Putting Out Fire With Gasoline

Before he came to Japan, Army’d had four girlfriends. Six if you counted middle school hookups before he even really knew what being in a relationship meant. They’d been okay, for the most part - maybe his girlfriends would disagree, but he thought they’d come off pretty good. Not perfect, but decent. Things just…never clicked. And before, he could never quite figure out why.

Not until now. Not until Imugi.

It all clicked when she came in with that look on her face. He was a mess right now, all sweaty and bloody and bruised, and most women - hell, most people in general - would’ve given him some space, even if they’d given a shit in the first place. But Imugi? She came close. She touched. He could tell that she’d gotten worked up just watching the fight, and that she still had this wild, crazy energy flowing through her. He shared it, his body still amped up and riding the adrenaline wave.

They both loved the fight. Loved watching it, loved being near it, loving being in it. There were a lot of reasons he liked her, but that was at the center of it, and it was a rare find, a spark that she could set off better than anyone else.

Just that little realization brought a small, stupid little smile to his face, one that grew a little wider when she threw in that insinuation at the end. He still had some energy to burn, and if she was down for it, then…

”Preeeeeeetty sure I remember seeing a supply closet on the way in, looking low on supplies. If you don’t mind the dust, I don’t mind the dust.” He started to make his way towards it, heading out of the ring with the slightest limp in his step, doing his best to stride cool despite all the damage.

It was a warm scene, not something you’d expect to find in fighting pit, of all places. Not too far off, though, something more appropriate was happening.

”Wake up.”

In the back, Sin sat in a chair, legs crossed, looking over the remains of her ‘protege’. They’d dragged her back here after the fight, and since the place was kind of low on medical staff, that would’ve been the end of it. She’d wake up and limp her ass out, or they’d haul her out on the street.

Funny as that’d be, Sin wasn’t about to let it happen to her property. So, while she waited for her turn in the ring, she was hanging back here, keeping an eye on the little Mini-Me and waiting for her to wake back up. Which was taking entirely too fucking long, in her opinion.

”Come on.” She gave her a nudge in the face with her bare foot, prodding her over and over. ”Get up. Ain’t got all day.”

Zoey didn't want to 'get up'.

She was happy here. Wherever 'here' was. It was quiet and dark, like floating towards the bottom of a deep and restless sea. Every inch of her skin was caressed by a lukewarm comfort. If she had to guess on her senses alone, Zoey would have thought she'd fallen into the best bath she had ever taken in her life.

What was even waiting for her out there anyway? More opportunities to get punched in the stomach and crack her skull open on the ground of some dark and dirty pit. Lovely.

Someone called out to her again.

"Shut the fuck up."She said into the nothingness.

Her eyes slowly opened and noticed the faintest trace of teal floating above her. The color shined no greater than a strand of light peering through a keyhole. At least at first.

The harder Zoey concentrated on that source of light, the nearer it drew, growing in intensity. Through the haze, a silhouette came into view. She was young, looking haggard, and fast asleep. There was tranquility in her stillness that was only broken by the bloodstains marking her face and across her chest. Her right cheek was beyond fucked up with a sizable, ugly bruise-like she'd gotten kicked by a horse.

God. For whatever reason, Zoey was just happy in that moment to not be that lady-

The Korean girl's eyes shot open with a sharp gasp. Darkness, cement, dim lights, the smell of cheap cigarettes. Yeah, this all seemed familiar. Zoey only faintly remembered the fight. Moments came back to her slowly and in strong flashes. The more she recollected, the worse she felt the impressions left behind. The side of her face stung, her brain throbbed maddeningly inside of her skull. This must have been the closest she felt to death in a-

Was that Sin?

The brunette froze, looking into the dim glow of the eyes of her mentor. The back of her head hit the floor again. She shut her eyes, pinched her nose tight, and closed her mouth. Zoey took in no more air in a desperate attempt to kill herself before she was brutally murdered.