Ameliorate

Chapter 37: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Technoblade: anyone wanna spar?

Dream: I'm down

SnowLion: sure

Firefly: oh I gotta see this

WilburSoot: why's that elizabeth

Firefly: addy planted Zak in the dirt when they sparred yesterday but I missed it

WilburSoot: ooh this should be fun

Nihachu: I'll watch just in case

Dream: Probably a good call

___

"Do you think she's good?" Clay asked, arms braced on the deck railing. Will stood beside him, watching the gentle waves lapping against the shore. "Addy, I mean."

"I mean, probably," Will remarked. "Elizabeth said that she planted Zak's arse in the dirt, so she's definitely got some experience."

"But like, how good do you think she is?" Clay asked, a glint in his eyes not unlike how he had appeared when he had sparred with Dave.

"If you're looking to fight her, then ask her," Will told him. "If she's game, she's game."

Clay nodded, practically bouncing where he stood.

A beat before Will asked, "Has she seen us fight?"

"I mean, there's videos out on us," Clay shrugged. 

"Oh yeah, she mentioned seeing vids on Dave fighting. So it's definitely not unlikely."

"So she's got an advantage from that," Clay remarked.

The door slid open, catching the group's attention. Niki, Elizabeth, Dave, and Addy walked out.

"What are y'all talkin' about?" Addy asked, sliding a hair tie off her wrist and putting her hair into a ponytail.

"Trying to figure out how good you fight," Clay told her truthfully.

"Oh," Addy responded.

"I'd say she has an advantage over you gents," Elizabeth smiled proudly.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Will asked.

"For one, she's seen you fight," Elizabeth began as Addy picked at her nails. "And for others, I'm not saying those until you guys fight so she can keep her advantages."

"Are you gonna fight, Niki?" Dave asked.

"Oh, no," Niki told him, shaking her head. "I'm not nearly at that point yet. I'm just here to watch in case something goes wrong."

"Smart," Clay said. "Now who am I fighting first?"

"I vote Will," Dave stated. "You haven't fought him yet and it might be beneficial to fight someone taller than you."

"It's literally just two inches-"

"Still taller," Dave cut Clay off.

"C'mon, let's get off the deck so I don't plant your arse on a hard floor," Will taunted, strolling down the steps to the grass.

Clay muttered something under his breath, the tone mocking, as he followed. Clay slipped into a fighting stance across from Will.

"Ready?" Clay asked

"When you are."

A feral grin was the only brief warning that Clay gave before darting forward, keeping himself relatively low as he rammed his shoulder into Will's torso.