Chapter 17
Summer was kick started in two-thousand-and-two for Lucy with her first ever trip on a plane. It was terrifying to say the least. They had rented a car once they had landed in Miami and quicker than Lucy could appreciate being outside her home state, they had skidded away to their hotel. It wasn't exactly a five star hotel, but Lucy could still wonder at the grand décor and awaiting 'servants' as she put it.
Each day was an adventure for Lucy, their daughter had barely seen anything outside of her usual home area, and now she was in one of the biggest hotspots in America. Having landed in Palm Beach International Airport they didn't see Hollywood like Lucy had wanted but seeing as how each match had a weeks distance between them, Aashi promised Lucy she would see the majority of the sights that Lucy wanted to see.
Their first day they just drove around, enjoyed the food, the different culture and just generally lazed about. The second day was interesting, more so for Lucy and Arthur, as they went to the famed Venetian pool. It had been completely spontaneous; Lucy had seen the pool and immediately started pointing at it like it held all a child could ask for. The adults, both of which were not too keen in packed public spaces, had tried to persuade her, even pointing out that they had not packed their swimwear.
Grumpily, Lucy pulled out her puppy dog face, complete with a trembling lower lip. When they conceded, Aashi drew her eyes to Arthur's own puppy dog face (hoping she wouldn't hurt him) and growled at him, "This is your fault. She gets it from you."
"Yeah, an' where do you think she gets her stubbornness from, huh?"
They made a quick stop to store to get some swim wear. It was amusing to see Aashi struggle with trying to pick out a swimsuit she actually liked. Some were too neon, others were too feminine (whatever that meant) and others she just didn't like the style of. Frustrated, she picked up the first Cerulean bikini that was in front of her and marched off with a huff.
Arthur slung an arm around her as they sauntered over to the waterfalls. "Oh, you're just in a little tiff just 'cause it ain't black."
"Yeah, and? Don't give me that look, I saw your face when you couldn't find anything but spandex."
"Mhm, but luckily you found the 'non-spandex' aisle for me." He nuzzle his head in her hair. "Ai, you look good in blue. It's okay. Everything's fine, look Luo is having the time of her life."
Said girl was trotting off to the pools in a haste but then fell face first in the sand. Without missing a beat, Lucy got back to her feet, still smiling goofily, brushing off sand from her pink one piece swim-suit, as if she hadn't just fallen on her face.
Aashi looked at Arthur with narrowed eyes, but he sheepishly shrugged. "See, she's havin' fun."
Aashi sighed, resigned. "Just make sure you put some sunscreen on. I did it for Lucy but I don't expect to do it for you too."
Arthur saluted her. "Righto" he tried to imitate a cockney accent and failed to which Aashi shook her head and told him she was going to go to the food court for some ice cream.
"Make sure you put on some sun-screen on!" as she walked away he heard her mutter underneath her breath something about how white people burn like thin slices of bacon in a pan of lard. After lathering down in cream, he cannonballed into the pool.
"Daddy!" Lucy squealed, "that was so cool!"
They laughed in unison that was until Arthur called her to join him in the deeper end. Then Lucy became hesitant. She shied away from the pool like it was going to eat her and walked to the edge of the pool. Then it hit him: Lucy didn't know how to swim. She was purposefully staying in the shallow end where she could stand.
"It's ok, princess. Just hold onto daddy and he'll take care of ya." He held out his hands and after much coaxing, she reached out for him. She held onto him in a death grip. Hugging him like a lifeboat.
"Daddy, can we go back to the happy side." She was beginning to whimper.
"Come on, Lou." He looked at her in surprise. "Try to swim. It's easy! Just kick your legs out like this." He showed her the basic form and hoped she would be able to mimic, but she wouldn't let go of him.
"Daddy, please!" she whispered. "I wanna go to Mummy."
"Bandar!" Aashi appeared like the devil. She had something bright and neon in her hand as she swam closer to them.
"Mummy!" she instantly latched off Arthur and reached for Aashi.
Aashi took her and clamped the colourful floats onto Lucy's arms. "There. Now try to do it on your own."
"Mummy, I can't!" Lucy whined.
