Against the Ropes [ Sigr & Captain Brandeau ]

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 13, 2018

Vincenzo “Vinny” La Rosa was once the number one MMA prospect highly requested by pro scouts from around the globe. Fighting was to be his golden ticket to fame and bottomless fortune to fulfill his sinful greed. Fortunately, he possessed the talent and skill but his delusion was too selfish to hold its ground. Vinny could think of no greater good worth fighting for than himself and it was that annoying brand of arrogance that resulted in his failure. Through intense training and perseverance, none can ever say the man did not have discipline. And since his epic loss during the fight that ended the beginning of his career that took place plenty of years ago, failure humbled the man.

His eyes used to always shimmer like flames and held an immense passion for doing what he loved most. Having been so hyperactive in his youth and just as impulsive and one-minded, he had a love/hate effect on just about everyone. When people are reminded of the ex-fighter, they are reminded more of his mistakes than his accomplishments. But behind that initial image, his eyes were green like the churning waters of the bay area during a storm. Small, dark lines hung beneath the hollows, deepening with age and granting him total maturity.

Now 29 years of age, almost a decade later, he was dragging barrels of trash to the street curb of his beloved hometown, Chicago. There was nowhere else for him to go when fighting and competing was all he knew except to work in a local restaurant where he bussed tables and washed dishes. No matter the position, everyone wore all black and the males had to have their shirts tucked into their pants. Working for living wages, Vinny did not dislike his work but if someone were to tell him his future ten years sooner he would have laughed his ass off. He scored the job through the owner, Marina, an old classmate from high school who, like everyone else, pitied him. Still, it was an honest living and he was thankful for the opportunity. The restaurant, “Chicago Gold”, featured Italian American flavors; at least twenty different recipes for pasta, twenty styles of pizza, sub sandwiches, and loaded hot dogs. The lunch rush was just minutes away and during cold, rainy days like this one, the restaurant served hot, homemade soups.

The rancid scent of old, unfinished food soured the gum he’d been chewing on, so he leaned over a barrel and spat it out. To his left, the garbage truck slowly turned the corner and onto the street. He had heard the familiar engine rumbling and hissing above the other noises of the bustling city, including sirens in the distance. Vinny would only have to endure the stench and suffer in the icy rain two buildings longer as two men in sanitation uniforms tackled the bins, cans, and barrels on either side of the street. His gaze escaped for a brief moment to look out ahead of him and at the small crowd of people gathered across the way waiting to pass over. Among them, he noted the height of a particular woman who stood out before the truck approached and braked in front of his line of vision. Just as the thought came, it went and he had a job to finish. Vinny would move the emptied barrels out of the path of several pedestrians before a coworker approached him.

“Vinny, Marina needs you inside. I got this.” His tone was somewhat urgent as he took the barrels. They both glanced inside the restaurant through its glass doors and windows and witnessed a line of already 6 people, still growing. The restaurant was of average size with six booths and two tables inside as well as two tables on the outside. On the way back in, Vinny found himself holding the door open for three more customers and a child. Marina assigned him to the backup register after booting it up, which divided the line into two. When he spoke, he first greeted everyone politely, though his face made little movement, and his accent was just as Chicago as everyone else's. He would look down to put money in the drawer and extract exact change and whatever dark curls not tied down in his small messy hair bun would bounce with his movements. He had straightened up for the next customer, hands at the ready on the tablet screen, a relaxed expression on his round face now that the first wave of the rush had been taken care of.

"Yes ma'm. And a name for the order?" He asked his final customer, biting back a defeated sigh. Studying this woman before him now that she stood just across the counter, Vinny recognized her from one of a few photos hanging on his fridge. In this particular photo, a young Vinny stood between a Mr. Omarov and his daughter who was just a kid up to his waist at the time. But it couldn't possibly be the same girl.

Sigr · Mar 13, 2018

Judging from Ayna Omarov's expression one would say that she didn't care much about the cold drops that fell over her black trimmed yellow raincoat, as the girl had no parade that could be rained over. Disgruntled at the current situation, her decided step was fueled by her youthful eagerness, that teenage hunger for needing today what couldn't be waited until tomorrow. She was just eighteen years old, a fact that was mostly betrayed by her pretty face and bright eyes, at least on the cases when she smiled. Her body could tell another tale as she towered over most people and was way mightier than anyone she crossed by, although her present outfit hid most of her features besides her height and shoulder width. The source of her annoyance was none other than her own age, as she needed to be 19 to enter competition as a full fledged professional. It didn't matter how promising her outlook was, as she would still be considered a girl playing some kind of make believe game until she managed to take part and win on a professional fight.

