Keep Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' (for Letta)

[CyanDimitrik]

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Bandita rotates quietly to face Laxia. And then emits a soft gasp when she's suddenly tugged, finding herself drawn into an embrace. It takes a couple seconds for her to process what was happening and to allow herself to settle again, but that she opts to do doesn't involve her arms at all. It involves her cheek. Her head tilting, lowering, and bringing her cheek to nestle into Laxia's shoulder. Her eyes shut, letting herself live solely in the moment.

Her, the awkward wallflower, the girl people overlook, has a princess hugging her like she's the only thing that matters in this moment.

When she feels the arms loosen again, she lifts her head to look back at her. "I don't know if anyone ever is really prepared for something like 'dat," she admits quietly, sullenly. "So I do my best to make sure mi familia knows I love them. Mi abuela, mi hermanos... I don't want'em to ever not know." She pauses in a wince. "Our parents died supporting me. In a car accident on 'de way to see me fight. So.. 'de fact that they don't just... resent me for it, and will change 'deir whole lives just to let me stay in 'de ring..."

She shakes her head. "My heart's full. I have 'dem, and I have wrestling, and I have you. See why I said what I did earlier? About- feeling like I kind'a already have everything?"

Finally, her hands move again. They sneak along beneath the table's level to set lightly upon Laxia's lap. Not for scandalous purpose, but just to make a point of contact. Her smile softens and she turns her head, giving Laxia a more relaxed, playful side-eye. "I don't feel 'dat way with other people when I wrestle. I'm always thinking about what's on 'de line. But with you, all I could think about was 'de match. And you. 'De package deal."

[Letta]

Laxia listened quietly as Bandita spoke. Hearing how her parents had died, and just how much responsibility and pressure she had been carrying at such a young age, made Laxia understand her a little better. More than anything, she was glad Bandita could still say her heart felt full, that she already had everything she needed. When Bandita asked if she understood now, Laxia slowly nodded.

The same hands that had been so fierce and unrelenting in the ring now rested gently on Laxia’s lap. Laxia placed both of her own over them, lightly enclosing Bandita’s hands between hers. The strength in them, the faint calluses beneath her fingertips, suddenly felt more noticeable than before. “These hands have been through a lot too, haven’t they...?” She smiled faintly and gave them another gentle squeeze. “So rough in the ring, and now they’re being so well-behaved.”

Her gaze lowered for a moment. “And... I know what you mean. When I was in the ring with you, I could forget everything I’d been carrying on my shoulders for a little while.” Her eyes drifted aside as though recalling the match before returning to Bandita. “I could just focus on the match... and on you.” A small smile touched her lips. “So I guess that part was mutual.”

After a moment, Laxia’s expression grew a little more serious as she continued holding Bandita’s hands. “And if it ever gets too heavy again... tell me.” “I might not be able to fix everything, but I can at least listen.” Then, perhaps sensing the mood becoming a little too heavy again, Laxia glanced at the mountain of food spread across the table. “But for today, you’re not allowed to worry about any of that.” “Your most important responsibility right now is.. helping me finish all of this.”

Then something seemed to occur to her, and Laxia suddenly stared at Bandita again. “Still... eighteen.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked her over again, as though reassessing everything she thought she knew. “And here I was telling myself I’d only lost because you were some seasoned luchadora...” Her lips pursed slightly before curling into a playful smile. “Now I have one more reason to face you again~” This time, she leaned a little closer toward Bandita. “There are still quite a few things I never got to show you...” Her voice lowered just slightly. “And next time, I plan on spending a little more time on top~”

[CyanDimitrik]

The way Laxia touches her hands makes Bandita melt. The palm, the wrist, the digits themselves, they're all fully submitted to whatever inspection and considerations Laxia may have for them. As they're squeezed, Bandita naturally leans a little closer to her. "It's life, no?," she proffers, more quietly than before. She never considered her hands to be rough before. But she'd never actually been on the receiving end of any of her own grapples or punches. It's oddly empowering to think of herself that way.

Whatever she was about to say regarding her own burdens and sharing them gets derailed at the mention of the food. Her head turns quickly, eyes wide. "You.. really think we can get through all 'dis? 'Is quuuiiite a lot." And it would mean having to break that hand-holding contact with her! Bandita's not quite ready to stop feeling the soft, dove-like touch of Laxia's palms and fingers surrounding her yet.