Aashi had a frim grasp on her and told in a solemn tone. "Lucy, don't say 'no' before you even try. I'm right here. Your father is right here. I'm not going to let you drown, ok?"
Begrudgingly, Lucy slowly eased her grip and paddled like a fish out of water. Water went everywhere and people yelled in anger but they didn't care and let Lucy continue. They got a lot of stares as well but it didn't matter because Lucy was finally having some fun in the water.
As the sun began to plummet west, Aashi turned to Arthur and suggested they should fill their bellies and then head out shortly after. Arthur merely concurred and started to gather Lucy in his arms. As he followed Aashi with his eyes he took note of the attention on her.
"Daddy, look at those people" Lucy pointed to the edge of the pool, and surely enough there were quite a few men gawking at Aashi, some in interest whilst some in aversion. He could sympathise with those who were tempted (who wouldn't salivate at that ripped body?), but not with those who were simmering with loathing. He supposed it was due to her 'manly' body, or maybe because of her customary dominating aura which could emasculate many men, but in the back of his mind a voice chided him, reminding him that people were very petty and benighted.
Oblivious or just not bothered by the onslaught of critical glares, Aashi approached them with towels. Lucy and Aashi chatted about their potential options of grub, but Arthur was much more conscious of the ogling they were subjected to and sent smouldering glares in all directions. He was nudged out of his foul mood when Lucy and Aashi looked toward him expectantly.
He pinched his lips, "What?"
Aashi and Lucy shared a mischievous look. "You were not paying attention, were you, Artie?"
Arthur ushered them further to the food court, particularly to the less occupied spaces, and shrugged in response with an embarrassed grin. Aashi's sharp eyes were drawn to his hunching shoulders and took his hand as a semblance of comfort.
She held his eyes so as to calm him further. "We wanted to know what you were craving for lunch? So far we have pizza, burritos and…" she paused purposefully and looked at Lucy's bobbing head as she tailed behind them, "… ice cream."
Having lived on a shoestring budget Arthur did not fuss on his options. All that mattered was that his stomach would be satisfied, however, with the surge of dough recently he questioned himself if he should go easy on himself and start living. "I wouldn't, uh, mind some burrito-os. It's been a while."
He absently tugged the towel further onto Aashi's shoulders when he caught another fleebag mentally undressing Aashi. Much to Lucy's protest, they ended with burritos for lunch and Arthur all but dragged Aashi and Lucy out of the pools when the last crumb was finished. This time Aashi was the one who drove and switched the radio on to alleviate Arthur's mood. She didn't know his taste in music but assumed he was in to the hits of the new century.
Tweet's oops (oh my) began to drum through the car. Aashi wrinkled her face, familiar with Missy Elliot but not getting with the beat, and looked over to the right to see Arthur pulling a face too. He flicked through the channels at random. Vanessa Carlton's A thousand miles, Avril Lavinge's Complicated, Nelly's Hot in here, J Lo's I'm gonna be alright, Alien Ant Farm's Smooth criminal, Ricky Martin's She bangs. None were to Arthur's liking which prompted a raised brow from Aashi. She thought he would have been into Eminem at the very least. And he was. The moment Eminem's without me came to life Arthur released the radio and began to subtley head bang along.
Lucy wasn't much into the song although she did show interest in R 'n B and rock.
Then, for an electrifying moment the channel was changed and both adults froze but a second later the car shook with the intensity of their head banging. Down with the sickness blasted through the speakers and scared the life out of Lucy. They banged it out for a full minute before they calmed down. Boisterous laughter drowned out the lyrics when Arthur and Aashi caught the look of horror on Lucy's face.
"Daddy, Mummy are you ok?" she asked in an aghast tone.
"Lou, it's ok-"
"What were you guys doing?"
"Head banging!" Aashi whispered as if to contain the energy within.
Lucy looked out the window like the answers were before her and then asked, "Why?"
"Because!" the adults said in unison, out of breath.
Nirvana's Smells like teenage spirit was up next. The adults went began to head bang along but much softer. Lucy joined in to see what the fun was but didn't see the joy in it and resigned to contemplating her odd parents.
