There was something about fighting that lit her blood on fire. It made her feel alive. The simple nirvana in the blunt feeling of knuckles on skin, the deep ache of bruised ribs and a bloodied nose. Even when it was with a sorry excuse for a fighter like Cooper. "Come on, you sorry bastard, is that really the best you got?"

Cooper was a mostly just bark, very little bite. Though he could pack enough of a mean punch with a wounded ego. Most men were like that, annoyingly fragile in places they didn't bother protecting. Marza wasn't the strongest fighter in the ring, a trait that her father enjoyed reminding her of. That she wasn't the son he'd wanted, even when she'd done everything to compensate for that. The truth was she was the quickest though and the most resilient when it mattered.

A quick feint followed by a hook to the gut left Cooper stumbling back. She allowed the space, giving him the chance to breathe again rather than take advantage for a quick result. It wasn't clean boxing, not with the way they fought.

Yet then, something caught her eye just out of frame. Never let your eye off the prize, the simplest fucking rule in the playbook. How could she not see her though, a goddess amongst just ugly-fucking rabble? They looked too, of course, how could they not? They ate her with their eyes, even if the draw of bloodlust pulled them back to the fight.

It was just enough of a distraction that Cooper had recovered. Next thing she knew, she felt a hard right hook to the head. Split brow and a ring in her ears, like an explosion knocked the sense right out of her. It was hardly surprising. Beautiful women had always been her weakness, after all.

Mei Liu

☉

It would have been less embarrassing if she recovered quickly, maybe. It took another punch to the gut before she managed to learn her lesson. Putting space between them was the only thing she could do then, even if it felt like cowardice. There was no way in hell she was going down by the likes of someone like Cooper, especially not in front of Mei.

That would be a little humiliating. It felt good though, having a reason to fight. So many times, she did it out of ego or pride. Fighting was in her blood, but even it got old. When that happened, hell she didn’t know what to do with herself. Who the hell was she if she could no longer feel the kick of adrenaline in a fight like a dirty drug?

Cooper made a mistake quickly after, he rushed her. It might have worked, getting her before she could recover. She was quicker than he was and she was determined then to make this quick. Dodging the punch that would have knocked her flat on her ass, she uppercutted his throat. She could feel it collapse beneath her fist. He choked, curled up. The next punch to the side of his head knocked him down.

The referee called it and she was admittedly glad the bastard hadn’t got back up. Still, even with the ding to her pride, it felt good. The burn of her muscles and the sting of sweat in the clipped cut on her brow.

“Better luck next time, you fucking waste of oxygen.” Cooper would try again though, she counted on it. Her attention wasn’t on him anymore or anyone for that matter. Instead, she was focused on the crowd, her eyes weaving among faces until she found her. “You really don’t quit, do you?” Even then, she smiled.

Mei Liu

☉

Normally, her head would have remained in the fight, soaking in that sweet adrenaline and the rush of endorphins that came with winning. Even if it was a fight with a inevitable ending. There was no way she would have allowed Cooper to win. Maybe a day would come that he'd wise up and beat her, but that wasn't today. However, this circumstance was far from normal. Still, heart beating from the rush, she looked for her.

Admittedly, this felt like the most dangerous part of tonight. Not the fight itself, but instead seeing her and wanting more. Mei already seemed to know her better than most people did, had her dangling from a marionette string even if the sentiment usually would have enraged her. It was a little terrifying. Marza wasn't necessarily a control freak, quite the opposite, but she did not enjoy the idea that someone could grow the power to control her.

Her hands rested on the barrier, ignorant to the crowd behind her. She was sweaty, bloody. Probably not what Mei went for, but she had continuously surprised Marza thus far. "I'm glad you're here." She admitted, quickly adding, "Hopefully it didn't disappoint. It was a bit of a bore."

The sting of sweat on her brow reminded her that she hadn't come out of it completely unscathed. "You distracted me."

Mei Liu

☉

Marza just couldn’t help herself, but who possibly could someone like Mei Liu? She was irresistible. Though Marza had tried her best to stave her off, clearly she had failed. Yet, why? Why had she been trying so goddamn hard? Why was it so hard for her to accept the things she wanted without feeling undeserving? In the end, it would feel only right for her to die alone, without violence as her bedfellow.

