At the gym

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor was in a foul mood.

He decided to go down to the gym to work out some aggression. He could control the strength of his fireballs such that they wouldn't do any serious damage and was currently using random objects in the gym for target practice.

Destroying something would feel a lot better, though.

Comments

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka left Shep's room feeling less hurt but somehow more angry. Like the absence of hurt left her clearer on all the very bad things going on around here. Like the threats that Phoebe still wouldn't tell her about but she knew had to be happening.

Something to hit... That would help. She grabbed her stuff from South Attic and headed for the gym, hoping to find a sparring partner.

When she arrived, she found Bel already there. Which suited her perfectly. She stripped down to a skin-tight tank and shorts, and waited for him to stop hurling fireballs around long enough to see her.

[demonbelthazor]

The sense that someone was watching him intruded on Belthazor's tantrum. He summoned a fireball into his hand but held on to it, turning to see Beka. "You want something?" he said irritably.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Fuck off, Emodemon." Beka grinned, but there was something nasty in her tone. "I want what you want. A little action."

[demonbelthazor]

"You want action?" Belthazor said with a cold smile. "Try this on for size." He hurled the fireball at Beka.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She ducked it, rolling off to her left. "Nice. You play rough." She jerked her chin up. "Bring it."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'll bring it, bitch," he growled, clearly not in a mood to play nice. He had enough control to keep the power of his fireballs low. They'd sting like hell and pack some concussive force, but they wouldn't kill. He threw another at Beka.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

That one came closer than the first, sizzling past her ribs as she twisted away. The heat from the fire burned not a little. "Oh, hurt my feelings, why don't you?" She stepped in, closer, making herself more of a threat.

[demonbelthazor]

"What part of fuck off and leave me alone don't you understand?" Belthazor snarled. He conjured another fireball and took careful aim, then threw it toward her left side.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka threw herself right, but not quite fast enough. The fireball knocked her back a few feet. Stung like hell, too. She rolled to her feet, gritting her teeth at the burn. One deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, with her back to him.

"The part where you want something to hit because you can't protect Phoebe," she said clearly, over her shoulder, then turned to face him again. "Cole."

[demonbelthazor]

"I told you," Belthazor said through gritted teeth, "not to call me that!" He hurled three fireballs in rapid succession, but anger threw his aim off. "This has nothing to do with her!" Like hell he'd admit it was Phoebe affecting him so much.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Right." Beka danced away from the fireballs easily. "That's why you couldn't hit me with your fist right now."

[demonbelthazor]

"Don't tempt me," Belthazor snapped. He conjured another fireball but held it, stalking after Beka.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Why, you don't hit girls?" She smirked, pacing him carefully to keep the distance between them. "Or maybe that's not the kind of temptation we're talking about."

[demonbelthazor]

For a moment her comment flustered him. He recovered and sneered, "What makes you think you're my type?"

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She spread her hands and smiled, the picture of innocence. "You let your emotions put you on a leash pot? this is kettle. you're black. I'm just offering to help."

[demonbelthazor]

"What makes you think I need help?" he growled, circling her. "I am not on a leash. I can do whatever I want."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"We've already established that you need my help." Beka stood her ground. "Now we're just negotiating how you get it."

If your soulmate wasn't my very good friend, we'd be having a very different conversation.

[demonbelthazor]

"We haven't established anything," Belthazor said. "Just what kind of help do you think I need?"

Most definitely. Feel the UST!

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka rolled her eyes. "Short memory come with that angst? You came to me for help with Phoebe."

Her hand flashed out, quickly, aiming past his jaw, not intending to hit him, but to drive him back a step. "Just one more variation on the theme: a target that won't cry foul if you singe it."

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor ducked the punch and took a step back. "Yeah, and she's still living off campus and hiding and not letting me protect her," he said bitterly. He winced upon letting the words out, then tried to cover the reaction by throwing a fireball toward Beka's head.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka ducked the fireball, smiling grimly. "She's been avoiding talking to me, too. What don't I know that I should?" Back on common ground, she felt secure enough to swing at him for real, and struck out for his ribs.

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor grunted as she connected with his ribs. "Don't ask me," he said. "All I know is that she feels safer hiding in her room than with me. How am I supposed to take that?" He gave up with the fireballs and took a swing at Beka's torso.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka let the punch land, so that she could strike out with her other hand. A quick feint toward his face followed by an uppercut toward his chest with from the side he'd just hit. Slightly winded, she pushed out: "Maybe like she doesn't want you to be in danger, jackass. Is that what the black flowers are about?"

[demonbelthazor]

"So hiding from me puts me in less danger?" he said, scowling as he twisted to avoid her blows. "Besides, it didn't say for sure it was me. And I can take care of myself." He went low and tried to sweep her legs out from under her.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka sidestepped, but the sweep caught her in the thigh. Would leave a hell of a bruise, but left her standing. She's not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing... "In a word? Yes. If you're not around, you can't get hurt." Beka understands this logic perfectly. She's used it herself. "Not saying you should go along with it."

She put up her hand, signalling a stop for a minute. "What do you mean, they didn't say it was you?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Can't be hurt. Right," he said tightly.

He stopped short when Beka put up her hand. "The flowers said a 'him' would get hurt if she didn't move back to the dorms," he said. "If it's me they got another thing coming."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Can't be hurt. Right," he said tightly.

He stopped short when Beka put up her hand. "The flowers said a 'him' would get hurt if she didn't move back to the dorms," he said. "If it's me they got another thing coming."

"Can't be physically hurt," Beka acknowledged. "Someone wants her back in the dorms. Bad enough to threaten someone else she cares about. And you want her to do what they want? That's like... painting a target on her back." She shook her head.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Moved us over here. (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhighdorms/186883.html?thread=6772739#t6772739)

[demonbelthazor]

"What am I supposed to do, sit here while she cowers?" Belthazor snapped. "That's not my way."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Not mine either. Still. It's got to be her choice. Or she'll resent you for it." She jerked her chin at him. "You done with the fighting? Or still need something to fling fireballs at?"

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor made a noise of frustration and threw another fireball across the room. He slumped wearily against the wall and slide down it, looking up at Beka. "What the hell am I supposed to do then?" he asked.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka settled against the wall beside him, knees drawn up to her chest. "Trust her? Respect her? Tell her you love her and kill anyone that hurts her?"

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He light one with a small fireball, then offered the pack to Beka.

"She knows that," he said, taking a drag off the cigarette and exhaling slowly. "But that doesn't help, you know, just sitting here and waiting."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." She took the pack, shook out a smoke efficiently. "I know. Waiting for the bad thing to happen like the Dean bitching you out and kicking you off Student Council or having sex with whatever guy stole your DNA and took it back in time to make the race that kills your people, especially when you don't know what it is, sucks. Hard." With a very sympathetic look, she says, "But there's nothing else you can do... Light?"

[demonbelthazor]

He held out the fireball to her so she could light her cigarette. Closing his hand to extinguish it, he was silent for a long moment, then muttered, "Being human sucks."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka took a long drag of the cigarette before meeting his gaze. She released the smoke in a steady stream over her tongue. "Yeah. It does." She pursed her lips, then smiled. "Next time you get in a bad mood? Call. I could use the practice."

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor couldn't help but grin at Beka. "I'll keep that in mind."