Maverick (A G.I. Joe Fanfiction)

Chapter 27: The Third

With the score ten to zip, my ego was inflating to the point were I was surprised I could still stand balanced. I mean the weight of my head should have thrown off my center of gravity but nope, my feet were still firmly planted on the beam. At least Duke could now easily stand up without falling instantly, that was a relief for me.

Every fighter needs a strong foundation on else the rest is useless, I smiled at the wisdom in that memory. On the other hand, the recollection could have come at a more convent time but I can't blame Duke. My body knew what my mind needed and vice versa.

At that particular moment, the cure I required to shrink my ego was a thick slice of humble pie and a large dose of reality to wash it down. In other words, Duke's right hook connected with my jaw with a solidity that would have unhinged it if I hadn't turned at the last possible second. As someone who sees jumping from a perfectly fine tree as an understandably effective choice if you want to get down faster, falling from the beam was a price of cake.

"Humbling, isn't it?" Duke inquired, lowering himself to sit on the beam.

"Welcomingly," I nodded, placing my head on my crossed arms that lay over my bent knees.

"What's wrong, you were zoning pretty hard?" Duke's voice lost its playfulness and as replaced with sinecure concern.

"Just thinking, remembering," I answered wistfully, laying back to gaze up that ceiling.

"I think you think too much," Duke remarked, inducing a humorous giggle out of me.

"And I think you think just enough to get yourself into trouble," I countered with a tone as flamboyant as him, shoving him backwards off his perch.

I didn't hold back the explosive laughter that came out of my mouth as I doubled over, clinching my side. I heard another chuckle join mine. It was raspy, deep and emanating from behind me where two figures sat. I watched with amusement as their shoulders quacked.

"So, Who's next?" I blurted when I was settled enough to speak, a hint of mockery coloring my voice.

After Storm and Snake's started their ether heated staring contest or silent convention that didn't involve blinking, I meandered over to the controls for the whole room sound system and plugged in my iPod. Falling In Reverse's I'm Not A Vampire drum intro played through the rigged speakers as both ninjas took up similar stances.

"No wooden sword for Maverick," my third-person statement absentmindedly spilled from my lips as I strutted towards them.

They attacked together but slightly out of sync. Compared to our unarmed sparring match at the Pit, Storm's movements seem more...fluid with a sword in his hands. Snake, on the other hand, the sword appeared to encumber his normal grace slightly. Well since I was free-handing this, there was nothing to impede my speed so why hold back? I stood firm and evaded their swings at the last possible second to mess with them, stepping when I needed to and where I should.

At some point, I had a coughing Storm in front of me about to lose his breakfast and Snake attempting to take me from behind. In unison with the song change to Mr. Scruff's Spandex Man, I turned and grabbed hold of one of Snake's wrists, heaving him over my shoulders. He landed on the mats beside Storm but once he absorbed the impact his eyes snapped back open, locking on mine. I knew I was in deep when his hand shoot out faster than I could react and wrapped around my ankle in a vise grip. With a swift yank from Snake, I was on my butt, another put me under Snake and a kendo to my throat. It took me a few seconds to get my breathing under control before I could speak, "Congratulations, Snake-eyes. You're the third-"

"Man to ever get you on your back Maverick?" Duke interrupted.

"Thank you for finishing my sentence, Duke. To be honest I don't think I could have done it by myself." I glared at the Joe out of the corner of my eye as Snake helped me off the mat.