Tsume tried to duck her chin, not quite managing it in time before his forearm was cutting into her windpipe. She could never decide if she appreciated being short at times like these--it meant people had to bend to put her in a headlock, which made the headlock less effective--or hated it--because when they bent it took their stomach out of reach of her elbows.

Raidou was good at it, and hooked his arm upward, catching both neck and jaw and making it a true lock, arcing her skull against his chest. No bending. She braced one fist in her other hand, and with the power of both arms shoved her elbow back into his torso.

He grunted and didn't let go.

She was pretty sure that the feeling of oxygen deprivation was mostly in her mind. Pretty sure.

She could always claw his hands again, already scratched, but she wasn't sure he'd let go fast enough. There was another good thing about being short. Fingers hooked, she grabbed for his balls--well within reach.