"What? Are you even listening to yourself!?" He's getting tired. Ezekiel knows his own body inside out and he knows that he can't keep this up for long. He needs to do something NOW.

With every sidestep he tries to position himself closer to Flynn and then, suddenly, lunges at him. Flynn laughs, clearly having anticipated the move, and the tattoos glow -- but this time Ezekiel ignores them and throws a punch. There are two seconds of utter satisfaction when a baffled expression crosses Flynn's stupid smug face and he stumbles back, clutching his nose with a surprised yelp.

But Ezekiel is tired and there's not enough power behind the punch. It didn't hit quite right, too, and then cold fury explodes on Flynn's face and no, Ezekiel has to hurry, he has to knock him out before Stone gets to him and--

"Excalibur!"

--and then suddenly there's Cal, with a sad whine and trembling unhappily but obeying Flynn's command, his blade at Ezekiel's chin. He freezes. Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, no.

For a moment, everything is dead silent.

"Well, well, well," Flynn then says with a voice that makes Ezekiel's blood turn to ice. He wipes at his bleeding nose and steps in close, staring Ezekiel down, his eyes burning, an unspoken promise passing between them. I'll make you pay for this.

Then the corner of his mouth lifts, and Ezekiel would never, ever have thought he could look so cruel. Flynn moves away from him, leaving an opening for Jake. "Isn't that interesting. Looks like there's another thing Jones forgot to mention to you, Stone."

With Cal at his neck, all Ezekiel can do is clench his fists in helpless rage. "It's not... like that."