Thankfully, there's another distraction! And it happens to be her age. She quickly looks back to Laxia's eyes, her own blinking in stun. A sudden fear seizes her throat. "A-.. am I.. too young for you?," she asks. "I- I thought you were kind'a my age! Like-- like maybe a year or two older!" But that doesn't seem to be what Laxia was getting at. And though the worry is leaving residual stains in her voice, there is still a bit of relief; the noble wouldn't be making these coy remarks if she weren't still attracted to her, right?

Wait, coy remarks? From Laxia again?

An impish smile spreads. "'Den let's wrestle again. I got a couple matches lined up, but I wanna tangle with you again."

To the casual observer, this would probably seem odd. They care about each other. And yet wrestling is violent, full-contact. Pain is almost guaranteed to be inflicted upon them. And they sound eager to get back in the ring on opposing sides. But for Bandita? It's a love of the sport. An acceptance that it's going to hurt. And an excitement that Laxia knows the same thing, that they have a mutual agreement to fight each other for very physical, very primal dominance. It's a thrill unlike anything else, and it's becoming their special bond.

The sparkling fire behind those hazel-greens can't be denied. She's seeking that approval from her date.

[Letta]

Bandita’s unexpectedly startled reaction to the subject of age made Laxia pause for a moment. Then she adopted a mildly offended little look.

“Wait... you’re not saying I look old, are you?” She lifted her chin slightly. “Because that would be rather rude~” Her expression softened just enough as her thumb brushed once over the back of Bandita’s hand. “And no, you’re not too young for me. Don’t make that face.” The seriousness lasted all of a second before a mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Of course we’re around the same age. There’s barely any difference...” She muttered the last part, turning her head away in a little huff. The age gap really wasn’t that large anyway.

And when Bandita suggested they meet again in the ring, that huffy little act disappeared just as quickly. “Good. I’ll be waiting.” “I still don’t really know how bookings work around here, but... I’m sure we’ll end up facing each other again soon, right?” Laxia’s gaze drifted upward, her expression brightening as if she were already imagining the next match. It would undoubtedly be intense. They would trade enough punishment to leave them aching all over, tangle and struggle until both of them were completely spent. And yet there wasn’t even a trace of hesitation on Laxia’s face.

To Laxia, it was another kind of contest. But with Bandita, somehow, it felt different. Her gaze returned to the luchadora, a playful spark settling back into her eyes. “And this time, don’t expect me to go easy on you just because I like you~”

[CyanDimitrik]

Bandita's eyes would've widened at the insinuation that she saw Laxia as old. But before she could protest, fortunately enough, the noble gave her an easier out. Whew!

"Ah--!" Bandita's eyes went wide again, deforming the eyeholes of her mask to accommodate the normally exotic, almond-shaped pools in their new, fully rounded shape. "You were going easy on me!?," she sputters. Instantly, she remembers the guilt she felt for not forcing Laxia to submit to her in that abdominal stretch. She knew she had her locked down, that that could've been the end of it. And a part of her feels like Laxia knew it, too. But she wanted her to have something better for her debut, something more exciting that the audience would remember! She just didn't want it to be seen as an insult! And she remembers the agonizing guilt she felt when she thought Laxia was offended by it in the ring.

Everything in her is tensed, her heart tangled in on itself. Should she be upset at the idea? Should she feel like a hypocrite for it? is Laxia just kidding with her? She can't tell! But everything in the teen bandit is frozen stiff, the hazel-green eyes affixed onto Laxia's face desperately seeking some clarity!

[Letta]

Bandita’s startled reaction to Laxia’s words was almost immediate. For some reason, she suddenly looked restless, her body stiff while those hazel-green eyes cautiously searched Laxia’s face for some clue as to what she really meant. Laxia held her gaze with a perfectly serious expression for a moment. Then she finally broke, letting out a laugh as she lightly bumped Bandita on the shoulder.

“Pff... what? Why are you taking that so seriously~?”

