Page 51 of Alexis

“The floor is softer now,” she warned him. “Oberon adjusted the space into a ring for you.”

Tiago lifted his blindfold to look around.

“Nice,” he said appreciatively.

“I’m glad you approve,” Oberon said.

The areas outside the ring were beginning to populate now as well. Alexis’s bag, which had been stowed in the wings, was now sitting on a stool just outside the ring. A gym was cropping up behind that, with weights, bags, and pads.

“I have an idea,” she said, sliding between the ropes to hop down to the floor.

“Careful, it’s still coming together,” Tiago said.

She waited until the area she was heading for seemed to be completed, then jogged over and retrieved a pad.

“I don’t know about that, Alexis,” he said. “You’re pretty tiny.”

“I might be small, but I’m stronger than you would think,” she told him with a wink. “Let’s see if you can hit the pad with that kick.”

She climbed back up and stood with her feet apart, ready.

He approached and spun then kicked the pad perfectly.

She could tell he was holding back, but it still would have been enough to knock most people off their feet even through the pad.

“Damn, your balance is incredible,” he told her.

“Let’s do it again,” she said. “But, Oberon, this time can you darken the space and have some flashing lights? Like in a real fight?”

The lights dimmed immediately and then there were flashes like camera drones going off, and even the sound of a screaming crowd.

“Wow, thatisdisorienting,” she said.

“Now imagine there’s a giant guy trying to knock my head into the next system, too,” he chuckled.

“Not like choreography,” she said, shaking her head. “Okay, let’s do it again.”

She braced herself, truly ready this time.

He delivered the kick again.

She began moving around the ring, allowing him to take the kick at different angles.

“This is starting to feel more natural,” he told her, his eyes dancing.

“Then we’re switching to hard mode,” she said. “Blindfold down.”

“What?” he asked.

“Put the scarf back over your eyes,” she told him. “We’re doing this for real.”

“Alexis, this has been great,” he said. “And I’m getting way more comfortable, but I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because if I miss, I’ll hit you,” he said.

“Then you’d better not miss,” she said, lifting one eyebrow. “Blindfold down.”

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