A biting breeze makes the two women shiver, Kate pulls Nika in close, her intention is to keep Nika protected from the weather but in turn it helps keep her warm as well. They have decided against better judgement to not use a hotel and instead camp out in the elements. It was Katie's idea and despite Nika having reservations she agreed. The two women have a pretty big opportunity coming up, it's a situation neither are used to but a situation they are both excited to experience. They take to Chicago as a team, they enter the ring as a team and they go against two women who have a pretty reputable name for themselves in MHW. They both know the odds are stacked against them but that isn't something new to them, they have both had to face doubt and a hostile environment but both are still here and both keep improving.
"Nika, I think we should start the fire." Kate orders in the most polite voice she could muster.
Kate comes off as abrupt, many people don't know how to take her tone or her words but Nika has no trouble, she understands her true intent when she speaks. Nika is one of the first people in a really long time that Kate has let into her life, a life that has forever been changing. She classes herself as a Gypsy and technically she is but usually Gypsy's have a bloodline to a long line of travellers that either links back to Romania or Ireland.
"If I get the wood, you set up the pit," smiles Nika.
Nika has been pretty privileged growing up, born into a billionaire family has gifted her opportunities many people could only ever dream of. That being said though, she hasn't quite had the easiest of paths, self inflicted of course but it definitely built character. She joined the army and obviously excelled in every task that was asked of her, she gained special attention from the higher ups; partly because she was a brilliant soldier and the other factor was because her dad was heavily involved in politics and had been gifted a rank within the military.
"Sounds good!" Katie returns the smile but then furrows her brow, "Are you sure you're fine with being out here, in this weather?"
Nika let's out a small chuckle and then drops a pile of logs near the pit Kate has made. She walks closer to Kate, "You do remember I'm Russian right? I may sound like a little English girl but my blood is Russian and you haven't felt the cold until you've been a soldier in the Russian army. I've got stories about the weather there that could make you shiver. This is actually quite nice."
Katie doesn't reply, the night is creeping in and the light is losing ground. The two women hurry themselves up and quickly assemble a functioning fire pit and they create the fire. Nika smiles as the flames start to take hold of the logs she collected, whereas Kate just stares blankly into it. Clocking her head towards Katie, Nika takes a breath, "what's up? You feeling okay?"
Katie continues to stare into the fire as she replies, "I'm feeling great to be honest, best I've felt in a long time and I guess I have you to thank for that but at the same time you're the one causing me to have little jitters of anxiety. Nothing you do directly but just the fact that you've taken a step of your usual track and career to team up with me and you've never seen me fight. You don't know if I can compete at a high level, you don't know if I'm a reliable person to have in your corner and I'm creating a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I don't let you down."
The night has settled in now and the pitch black scene only gets interrupted by the flickering flame. The two women sit in silence for a moment both deep in thought. The prospect of facing an already established tag team within MHW seems daunting, it's a new adventure for them a new goal to chance but it's a relay they need each other to win.
"You won't let me down, win or lose. You can't put that on yourself. We are both in there, we are both stepping out of our comfort zone and trying something new. What if I let you down, what if the only reason you lose is because of me! If we both only think about the negatives and the what ifs we aren't going to get very far, "Nika then turns to face Kate. "What if we go in there and and absolutely dominate, will you take all the credit and before you answer I know you won't so don't even dare try and put the blame onto yourself if we don't get the victory!"
Kate doesn't reply she simply just puts her bulging arm around Nika's neck and pulls her in close. They sit a watch the fire as it dances and consumes the wood, they have to constantly add to it to keep the dark night at bay. A real chill starts to creep in and the two women decide to have some food, they sit and cook and talk about trivial stuff that you can only talk about with people you're close to. Nika then reaches into the boot of the car and pulls out two bottles, Kate looks up and smiles as she realises that they are two bottles of wine. Alcohol is know to warm the blood or it just makes you unaware of the chill running through your body. The two women quickly get to work on the bottles opting to have a bottle each.
"You know earlier when you said, erm, that I wouldn't take the credit for our victory… Well… I totally would," Kate through tears of laughter blurts out.
Nika instantly starts laughing too, "Oh I don't doubt you would, but I also don't doubt that you couldn't take both those girls on your own. I doubt I could take you!"
Kate stops laughing and looks at Nika dead in the eyes, "You can take me any time you want" She immediately starts to laugh again...
"Now, now... I know I'm a little, erm, tipsy but what do you think. Reckon I could take them both on?" Nika asks.
"No doubt… Right now though, I highly doubt it my princess! But I guess that's what I'm here for, to protect you when you aren't able to protect yourself. I will always have your back Nika, even if we end our relationship tomorrow, I will always have your back. Now promise me!" Kate says no longer laughing.
Nika scoots over a little close and grabs Kate by her face and pulls her in for an unbalanced kiss that almost makes them both fall over, " But we are not going to break up tomorrow" she goes for another kiss but Kate pulls away. "But we are not breaking up tomorrow" Nika insists.
