Tempering Steele with Hellfire - Nova Steele VS Ashley Morgan

[Afterhoursclub]

Ashley's breath brushed the back of Nova's head. The closeness of their embrace was almost intimate, yet it was far from loving—Ashley pressed harder, her legs clamping with crushing force around the pinkette's torso, her arms wrapped in a punishing hold around the heroine's throat. Only her chin, tucked in at the right moment, kept Ashley from locking in an almost perfect sleeper hold.

"Hmph!" Ashley grunted, already feeling the fatigue from maintaining such a demanding maneuver. Trails of sweat ran across her skin, covering every inch of her body and mixing with Nova's. Her cheek pressed against pink locks, while crimson ones covered the other half of her face. She was gasping for air. Yet, the redhead refused to let go, even after feeling her opponent's nails digging deep into her arm and her body struggling to break free, forcing Ashley to burn even more of her remaining stamina to keep the heroine trapped.

Both wrestlers remained locked in a battle of wills: both fighting exhaustion, both trying to prevail over the other. Nova trying to survive, like prey clawing her way out of a predator's jaws, and Ashley determined to end her ongoing struggle.

Despite feeling Nova's efforts losing steam after a short while, Ashley didn't relent. Even in such a precarious situation, Nova had proven to be a dangerous foe capable of turning things around instantly if given the chance. Her still-aching back was proof of this.

However, things shifted in the redhead’s favor once her arm slipped past Nova's chin. Finally, she completed the sleeper hold. This was a moment Ashley simply couldn't afford to waste.

She increased the pressure of her choke even more, every fiber of her arm protesting the effort, but Ashley didn't care. Her grip grew ironclad, leaning back and pulling Nova to prolong the punishment...

Ashley lost track of time, her focus solely on maintaining the choke until her arms couldn't anymore. She released the hold after what felt like an eternity. Falling onto her back, she drew ragged breaths. The Brit wasn’t sure if Nova was out or not; she considered attempting a pin.

"Not yet," Ashley told herself, before trying to grab a hold of the pink-haired girl’s head again. She planned to try and stand with her opponent once more. If she managed to accomplish this, Ashley would then begin her march toward one of the ring corners, dragging Nova with her.

[Parker]

Nova’s body sagged in Ashley’s arms like a marionette with its strings cut. Every pulse of the choke had drained her, every squeeze wrung her breath thinner until all that remained were shallow, ragged gasps. Her eyes fluttered, her fingers twitching against Ashley’s forearm as she tried, futilely, to pry herself free. The world around her was a haze of lights and sound, the roar of the crowd melting into white noise behind the pounding in her skull.

When the hold finally broke, Nova crumpled back into Ashley, her body spilling partially over onto the mat in a heap. The sudden flood of air felt like fire in her chest. She coughed, once, twice, curling her body as she sucked in deep, desperate breaths. Sweat slicked every inch of her skin, her pink hair clinging in damp strands to her face and shoulders. For a few fleeting seconds, she stayed there, trembling, her body glistening under the lights. When the redhead finally moved, Nova was left to slip off of her to flop onto the mat, breathing hard.

Then she felt Ashley’s hand tangle in her hair, the sharp tug snapping her head back up. A pained gasp escaped her lips as she was hauled upright, her legs wobbling, barely keeping pace as she was dragged across the ring. Nova’s hand shot up to clutch Ashley’s wrist, weakly pawing at it, but she couldn’t muster enough strength to stop her. Each step toward the corner felt like walking through mud, her lungs still burning, her vision swimming.

“Ghh… I-I’m not…” she wheezed, her voice cracked but defiant, “…done yet…”

Nova’s body swayed with every step, but as the corner loomed closer, something flickered behind her glassy eyes, a spark. The fog of exhaustion hadn’t fully lifted, but instinct… that stubborn, unkillable instinct that had carried her through worse, began to claw its way back.

Her boots dragged one step more before she suddenly planted them, the squeal of rubber against the mat sharp enough to cut through the noise. Ashley felt the resistance instantly. Nova’s arm, still trembling but alive with purpose, snaked around the redhead’s slick back and locked tight against her spine.

And then she drove forward.

