METROCITY
Superheroine Battle Arena: Locker Room A
“What the hell was that about, Steroid Smurf??” Tamara shoved a finger in Invincibelle’s face. Her other hand was cocked back in a fist, quivering with nervous energy.
Lucky Star immediately grabbed Tamara trying to pull her away from the massive woman. “Don’t ye dare throw a punch outside the ring, Tamara!”
Invincibelle held up her hands in a surrender posture, “Look, I…” She wanted to apologize but was suddenly tongue-tied. Invincibelle gave them both a pretty severe beating. Lucky was slightly limping and Tamara was favoring her ribs on one side. Lucky Star also didn’t seem strong enough to hold back Tamara.
“You what? Got caught up in the heat of battle? Like hurting smaller people? Got some kind of bully quota you need to fill?” Tamara’s voice escalated with each accusation and Lucky Star’s knee actually buckled slightly trying to restrain her. Eva noticed this and was struck by a sudden wave of guilt.
“Tamara, I’m asking ye as a friend…” Lucky pleaded as she wrapped around the angry young woman trying to restrain the one arm that threatened to punch. Invincibelle wasn’t afraid of the punch. She wasn’t even slightly hurt after their brawl, her force field made her impervious to almost anything these two could dish out. She was more afraid of what would happen to Tamara if she started a fight.
“Look, I’m sorry…” Belle stammered. She bowed down slightly to look her in the eye. Tamara may have interpreted that as being talked down to, because she got even angrier. When it finally looked as if that punch was imminent, Lucky Star shifted her weight, threw Tamara over her hip and placed her in an arm bar.
“Now I’m ordering ye as yuir coach. Stand down.”
“Ow! The hell, Siobhan??”
“One, ye need to leave that anger in the ring. I get it, ye were protectin’ me, but the fight is over. Ye’re not protecting me anymore, now ye’re just lookin’ fer payback. And ye are better than that.” Tamara stopped struggling and both she and Invincibelle exhaled for what seemed like the first time in quite a while. “Second, the whole ‘angry, black woman thing ye’re doing right now? That’s Blackmare’s schtick and ye really don’t want to be on her bad side.”
Tamara calmed down and actually gave an exasperated smile. “I’m good, Lucky. You can let me go.”
“Let you go? I don’t think so, padawan. Yuir in training, ye should be able to get out of this on yuir own. Invincibelle, be a doll and tickle her will ye?”
“Uh, what?” Belle stood there dumbfounded for a second. Just then a SparBot appeared in the doorway with a clumsy clanging noise. Its mechanical voice droned out “Out-of-ring violence detected in Locker Room A. Warning: Participating in a super battle outside the confines of…”
“Shut it, ye daft toaster! This isn’t a fight, we’re having a make out session.” Lucky released Tamara and they rolled to their feet. “Yuir welcome to watch if ye like, I’m sure ye can record the session and play it back for Doc Sanji, later.” The SparBot stood there expressionless for a moment, then stood at attention at the side of the locker room door to monitor the situation.
Tamara looked at Invincibelle. “Good match, Blue.”
Invincibelle looked sheepishly back at her, “Good match.”
“Hit the showers, Tamara.” Siobhan said and Tamara headed deeper into the locker room, tenderly nursing her side. Once she was out of sight, Lucky leaned heavily against a locker, allowing herself to look as hurt as she was. Belle reached out to offer her a hand, but Lucky Star waved her off.
“I’m not sure what yuir game is, Big Blue. That wasn’t a match, that was a fight. Ye were trying to hurt us.”
“No, I just didn’t think I… That you…”
“What? That ye were so strong and we were so frail? Stay away from me protegee.” Lucky Star limped past her towards the exit. “And you!” she yelled, tapping her finger on the SparBot’s chest. I’ll take care of ye later.”
The SparBot looked at her impassively.
Invincibelle, alone in the locker room with the robot sat on a bench and sighed heavily. “This is going to be harder than I thought…”