MIDTOWN: Doug Ramsey & X-23 & Steve & Open
She hadn't had enough time to see the kick coming to react in a way that meant she wouldn't go sailing back. This man was clearly enhanced like she was, and Laura quickly twisted her body, turning being thrown back into a graceful back flip so that she landed silently on her feet, her foot claw retracting.
Her shoulders rose and fell from heavy breathing. Not from being out of breath, because that was hardly the case, but the rage that was filling her up was causing her to be more animalistic than she would normally -- at least on the outside. Her blue eyes were focused solely on the man that had tackled her while Doug spoke, not completely disregarding the younger one, because you could never be sure, but considering whether or not it was worth coming back in for another strike. Part of her wanted to. Wanted to prove that she could kill the man, but then Doug finished his little speech and his last words caused Laura to look over at him.
Her breathing slowed, and the way that she was holding her arms with her claws out became less taut. Killing him, or even the attacker, wouldn't make her feel better -- or safer. It wouldn't make her feel anything, except for regret, and suddenly, all at once, she realized that that confused her. Her expression quickly changed from seething to distrustful to confused, and finally she lowered her fists to her sides, standing back to full height but not moving.