Throughout all of their dances, Reyna learned a lot about Thalia. For one, they had totally different fighting styles. Reyna liked to start her fights off slow, studying her opponent and learning their weaknesses. Thalia did not. She always rushed into a fight. Today was no different.
Thalia made the first move and lasted out with a punch that Reyna dodged with ease. She stepped away and avoided a follow up kick. Reyna smirked as she dodged a third blow. When Thalia lunged, Reyna simply tripped her.
"What was that about kicking my ass?" Reyna mocked. She knew that Thalia could summon lightning. How the hell the woman accomplished that, Reyna didn't know. She wasn't sure how her own powers worked. It was as if God looked down at the world and decided he needed to spice up his favorite play. That had to be why people had these powers.
Thalia growled and lunged upwards at the criminal. Reyna stopped her dead and then slammed a knee into her stomach. Thalia doubled over against her. Reyna smirked and opened her mouth to continue taunting, "Come on, Thalia. You learn my name and get weak at the knees?"
Thalia's head slammed up into Reyna's nose. Reyna's eyes instantly watered as her nose broke, and a string of curses left her as she pulled away. Why did everyone fuck with her nose!?
"You bitch," Reyna complained. She backed away, only for a shoulder to slam into her gut. Reyna was driven into the glass window and heard it crack. Her breath caught in her throat. Had she broken a rib? Had the glass hit her lung? Why was she feeling her heart race more, and why did her hands feel shaky now?
Thalia pulled away and stared at the window with wide eyes. Reyna pushed herself off the broken glass, meeting the vigilante's gaze in the cracked window glass. Reyna could swear she saw a hint of concern in those blue eyes.
"Fight away from the window?" Thalia suggested modestly.
Reyna agreed by turning and punching Thalia in the face, right in her nose. She felt satisfied as she felt a crunch travel up through her knuckles. Thalia stumbled backward, but the hair on the back of Reyna's neck stood up. She dodged to the side as lighting was suddenly shot at her.
It was their third date that Thalia had pulled that trick out for the first time. Reyna had not expected it and had taken a full shock to the chest. It felt like getting hit by three tasers at the same time. Her limbs locked up on her, and her body convulsed as Thalia handcuffed her.
Most of their dates ended that way, with Thalia on top of Reyna and cuffing her. When would she learn that the police would just let Reyna go if she didn't break out first? Did Thalia think that Reyna had to pay bail and would eventually run out of money and be forced to stay in prison?
Half of the time Reyna allowed Thalia to get the upper hand that gave her the win. The other half she did not, and it frustrated Reyna. She had always been the best fighter in the city, but everything changed when Thalia and her friends came along. Every time Reyna lost a fight she tried to remember every moment and improve.
It didn't help that Thalia talked so damn much. She was always insulting Reyna and getting a rise out of her, and Reyna couldn't help but retort. The two would trade insults along with punches. It was a routine Reyna had come to enjoy.
When Reyna started to lose, she felt herself giving in to anger. Thalia had foiled all of her petty plans that were just an excuse to see the woman, but she also foiled most of Reyna's serious plans. The ones that she needed to succeed.
Reyna would lose her smirk. She wouldn't respond with any more verbal jabs, preferring to keep it all physical. But Thalia beat her. Every fucking time.
Today would be different. Reyna told herself that as she dodged the lightning. Before she could catch her balance, Thalia charged her once again, ramming her into the wall. A shoulder impaled Reyna's stomach, and she gasped as the air was knocked out of her lungs. Thalia pulled back, only to ram her shoulder into Reyna's stomach again.
Reyna fell to her knees, gasping for breath. Her head slumped against Thalia's perfect thighs. One of Thalia's hands ran through Reyna's hair, cradling her skull before forcing her gaze upwards, "I love the sight of you on your knees."
"It's not a bad view," Reyna quipped. "It would be better if you were in this position, though."
Thalia smirked and lowered her knee slightly. Reyna caught the knee that was going to slam into her jaw and stood, throwing her entire weight into Thalia's stomach and picking her up with the momentum.
Reyna casually tossed Thalia over her shoulder. The other woman cried out as she hit the hard floor. Reyna turned her head, "You on the ground? That is a beautiful sight."
"I am quite beautiful," Thalia flattered herself as she stood. Although, it sounded like the wind had been knocked out of her. "You're not so bad yourself. Too bad about the nose."
