Heyy all,
It's been a very long while, I know. I figured you guys at least deserved something, so here's a short update just to tide things over.
I'm not entirely happy with this one, so if there's any improvements I can put in place with what I'm trying to convey, just let me know.
As always, thank you all for your kind words about this fic, and thank you for reading.
Hopefully I'll be back again soon :)
Roh'Rithin, Wednesday 22nd October 2008, 19:47
"I'm ready. Are you?"
Roh, along with many of the other off duty NEST staff, were gathered outside the main complex of the base a suitable distance from the tall grinning silver Cybertronian. The Demon had arrived in the company of their leader with a lightness to her gait and an expression that was far less hateful than he usually witnessed.
"Before," Major Lennox steps between the two, posture stiff and voice terse. "We begin, I trust you both to keep this friendly. I'll accept that bruises are unavoidable, but..."
The Human sighs before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just don't kill each other. You can always tap out, but the first to get and keep their opponent in a hold will win the round. Best of three wins the match. Are we clear?"
The Major's gaze is mostly fixed upon the Demon as Optimus sternly stares over her and towards his subordinate. As the pair voice their agreements the Major nods sternly before appearing to take a deep breath as he steps away.
"Alright!" He yells over the murmuring of the other Humans, "All of you need to keep back. We don't need more than one- any casualties today."
He appears to mutter something under his breath, but Roh finds himself too far to hear the words.
"With her around?" A male voice snorts as its owner, Evans, steps into view. The man's light-coloured hair ruffled slightly in the usual breeze the island base allowed as he stared intently ahead at the Demon and her sparring partner.
"Not a chance."
Roh feels his features pull into a frown at the Human who had become somewhat of a friend since his arrival. The expression is swift to creep into his voice as he gently offers his own advice, "It is not wise to focus on the slights of the past, my friend. Doing so will only give leave to miss the present."
Evans stares for a moment longer as the Demon and the large Construct known as Sideswipe move to their positions.
"I…" his head bobs in acceptance despite his hesitation. "I know. It's been months, but it's like yesterday… I still remember her face, Jane… her carrying her away and so cold about it-"
A harsh sigh slips through his mouth as he shakes his head and Roh nods. For as his wisdom, he knew what it was like. It was something they shared, Evans and he, as strange as it was. They had both lost comrades to the Demon.
"I know."
After a moment of hesitation, he places his large hand around Evans' shoulder briefly in a small gesture of consolation. The moment he does the match starts with a bang, and they are both once again distracted from their ghosts. Instead, Roh finds himself wholly absorbed by the spectacle before them and watches the Demon's each and every move keenly.
She begins by charging her opponent, but the Construct is expecting the move having likely done his own research before their exchange. With an arrogant smirk, he shifts his weight using the wheels that are his feet to swiftly maneuver himself out of her path. At the same time, he dips low, reaching for her with one hand that swipes over the top of her ducking head, missing her by mere seconds as the crowd collectively inhales.
Skidding across the floor, the Demon attempts a far turn, but without her armour her speed is reduced. The open hand is already gone and out of reach as her legs bend before she leaps into a roll, barely dodging the other hand that swipes past where she once was.
Roh can just about make out the grin that stretches across her face as the Construct continues is arrogantly slow rotation of movement. He watches as she fents to one direction before turning her momentum towards the other direction. Dashing between his feet just shy of missing his hand, she leaps for the plate of metal on the inside of the wheel. The power of her legs manages to carry her high enough to cling to the metal, her hands almost sliding over it as she strains to hold her grip. Momentarily, her legs flail as they attempt to find purchase to aid in her subsequent movement. When they do, she begins climbing and leaping her way up the strut of his leg.
A few cheers echo through the crowd as her victory appears in sight. The Construct does not let her move so easily as he makes repeated swipes at her, appearing all too careful about injuring her before then seemingly throwing all caution to the wind as she reaches his waist with the aid of the metal plating that sits there.
Despite their distance, Roh can see her analysing the situation. He knows her well enough to know that her path to victory is all but clear. However, he senses hesitation in her movements. She is slow, uncertain of her direction and he cannot help but wonder what has caused this almost pause. Another leap follows, her feet almost slipping against the metal as she pushes herself towards his waist. The Construct clips her back with an irritable huff, but she clings on despite the moment of pain on her face and the gasps from the crowd.
The Construct presses his advantage with a victorious grin as she slowly crawls her way up over the bonnet of his chest. Just as she's cresting over the top of his chest, their gazes meet. His goes from elation to shock and then back again as his hand snakes in, snatching her from victory as he pulls her from his chest and pins her, with more care than Roh expected, to the ground with a cheer.
There's a moment of silence as the Demon stares up at her now victorious adversary. Said adversary seems to momentarily rein in his expression of victory to give her a respectful nod before leaning in and for a few words that Roh doesn't hear as surprised cheers erupt with the conclusion of the match.
