Chapter 25.5: Boxing Interlude (Short)

"You couldn't wait until after he's healed?" Claggor asked sympathetically as Vi and Orion slid on 8 oz boxing gloves. The hanging training robot was shoved into the corner but still occupied about a third of the ring.

As per usual Claggor and Powder stood beside each other, their faces a mix of worry and excitement. Powder especially was starting to get into the mood, despite Orion's condition, as she threw her hands in the air and cheered enthusiastically.

"Go Vi!"

Mylo leaned directly on the ring, his arms hooked just inside for support, and his anticipation evident by his jittery movements.

"I won't hit him hard," Vi said in a justifying tone. "Unless he hits hard." She added mischievously.

Orion stood there with a deadpan stare, covered in bandages and bruised, against Vi, who was bouncing in place, full of energy, and shadow boxing. His patched jacket hung on the ropes, and his shirt was still torn around the torso in several spots.

"Yeah, this was a bad idea," he concluded far too late. "Wasn't I supposed to heal?"

Ding-Ding-Ding

Immediately Vi charged out, not using any stance in her movement, but keeping her guard up.

Orion, surprised by the aggression in his wounded state, barely had time to dance and slip out to the outside of her straight right. Everything hurt, especially around the stitches, as he flicked a soft jab toward her face.

After missing her straight right, Vi adjusted into a proper boxing stance now that she was in close, twisting and swinging with a wide left hook in Orion's direction. She gets caught mid-swing, but it barely stung, causing her to blink at most. Still, her hook fell short of his chin so she pushed off her back leg to try closing the distance again.

This exchange continued, Orion dancing on the outside, weakly jabbing, while Vi pursued, growing more agitated with every soft jab that landed. Halfway through, Vi started to learn how to slow down. She tried cornering Orion up against the rope, but he would slip out between southpaw and orthodox stances to keep her guessing.

Claggor rang the bell to signal the last ten seconds, and Vi's flurry of blows intensified. She was hell-bent on landing a blow, her face stinging and head ringing, her face showing anger openly now.

Every swing she took, whether it was an over-extended straight or lunging hook, Orion would slip or duck out of and dance away, leaving her frustrated and angry by the time the bell rang.

Ding-Ding-Ding

"You're a fucking coward!" Vi cursed angrily. She flung one of her gloves off and openly flipped him off.

Chuckling weakly, he gestured to blood seeping through some of the bandages. Orion taunted her with a mocking tone, "I'm injured. Can't hit an injured guy?"

Everything escalated pretty fast as Claggor and Mylo sprang into action, holding Vi back as Orion rested against the ropes, panting heavily. "Fuck you!" she cursed him out again, this time it echoed through the arcade with its intensity.

"Yeah, yeah...We can go another round another day, when I'm not bleeding out." Orion said, waving dismissively.

Turning around, he noticed his jacket was no longer on the ropes but in Powder's hands. She stood there innocently, offering his medical kit with both hands, and his jacket slung over one arm.

He smiled softly, and gently said, "Thank you, Powder."

She smiled lightly, not saying anything. Just big wide eyes looking up at him in return.

"It's gonna take a few more rounds to convince her..." He thought to himself as he took the medical kit. "At least I've got Powder as support," he concluded gratefully, giving her another warm smile.