Post by Ziggy Morgan on Jul 23, 2021 2:36:08 GMT -5
There were a handful of benefits to being a pro athlete with a growing following. Chief among which, gym owners were okay with opening after hours for you. Of course, it cost some extra cheddar but it was all an investment toward the old pay window and the winners purse. And even more so now with the multiplayer title on the line.
And still with all these benefits and possibilities, all Robert McAlroy could focus on was the ring attire his partner in ring, and life now, had adorned herself in at dead by daylight. Obviously, here at Punchy’s gym they were getting dressed separately but it did no favors to an imagination within the head of a man who had fought his most basic nature for the sake of the chaste of someone who had twisted him up worse than any submission move.
Feeling decidedly self conscious in his black training trunks, knee and elbow pads and ancient ring boots Bert lets out a small breath and heads out to the gym floor, sliding into the boxing ring and testing the ropes. Not as taut as what he was used to, but it would have to do. With one more disapproving glance at his own decidedly average physique, he returned to nervously waiting for his sparring partner like a kid on prom night.
A few more minutes passed until she made her way out of the ladies’ locker area, seeming a bit on the shy side. While the ring attires showed more of her skin, she still felt a little exposed decked out in her black athletic short shorts and purple half top, knee pads and calf high wrestling kicks. She looked down for a moment, almost as if gearing herself up before heading over to the ring. Greeting Bert with a wave, she wiped her feet on the apron and then got in. She too tested the ropes, sighing in response and turning her focus to stretching. “So I know we talked about it a little on the way over, but how did you want to start? What should we work on together?”
Bert wasn’t staring. Absolutely not. He cleared his throat, leaning back into the top rope and checking it once more before thinking. He gets a mischievous smirk on his face then, as that voice. The voice that brought a new face into the equation whispers to him. He approaches her slowly, speaking as he does so “I dunno. Maybe we….stay on our TOES” and with that, he did a sloppy but quick somersault to get behind her, and locked in a rear waistlock. He began to ragdoll her, kind of, while holding back a chuckle.
Not like she was far more lethal than him. Buzzsaws can be fun too, right?
Nao was taken off guard, for a second, the young woman offering a huff and a smirk before dipping her base low, breaking his grip. Before he knew it she brought him down with a drop toe hold, floating over and grabbing hold of his head, wrenching in a little extra. She gives a light tap to his head before going right back to the hold, not as tight this time, letting out a giggle as she does. “Stay on our toes, huh? Sounds good.” His surprise was palpable.
Slowly he managed to push himself vertical, making no move to yank his head free as he did so, before slipping out and shoving her into the ropes. He instantly pursues, grabbing her in the same waistlock and lifting her from the ropes before taking her down to the mat himself and applying the same headlock “Hah! Look at that, I can wrestle yo!” he said jokingly close to her ear as he set to patting her atop her head half condescendingly but mostly in the spirit of competition.
And because Bert always poked at the fire. Letting out a half chuckle in acknowledgment, Nao shifted from underneath, moving to the side to again break his grip. This time she kept hold of his arm, and stepping up slightly to apply a modified armbar, putting her knee to the back of his head for a little more leverage. “You can wrestle and you might be close to as good as I am.” She laughed a little before shaking her head. “I’m kidding of course. But I would like to see what you do next. Be careful.”
Now he takes a moment to assess the situation, recalling his training. It was different at sparring speed. Had she been any opponent in the ring, his response was pretty uniform. Thrash and fight like a wild animal until they let him go then inflict as much damage as he could. But now he shifted until he felt the pressure ease a bit and with his free hand reached back and yanked her foot out from under her while simultaneously tearing the arm away. Now, he gets up and backs away thinking better of it as he grins.
“Had me on one knee and begging for mercy. Made me think, you might be the only person to ever make me do that.” he joked self deprecatingly while offering her a hand to continue on even footing. “I’m sure I can do it again too, but I’ll be nice.. for now.” Grabbing hold of his hand she begins to get up. However, part way she twists his arm around, bringing him to the mat with a modified fireman’s carry. Not giving him a second, she again floats over, now in a mount position, using his own arm to very lightly choke himself. “See? I’m nice.”
Close. Very close. His eyes averted downward for only a split second before darting back up to her. He raised his hands, unsure of what to do with them for a minute “Yes..very. Nice.” he gets out breathlessly before taking in a breath and bucking up as hard and quick as he can, pushing her from him and instantly rushing in going for a double leg takedown, only to have her effortlessly hop over the attempt. Undeterred, he bounces off the ropes and comes back at her, leaping up and getting her with a surprisingly apt headscissors takedown.
Fuck, was that too far?
He kips to his feet, rushing toward her and laying a hand silently on her shoulder. Placing a hand on top of his, she was quick to her feet, hopping up and wrapping her legs around his neck, bringing him down with a sideways headscissors of her own, keeping her grip as she spun around up to her feet. Keeping him on edge, she lifts her leg, stopping just short of caving his head in but instead lets go, backing out to the corner. “I liked how you did that earlier.. maybe we can show each other a few things. Your style is different.”
He looked up at her, shocked and taken aback. Inside, that fire screamed that he was being bested and finally the ego that carried him to the heights alongside her support roared to life and he rolled forward to his feet, leaping at her in the corner only for her to dodge him. He feels her approach though, rolling out of the way as her knee flies into the thick turnbuckle pad. Bert goes for a side headlock take over but feels her roll through, landing deftly on her feet and leaving him to barely dodge a pele kick.
He popped up, firing off a rarity in a roundhouse kick only for her to dodge it with a grace that he usually admired but currently found himself frustrated in. And now, the two frustrated souls who had found each other to lean on were countering and dodging one another’s best blows as if they had studied one another’s tape extensively beforehand. Ahmya more natural and graceful in her parries and counters and Bert looking like a man with his fingertips gripping the ledge, but with a titan-like grip.
Ahmya follows through on a kick, leaping into a sprint as her foot plants down. Bert turns to another head scissors attempt but now he reaches up, snatching onto her hips and widening his base. She hangs upside down for a moment as he holds her mid swing, before lifting her up into a powerbomb position with a grunt of effort and actually nailing her with the sitout version and instinctually going for a matchbook pin, stacking her deep.