Of course, there were places where exceptions were made, places where her age didn't matter and her strength would be recognized, but she didn't dare to go to such a venue beyond being a mere spectator. Maybe things could change, tomorrow, even tonight, but as things were her fire was quenched for now by the rain, her mind occupied with finding refuge and solace. Hiding under a colorful awning, Ayna noticed that it belonged to some kind of restaurant called Chicago Gold, a name that made her smirk, even if briefly. Maybe that place was worthy of the name and deserved a visit, although she particularly felt inclined to think at herself as closer to the Chicago Steel hockey team than to anything pretty yet soft as gold was. Leaving her sports bag on the sidewalk, Ayna got rid of her raincoat and shook most of the water out of it before stuffing it in the bag with the rest of her dirty gym clothes so it wasn't a bother.

Getting some exercise done had made Ayna built an appetite, so now that the destiny had her just outside a restaurant, she could as well get in. The girl had also another task in mind, as she had to gain a bit of weight if she was supposed to fight in the super middleweight category, but it wasn't that far and it just meant she could indulge herself more than a bit, given her routine. Stepping in the Chicago Gold with her sports bag and out of the raincoat also meant walking around in an informal attire. It wasn't like Ayna wore anything too strange or risque, as she was outfitted with some humble yet sturdy black boots, simple washed jeans that stuck a bit more than usual given the weather and a sleeveless and strikingly featureless black blouse. It didn't quite matter, as there were more than a couple people the ones that stared at her more than on anyone else, since to her somewhat remarkable height it was now added the vision of her muscular, bare arms.

Part of her was accustomed to the leering, even if she didn't take it as a compliment, and part of her just didn't care, as her priorities lied elsewhere. Eyeing the Italian American menu as she was on the line, Ayna was pleased with the selection, so she ended up ordering a bowl of wedding soup to start things on the right foot, a porchetta sandwich since she felt like it and half a deep dish pizza pie, house's special. Since she was about to stuff herself without remorse, she decided to not just drink water and ordered some pop, craving the bubbles and sugar. For a moment she expected that the one taking her order would wonder if it wasn't too much food, but this time a simple glance at Ayna seemed to made any questions disappear.

"Ayna" she provided when asked. "With y" pointed out automatically, as many places seemed to get it wrong. It wasn't a particularly hard name, but it wasn't common either. Paying for her order, she grabbed her drink and waited for the food after sitting alone on a table for two, a situation so commonplace in her life that it didn't even register on her as she left the sports bag down. What did come to her mind over and over was the man that tended her, someone she didn't pay much attention to but yet caused some odd itch in her head, as if he was someone he knew. She didn't take a good enough look, more worried about herself than a random waiter, but he was a tall one, probably taller than her if he wasn't slouched over the register.

With a slurp of her beverage, she looked outside at the rain turning into mere drizzle. It seemed that it never rained forever.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 14, 2018

"Ayna." His voice dragged out the vowels of her name like an echo while carefully typing the four letters into the computer and properly placing the 'y' where it belonged. He accepted the cash payment and handed her the receipt and change in her cupped palm. Crouching down to reach under the counter, he grabbed an ice cold cola beverage and placed it in front of her. The eye contact shared after was brief, then she turned away to catch a seat before they were all taken. Vinny had watched her do so while taking a step to turn around and nearly collided into his boss when their paths crossed. It was a close call, but they laughed it off. She took the opportunity to praise him for first, coming in on his day off when another coworker called in sick and then, keeping cool when handling the crowds at the register. It was worth mentioning how his work ethic had come a long way since he first started. When showing his face again in the streets became inevitable, the people would openly gawk and whisper to one another about his business. Everyone knew his face and everyone knew his story. He found it difficult to ignore their obvious stares and would often fail to show for work. Then when he did, there were times his temper or anxiety would best him and he would storm out mid shift.

