Akeno's voice crackled in her ear, her breathing was heavy and she seemed to struggle to form the words "Took me out of the sky with a surprise fireball. Ashamed to say that I didn't notice."
"Don't say that," she spoke out as Asia quickly rushed to heal up Asterios. The Minotaur quickly sitting up with a glare on his face "I'll send Asia your way I-"
"No." Akeno's voice cut her off before she could finish "If the Bomb Queen and Riser are there, you need Asia more than I do at the moment." She paused and took a deep breath "Just… give me a moment, and I'll catch up. Besides, from what I've heard while I was busy with her, I think Riser is already wearing out isn't he?"
Rias heard a grunt from the Phenex in question, and a moment later the missing limbs appeared in a flash of fire. The Phenex was panting, his glare had shifted from her and turned back to Asterios.
"Yes he is," Rias held out a hand to the side, one part of it was to stop the Phenex and the two above them from flying towards them. Another was to stop the already growling Asterios from charging in again "Try to get here as fast you can Akeno, but don't hurt yourself. We still need to deal with that Queen."
She heard chuckle from her own Queen "Lucky I blew up that vial of hers, no idea what would've been inside it."
"Yuuto, Koneko!" Rias snapped her head towards her Knight and Rook, "Keep the two of them away from Asterios, we need him to keep tearing Riser apart as much as we can."
Yuuto nodded, his eyes already turning towards the two. Koneko nodded as well.
"Asterios." Her voice caused him to snap his head towards her, his teeth were gnashing against each other, his eyes wide and wild.
"Keep your anger towards Riser," she saw his eyes flash a bit, and Rias swore it was as if Asterios seemed to grow just a bit larger. Before she could say anything else, he rushed back towards the Phenex, dragging his axe along the ground.
She saw Riser's eyes widen at the sudden charge, and quickly summoned his wings to fly into the air.
Before he was almost completely swallowed by a massive red beam of energy. When it died down, the only thing left of Riser was his head and his left arm. They flopped to the ground, but even then his flames were already sprouting out to regrow his body.
[Conversion Complete] A deep voice seemingly echoed around them.
"Finally," Issei breathed out as he pulled back his fist. He looked at the gem on his gauntlet with a semi-annoyed look on his face "Took you long enough!" Rias' eyes widened as she felt power from the gauntlet that hadn't been there prior.
Asterios had already stopped his charge when the red beam appeared, but he tuned his head around and stared at Issei.
"Dra… Gon…" She heard him growl.
[Be thankful that I even finished in time during the fight Partnet] The gem on Issei's gauntlet glowed at every syllable, the voice commanded presence but had a somewhat friendly tone to it.
As once she was reminded of the spirit that resided in the Longinus Sacred Gear, the Dragon inside it "You're Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon Emperor."
[Greetings Gremory, nice to finally meet the girl my Partner is smitten enough by to sacrifice his hand just to fully awaken me] There was humour and mirth in his voice, even as she heard the panicked sputtering of her Pawn.
"Sacrifce?" Rias eyes snapped to Issei, filled with concern "Ise, you-"
Her Pawn had the audacity to grin as he held up the arm "C'mon Prez, you think I wouldn't do all that I can to make sure you win this? If Asterios can handle being turned into a Familiar, then what's the harm in losing just one hand?" At his words, the gem glowed one more time illuminating the grin with a green glow.
[And what kind of Dragon would I be, if I allowed my Partner to be outmatched by a mere Minotaur?]
A growl was heard as Asterios fully turned towards the Boosted Gear wielder.
Issei frowned as he walked towards Asterios "I told you Ddraig, his name is Asterios and he's not just a Minotaur." He stopped infront of him and held out Boosted Gear.
Asterios smiled that bloodthirsty smile and punched the hand offered to him.
Issei smile turned strained as he pulled it back and shook his "Fuck, that still hurts even with this Dragon Arm!"