Beside him, Evans joins in, a smile replacing the tense expression that had previously been on his face. The Human's face is turning, mouth opening as if to comment on the outcome of the match before the cheering dies down and a wave of tension rolls over the crowd. Evans turns away and Roh finds himself doing the same as his eyes wonder to the combatants.
He is not surprised by what he sees. The Demon is already up, her shoulders tense as her arms tuck into her sides. Dirt and dust coat her clothes, hands, and face as she glowers up at the still close Construct who matches her gaze with a smirk. A smirk that Roh finds difficult to distinguish between one that is a taunt or merely a statement of fascination. However, there is no further time to study as a wary Major briefly steps in to begin the next match. There is a momentary exchange between him and the Demon, one that has her shaking her head profusely and harshly waving him away while the Major is left looking apprehensive.
Nonetheless, the next match begins with roar as Construct and Demon clash once more. This time her caution is lessened. She's marginally faster on her feet as she shifts fluidly around his rolling movements. It is almost like a dance, one that is rather foreign to those of his people, but a dance nonetheless as the pair of them are almost constantly mere millimetres from one another.
It is not long before such a small gap is closed. In a powerful movement she attempts to blindside him. Her hand reaches upwards, stretching, as she flies in the air. Even without her armour she was a force to be reckoned with; a fact he remembers after all this time.
Then, they're both flying.
His head had been dipped in thought for a mere moment. His mind drifting long enough to miss the action that had led to both of them high above the ground. But, as his eyes analyse them, the contortion of their bodies and the disgruntled look on the Demon's face, he realises that it was the Construct doing. A known show-off, that Roh is certain believed a show of acrobatics would be a productive counter.
It was certainly a counter to the Demon's mood.
A sourness soaks her expression as she pushes herself to control her form. Her hands reach out once again, stretching towards silver metal. He spots her fingers brush against her opponent, slipping across the metal as she grasps for purchase. Strain pushes out the sourness of her face as she continues to reach, her fingers grasping at the corner of the Constructs shoulder plating.
A jitter slips through her form, almost knocking of her precarious grip as Construct thuds into the tarmac. From there, there's a moment as the Demon's other hand reaches in to pull her towards the upper arm of the Construct. The movement is full of obvious hesitation as her hand tries for purchase on various places along and under the curving metal. Despite it being a sparring match, Roh witnesses a... desperation to her face and as he starts to wonder the 'why' her usually hateful gaze locks with his.
In the heat of such a match, the expression he sees is not what he expects. Not within the mere second that their gaze is matched. Not ever. She would never allow it, but there is it.
Fear.
It is fear that he sees. Fear glazed with desperation. For those short seconds her eyes betray the ever-consuming dread that afflicted him more than usually during the past months. And here it was seeping its way into her, the Demon that he'd always considered fearless.
Why?
Why had it become so obvious? He could see it now. Infecting her movements. Inhibiting the skill he had always witnessed her display. When had she change-
Oh.
Knockout.
The realisation dawns on him with an echoing thud that has the roaring noise of the crowd sweeping into him. Even as the noise blares in his ears and Evans gives a loud gleeful cheer, his attention refocuses onto the Demon and her opponent. The two of them are further from their original position with the Demon on her back as the Construct removes his foot from her chest.
Even from this distance he can see the look of simmering rage consume her features, removing any trace of what he'd seen earlier. It seems to carry her to her feet, spurring her towards the Construct where her mouth works its way around sneering words that receive grinning nods in response. Some of the soliders are beginning to disperse from their positions as the two exchange and move closer to one another.
Their postures suggest they're going for round three, even as the Major is calling the spectacle to an end. Beneath the noise and the building tension as Demon and Construct approach each other once again he can hear someone calling his name. It barely registers as his attention remains completely on the duo who are getting close and close. The Demon is rolling her shoulders, her legs beginning to move faster and faster-
The one known as Optimus drifts between the two, and they both stop in their tracks. A berating tone follows as he directs his words towards them both. The words are impossible to hear above the energetic chatter and the chiming of his name as Evans lingers a few steps away.
"-away with the faries?" He tunes in to catch half a sentence as Evans shakes his head, and is about to lean in a little closer until he notices he finally has Roh's attention.
"Did their little spar mesmerise you that much?"
The Humans brows are lifted in questioning curiosity as his eyes glance over to the Demon.
"It was interesting to witness the Demon fight without her amour," is all he offers lightly, seeing no reason to give Evans the chance to lower his opinion of the Demon. "Did you find enjoyment in their duel?"
"You mean watching her getting her ass handed to her? I wouldn't miss that for the world." An amused grin slips onto Evans' face as the pair begin to make their back towards the main complex of the base.
Despite himself and what he witnessed, Roh finds himself allowing a small chuckle at Evans' words. It was certainly a sight to see.
The unbeatable Demon had been beaten.