"Someone can't help but go for cheap shots," Reyna commented. She used the back of her hand to wipe blood and snot away from her nose. "It's the only way she can win."
Thalia smirked and rushed at Reyna again, throwing a wide punch. Reyna ducked to the side and countered with a quick uppercut. Thalia dodged back, and the two fell into a familiar dance. They were performing for an audience of just themselves.
There were so many things Reyna admired about Thalia's fighting style. How the woman committed to a move and followed through. How she moved with such grace. Not to mention she hit like a brick.
Reyna felt as if the admiration, respect even, was mutual. She had watched Thalia fight her men on more than one occasion. She had disposed of them as soon as she could, but she took her time when fighting Reyna.
A punch barely brushed across Reyna's nose, but it was enough to make her eyes water. And enough to set off her temper. Reyna rammed her fist forward, but Thalia seemed to just dance away from it and brought her hands to touch Reyna's wrist. It felt like it took an eternity for Thalia's finger to run all the way up to her bicep and curl around the tense muscle.
Before Reyna knew it, her face was being slammed directly into the table she wanted to stay away from. Her arm was twisted behind her back painfully, but not in a way that it would break. Thalia grabbed the back of her braid and pulled her head up slightly.
"I love seeing you in this position. It is such a great view," Thalia whispered. The hair on the back of Reyna's neck stood up, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. Her face then suddenly slammed into the table, eliciting a yell.
The restraining hand released her arm, and she collapsed to the ground bringing both hands to her nose. Blood seemed like it was gushing from in between her fingers. Thalia chuckled, "Want to give up, yet?"
Reyna would not yield. She would not lose today. The damn building would be blown to hell because if she woke up one more time to her dogs crying because of how loud the construction was, she would bomb the entire fucking city.
Reyna grabbed the knife from her belt and lunged to her feet, swiping upwards. Thalia's eyes widened, and she sloppily dodged backward to escape the slash. Reyna used her free hand to catch Thalia off balance with a punch in the mouth. A tooth cut in between her knuckles as she ended Thalia's sentence before it could begin.
A smirk came to Reyna's lips as she pulled Thalia towards her as hard as she could and tripped her. Thalia's forehead smacked into the corner of the table, and she collapsed to the floor in a heap.
Reyna looked at her watch. Close enough. She moved towards the detonator and pressed her finger down on the button. Her eyes lit up as the bottom floor of the building across from her exploded, the supports crumbling and giving out from the shattering blast. She watched the building topple, crashing into the vacated lots surrounding it.
This night could not get any better. With a smirk, Reyna made her way to Octavian. She had almost forgotten about him. Octavian was starting to make it to his hands and knees. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a standing position. He looked at her in confusion.
"Get the car and the others. I'll meet you outside soon," Reyna ordered. Octavian looked at her and then Thalia. He turned and stumbled away.
When Octavian left and was down the hall, Reyna walked towards Thalia, watching her squirm from the recent blows she took. Thalia had both hands to her face and looked like she was blinking herself back to consciousness. Reyna interrupted her concentration by sitting on the woman's stomach.
"No one will miss the building anyway," Reyna began. She felt a genuine smile creep onto her lips. There was a warmth in her chest. When was the last time she felt like this?
Thalia groaned and slowly started to shift in her restrained position. Reyna grabbed each of Thalia's wrists and pinned them above her head, savoring the victory. She needed this. Her men had been silently doubting her for months now. Every failed plan threatened to undo years of hard work. After all, you were only as good as your last success.
Now, this was a monument to her. The people of this city would see the smoking rubble and realize what she could do to them if they crossed her. It was a reminder to her men to stay in line lest they wanted to be just another pile of ashes in her wake.
Reyna watched Thalia's eyes blink even more from pure confusion. Blood trickled down her mask and towards her left eye, and Reyna gently brushed it away, letting go of the woman's wrists. A pool of warmth sprung to life in Reyna's stomach, and she had this odd feeling in her chest.
It felt like her heart had grown heavier in her chest and was beating faster, and her body seemed to shake slightly everywhere. Was this what happiness felt like? Or was it something else?
"How many people?" Thalia slowly asked, horror evident on her face as she realized what happened.
"None," Reyna revealed with a mischievous smirk. One of the lessons she took from her mother was to lessen the casualties. If she killed people everywhere she turned, the FBI or some other government agency would label her a terrorist and come after her. Just a few people here and there wouldn't make headlines. "Building was being inspected today. No one was inside, and both roads directly in front were closed off."