“Got you!” he declared, half breathlessly as his chest heaved from the exchange. Before it turned to a thousand pound chunk of ice as he stared down at her. At first the face staring back had a look of surprise, not expecting to get caught the way she did. Soon after though, it was a different kind of shock. Cheeks were quick to fill with color and all she could really manage were a few audible breaths, a bit heavier than the norm. Still, even with so much being said by so little, she kept her gaze locked on him.
Bert eases off the stack, letting her hips drop away but stays hovering over her a moment, eyes locked on hers as his chest continues heaving, though long recovered from the effort. He reached a hand up shakily, caressing one of her cheeks and staring into her eyes. “I..Got you”
“What kind of training are you trying to get in here, McAlroy?” came the crushing reality of the guy who had agreed to stand in as their bigger opponents in the tournament, standing outside the ring and staring at the two as Bert flew to his feet, hands going in the air like the cops caught him with his dimebag stash.
Matt Knox’s crooked smirk likely would live the rest of it’s days right where it was as he committed this all to memory. “Ahmya, how are you dear?” he inquired while paying her a gaze with the same grin and arched eyebrow. Shifting her gaze between Bert and Knox, she slowly got back to her feet, doing her best impression of a tomato. The poor girl even tried to cover up her midsection before looking down. “I’m okay.. everything is.. great. How are you?”
“Entertained.” He answered with a smirk as Bert walked from the corner, having regained his composure.
“Alright geezer enough of the comedy bit. Get in here and drop all that knowledge from all those tag belts on us.” The ‘all those’ were properly dripping with sarcasm as Knox rolled his eyes, rolling under the bottom rope and looking between the two once more, scoffing and letting out a chuckle.
The training from earlier in the day had left him sore in a variety of ways, one of which very blue. But Bert felt confident in their efforts going forward. Matthew had been absolutely unbearable for most of the rest of the training session, especially when Nao had left to get changed and he went into a mocking rendition of the Birds and the Bees speech. Which Bert happily repaid with a punch in the arm of his best friend.
He felt the color rush to his face though as the compromising position replayed itself yet again. The reversal was sick and he was proud as hell of it, too. She hit him going a hundred miles an hour and he managed to hold on. The stack was instinct but...he shuddered. The warmth. The closeness. Thin layers of athletic fabric being all that separated them. He released the grip on the chair he was in, after noticing how hard he had been holding onto it.
He looked out over the hotel’s courtyard from the patio of their suite. Knox had treated them at the behest of Bert, after a good minute of questioning why they needed more than one bed. God he wanted to kick that guy’s ass, but wouldn’t. Yet.
He turned to look inside the room over his shoulder, searching for her silently as he tried to tear himself away from that moment with minimal effort. It took a moment for her to appear within his sights, the young woman looking focused on something which led her to pace around a bit, bringing stuff over to the main room of the suite. Though she had this expression, there was still an accompanying smile, one that grew upon looking his way. It’s not known whether she noticed his look, but it didn’t seem to matter as she made her way over to the patio. She didn’t step all the way out however and instead chose to lean against the wall just before it. “I think we are all set. I know it won’t be like what we have at home but.. I think it will be okay.”
“Set?” he questioned initially, before looking behind her and seeing the body paint haul from Indy. A set of different waves crashed over him, including an electric shock of excitement that came whenever the universe presented a reason for them to touch. Briefly, that Cascada song buzzed through his head but he muted it with the rest of Brain Spotify (™) before clearing his throat and standing up. “Well then, guess it’s time to become Bertcasso” Jesus. Christ. McAlroy.
He took a half step before his eyes found her again, leaning in the doorway with that intense gaze locked on him. He paid her a smile, and leaned against the sliding glass door, holding her gaze before speaking “Just wanted to uh...say that..” an inhale, a search for courage, “You move even better than you look like you do on camera..if that makes sense? Like, I’m stoked to team with you not just because we’re..” he motioned between them sheepishly. Even now, it felt precious. A dream that they would wake from if they spoke about it.
“We’re gonna do great.” He concluded, smooth as a jagged rock. Nao paid his words with an agreeing nod, giggling a bit right after. “We are going to do great, and.. thank you..you are always so sweet and supportive. I hope I can live up to your words. I promise to try my best. I’m..” trying to recollect fading thoughts, Nao sighed. “I’m happy to be your partner, in more than.. well, yeah.” A soft blush began to form, the young woman suddenly clapping her hands together, as if trying to snap it away for now. “I’m so excited to see what happens with art! I do not think my spirit is the same as Mr. Potato Head when he turns himself into a Picasso, but if you feel this will work, I believe you! …Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” he answered, motioning for her to go first before following her in. He set to making a spot for them, ripping a spare sheet from a nearby closet and spreading it on the floor. He motioned for her to get comfortable as he went and looked over the array of paints, snagging a few as well as a set of sponges. His mind raced at the prospect of touching her face, having that level of intimacy that led to their first kiss. If it were possible for ice to be on fire, it would be pumping through his veins right now.
Letting out an unintentional deep breath, Nao did just that. The hoodie she was adorning was slowly removed, revealing that the shorts she had changed into following their session was matched with a strapless crop top. Taking her seat atop the sheet, she offered a sweet smile again, not seeming to hide the rose this time around. “I’m ready.. I think. Should I sit like this or would it be easier to lay back? I want to make sure you’re comfortable while doing this. Art needs to be relaxed, at least I think so.. I don’t know.. I’m not an expert.” Another soft giggle escaped from her.
“Sitting is fine, yo. You can lay down if we need to.” He returned to her, setting the paint down and sliding off his hoodie. He noted her crop top initially for obvious reasons, eyes tracing the curve of her shoulders before looking down at his baggy t shirt. He wasn’t a fashionista but he also didn’t see the need for useless mess. “I uh..I’m not trying to paint my shirt.” who was he trying to give an excuse to?
