[Training] Breaking skin

Sah wasn't the only one struggling to find a partner he could really let loose with. Tal had several people he could usually bother for a spar - Maea and Hotaru among the most reliable - but he was usually holding back with them. With the Wild Thunder he only had to hold back a little and that was only because they were both trying to avoid really hurting each other.

This little brawl was a good chance to let off his steam with Ludo and just give himself over to the raw physicality of the friendly fight.

Even if it meant that he was out of practice with Sah's tricks.

Tal swore good-naturedly as Sah anticipated the punch and caught it, but then he had the breath knocked out of him as he was pulled down into a knee. At least it wasn't the same place on his ribs that had been hit before, but he still wheezed as he folded over the leg.

And stayed there, grabbing for his frenemy's other knee and yanking while he put his shoulder into Sah's stomach in an attempt to knock Sah to the ground and land on him.

Sah

Tal's attempt to grab his knee fell short, and the courier lost the opportunity to gain the leverage needed to shove Sah down. Still, the Abandoned caught on to the man's plan, and more or less played along. With one hand still grabbing Tal's fist, he dodged the courier's shoulder and instead ducked down of his own volition. Bending a knee, he shoved his opponent to the ground.

Following Tal down, Sah used his weight to pin the courier down. The outstretched hand that had delivered the shove landed on Tal's sternum while the Abandoned kept his other hand around the man's fist. From where he crouched on one knee above, Sah laughed, slightly out of breath. "Yield?" He sure as fuck hoped so. His own bruises were already aching.

I think therefore I am,
But what if all I do is bleed?

It was an awkward ass attempt to tip Sah over, Tal had to admit, and it wasn't made easier by having the breath knocked out of him by that knee. So it wasn't exactly a surprise when it failed, though he did yelp as he was shoved down instead. The Wild Thunder landed on top of him as he rolled onto his back, but at least it gave him a chance to get his breath back, because he had three little words for his frenemy:

"Go fuck yourself," Tal growled, but he was laughing as he said it. And there was a wicked gleam in his eyes as he activated his Ring to heal himself. The bruises soothed away between one heartbeat and the next, and even though he was the one pinned down instead of vice versa the courier had a shit-eating smirk on his face. "Forgot t'mention it at th'beginnin', but winner gets t'do th'dishes tonight," he announced with relish. "Right, Lily?" he called, enlisting the wolf's aid and knowing full well that she'd enjoy helping Boreal clean the plates before they made it to the sink for Sah to scrub!

Sah

Sah rolled his eyes, "No thanks. I don't like an audience." Seeing Tal heal himself with his ring, the Wild Thunder activated his own healing magic and smirked as his own bruises vanished. Did the idiot forget that he'd literally healed him earlier?

Tal looked for Lilly's support, which was easily given with a wag and yip of agreement. Meanwhile, the Abandoned blinked before ducking his head, laughing. Leaning back on his heels, he rolled to his feet and held a handout to help the courier up, "You know dishes are ridiculously easy when you have magic." Using telekinesis to hold them all, he could wash, scrub, and rinse them with water magic before drying them with air magic. It cut the chore time down to just a few minutes at most.

I think therefore I am,
But what if all I do is bleed?

Tal just snorted and didn't try to interfere while Sah healed himself. Even with the Mageglass to boost it, the courier had felt just how shaky his friend's healing magic still was. It was still a welcome addition, but he'd stick with his Mastered version for the time being!

But his grin only widened at Lily's confirmation of the 'stakes' of their little spar, and he grabbed Sah's hand to pull himself to his feet, clapping the hunter on the shoulder - more gently this time - and releasing him to start heading back towards Meadowreach. "Yup. It's why I let you win," he informed the Wild Thunder smugly.

The boys bantered and teased each other all the way back to the cozy home on the hill and its warm and welcoming kitchen, where a delicious dinner would be served before Sah would need to head back to Halo.

But it would be the last time he saw Tal and Alys there for quite some time to come.

~fin~