Yet, right then, she couldn’t think of a single reason why. She smirked and leaned further into the divider. The contact was a present flame as skin brushed together. The proposal was enticing to say the least. “Okay, just what are you proposing?”

Even as she spoke, she moved until the barrier was crossed and she was on the other side. The fight, though it still rushed through her blood, was behind her. Out of sight, out of mind. The dissatisfaction or thrill of the crowd was secondary and unimportant. It felt like she was bewitched. “Wanna get out of here?”

Mei Liu

☉

Mei slipped in closer and Marza felt unnaturally at ease, yet simultaneously thrown for a loop. This woman was beyond bizarre to her, an anomaly. Usually, the rocket beast didn't like anything she couldn't understand. Mei was steadily continuing to be an exception to the rule. Her skin flinched under the contact, more instinct than pain. The adrenaline from the fight was still there, running through her blood. She had no one left to fight so she wanted to displace it in other ways.

Mei made her feel weak — that was terrifying.

There was nothing in the world she hated more than displaying weakness, but she couldn't hate Mei. No matter how hard she tried. How annoying. "I don't need—" She started, tone harder. That was an immediate response. She didn't need any help. She didn't need anyone to fix her. Instead of this, she paused. Would it be so bad? To be taken care of, for once? With a deep exhale, she relented.

"Alright, fine. Yeah." She couldn't help that crooked smirk of amusement from settling across her expression. Such a simple adjustment and she could feel all the gears fall out of place. The tension removed, this wasn't so bad. "This way." There was a private space, not exactly pretty but away from the noise. She would usually go there to smoke after a fight, lick her wounds and bite down on her failures if necessary.

Mei Liu

☉

Sit.

Marza did as she was told and then frowned as Mei went about searching the place over. What was she, a dog now? Still, she didn't complain. Most people would have received a swift black eye, but Mei had a super power. She was a sweet spot, laced with venom. Both deadly and beautiful. Marza couldn't help but wonder if Mei had ever found herself in a place like this, patching up a different idiot. The bitter twist of jealousy didn't sit in her right. She wasn't a jealous person, usually.

Even then, she had to wonder if this or any of their interactions was simply routine for the other woman. Another idiot on the hook, dangling from her outcast string.

"Not much for sanitation and aid around here." She snorted, knowing that typically she'd nurse her wounds with a cold slab of meat slapped on the face and some whiskey down the gullet. Her attention was pulled away, yanked back to those sea-green eyes as the woman sat on her lap. She barely got to soak it in before her face was being snagged and a sharp sting prickled at her torn brown.

She cringed a little, "It's fine." Even if it did hurt, she'd never complain. It was never in her to admit to such things, including the way her heart fluttered just a little under the contact. The way the woman hyper-focused on her wound. How she cared for her. No body patched her up unless it was their job. "You didn't have to do this." She felt soft and pathetic.

Mei Liu

☉

She was not, in fact, ever planning on seeing a doctor. Especially not for something minor. Even in the past, when she'd felt the bony fingertips of death coaxing her over the edge, she'd had rather gone without a doctor. It was usually through force that she occupied any hospital space. It might have benefited her to have a pokemon capable of healing, but that would be seen as a thorough waste of a good fighter.

Marza wanted to ask her why, though she already had countless times so far. Mei could answer her a million different ways and it would do little to clear up the confusion. She was all blunted edges and uncomfortable ends. It wasn't like she was under some illusion that Mei wanted someone that wasn't exactly like that, she wasn't exactly the type of scream pillow princess to her. Even then, she couldn't help but wonder if it was some cruel joke in the end. That fear of pain, there was nothing more potent.

Mei drew closer. And then closer still. Admittedly, Marza felt her breath stifle. She felt something like anticipation stir under her skin and she didn't pull away. She didn't resist her, there was no point in pretending anymore. There never had been a point in that. The kiss wasn't soft nor subdued. Mei didn't seem inherently powerful (not physically), but she did right then. Marza froze for a moment, a hundred thoughts flashing through her mind before she softened. And then, reciprocated. She doubted that Mei wanted her for any softness, she had none. Even then, she was amazed to find that her own reaction wasn't as a brute. It wasn't soft or even careful, but it wasn't meaningless hunger.

Her hands slipped around the slight of the woman's waist, over soft curve and up the ridges of her spine. The tips of her fingers dragged, digging in to her curves. The smell of her, the taste of her. She was beautiful. Every part of her.

Mei Liu

☉