Enter Dante, The Rev-9: Book 2: Revelations

Chapter 9: Retaliation

3rd Person POV

Dante's Base

Dante was in the middle of cleaning his Barret M82, grease covering his arms, when he heard a familiar engine outside as the door to his base opened. "Hey, Arcee," he greeted, putting down his cleaning tools and wiping off the grease on his arms. Turning, Dante was partially surprised to find his partner's holoform leaning against the wall.

Shaking his head slightly, Dante smirked. "I still can't get over how well you clean up, Arcee," he said playfully. "Honestly, I'm starting to think you make a better human than I do."

Arcee rolled her eyes. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, Dante," she said with a smile.

"It's not flattery if I'm just saying the truth," Dante said defensively.

Arcee rolled her eyes again. "Whatever. So, what are you doing?" she asked, walking over beside him.

Dante shrugged. "The bolt carrier was loose, and the muzzle brake got clogged during our firing session a while back, so I was cleaning them out, same with the chamber."

"Need any help?"

Dante shook his head. "I'll finish up later. Besides, I haven't had a good sparring partner in a while."

Arcee grinned. "Is that a challenge?"

Dante shrugged, a smirk on his face. "Depends. You up for it?"

Timeskip

Dante stood in the fenced off area in the back of the ranch, facing Arcee while her vehicle form was once again leaning against a tree.

Dante smirked and got into a fighting position, making a come-hither motion.

Arcee charged forward and aimed a kick at his chest, but Dante sidestepped. Springing back to her feet, Arcee aimed a punch toward Dante, but he blocked and landed a sharp kick to her stomach, knocking her back.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Dante jumped at her, aiming a kick. Arcee sidestepped, and Dante used his foot to pivot and swing the other at Arcee, who caught it and twisted, sending him to the ground. Springing back to his feet, Dante aimed a roundhouse at Arcee, but she dodged, grabbed his leg, and spun, slamming her elbow into his chest and knocking him down.

Seeing that she was still holding his leg, Dante pushed himself up and jerked his leg, unbalancing Arcee and providing an opening. Dante's fist blurred toward Arcee's head, but she blocked with her forearm and kicked at Dante's leg.

Jumping into the air, Dante dodged the blow, and when he landed, he bent backward at a 90-degree angle, dodging a kick from Arcee.

Arcee aimed a punch at Dante's jaw, but the Rev-9 blocked it. "Come on, stop trying to hit me and hit me!" he taunted.

In response, Arcee dropped to the ground to sweep his leg, but Dante flipped over her. Landing on the ground, Dante pivoted, aiming a kick at Arcee's head, but she blocked and kicked him in the gut.

Arcee tried a jump kick at him, but Dante grabbed her body, spun her over his shoulder, and slammed her to the ground.

Arcee pushed herself to her feet and ran at the fence. Kicking off it, she sailed over Dante's head. Reading her trajectory and turning, Dante delivered a powerful sidekick into Arcee's stomach as she landed, sending her crashing to the ground.

Arcee jumped back to her feet and faced Dante as the Rev-9 charged. Dodging his jump kick, she swept his legs out from under him, and before he could recover, jumped on him, pinning him to the ground, straddling his chest with her legs while she pushed her forearm against his throat. "I win," she said with a smirk. Then she noticed the position they were in and blushed.