Attempting to catch her breath, Vicki leaned back against the metal lamp post and tried to shake demon blood from the long-sword "That," she glared at her partner, "I could have handled on my own."
"I hate to anger you while you're still armed, Vicki, but it's a lucky thing I arrived when I did." Henry held firm, "Schottunpei are not known for their code of honor."
"C'mon, Henry!" she laughed, "That thing had no chance. It's fighting skills were not that impressive. I was wide open before and it didn't even try to get a hit in…Shot'n… what?" Vicki asked.
"Coreen and Bettie figured it out. All the clues fit. And the Schottunpei wanted to keep you intact for the time being. This demon takes human concubines to breed with."
Vicki stopped cleaning the blade, "uhh…ok. That I wasn't expecting…I don't know what to say…" She resumed wiping the rapidly congealing violet goo from her borrowed sword. "…except, ew."
"Don't attempt to laugh this off!" Henry exploded. Why couldn't she acknowledge the very real danger she insisted on waltzing into? "There are times, Vicki, when I say 'no, don't fight this thing alone' when you have to listen to me!"
Sick of this argument, she responded in kind, "You're my partner, not my nanny!"
Henry knew that yelling only made his Vicki more stubborn, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You once asked me to be your safety net…" he reminded Vicki.
"That doesn't mean I'm ready to jump yet, Henry."