Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 23: FROM THE START [Part III]

"Alright, MC" Donnie says, stepping aside and motioning toward the training dummy. "Let's start simple. Show Timothy how you'd land a solid hit"

You roll your shoulders, stepping forward with an easy smirk. "You want style points or just efficiency?"

"Preferably both"

With a smirk, you take a stance and throw a quick, well-placed strike at the dummy's chest with your healthy arm, making it jolt slightly backward. Then, for good measure, you pivot and deliver another hit to its side before stepping back.

Donnie nods, impressed. "Nice. Good form, solid contact"

"Thank you" You flash him a grin, turning to Timothy, waving him over. "Alright, your turn, Tim. Show us what you got!"

Timothy puffs up, cracking his own knuckles—for dramatic effect, you assume—and steps up to the dummy. He takes a deep breath, grips his fist tight, swings... And completely misses. Instead of hitting the dummy, he somehow hooks his arm around it. The force sends the dummy spinning, Tim's entire body wrapping around it before flinging off. Right into Donnie.

"Gah—!!" Donnie staggers back as Tim crashes into him, both of them toppling over in a heap of limbs and startled yelps. You blink, pressing your lips together. Then, very slowly, walk over and crouch beside them.

"Y'all good?"

Tim raises a weak thumbs-up from where he's sprawled half on top of Donnie, who reaches out for you.

"A little help here...?"

Biting back a laugh, you grab Tim's arm and yank him upright, then offer Donnie a hand.

"So, uh. Want to try it again?"

Donnie sighs, rubbing his temple. "Let's... move on to something less physically dangerous"

- - - - - - - - - -

After relocating to the living room, you and Donnie stand next to a whiteboard, a very detailed chart of human anatomy and weak points drawn out in his precise, neat handwriting.

"Alright, Tim, listen up" You gesture to the board. "If you wanna be a hero, you gotta know where to hit"

"These--" Donnie points at the chart. "--are your target areas. Striking these spots effectively can incapacitate an opponent with minimal effort" He taps the board with his new bo. "The solar plexus, for example, is a good place to aim if you want to incapacitate an opponent without causing serious injury"

"So basically, fight smart, not hard"

"Exactly" Donnie nods approvingly at you before glancing at his student. "Got it?"

"Oh yeah, totally!" Tim nods furiously, scribbling away. "This is great!"

Donnie crosses his arms. "Okay. Show me your notes"

Tim grins, flipping the notebook around and holds it above his head. Instead of notes, he has a drawing of himself... with huge, rippling muscles, and a superhero mask.

"Dude—" You snort.

THWACK.

Donnie wordlessly yeets his bo staff at Tim, knocking the notebook straight out of his hands. Tim yelps, flailing backward, while you wheeze.

"You cannot be serious" Donnie says through gritted teeth

"C'mon, it was a good drawing" You nudge him with your elbow.