Suddenly a noise pulls them away from their conversation, it isn't quite clear who or what it is but it starts to get closer. Both women look out unsure into the darkness when with the flicker of a flame a silhouette of a man cuts the back drop. Nika gasps at the sight and Kate immediately gets into a boxing stance.
"Get out of here!", Katie orders but the man doesn't reply or take heed of the warning. "Listen, unless you want me to take your head off your shoulders, you should walk away right now."
Nika takes a step forward but Kate doesn't allow it and pulls her back.
"Why are two girls doing alone out here? Don't you know it's pretty dangerous,"The silhouette spits.
Nika goes to speak but Katie takes the lead, "The only thing that is dangerous here is f**king me, now do as you're told and move along! Things can get really bad very soon if you don't."
"indeed they could and most probably will," the man steps closer and he is clearly homeless. His clothes look years old, his hair and beard is unkempt. He grins at the two women as he advances.
"Just stop for a second", Nika panics. "What do you want can't we solve this before we all do things we regret?"
"What I want? Now why would I want to go and ruin the surprise!" he says in a slight whisper.
"We don't have any money on us and we've left our..", Kate stops Nika before she can complete her sentence. "Listen, I'm a fricking Mma fighter and professional wrestler you don't want to mess with me!"
The man simply smiles and takes another step forward. Nika let's out a shout to back off which does actually stop the man but it also prompts Katie to react. With the man momentarily surprised Kate steps forward and swings with all she's got and nails the man square on the chin. Nika panics and rushes in to but instead of striking she dives on his legs tripping him over. He manages to use his strength and ends up on top of Nika. Katie lets out a growl and unloads with a flurry of heavy punches to the side of the man's head which causes him to slump forward. Nika then pushes out from underneath him and traps his arm behind his back. Kate uses this to her advantage and keeps unloading with big haymakers to the side of his head.
"Kate, stop before you seriously hurt him". Cries Nika.
Katie let's off another couple punches before she replies, "This f**ker was going to do god knows what and you want me to stop, nah I'm going until he doesn't even remember his own name".
Kate goes to land another shot but Nika throws her head to where Katie would land. "Just phone the police, I brought a spare phone in the car for emergencies. This counts as an emergency! He's still knocked out, I can hear him snoring just get the phone please."
Kate quickly walks over to the car and finds the phone in Nika's bag and phones the police. She explains the situation and then hangs up. She walks back over to Nika and places her knee into the lower back of the man on the floor.
"I guess we've kind of had our first tag team match huh," Katie tries to hide her smile but fails to do so.
This prompts Nika to start laughing too, "I guess it kind of counts," Nika says through the breaks in her laughter, "I mean, after that first punch he was pretty much out on his feet I just fumbled the take down… I blame the wine!"
"Nika."
"Yes, Katie Kashov" replies Nika.
"No, I'm not breaking up with you but I can't say that you won't break up with me. As you've found out tonight we're slightly different. You are, well, you're you. Always trying to be diplomatic, play by the rules and do everything the right way. Whereas me, I would have found the biggest rock I could lift and drop it on that sob's head… Basically what I'm trying to say is, you don't have to worry about me ever leaving you, I've got you, forever! I just worry once you see me competing, once you see me in action and what extremes I'm willing to take it that you'll turn away from me. I'm not this educated, well mannered, people person who I see you doing business with or as perfect as Journey is. I'm raw, I'm an unchained pitbull at times and my fear is you looking at me with fear, the same fear I saw you looking at this thing here with." Katie says while not once looking into Nika's eyes.
Nika tries to turn towards Kate but the prospect of letting the man underneath her get an inch of movement prevents that from happening, " Katie, seriously? I know who you are. I know what you are and I'm not afraid of that. If anything it turns me on. You're a physical specimen to be adored and I know you're not this brainless pitbull you're trying to make out because I know I've gotten to know the real you. Are you intimidating, you bet! But I know that I never have to be scared. I've got your back and you've got my back and that's all I care about."
Sirens in the not so distant distance brings some life back to the man beneath them. He struggles and then threatens Kate. Nika quickly jolts on his arm and forces it up towards his shoulder blades causing a scream to leave his lips and then she slaps him across his cheek. "You do not say another word to her or I'm snapping this arm… Understand!"
Katie smirks at Nika but then gets blinded by headlights heading towards them, "I guess this guy gets a night off the streets at least, hopefully he catches another ass whooping in jail."
The police get out their car and run over to take the place of Nika and Katie. The two women stand close together and then wrap their arms around each other. What was supposed to be a nice night between them quickly turned sour but both managed to get away without taking any damage. They decide that to end the night that a hotel is probably best, the wine has worn off because of the burst of adrenaline and clearer heads see it as the best option. They clean up the camp and head to the nearest hotel.