He took a breath before pulling the shirt off over his head, revealing the toned but still decidedly average physique beneath with the ghosts of bruises and cuts still covering his abdomen from the war with Maggie. He knelt down onto both knees in front of her, then and began setting to work. Pouring little globs of paint on the cheap easel, eyes focused on it and not daring to look at her in his brazen half nudity.
“Do you..do you have anything in mind?” he asked, to which she responded with a simple head shake. “I’m not really sure. I think if I thought about it too much, it wouldn’t be natural. When we found your face.. it took a few tries, but it was something that just happened. It was nice.. I guess I’m hoping for the same, except..” Nao needed a moment to formulate the words. “We have a tough battle we’re heading into together. So we need to share as much of ourselves as we can to be a solid team.. so we need to go beyond our faces and find our full form.. this probably makes no sense. I’m sorry..” a colorful chuckle escaped at that moment, doing its best to hide a bit of embarrassment.
Bert nodded, finding his courage he scooted closer and began to work wordlessly. Every good home needs a foundation, as does war paint. The white was more a change in hue than actual color as he spread the substance over her milky, smooth skin. His eyes focused on the sponge because he knew anywhere else and he’d melt. He quietly wondered if the goosebumps he saw move up as he worked were imagined or not as he focused primarily around her neck and jaw, honing in on the right side of her face. Opposite where he painted his own.
Two of them split down the middle, the face everyone saw and the one only their victims would. United in every where possible with so many different intentions. His head steaded as he moved up to her actual face and away from everything that sent his mind and body into a whirlwind. When he did speak, his voice was almost a croak.
Okay so maybe everything sent him spinning with her.
“Just..just your face or were you wanting to go further, like..beyond the metaphor?” It didn’t take long for her to think over the question, let alone respond. “顔と同じくらい心を見せたい.. I want to show the face and the heart. They will know our truth and see that we are so much more.. are you okay with this?” like most things, it took a minute to process but his eyes wandered toward her heart, then snapped back up. Wordlessly, he nodded.
“Yeah, whatever you want. Just uh..” he swallowed a lump in his throat that was probably his own heart, “Get comfortable and remember, whatever i paint you gotta paint on me.” Another smooth shot across the bow. Now it was her turn to swallow hard, more color being noticed on her bare cheek. “Of course.. of course.. it’s only fair as we share this journey.. this..” her voice hushed a bit, but in a volume on par with the softest whispers she said it. “This.. life.” Before anything could really be processed, she started to ease her way down, comfortably laying on her back, making sure to not alter what was done thus far.
“Let’s keep going?”
Bert stared down at her, so small and…
Inviting.
He pushed the thought out of his head quickly, you could almost hear it scream as it plummeted out of his ear and to the carpet. He lifted the sponge, if she cared to notice it trembled slightly as he began to spread the paint further down, past her shoulder. He took a moment to cover it. Being thorough if anyone asked, but truthfully prolonging the inevitable and his own imminent meltdown as he felt his breath getting heavier, warmer. He found his eyelids sliding half shut as he began in on her chest.
His hand dragged the sponge over the skin slowly, probably slower than he really needed to, but as wound up and focused as he was? As terrifying as being so close to parts of her body he only dreamt of? He’d be lying if the pace of his work wasn’t at least moderately inspired by that underlying carnal desire from their sparring session. He covered everything above her bust, admittedly breaking the invisible line down the middle of her but on an honest artistic level? It added to it.
War paint was not meant to be precise. It was imperfect, sloppy, but something wonderful to behold and to be proud of.
Kind of like them.
“There..I think..” an exhale, he felt his world spin slightly “I think I got your heart…” Though she couldn’t see his work, something about it and honestly everything just felt right. Taking a second to breathe as she had goosebumps to settle, another smile was there to greet him. Though admittedly, this one was a bit different than the usual. “You do..”
The words hit him like a ton of bricks. Simple, but weighty. He returned the smile, feeling elation burn through the decidedly more simple lust that had been there as he stared down at her now. Even with all the lights on in their room, she was the brightest part of it. He couldn’t stop himself as he leaned forward, a hand going to support his weight as he hovered over her now, staring down at her.
Had he been a clever man, he could have knocked it out of the park. But instead, the boyish rasp brought forth a base hit at least.
“I’m..I’m going to smudge your paint now.” he said with a shy half smile before leaning down toward her, his words drowned out as his heart beat like a jackhammer, deafening him. Fighting the air of time freezing around them, she too began to move, closing the distance. A gentle brush brought forth such a spark, the imaginative could clearly see it.
However, the deepening was stabbed with the loud buzz, neither recognizing the source but intensely wishing it had never come into existence. Their gaze shot towards the door simultaneously, her harsh tone easily showcasing their shared emotion. “真面目なことはできません…” He looks taken aback by the outburst, but lets a smile spring forth as he traces a finger over the bare side of her face, his own still hovering just a breath away from hers. So close he almost speaks his next words directly into her mouth.
“I’ll go get this one...might scare her, half painted like a ghost,” He hovers a moment, brushing his lips past hers before getting to his feet and heading to the door, quietly motherfucking the room service and the universe, before taking it back because he was sure the room service was gonna be bomb. He stopped before rounding a corner to head to the door.
“We got plenty of time for….paint.” he said to her with that same smile, before turning to head to the door.
I thought I as going crazy. Hell, I knew I was.
Dinner had come and gone, and honestly I should have been asleep but I couldn’t. Not after tonight, with the paint. I spent the better half of the night texting Knox who, apparently, was on his way to Florida now because whatever the fuck. Sometimes the man seemed crazier than that clown who kidnapped me.
He sent me a Youtube link in response to the two paragraphs of existential crisis I sent him, another point of infuriation. But now, here I was, following his advice to ‘just listen to this, and do what comes natural’. It was that kind of logic that got him into shit like fighting Supreme Machine and...well, everybody fucking else.
I tapped the link, hit play, and set the phone down. The song is slow, mellow. I pick the phone up and check the title as I ought to have done before.
