Biggest chapter so far.
Part One is complete - 18 chapters total.
21 chapters written and counting...
"Y'know, Eddie." Sally says with eyes narrowed, "I'm getting tired of you pulling your punches on me." Her pretty calloused hands are propped up on her hips, screaming indignation.
"Jesus Christ, Sal." Eddie says, all tight smile, "You're a girl an' I'm not gonna just go out and cold-cock you." Shido-sensei snorts a few feet away, standing there as a kind of mediator for his two students.
"Sakumo fights me all out – he doesn't underestimate me." She says coldly. "...Even if I never win a round against him…" she adds in a mutter. Sakumo is off training with his father – something about a family summoning contract or something.
"And Sakumo's a fucking genius so whoop-de-doo for him." He sneers.
Their teacher intervenes.
"Eddie, I've noticed you always hold back in fights with girls. Someday you're going to come across a female enemy who's stronger than you and like as not, she'll kill you." Shido-sensei's brown eyes are intent. "That's something you have to change before this weakness costs you dearly."
Weakness.
They don't know the sick anger inside him. They don't know why he won't hit a girl like he means it.
It's not that he doesn't want to hurt them. He does. Hates kunoichi for saying no and hates civilian women for their weakness and hates Sally Jupiter for snapping at him when he's trying his goddamn best to be nice. Hate.
But he's not like his father, and Eddie Blake is never going to be, not if he can help it.
"C'mon Eddie. Hit me." She says, red lips and yellow dress and hard black boots and hair twisted just so with her forehead protector resting on her collarbones. "Hit me hard and prove to me that you actually mean it."
So he does. Bam, right to the jaw. His knuckles and her jawbone make a nice meaty smack.
Pulls his fist back, does it again.
And again, left hand this time.
Pull back…
Sally flinches.
Fists uncurl. He pats her swelling cheek solemnly.
"Eddie…" It's a warning kind of growl from Shido-sensei.
"No," he assures them, "I'm done."
He wins this time.
Sally's brown eyes meet his and just like that, he hasn't won, he's lost.
She spits saliva and what looks like blood at her feet.
Her eyes are blazing. Fuck, sometimes he thinks he loves her when she's like this.
"Better," she says, and leaves.