They completed the day with a visit to Miami beach but they retired early as all their energy was spent. On the way back, Aashi indulged Lucy and got her some ice cream, but whilst Arthur chose to indulge as well, Aashi did not. She said she had to 'maintain' her diet until the fights came to a conclusion. Once at the hotel, Lucy scrambled into the queen bed and waited for Aashi to tuck her in and to regale a tale from her early life – much to her disappointment they were usually broad and non-personal. Arthur would stay and listen tentatively as well, until he grumpily stalked back to his room opposite theirs.
The following days followed as the first had gone until on the fourth day, Aashi awoke exceptionally early and began to meditate for hours on end. Arthur and Lucy hesitated at the threshold of Aashi's room.
She only moved for sustenance. Otherwise, she was unresponsive, in her own world, and meditating. When the clock stuck four exactly Aashi's eyes opened determinedly. She stood stiffly, stretched, and then pulled out her duffle bag and made her way to the bathroom. Arthur and Lucy watched her from the grey loveseat but said nothing. When they had found her in the morning, they had tried to illicit a response out of her but got nothing. Thus, they had decided they would wait for her to reach out to them first.
It took her less than half an hour to prepare herself physically for the match. She walked right in front of them and halted. She appraised them each individually, "I'm going to make my way to the site. You two can stay or come along. I already have your tickets."
"We're coming, Ai. That's not up for, uh, debate. It's about time we see you in action."
Aashi blinked at him, impassively, and nodded for them to follow. In the pits of their stomachs the Fleck's could feel the apprehension rising, to the point where they could think of nothing else but of the outcome of the match.
Aashi drove and it was surprisingly not far. They reached a casino and headed inside. Aashi gruffly grunted at one of the security guards who responded equally. He let them away from the crowds and somewhere underground. Arthur's hands itched for something to hold. His hand inched towards his pocket, knowing in it sat his blade, but did not pull anything yet. His stomach sank when they came to a checkpoint.
They were searching people, both guests and fighters. Aashi stepped forth and let the metal detector skim her and her duffle bag. There was a slight catch in the side of her bag, but when Aashi gave the guard a heated frown, he said nothing. Next was Lucy; it was comical. Lucy's curious eyes followed the metal detector and she softly reached out for it as well. Aashi had to tell her several times to stand still. They found nothing. Arthur felt the sweat build up on his neck and forehead.
He really didn't want to mess this up for her. Not after her rejuvenation. He held out his arms and felt a toad lodge itself in his throat. Something dropped in his stomach when the metal detector picked up on his knife in his pocket. The guard gave him an accusing stare, "Turn out your pockets, sir!"
Arthur put his hands down, and clenched his fingers. He glared at the man but tried his hardest not to.
"Sir! Turn out your pockets!"
He unclenched his fingers and patted his pockets and reached in his left pocket. Nothing, apart from some lint and an old candy wrapper that Lucy had given him on the way there.
"Other pocket!"
The sweat rolled down his brow and onto his cheek. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and something primeval inside him screamed at him to deck the guard and run. He curbed that impulse. His clammy hands trailed into his pocket. He gripped the handle. His heart beat thrummed. His fingers felt like they had inflated in a matter of milliseconds. He began to draw his pocket out.
"Is there a problem here?
Arthur felt the air leave his lungs. Aashi stood chest to back to the guard and loomed over him like Sauron's eye over Mordor. The guard's face soured and the sheen of cold sweat now covered his face. From his bleary eyes, Arthur could tell that his instincts were now going haywire. Surprisingly, he didn't shake in his boots. He peered over his shoulder. "No, ma'am."
He stepped aside for Arthur. He followed Aashi like a lost puppy, and as they entered the abandoned small room Aashi wacked him behind his head, "Stupid!" she glared at him. Her tone expressed disquietedness. Arthur grinned in response and rubbed the back of his head.
"There you are Daddy! What took so long?" Lucy had shed her coat, which now hung beside the door on a hanger. She began to ramble on about how she had never been in a locker room, although it looked nothing like a locker room, Arthur noted himself.
