"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"
[ He'll be fine, she knows that-- but all the same, she'll still reach behind, place a solid palm on his back... and then run forward, using her gauntlets to lend her a little more speed as she barrels into the group of goblin thingies. She's a blur of flames and glowing light now, keeping each punch strong and decisive. ]
[That touch, brief as it is, is bolstering. Naoki's grip renews on the reindeer's snout as it tries to thrash, get its jaws open enough to snap at his hands. But there's no way that's happening. When it paws forward, Naoki's tightening his grip and flipping it over.
It slams into the ground headfirst once again, antlers snapping off, and Naoki yanks up one of these as he backpedals from more weakly thrashing legs.
He knows she can handle herself, but he still twists, flinging that antler to spear an approaching elf that thinks it can join in on the brawl, sending it flying off.]
[ Her boyfriend, gosh-- Yang can't spare him a glance right now, busy driving the elves further back (and sending one flying into the ceiling), but she speeds up further as one more elf collapses, wreathed in flames. Can't let him win-- wait. ]
That reindeer is making its last go for an attack and Naoki looks at it... before bringing his leg up and down on its head, flattening it to the ground. This time, it doesn't get back up and he turns to where Yang's, to move after her and slamming one elf making a toothy dive for her back aside with a tongue of flame.]
Don't you look hot right now-- [ Although she's not smiling, focusing on the task at hand. Well, leave it to Yang to make quips in the middle of battle, flipping one snapping elf over her head into a column. ]
Almost as hot as you. [He'll call back over, glancing to the elf she just flung and giving it an extra blast of fire for good measure.
The number is decreasing, but there's still one sizing Naoki up. He stares at it, that faint demonic aura manifesting again and it hesitates-- but lunges. It's claws sink into his torso, but Naoki slams his fist down on its head. It leaves a line of four gouges as it skids to the ground, but Naoki ignores them, meeting it with his fist and fire as it leaps at him again.]
Got it; don't worry about me. [Naoki calls to her as his wounds slowly begin to knit together, but slowly. Belated, the pain strikes at him, but it goes ignored again.
He gathers wind this time, firing it at the two--carrying them that extra distance into a nearby column with a crunching thud.]
Comes with the territory! [ She calls back; but then she's charging ahead again, hair blazing brighter than ever. Well, only about two more left. They've got this. ]
[Naoki follows the bright glow of her hair-- and he fixes on the one closer to him, posture lowering and his fingers spreading apart. He catches it by the face, dragging its body over the ground as it attempts to fix teeth into his palm.
In retaliation, he gives it a game slam against the ground and those teeth loosen. It's strange fighting such small enemies, something he hasn't had to do for a long time and the elf kicks and claws at him, only to get a toss up in the air.
He's reeling back his arm and it's kind of like a kid playing baseball, except the baseball is a really angry, toothy elf monster--]
[It'll be a lot worse than burned once it gets back to Naoki-- Given that he's waiting with handfuls of fire to finish it off, swatting it upward in a flaming ball.
It ricochets off the ceiling, and Naoki dusts off his hands as it thuds off somewhere in a higher level.]
My aim's pretty good, I know. [ Just like her modesty-- but she's reaching out to examine his hand. She's got a few deeper marks on one leg, scratches on the bare parts of her arms... but hey, no major harm. ]
[His smile dims down again, and Naoki's silent-- but he's reaching out, trying to sense if anything is incoming. He doesn't feel anything close, so he nods after a minute.]
Let's go over here.
[Toward an area between stores, which'll make sure nothing can come creeping up on them from the shadows.]
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