"No ways. I'm not doing that."


Donovan's words drew a laugh from Raphael, who was stationed on the other side of the table that they were both sitting at, opposite of one another. At this point in time, The Brothers Blackwater were at their makeshift base of operations, aka Azrael's laboratory. The objective was to work out a solution for triggering their father's memory and bring him out into the world from the confines of Rocket's mind. If that was at all possible. They were also supposed to discuss the recent rise in masked men and the random assaults, that were associated with these lowlife scumbags. So far Donovan, Rocket, Abigail, Ezra and Ivan, were all targets of these offenses. Equaling in two fatalities and two major acts of grievous bodily harm, none of which resulted in the masked mystery mens' favor. The assumption was that Maxwell Maximus was behind it all but thus far, there wasn't any direct evidence linking Max to the crimes.


Much like figuring out the way to rekindle Azrael's memory and bring him back, the brothers were clueless as to what to do about this brand new offensive uprising. Not to mention a way to attach Max to it. This was a realization that provoked very different reactions from each of the brothers. Ezra dove headfirst in reanalyzing past research and data in the hopes of finding something... anything that he may have missed. While Donovan did his best to ignore the stress of the situation and Raphael suffered in immense boredom.


Which brings this to Donovan's earlier response and Raphael's instant amusement. The entertainment was derived when Raphael threw out the challenge of arm wrestling at Donovan. Half serious, half joking. He did this to simply see how Donovan would take such a thing, since making that type of suggestion to Ezra was just plain ludicrous. A strong gust of wind could sometimes overpower Ezra. Meanwhile, Donovan had a little more, actual physical strength to attribute to himself. Despite that being the case, Raphael was fully expecting Donovan's answer and his own acutely accurate prediction, made him laugh.


"Come on. I'll even use my left hand. That's not even the one that I predominantly use for stuff."


Raphael egged Donovan on. While Donovan merely rolled his eyes, keeping his attention placed on his phone.


"Not going to happen."


"Why?"


"Because we both already know that you're physically stronger. No need for some primitive test of strength to reinforce that knowledge."


"What if I add on that you can use your powers?"


"Christ. This is getting to sound a tad desperate, Raph. Can't you amuse yourself with something that doesn't involve some sort of contest of barbarism. What's next? Shall we toss entire trees like that lumberjack, Robert Main does in his free time?"


"It's called the caber toss and it takes place at the Scottish Highland Games. Except the men don't throw entire trees. Competitors take turns tossing a large tapered pole, called a caber. Hence the name. Although these poles are made from Larch trees. So you're partially right, Donovan."


Ezra stated this in a matter of fact tone, without pausing even for a second from what he was doing. Eyes never once leaving the computer screen and fingers in constant motion on the keyboard.


"It's doubtful that Robert Main, would take part in such a sport. Since he's American and clearly some type of mountain man. No, Robert more than likely spends his free time wrestling large, dangerous animals. Bears, wolves, elk, bison, the occasional moose."


Slightly smiling to himself, Ezra paused for effect.


"Big Foot."


That's when Donovan lost it.


"Did you say Big Foot?!?!"


Loud, long, hearty laughter. Donovan could no longer keep his gaze transfixed on the phone.


"Awww... damn it. Now I wanna see Robert Main wrassle Big Foot."


Pocketing his phone, Donovan sighed and shook his head.


"Alright. Fuck it. You want to arm wrestle. Fine. I'm in. Sylvester Stallone, Over The Top style. Like I'm battling the odds in order to rescue my son and win a truck."


He fired up a cigarette and scooted in closer to the table.


"Or I'm in prison. I imagine there's a lot of arm wrestling, happening in prison. When there isn't shanking or sodomy going on."


Cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth, he placed his elbow on the table and extended his hand out.


"You said I can use my powers, right?"


"Yeah. If you need to use them. Go for it."


Raphael grabbed onto Donovan's hand.


"Excellent. What do I get for winning this contest?"


"What do you want?"


"I want Robert Main to fight Big Foot."


"I can't make that happen!"


"You can't? I figured if anyone could make that happen, it would be you, Raph. You could be like... 'Hey check it, Main. I got a proposition for you. You vs Big Foot. Whaddya say?' and then Main would look up from his whittling, stroke his beard thoughtfully and nod. From there you both would do a fist bump or that thing where you spit in your hand and shake on it."


"Yeah, that scenario will only ever exist in your fantasies, Donovan."


"All the best ones do."


"Are we going to do this?"


"Yeah, yeah... we are, I still need to figure out what I get when I win though."


"If you win."


"No, I didn't misspeak, I meant what I said. I need to figure out what my prize will be when I win."


"Whatever you say, man. Just don't take all day deliberating this over in your head."


"Hang on. Give me a minute. You can't rush creativity."


Lowering his head a little, Donovan fought off a laugh, obviously concocting some other insane request.


"Donovan."


Eyes shot up to meet Raphael's gaze, Donovan smirked.


"I've got it. When I win. I get to name the stipulation for your match with El Pantera."


"Fine. Deal. What do I get?"


"Same?"


"He gets to name the stipulation for your match with El Pantera?"


"Not literally the same, Ezra. I mean he gets to name the stipulation for my next match."


"Isn't you're next match already set? Aren't you fighting Hanari Carnes for the TV title?"


"Ha! Yeah. So probably not that one... um, the one after that then? Whenever that happens. Does that work?"


"Sure. Sounds good."


"Okay. On three?"


"Technically in the rules of arm wrestling, you start with 'ready' and 'go'."


"Then you start the match Mr. Encyclopedia."


"Yeah. You can judge who the winner is too."


"Really, there's supposed to be two people, tasked with judging this sort of thing."


"Ezra. You're my brother and I love you but I'm seriously going to fucking kill you."


"Fine. Whatever. I'll do it."


Along with a turn of his swivel chair, Ezra diverted his attention away from the computer.


"Thank you."


"Oh sure anytime."


Both Raphael and Donovan settled up, proper style and readied themselves to begin. As they waited, Donovan used his free hand to remove the cigarette from his mouth, in order to ash it off to the side. Promptly replacing it.


"How about loser sweeps the floor."


"Calm down Ezra, don't get your jimmies in a rustle."


"This is dad's lab, I'm quite certain that he wouldn't want cigarette ash, all over the floor."


"Our father has iron cages hanging from the ceiling, like messed up souvenirs of the past. Cages he probably kept living beings inside, that he eventually tortured and maybe even killed. I doubt he'd care about some ash on the floor."


Sigh.


"Sure Ezra. Loser sweeps the floor."


"Okay."


Satisfied with the acceptance of that added stipulation, Ezra leaned back in his chair.



"Ready. Go!"


With a mischievous grin, Donovan sent the chair flying out from under Raphael, causing him to crash to the floor. While the chair clattered against the wall. Popping up from his seat with a triumphant smile and arms raised out to his sides like a victorious champion, Donovan proclaimed.


"Yes! I did it! I knew I could claim the win!"


This celebration was short lived cause within a matter of a few seconds, Raphael jumped up from the floor, flipping the table in the process, he went straight for Donovan. Who was already running away, laughing.


"Don't be a sore loser Raph, I won fair and square!"


"Fuck that noise! You cheated!"


"You said that I could use my powers! You never told me how I could use them!"


Ezra briefly contemplated going after them but ultimately decided to go back to his work instead. He was sure this predicament would sort itself out in due time.