There were lockers, but there was also a squeaky clean glass shower cubicle, along with a large floor to ceiling mirror which was accompanied by a large oval sink and a couple of white leather sofas.
Aashi swaggered off to the sink. She opened her duffle bag and pulled out a few tins.
'That's what must've been what caught the detector' Arthur told himself. He had flopped onto the sofa and sat Lucy next to him, who was now playing with his limp hair. Arthur was barely listening as his eyes locked onto Aashi's figure.
Already donning her black shorts and sports bra, all that was left was to deal with her hair or so Arthur had thought. By this point, Lucy had figured out that her father wasn't listening to her and chose to pester her mother, but she was cut short when a thought came to her.
"Mummy."
"Hm?" Aashi was setting small tins around her on the oval sink.
"Won't-…" Lucy looked to her father, trepidation colouring her face, like she was seeking his help and then back to Aashi. "Won't your hair get in the way? They might pull at it."
Lucy padded her way to Aashi and brushed the hand down the tips of her hair. "At school when the girls fight they pull at each other's hair and ruin it. You… you have really nice hair, Mummy. Won't you be sad if it gets ruined?"
Aashi chuckled lightly. "Who said I was going to leave my hair out? Won't you help me put it up?" Aashi gazed down at Lucy frolicsomely. Lucy didn't hesitate to grab the nearest comb and detangle her hair. Astonishingly, it was quick work. Aashi braided it tight and then pulled it up into a tight fat bun at the back of her head. She then pulled out each piercing on her ear which was quite the task. Lucy gasped and awed as Aashi removed more of her piercings from the orbital and above. When it came to her industrial Lucy hid her face in Arthur's shoulder. All of her jewellery went into one tin after they had been sterilised.
A hum began to swell into the room. It wasn't quite musical, nor was it machine-like. But it most certainly sounded like beats. It was steady in frequency. Arthur glanced around to find the source but found nothing. It was an odd sound. Low, but not gentle.
Piercings removed, she moved on to her face. She became uncharacteristically quiet. Her eyes scanned her face for a long moment until she gently nodded to herself. "Yes, that one will do." She muttered to herself.
She pulled at one tin, dipping a small sponge into the tin, and it came out white as a sheet of paper. Arthur watched enthralled, and waited patiently to see her next move although he had the faintest idea of what she would do. Aashi swiped the sponge all over her face; first outlining her face and then filling her face. She looked like a ghost. Everything was covered in paint – her eyes, lips, nose. Whilst Aashi did not adore Hindu culture or tradition, she did take a few of their traditions for her own and incorporated other traditions into as well: creating a new meaning, a new symbol, a new culture for herself. She always put on her war paint before a fight. White was to show her high social status. In the underworld anyway.
Her eyes then spied the next tin and dipped her pointer finger and middle finger into it. Black. For anger. She lined her eyes neatly and flaring it at the end to make it similar to cats eyes. She pulled out a brush as thin as an eyelash. She painted it white and then smoothed out half-crescents on her eyelids. To show her timelessness, that she could withstand anything thrown at her.
She pulled out a second brush, a bit thicker, and it was completely flat at the top. She dipped it in the third tin and it came out as a cobalt blue. She outlined her eyes with cobalt dots. Blue. For braveness. She used another similar brush and dipped it into the next tin. Dark turmeric yellow. For mental development to emphasise her maturity, and how she was a quick learner. She dotted her eyes again, around the blue. Then she added a second set of yellow dots around those existing dots going over her eyebrows and even down her nose.
She then painted her lips a scarlet red. A show of her prowess.
The low hum had become louder. More discernible. It sounded like chanting. The knot in Arthur's stomach returned. Though, this time it was not in agitation, rather it was from the commotion from outside and flaming drama he knew he would witness. Even Lucy was now wordlessly caught up with Aashi's actions.
She pulled out a final small brush and blackened it. She raised her chin and deftly drew a symbol on her chin. A Hindu Swastika, with all four dots at each point in the middle. The Swastika for good fortune.