“Hope that I don’t fall in love with you” by Tom Waits. Of course it was Tom Waits. Knox never listened to anyone else, it felt like. Soon, the old crooner’s voice broke forth.
I couldn’t help but go back to Baltimore as I sat there, puffing on what was left of the joint I had rolled while escaping Jacklyn. There she was, her hair longer than it is now. I had spent a good five minutes pretending to look at my phone as I worked up the courage to go talk to her. I was ashamed honestly, as I had been looking to score a number, a drink and maybe something else but...the butterflies fucked with me.
And then when she looked up, and I saw her eyes…..God, man…
If I had known. If I had been able to rip my head out of my ass and think with the bigger head, I would have seen then what was so obvious. That she was struggling for a tether, that she was lost and something wasn’t right. I’d spent so many nights since I found her wondering how different it could have been for her, if I had reacted sooner?
I shook my head as I took another hit. Doesn’t do either of us any good now. Just noise to drive us crazy.
The ride back from West Virginia was when I knew something was up. Like, really up. Something was so off about her and I felt like it was...my duty? To help her. To do something because no one else would. I turn to look over my shoulder as a light goes on in the suite. I waited to see if I heard anything, but no cry for help came. I relaxed, thankful that the lucidity seemed much more frequent lately.
Selfishly, I hoped that it was because of me.
Was it really selfish? Comedy of the universe aside, something was obviously brewing between us. She made everything better for me. The few times we kissed it knocked the earth off its axis, yo. Maybe i’m just a fool, maybe when all the layers are peeled back she has a whole life away from this. Away from me, and wrestling. And God knows that if that's the case I would never, Ever get in between her and whatever was taken.
Another hit quieted the fear. I didn’t want to lose her. I didn’t even like being outside while she was inside. But this was about her, getting her right, and saving her from whatever all this was that had tortured her so. When we got back to Indy I was going to dig more into this Jpop bullshit...but now?
The song ended and I stood, knowing just what I needed to do.
I threw the door open and walked in, redoubled with courage. Maybe tomorrow she would be headed back to some life that I never existed in. Maybe tomorrow our paths would separate and all this would be a silly cliffnote.
So, tonight and every night until then had to matter.
I got to her room and knocked twice on the door. It didn’t take long for her to answer, wordlessly greeting with that smile, eyes so bright. “Hey, Nao..” the words left but I didn’t know where they got the breath, “I..” her gaze froze me like it usually did. My better angels nagged as usual, but it didn’t matter.
‘Do what comes natural’
Before I knew it, her face was in my hands as I pulled her into a deep, meaningful kiss that, had animators been in charge of it, would be accompanied with a sudden breeze and a 1980’s hair ballad. For a second the world all melted away to an eternal sort of nothingness, vast in its expanse with us dead center. One spec of dust that used to be two.
I pulled away after a second, resting my forehead on hers so I wouldn’t fall over. My hands dropped down to find hers, grasping onto them more shakily than I'd like to admit.
“You have mine, too.”
With one more peck at the corner of her mouth, I turned away to head to my couch but felt the entire world stop and pull me back as her hand tightened its grip on my own.
The uber driver had no doubt been shook up when Bert demanded he show his face as soon as he pulled up, but the extra forty bucks had no doubt eased his hurt feelings as he drove along with some modern smooth pop playing. In the backseat, the new Multiplayer champions sat in the warm glow of accomplishment and fading adrenaline. Bert eyes their surroundings until they’re a good distance away from the arena.
“So..how’s it feel, champ?” he finally breaks the silence, turning to her. Half sleepy eyes meet with him, a soft smile showing through the exhaustion. “It feels like.. you were right. It feels nice..” Leaning into him a bit, almost sinking into him like a pillow, Nao let out a soft sigh. Bert himself leans his head to rest on hers, letting out a tired sigh of his own.
“You were amazing tonight you know?” he leaned up to look down at her, half to drive home compliment and half just to stare, “I’m honored to team with you, Nao. I mean that. Totally isn’t the concussion talking.” he leans down and plants a soft kiss on the top of her head before resting his forehead on the spot, his hand taking hers in it as the other raises his own power glove, “And I think we like..rule the universe with these now.” a pause.
“What do think the buttons do, yo?” A curious expression makes its way to her rosy face as she mulls over the question, finally looking as if the lightbulb went off. “Do you think it opens up portals to different worlds?” Giggling a little bit, Nao couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed following her thought. Bert lifts his glove, pressing a button. Then another. He shrugs “Maybe they need to be charged, yo.” He concludes with a boyish smirk.
“Maybe..” A soft yawn escaped at that moment, one that will probably lead to chaos later down the line. Still though, she managed another smile. “I’m happy to be your partner too, happy and honored.. I mean that on umm.. both ends too.” More color filled her cheeks. “We do rule the universe.. and time too considering what we did. So.. how long do we charge them before we can travel and see some aliens?”
Bert slips his off then, taking a moment to marvel at it before setting it in his lap and returning his gaze to her.
“I dunno. Lets leave them on the charger all night and get back to work on the forts. We got another day until check out and we got to make it count, yo,” he paused, furrowing his brow “Might need someone else to ask for the blankets though. I think they’re onto us.” a small chuckle followed this, his hand squeezing hers tightly. “Love ya.” It was mindless, thrown out like a greeting.
But it happened at 2:02 AM three and a half hours after they defeated The Machines for the Multiplayer titles, on the twenty second of July, twenty twenty one.
The moment in time, honestly time itself froze within the confines of the uber. A second of silence lasted an eternity, but then the smile widened. Her head lifted slightly and her eyes told the story. Suddenly she wrapped him in a big hug, exhaustion be damned and couldn’t help the emotion. “I love you too..” his hand reached up to latch onto one of the arms she wrapped around him, leaning his head into her shoulder and smiling.
Up front, the Uber driver wiped a single tear, switching his playlist to “Love Jams 2020” as he made his way to the Hotel.
And still with all these benefits and possibilities, all Robert McAlroy could focus on was the ring attire his partner in ring, and life now, had adorned herself in at dead by daylight. Obviously, here at Punchy’s gym they were getting dressed separately but it did no favors to an imagination within the head of a man who had fought his most basic nature for the sake of the chaste of someone who had twisted him up worse than any submission move.
