8 Sparring Session

It had been a week since Bruce Lee was stuck in this new world. He had gotten a brand new I.D. Barbara had gone through the databases across the the US, yet she couldn't find him anywhere. There were a few people with the same name; not the same look, however.

Barbara told him that there should be a Bruce Lee in this world, even if he was or old or deceased. Weird time travel mechanics and whatnot. However, he was nowhere to be seen - not even in the databases.

He was a movie star; his films should be retained throughout time. However, in this world, they never even existed to begin with. No Fist of Fury, no Big Boss, not even Enter the Dragon. All gone. Barbara concluded that the current Bruce Lee did not time travel, but somehow jumped through universes instead.

Bruce couldn't fathom how that was possible. Not that it matters anymore; he can't go back, anyways. With his new identity, he could live in this world as a normal citizen. He still kept the same name and a cheap place in Old Gotham.

It was a decent place to live in; a single bedroom apartment. Small living space, but not too cramped. Bruce planned to open up a martial arts school when he had enough money, but for now, he had his day job. Being a delivery driver at the auntie's Chinese Restaurant.

This was his new life now.

It was thanks to Barbara that he was able to live like this. No matter what she needed done, he would do. It was the least he could do to repay for her kindness.

Sweat dripped from his neck, down to his ripped body and plopped onto a floor. His breathing was loud, yet calm. Loud thumps of power connected onto leather cushion, and the chains squeaked as a heavy bag swung around wildly.

A high kick, boxing combos and a strong roundhouse. Bruce Lee utilized his weapons with extreme perfection. A man is to be feared practicing a technique thousands of times. Bruce Lee found peace through training, releasing all stress and raw emotion through kinetic motion. It was what he'd done since he had been under the tutelage of Master IP Man.

He was a movie star, but he will always be a martial artist first. And nothing could take that away from him.

A knock suddenly came from his door.

Bruce Lee stopped his kick mid-air and glanced at the door. He grabbed his white towel, wiped off his sweat and head towards the door. It was Barbara Gordon dressed in a grey tank top and black sweatpants.

"Hey, Bruce!" She greeted him happily. Her eyes slowly drifted towards his ripped body. Wow. She had seen him shirtless a couple times when she came by to visit, but it was still mesmerizing to look at. It was as if his body was carved in nothing but pure muscle, built only to fight.

"Hello, Barbara," Bruce smiled.

"Look what I got~" she said in a sing-song voice, raising two large plastic bags up. The aroma of delicious Chinese cuisine wafted through Bruce's nose, and his stomach suddenly growled with hunger. He had trained from morning to afternoon on his day off, and he needed some chow.

"If I knew you were coming; I would have gotten us food instead; the auntie offer discounts for employees," Bruce said. He didn't want to take advantage of her like this, since she had already done so much for him.

"Don't be like that; I did it because I wanted to," Barbara made her way into his apartment, dropping the bag of food onto the small coffee table in front of the couch. She looked at the punching bag across the room that slowly swung to a stop.

"You've been training again?" She asked.

"Always," he answered.

"You know," Barbara walked up to the swinging heavy bag and held it still. "I happen to know a thing or two about martial arts." Her eyes grew sharp as she lowered herself into a stable stance and drew in a deep breath.

"Hah!" With a twist of her hips, Barbara launched a crippling roundhouse kick, violently swinging the heavy bag. Bruce Lee watched, quite impressed with the power of her kicks.

"You have a strong foundation," he complimented.

"Well, I was considered a top talent in various martial arts before I started my career in crime-fighting," she couldn't help but brag. Barbara had always been at the top of her class.

"Really now?" Bruce walked towards her and stopped with just enough distance between them. "Then let's put your martial arts to the test - a spar, if you will. See how good you really are. How about it?"

"You sure? I wouldn't wanna hurt ya," a competitive smirk made its way to her lips. Of course, she wouldn't say no to a challenge.

"You don't have to worry about that," Bruce got himself into a combat stance. "Show me what you got, Batgirl."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," she also got into a combat stance. There was a momentary pause as tension whirled between them. Barbara shifted her stance and tightened her fist in preparation. Yet, her opponent remained relaxed and composed like still water, free from the external world around him. His attention solely focused on her, waiting for her to strike.

