"If you're going to have a temper like you do, you're going to have to make sure you have the skills to back it up," Buffer said, glancing over at Bomber who was leaning on the railing beside him.
"I think I handled that pretty well." Bomber's response was snappy and a little self satisfied.
Buffer raised his eyebrow at her mockingly. Bomber's shoulders stiffened and she straightened, her chin taking on a mulish tightness.
"And what was wrong about how I handled it?" Her voice was challenging now and Buffer leaned back on his arms, his cool regard giving her expression more snap.
"It was like watching kids fight in the playground, all flailing limbs and stupidity. You'll get yourself in some real trouble if you try that against someone who actually knows what they're doing." He watched her expression pinch and the way her balance swayed forward before she pulled back her desire to hit him.
"You're saying I'd have no chance against you?" She snapped and he tried to hide his grin. She'd been so easy to bait. She needed humbling before she got herself into a situation she couldn't escape. He looked her up and down and then smirked.
"I certainly know more about what I'm doing than you do."
"Okay then. Show me." She stepped forward, invading his space, her jaw tight and angry. Buffer pushed himself off the railing and caught her arm. She tried to tug it back but he had already moved, stepping to the side to pivot behind her, pulling her arm up her back. She tried to turn with him but he'd tucked his leg behind hers, tripping her as she moved until she stumbled, caught, and he folded her over the railing, her arm shoved high up her back. She tried to kick out at him and he just stepped to the side, his hand holding her firmly as she squirmed and shifted before eventually slumping.
"Fine. I yield." She spat and Buffer released her, stepping back to avoid the flailing response he already knew was coming.
She kicked out at him but he was already out of reach and he just stared at her with a raised eyebrow as she turned to face him.
"Do you believe me now?"
He watched her temper rise higher and then her shove it down with a deep breath. He was a little impressed. If nothing else, the practice of controlling her anger would do her good. He knew forcing her to ask for help was a step too far, though he was tempted.
"I think the first step should be getting out of holds."
"You know they taught us this in training?" Bomber said but she stepped forward to face him.
"Those trainers are teaching you basic skills and they're not reinforcing them." He motioned for her to turn her back to him and he stepped up close behind her, wrapping an arm around her neck. "They don't teach you what you really need to know to get yourself out of a situation." She was pressed against his chest and he could feel the way she relaxed, her body signalling her acknowledgement of his words.
He pulled her closer, his arm tightening against her throat. "Okay, show me how you'd get out."
She dropped her chin and stepped to the side, nearly succeeding in driving her elbow into his nose.
"I'd be impressed if you didn't forget every part of that when you're angry." He pulled her back in as he said it, her skin warm against his.
"Does that mean you don't have anything to teach me then?" She asked, her voice challenging and just a little rough, leaning back into him.
"No. It just means that your temper is even worse than I thought."
She laughed and he felt the way her chest expanded against him.
"Okay then." He didn't need to see her face to recognise the cocky grin. "Show me what you've got."
Buffer felt the first warning heat in his skin at her attitude and shoved it down.
"First of all." He told her, shifting her to the side as she had done before and guiding her elbow up. "That's not always going to work if they're a lot taller than you." He tapped her leg with his own. "I already know you like to mule kick, aim for the nuts."
Her laugh huffed out against his arm and he could feel the way his skin prickled. She lifted her leg, letting his arm take her weight against her chin and rested her boot high up his thigh.
"Pity you're not a bit taller."
"I'm sure you'll recover." He told her, letting go and stepping back so she stumbled and her foot dropped away, taking the space to shake out his awareness of her.
She turned to face him, her expression challenging.
"Is that it?"
Buffer had started this to goad her, to teach her about the dangers of her temper with a side of self-defence. He had forgotten how easily the veneer of 'shipmate' could fall away and reveal a woman.
But her expression was challenging and he knew his own weaknesses as much as hers.
He stepped closer, using his body to intimidate, grabbing her arm.
"This is what I did last time. How do you stop me?"
She stepped forward aggressively, her feet almost between his and his arm trapped between their bodies. Her other hand was striking at his face, almost quicker than he could stop it but he managed to grab her other wrist just quickly enough to arrest her momentum.
He held her wrists as she stood close.
"And now you're in a worse situation." He told her, squeezing her wrists tightly to prove his point.
Bomber smirked at him and brought her knee up, pressing it against his groin.
"You were so distracted by my hands that you didn't notice my legs." She grinned at him. "Rookie mistake." She didn't lean into the pressure and he almost wished she would.
He turned his thigh, knocking her knee down and feeling like an idiot for starting this in the first place.
"And what now?"
Bomber's wrists flexed against his hands and her hips shifted as she worked her way through her training and her ideas. Finally, she stilled and then shrugged.
"If all else fails." She darted forward and latched her teeth around his wrist. He dropped it more in shock than pain, her mouth light on his skin, and she followed the movement by twisting out of his other hand and retreating a few steps. She bared her teeth at him. "Bite."
He laughed, startled, feeling giddy and stupid.
"I'm not sure if the Navy would endorse that method." He finally said after a long moment, unable to completely banish the laugh from his voice.
Bomber smiled at him and then stepped deliberately close, her hand sliding slowly down his arm until he shivered then she tapped two fingers on his collarbone and shrugged, deliberately nonchalant.
"Not my fault if the Navy doesn't recognise all the ways to defend yourself."
She stepped back, saluted him patronisingly and Buffer let her walk away, unsure of when he had lost the upper hand and if he had ever had it in the first place.