With a strained cry, Nova used the last of her strength to shove forward, her legs kicking into gear as she pushed off the mat, trying to reverse their momentum and ram Ashley into the turnbuckles. It wasn’t graceful, her balance wavered, her breath hitched, but the effort was there, raw and desperate, the heroine’s body flaring with one more surge of defiance before her strength could fail her again.

[Afterhoursclub]

"Get up!" the redhead demanded. Grabbing a handful of that pink mane and pulling it carelessly. Forcefully bringing Nova back to her feet, for a moment, the Brit had to hold the pinkette with both arms just to keep her upright until she managed to find some support. Ashley proceeded to drag her opponent toward on of the corners.

The redhead was exhausted, her body feeling the fatigue of what had been one of her most demanding matches so far, being subjected to torturous holds, as well as applying some of her own. All draining her stamina, putting her endurance to the test. Moving even a single muscle had suddenly turned into a challenge of its own, a challenge to Ashley's will to succeed. And she'd be damned if she allowed herself to fail now...

Every step Ashley took shook the ring canvas, almost as if each of her boots weighed twice as much. She didn't care about the cheers of the crowd... or what the referee was yelling in her direction; it all became meaningless noise in the back of her head. Ashley's gaze was fixed on the ring post. And reaching it became her only goal. The redhead was already planning her next course of action when suddenly she sensed some resistance coming from the arm that was dragging Nova.

She heard the loud thudding of her opponent's boots planting on the ring mat and then some words coming out of her mouth. Nonsensical muttering from someone who refuses to accept defeat, Ashley thought, giving it no importance. "Yes..." Ashley responded, "Yes, you are..."

However, a shocked expression found its way to Ashley's features once Nova's hand suddenly pressed against her back. "What?!" And then, she was pushed...

Pushed with strength that Nova shouldn't have had at that moment; pushed with strength that Ashley was sure to have strangled out of her opponent. Yet the heroine still managed to muster.

Ashley was shoved forward, and her wishes of reaching the corner were granted in the most violent way possible. Too spent and surprised to react on time, her chest slammed hard against the top turnbuckle, the whole structure trembling with the impact.

"Argh!" a pained cry left the Brit's lips. Ashley remained in place, leaning against the corner. Her head was low and above the turnbuckle with her arms hanging from the top rope at both sides. Trying to catch her breath back.

[Parker]

For a few long seconds, Nova barely breathed. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, the weight of the match pressing down on her like gravity itself. Her vision pulsed in time with her heartbeat, lights blurring into streaks of gold and red. Ashley had dragged her halfway across hell and back, and yet… they both were still here.

Barely.

Nova’s legs trembled as she pushed herself up, a hand planted on Ashley’s back for balance. The crowd’s noise was there, distant, muffled, like it was happening in another world. All she could focus on was the sight in front of her: The redhead, slumped against the corner, breath heaving, arms draped over the ropes.

Her fingers clenched.

"Today, you fall," Nova muttered under her breath. The words were more a growl than speech, defiance given shape. She staggered forward on unsteady feet, one labored step at a time. Her right fist drew back, shaking from fatigue but heavy with every ounce of will she had left. Then she let it fly.

THUD

The sound cracked across the arena, a deep, body-shot haymaker that would slam into Ashley’s side, bury it into her body. Nova didn’t give her a second, couldn’t afford to linger even as the air burned in her lungs. She lunged, shoulder-first, driving into Ashley’s back. The hit wasn’t clean, wasn’t pretty, but it carried all the stubborn fire still burning in her chest. She has worked this woman’s spine the whole match, not it was time to cash in all of her work.

Her arms moved on instinct. One hand latched to Ashley’s shoulder, the other gripping her thigh. It was a familiar motion, one she’d employed tonight no less than twice. Only this time but there was no posing, no smirk for the crowd this time. Just grit. With a sharp exhale, Nova bent her knees, feeling her body scream in protest as she forced herself upright. Ashley rose with her, dead weight, but Nova carried her anyway, shifting her balance to brace the woman across her shoulders.

The arena seemed to hold its breath.

Nova steadied her footing, her jaw set tight. Her showmanship traded out in this raw, feral moment as she let out a primal scream. She leapt away from the corner, twisting hard in one fluid motion, gravity snapping down around them both as she swung Ashley down towards the canvas, looking to spike her into the ring with a burning hammer!

[Afterhoursclub]

"Gahh...

