Taking a deep breath of stagnant air, I muster the last reserves of my potential. My mind clocks into overdrive, busy visualizing what lies beneath the concrete floor. A network of pipes and cables, the bloodlines of this building we're in. I don't have the time or luxury to screw around with the Fat Man anymore.
I'm going to finish this fight in a single blow.
"Let's do it!" I shout at the top of my voice, throwing both arms apart in a grandiose gesture. And as my mind wills it, the concrete floor tears open, its innards spontaneously blooming into existence.
A large water pipe?
"Not just a large water pipe." I smirk at the question posed by the voice of my heart, "The water pipe that supplies the entire building."
I reach out, my fingers closing around empty space like a claw. The water pipe trembles beneath me, cracks forming all over its surface.
"What are you doing?" the Fat Man demands from his side of the makeshift fortress wall.
"Hope you can swim asshole." I snarl and perform a ripping action with my outstretched hand. There's a harsh tearing sound from the Fat Man's side fallen by the gushing of water.
"I'm wet. You're getting me all wet!" the Fat Man screeches angrily. As I command the ruptured pipe to increase the volume of water being sprayed out, the Fat Man's cursing devolves into a combination of frantic paddling and gurgling.
The Fat Man had managed to seal himself away, but with several tidal waves worth of water invading his fortress, the Fat Man had inadvertently found himself in a death trap of his own making. I can still hear him paddling away valiantly, so full marks for effort. But it was only a matter of time before the water completely fills his side of the room to the brim. Unless the Fat Man uses his own potential to open up another exit.
But here's the thing about water. It follows you wherever you go. Much like your problems.
I sense a certain bitter resignation in that statement.
"No shit. I leave the city to get away from my death and end up in another duel to the finish." I click my tongue in annoyance, "I should have just barricaded myself in the apartment."
Much like how Boggs hides in her bar?
"She seems to be doing okay for herself, Breath's criticism of Boggs's choices notwithstanding." I shrug, "There are worse ways of living your life."
Before my heart can respond, the Fat Man roars like a cornered animal and the soul gem constellation bears down on us with renewed intensity. A pure brute force attack, the Fat Man is trying to get me to burn out.
Focus! Or all will be lost.
"You think I don't know that?" I whisper through gritted teeth, sinking to my knees as the metaphysical weight of the Fat Man's potential pummels away at me.
The light of the Fat Man's constellation begins tearing the building apart, my own reserves of potential too meagre to resist this incursion. I let everything except the room we're in go, gambling on keeping the Fat Man trapped long enough for my plan to work. The entire room begins to slide dangerously to the side as the building dissolves into nonexistence. A splitting headache seizes me as the mounting paradox demands an explanation that I cannot give.
"Just a bit more." I grunt softly, The walls shake and plaster rains down on me. The Fat Man's reality is going to break through. And I'm too weak to stop it.
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Then the Fat Man's gurgling abruptly stops. The flow of potential reverses.
And his heart opens to me.
The fortress wall collapses and water floods out everywhere, sweeping both of us away.
---------
Begin reconciliation
"Where ... where am I?" I groan, picking myself off the ground.
I'm dry, so thank heavens for small mercies. And from the look of things, I'm in an open air parking lot. The rambling highway stretches into the distance, with the only thing of interest is a nearby bar and grill. Everything around me appears normal, disturbingly so in fact. The only discrepancy are the cars. Generously put, they're classics, the type an old man would have been proudly driving way back in the "good old days" and then spending a fortune trying to restore in the winter of his life.
So that's it. I'm in the past. The Fat Man's past. This is the stage he had chosen as his final line of defense against me.
Be careful. Your opponent is sure to be lurking nearby.
"I know. And we're in his world now." I dust myself off, examining my body. I'm back in my adult form, but all my gear is still missing. Of course the Fat Man wouldn't make things easy for me.
Nothing for it except to investigate the bar and grill. There's a faintly appetizing scent of grease and spices lingering in the air, so nothing inside should be too weird. Probably.
Do not get your hopes up.
"You're just a ray of sunshine aren't you?" I huff at the voice of my heart while making my way to the entrance of the bar and grill. Passing by one of the parked trucks, I note that its engine had been left running and beneath the steady thrum of the motor is a beating noise. Loud, strong but unsteady.
The Fat Man's heart. He's off balance but still has got some fight left in him. But this is still a good sign. The Fat Man might not be prepared for my attack. I confront him while he's still confused and finish the fight. That's the plan at least.
The doors to the bar and grill are shut tight, with a bouncer standing guard with folded arms. He raises an eyebrow at me.
"We're full. Sorry." the bouncer says plainly without moving from his spot.
"Could you make an exception?" I ask politely, my right hand reflexively going for Love before realizing the gun isn't with me. Damn, need to play this cool here. I don't know the rules of this reconciliation. Freaking out and getting violent could get me in big trouble.
"No exceptions. Unless you're expected. Are you expected?" the bouncer shoots back, tilting his head slightly.
"Uh, yes?" I say as confidently as I can.
The bouncer just keeps staring at me wordlessly, not bothering to ask my name or check a guest list. Just as I am about to give up on this farce, the man finally starts talking again.
"You're late. Head on in quickly." the bouncer swings the door open and I'm hit by the rush of air conditioned air.
"Thanks man." I nod back and head inside without any further ado. Security is pretty weak here. More proof that the Fat Man still hasn't managed to get his poise back. I need to take this chance before he bucks up.
The bar and grill is absolutely packed with people, with part of the dining area cleared away. In its place is a fighting ring has been set up with a huge banner hung from the ceiling.
PADU THE BEAST DEFENDS HIS TITLE AGAINST ALL COMERS
A midget of a man in tights struts around the ring with a casting focus hanging from his neck. Beside him is a suited thin, bespectacled man carrying a golden belt high above his head.
"Universe Supreme Wrestling Galaxy Champion." I squint, reading the words embossed on the belt. Huh, so a pro wrestling event is being held in the restaurant. Good for them.
The midget grabs a microphone and starts ranting into it, spittle flying from his face.
"When I came to this dump, I was looking forward to a fight!" the midget shouts and the crowd cheers in approval.
"But where's the HIghwayman huh? He lost his balls waking up this morning? He too scared to show up?" the midget starts strutting about for the crowd, but I notice the guy behind him glance worriedly at a nearby wall clock.
"Or maybe he doesn't want to face the beast?" the midget concludes to another cheer from the gallery.
"You're going to kick his ass Padu!" a childlike voice yells over the din and I notice a really fat kid sitting close to the ring, stuffing his face with onion rings. No doubt about it, that's the Fat Man alright.
I got to admit, as gambits go, summoning your childhood hero is a pretty good one. And it throws a wrench into my plan. Heading near the ring probably makes bad things happen. And given how close the Fat Kid is sitting to it, I'm effectively unable to confront him.
"What a headache." I grumble, backing off slightly. I'm going to need to strategize, see if there're any weaknesses in this reconciliation I can take advantage of.
Then I spot them. In the corner of the bar. Two men.
One of them is grossly obese. Its the Fat Man. Or more precisely, the Fat Man's doppelganger from my visions. But its his conversation partner that takes my breath away. A man that I have heard about to no end.
The missing Grandmaster of Phoenix Guild. Delacroix.