Shifter

[In the Ring]

[Xander]

He knew he heard the Captain say no magic or weapons in the ring, but he didn't trust the lethal weapon that stood smiling before him. She may look like a delicate, beautiful flower, but he saw what she did yesterday. He could barely take his eyes off of her during the battle. Beneath that soft, lush exterior, he knew there was a hardened warrior.

Even still, he couldn't help but linger on the way her fighting leathers hugged every curve of her body.

She chuckled from across the ring.

"You going to stare at me all day, or are we going to fight?" 

He felt his face redden slightly.

"Are you going to talk all day? Or are we going to fight?" He motioned to her with his fingers. Come and get me.

That's all it took for her to launch at him with a fierce combination that had him staggering back towards the edge of the ring. He blocked her blows, staying on the defensive for now.

She pulled back, taking up a defensive stance as well, as they circled each other in the ring, sizing up their opponent.

His legs suddenly felt like jelly when her eyes met his, wholly focused on him. As if she sensed his sudden weakness, she pounced again, this time landing a right hook to the side of his chin. Ow. He felt a drop of blood trickle down the side of his mouth.

She moved back into her defensive position, with a slight smirk on her face.

Screw staying on the defensive.

This time, he lunged for her, feigning a hook to the left, and then landing one on her right side. She staggered back and he advanced forwards, but he realized it was a trap a second too late, as her leg swung around and landed a blow to his ribs. She had the opening to take him, but she slipped to the side, leaving him the opportunity to take her to the mat. He didn't leave time to question it, before he swiftly maneuvered her down to the ground.

His hips pinned hers to the ground, her legs sprawled on either side of him, while his arms barred hers above her head. There was barely any space between their bodies. She smiled smugly at him, her heavy gaze slowly moving from his eyes down to his lips.

"You let me win. You sacrificed the better position." He growled into her ear.

"There's a lot of things I'd sacrifice to have you on top of me like this." She purred.

He pulled his head back to look at her face, feeling her ragged breath against his lips.

"Besides, who said you had won?" She smirked. 

Before he could process her words, she dragged her leg up in a swift motion, maneuvering across his head, flipping his body. The world blurred, and suddenly, she was on top of him, pinning his arms to the mat with her powerful thighs. A dagger pointed at his throat.

"Yield" She growled.

"Marion! I said no weapons!" The Captain shouted from the side plainly, as if he was indeed not surprised she had a weapon.

His stomach coiled, unsure if it was from the dagger at his neck or the way she looked at him, her face flushed.

"Yield!" She pressed the dagger harder into his neck, drawing droplets of blood.

"I yield." He grit through his teeth.

She withdrew the dagger from his neck, staring at him for a brief moment, before dismounting, and walking off the ring. He took another blink, and she was gone. The air still buzzed with the aftermath of her winnow.