This One's Gonna Bruise
OOC: This is a closed post. Lennox and Graham are going to be practising close quarters, hand-to-hand combat. As they are both highly-trained military men performing very fast and very lethal maneuvers, I would strongly advise not interrupting them, unless there is a very compelling reason to; in which case please do drop a PM to either Lennox-mun ( Read more... )
*Up, a few situps, showered, and dressed. Will leaned against the wall stretching out his legs. He'd emptied all the supplies from his pockets and taken off the extra gear. Rather Graham not bust something if he hit the canteen normally strapped to his waist... even if he might have deserved it for being a sneaky bastard with Maggie last night.*
*He eyed his watch, hoping that his and the Captain's were still synced after all this time. In the military, if you weren't early, you were late. But he wanted to cut it damn close, just to pique the trooper.*
*Lennox passed up on boots, but carted them along slung by the laces over his shoulder. Just pants and a light t-shirt. Hell, he'd prolly ditch the shirt and go boxing style...*
0558, at the door...
0559, outside...
0600, spotting the Captain...
0600:02 Alright, Graham. Ready for that beatdown you requisitioned?
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*Will grunts sharply, sparring means no damage, not no pain. Stupid, leaving a shot open like that. But the Ranger's stuck on the defensive, trying to block further hits, Adam's apple jumping as he swallows and tries to get his breathing back in order.
Throwing a few quick jabs at jaw and shoulder to distract, he swings up a leg trying to hook and yank Graham sideways. Last ditch effort.*
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*Instinctively dodging the first blow, he feels Will's leg shift. One lucky move from Lennox, one mistake on his part...
Graham slams down again, rising off his knees to give him more leverage and to avoid the Ranger's leg hook. Push his advantage with the breathlessness, shoulder up, angle away from the knee, head bowed to deflect some of the blows - Will has a wicked right hook, he's noticed - elbow to the solar plexus, elbow to the throat, forearm slamming down to crush the windpipe and his other arm snaking around to complete the hold, another low growl escaping him.
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*Oh no, oh no, damn, the Brit is good. And by the training, identify the weakness, strike and end it.
Lennox only gets his leg up as far as the other's ribs, but Graham moving lifts his hips from the ground and robs the Ranger of his leverage. Game over. He makes a strangled bark at the second hit to his chest. Matt had him dead to rights, but he hisses at the Trooper and struggles against the hold. Rock solid.*
Ugh... give- *wow, this hurts worse than the hits, and he taps Graham's forearm where he's trying to pry it from his throat* Give.
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*At the tap, he blinks, easing off from the hold, chest heaving. There's that flicker of pride and satisfaction at a well-fought match, and he pulls away, a thumb brushing the base of Lennox's throat, then patting the Ranger's shoulder as he straightens, studying him in a new light.*
Some good moves there. If that right hook early on had actually connected, I would probably be out of commission. Doing alright? Straight into round two or you want a breather?
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*Stretches and rolls his neck, smirking down his body to Graham and nodding at the touch.*
The hook's one of my staples. *The Ranger takes a deep breath and let his head fall back to the dirt.* But I'll make it, this place just tries damn hard to kill my combat readiness.
*Suddenly, Lennox tightens his legs around Graham and throws hips and arms to the side, levering the Brit into a faceplant.* Sure, I'm good to go again.
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*Seeing the acknowledgement, Graham rocks his weight back, relaxing momentarily. He frowns slightly at the mention of combat readiness being dulled, and - *
Oh bloody fu -
*And he's caught by surprise, throwing out an arm to break the fall as he lands on his side. Dammit! But he can't stop the quick flash of a grin, braced to jam a knee into the back of the Ranger's leg, trying to break free before Lennox pounces on him.*
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*Almost laughs at the Trooper's expression, but having to grimace though being kneed broke that rather well. Tucks his leg to yank it from beneath Graham and pushes upright.*
Ready, go.
*Twists and tackles Matt's chest, keeping his top leg around the Brit's thighs to hold any major flailing around at bay. Light jab pulled just at his left cheek, trying to get him focused on blocking instead of escape. Stay down, stay down...*
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*'Go,' indeed, but before he can retaliate Lennox is already on him with that tackle. He tucks in at the jab, one arm coming up to block and then turning that block into a retaliatory elbow strike as he tries to roll over and get enough leverage to buck off the Ranger. Graham digs his heels into the dirt, the fact that the canny Major is sitting on his thighs means his range of movement is... actually quite restricted, and he snorts, realising he'll have to play it cool to trick his way out of this one.*
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*A left jab, so Graham blocking and elbowing back, of course, perfectly nails his left ribs. Damn. Grinds his teeth through it and the resulting shallowing of his breathing. Will snarls a low challenge and shifts to keep his weight settled over the Brit's legs.
Just thumps a few quick hits over the Trooper's chest, keeping his balance back until he has a shot at catching an arm to pin him down.*
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*Wriggling under the Major to try to unbalance him and twist out from underneath the man, he registers the impact and the change in Will's breathing. It nags at him, there's something just a shade off about it...
Distracted, the first hit to Graham's chest connects harder, and he grunts, bringing up his forearms to block the rest of them. Now that's going to bruise. He watches Lennox with narrowed eyes, grabbing for a forearm at the next hit to pull him down and aside in a lock.
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*Snorts softly, Will presses in to the Captain. Damn, he's got a decent block going and the Ranger can't get another hit after that first strike.
Fine.
When Graham tugs, Lennox pounces forward and braces his shoulders over the Trooper's arm. Half diagonal over his chest, he tightens his thighs around the other's hips and lets his elbow just bump under Matt's jaw with a low rumble of warning.*
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Ah-
For half a beat, there was a vague thread of yes, he might just have found an opening, but then the Major pounces, pinning him. SAS pride pricks at his spine, drawing a faint line between his brows as he strains against the Ranger's hold, swallowing against the elbow under his jaw.
Snorting lightly in response to Will's warning growl, he arches up again, but sharp bone at his throat is a constant reminder; either pressure or a sharp blow and he's out. Right, that does it. Graham relaxes into the dirt, working a hand free to tap on the Ranger.
Give.
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*Will is focusing on balancing all his weight over Matt's arm and hips, more than unwilling to risk hurting his subordinate's throat. Understands that same flicker of pride he sees in the other man's eyes, and releases the Trooper at the tap.*
Good one.
*Lennox grins and taps a shoulder as he pushes back to his feet. He bumps Graham's hip with the top of his foot and offers a hand up.*
So... what? Tie breaker?
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*Graham's highly tempted to just get into it there and then, but he grasps Will's hand and pops to his feet, grinning as he brushes off his hip in mock insult.*
Don't have to ask twice, old chap. Best two out of three? Ready to get your arse pounded into the dirt again?
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*He squeezes Matt's wrist before dropping his hand, rolling his neck in a show of thinking.*
Oh, you are welcome to try, my friend.
*Will takes a cleansing breath and settles into a ready position, smirking. After wiping a drop of sweat from his nose with the back of his hand he waggles his fingers.*
C'mon. Bring it.
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