Bethany Ford - A Young Justice Novel (Robin/Dick Grayson Romance) [Completed]

Chapter 8: THIS Is How to Make a First Impression

Okay. So no one commented. I only spent a couple hours on this. Whatever.

Bethany's POV

The woman lifted her back leg. She's going to turning kick me to the head in 1.5 seconds. I ducked to the right, avoiding her kick before she even executed it. I was standing up on the other side of her when her foot was just landing to the ground. Before she could even turn around to see where I was, I had already jabbed my big combat knife right above her left elbow. First step complete: left arm incapacitated. The angry woman howled in pain and turned on me. I saw her right arm begin to pull back. I had quickly switched the knife to my left hand and was one handed cartwheeling with my right hand to my right. I pivoted on my hand midair and landed on my right foot, balancing without touching my left foot down. I don't think that my knee could have withstood a cartwheel landing. The woman was just finishing her failed punch when I stabbed the muscle in the back of her right knee. She howled in pain again. Her knee buckled and she used her right hand to reach back and hold her knee. Using her exposed right arm to my advantage while I was still behind her, I stabbed just above her elbow and retreated a few steps to examine my work. Second and third step complete: subject's right knee and arm incapacitated.

I turned around, ready to flee, until I heard low chuckling behind me. I whipped my head around, surprised to find the muscular woman grinning evilly at me. And she was standing straight up, not rolling on the ground in pain like she was supposed to. I was precise in my stabs! Why wasn't she down?!

"You stupid, little girl!" She taunted at me. The words "stupid, little girl" reminded me of my mother. My brain froze at the memory. It seemed like a year ago I was being hit in the kitchen and being forced to do as my mother commanded. The woman spat a mix of blood and saliva onto the ground next to her. "You think that'll work on me? Stupid. I'm no ordinary human. I'm stronger than you. You may be able to get all these puny little stabs with your butter knife, but a couple hits from me, and you'll be out cold. Laying on the concrete like a dead animal."

I was silent. I didn't have any comebacks ready. I didn't know what to say to that. My brain was dead. How was she standing? That wan't humanly possible! I just stood there, gaping. I was frozen to the spot. I knew she was about to lunge at me when I saw her knees bend slightly and both her hands raise a little. But I failed to move. I could only just stand there and watch in horror as two burly hands made their way to my face. I managed to move back one step causing her grip to lower to my shoulders instead of my head. She gripped them so hard I was sure I would have more bruises around my shoulders. Next thing I knew, I was flying across the parking lot. I landed on my side and slid about 3 feet on the concrete on my shoulders, arms, and legs. I started seeing bursts of white, and black was creeping around my vision. I suddenly felt so tired. But I staggered to stand, my scrapes bleeding down my body. That time, I had landed on my left side, and it felt like my left knee had awaken from it's numb slumber and decided it wanted to throb and burn. My whole left side of my body was stinging every time I moved my left leg or arm. But I endured.

I didn't want it to happen again. When my vision cleared, the woman was already two feet away from me with her arm pulled back to punch me. I moved to the side sloppily and grabbed her fist and pushed her forward, keeping her motion and direction. The woman stumbled forward and almost fell. One of the first moves my father taught me. Use your opponents own motion against them. I staggered to stand upright. My stupid vision kept having those black dots dancing on the edge. I blinked hard. They were still there. The woman was just toying with me. With the strength and speed that she had, she could have killed me already. But she was just trying to make me suffer and break down my strength.

The woman was back at me. I saw her front foot pivot. What was left of my brain told me that she was about to turning kick to the left side of my head. I knew I should have ducked and rolled to the left. Too late.

I staggered to the right from the harsh impact. My jaw had moved. My face was burning and raw. My left ear was ringing from her kick. It was like all I could hear was my own rushing blood in my body. My ear had blocked out all outside sounds. I was facing the concrete. Get your act together! My father's voice yelled at me. I wanted to start crying. I was in too much pain. I just wanted to sleep. Endure! The command was clear in my head. You will not show any signs of weakness. Do not emit any sound.

I faced the woman again. Somehow, I still had my combat knife in my hand. This isn't sufficient enough. Plan B. I yanked my second combat knife out of it's place in my other boot. I put one foot behind the other and crouched like a tiger ready to pounce. One knife was upside down, the other was held normally. One was behind me, the other in front. Jar'Kai stance. My second favorite. Except for the fact that my legs really hurt in the crouching stance. I took a deep breath and counted to three. On three, I ignored the pain shooting up my legs, arms, and head. I ignored the fact that I was close to tears from my throbbing knee. I haven't lost yet. And I won't.

Okay, so I have another chapter coming out in right after this in a couple moments. How'd ya'all like it?!