Backyard of the Not-as-Creepy Mansion, Tuesday Evening

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had never been much of a fighter.

When he was younger, he learned enough to get himself out of trouble, and relied on quick wits and a gun for anything more. And wen he became a werewolf, it hadn't really occured to him to change that. But fighting Derek as a wolf a week and a half before had given him the idea that he might be able to do more than dodge a fist these days.

This brought him to Derek's yard, where he stripped to his t-shirt and folded his arms over his chest against the cold. He was sure he wouldn't feel it soon enough.

"Where do we start?"

Comments

[justlurkinghere]

And away went Derek's jacket. Because he did't want that to get that messed up while getting his fight on.

"How much experience do you have?"

[bitten_notshy]

"A little," Jack said. "My guardian wanted to make sure I'd have a chance if I ended up in a bad situation. But I haven't done any real training in probably four years."

[justlurkinghere]

"Not since you were bitten."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack shook his head. "Not at all."

He thought about making an excuse, but he knew it would be transparent.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek spun in place, closing the distance between them in a few long steps, hand out to grab Jack by the throat and slam him down onto the ground. Because apparently he believed in teaching through action.

[bitten_notshy]

Surprise worked in Derek's favor, and Jack slammed to the ground as easily as a human would have. He closed his eyes woozily.

"You're bigger than I am."

[justlurkinghere]

"So? You're not human. Stop thinking like you're limited by your size."

[bitten_notshy]

"But" -- Jack knew he sounded whiny. He shoved up hard with his arms, trying to throw Derek off so he could get to his feet.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek responded by pushing down harder, letting finger nails give way to claws. "But what?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I forget what I was going to say when you stick me with claws," Jack half-growled. (Besides, it had been a pretty pathetic complaint to begin with.)

His eyes got a shade darker, and he redoubled his efforts to throw Derek off, bringing his knees into it.

[justlurkinghere]

"You'll know when I'm actually trying to hurt you," Derek replied, focus on how much force Jack was able to muster.

After a moment he pulled away, putting some distance between them.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack sat up, moving into a defensive crouch. Derek had gotten him off-guard once, but it wouldn't happen again.

"What?" he asked warily.

[justlurkinghere]

"I could break your arm without even trying," Derek replied, shrugging off some of the tension in his shoulders as the claws retracted into normal, human hands. "I'm holding back with you."

OH SNAP. AND NOT JUST BECAUSE HE WASN'T DOING UNNECESSARY FLIPS.

[bitten_notshy]

"Of course you are," Jack said sulkily. "We just started. I'd rather you didn't maim me the night before I teach."

He shifted uncomfortably. "How would you break my arm?"

[justlurkinghere]

"Well, squeezing hard enough should do the trick," Derek drawled.

[bitten_notshy]

"Funny," Jack drawled in return, and stretched again. "Let's get back to it. I won't get better if I sit here chatting."

[justlurkinghere]

"Hit me."

[bitten_notshy]

Hit him. Fine. Jack slugged out with a respectable uppercut, aiming it at Derek's jaw.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek took a step back, rubbing his jaw. The bruise didn't even have a chance to form as it started healing. "You can hit harder than that."

[bitten_notshy]

"Probably," Jack admitted, and then lashed out again. This time, he put as much into it as he could.

[justlurkinghere]

"Better," Derek hissed, responding in kind.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack twisted in time to dodge the worst of the blow, but still absorbed some of its force. The pain motivated him to try again, harder yet and aimed at Derek's stomach; this wasn't entirely a training exercise anymore. Now he wanted to prove he wasn't easy prey.

[justlurkinghere]

Hey, that one sent Derek back a few feet. "Cute," he replied, brushing off his stomach before darting forward to tackle poor, poor Jack to the ground.

[bitten_notshy]

Not if Jack had anything to say about it, he wouldn't. He made a soft hissing noise as Derek reached him, grappling to stay on top as they fell to the ground.

In a completely heterosexual way, of course.

[justlurkinghere]

Well, it wasn't like they were playing werewolf Monopoly here!

Derek bared his teeth, not above using his superior height to push back at being on top.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack didn't realize what he was doing as he bared his teeth right back. He struggled to stay where he was but after a few moments lost the fight.

So, of course, the thing to do was to bring his leg up into Derek's stomach.

[justlurkinghere]

Oh, of course!

Derek gave a grunt of annoyance, shoving Jack's shoulders back down onto the ground with more force.

[bitten_notshy]

"Stopit," Jack grunted, shoving back again harder. He brought up a fist; he didn't have room for a proper punch, but he was aiming a second blow low on Derek's beautiful abs anyhow.

[justlurkinghere]

HEY. THOSE WERE HIS BABIES.

"Make me." Oooo, challenging.

[bitten_notshy]

"I will."

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Jack used all his strength to try to throw Derek off and get to his feet. Whatever part of him had been holding back before wasn't holding back anymore.

[justlurkinghere]

That was much better!

Derek went back, digging his fingers into the earth to keep from falling backwards entirely. "Keep that up."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack's eyes brightened as he pressed onward. Some not-so-small part of him was enjoying the fight.

"I'm starting to see," he said, "why you like this."

[justlurkinghere]

"Something like that." Derek nodded, poised and ready for Jack to strike.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack was not usually one to disappoint when someone was waiting. He rammed forward, hands up to reach Derek's shoulders. He was going to see if he could get him to the ground again.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek snarled, slamming down onto Jack's head with his elbow. Because now it was getting fun! Wasn't it? Wasn't it?

[bitten_notshy]

Oh, totally.

Jack grunted at the pain and jolted forward as he caught his balance, eding up with his hands on Derek's throat.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek reached up to prove his point about how easy it would be to break Jack's arm, fingers curling around the delicate bones of the other man's wrists.

Not squeezing just yet.

[bitten_notshy]

No squeezing was needed; Jack knew quite well how quickly a little pressure would smash a wrist. He jerked his arm down but couldn't quite pull free.

[justlurkinghere]

"If you have someone by the throat, don't waste the opportunity," Derek replied helpfully.

[bitten_notshy]

"You surprised me," Jack answered, trying to keep some dignity as they grappled.