...Fuck"

Her vision was blurry, her entire body burning as if it had been ignited with fire. Only the ropes kept her upright, leaning on the turnbuckle to maintain her balance. Her chest was pulsating, and a sharp pain ran through her entire midsection. The impact had been sudden, unexpected... and hard.

Out of nowhere, Nova had mustered enough strength to push her violently against the corner, the Brit slamming thunderously against it. Now, she lay there, clinging to consciousness... battling against pain, fatigue, and exhaustion. Her only consolation was her opponent being in a similar state... or at least, that's what she hoped.

Then, it came...

"Arghh!" A fist rammed right onto her side, instantly sending waves of pain across her body. Grinding her teeth, Ashley gripped the ropes tighter. Feeling her legs buckling right under her weight, but refusing to let herself fall. Breathing became a challenge of its own. Heck!- staying awake became just as difficult.

Then, the slam... Nova's figure charged Ashley, crushing her in the corner with a swift, violent movement. What little air she had left was forcefully expelled from her lungs. Ashley arched her back, pressed hard against the metal, and immediately afterward, the redhead collapsed onto the ropes again. Eyes wide open, but no thought behind her gaze.

Through glassy eyes, the redhead saw the world shifting around her, a hand grabbing her shoulder, another one pulling her thigh, and suddenly, she was hoisted up in an all too familiar position. Back over Nova's shoulders, the Pinkette was looking to hit Ashley with another punishing slam. Something that would be disastrous for the Brit, given her current state.

Ashley extended her arm and then pulled it back rapidly, slamming her elbow onto Nova's cheek, a desperate move filled with rage and hatred toward her opponent. She had to do something, drawing all her remaining strength and energy. She couldn't afford to fall prey to such a move. Ashley lifted her arm again, crashing her elbow on her opponent once more. If she couldn't free herself, she had to at least try to resist... try to hinder Nova's movements

[Parker]

Nova’s boots planted firmly, her knees bent, muscles straining as she shifted Ashley’s weight higher onto her shoulders. The crowd roared, sensing the tension and understanding that any big move could be the end of this entire bout.

“This is it...” she hissed between heavy breaths, her voice trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline alike. Her arms flexed, one hand gripping Ashley’s thigh, the other steadying her neck, the pinkette’s weight pressing down like gravity with a sense of inevitability. Every vein stood out in her arms as she drew in a breath and prepared to pivot.

But before she could twist-

CRACK!

Pain bloomed white-hot across her cheek. The first elbow landed square, snapping her head to the side. Nova stumbled, her balance wavered, the world briefly flashing white behind her eyes. Still, she grit her teeth, jaw set tight.

“Nngh... stubborn to the last...”

Then came the second strike, harder, more desperate, driven by pure will.

It caught her flush again, just beneath the eye, and the force sent a jolt down her spine. The burning hammer, the exclamation mark to her comeback, evaporated in an instant. A low growl left her throat as she rolled her shoulders, breaking the hold with a sudden, violent shrug. Throwing her arm up to dump Ashley’s body backward through the air before crashing to the mat behind her.

Nova staggered forward two steps before catching herself on the ropes. The top rope rattled under her grip as she leaned into it, chest heaving. One hand pressed against her temple, the other gripping tight enough to make the rope creak. Sweat traced down her cheek, stinging where the impact had landed.

[Afterhoursclub]

"Graah..." Ashley gasped, trapped again in an all-too-familiar position. Chest heaving, limbs dangling at her sides, she felt Nova's first grasp on her neck and thigh. Her face was red, a product of exhaustion, fatigue, and the tremendous effort expended during the fight. Her skin, covered in bruises and a thick layer of sweat, glistened under the lights, hoisted over the pinkette's shoulders. She sensed her opponent's movements, carrying her across the ring.

The redhead was exhausted, fighting her urge to lie down and let things be, but even so, the Brit refused to give up, for as long as she remained conscious enough to form a fist with her hand, she would keep fighting.

"Damn it..." Ashley cursed at her rival, her back bent, trapped in Nova's hold. She couldn't let herself fall now, couldn't allow herself to be the target of another heavy blow; she was a tank, capable of withstanding a lot of punishment, but She was very aware that she was reaching her limit.

