Watching Cruella Queen fight didn't get any easier the more it happened.

It didn't quite help that she was up against the undeniable strength and talent of Eddie Yamaguchi. If they weren't fighting inside a grimy old warehouse with a jeering crowd constantly erupting around her, Moxie might have tried to convince herself to appreciate the hard work and skill that went into every punch, every dodge. Instead, she tried not to focus too hard on the jabs that landed, which didn't work out well either, considering she knew and cared about both of the opponents.

Cruella and Eddie traded off round wins. Neither Moxie nor Axel cheered. They both looked too sick, despite their insistence on staying and supporting their significant others.

In an attempt to steer her focus away from not-yet-present bruises along her body, Moxie watched Cruella's face, mostly her eyes. The most stunning shade of green; she couldn't see it clearly from that distance, but she filled in the blanks with her memories.

She appeared to be having a good time, which, despite Moxie's discomfort, seemed to be a good thing. Being able to go toe-to-toe with someone like Eddie Yamaguchi, even if she was clearly having an off night, had to be a welcome ego boost. Cruella looked just as in her element as she did at the last fight, with all of the bewilderment from when she sat in the audience at Eddie's New Orleans match.

And yet, Moxie wondered if she was staring at Cruella, Cruella!, or someone else entirely.

Moxie was grateful she had Axel by her side. Any time they caught each other's eye, they understood what the other was thinking, how they felt watching the fight. They anxiously ate their way through the entire bag of gummy candies. Tried to find some more where there was none.

By the time the fourth round came to a nail-biting climax, they both looked ready to jump ship. And they really might have, if not for a single, destructive moment when Eddie happened to look out at the crowd and right in Axel's direction. There was no mistaking the debilitating recognition in her eyes.

Cruella took advantage of the distraction, too preoccupied to see what had drawn Eddie's attention. Eddie landed on the mat; the crowd cheered; Axel winced. Onlookers flooded the ring and lifted Cruella onto their shoulders. Eddie lay back, staring up at the frenzy surrounding her.

Axel tugged on Moxie's sleeve. He gulped before mumbling. "Good to see you. I gotta go."

"Wait—" Moxie started, but he had already bolted out of the venue before she could start functioning again.

She took a few steps toward the door, ready to find Axel and make him promise that he was truly okay, or as okay as he could be, but Cruella had disappeared from the top of the crowd, and Moxie couldn't stop herself from finding her girl. She would have to text Axel later and hope he replied.

Moxie couldn't find Cruella. She weaved through the crowd, shoving people with her elbows and calling out for her, but had no luck. She probably could have checked the dressing room area, but wasn't sure if she would be let through by herself and didn't want to potentially make anyone who was inside uncomfortable.

She was probably being a little dramatic, but Moxie had to fight the urge to throw up on her shoes. There were way too many people around, still hyped up on the high of Cruella's win.

Moxie made her way to the door that she and Axel had used earlier. He would be long gone by then, but in the off chance Cruella had gotten hold of him, she figured it couldn't hurt.

She opened the door and walked straight into someone.

"Oh god—I'm sorry—"

"If I just got smacked in the face by a dumb, annoying man—Oh, it's Eddie." Moxie sighed. "Thank god."

"I didn't—" Eddie looked exhausted. Sweat-soaked hair clung to her face. Her eyes were wide, frazzled. "Are you okay?"

Moxie wanted to laugh. As if she had been the one who got knocked off her feet. "I'm fine. Are you okay? Why are you out here? Where's your stuff?"

The relentless waves of questions probably didn't help. Maybe she should have taken it slower.

"It's inside. I—uh, thought I saw... Did I see him?"

Of course, she had. They both realistically knew it. But Moxie wasn't sure that admitting it was the best course of action at that moment. Eddie might sprinted off in search of Axel, and she didn't need to exert that kind of energy right now, especially since Axel might not have even wanted that.

"Uh... him? Who him? Mick? No, he's... off being gay elsewhere. Must've been a random guy next to me."

"I—" Eddie's eyes darted around. "Must've been the punch to the head. Sorry."

Great. Moxie was now contributing to Eddie feeling delirious. Good plan.

"What are you doing out there?" Eddie asked.

"Cruella invited me," Moxie said. She couldn't say she was hoping to run into both Cruella and Axel. "I texted her to meet me outside after she was done, but she never responded. I was coming to grab her."

"Oh, I—don't let me get in your way. Do you want a lead to the changerooms, or?"

"Yes, please." Thank god for Eddie. "Thank you."

Unfortunately, Cruella wasn't in the back either.

Moxie ran her fingers through her hair, head tossed back. She shrank under the most unflattering lights.

"So much for meeting up after," she mumbled under her breath.

Despite dealing with her own complicated emotions, Eddie at least looked sad for her. Moxie couldn't decide if that made her feel better or worse. Especially when Eddie opted to steer the conversation away from a certain Queen.

"Did—um—did you enjoy the fight?" Eddie reached into a locker and started yanking a hoodie over her head.

Moxie felt the threat of the contents of her stomach coming back up again. "In the most respectful way possible... no. But you were both great."

She didn't even look the least bit insulted. "It's come to my attention, especially recently, that watching fights isn't that fun. Sorry you didn't have a good time."

Moxie knew Eddie well enough to know that if she even attempted to convince her that it wasn't about her, she wouldn't believe her. Likely would have felt worse. Which sucked because it had nothing to do with Eddie or the fight, and everything to do with Moxie thinking there was far more to worry about with whatever Cruella was working through but not talking about.

"It's probably easier to handle if you're not close to the people getting beaten up," she chose to say. Seemed less direct. "Not your fault."

Eddie had slid some sweatpants over her shorts. "It... doesn't get easier. Not that that helps in the slightest. A concert is much better."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Moxie asked. "That last hit looked... rough."

"I think I'm fine. Thank you." Eddie only sounded half convinced, but she spoke with enough authority that Moxie didn't want to question it further. "I shouldn't have dropped my guard. My fault. Stupid."

"It happens." The changing room had mostly emptied. The next fight was about to start. At least everyone else would be distracted enough for the two of them to slip away without much attention. "The rest of my evening seems to have opened up. Is coffee safe for consumption after a fight or—"

Moxie would have been fine with an entire bottle of wine, but she didn't want to open that can of worms.

Eddie's shoulders sank with relief. "Coffee sounds better than anything I usually drink after a fight." She hoisted a bag over her shoulder. "I know a place nearby, unless you had somewhere in mind?"

"Anywhere but here. Thank you." Moxie held her arm out. "My treat, just lead the way."

"Oh, not at all. You can take the night off from paying," Eddie insisted.

"My girlfriend is the reason you fell on your face. I'm paying."

Did she just use that word? She did. She didn't mean to. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to.

"Actually, an imaginary man is—"

Look, Moxie was an angry, mean lesbian. But she didn't, like, work out or anything. Eddie probably barely registered the punch to her arm, even after a fight. But that wasn't the point.

"Silly ol' me," Moxie said. "That was so rude. Now I owe you a drink."

She smiled, knowing Eddie wouldn't hit her back to even the playing field. Score one for team Moxie.

"Fine," Eddie begrudgingly accepted. "But I'll only get a small."

Moxie laughed. "A bisexual? With a small coffee? Please."

They started their walk toward the door. "Oh, how my night would be so much better if I could just pay for a coffee for my friend..." Eddie sighed.

Moxie held open the door and ushered her outside.

"Nice try."