Marina instructed him to verify that there were enough clean soup spoons before his break, while the fuss was dying. Just as he complied to her demands, he kept special attention to the food Ayna ordered so when the time came, he insisted to his coworker that he be the one to bring it out. It would be another seven minutes exactly before the entire order was prepared but by then, Vinny was caught up on all the dishes and was free to take fifteen minutes to himself. All three dishes were balanced on one arm alone while his free hand would deal them onto the table in front of her like poker cards. "Porchetta, Italian wedding, and a deep dish style pizza for Ms. Ayna." He announced to her each decorated recipe in the order that he lined them up. The porchetta was sliced down the center, neatly held by a toothpick in each half and served with a quarter-sized container of spicy brown mustard. In the wedding soup, meatballs soaked in a well-seasoned broth with spinach and carrots. The deep dish pizza was a rectangular shape cut into three slices with hot, gooey cheese nearly sliding down its crispy crust.

He stole another glance at her, noticing the way her tall and muscular frame filled out her seat. Her arms were most impressive yet intimidating in that blouse, one step in her radius and Vinny could feel the confidence residing within her hard work. He caught himself staring, but that photograph, taking place at a New Year's Eve Party, was definitely the last time he had seen her. But not once in the time that he had known her did he think she would grow into this fighting machine before him. Or maybe she wasn't a fighter, maybe she was a tennis player. All he knew was that you don't waste a body like that on basketball. Ayna Omarov was indeed beautiful, but under his green gaze, she was a masterpiece.

"You don't remember me do you?" he whispered and, without asking permission, grasped at the empty chair across from her, flipping it backwards so he could comfortably sit with his arms resting on the crest rail. He looked straight ahead into the deepest points of her brilliant eyes and let her get a good look at him. His dark brown curly hair had not been treated or cut in awhile, freely reaching the back of his neck when it was down. Nor had he bothered shaving. His mustache was thin and his beard only coated his chin, still his cleft was prominent. "It's me, it's Vinny." he offered a small, toothless smile. His body was all lean muscle now, no where near as toned as he used to be. He did not have the motivation to exercise as often but he did have a few weights at his place and a pull up bar mounted in the kitchen. "How's your pops' health? And your mother?"

Sigr · Mar 14, 2018

Ayna fiddled with her phone a bit while waiting, although she wasn't big on social networking and the like, part of what gave her trouble not only connecting with people but also landing a much desired sponsorship that would help her with the expenses. Maybe once she had her first real fight that would be easier, at least the money part, as the other... just thinking about it soured her mood. Her mind wandered once more to the waiter, feeling that she had missed something making her turn and look towards the register, but he wasn't there anymore. Ayna sighed hungry and shook her head, it didn't matter, just some kind of odd thought, maybe he just reminded her of someone she knew, even if that was a quite reduced group.

After hopping through her meager Facebook feed full of same old trite things and checking a couple of fighting news websites, Ayna sent a message to her parents about arriving late for dinner, as she wanted to train more during the afternoon. She didn't mind living with them, as they were lovely, but since college opportunities were limited and not very interesting, she wouldn't be able to afford a place of her own unless she started earning money with fights. The notion made her think of the underground scene once more. It was risky and it wasn't steady money, but it would help and it was awfully tempting, although it was perhaps more of a justification to get some action more than the cash itself. The arrival of the dishes at the hands of the waiter from before pulled her out of her reverie, although she was busier looking at the food itself more than at him.

It all looked amazing and Ayna didn't seem the time to wolf on it, but as the waiter was still standing there she looked at him, feeling once more that tingle that he was a familiar face. "Everything is fine, thanks" she voiced, finding his wandering eyes a bit bolder than the usual people that ogled, but not eager to make a scene when she was so hungry. There was also something on how he said her name that made her feel as nostalgic as some of the food in front of her, but she couldn't quite guess why. "Hmm?" she hummed, curious at first as he whispered about her lack of memory, her face intimidating as he sat on front of her. Ayna's slate grey eyes shone cold as she examined him, and only the combination of his boldness and her curiosity prevented her from making a scene.

"U-uncle Vinny?" Ayna whispered, her eyes widening at the reveal, ice melting as surprise painted her face.