She took a step back and securitised her work. She nodded with a grunt. Satisfied. She wrapped her hands in firmly in gauze before she took her black boxing gloves off of one of the hangers (along with her mouth guard) and gave her family one final look. She was second in line. And for each seven rounds, there were only six minutes. Unless there was a knockout. She should be up next.
She heard the faint sound of a bell. Yep, she was up. "Come, let's get you to your seats."
"Ey, how is war girl?"
Arthur did a double take. There, at the door, stood Harry. He was dressed similarly to Aashi. Black shorts, black sweatshirt. Was he her coach?
"Harry, you're late!" Aashi looked like she was ready to have a go at him, but something kept her at bay.
"Oh, I's was jus' givin' ye som' time, ta give ye comfart! How ye doin' lass, aright?"
Aashi's glares looked like they could burn holes into his head, but Harry was unbothered and moved in to pat her on the shoulder, "Right! Yer up!"
Then his eyes fell on Arthur and Lucy. Arthur watched as Harry's eyes assessed them briefly before his face lit up. "Ey, Arthur! Yer 'ere too! Hiya man! Oh! An' ye mus' be Lucy!"
"Harry" Aashi's strict tone brought his greetings to an end.
"Right! Let's get gan!"
Aashi quickly pulled on a fitting t-shirt of a stretchy material and followed Harry. More people joined them along the way, all supporting Aashi, this must have been her team. Lucy thought she saw Chuck in there somewhere too. The low hum was much more discernible now, transforming into a near scream. It was causing the very halls to shake with its intensity. It was definitely the chanting of a large crowd. Arthur didn't quite catch what they were saying but he got their rhythm. One, one, two, three. One, one, two, three.
They were getting closer to the double doors where the source was being emitted from. The grey windows shone with delight as the next fighter came closer. The chanting became more excited, fuelled as if they knew their fighter was getting closer. It sounded like Yoda? Arthur picked Lucy up and placed her on his hip. Just in case, he told himself. She was a hobbit in comparison to the tall adults swarming Aashi.
When they entered the great hall Arthur was nearly knocked over by the amount of people, and the supposed expenses of such an event. Smack down in the middle was the stage, illuminated by a great amount of flood lights. The opponent was already there. There were boxes situated on the top sides of the room (presumably for those who had more expandable money). Every corner was packed to the brim. The chanting was deafening. There were easily over a thousand people here.
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
One of the flood lights beamed down on Aashi and followed her as she came closer to the elevated ring.
"Yo-da-ha-ha"
She place the guard in her mouth.
"Yo-da-ha-ha"
Put on her gloves.
"Yo-da-ha-ha"
Chuck smiled at (a very suspicious and cautious) Arthur and Lucy in a friendly manner and led them to the seat that was mere feet away from the ring. Aashi pulled off her shirt and handed it to one of her team members.
"Daddy" Lucy had hidden herself in his shoulder again, also taken back by the sheer scale of the event, after all Aashi had been alone up until the moment she was meant to step in the ring. "Why are they calling Mummy Yoda? She's not a green alien!"
"I don't know, sweet pea. We'll ask her later."
Arthur's eyes scoured the room. He was amused to find that people were banging their feet and hands with the chanting. He didn't know it was possible, but it became louder a moment later. He focused back on the ring and found out why. Aashi, her opponent, and the referee were in the middle. Going over the 'rules' no doubt. Harry stood at the corner and the rest of her team was on standby.
Her opponent, a tall, lean, muscled, man with a black curl over his forehead looked like he was ready to eat her alive. He had 'Perez' written on the back of his shorts. Perez looked arrogant, conceited and overall too boisterous. Too full of himself, too taunting. Aashi, on the other hand, was poised and prepared. She was humbly waiting for the referee to finish, no arrogance could be seen, no contempt either. However, her eyes had taken a darker shade like the embers of a great fire.
Arthur felt the knot in his stomach constrict impossibly. He had never seen a real boxing match, but he knew it was illegal for a man and a woman to match each other. The odds were stacked against her. Then again, despite the extravagance of the whole event, nothing about it seemed legal.
A tug on his coat pulled his focus on Lucy. "Is Mummy gonna be ok?"