A deep booming laugh echoed out [Very well then Minotaur, if you continue to impress me with that strength of yours I'd deem to remember your name.] The Gem glowed as Issei felt the power boost allowed him to ignore the pain [For now, we have a Pheonix who's feathers need to be plucked]
After another flash of fire, Riser finally managed to heal most of his body. The Phenex struggled to his feet, the panic look on his face only grew as he noticed that his left hand hadn't fully healed. He lifted his head, and once more met with Asterios' eyes.
But with those eyes, he felt another presence. The Pawn beside the Minotaur, the gauntlet in his hands with the glowing green gem. They met his gaze confidently, without fear.
He could feel his teeth chatter the longer he looked at the two. The Minotaur, still standing despite what he had thrown at him seemingly growing larger and larger the more they fought. While the Pawn… It felt as if he was staring at a Dragon.
Riser gritted his teeth "How dare you!" He shouted as his hands exploded with flames "Look at Riser with those eyes!"
His rage faltered when the Minotaur took the ball of fire to his face, but barely flinched. The flames had boiled the blood on his body, but he no longer had that dazed look when he had blasted the Minotaur the first time. The Pawn, he felt his pride take hit when he held out the hand with his Sacred Gear, and watched as his flames slammed into it and faded.
"Shit," Issei shook his hand "That still hurts."
[The flames of a Pheonix may not be anything to a Dragon, but you aren't a full Dragon yet Partner] Ddraig spoke, a mix of pride and annoyance [Grow stronger partner, you can't let yourself be outmatched by a mere Minotaur after all]
Asterios merely growled in response.
Boosted Gear glowed as Ddraig announced another boost to his power and Issei turned his attention towards Riser. His eyes narrowed into a glare as he pointed his fist forward.
[Scene]
Akeno finally managed to drag herself towards the rest of the fight. The Queen nursing a particularly nasty combination of a bruise and burn on her side.
Despite that, she couldn't help but smile as she moved. "Hello Rias," She spoke as she finally reached her friend.
Surprise lit up in her eyes, and immediately worry replaced it. Asia was just as quick to rush towards her, her Twilight Healing already glowing.
Distantly she was aware of the healing as she looked around. She saw how Yuuto was fighting for his life, against two airborne opponents. She saw the occasional blue flames from Koneko, the girl still using as much as she could handle. Her eyes turn to Riser, seeing the ever entrancing figure of Asterios going wild with her adorable junior Issei fighting the Phenex with all of his might.
Akeno chuckled to herself at seeing the Peerage of her friend doing as much as they could to help earn her freedom.
As such, she looked up at the distracted figure of the enemy Queen and pointed a finger.
The magical energy that she was used to, gather within her. The Devil Magic that she could shape into anything that she wanted.
Instead she pushed it aside, and allowed something that she always buried to surface. Holy energy within a Devil, something that should be impossible, but for Akeno it was something she had been born with.
It mixed with her magic, forming a magic circle in front of her as she did. Her lightning came out first, before the holy energy came second.
Holy Lightning.
"Akeno?" She heard the confused voice of Rias the moment she saw it.
She detested it with every fibre of her being. But if Koneko could use what little of her own lineage that she hated to help, then it would be hypocritical of her to not use hers.
It could not be charged to her full power, not with her wounds and her tired state. But it was Holy.
It arced through the air, her aim flying towards the enemy Queen. The one that was actualy fighting her two Juniors seriously.
She saw it a moment too late, too distracted by the blades of Yuuto and the occasional punch thrown by Koneko.
It struck her, and she delighted in the scream that came out of her. Holy burned Devils something fierce, even more than Hellfire. The small amount of energy she had placed into it still hurt far more than some of her normal lighting strikes.
She saw the panic in the eyes of the other Phenex and Akeno couldn't help but regret that she didn't have enough strength to fire a second shot. But as the Queen fell from the sky, stunned by the pain.
Both Koneko and Yuuto took their chance, and finished her off.
"Riser's Queen has Retired"
Akeno smiled and turned towards her friend with a hint of mischief in her eyes "Told you to look forward to more extra help."