A mischievous smile spread across her face. “As if I’d been going easy on you. You should know firsthand how hard I was fighting...” Laxia let the sentence trail off before leaning slightly closer. For those next few words, her voice dropped into a slow, velvety whisper beside Bandita’s ear.

“...You *felt* it yourself, didn’t you~?”

Then she drew back as though nothing unusual had happened. “You saw how completely exhausted I was afterward, too.” Her expression softened into something more thoughtful. “Though... I suppose that wasn’t completely wrong. I did let my guard down because of how you looked.” Laxia slowly raised a hand to Bandita’s cheek, her fingertips brushing gently along it as her smile turned teasing again. “Who would ever guess someone this beautiful could be so dangerous in the ring...?”

Whether it was because of the sheer intensity of their match, or the... *some experience* that had followed afterward, any lingering suspicion Laxia might once have had that Bandita had held back against her seemed to have vanished entirely. Instead, the thought of their next match brought a competitive spark back into her eyes. “But I still have plenty of moves I never got to show you, so... you have that to look forward to~” Then she raised one finger with renewed confidence. “And I’ve figured out your tactics now...!”

[CyanDimitrik]

Bandita visibly relaxes again when she sees Laxia laugh; it's a happy sound. A comforting sound. A sound she's come to cherish in a very short amount of time, even when it's at her expense. "Okay. I was gonna say, I'll have to fight you even harder to make you take me seriously!"

Laxia leans in, and the teenager immediately freezes. Her heart hastens in her chest, the brush of her warm breath against her skin causes everything to tingle, to bring forward impulsive thoughts and memories. Things decisively less socially acceptable, but sorely tempting. And this manifests in a soft nibble over her bottom lip as her gaze flicks sidelong, looking at the nape of Laxia's neck.

"I- I felt a lot of things...," she whispers back. "A-all night.. and 'de next day.."

She saw how exhausted she was. She also saw her touching her stomach, tracing along her perfectly beautiful abdominal muscle. It was just for a second, but it was more than enough to make her mind race. To entice her. To put that extra attention on Laxia's midsection, right where it was for the majority of the match.

Her mind has wandered so far that the hand touching her cheek comes as a surprise! Her breath catches in her throat, but the words to follow cause the girl's heart to melt. "Y-you mean it..?," she asks, her voice small. "Beautiful..?"

With a heavy swallow, she musters her courage enough to make the challenge: "'Den... maybe I should find something even more striking to wear for our next match. Like.. a swimsuit. Wanna..." Swallow. "...wrestle me in a beach match? Exhibition?"

She inhales deeply and glances downwards over Laxia's woefully formless hoodie, her mind briefly entertaining the idea of how she might look in a sporty bikini. Then back up to her face. "..bikinis. You an' me. I'll show you just how much you still have to learn about my tactics..."

[Letta]

Bandita’s determined declaration that she would fight even harder next time made Laxia blink. “I already take you pretty seriously...” She muttered it under her breath at first, but then her voice sharpened with sudden resolve. Laxia looked Bandita squarely in the eyes, as though formally accepting the challenge. “But that’s exactly what I want...!”

Yet when Bandita seemed almost unable to believe the compliment about her looks, Laxia’s expression softened again. For all the confidence the luchadora carried in the ring, right now she looked much more like an insecure girl her own age, unsure what to do with such straightforward praise. “Of course.” There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation. “You’re really beautiful.” A faintly teasing look entered her eyes as she added, “If there’s anyone who still doesn’t seem to know that... I think it might just be you.”

For a moment, Laxia simply looked at her. The soft fall of her hair. The mysterious mask framing her face. Those deep hazel-green eyes behind it. Even the warmth of her voice, which Laxia had somehow come to find strangely comforting. Her gaze lingered a little longer than she intended. Meanwhile, Bandita was still talking. A beach match. An exhibition. Swimsuits. Bikinis.

...

Bandita in a bikini. “......” Laxia’s eyes widened by the slightest degree. Wait. What? Only then did Bandita’s actual proposal seem to catch up with her. Laxia blinked several times before folding her arms with a suspiciously knowing smile. “Hehe...” “A beach match...” “Bikinis...” For a second, she almost seemed to be considering it. Then she leaned slightly toward Bandita. “Absolutely not.” The answer was immediate. Her eyes dropped away for a moment as she muttered under her breath, “I mean... seeing you in a bikini certainly wouldn’t be the problem...” Her lips pursed. “But that’s completely different!” She looked back at Bandita, brows lifting with genuine protest now. “My wrestling gear is revealing enough already, and now you want me to wrestle in a bikini?!” Her arms folded even tighter. “Absolutely not!”

