Braze barely had time to react before the solid thud of Jasper's shoulder plate connected with the top of his head. Instinctively, he stepped back, wincing as his hand rubbed the spot where the metal struck. Even though it was light, it hurt more than he expected.
He took a few more steps back, his smirk quickly fading. As the sting settled in, he could feel the heat rising to his face, a noticeable flush spreading across the bridge of his nose and creeping up to the tips of his ears.
Sullen now, Braze avoided looking directly at Jasper, his hands still rubbing the sore spot. The embarrassment gnawed at him, and beneath the surface, something sharper stirred. His mood shifted, more upset now, and his gaze darkened with a narrowed little glare. He'd be more cautious, but there was a new edge to him—more vicious, more calculated.
His eyes flicked to Jasper's footing, and an idea formed. Instead of rushing in recklessly, Braze reached out with the Force, focusing on the ground beneath one of Jasper's feet.
With a subtle movement of his hand, Braze channeled the Force to lift the earth under Jasper's foot, creating a sudden shift in the terrain. The ground shifted just enough, hoping abruptly to shove his Master off balance, tipping him to one side.
At the same time, with a swift flick of his wrist, he summoned the jumper cables with the Force, guiding them through the air toward Jasper's organic hand. The cables snaked toward him, aiming to wrap around his wrist in a bid attempt at binding his movements.