[Scene]
As the Queen vanished, Koneko landed on the ground and turned her head towards the blonde in the sky. Their staredown didn't last long, as she saw fear fill her eyes (And she could sense it in the air) and flew away with a cry.
Her eyes followed her, and she caught sight of the last fight that was left.
Koneko stared at the rampaging figure of Asterios, he was swinging his fist wildly without any kind of rhyme or reason. The gouts of flames that had stunned him before did nothing, as he smashed his forehead forward in a devastating headbutt against the Phenex.
Issei, to her surprise, was keeping up with Asterios. Every couple of seconds, his Sacred Gear glowing and seemingly boosting him further and further and closer and closer towards Asterios. Neither of them gave the Phenex any rest.
Asterios was still the one leading the fight, taking the blows for Issei without flinching or caring about them.
But the wounds were piling up, she saw patches of his skin burnt and turned red. But he didn't seem to care.
Instead he kept attacking and attacking. Almost berserker like.
Koneko narrowed her eyes and clenched her hands into fists. A moment later her fists were suddenly engulfed in flames. But, she wouldn't be in striking distance against Riser, not while Asterios was currently assaulting him. So she gathered as much as she could handle.
She reached for Asterios as an anchor, as her teeth grinded against each other as she felt his rage. She used it, to control and shape the flames.
She could sense the surprise from Rias, distantly she was aware that she had allowed her ears and tail to pop out in her attempts to gather the flames. But she didn't care.
Her eyes were now focused on the increasingly panicked Riser. His attention completely focused on the Minotaur and Issei in front of him.
She pulled her hands back, and threw them forward.
Two balls of fire travelled towards the Phenex.
Riser's eyes flicked towards them, his face shifted from panic to annoyed for a split second before they returned to panicked to avoid a punch from Issei, only for it to scrunch up as Asterios' fist slammed into it. He ignored the flames, to him they were nothing to worry about.
The physical blows of his current opponents were of more concern that simple flames that a Phenex was immune against.
And so he paid them no mind as they grew closer.
Only to scream in agony as they burned away at the Phenex.
They engulfed his head and torso. Blue flames that were ignored the immunity a Pheonix was meant to have against fire. He scrambled backwards as he his hands reached for his face, the scream cut short as Asterios grabbed him and smashed him deeper into the ground.
Her eyes widened as her flames burned even his hand, his skin boiling and bubbling from her flames.
But… he didn't care.
Koneko flinched as her senses suddenly reacted even stronger to Asterios' rage. His rage, letting him ignore the flames.
Even more when Riser lifted a hand, while still in Asterios' grasp, and fired another stream of fire.
The stream of fire stopped and Riser's scream filled the air. Koneko couldn't help feel her eyes widen as she saw Asterios suddenly lurch his head forward.
And bit into Riser's arm, not even caring of the hand still acting as a flamethrower.
[EXPLOSION]
Then Issei, with a scream, threw a punch at Riser with enough force that it managed to dislodge Riser from Asterios' grip, even tearing off the arm that was in his mouth. Blood flew from the Phenex's mouth as he was flung through the air, and crashed into the ground in front of them, before landing on his back.
Koneko watched as her flames continued to burn him, the wounds underneath failing to heal. And even the arm, instead of seeing another burst of flame, only spark small embers enough to just stop it from bleeding further.
And Riser lied there, burning and wounded.
[Scene]
[Reset]
Issei stumbled as the power finally faded from his body, Boosted Gear had lost most of it glow returning back to a red gauntlet. His head spun as he looked at his hand "Woah that was quite a rush."
[Be lucky that you weren't in a situation where I had to give you the Balance Breaker] Ddraig's voice echoed out [You'd be drained dry with how much you've already fought]. There was a pause in his speech, before it grew serious [Although, if that Minotaur behind you looks ready keep charging I might have to activate it for you]
Asterios growled further, biting down even more on the arm in his mouth.
"His name is Asterios," Issei frowned once more at his arm before he turned to him and smiled "C'mon big guy," Despite the glare Issei didn't seem phased at all "The chicken shit is on the ground, you can calm down now."
