Setting the Ground

Silence. Then, weight. My fists were already clenched before my eyes focused. I tested the joints in my forearms, feeling the stiffness give way to deliberate force. Beneath my boots, the pale ceramic tile was cold, smooth, and unyielding. I planted my right boot firmly against the grout seam, dragging the sole just enough to test traction. The surface held. I lowered my guard by an inch, squaring my shoulders against the wall behind me. Ground secured.