"Vinny!" the girl said, louder than what was polite indoors, getting up and picking him in a hug, almost lifting him off the chair. Ayna had enough sense to not do so, and soon returned to her chair, the unusual meeting pushing away any embarrassment about behaving like that in public. "It's been so long..." her eyes seemed to soften, although they didn't get wet, for a moment they seemed about to until Ayna tensed her jaw and seemed to rein her feelings in. "You vanished after that" she said, not wanting to talk about what caused his distancing. "I missed you a lot, my parents did too, you didn't have to. They could have helped, they wanted to-" she said, leaning back on her chair, knowing that talking about past deeds was of no use. Ayna cleared her throat with her coke, before continuing.

"They are fine, thanks for asking, although they can't help but worry" Ayna said, a small smile on her face that seemed to illuminate her expression. "Do you mind? I'm starving and I don't want for it to get cold" she said, pointing to the food, taking a huge bite of the porchetta sandwich before talking again after a gulp. "So tasty. I didn't recognize you" Ayna said, not wanting to voice how much had he changed, although her memories were idealized. "Although I guess that things just look different from this height" she admitted, keeping her somewhat hasty eating pace, taking a few sips from the soup between sandwich bites. "But as I said, I'm still a source of worry for them. They support my choices though" Ayna nodded, noticing that Vinny lacked information.

"I'm a fighter now, Vin" Ayna said with a confidence that could withstand a thousand blows, almost beaming. "Or I'll be as soon as I'm nineteen, it's not far now" she said, almost in defiance of anyone that would say otherwise.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 20, 2018

A familiar warmth returned to his heart when she called him Uncle Vinny as it used to a thousand times in the past. She said it like it was routine, with much remembered love and enthusiasm while turning a few heads from nearby booths in the restaurant. Vinny watched her abandon her seat to follow up with a hug, which he embraced with a little one of his own. When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a firm hold, he got a good taste of her strength, feeling she could have easily lifted him if she wanted to. Ayna practically squeezed the "Hey Champ" right out of him. Though she retook her place at the other end of the table, her freshly showered scent still lingered and invaded his nose as he inhaled and released a soft sigh. It was clear what would come next and he was prepared to answer anything she may have wanted to know. If anyone deserved to know the truth of the aftermath, it would be the Omarov family who helped with a majority of the funds to jumpstart his dream.

"They... they weren't mad at me?" Vinny pulled away from her emotional gaze, feeling the extra weight of guilt burdening his shoulders at this new knowledge that there were people that were worried sick over him all this time. He would have preferred that they were mad; at least then it would have given him the proper excuse to stay hidden. Back when he was laying down in that hospital bed recovering from his injuries, he had denied everyone that came to visit. Vinny did not just vanish as she said, he abandoned everyone he knew, too ashamed to look them in the eye with his battered and bruised face for them to see the defeat. The voices in his head were angry at himself, thus he believed everyone felt the same towards him.

"I missed you too, Ayna. All of yous. It's just some things I had to do on my own, you know?" He was reluctant to meet her eyes again with hopes she would understand the man's desire for privacy. Vinny smiled and gestured for her to eat, "Yeah, of course, don't let me stop you." When her teeth sunk into that sandwich, he chuckled and shook his head. While she may have grown up, she still held onto certain mannerisms that reminded him of the little girl he was used to. Mostly the comical way she ate when she was super hungry. She could not say the same, since he is an entirely different person as opposed to her memories. "No, no, you look phenomenal. It's me. I uh, skip the gym nowadays, don't get out much 'cept for work and... well I don't know. I-I'm still trying to find myself.." he was embarrassed to say it out loud so he lifted his hand and waved those thoughts away. "That's enough about me. What are you up to that's got your folks so worried?" Vinny's eyes playfully narrowed in suspicion, "Better not be boys."

He immediately straightened up in his seat when she proudly told him what she wanted to do with her life. It was his turn to grow emotional, his green eyes beginning to sting as they watered. "I knew it. I always knew you were going to do something great and now you're tellin' me you're a fighter? I'm so proud!" Before it got any worse, he wiped his eyes, unable to stop smiling, "Just lookin' at you, I know you're gonna be way greater than I ever could have been." Vinny leaned in closer, "So tell me everything, who's your manager, your coach, are you at Benny's gym, what sponsors are you lookin' into?" As he flooded her with these questions, his voice sounded rough. It was the most talking he's done in years and the longest he's talked about fighting. He normally stayed away from the subject all together, bitter about his ending but this was about her, his favorite niece on the planet.