His smile faded a bit, turning slightly worried when Asterios merely bit down on the arm in his mouth as he snapped his head back towards the Phenex.
"Y-You!" Riser snarled as he used his remaining hand to push himself up, revealing his still burning face "Ho-How d-dare you do this to me!" He pointed a finger forward "I… am a Pure Devil, you have no idea what consequences ruining this marriage has for us!"
"Who gives a shit asshole?!" Issei snapped "Prez told you the she doesn't marry you, take the hint and get lost!"
"You low Devil scum!" Riser shriek "Don't speak me that way!"
Asterios raise his axe at the words.
"No!"
Immediately from the sky, Ravel dropped and stood in front of her brother, her arms held out. Her eyes pleading them to stop fighting.
Those eyes filled with fear when she saw Asterios arm drop down nonetheless, his axe coming down to cleave her head.
[Boost]
"Woah woah woah woah!" Issei grunted as he stood under his elbow and stopped it from dropping any further. Well, he felt that he stopped it. It was just Asterios stopping when he noticed Issei under him. Red eyes met with brown ones, and Issei stared into Asterios' resolutely "No need to mess them up any further man, we already kicked Riser's ass and there's no reason to beat up his sister unless she wants to keep fighting."
The frantic shaking of her head answered his question, even if received a disappointed but understanding look from her brother.
Asterios growled further.
"Ise is right Asterios," Rias walked up towards the two, the redhead's eyes looked into his own. The glare softened slightly as she grew closer "You've done enough already, you played your part splendidly."
A small pair of hands touched his hand, and when he turned he saw Koneko staring up at him.
"It's fine, you can calm down now."
The glare vanished at her words, and the Minotaur lowered his arm. He nodded "O…kay…" He finally spoke. The Phenex arm in his mouth finally dropping onto the ground with a splat.
Koneko face scrunched up at the limb with a "Ew."
Rias smiled and shook her head, she walked past the Minotaur and stood in front of Riser. Her eyes still staring at the wounds on his body and the small remains of the blue fire that Koneko had conjured. Part of her felt joy at the sight.
"Rias," Riser breathed out "You can't do this, think of what will happen if you break this engagement."
"I told you before again and again Riser," the red head looked him in the eye "I will not marry you, I will choose who I marry, and still you decided to keep pursuing me despite what I've told you. I'll say it one more time Riser. I. Will. Not. Marry. You."
"Think of- of what your family will think of this!"
Rias narrowed her eyes "My family that decide to ignore my own desires and renege on the agreement to wait until I finish school?" She simply shook her head and sighed "This is over Riser, you have lost."
Riser slammed his fist against the ground "Only because of that beast of yours that you brought into this Rating Gam-"
Once more a crackle of her energy severed his remaining arm, the Phenex let out a cry as did his sister. Rias glare grew harsher "His name is Asterios, and it's funny considering how little you thought of him just moments ago. Not to mention, the rest of my Peerage handling yours just as easily. I will not have you speak badly of my Peerage members or my dear family.
"Unless you are willing to fight them once more?"
Riser stared at the Peerage in front of him. His soon-to-be ex-fiancé crackling her power, the blonde Knight with his ice blades, the white haired Rook conjuring the blue flames that had burned him so, the blonde Bishop… pouting at him(?), the black haired Queen smirking down at him, the Pawn glaring at him with eyes that flickered from brown to green.
And finally the Minotaur that towered over the rest of them, staring down at him with those inhuman monstrous eyes.
"Brother," He heard his sister look at him in worry over his wounds "You can't fight anymore."
He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes "Fine. Riser forfeits the match; the Rating Game is yours Rias."
The beautiful smile on her face twisted his heart and stomped on what little pride he had left. She bowed her head slightly "Thank you for your understanding Riser."
"Riser, the King has declared a forfeit. The Winner of today's Rating Game, with overwhelming victory, is Rias Gremory."
As the world around them dissolved away. Koneko looked up at Asterios, who turned to her the moment he sensed her looking at him, and held up her tiny fist.
Lightly the Minotaur tapped it with his own.