https://youtu.be/IVm0pAkwG4AAlright, you reply with a wry grin as you cross your arms across your chest, it’s a deal-
The word ‘<span class="mu-i">deal</span>’ barely leaves your lips before you realize the horrible mistake you’ve made… picking up her bat with a little flourish, Pepper squares her feet and crouches into a hitting position just in time to send the ball hurtling into the net like a laced-up meteor!
“Hey,” she chirps as she gets ready for the next one, “I got one!”
Y-yea, you nod, she did! Taking a stealthy steadying breath, your smile slowly repairs itself… beginner’s luck, that’s all! There’s no way she’s gonna hit any more!
Seven more slammers later and you’re a haggard shell of a man… you don’t even hide your despair as the girl kicks open the cage gate and saunters over to you humming a jaunty tune!
“She’s all yours, Diesel!” Pepper announces as she hands the bat over to you like it was a magical sword! “Knock ‘em dead!”
Yea, you nod as you pull yourself together, get ready for that favor! Entering the cage with a swing of the bat, you shove a few coins into the machine and choke up on the bat… you defeated a mad scientist and an island full of mutant freaks, you think to yourself, you can handle a <span class="mu-s">BALL!</span>
Gritting your teeth in anticipation, you have no trouble smacking the first ball! Crashing into the wall behind the green netting, the first pitch rolls around for a little longer as you get ready for the next one!
Focus on the <span class="mu-s">FAVOR</span>, you mutter under your breath, <span class="mu-i">think</span> about the <span class="mu-s">FAVOR!</span>
Sending the next ball into the nonexistent bleachers, the sound of Pepper cheering you on despite your little contest along with the promise of an actual return on the aforementioned favor has the opposite effect you wanted… images start to cloud your mind of all the possibilities, and just when you’re about to regain focus you feel a ball whizz across the plate!
“Eyes on the ball, slick!”
SHIT! Shaking the risque images from your head, you take your date’s advice and focus as best as you can!
You’re ready for the next ball, but as you go to slam it out of the park, it slips just past your bat and crashes into the cage behind you!
To her credit, the redhead doesn’t say anything… but you can see a smile forming on her face…
Bolstered by her <span class="mu-i">SMUGNESS</span>, you send the next two balls careening into the net! After sending your <span class="mu-s">SEVENTH</span> ball screaming away, you adjust your footing a bit and take a breath… if you can just hit these next two…
>CONTD. 