Feeling decidedly self conscious in his black training trunks, knee and elbow pads and ancient ring boots Bert lets out a small breath and heads out to the gym floor, sliding into the boxing ring and testing the ropes. Not as taut as what he was used to, but it would have to do. With one more disapproving glance at his own decidedly average physique, he returned to nervously waiting for his sparring partner like a kid on prom night.
A few more minutes passed until she made her way out of the ladies’ locker area, seeming a bit on the shy side. While the ring attires showed more of her skin, she still felt a little exposed decked out in her black athletic short shorts and purple half top, knee pads and calf high wrestling kicks. She looked down for a moment, almost as if gearing herself up before heading over to the ring. Greeting Bert with a wave, she wiped her feet on the apron and then got in. She too tested the ropes, sighing in response and turning her focus to stretching. “So I know we talked about it a little on the way over, but how did you want to start? What should we work on together?”
Bert wasn’t staring. Absolutely not. He cleared his throat, leaning back into the top rope and checking it once more before thinking. He gets a mischievous smirk on his face then, as that voice. The voice that brought a new face into the equation whispers to him. He approaches her slowly, speaking as he does so “I dunno. Maybe we….stay on our TOES” and with that, he did a sloppy but quick somersault to get behind her, and locked in a rear waistlock. He began to ragdoll her, kind of, while holding back a chuckle.
Not like she was far more lethal than him. Buzzsaws can be fun too, right?
Nao was taken off guard, for a second, the young woman offering a huff and a smirk before dipping her base low, breaking his grip. Before he knew it she brought him down with a drop toe hold, floating over and grabbing hold of his head, wrenching in a little extra. She gives a light tap to his head before going right back to the hold, not as tight this time, letting out a giggle as she does. “Stay on our toes, huh? Sounds good.” His surprise was palpable.
Slowly he managed to push himself vertical, making no move to yank his head free as he did so, before slipping out and shoving her into the ropes. He instantly pursues, grabbing her in the same waistlock and lifting her from the ropes before taking her down to the mat himself and applying the same headlock “Hah! Look at that, I can wrestle yo!” he said jokingly close to her ear as he set to patting her atop her head half condescendingly but mostly in the spirit of competition.
And because Bert always poked at the fire. Letting out a half chuckle in acknowledgment, Nao shifted from underneath, moving to the side to again break his grip. This time she kept hold of his arm, and stepping up slightly to apply a modified armbar, putting her knee to the back of his head for a little more leverage. “You can wrestle and you might be close to as good as I am.” She laughed a little before shaking her head. “I’m kidding of course. But I would like to see what you do next. Be careful.”
Now he takes a moment to assess the situation, recalling his training. It was different at sparring speed. Had she been any opponent in the ring, his response was pretty uniform. Thrash and fight like a wild animal until they let him go then inflict as much damage as he could. But now he shifted until he felt the pressure ease a bit and with his free hand reached back and yanked her foot out from under her while simultaneously tearing the arm away. Now, he gets up and backs away thinking better of it as he grins.
“Had me on one knee and begging for mercy. Made me think, you might be the only person to ever make me do that.” he joked self deprecatingly while offering her a hand to continue on even footing. “I’m sure I can do it again too, but I’ll be nice.. for now.” Grabbing hold of his hand she begins to get up. However, part way she twists his arm around, bringing him to the mat with a modified fireman’s carry. Not giving him a second, she again floats over, now in a mount position, using his own arm to very lightly choke himself. “See? I’m nice.”
Close. Very close. His eyes averted downward for only a split second before darting back up to her. He raised his hands, unsure of what to do with them for a minute “Yes..very. Nice.” he gets out breathlessly before taking in a breath and bucking up as hard and quick as he can, pushing her from him and instantly rushing in going for a double leg takedown, only to have her effortlessly hop over the attempt. Undeterred, he bounces off the ropes and comes back at her, leaping up and getting her with a surprisingly apt headscissors takedown.
Fuck, was that too far?
He kips to his feet, rushing toward her and laying a hand silently on her shoulder. Placing a hand on top of his, she was quick to her feet, hopping up and wrapping her legs around his neck, bringing him down with a sideways headscissors of her own, keeping her grip as she spun around up to her feet. Keeping him on edge, she lifts her leg, stopping just short of caving his head in but instead lets go, backing out to the corner. “I liked how you did that earlier.. maybe we can show each other a few things. Your style is different.”
He looked up at her, shocked and taken aback. Inside, that fire screamed that he was being bested and finally the ego that carried him to the heights alongside her support roared to life and he rolled forward to his feet, leaping at her in the corner only for her to dodge him. He feels her approach though, rolling out of the way as her knee flies into the thick turnbuckle pad. Bert goes for a side headlock take over but feels her roll through, landing deftly on her feet and leaving him to barely dodge a pele kick.
He popped up, firing off a rarity in a roundhouse kick only for her to dodge it with a grace that he usually admired but currently found himself frustrated in. And now, the two frustrated souls who had found each other to lean on were countering and dodging one another’s best blows as if they had studied one another’s tape extensively beforehand. Ahmya more natural and graceful in her parries and counters and Bert looking like a man with his fingertips gripping the ledge, but with a titan-like grip.
Ahmya follows through on a kick, leaping into a sprint as her foot plants down. Bert turns to another head scissors attempt but now he reaches up, snatching onto her hips and widening his base. She hangs upside down for a moment as he holds her mid swing, before lifting her up into a powerbomb position with a grunt of effort and actually nailing her with the sitout version and instinctually going for a matchbook pin, stacking her deep.
“Got you!” he declared, half breathlessly as his chest heaved from the exchange. Before it turned to a thousand pound chunk of ice as he stared down at her. At first the face staring back had a look of surprise, not expecting to get caught the way she did. Soon after though, it was a different kind of shock. Cheeks were quick to fill with color and all she could really manage were a few audible breaths, a bit heavier than the norm. Still, even with so much being said by so little, she kept her gaze locked on him.
