The sound of J.T. and Matt\u2019s sparring drew attention within the first fifteen minutes and the pair drew an audience not too long after that.\u00a0 Tala was the first, wandering up after feeding everyone and cleaning up after them.\u00a0 She appeared wrapped in her parka and a fleece blanket, her cheeks ruddy from the cold, a huge grin on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cSparring match?\u201d she called.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d J.T. answered, then swore as Matt\u2019s kendo stick smacked against his ribcage.\u00a0 Tala laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPoint to me,\u201d Matt said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatch to you,\u201d J.T. corrected, unzipping his coat to rub at his ribs.\u00a0 The layers of fabric had lessened the sting, but not erased it fully.\u00a0 He stepped back, grounding the tip of his kendo stick in the crust of snow beneath their feet.\u00a0 \u201cGive me a minute.\u00a0 You swatted me good, there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt grinned.\u00a0 \u201cPayback for the touches you\u2019ve scored.\u00a0 My bruises will have some bruises.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing we can\u2019t take care of later,\u201d J.T. assured him.\u00a0 He glanced at Tala.\u00a0 \u201cAnyone missing us down there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJac was wondering where you were, other than that, no one\u2019s really asked.\u201d\u00a0 She shrugged slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think she actually needed you for anything.\u00a0 She just wasn\u2019t sure where you were.\u201d<\/p>\n
That eased some of the sudden concern that had popped up when Tala had mentioned that Jacqueline had been looking for him.\u00a0 He cursed inwardly, wondering when he\u2019d hit the point that he\u2019d appointed himself responsible for everyone\u2019s health and well-being.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not responsible for everyone\u2019s safety, just putting them back together again after something\u2019s happened.<\/i>\u00a0 With a few people healing from injuries and illness, any mention of Jacqueline\u2014his partner in crime, for lack of better terminology\u2014looking for him was enough to set off alarm bells in his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as that\u2019s the case, let\u2019s get back to it, Matt.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. zipped his coat again and picked up his kendo stick, then glanced at Tala.\u00a0 \u201cWant to keep score for us?\u00a0 You\u2019ve been the best at it for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tala chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m thinking I can handle that.\u00a0 Objections, Matt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNone at all,\u201d he said, grinning.\u00a0 \u201cBetter than the two of us trying to hit each other and<\/i> keep score.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right, then,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cThree touches?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree touches,\u201d J.T. confirmed.\u00a0 \u201cAnd tell us if you spot Thom coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tala laughed again and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u00a0 Lay on!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The sound of J.T. and Matt\u2019s sparring drew attention within the first fifteen minutes and the pair drew an audience not too long after that.\u00a0 Tala was the first, wandering up after feeding everyone and cleaning up after them.\u00a0 She … Continue reading