The Brit extended one arm and drove her elbow violently onto Nova's cheek. She felt her rival faltering, but refusing to let go. Ashley gritted her teeth, filled with anger and stubbornness, she rammed her elbow once again on the heroine's cheeks, finally causing enough damage to free herself, with Nova releasing her abruptly. Ashley fell sideways on the mat, the impact rattled her a bit, but she was going to survive, for now at least ...

The pink haired gal walked to the ropes, trying to find some balance while soothing her pained cheek, meanwhile Ashley pushed herself up to one knee, one hand on the mat for support, drawing short breaths with her gaze fixed on her opponent.

Ashley staggered to get back on her feet, her eyes burning with intent, ignoring the strain and the pain. She marched slowly toward Nova, and as soon as she was close enough, she fired a hefty punch to her lower back, returning the favor from earlier.

If this one landed, Ashley hoped it would be enough to make Nova loosen her grip on the top rope. Giving her the chance to wrap one arm around her head, and drop her down onto the mat with a thunderous DDT.

[Parker]

Nova’s fingers dug into the top rope, knuckles white against the coarse material as she steadied herself. Her lungs burned. Each breath came sharp and shallow, the kind that rattled her chest and made her ribs ache. Sweat slicked her skin, making her grip slippery as she leaned forward, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. The lights above seemed hotter now, harsher, casting both women in a feverish glow that made every sheen of exertion stand out.

Ashley’s elbows had cracked her good. The first one had stunned her; the second rattled her skull enough that stars bloomed across her vision. She blinked them away, jaw clenched, trying to refocus as she turned her head just slightly, catching sight of her opponent out of the corner of her eye. The Brit was already climbing back to her feet, stubborn as ever, dragging herself up like some indestructible machine that refused to stay down. Nova couldn’t help but respect that, even if she wanted to drive her back into the mat all over again.

Her shoulder throbbed. Her cheek felt like it had been kissed by a freight train. And still… a grin tugged at the corner of her lips. This, this was why she wrestled. The struggle, the grind, the razor’s edge between victory and collapse. These women were both juggernauts going blow for blow. What could be more entertaining?

Ashley’s approach was slower now but deliberate. Nova’s instincts flared, body tightening in preparation, but she was half a beat too late. The redhead’s fist slammed into her lower back, a deep, thudding impact that made her spine jolt and her knees buckle.

“Erh!” Nova hissed, arching slightly from the blow. The ropes kept her upright, barely, but she could feel the vibration of that strike echo through her body. Ashley wasn’t done, she could feel her closing in behind her.

Nova turned on instinct, one arm shooting back to catch the next grab, but Ashley was already there, wrapping an arm around her head. The heroine’s eyes widened, she knew what was coming, and she braced, planting her boots against the mat, fighting the pull. The two women struggled, muscles straining, bodies slick with sweat as they fought for control.

Nova’s fingers clawed for Ashley’s arm, nails scraping her skin as she tried to block the DDT setup. Her breath came in ragged bursts, the roar of the crowd dimming behind the pounding in her ears.

“N-not if I can help it,” Nova managed to grit out, her voice low, raw, in exhausted defiance. Then, twisting her hips, kicking a leg between them, trying desperately to hook it behind Ashley’s leg to keep them locked upright together. It was desperation, instinct, and pride all tangled together,two warriors burning through the last of their energy, knowing full well that whoever hit the mat next might just stay there for good. She risked her grip, trying to throw a forearm into Ashley’s side to buy her space to wriggle free. If that wasn't enough though, the redhead would be able to overpower her and take her to the mat with the DDT

The crowd’s noise built to a fever pitch, torn between cheers and gasps, the tension stretched to its limit as Nova fought the gravity pulling her down, her whole body trembling against Ashley’s iron grip. Either one could fall. Either one could win. And both of them knew it.

[Afterhoursclub]

Both girls were running on fumes at this point, burning the last of their stamina while locked together in an endurance contest. They had put each other through hell, and each had managed to escape, pushing themselves past their limits, driven by the sole purpose of besting their foe. Yet, their bodies evidenced the strain and the tear of the prolonged effort: Bruises running down their skin, wet strands of hair falling before their burning eyes, and labored breathing as they displayed unnatural fortitude to remain standing where many others would have collapsed. The crowd recognized their efforts, even as the inevitable sense of the end drawing near took hold of those present.

