Arriving in the infirmary, Doc tutted on about 'these damned dangerous missions' and having words with Keegan about breaking her beautiful babies, but Penny heard none of it. The work was swift, and by the time Penny came to, roughly an hour or so later, there was barely a hint of the trauma she had endured, but for a touch of red around her hip and the mark from the IV in her arm.
It was still a good while after that, that she was finally allowed to leave, and was only too glad for it, even if it meant promising Doc roughly three hundred times that she would take it easy. There was a job to do, still, and she wasn't gonna let a little thing like getting shot stop her. Very few things in life mattered to Penny... And none more than Rogue. It was her family. Her sanctuary. And of Keegan gave her a mission, she was going to complete it.
After some hunting around, she discovered that Deckard was, in fact, still on the premises. It was a good sign, even if he was only there to assuage a guilty conscience. He was on the hook... And in her territory... he'd be a hell of a lot easier to reel in.
Heading to her room first, Penny changed in a pair of shorts and a tank top. It wasn't exactly the 'take it easy' wear, but she had no real intentions of following through on that notion. She respected Doc... But there was no telling how long Deckard would stick around, and she had no doubt in her mind if the man got away this time, they would lose him for good.
Heading to the gym, Penny paused in the doorway, and for a moment or two, she watched as he worked against the bag. She smiled faintly, noting that he's taken her advice to heart. His right had improved in the drag, greatly. Unfortunately it wouldn't matter much for him...
Her entire plan hinged on the next few moments, and she didn't intend to fail, "Hey Sugar... Stuck around, after all, did you?"
Deck stilled the bag as soon as he heard Penny speak to him, "Just long enough to know you were fine," he ran his forearm across his sweaty brow and then dropped his arms to his side, "Now I can be on my way."
With a small smirk, Penny pushed off the doorframe, "Just like that? Not even gonna give it a try? You're already here… What's the difference between a few hours or something less temporary?"
"Getting shot at or enjoying a nice spot on a sunny beach in peace and quiet," he said frankly as he once again moved to his bag. He had changed into his last shirt and a pair of black basketball shorts, "Save your breath...Penny, was it? I like you," he told her, "The way you took that bullet to save Finn, but I'm not joining Rogue and there's nothing you can do to change my mind."
"Nothing, hm?" Rolling her neck, she shook out her arms, "You're pretty good on that bag, Deckard. But I know my way around one, pretty well, too. What's say we put a wager on it? You and me, in the ring. One fight. You win… we leave you alone. For good. No more trying to recruit you. No more chasing you around… following your movements. You ghost and we let you go. But I win…" Looking up, her eyes met his, her lip curving in a smirk, "You join. What do you have to lose? Big strong guy like you, hm?"
"You and me?" he gestured between the two of them and then chuckled with a shake of his head, "I'm not fighting you."
A brow lifted, and Penny set her hands on her hips, "What's a matter, Sugar… don't think you can take me?"
"I don't hit girls," he shrugged, "unless they deserve it. You...You just got shot. I'm not fighting you."
"I'm all healed up. Doc's a miracle worker." The woman really was, to put it mildly. Even if she'd kill Penny for what she was trying to do, "And honey… you're making the assumption I'm gonna get hit. Ain't gonna happen."
Deckard slung his bag over his shoulder, "Sorry to disappoint," he flashed a fake smile, "Thanks for the excitement. Hope it never happens again."
Turning around, Penny moved to the gym doors and without a word, she yanked them shut, holding each handle shut behind her as she faced Deckard again, "...What are you so damn scared of? You know this is the best place for you… and you know Keegan won't stop."
"I'm not scared," he said, annoyed, "and who are you, or Keegan for that matter, to tell me where the best place for me is? It's not like it's any safer. What? Fifteen minutes with you and drone fire's spraying all over the place. I'm safer alone, and the sooner you guys realize that for yourselves, the sooner you'll stop getting shot, or losing your friends to R.I.E.F."
"Safer alone? Really? What do you think is gonna happen when you run out of places to hide? When they get your face out there… get a blood sample? What happens when they put one of those bullets in you and you can't run anymore? At least with us you'd have a chance. But this? This half assed attempt to stay above water? Eventually, it's gonna fail you."
"It hasn't yet," he said as he tried for the door, "Move."
Straightening, her fingers clamping tighter on the handles, she shook her head, "It will. And make me."
"What are we? Ten now? Move," he reached for the door again.
One hand moved, to smack his out of the way, a brow raised, "...No."
Frustration washed over his face as he pulled his hand back, "What's wrong with you?" he shook his head, "I don't want to be here. Move so I can leave, or I'll move you myself."
Her other hand left the knob, and she held up her fists, squaring off, "You can try, anyway."
Dropping his bag, he put up his hands and slid his left leg back, "Don't make me do this over a door."
"You're not…" Watching his feet, she took a small step forward, "... getting through that door…"
"Fine," he threw a jab, cross, hook combination, holding back so as to not hit her with his full strength.
Ducking out of the way, Penny's fist balled tightly and thrust into his ribs, her other arm swinging up to catch his chin.
He hadn't taken Penny seriously. That was his first mistake. Her fist slammed against his ribs and Deckard almost didn't get his high guard up in time to block the second swing. Deckard kicked his bag away and took a couple steps back, his hands up, "Alright," he touched his rib, "Alright," he smirked, this time throwing a jab to her face, cross to her side, and an uppercut hoping to catch her chin.
Weaving to the side, Penny slipped beneath the jab and cocked her hip away from the cross, reaching up her arm to block the uppercut with near impossible reflex, before slamming her fist into his shoulder, swinging around with a hook to his jaw.
