ā Ā š. Ā Ā | Ā Ā Ā Ā šš”šš² š¬ššš§š š ššš° šššš šš©šš«š. šš°šØ š¬ššš¬ šØš š”ššš„š¬ šš¢š§š š©š®š«šš”šš¬š š¢š§ šš”š š¦ššššš šš„šØšØš«.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā before the duo prepare:Ā Ā theyĀ (Ā @kryptoianāĀ )Ā smile as she promises to keep her competitiveĀ streak at bay. Ā Ā Ā the floor beneath them knows this dance well,Ā Ā make - believe and serious all at once:Ā Ā a practice round for refinement,Ā Ā a game of tag between small friends.Ā Ā Ā Ā the parameters have been set:Ā Ā the feet remain against the mat,Ā Ā their soles never to kiss the air for more than a second at a time.Ā Ā they spar with their hands,Ā Ā wrestle with strong shoulders,Ā Ā nothing else.Ā Ā Ā Ā now:Ā Ā there is nothing but space between them.Ā Ā Ā vast emptiness,Ā Ā enough room to run towards or against each other.Ā Ā Ā Are you ready?Ā Ā she calls against the hollow space,Ā Ā a bell of a voice against still air.Ā Ā Ā the firm Yes that is returned,Ā Ā Ā the nod of his head,Ā Ā brings a grin to her cheeks.Ā Ā Ā Then we go on three.... and count correctly.Ā Ā underneath her feet,Ā Ā under the soles of her shoes,Ā Ā she feels the coolness of the floor;Ā Ā it is familiar to her,Ā Ā almost anotherĀ (Ā belovedĀ )Ā part of her.Ā Ā Ā [ 1.... ]Ā Ā Ā she watches as their stance changes,Ā Ā and for a moment she feels as if they are preparing for something more serious than this.Ā Ā [ 2... ]Ā Ā the air shifts and stills.Ā Ā its molecules twist and her eyesight,Ā Ā By Athena,Ā Ā sharpens.Ā Ā [ 3...Ā ]Ā Ā Ā their eyes meet.Ā Ā Ā they are in the throes of combat.
it is a quickfire of movements.Ā Ā a jab,Ā Ā dodged;Ā Ā an elbow thrust,Ā Ā dodged.Ā Ā they spin against each other as if caught in a breeze.Ā Ā Ā from both their mouths fall a steady stream of sound,Ā Ā living words made null in this space;Ā Ā they communicate through grunts,Ā Ā Ā the scuffling of shoe against the floor.Ā Ā Ā they are close to each other now.Ā Ā Ā He throws punch her way,Ā Ā fist closed and swiftĀ Ā ---Ā Ā Ā and the world seems to slow down.Ā Ā Ā a step is taken backwards with one foot,Ā Ā the hands reach up and one wraps around their wrist,Ā Ā the back of the other against opposing chest;Ā Ā the upper-hand,Ā Ā however slivered,Ā Ā is something she finds comfort in,Ā Ā and it is lost as soon as it is gained:Ā Ā Ā they are quick to knock from her graspĀ (Ā she,Ā Ā quick to regain her footing,Ā Ā )Ā Ā and they separate once more.
ā Ā Ā you are better since last we fought.Ā Ā Ā ā Ā Ā in this lull of combat,Ā Ā she takes a moment to banterĀ Ā āā Ā she gives a breathy laugh,Ā Ā stretches one arm behind her back.Ā Ā Ā she returns to her position,Ā Ā one foot behind the other,Ā Ā body prepared for movement.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā it is impressive.Ā Ā let us go again.Ā Ā Ā Ā ā