Barbara quickly broke the tension, performing a kiai, a loud shout which tightened her core and allowed for a rapid exhalation. Then, she threw a powerful, straight punch that she learned from her Karate discipline. Linear, direct and powerful. One would be easily knocked out if they were not prepared for it.

Barbara thought this would be an easy win for her; unfortunately, she was very, very wrong. Before she knew it, Barbara was staring at the ceiling while Bruce Lee was looking down at her, smiling from ear-to-ear.

"What just happened?" She asked in confusion.

"I simply took advantage of your stiff form," Bruce answered. "A martial artist shouldn't be too stiff; be free-flowing, like water."

Barbara got up from the ground and into her combat stance, "Again."

"Alright," he raised his arms out to greet her. "Come at me."

Barbara charged at Bruce again, throwing out combos that combined both from boxing and karate. She mostly went for his head for an easy score. Any goons would have been knocked out already.

However, this wasn't any goon that she was sparring against, and she was going to learn it the hard way. Yet again, Barbara was staring up at the ceiling, defeated. And yet again, Bruce was staring down at her with an ever-present smile.

"Do not just attack your opponent without preparation. What would you do if he dodged? Or if he tackles you to the ground? Watch your opponent; learn from him."

"Again," Barbara said, standing back up again. She wouldn't give up until she at least got a hit in. She calmed her breathing and think. She took a quick glance at Bruce's legs then back at his obsidian eyes.

Barbara instantly went for his legs, hoping to take him to the ground. Her Judo experience began to kick in. Let's see how well he does on the floor. No, wait! She quickly moved out of the way from an incoming knee.

That was too close. Any closer and she wouldn't walk out of there without a broken nose.

"Good reflex."

Let's play with his reaction then. Barbara threw a quick feint, instantly turning it into a right cross instead. Blocked. Not quite the result she wanted, but she was almost there. She'd almost caught him. Just barely. She charged again, this time a left jab, setting up into a high roundhouse. Ducked.

Barbara smirked, using the momentum of her missed roundhouse into another kick, spinning around like a tornado. However, that was her third mistake. Bruce caught her leg kick, went in for a clinch and brought her down to the ground for the third time.

It was over just like that.

Barbara laid flat, chest heaving as she peered into his dark eyes. Bruce was over her, down on his knees and a hand firm on her shoulders to keep her pinned down. There was a stark silence between them as onyx gemstones gazed into sapphire orbs. Finally, Barbara was the first to look away; a faint blush reddened her cheeks.

"Nice fight," Bruce suddenly patted her on the shoulders and stood back up again. He raised a hand out to her, helping Barbara off from the ground.

"Not enough to beat you, apparently," she dusted off her clothes.

"Do not overthink it too much; let your body flow with your opponent; move when he moves, and strike when he strikes - like instinct," he advised her. "You are young. With time and effort, you will naturally be better and stronger."

"Aren't you young, too?" She asked. "You barely look older than me, and I'm only eighteen."

"I'm thirty-two; at least that's what I was until I somehow reverted back into my younger self," he explained.

"You're not hiding any weird immortality elixir, are you?"

"Why, do you want some?" He joked.

"Psshh, who would want to live forever with you?" Barbara countered in a sassy manner.

Bruce Lee laughed, scratching his head, "C'mon, let's go and eat."

They sat down on the couch, pulled out the food containers from the bag and began to chow down on some good Chinese. Barbara had gotten him his favorite: oyster sauce beef over white rice. She had learned a few things about him during her visits. However, one major thing that she learned about him was that he was a training maniac.

This man never stops training. Like ever.

Perhaps, she should start improving her skills as well. Barbara wondered if Bruce would be willing enough to take disciples in. Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Hey, Bruce?" Barbara brought her chopsticks down.

"What is it?"

"I was wondering... do you think, y'know, you can take disciples in? I mean- you don't have to if you want," she quickly said. "Just wonderin', that's all."

Barbara wanted to facepalm herself. Why did she have to say it like that? What was so embarrassing about asking to be his disciple? Oh well, what's done is done. She just hope that he wouldn't say no.

"I'd be more than happy to teach you, Barbara," he answered.

"Really? Sweet!" She pumped fist in celebration. "Then, how about we start tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'm off work at 5; we can start training then."