"Why go through all of the trouble to blow it up?" Thalia slowly croaked out. She pulled up her mask enough to expose her lips and freckles.
"Fuckers woke me up," Reyna answered. "And they disturbed my dogs. Now, what should I do with you?"
"Pizza and a movie?" Thalia asked. Something in her tone made Reyna feel like it wasn't a joke. More of a suggestion. Reyna didn't dwell on it. Instead, she grabbed Thalia's wrists and gripped them tightly with one hand. Her other hand grabbed the handcuffs from her belt.
"You're always putting these on me," Reyna began, sourness lacing her tone.
"Maybe I like seeing you all tied up," Thalia shot back. Reyna cuffed one of Thalia's wrists. It was odd that the woman wasn't fighting back against her. "Just all helpless and defenseless."
"I'm never defenseless or helpless," Reyna growled as a flash of anger seeped through her. Her father's words played in her mind, and she grabbed Thalia's jaw, pulling her head from the floor. "Just because I let you win most of the time."
"Let me win?" Thalia asked with a teasing grin. "I know you try most of the time. You always hit harder and lose your cocky smile. The banter always stops, and your nose crinkles in the cutest way. You know, until I break it."
"Who the fuck do-"
Thalia lunged herself as much as she could, closing the distance between the two of them and kissed Reyna. She pulled back after a moment, and Reyna just stared down at the woman she had pinned. Thalia looked up at her with a critical gaze.
"Did I misread this?" Thalia slowly asked. Reyna just gawked as her brain tried to compute what had just happened. Thalia kissed her. Her rival kissed her. Was she trying to get an advantage? Was it a distraction? Or, did she want Reyna?
"Shit. This is awkward now. I thought that we were-"
Reyna returned the favor by interrupting with a kiss. Thalia's eyes widened in surprise, but she immediately leaned into it. Her lips were so soft, and she tasted like coffee. Reyna recoiled slightly as the blood from her nose slipped into their kiss. She pulled away and wiped her nose again.
Reyna stared down at Thalia. She enjoyed the time she spent with this woman, bantering and sparring. She never thought anything would ever come of it. But would it actually? Reyna's eyes swept around the office. It wasn't the best place for sex, but she could make do.
"What do you want?" Thalia moaned quietly. She pulled her handcuffed wrist away from Reyna's hand and gently wiped the blood from Reyna's nose. "Because I want you."
Thalia wanted her? What was that supposed to mean? Reyna was a criminal, and that was the only thing she would ever be. Reyna left destruction and bodies of rivals in her wake. She could still feel Thalia's lips on hers. What the hell was going on?
"What do you want?" Thalia repeated. Reyna slowly looked down at her. If she wanted, Reyna could have her way with Thalia right now. Hell, she could have her way with anyone in the city. Men and women practically threw themselves at her, just to have some form of relevance.
That couldn't be the case for Thalia, though. So, what the hell was it? Reyna thought she understood their song and dance. She thought it was just a matter of flirting and sneaking glances or touches while fighting, but to be face to face with someone asking her what she wanted wasn't something Reyna knew how to handle. What did she want?
"You want to fuck me?" Reyna let the question slip through her lips.
"Crude way to say it, but yeah. I thought that much was obvious," Thalia admitted. Confusion dawned in her eyes. "I'm starting to feel like I really misread this entire thing."
"No," Reyna said after a moment. She slowly grabbed the free handcuff and studied it. Thalia watched her in silence. "But, I want you to know I'm in control."
"Oh really now?" Thalia asked with a teasing grin. "You like being in charge, don't you?"
"Behind your back," Reyna ordered. She dropped the other handcuff and watched Thalia study her for a few moments, seemingly weighing the options. Reyna tried not to be lost in those blue orbs, to become absorbed by them. "Render unto me."
"If I decide not to?" Thalia slowly asked. The hesitation was clear in her eyes.
"Then, I knock you out and leave you here. Probably handcuff your wrist to your ankle like you did to me that one time," Reyna revealed. Thalia chuckled as if she was remembering the moment. Reyna felt her face starting to burn.
Thalia suddenly arched her back, and Reyna tensed in surprise and anticipation. Thalia shifted and brought both hands behind her back. A look of concentration came to her face, "A little help?"
Reyna carefully wrapped her arms around Thalia's back and found her free wrist. She grabbed onto the loose handcuff and slowly brought it to Thalia's wrist. After a nod of confirmation, she closed the other cuff.
