JLR/Ultimates
Ace vs. Hawkeye
As the rest of the battle continued, Ace, the card throwing……Ace moved through the combatants and headed for the one man who could match all his skills in turn. His opponent was observing the other heroes fight, still having decided whom he should attack, he waited. He didn’t wait for long as he noticed the black garbed Ace approaching. Slowly he turned to face his adversary he grabbed his bow and attached the string. Checking he had clear access to his arrows he waited, assessing the situation.
Ace, having spotted Hawkeye moved towards him, purposefully, determined, ready for the fight. Absently he scratched his wrists, having attached decks of cards to each wrist in order to better and faster throw the cards at his enemies. As he approached Hawkeye he evaluated him. Having already noticed him, and begun preparing himself told Ace that this one was a confident man, a man with skills not to be underestimated. Once again he tested his cards, knowing that this was going to be a fight that would press his skills to the max, a fight where mistakes were not allowed.
“you must be Ace” Hawkeye said, his tone clearly stating that it was not a question, but an acknowledgement. Ace nodded curtly, responding in turn “Hawkeye, your reputation precedes you, though it will be of no use to you, as I will defeat you”
Hawkeye lifted an eyebrow “A little overconfident, aren’t we?” He asked Ace, clearly not believing his opponents boast.
Ace responded “On the contrary, I have read of your skills, and though they are impressive I must impress on you the fact that our skills are equal, but I have something that you don’t”
Again Hawkeye lifted an eyebrow “Explain” he asked.
Ace regarded Hawkeye, not knowing whether he should take time to explain the situation, or exploit the momentary confusion in his opponent. Deciding on following the path of honor he began speaking “Your team, the mighty Ultimates may have our team outgunned, it’s true, but you seem to be forgetting that we have everything to gain, and nothing to loose. Quite the contrary with your team who has everything to loose” Ace nodded towards the battle, “Ours is a team that no one has ever heard of, and all though very persistent our only real villain thus far has been quite pathetic. Even as a hero he lacks in usefulness” He nodded towards Chant and Hawkeye indicated that he understood and that Ace should continue.
“This means that for us to be taken seriously we must win this tournament, ei defeating you!”
Hawkeye thought about what Ace had said for a moment, turning his head slightly away. “Although I can understand your situation Ace, I won’t let you win” Having said his piece Hawkeye drew an arrow, and with neigh lightning speed let it loose. Flying straight and true the arrow quivered slightly, and suddenly, it went off course as if some force had interfered with its path.
Hawkeye took a step back, clearly shocked that he had not hit his target.
Ahead of him Ace straightened again, having thrown his cards to deflect the arrow. “What you can do with arrows, I can do with cards” He said, and with a flick of his wrists he had a card in each hand “Shall we begin?”
Hawkeye cracked his knuckles, stretched his neck and knocked and arrow. “Yes, yes, let us begin this fight” And suddenly he moved, shooting arrow after arrow at Ace, who, in turn threw card upon card at Hawkeye.
Hawkeye, seeing his attack returned in force, desperately tried to avoid being hit by the razor sharp cards coming towards him. He deftly executed a back flip, and then another, and another, dodging the first cards. The seventh card however cut the leather string holding his quiver.
Seeing this, Ace threw another card at the quiver on the ground with tremendous force. The card hit the quiver, cutting it and the arrows in two halves.
Hawkeye kneeled, wiping a drop of sweat from his brow. This is bad he thought. He only had one arrow left, and apparently his adversary had plenty of cards left.
Ace stood back, looking at Hawkeye. He had been lucky. Man was that man a great shot. One of the arrows had actually ripped his jacket, merely half an inch from his torso. He had to be more careful, or this fight would soon be over, even though Hawkeye only had one more arrow left. He took a few steps towards Hawkeye, throwing three more cards.
Getting up, Hawkeye, in one fluid motion, swung his bow and deflected the cards.
“It seems that you have the advantage Ace” He nodded towards his broken arrows “It seems like the kiddy gloves will have to come off”
In a blur of motion he knocked his final arrow, aimed, and let loose. The arrow flew straight at Ace who reacted by throwing several cards, once again trying to deflect Hawkeye’s arrow. This time however, the arrow flew too fast and it found its target. Ripping through leather and metal the arrow tore the left card dispenser on Aces wrist. A tiny droplet of blood fell to the ground.
“I was unaware that we drew blood in this contest” Ace said, inspecting the wound. Seeing it was minor and of inconsequential he directed his attention back to Hawkeye.
“Sorry about that” Hawkeye responded with a smile. Having no arrows left he threw the bow to the side and started towards Ace. If I have to take him, it has to be fast he thought, and steered slightly to the left of Ace.
Ace readied himself, and pulled another card, waiting for Hawkeye to come closer. At the last instant, when Hawkeye was only a few yards away he threw the card and dodged to the right, away from Hawkeye, his card missing its target.
Ace rolled back to his feet and turned around, facing his opponent. Gone!
Where was he Ace thought, he couldn’t just disappear like that. He turned around to a whispering sound behind him and barely ducked Hawkeye’s fist. The blow glanced of his chin, but still sent Ace flying.
Hawkeye looked at Ace sprawling on the ground, absently he felt his neck, checking for injuries where the card had hit him. It stung, and looking at his hand he saw blood, but not much. Turning his attention back to Ace he saw that the card throwing wonder was coming back up.
Ace looked up, seeing Hawkeye’s attention was elsewhere he slowly got up, pulling another card. Seeing that his movement did not go unnoticed he hurled his card at Hawkeye, and stopped in shock. Hawkeye had deflected the card with the back of his hand. This is bad Ace thought, this is really bad.
Ace decided to try a different approach, it seemed that Hawkeye wanted a fist-fight and Ace thought he should oblige him, though in a way that Hawkeye would not expect.
“You want a fist-fight, huh?” Ace asked him, slowly getting up wiping the dust from his jacket. Hawkeye looked at him, silently, not responding, no trace of exhaustion or confusion. “Have you lost your tongue man?” Ace looked at him, why is he not answering, he thought, why is he so quiet?
Hawkeye turned his head slightly, keeping his eyes on Ace. “A fist-fight? Hmmm, we’ll try that, but I have to ask though, what alternative will you come up with after I beat you blue and yellow?”
Hawkeye raised a questioning eyebrow. Ace shrugged, ignoring the question and closed his hands in fists and charged towards Hawkeye.
Hawkeye took a defensive stance, ready to receive the attack as Ace ran towards him. At the last instant Ace pulled a card and threw it a Hawkeye who desperately tried to dodge the card. He sprung backwards in a back flip, but he knew it was too late. Ace came charging down on him hit him with both fists, sending Hawkeye sprawling. Once again Ace attacked Hawkeye by kicking him squarely in the ribs. Hawkeye rolled back, trying to regain his breath, and climbed to his knees. He looked up at Ace who stood right before him. “Cheater” He merely said. Ace looked at him with mild amusement on his face. “You forget that the first rule of war is to give your enemy no opportunity to defend himself” Having said that Ace kicked Hawkeye in the face sending him flying again, and Hawkeye was down.
Ace stepped back, drawing in a deep breath he pondered the fight. This wasn’t like him at all, he had won, but only through the use of subterfuge and cunning. No, this wasn’t like him at all. He turned his attention to rest of the fight, seeing that Midnight Spectre had engaged Captain America.
