down but not out

If she complained, she knew he would remind her it had been her idea. But she had seen this going so much differently. In her version, she had been handing him the ass-whooping he deserved after months of taunts, sass, and mooching off her. In her version she wasn't face down in the dirt in an abandoned lot like a scene from an action movie. In her version she didn't look like she was the one about to be buried in that lot. But this wasn't her version. This must be the part of the story where the hero gets their licks and then comes back stronger. She pushed herself up on her palms and wondered when the stronger part would kick in.

A boot appeared in her vision, then its twin, scuffing dirt at her roughly. She thought about spitting on it and lifted her head to meet the owner's gaze. She didn't quite make it before a hand snatched at her hair and yanked her up roughly. Rowan lashed out, swinging a wild punch that elicited a laugh and caused the hand to release her suddenly. Back on her knees she went.

"Did you know," Came the dark voice from above, "that I had always known your line would end. That the deal would be met. I learned patience and never doubted your predecessors would feed me one day." The voice moved, and she tracked the boots kicking more rocks and edging ever closer to the glow of her sword that was so nearly out of reach. "And then you summoned me and I worried just a little that my freedom would not come as easy." He kicked the sword further from her and its glow dimmed. "It seems I should not have doubted. And frankly, Black, I'm disappointed."

Rowan wasn't sure how he knew exactly what to say, she didn't like to give him too much thought like that. But he did. He was exquisitely suited to be her enemy. Her rival. And most unfortunately, her partner. She grit her teeth and held back the impulsive 'fuck you' he was looking for, meeting his laughing eyes instead. She noted he was bleeding just as she was, but even that was disappointing since his wounds only mirrored hers. "When I get up, Fido, you're never going to doubt me again." A hand on her knee as she found her feet, driven by will and a spite she knew he fed.

His eyes lit with something she didn't care for, it looked like pride but he always had that. He opened his arms, "Promises, promises."