Re: Unburdened with Doubt [for Ducky]
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2025 5:20 pm
Charlie watched the impact through the gaps between her fingers, her heart hammering against her ribs. She wanted to believe in Bobbie - Bobbie, who was loud and strong and could chug a beer faster than anyone Charlie knew - but physics was a cruel mistress. When Bobbie’s shoulder collided with Adonis’s leg, it didn’t look like a tackle. It looked like someone trying to move a concrete block with a Hot Wheels car instead of a real truck.
“He didn’t move,” Charlie squeaked, her hands dropping from her face to clutch at Zelda's muscular arm instead. “Zelda, he didn’t even wobble! It’s like... like when the boxer hits Jason!” She knew what happened in that movie, even if Zelda didn't recall at the moment. Jason punched the boxer's head off of his shoulders.
Zelda didn’t pull away, though her muscles were coiled tight as steel cables under Charlie’s grip. “Bobbie’s an idiot,” Zelda hissed, though there was no real heat in it, only tension. “She is going to be flattened,” E added, her voice flat with dread as she covered her eyes again.
And then, the nightmare scenario unfolded. Charlie watched, transfixed and horrified, as the giant reached down. His hand - which seemed large enough to crush a melon - engulfed Bobbie’s throat. The way he lifted her... it wasn't even a struggle. It was effortless. It was terrifying. It was awe-inspiring. Charlie felt a weird, confusing jolt in her stomach seeing that kind of raw power on display, seeing her strong friend handled like a ragdoll.
“Bobbie! Kick him!” Charlie shrieked, though she knew it was useless - Bobbie's leg could only reach his gut, and that didn't do any damage. Adonis held Bobbie up there in the rafters, letting them all look, letting them see just how small she was in his grip. And then, gravity and muscle combined. He swung her down.
The sound of Bobbie hitting the canvas was louder than anything Charlie had heard in training. Dust motes danced in the air from the impact. Charlie winced so hard her eyes squeezed shut, her shoulders hunching up to her ears.
“Oh God... is she dead? She’s dead, isn’t she?” Charlie whispered, peeking one blue eye open to see if Bobbie was just a stain on the mat now. She looked... intact.
Unmoving, but intact.
“He didn’t move,” Charlie squeaked, her hands dropping from her face to clutch at Zelda's muscular arm instead. “Zelda, he didn’t even wobble! It’s like... like when the boxer hits Jason!” She knew what happened in that movie, even if Zelda didn't recall at the moment. Jason punched the boxer's head off of his shoulders.
Zelda didn’t pull away, though her muscles were coiled tight as steel cables under Charlie’s grip. “Bobbie’s an idiot,” Zelda hissed, though there was no real heat in it, only tension. “She is going to be flattened,” E added, her voice flat with dread as she covered her eyes again.
And then, the nightmare scenario unfolded. Charlie watched, transfixed and horrified, as the giant reached down. His hand - which seemed large enough to crush a melon - engulfed Bobbie’s throat. The way he lifted her... it wasn't even a struggle. It was effortless. It was terrifying. It was awe-inspiring. Charlie felt a weird, confusing jolt in her stomach seeing that kind of raw power on display, seeing her strong friend handled like a ragdoll.
“Bobbie! Kick him!” Charlie shrieked, though she knew it was useless - Bobbie's leg could only reach his gut, and that didn't do any damage. Adonis held Bobbie up there in the rafters, letting them all look, letting them see just how small she was in his grip. And then, gravity and muscle combined. He swung her down.
The sound of Bobbie hitting the canvas was louder than anything Charlie had heard in training. Dust motes danced in the air from the impact. Charlie winced so hard her eyes squeezed shut, her shoulders hunching up to her ears.
“Oh God... is she dead? She’s dead, isn’t she?” Charlie whispered, peeking one blue eye open to see if Bobbie was just a stain on the mat now. She looked... intact.
Unmoving, but intact.