City of Thieves

Chapter 19: White Sense

She demanded to fight.
She sucked in a cold breath of air threw her teeth, it felt like hot ice down her throat. Strands of black hair escaped her already thin hair melting down her shoulders. Her nose was pink from the cold, her skin hard and thick. For once in a long time in the city, her black hood was off. Her dirty white tank top was damp against her skin. In the ring stood her and a fellow thief. A small light of day illuminated the ring from above the glass sky. The Boy? He was about Laura's age, maybe older. She promised to focus on mainly the boys hands and body movements, though she had to admire the boys quite delicate and sharp toned face.

Aron watched from afar, promising not to interfere. There was no bell to start, the fight would begin as soon as both opponents drew blood from there palm in the center. You couldn't return to the ring until your palm was healed. A sign of purity, Aron said.

Laura had her knuckles close to her chest in defense. Laura would think the boys smug grin came from his assurance he would win. But rather, he admired Laura's striking features on the outside rather than to pay attention to what was going on around him.
Laura noticed his absence in attention, she took this advantage to knock him to the ground. Though to her surprise, he dodged her, instead grabbing her leg and twisting it round.

She almost lost balance, instead grabbing the sides of the rings pole and kicking back at the boy. He stumbled back, giving her time to retrieve her balance. She cracked her neck as they circled each other like animals.
"What are you a dancer, take your pretty moves to the outlands if its all your good for." He taunted, the shouts of fellow thieves around them made it quite hard to hear him clear.
"If Im just a dancer them come get me."
She played back.
He smirked, and tackled her by her waist. Laura let out a yelp. "Like so?" He taunted

Laura's feet where free, she used it to her advantage to kick his stomach. He gawked, and she threw him off. She advanced on him and tried pinning his arms for the count down. "Three.. Two..."
But her strength wasn't enough.

He head butted her, then kneeing the pit of her stomach for her to tumble off, making her fly back and hit her head on the concrete floor. She yelped and staggered up, but not quick enough as the boy tripped her back down. The boy advanced on top of her, making sure to secure her legs this time.
He started the count, till Laura did the unspeakable. She bit his lips together as he was on two. His eyes widened, and she had the sense to laugh at his reaction if it wouldn't mean letting go. The crowd of thieves hollered in laughs and chants.

She freed her arms after a whiles struggling, she wrapped her arms around the boys so he was reprehended. They both lay on the ground now. The boy looked into her eyes as she let go of his fleshy lips.
"One and two and its a tie." She laughed.
Instead of rising anger, the boys expression was humored.
"Well, this is definitely a story for the grandkids, yeah?"
They both laughed.
"Whats your name, pretty girl?"
"What kind of thieve would I be if you could catch my name so easily? Though you can call me, Lady."
He smiled, something bright and determined in his eyes.
"Well Lady, you gave me my first tie, so Ill give you my first name. Im James, and I hope to see you again, soon."

"You could have won. You have to make a scene out of everything." Shelby argued.
"Jaja, everyone had a laugh out of it, whats the problem." Laura said, digging her fingers into the roots of her hair to comb it out.
"I didn't like the way you bit his lips." Aron mentioned, again. "If anything-"
"IF ANYTHING, you two will finally learn there is no changing the past, no matter how painful or foolish you view it." Laura shot this mostly to Aron.
"Like when a certain someone lies about me being watched."
"I DIDNT.. lie Laura.. I could of sworn I saw someone watching you."
She exhaled.
"Don't all thieves stalk occasional competition." She argued.
"Competition? Laura, your stronger than you look, but not at all intimidating. So, you'd have no fear of looking like a threat to anyone." Shelby said, sliding her hands down her pockets.

The group talked in the back of the building as some poor fellow was getting his last baby teeth knocked down his throat in the ring. It was Aron's idea to bring her to the ring, show her not all thieves are animals struggling for dear life on ends just to find a fat squirrel for dinner until the sun dies down. He'd like to think they'd have enough tradition in the ring to show Laura.

She was astonished, it wasn't like anything she'd seem before. It wasn't underground, more of a deeper spot in the city. If here alone, any poor fellow would be ripped apart if not careful. Though, when they where all together in a tremendous group, no other group could kill them off. The main population of the city consisted of thieves.

And god forbid they be taken down.