[Riku doesn't look willowy, he looks strong. He carries it differently than the thugs roaming the streets in Gotham, who roll their shoulders walk with an exaggerated confidence, drawing attention to their arms and chests while meandering- slow on their feet. Riku's figure is different, the muscle in his arms looks earned, perhaps through labor. He'd known about the boathouse as the ferry was sinking which suggests more than a passing familiarity so perhaps he worked dockside or as a fisherman. He's never overstated his presence, as if he has nothing to prove and no reason to do so. Bruce's surprise comes when they connect and Riku doesn't bodily startle, he rolls into it.
He'd made mention of his history in passing over the network, combat experience. It's apparent here not in the strength with which he retaliates, but in the ease of the transition. Riku lands on his back but there's no moment of shock or hesitation; he moves easily onto the offensive.
Bruce inhales through his mouth, and recalculates. Riku's expression twists. Bruce grapples for his arm, tries to hook his leg- he succeeds and is dislodged just as readily, and that too becomes an exchange. He isn't, at any moment, afraid for his life because despite the pain on Riku's face, killing Bruce isn't his priority. He still wants to pursue whatever that vision was, it's the reason he still glances up and the reason his blows aren't as devastating as they could be. The fabric of the mask smears blood across his face- into his mouth and around his nostrils. Sweat plasters his hair to his forehead and streaks down his temple, over his brow, into his eye.
His stomach goes taut and Bruce has to fight the instinct to double over- to draw his arms and knees in to protect the ribcage that Riku's knuckles continue to smash against. Pain crackles through him, radiating across his body. But with Riku on top of him, pinning him to the earth, he loses the advantage of gravity. He has to endure it instead. Bruce grunts through clenched teeth and jerks the arm caught over his head, smacks Riku's face and promises a black eye in the process- but that isn't his goal. He needs Riku to bear down harder on that side because it leaves him off balance, if he's going to try and keep Bruce from striking him again and keep peppering his side with jabs.
That imbalance is what Bruce is banking on. The moment he feels his weight tip just beyond the halfway point, one leg will snap up and bend, curl around Riku's leg and Bruce will push- roll them over, reverse their positions to land on top.]
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He'd made mention of his history in passing over the network, combat experience. It's apparent here not in the strength with which he retaliates, but in the ease of the transition. Riku lands on his back but there's no moment of shock or hesitation; he moves easily onto the offensive.
Bruce inhales through his mouth, and recalculates.
Riku's expression twists. Bruce grapples for his arm, tries to hook his leg- he succeeds and is dislodged just as readily, and that too becomes an exchange. He isn't, at any moment, afraid for his life because despite the pain on Riku's face, killing Bruce isn't his priority. He still wants to pursue whatever that vision was, it's the reason he still glances up and the reason his blows aren't as devastating as they could be. The fabric of the mask smears blood across his face- into his mouth and around his nostrils. Sweat plasters his hair to his forehead and streaks down his temple, over his brow, into his eye.
His stomach goes taut and Bruce has to fight the instinct to double over- to draw his arms and knees in to protect the ribcage that Riku's knuckles continue to smash against. Pain crackles through him, radiating across his body. But with Riku on top of him, pinning him to the earth, he loses the advantage of gravity. He has to endure it instead. Bruce grunts through clenched teeth and jerks the arm caught over his head, smacks Riku's face and promises a black eye in the process- but that isn't his goal. He needs Riku to bear down harder on that side because it leaves him off balance, if he's going to try and keep Bruce from striking him again and keep peppering his side with jabs.
That imbalance is what Bruce is banking on. The moment he feels his weight tip just beyond the halfway point, one leg will snap up and bend, curl around Riku's leg and Bruce will push- roll them over, reverse their positions to land on top.]