In an empty abandoned warehouse, Jonathan was standing across from Oliver, confusion marred his face. "What are we doing here, Oliver?" He asked.
Oliver, clarified his intentions. "I need to see what you can do before we start training," he stated, his voice carrying a hint of challenge.
Jonathan, however, was quick to dismiss the need for such assessments. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm here to learn how to fight from you, and maybe go on patrol to see how you do it around here. But my speed will make any test you do null." His face set in a smirk. "In fact, I planned on not using it while you taught me to fight. It would make things too easy."
Without warning, Oliver's demeanor shifted. He quickly nocked an arrow and launched it towards Jonathan. Jonathan knew this was Oliver's way of saying use his speed.
Jonathan tapped into the speed force, his world slowing down as he did. In a flash, he was next to Oliver, leg extended in a swift, powerful motion that connected with Oliver's stomach, sending him flying backwards a few feet.
Jonathan came to a stop. "You alright over there bud?" He asked, before giving a small laugh. "Heh, theres a reason I said I'm just here to learn how to fight. I'm fast enough to catch bullets 10 mm and below so unless your arrows are moving at 800+ miles an hour they wont ever touch me."
Oliver's response was a mix of pain and frustration, his temperament flaring as he confronted Jonathan. "Then why are you here? To make me look like a fool by using your powers to beat down on me?" There was a raw edge to his voice.
Jonathan, taken aback by the intensity of Oliver's reaction, realized his misunderstanding. "No, that's not it at all," he hurried to explain. "I'm here because I don't want to find myself up against another speedster who can match my speed. If our fight comes down to who actually knows how to fight, I know I'd lose. That's what I'm trying to avoid."
Oliver studied Jonathan for a moment, considering his words. "That's why you want to leave your speed out of this," he finally said, having calmed down.
Jonathan nodded firmly. "Yeah, I can't rely on it for everything. There are going to be situations where speed alone won't save the day. What then?"
Oliver crossed his arms. "Then, you adapt. You learn to fight smart, not just fast."
"That's why I'm here," Jonathan replied, eager. "To learn from the you."
Oliver's smiled. "Alright, Jonathan Jacobs. Let's see how you handle yourself without that speed of yours. Ready?"
"More than you'll ever know," Jonathan responded with a determined glint in his eye.
Without preamble, the fight began. Oliver, moved first, advancing with a series of quick, measured steps to close the gap between them. Jonathan, focused, trying to mirror Oliver's movements, seeking to anticipate and counter.
Oliver launched a sudden jab towards Jonathan's face, a move Jonathan barely parried by pivoting to the side, using his arm to deflect Oliver's. Seizing the moment, Jonathan attempted a counter-strike, aiming a punch towards Oliver's abdomen. Oliver, however, twisted deftly, turning his body to let the punch graze harmlessly by, and responded with a swift elbow jab directed at Jonathan's ribs. The hit landed, with controlled force, prompting a grunt from Jonathan as he staggered back.
Undeterred, Jonathan re-engaged, attempting to use his basic knowledge to outmaneuver Oliver. He feigned a right hook, hoping to draw Oliver's guard up, and then swiftly dropped to aim a sweeping kick at Oliver's legs. But Oliver, predicting the move, leaped over the sweep, landing smoothly and exploiting Jonathan's temporary imbalance to deliver a firm kick against his chest, sending Jonathan sprawling to the ground.
Jonathan quickly rolled back to his feet. He rushed Oliver, launching a flurry of punches, each one parried or dodged that Jonathan found increasingly difficult to penetrate. Oliver's counters were precise, a punch on the shoulder here, a kick against Jonathan's back there—each one a clear indication of how he could have capitalized if the intent had been to harm.
In a decisive move, Oliver caught one of Jonathan's punches, twisting it to lead into a controlled throw. Jonathan found himself on the floor once again, this time pinned in a hold that allowed no room for escape.
Breathing heavily, Jonathan acknowledged his defeat with a nod. Oliver released him, offering a hand to help him up.