The Red Menace walked slowly, but surely- Eyes fixed on the pink-haired gal clinging to the ropes. A visible limp, a product of her hurting back, and drawing short breaths while eagerly waiting to get close to her opponent. A swift punch to the lower back saw the heroine gal twisting, leaving the ropes and getting into the desired position. Ashley coiled her thick arm around the girl's neck, preparing to drop her opponent hard onto the mat, a punishing DDT- A cruel maneuver that sought to turn the scales in her favor.

She held Nova tightly, keeping her tucked under her arm, feeling the girl's ragged breath against her skin, her body heat mixing with her own, the struggle to break free fighting against Ashley's firm grasp. And then, the pinkette's murmured words... refusing to fall, refusing to accept her fate, tussling with the redhead with everything she had left. Ashley raised an eyebrow, part in astonishment, and part pure frustration...

Ashley's eye began to twitch, her pulse raced... she had to drop her now...

Just as Ashley prepared to fall and drag Nova with her, a hard forearm came, smacking the side of her hurting torso with enough force and in just the precise moment to force Ashley to release the hold.

"Gahh... No!" Ashley shouted in frustration, holding her gut with both hands, a few steps away from Nova. At that moment, her gaze was glued on her opponent. Her blood boiling:

"What would it take? How long would she continue to resist?

"Why... won't you... fall?!"

A million questions swarmed Ashley's mind, looking daggers at Nova. The Brit peeled her teeth like a wild animal, moving on pure savage instinct, right next to her cursed adversary.

"Fuck YOU!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

The redhead raised one foot and attempted to slam the heel of her boot straight onto the heroine's face, a maneuver born out of the pure hatred she was feeling in that moment, with her leg carrying enough force and momentum to force Ashley to cling to the ropes for support right after.

[Parker]

The air between them felt molten, thick with sweat, pain, and stubborn refusal to break. Nova clung to Ashley in that clinch like a woman trying to anchor herself to the earth, arms wrapped, knuckles white as her finger clamped down, breaths trembling, legs quivering but still planted. The world swayed around her like a ship in a storm, vision blurring at the edges, but she forced her trembling forearms to hold, gathering whatever scraps of strength still lived somewhere deep in her chest.

She could feel Ashley’s heartbeat, fast, jagged, furious, matching her own pounding pulse. The heat of their bodies mixed, sweat rolling between their contact points. Two warriors, glamorous even in ruin, hair sticking to faces, mascara smudged, muscles slick and trembling. Beauty in absolute collapse. Heroine and rival, both carved from exhaustion and fire.

Nova tried to draw breath, a shallow, desperate gasp that rattled in her ribs. Come on… one more… just one more… She aimed to shift, to pull Ashley into some miracle counter, fingers twitching like she could will her body to obey-

Ashley tore free.

The loss of contact ripped Nova off balance. Her knees buckled slightly, posture slackening as she staggered, head dipping with a dizzy sway like she might blackout right there. Rosy hair clung to her jaw, chest heaving, eyes barely focusing as she tried to pull her guard back up too slow, too late-

CRACK.

Ashley’s boot struck flush. A violent, echoing collision, leather and rubber to cheekbone, heel to pride. Nova’s head snapped sideways, sweat spraying off in a fine mist beneath the lights. Time collapsed into sensation: a white-hot flash behind her eyes, her jaw slackening, arms falling limp from guard to dead-hanging at her sides.

Her body folded before gravity even claimed her, legs buckling as if her bones momentarily forgot their purpose. She dropped, not theatrically but heavily, shoulders hitting the mat first, then hips following with a dull thud. The ring bounced, ropes shivering from the weight of her fall.

For one agonizing moment, she didn’t move. Flat on her back, chest rising shallow, hair fanned like a broken halo. Her mouth hung open slightly, trying to drag air into lungs that burned like they were filled with flame instead of oxygen.

And yet…

A faint spark flickered in her half-lidded eyes. A single twitch of her fingers against the canvas. The tiniest defiant gasp, barely audible but rich with meaning, a vow hanging on breath. Her icy blue eyes stared up at Ashley, even in absolute ruin there seemed to be a promise behind them that if she didn't end things now, Nova would find her way back up and they would have to do this all again.