Bert eases off the stack, letting her hips drop away but stays hovering over her a moment, eyes locked on hers as his chest continues heaving, though long recovered from the effort. He reached a hand up shakily, caressing one of her cheeks and staring into her eyes. “I..Got you”
“What kind of training are you trying to get in here, McAlroy?” came the crushing reality of the guy who had agreed to stand in as their bigger opponents in the tournament, standing outside the ring and staring at the two as Bert flew to his feet, hands going in the air like the cops caught him with his dimebag stash.
Matt Knox’s crooked smirk likely would live the rest of it’s days right where it was as he committed this all to memory. “Ahmya, how are you dear?” he inquired while paying her a gaze with the same grin and arched eyebrow. Shifting her gaze between Bert and Knox, she slowly got back to her feet, doing her best impression of a tomato. The poor girl even tried to cover up her midsection before looking down. “I’m okay.. everything is.. great. How are you?”
“Entertained.” He answered with a smirk as Bert walked from the corner, having regained his composure.
“Alright geezer enough of the comedy bit. Get in here and drop all that knowledge from all those tag belts on us.” The ‘all those’ were properly dripping with sarcasm as Knox rolled his eyes, rolling under the bottom rope and looking between the two once more, scoffing and letting out a chuckle.
The training from earlier in the day had left him sore in a variety of ways, one of which very blue. But Bert felt confident in their efforts going forward. Matthew had been absolutely unbearable for most of the rest of the training session, especially when Nao had left to get changed and he went into a mocking rendition of the Birds and the Bees speech. Which Bert happily repaid with a punch in the arm of his best friend.
He felt the color rush to his face though as the compromising position replayed itself yet again. The reversal was sick and he was proud as hell of it, too. She hit him going a hundred miles an hour and he managed to hold on. The stack was instinct but...he shuddered. The warmth. The closeness. Thin layers of athletic fabric being all that separated them. He released the grip on the chair he was in, after noticing how hard he had been holding onto it.
He looked out over the hotel’s courtyard from the patio of their suite. Knox had treated them at the behest of Bert, after a good minute of questioning why they needed more than one bed. God he wanted to kick that guy’s ass, but wouldn’t. Yet.
He turned to look inside the room over his shoulder, searching for her silently as he tried to tear himself away from that moment with minimal effort. It took a moment for her to appear within his sights, the young woman looking focused on something which led her to pace around a bit, bringing stuff over to the main room of the suite. Though she had this expression, there was still an accompanying smile, one that grew upon looking his way. It’s not known whether she noticed his look, but it didn’t seem to matter as she made her way over to the patio. She didn’t step all the way out however and instead chose to lean against the wall just before it. “I think we are all set. I know it won’t be like what we have at home but.. I think it will be okay.”
“Set?” he questioned initially, before looking behind her and seeing the body paint haul from Indy. A set of different waves crashed over him, including an electric shock of excitement that came whenever the universe presented a reason for them to touch. Briefly, that Cascada song buzzed through his head but he muted it with the rest of Brain Spotify (™) before clearing his throat and standing up. “Well then, guess it’s time to become Bertcasso” Jesus. Christ. McAlroy.
He took a half step before his eyes found her again, leaning in the doorway with that intense gaze locked on him. He paid her a smile, and leaned against the sliding glass door, holding her gaze before speaking “Just wanted to uh...say that..” an inhale, a search for courage, “You move even better than you look like you do on camera..if that makes sense? Like, I’m stoked to team with you not just because we’re..” he motioned between them sheepishly. Even now, it felt precious. A dream that they would wake from if they spoke about it.
“We’re gonna do great.” He concluded, smooth as a jagged rock. Nao paid his words with an agreeing nod, giggling a bit right after. “We are going to do great, and.. thank you..you are always so sweet and supportive. I hope I can live up to your words. I promise to try my best. I’m..” trying to recollect fading thoughts, Nao sighed. “I’m happy to be your partner, in more than.. well, yeah.” A soft blush began to form, the young woman suddenly clapping her hands together, as if trying to snap it away for now. “I’m so excited to see what happens with art! I do not think my spirit is the same as Mr. Potato Head when he turns himself into a Picasso, but if you feel this will work, I believe you! …Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” he answered, motioning for her to go first before following her in. He set to making a spot for them, ripping a spare sheet from a nearby closet and spreading it on the floor. He motioned for her to get comfortable as he went and looked over the array of paints, snagging a few as well as a set of sponges. His mind raced at the prospect of touching her face, having that level of intimacy that led to their first kiss. If it were possible for ice to be on fire, it would be pumping through his veins right now.
Letting out an unintentional deep breath, Nao did just that. The hoodie she was adorning was slowly removed, revealing that the shorts she had changed into following their session was matched with a strapless crop top. Taking her seat atop the sheet, she offered a sweet smile again, not seeming to hide the rose this time around. “I’m ready.. I think. Should I sit like this or would it be easier to lay back? I want to make sure you’re comfortable while doing this. Art needs to be relaxed, at least I think so.. I don’t know.. I’m not an expert.” Another soft giggle escaped from her.
“Sitting is fine, yo. You can lay down if we need to.” He returned to her, setting the paint down and sliding off his hoodie. He noted her crop top initially for obvious reasons, eyes tracing the curve of her shoulders before looking down at his baggy t shirt. He wasn’t a fashionista but he also didn’t see the need for useless mess. “I uh..I’m not trying to paint my shirt.” who was he trying to give an excuse to?
He took a breath before pulling the shirt off over his head, revealing the toned but still decidedly average physique beneath with the ghosts of bruises and cuts still covering his abdomen from the war with Maggie. He knelt down onto both knees in front of her, then and began setting to work. Pouring little globs of paint on the cheap easel, eyes focused on it and not daring to look at her in his brazen half nudity.