She was trembling. Arthur gave her the warmest smile he could muster and replied, "'Course she is, Lou. This is Ai. Look at her."
He took a glance. Perez had a good foot over Aashi despite her height. The knot felt like it was about to break apart in his stomach. The noise. The sweat and humid air. The flashing lights. It was all a bit too much for him. The voices in his head were making him doubt, making him anxious for Aashi's well being.
'She's gonna die'
'She'll lose'
'She'll go down easily'
'She-
DING!
The bell was sounded and the two opponents circled the ring. For every step Aashi took closer, Perez took two steps closer. He threw a punch first, aimed for her shoulder, but Aashi blocked with her forearm. Lucy screamed. He threw another punch, again blocked. That's how most of the first round went. And then the second.
The man threw as many punches as he could with a ferocity that could put Mike Tyson to shame. Each punch was expertly blocked and on a rare occasion a punch was returned, but nothing serious. Lucy nearly screamed with each punch. One would think she was in the ring and not Aashi, who had thus far shown no signs of being under such pressure. She was sweating, yes, but Arthur thought that was more from the intense light rather than the attacks.
However, to those with keen eyes they could see Aashi's immaculate footwork, and perfect parrying. She was fast, very fast! Dodging faster than most could even see.
Arthur was somewhat let down. The voices in his head had begun to tear away at the Iron Maiden like imagery he had developed for Aashi. Yet, another set of voices were pointing out her viper like speed. The third round began and Perez went for another jab, but Arthur noticed that there was much less vigour in his next moves. It would only be days later would Arthur realise that Aashi had purposefully worn him out.
Perez sent his fist to her ribs, but it was parried and then for the first time Aashi threw a punch like a pouncing tigress. It connected violently with his shoulder, and the shock was evident on the Perez's face.
He countered, but Aashi was already throwing her next punch. This one connected with his cheek and he staggered this time.
He blindly went at her and got lucky. His punch clipped her on her upper forehead and for a breath-taking moment Arthur saw her hunch over for a split-second. Perez had mustered all of his might into that one punch in the hopes of a knockout. Yet, even as the ring shook, undulating even, Aashi did not back down. Then, as if from nowhere, the raging fire locked within Aashi was unsealed.
She managed to corner him and she reigned down her fury on him. One punch to the ribs, one punch to the shoulder, one punch to the nose, one punch to the cheekbone, then another to his jaw. Then another. Then another. Then another. The hits were so fast Perez didn't know where to block from. Not to mention, each hit rattled his brain in his skull.
The referee stepped in and Perez was saved by the bell. The crowd went wild. Aashi had made a comeback out of nowhere. Perez looked like he was about to faint where he stood. Aashi went to her corner and her team rushed to her. One gave her a towel. The other gave her some water to rinse her mouth out with. Harry was calmly spurring her on. His mouth spouting something faster than Arthur had even seen, and he already considered Harry to be a fast talker. He patted her firmly on the shoulder.
"Dad! Did you see that?! Did you see that?! Mummy went ham on him! Like pow, pow!"
"Yeah! Did you see his face when Ai cornered him?!"
Now he understood the crowd. In the beginning it was alienating, but now he was chanting alongside them. He was one with the crowd now.
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
"Yo-da-ha-ha!"
The fourth match started and Perez looked worse for wear. His body, particularly his shoulder blades and pectorals, were red and angry, and his face was a swollen eggplant. He lunged at her but she blocked. Then Aashi attacked with a whoosh.
The entire room fell into a death like silence.
DING!
"YEAHHHH!" virtually the entire room leapt to their feet, but only a handful were the proudest of their Aashi in that moment.
Aashi had hit him so fast, no one even saw the actual punch that knocked Perez out.
The first aiders fell to their knees and tended to the fallen opponent, whilst the referee pulled Aashi's arm up in a show of her victory.
Despite the thousands around her, Aashi's eyes were locked onto two people.
Lucy was so overwhelmed, she ran into the ring (with the help of Chuck) and fell into Aashi's arms, all the while crying. Tears streamed down her face and her voice wobbled, but Aashi understood her exactly.
"Mummy! You did it! You did it! You won!"
To be continued…