The two were so close now. Only a few inches separated them, and Reyna could feel Thalia's breath on her face: coffee and pizza. Even though Reyna was supposed to be the one in control, Thalia made the first move.
Thalia shot her head up and kissed Reyna roughly. Reyna smiled into the kiss and returned it with as much ferocity as she could. This was better than how she imagined it would be.
Reyna lustfully grabbed Thalia's head with both of her hands and pulled her deeper in, fighting her tongue for dominance. If Thalia thought she was going to win, she was sorely mistaken. Reyna stabbed her tongue into Thalia's mouth and explored every corner and crevice that she could reach. She felt where Thalia was missing one of her upper teeth, where one of her wisdom teeth had begun to creep in.
Reyna pushed Thalia back against the ground. She deepened the inelegant make-out session, well aware that the blood and snot still trickled from her nose. Reyna slithered her hands to Thalia's breasts. Both hands squeezed and caressed them gently, enjoying how the nipples slowly perked and hardened under her touch.
One of Reyna's hands reached back to grab another knife from her belt. She brought it forward and cut open Thalia's shirt. Then, she cut the woman's bra. Reyna smirked and sheathed her knife. She pulled away from Thalia's lips and smirked at the woman.
"Which one should I abuse first?" Reyna mused, feeling a purr growing in the back of her throat. She allowed Thalia to mull it over as she slowly unhooked the woman's belt. Reyna felt her heart racing, and she felt something swell in her stomach. She had never felt this before.
"Whichever one you desire," Thalia gasped hotly, breathing heavily. Reyna smirked and unzipped Thalia's pants, laying down beside her to get in a better position. She slipped one hand down under as she caught the woman in another kiss. Her other hand wrapped around her back and grabbed onto Thalia's left breast, giving it a rough pinch on the nipple. The woman moaned. "Fuck me..."
"Oh, I plan on it," Reyna growled into the kiss. Thalia kissed her back, and Reyna allowed the woman to roam her mouth with her tongue. She used one of her fingers to gently lift Thalia's panties before dropping it back against her skin with a snap, teasing her.
"Just do it already," Thalia growled in a begging tone. Reyna chuckled in amusement. Thalia slammed her face back into Reyna's, jarring her nose. Tears filled Reyna's eyes, and she tried to blink them away and return the kiss at the same time.
Reyna twisted Thalia's nipple as hard as she could, causing the woman to yelp and pull away from the kiss. Reyna smirked and forced her rival's head back against the floor. Her finger lifted Thalia's underwear again, and she saw Thalia's eyes widen in shock.
A foot slammed directly into Reyna's ribs, and she gasped in total surprise. Someone wrenched her off of Thalia and slammed her back into the wall. Reyna felt a fist slam into her ribs, and she doubled over. She was thrown forward towards the cracked window.
"Clarisse!" Thalia called out. Reyna tried to stumble to her feet, but before she could find her footing, someone smashed into her from behind. The force of the new person shot her right through the glass window.
Reyna had no time to feel the ice that shot through her veins or realize how fast her heart was beating. She could barely comprehend that she had been thrown out of the window. Before her mind could wrap around what had happened, her right knee slammed into the edge of a semi-truck, and her momentum caused her to fall head over heels off of the semi and into another car.
Reyna's back slammed directly onto the car's windshield, forming cobweb cracks in the glass. The driver came to a sudden stop that flung Reyna off of the car's hood. She hit the street hard with an audible thud. Reyna laid there motionless, staring down at the cold pavement her face was now buried in.
Her heart felt like it was attempting to break free of her body through her battered ribs, and she could feel something crawling up into her throat. The sharp, fractured pain in her back brought tears to her eyes, and she couldn't feel the area around her knee. Blood pooled in her mouth. She didn't know if it was from a punctured lung or something as mundane as biting her tongue.
A van screeched to a stop next to Reyna, and she barely willed her eyes to look up, seeing Octavian in the driver's seat. Two of her men jumped out of the van and gently scooped her up. A strangled noise escaped Reyna as she was carried towards the van and laid in the back.
Reyna barely heard Octavian speak as he floored the pedal. She barely registered her two henchmen stabilizing her knee. Reyna struggled to pull her hand to her neck, feeling her pulse race faster than ever before. She brought her hand to her chest and felt how fast her heart was beating. A pained, crooked smile came to Reyna's face. She had never felt so fucking alive.