Sigr · Mar 21, 2018

Ayna said nothing and just ate as Vinny didn't quite explain, more like excused himself in that absence, that sudden chasm in his relationship with her family. She felt nice reconnecting with him, although that very meeting made her remember how bad she had felt when he was missing, when her parents couldn't explain why their friend was no longer around. While Ayna kept wolfing down delicious food without hesitation, Vinny doubted in his words, stuttered even, his image further and further away from the one her much younger self had in mind. For little Ayna, Uncle Vinny was nothing short of a superhero, but the man she had in front of her was... just that, a man, a reality that had no chance against a childish fantasy.

"I wish there were boys" she grunted between bites, soon revealing her fighting dreams. Boys didn't want a girl like her, and the ones that did, weren't deserving. "Hey, don't cry now" Ayna said, a small tender smile on her face, one that didn't last long at all. First he demeaned himself, or more precisely, the man he once was and she admired. Second, he asked about all the uncomfortable things she was mishandling and fumbling, the ones she didn't have plans for. She just wanted to fight, why was everything so hard? "Hey, calm down with the interrogation" Ayna said, brusque, getting defensive in front of questions she needed an answer for and yet didn't have one. The girl found pause in the cheesy refuge of a pizza slice, a bite downed with bubbly coke.

"I still go to Benny's, don't know why" she reluctantly revealed, her reasons for that choice being mostly habit, but also a small hope of an encounter such as this one. "The rest is still... being studied" now she was the one doubting, the one whose voice faltered. She had no coach, no manager and she didn't even know where to begin with sponsorships. Ayna was a sight to see, a beast in the ring, but for certain parts and responsibilities of the adult world, she was still a child, and not one with a calm temper. Wait, she could ask him to help, right? He seemed interested on that part of her life, but there was still a gap of almost a decade she had missed him.

And now it seemed that it wasn't a matter of not being able to be in contact, but not wanting to. Sadness was slowly but steadily boiling into anger against things she didn't understand. She didn't want to confess that she needed help, not to anyone and even less to that man. "You could help. If you wanted" her sentences were short, cutting as a quick jab, more and more focused on Vinny as her initial surprise and hunger dwindled and stopped distracting her. "But that would require for you to care" Ayna leaned back in her chair, steel in her eyes. It was the glare of someone determined to hurt the one in front of her, a sight that any fighter knew well, but this time it wouldn't be a physical pain. "Do you care, Uncle Vinny?" this time his namesake wasn't uttered with the tone of a surprised and happy little girl, this time her voice was a growl, dripping contempt.

"Tell me, do you?"

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 21, 2018

Benny's gym was a well run facility but mostly known as a home for competitors and people who set unobtainable goals and surpass them while keeping repressed kids off the streets. At the most affordable rates, anyone can have access to equipment for almost any sport. To hear that Ayna was training with Benny and his crew, the very same position Vinny was in years ago, he felt that he paved the path for her to follow in his foot steps. But that was all she could tell him. There was no manager, no coach, no money. It may not have shown, but if it were the old gluttonous Vinny, he would have felt frustrated. She was on this path without any guidance to the top. So who was better to show her the way than the man who's been down this road before?

No, that was a terrible idea and he scolded himself for such a thought. She'd never listen to a failure. Besides, she was doing very well off on her own on the physical aspect and her birthday was only a couple months away, plenty of time to figure things out. Vinny had completely dismissed the idea but it seemed to have crossed her mind too, voicing it out loud in such a crucial tone that it did not sound ridiculous coming from her. He could help Ayna achieve her life's goal if he could accept the responsibility and amount of commitment this would require. It would mean inevitably facing his past and working hard to overcome obstacles old and new. She would be relying heavily on his instruction and if he could not prove to be the anchor he promised, well, her scowl answered that. He recognized her well-practiced intimidating glare and enforced his own. Within the challenging stare, a sudden small flame reignited in his eyes and he half smirked before nodding.

"I care, so let me help you, Ayna. I can get you where you need to be in time for your 19th birthday." And he did not stutter nor doubt when he said it. But something made him turn around to peer over his shoulder at the clock mounted high on the wall between the menus and he could see his 15 minutes were just about up. Vinny excused himself from the table briefly to approach the counter and grab a used notepad and small pencil, scribbling down his cell phone number and address in surprisingly neat and legible cursive. He tore the small sheet out and walked back over, sliding it across the table for her. "How soon do you wanna get started?" There's a lot of work to be done on both their parts...

