Lightning Strikes

13

Thanks for 1K reads, everyone. Appreciate it! I know I've been AWOL, but this is what we're getting. Sorry about the break. Enjoy (I hope)!!

Aru woke up early the next morning, Piper lying by her side. A long night didn't deter her from building up the enthusiasm that she needed to fight Kartikeya (and hopefully win). Getting beaten up was more than slightly likely, but that was something that happened on a daily basis. She could take it.

She stepped outside and was met, as always, with a menacing Kartikeya. He was swinging his spear with his usual ferocity. There was no way in hell that he was going to go easy on her, and Aru knew that. Kartikeya had told her once that his vel was only meant to be wielded by the greatest of warriors, and he had mentioned that defeating him would likely be the only way that she could earn the spear.

Aru had given the spear a silent "fuck you".

"Come on, Aru!" Kartikeya called out. "Let's see what you have for me today."

She took a deep breath and stepped in front of Kartikeya. Aru closed her eyes and pictured her moves for a minute. What could she do to win? What kind of attack should she start with?

All of that was flushed down the toilet the moment that Kartikeya leaped at her. Aru shuffled to the side and avoided three quick strikes, trying to give up as little space as possible.

Kartikeya had left the possibility of an attack on his left side open. It was the minutest of chances, so small that nobody could have noticed it other than somebody who knew the god well.

And that was how Aru knew it was a trap. She saw Kartikeya keeping his balance perfectly. She didn't want to get set up.

Aru traded blows with Kartikeya on his right side. Kartikeya smiled at her. "Good catch."

She nodded. "Thanks."

A quick strike at Kartikeya's neck caused him to back up. He dodged a few more strikes, but Aru recognized the advantage she had: Kartikeya had given up far too much space. How was she going to convert that?

They stayed locked in a series of blocked blows. Neither of them were gaining of an inch of space, fighting like two perfectly matched warriors. On any other day, Aru would've been satisfied with this. Not today, though. Aru knew that she needed to do something ridiculous to win this fight. Kartikeya had shut down any possibilities of attack.

An idea struck her. Aru slid back, pretending to give up the space she had earned. Kartikeya pounced on her, going on the offensive.

Aru quickly backed up just a bit more, and then leaped straight into the god, kicking his chest. Startled by the force of the sharp kick, Kartikeya staggered back, and Aru drove the butt of her spear into his stomach with a quick lunge forward.

She realized how terrible of a position she had put herself in with that lunge. Kartikeya could easily push her back and probably beat herself up.

Except he wasn't. He was just standing still and grinning. Aru stood up and looked at him curiously.

Suddenly, he enveloped her in a hug. "What're you standing there like a dead fish for?"

"Wait...what happened?" Aru asked.

Kartikeya rolled his eyes. "I understand that if this were a real fight, you'd have just thrusted right through me. I don't know about you, but that counts as a win to me."

Aru raised her eyebrows. "So...I finally beat you?"

"Don't get too cocky about it," Kartikeya said. "I'm pretty sure I can still take you in a fight with powers."