“Do you..do you have anything in mind?” he asked, to which she responded with a simple head shake. “I’m not really sure. I think if I thought about it too much, it wouldn’t be natural. When we found your face.. it took a few tries, but it was something that just happened. It was nice.. I guess I’m hoping for the same, except..” Nao needed a moment to formulate the words. “We have a tough battle we’re heading into together. So we need to share as much of ourselves as we can to be a solid team.. so we need to go beyond our faces and find our full form.. this probably makes no sense. I’m sorry..” a colorful chuckle escaped at that moment, doing its best to hide a bit of embarrassment.
Bert nodded, finding his courage he scooted closer and began to work wordlessly. Every good home needs a foundation, as does war paint. The white was more a change in hue than actual color as he spread the substance over her milky, smooth skin. His eyes focused on the sponge because he knew anywhere else and he’d melt. He quietly wondered if the goosebumps he saw move up as he worked were imagined or not as he focused primarily around her neck and jaw, honing in on the right side of her face. Opposite where he painted his own.
Two of them split down the middle, the face everyone saw and the one only their victims would. United in every where possible with so many different intentions. His head steaded as he moved up to her actual face and away from everything that sent his mind and body into a whirlwind. When he did speak, his voice was almost a croak.
Okay so maybe everything sent him spinning with her.
“Just..just your face or were you wanting to go further, like..beyond the metaphor?” It didn’t take long for her to think over the question, let alone respond. “顔と同じくらい心を見せたい.. I want to show the face and the heart. They will know our truth and see that we are so much more.. are you okay with this?” like most things, it took a minute to process but his eyes wandered toward her heart, then snapped back up. Wordlessly, he nodded.
“Yeah, whatever you want. Just uh..” he swallowed a lump in his throat that was probably his own heart, “Get comfortable and remember, whatever i paint you gotta paint on me.” Another smooth shot across the bow. Now it was her turn to swallow hard, more color being noticed on her bare cheek. “Of course.. of course.. it’s only fair as we share this journey.. this..” her voice hushed a bit, but in a volume on par with the softest whispers she said it. “This.. life.” Before anything could really be processed, she started to ease her way down, comfortably laying on her back, making sure to not alter what was done thus far.
“Let’s keep going?”
Bert stared down at her, so small and…
Inviting.
He pushed the thought out of his head quickly, you could almost hear it scream as it plummeted out of his ear and to the carpet. He lifted the sponge, if she cared to notice it trembled slightly as he began to spread the paint further down, past her shoulder. He took a moment to cover it. Being thorough if anyone asked, but truthfully prolonging the inevitable and his own imminent meltdown as he felt his breath getting heavier, warmer. He found his eyelids sliding half shut as he began in on her chest.
His hand dragged the sponge over the skin slowly, probably slower than he really needed to, but as wound up and focused as he was? As terrifying as being so close to parts of her body he only dreamt of? He’d be lying if the pace of his work wasn’t at least moderately inspired by that underlying carnal desire from their sparring session. He covered everything above her bust, admittedly breaking the invisible line down the middle of her but on an honest artistic level? It added to it.
War paint was not meant to be precise. It was imperfect, sloppy, but something wonderful to behold and to be proud of.
Kind of like them.
“There..I think..” an exhale, he felt his world spin slightly “I think I got your heart…” Though she couldn’t see his work, something about it and honestly everything just felt right. Taking a second to breathe as she had goosebumps to settle, another smile was there to greet him. Though admittedly, this one was a bit different than the usual. “You do..”
The words hit him like a ton of bricks. Simple, but weighty. He returned the smile, feeling elation burn through the decidedly more simple lust that had been there as he stared down at her now. Even with all the lights on in their room, she was the brightest part of it. He couldn’t stop himself as he leaned forward, a hand going to support his weight as he hovered over her now, staring down at her.
Had he been a clever man, he could have knocked it out of the park. But instead, the boyish rasp brought forth a base hit at least.
“I’m..I’m going to smudge your paint now.” he said with a shy half smile before leaning down toward her, his words drowned out as his heart beat like a jackhammer, deafening him. Fighting the air of time freezing around them, she too began to move, closing the distance. A gentle brush brought forth such a spark, the imaginative could clearly see it.
However, the deepening was stabbed with the loud buzz, neither recognizing the source but intensely wishing it had never come into existence. Their gaze shot towards the door simultaneously, her harsh tone easily showcasing their shared emotion. “真面目なことはできません…” He looks taken aback by the outburst, but lets a smile spring forth as he traces a finger over the bare side of her face, his own still hovering just a breath away from hers. So close he almost speaks his next words directly into her mouth.
“I’ll go get this one...might scare her, half painted like a ghost,” He hovers a moment, brushing his lips past hers before getting to his feet and heading to the door, quietly motherfucking the room service and the universe, before taking it back because he was sure the room service was gonna be bomb. He stopped before rounding a corner to head to the door.
“We got plenty of time for….paint.” he said to her with that same smile, before turning to head to the door.
I thought I as going crazy. Hell, I knew I was.
Dinner had come and gone, and honestly I should have been asleep but I couldn’t. Not after tonight, with the paint. I spent the better half of the night texting Knox who, apparently, was on his way to Florida now because whatever the fuck. Sometimes the man seemed crazier than that clown who kidnapped me.
He sent me a Youtube link in response to the two paragraphs of existential crisis I sent him, another point of infuriation. But now, here I was, following his advice to ‘just listen to this, and do what comes natural’. It was that kind of logic that got him into shit like fighting Supreme Machine and...well, everybody fucking else.
I tapped the link, hit play, and set the phone down. The song is slow, mellow. I pick the phone up and check the title as I ought to have done before.
“Hope that I don’t fall in love with you” by Tom Waits. Of course it was Tom Waits. Knox never listened to anyone else, it felt like. Soon, the old crooner’s voice broke forth.
“Well I hope that I don’t fall in love with you…
Cuz fallin in love just makes me blue.
Well the music plays and you display your heart for me to see
I had a beer and now I hear you calling out to me…
And I hope that I don’t fall in love with you.”
I couldn’t help but go back to Baltimore as I sat there, puffing on what was left of the joint I had rolled while escaping Jacklyn. There she was, her hair longer than it is now. I had spent a good five minutes pretending to look at my phone as I worked up the courage to go talk to her. I was ashamed honestly, as I had been looking to score a number, a drink and maybe something else but...the butterflies fucked with me.
