Hidden Depths

Chapter 8 - Fighting Talk

Miss Muddiva wasn't down for long, but when she appeared from the floor looking like a Lindt Rabbit, it was clear that she had been beaten.  Nikolai was quick to comment.

'Winning in record time with an unprecedented double kong-vault drop kick, the Angel Acrobat, the Princess of Parkour, the Free Running Femme Fatale...Lay-laaa!'

Muddiva swept the worst of the chocolate out of her eyes and shook her head. 

'I suppose I deserved that after last time,' she said to her much cleaner-looking opponent.  'But it's been months since you fought last. I thought you'd forgiven me?'

'I have,' Layla replied, 'but a move like that takes time to practice.' 

Both girls smiled at each other and embraced.  With an arm round the bigger girl, Layla leaned in and gave Muddiva a crowd-pleasing kiss on the cheek, licking her lips and loudly complimenting the tasty chocolate.

As they got out of the ring, their demeanour changed instantly.  The girls' game faces had been all business and bravado, but passing through the ropes seemed to lift a weight from their shoulders. Miss Muddiva, in particular, suddenly seemed much younger than she had just moments ago.

Rashid was still standing and clapping heartily when he realised that the ladies were headed towards his table.  He felt a rush of excitement as his eyes met Layla's. He was smiling goofily but Layla's brow furrowed a little as she made a quick assessment of him.  She shot an accusatory look at Nikolai.

'Look at the state of him, what've you done to the boy?' 

'Just a little pain relief after the mugging, maybe a little too much pain relief, but he's on the mend.  You should've seen him an hour ago.'

Rashid was too busy brooding about Layla's maternal use of the term 'boy' to notice that Nikolai spoke as if she already knew that he had been mugged.

'Oh, Rich, you've not been taking his "experimental medicines" have you?  Next thing you know you'll be as wired as he is.' 

Rashid wondered how many of the blue pills Nikolai had already swallowed.

Layla turned to Muddiva as they pulled out chairs to join them.

'So, loser buys the drinks then, Frau Beatrix?'

Muddiva was towelling off the chocolate but replied without missing a beat. 'Ha, no chance. Unlike you, my hosting days are long gone.'

The posh German accent she spoke with wasn't what Rash had expected.

She turned her head to a nearby table and called to one of the male hosts. 'Hey Davide, any chance of getting some drinks?  We are fresh from battle after all.'

The guy beamed back at her. 'For you, Trixy, anything.'

'So your name's Trixy?' asked Rashid. 

'Yep, well that or Beatrix.  Neither name is quite right for the image I'm going for in the ring.  You didn't think I was a professional mud wrestler with the name "Mud Diva" did you?' 

Rashid looked embarrassed as he replied, 'Yeah, no.  Anyway, I'm Rich.'

'So I hear,' Beatrix replied with a knowing smile, then turned to Nikolai. 'How long do we have before the boys start?'

'Should only take the hounds ten to reset,' replied Nikolai, checking his phone and absentmindedly adding, 'then we'll get on with the show.' 

He put his phone back down on the table and turned to Layla with a flourish. 'Hey, you know you made the club a killing with that little move of yours?'