[CyanDimitrik]

Laxia's initial response has Bandita grinning; there's a blend of emotions behind it. Confidence. Challenge. Excitement. Even affection. There's much to enjoy in watching Laxia process the challenge, and it even dares to meet the two of them at their mutually teasing level. When the orangette leans in closer, Bandita braces for the absolute thrill of hearing this romantic interest accept...!

Absolutely not.

Bandita's expression is still frozen in that grin, but something seems broken behind it. And that thing that's been broken is the anticipation. On the inside, she's tumbling end over end as the rug has been yoinked out from under her. On the outside, she seems stunned. Shocked. Her mouth slightly open, still in smile, her eyes not quite looking at Laxia.

"Uah..!"

The more vehement refusal is weathered with the same expression. Right up until she repeats her firm refusal!

"B-but!," protests Bandita. "Think of it! 'De thrill! 'De excitement! It would be like a beach date for us! And I wanna go to 'de beach with you before it gets all cold and terrible!" The noble is presented with an omega level pout, her bottom lip poking forth, head ducked closer to her shoulders, gaze peeking up at her through her lashes.

Suddenly, she turns to face the table! Her button nose is pointed into the air, her eyes shut with an air of superiority. "Oh well! I guess it can't be helped! If you're too shy, or scared, is okay. Maybe we wrestle in parkas next, ah?"

The eyes crack open to glance aside at Laxia. Evil. Conniving. Utterly obvious in her machinations.

The eyes close again.

"I already had a match on 'de beach. It was my second bout in 'de federation! But I thought it would actually be special if I wrestled 'de girl of my dreams like that, is all! Is okay. I'll jus' have to accept 'dat 'de girl of my dreams doesn't wanna get pinned in her bikini."

So indignant!

[Letta]

Laxia’s firm refusal left Bandita looking utterly devastated. Her smile seemed frozen in place, while the disappointment behind her eyes was impossible to miss. “Uh-huh.” Laxia kept her arms folded and narrowed her eyes, giving a small nod as though to make it perfectly clear that her decision was final. Then Bandita’s bottom lip pushed forward. Her head ducked closer between her shoulders, leaving her looking like a wounded puppy.

“......”

Laxia’s brow twitched ever so slightly. For just a moment, her resolve wavered. But no. She tightened her folded arms, shook her head firmly, and even closed her eyes as though physically shutting the temptation out. This was obvious. That pout. That posture. All of it. Bandita knew exactly what she was doing, and Laxia was absolutely not going to fall for it...! Then Bandita turned away altogether, nose tipped into the air and eyes closed as she casually suggested that perhaps Laxia was simply too shy or too scared. The corner of Laxia’s mouth lifted.

“That’s right~ I’m just terrified.” She gave a small shrug. “I’m terribly cowardly, you know~” It was shamelessly sarcastic. But Bandita gave her nothing, still sitting there with her chin raised and her eyes firmly shut. Laxia glanced sideways at her.

Hehe... I’m not falling for it. She reminded herself again. Absolutely not. Then Bandita casually mentioned that she’d already had a match on the beach before. Laxia’s eyes cracked open. “......” A special match with Bandita. On the beach. Bandita in a bikini.

...

What kind of bikini would she even wear? Something simple? Or something bright and flashy like her wrestling gear? Wait. No. Laxia quickly shook her head. Her imagination was getting away from her. The scheme was obvious. Who would fall for something this blatant? What does she take me for...? And then came the final remark. Her dream girl simply didn’t want to get pinned in a bikini. Laxia’s eyes snapped open. “Whoa, whoa~ Hold on!” She turned sharply back toward Bandita.

“Who exactly is pinning who?!” One brow shot upward as she pointed accusingly at her. “You can’t just decide that part on your own!” And just like that... Laxia was walking straight into the most obvious trap imaginable.