The catch to his shoulder, threw him off balance, and the hook to the jaw would bruise as her fist caught it. He had to take another step back to catch himself, Deck's brow narrowed as confusion flashed across his face before determination set back in. Deck threw a quick jab that he followed up with a cross, hook, cross combination.
"You're predictable…" Penny said, as she dancing around the combination, and the corner of her lip curled up in a smile, "And your right…" Swinging swiftly, she struck for his jaw again, "Is still slow."
Deck rubbed his jaw as he took another couple stumble steps. This wasn't real. He must have been dreaming. Shaking it off with a shake of his head and a roll of his shoulders, Deck put his hands back up, "Shut up," he threw a hard left hook for her side, before throwing a right hook.
She moved and the left hook grazed along her side as her arm came up to protect against the right, "You're too used to being alone. Plowing your fists into a sandbag ain't the same as a face to face. And it's made your defenses weak." Swinging, a feint for his jaw again, she instead swept out a leg, high, swinging it hard to take the blade of her shin to the side of his head.
Deck fell for the feint, bringing his arm up to block the blow that never came. Just in time, he managed to switch his guard, but not without taking most of the blow instead of absorbing and distributing it. Stumbling, Deck tripped over a bench and fell to the floor and onto his back. He had to blink to steady his vision as he looked up at Penny.
"Problem with alone, Deck. The bag don't hit back… and it don't have your back." Stepping over the bench, she held her hand out to him, "You need us, too."
Deck clenched his jaw as he looked up at Penny. There was truth to what she said no matter how badly he wished otherwise. Perhaps being alone for so long had made him think it was better than it really was. Maybe...just maybe there was a place for him here.
A clap sounded before the click of a cane hit the floor, "That was…" Keegan whistled, "You did your homework didn't you, Penny," looking beyond Penny, Deckard frowned as he sat up. Keegan wore quite the grin, "It's her gift, Deck. She just has to watch you and then she can kick your ass."
Glaring, Deck looked toward Penny, "What? You used your power?"
With a shrug, Penny's hand fell to her side, "Can't turn it off, Sugar. Just happens… Gift ain't the word I use…"
He cracked half a smile as he shook his head, "You knew all along. It's the only reason you made that wager isn't it?"
"I don't need to see your moves ahead of time to kick your ass, Deck. You really are predictable."
"Oh," he nodded as he stood to his feet. His eyes shifted to Keegan and the man shrugged with a smile before he took a step back, "I'm predictable?" he put his hands up again, "Wanna test that again?"
A brow lifted, but Penny shrugged, "Your call." Raising her hands, she wiggled her fingers at him with a smirk, "Let's go, Big Guy."
Deck nodded, "I'm not going to hold back this time, at all," he promised before he threw a predictable combination.
Rolling her eyes, Penny eased into a block and swung hard, bringing her leg low to his ribcage with a swivel of her hips.
This time, Deck smiled. Pulling tight his side, he caught her leg against his body and swept her anchor foot out from beneath her. His assault didn't end there, though. Holding firm to her leg, Deckard used the momentum to drive her back hard into the floor. When she hit the ground, he released her foot and quickly straddled her waist. Pulling his fist back, his massive form pinning her to the ground and looming over her, he spoke, "How's that for predictable?"
When she hit the mat the air exploded from her lungs and eyes wide, shock registered only split seconds before panic. Her arms rose at the same time and she swung, wild, sloppy arcs, unfocused and unbalanced.
"Stop," he told her as he batted away her wild swings, "Penny, stop!" he warned her again as he tried to catch her arms. Whatever swings landed, did little to no damage. When she didn't listen a second time, Deck used his ability to pin her to the mat, "Stop! It's over!"
"Let me go!" She cried, and it wasn't a note of anger in her tone, but fear. Real, genuine fear, her eyes blazed with tears, "Get off!"
It only took those first three words for him to note that something wasn't right. The cocky attitude quickly dissipated and raw fear overwhelmed her. Quickly he arose to his feet, and when he was safely up, he released her, "I-I'm sorry," he told her.
Rolling onto her side, Penny smacked the flat of her hand to the floor, frustration melting away the brief vestiges of fear, "It's fine… I'm fine!" She hissed, without looking up.
"Temperance," Keegan spoke, concern laced on his voice. The quick pegging of the cane announced the speed of his steps toward the two of them though he stopped just shy of her. Deckard could tell he wanted to continue pressing, to probably ask if she was alright, but when Keegan turned to him, he could see the man had chosen against it. His hand slid into his pocket and when it emerged, a small cardkey was in it, "The key to your room," he told Deck.
"My room?" Deckard replied.
"Yes," Keegan smiled weakly, "she did win after all."
Turning then, Penny looked to Deckard with a small, uneasy frown, "Well?"
A sigh pushed through his lips as his eyes bounced between Penny and the card. He looked down to where his bag was, the door and then back to her before he took the cardkey from Keegan, "You have my back?" he asked Penny.
The mask slid across her features again, as Penny rose to her feet, and stepping before him, she met his eyes, "I took a bullet for Finn, today. What the hell do you think?"
"Rogue's got one chance," he looked to Keegan, "Don't make me regret this."
Deckard retrieved his bag, "By the way, Penny, you owe me three shirts."
With a guarded smirk, Penny shrugged, "You can have mine, any time, Sugar. But I don't think it'll fit." Her eyes danced to Keegan, shoulders pinched in a shrug, "Got your guy, Boss. I'm taking tomorrow off."
"That you did, Temperance. That you did," Keegan spoke as he watched Deckard and Penny exit the gym. A heavy sigh passed through his nostrils as he leaned on the cane, "Rest up, the both of you. You'll need it," he spoke low and after he was the last one in the gym.