And then when she looked up, and I saw her eyes…..God, man…
Well, the room is crowded, people everywhere
And I wonder, should I offer you a chair?
Well, if you sit down with this old clown, I'll take that frown and break it
Before the evening's gone away, I think that we can make it
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you
If I had known. If I had been able to rip my head out of my ass and think with the bigger head, I would have seen then what was so obvious. That she was struggling for a tether, that she was lost and something wasn’t right. I’d spent so many nights since I found her wondering how different it could have been for her, if I had reacted sooner?
I shook my head as I took another hit. Doesn’t do either of us any good now. Just noise to drive us crazy.
Well, I can see that you are lonesome just like me
And it being late, you'd like some company
Well, I'll have had to, I'd look at you, and you look back at me
The guy you're with, he's up and split, the chair next to you is free
And I hope that you don't fall in love with me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you
The ride back from West Virginia was when I knew something was up. Like, really up. Something was so off about her and I felt like it was...my duty? To help her. To do something because no one else would. I turn to look over my shoulder as a light goes on in the suite. I waited to see if I heard anything, but no cry for help came. I relaxed, thankful that the lucidity seemed much more frequent lately.
Selfishly, I hoped that it was because of me.
Well, the night does funny things inside a man
These old tomcat feelings you don't understand
Well, I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette
I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we've never met
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you
Was it really selfish? Comedy of the universe aside, something was obviously brewing between us. She made everything better for me. The few times we kissed it knocked the earth off its axis, yo. Maybe i’m just a fool, maybe when all the layers are peeled back she has a whole life away from this. Away from me, and wrestling. And God knows that if that's the case I would never, Ever get in between her and whatever was taken.
Another hit quieted the fear. I didn’t want to lose her. I didn’t even like being outside while she was inside. But this was about her, getting her right, and saving her from whatever all this was that had tortured her so. When we got back to Indy I was going to dig more into this Jpop bullshit...but now?
The song ended and I stood, knowing just what I needed to do.
I threw the door open and walked in, redoubled with courage. Maybe tomorrow she would be headed back to some life that I never existed in. Maybe tomorrow our paths would separate and all this would be a silly cliffnote.
So, tonight and every night until then had to matter.
I got to her room and knocked twice on the door. It didn’t take long for her to answer, wordlessly greeting with that smile, eyes so bright. “Hey, Nao..” the words left but I didn’t know where they got the breath, “I..” her gaze froze me like it usually did. My better angels nagged as usual, but it didn’t matter.
‘Do what comes natural’
Before I knew it, her face was in my hands as I pulled her into a deep, meaningful kiss that, had animators been in charge of it, would be accompanied with a sudden breeze and a 1980’s hair ballad. For a second the world all melted away to an eternal sort of nothingness, vast in its expanse with us dead center. One spec of dust that used to be two.
I pulled away after a second, resting my forehead on hers so I wouldn’t fall over. My hands dropped down to find hers, grasping onto them more shakily than I'd like to admit.
“You have mine, too.”
With one more peck at the corner of her mouth, I turned away to head to my couch but felt the entire world stop and pull me back as her hand tightened its grip on my own.
The uber driver had no doubt been shook up when Bert demanded he show his face as soon as he pulled up, but the extra forty bucks had no doubt eased his hurt feelings as he drove along with some modern smooth pop playing. In the backseat, the new Multiplayer champions sat in the warm glow of accomplishment and fading adrenaline. Bert eyes their surroundings until they’re a good distance away from the arena.
“So..how’s it feel, champ?” he finally breaks the silence, turning to her. Half sleepy eyes meet with him, a soft smile showing through the exhaustion. “It feels like.. you were right. It feels nice..” Leaning into him a bit, almost sinking into him like a pillow, Nao let out a soft sigh. Bert himself leans his head to rest on hers, letting out a tired sigh of his own.
“You were amazing tonight you know?” he leaned up to look down at her, half to drive home compliment and half just to stare, “I’m honored to team with you, Nao. I mean that. Totally isn’t the concussion talking.” he leans down and plants a soft kiss on the top of her head before resting his forehead on the spot, his hand taking hers in it as the other raises his own power glove, “And I think we like..rule the universe with these now.” a pause.
“What do think the buttons do, yo?” A curious expression makes its way to her rosy face as she mulls over the question, finally looking as if the lightbulb went off. “Do you think it opens up portals to different worlds?” Giggling a little bit, Nao couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed following her thought. Bert lifts his glove, pressing a button. Then another. He shrugs “Maybe they need to be charged, yo.” He concludes with a boyish smirk.
“Maybe..” A soft yawn escaped at that moment, one that will probably lead to chaos later down the line. Still though, she managed another smile. “I’m happy to be your partner too, happy and honored.. I mean that on umm.. both ends too.” More color filled her cheeks. “We do rule the universe.. and time too considering what we did. So.. how long do we charge them before we can travel and see some aliens?”
Bert slips his off then, taking a moment to marvel at it before setting it in his lap and returning his gaze to her.
“I dunno. Lets leave them on the charger all night and get back to work on the forts. We got another day until check out and we got to make it count, yo,” he paused, furrowing his brow “Might need someone else to ask for the blankets though. I think they’re onto us.” a small chuckle followed this, his hand squeezing hers tightly. “Love ya.” It was mindless, thrown out like a greeting.
But it happened at 2:02 AM three and a half hours after they defeated The Machines for the Multiplayer titles, on the twenty second of July, twenty twenty one.
The moment in time, honestly time itself froze within the confines of the uber. A second of silence lasted an eternity, but then the smile widened. Her head lifted slightly and her eyes told the story. Suddenly she wrapped him in a big hug, exhaustion be damned and couldn’t help the emotion. “I love you too..” his hand reached up to latch onto one of the arms she wrapped around him, leaning his head into her shoulder and smiling.
Up front, the Uber driver wiped a single tear, switching his playlist to “Love Jams 2020” as he made his way to the Hotel.
