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XVI .. fighter
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FLASHBACK — ENCINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA; 1985

"you're really planning on walking from campus to the apartment every day?" johnny said as he sat back on a lawn chair next to bella, in his backyard. "i promised your parents i'd take care of you."

"honey, i love you, but i can handle myself." bella giggled. "i'll be fine."

"okay, c'mon. on your feet." johnny said as he stood up from the lawn chair and stood in front of bella. he intertwined his hands with hers and pulled her up from her chair. "if you insist on walking alone, let me show you some self-defense."

"johnny, i'll be fine." bella laughed as johnny led her to a little grassy area of his backyard. "but i think it's cute how much you wanna teach me some karate."

"and i think you're cute." johnny smiled as he pecked her lips. "okay, try throwing a punch."

"baby, i'm not gonna throw a punch at you." bella said as she crossed her arms.

"just try it." johnny said. "pretend i'm some random creep who comes up to you and tries to grab you. how are you gonna defend yourself?"

bella took a deep breath as she made her hands into fists and attempted to punch johnny, who blocked her fist. "nope." johnny said. "try again."

bella once again attempted to throw another punch until johnny grabbed her wrist and pined her down. "okay, let's start with your hands." johnny said as he helped bella up from the grass, dusting himself off. "if you do get some punches in, aim for the nose, mouth, or in extreme cases, throat."

"alright, but what if i get attacked from behind?" bella said, putting her hair up in a ponytail.

"what? you mean like this?" johnny smirked as he attempted to grab bella from behind, until bella instinctively kicked his groin, causing him to groan in pain.

"oh shit!" bella said as she knelt down beside him. "i'm so sorry, babe."

johnny smirked, attempting to pin her down, only to be pinned down by bella. "not bad, princess." johnny smiled as he got up. "okay, you obviously know how to use your legs, but if you're gonna kick, try aiming for the kneecaps or their balls."

"what if it's a woman attacking me?" bella said.

"if anyone attacks you, its gonna be some asshole trying to grab you." johnny said. "so you aim for his balls. he won't be able to get far. if things get worse, you can use a roundhouse kick."

"okay sensei, slow down." bella laughed as she placed her hands on her hips. "do you mind teaching me how to do a roundhouse kick?"

"simple. first you get into your fighting stance." johnny explained as he held bella's waist as she placed her left leg forward and raised her fists. "okay, good. keep your arms up, don't let your guard down. now, bring your leg up and softly bend it."

bella lifted her leg and lost balance as she did so. the couple laughed as bella struggled to regain balance, until finally finding it again. "okay, so, fighting stance. bring your leg up, slowly. now, use your right leg to turn your body, so as your kicking, you move toward the target." johnny said as he stood back.

bella took a deep breath as she got into position, and finally landing the kick before falling onto the grass. "again, how do you make this look so easy?" she laughed as she laid back on the grass.

"i just do." johnny laughed as he knelt down, extending a hand to help get her up, only to be pulled down by bella. "you caught on quickly though. impressive."

"i'm a fast learner." bella smiled as she turned to the side to face her boyfriend. "thank you though."

"i'll always have your back." johnny smiled as he caressed bella's cheek. "and if i'm not around, i know you have a mean right hook."

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

PRESENT DAY — LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; 1990

[warning – slight aggression]

"2 piña coladas, 1 rum & cherry coke, and 4 beers." jenna said as she paid the bartender. "you people drink a lot."

"oh shut up, you said you needed a drink." bella laughed as she sat down on a barstool, as she waited for the drinks alongside jenna. as they waited, a man, who looked like he was in his late 20s, approached the bar as the two girls were gossiping.

"a beer for me and 2 martinis for the lovely ladies." the man said, as he turned to look at the bella and jenna.

"no thank you, we already ordered." jenna spoke up as she stood up from the barstool. "besides i have a boyfriend."

"what about you?" he said motioning for bella who rolled her eyes. "do you have a boyfriend, sweetheart?"

"yes, i do and don't call me sweetheart." bella scoffed as she looked at the bartender who was fixing their drinks.

"let me guess, it's the big dumb blonde, huh?" he laughed as he sat close to bella, as his breath smelt of liquor. "c'mon baby, get a real man."

"he's more of a man than you'll ever be." bella said, getting up from the barstool as the bartender handed them their drinks. "excuse me."

"let me buy you a drink, honey." he said as he attempted to grab bella's hand. bella handed her drink to jenna and swiftly twisted his wrist then proceeded to punch him, right in the jaw.

"fuck off!" bella said as she twisted his wrist a bit harder. he attempted to slap her, until she blocked his hand, which was unsuccessful because he gripped her wrist.

"bitch." he muttered.

"what the hell man?" johnny said as he stood face to face with the brunette who was hitting on bella. "don't fucking touch her."

"oh, i get it. you're the boyfriend, huh?" he smirked as he massaged his wrist. jenna walked back to the table as she and the others looked at the couple, who looked like they were about to fight the brunette. "this should be fun."

johnny blocked the punch and held his wrist, hitting his nose. the brunette cleaned the blood from his nose, throwing another punch, hitting johnny, then pressing him up against the wall. he got a few punches in, until bella got involved.

bella pulled the brunette off of her boyfriend, then punched him and kicked his stomach. he walked away and out of the bar as the couple went back to their table to finish their drinks.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

"here." bella said as she handed johnny a bag of ice to place on his side. bella sat down next to him as he placed his upper body on her lap, examining the bruises left on his torso. "this guy really got some punches in."

"are you okay?" johnny said as he looked up at bella holding her hands in his. "he didn't hurt you too bad, did he?"

"nope, i think we hurt him." bella giggled as she played with his soft golden locks. "my wrists don't look too swollen, do they?"

"ah, it's going down." johnny said as he played with her hands, finally placing a soft kiss on her wrists. "i'm so sorry, baby."

"it's okay, don't sweat it." bella sighed as she caressed her boyfriend's face. "but hey, i got into my first bar fight."

"you still got that right hook." johnny smirked as he intertwined her hands with his. "but seriously, are you feeling okay?"

"yeah. i broke his nose, just like you taught me." bella softly giggled as she ran a hand through her hair. she then removed the ice bag from johnny's side to check on the bruises, which were slowly healing. "i'll get you more ice."

"i'm gonna head to bed." johnny said standing up, wincing in pain as he got up. bella helped him up as he placed a soft kiss on bella's lips.

"thank you." bella sighed as she pressed her forehead against his.

"i'll always have your back, princess."