As they both stood, Oliver spoke. "Every fall, every misstep, teaches you something about yourself and your opponent."
Oliver reset his stance, signaling his readiness for another round. Jonathan, nodding in acknowledgment, also returned to his starting position, mentally steeling himself for what was to come. This time, he focused more closely on Oliver's movements, trying to anticipate rather than simply react.
Oliver initiated the next exchange with a feint to the left, quickly pivoting to strike from the right. Jonathan, having expected a straightforward attack, was caught off guard but managed to adjust in time, narrowly dodging the blow.
Adjusting his approach, Jonathan decided to be more proactive. He launched a series of attacks, aiming to put Oliver on the defensive. He threw a left jab followed by a right cross, but Oliver, undeterred, blocked and sidestepped. Yet, instead of counterattacking immediately, Oliver paused, offering Jonathan a brief moment to analyze and understand his defensive moves.
Encouraged by this, Jonathan attempted a low kick, trying to catch Oliver off-balance. Oliver, however, jumped over the leg sweep and, landing, kicking Jonathan on the shoulder.
They continued, the warehouse filled with the sounds of their sparring—grunts of effort, the slap of skin on skin, and the occasional thud of a body hitting the floor. Oliver's approach was measured, always pushing Jonathan but never overwhelming him. He demonstrated different techniques, from grappling to strikes.
The session was exhaustive, but by the end, Jonathan stood panting, bruised, but enlightened. The physical lessons were clear, but so were the mental. Combat was about understanding, adapting, and outthinking an opponent.
As they wrapped up, Oliver offered Jonathan a nod of respect. "You did well today," he said. "Remember, every opponent will present a new challenge. The key is to never stop learning, never stop evolving."
"Thank you," Jonathan expressed his gratitude as the training session came to an end.
With a respectful nod towards Oliver. "It's about time for me to head back to Central City," he stated. "I'll be back in a few days for more practice."
Oliver acknowledged Jonathan's words with a firm nod. "Take care, Jonathan. Stay safe out there."
The next day, Jonathan sat in his apartment, his focus intense as he pushed his Speed Force abilities. Positioned in front of a digital clock that displayed milliseconds, he concentrated deeply on enhancing his perception of time with the Speed Force. His goal was to push himself to a level where milliseconds felt like minutes, at that speed even he struggled to move.
As he delved deeper, Jonathan harnessed his connection to the Speed Force, willing the milliseconds on the clock to slow down in his perception. With each passing moment, split seconds felt like longer stretches of time.
Jonathan looked at the unchanging milliseconds on the clock. Standing up, he moved around his apartment, each step feeling like a monumental effort. What seemed like simple, slow movements in reality felt as if he was sprinting through a marathon.
Every motion, from lifting a cup to taking a single step, brought a wave of resistance he had never experienced before. The air seemed to thicken around him, pushing back against his every movement. It was as though time itself had become a tangible force, hindering his progress with each passing second.
Jonathan knew that once his connection to the speed force was deep enough he wouldn't feel this level of resistance. Looking around though he decided to test out phasing. He felt that if he could vibrate his body at the speed he was percieving time he would have no problem walking through a wall.
Focusing Jonathan thought back to Wells' speed monologue, what he would tell Barry in the future.
"Listen to me Barry.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Feel the air, feel that wind on your face.
Feel the ground beneath your feet lifting you up, pushing you forward.
And the lightning, Barry, feel the lightning.
Feel its power, its electricity pumping through your veins.
Crackling through you, travelling to every nerve in your body like a shock.
You're no longer you now.
You're part of something greater.
You're part of a speed force.
It's yours.
Now do it"
Jonathan focused intensely, vibrating faster and faster until his body seemed to blur with lightning. With a burst of power, he walked forward and phased through the solid wall before him as if it wasn't there. It was his first time phasing, a moment of awe and excitement as he achieved new speed force abilities. "Suck on that." He yelled. "Only two weeks of having my speed and I can phase."
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What do you all think? I like the sparring scenes. To be honest it's my first time writing any kind of fighting, how'd I do?