Sigr · Mar 23, 2018

Ayna was surprised when she noticed that fire in Vinny's eyes, maybe not the roaring flames that her younger self remembered, but a heat tempered by experience she didn't quite recognize as such. Saying nothing, the girl got herself busy finishing her food, not even flinching in her stare while he talked. He did care, he said he cared, but those were only words. Where has he been all those years? He was just buying time, like a fighter on his last breath, glancing at the clock in search for some respite. Ayna was finished with her food when he excused himself and returned to scribble his phone and address on paper, making evident the generational gap between them. Looking at the piece of paper, then back at him, she doubted what to do as conflicting emotions were running high.

"This means nothing" Ayna blurted, taking the paper and stashing it crumpled in a pocket. "How do I know that you aren't going to disappear again?" she added, visibly agitated, getting up from the chair to face Vinny. The self control a fighter should have in those situations was there, preventing from things getting physical, but it was stretched thin. It wasn't like Ayna planned on hurting him, or even wanted to, but if she wasn't in a public space maybe some piece of furniture could end up suffering for her pent up feelings. "I need to think about it" she said, her posture relaxing a bit, taking a step back and stopping that invasion of his personal space. "I'd give you my address and phone, but that hasn't changed" she added, bitter, taking her stuff and getting out of the restaurant.

The rain had stopped, but the fresh air outside helped Ayna felt less stuffy, free from that trap. She thought she knew the pressure of the ring, but that encounter had hit her where she didn't expect. A public bus and her long stride took her back home, a house in the suburbs that her parents had saved for long to buy it before she was born and the only home she had known so far. Now it all seemed different, all Ayna could see were her memories with Vinny here and there when he came visit, but even those were fading, changing to accommodate who Vinny was now. Going straight for her bedroom upstairs, her parents said nothing to her, just sharing a knowing look between them. They trusted their daughter, and she would share whatever bothered her when she was ready, as she didn't answer well to pressure.

In the comfort of her room, Ayna mulled over what to do, no music could distract her from that encounter and what it entailed. In a fit of fury she thrashed the paper that Vinny gave her, but as soon as she had vented, Ayna carefully picked up the pieces and assembled them like a puzzle. It was still legible, so she used her phone to take a picture of the message and then scooped the pieces into a garbage can she had on a corner of her desk. Being tired was her excuse during dinner to talk little, answering in monosyllables to anything her parents asked, too distracted to do otherwise. But she wasn't tired, she just had plans, using an early retire to bed to escape home from her room's window. It was irresponsible for sure, but dressed to fight under more common clothes, she took an Uber downtown.

Maybe she didn't have to think things over.
Maybe she didn't have to break furniture.
Maybe she just needed a fight.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 27, 2018

Vinny was actually excited about the arrangements since he would be actively involved in what he loved most and among things he was familiar with. It was the opportunity he'd been waiting for so when it was there he grabbed it and it was like once again, his life had purpose and he could take back control. Anya did not share his enthusiasm, he noted, remaining silent and cold through the last of her meal. When she stood, he felt threatened by her intimidating size, if this were to end in a brawl her youth and new style would best the retiree. What she did say felt like a direct punch to the stomach and was the most painful hit he ever received despite his fighting career. His hopes were high and she knocked him down to eye level, literally, but he had no words. All he could think was how this was what he deserved all along and if she was going to hit him, he wouldn't do a thing to stop her. This was the side of Ayna he created when he disappeared, it was what he assumed everyone felt towards him and he could see that through her behavior. But Vinny would never raise his hands against Ayna, even in self-defense. This is what he deserves. This is what he deserves.

He frowned, unable to answer her question in a way that could reassure her and change her mind about him. And just as he braced himself, she backed off and before he could think about sighing in relief he cringed, actually knowing their phone numbers and address by heart but never once calling or visiting as often as he used to. She may not have hit him, but she left him feeling twice more worse than before. Then he silently gathered her dishes and caught up on his work load in the kitchen. The weight of guilt dragged him down the rest of the work day after she left. His peers and boss noticed his changed mood and asked if everything was alright, to which he answered solemnly, "I'm fine. I just don't wanna talk about it..."

Chicago Gold closes at 9pm on the weekdays. And on the hour, Marina let Vinny go and thanked him again for his hard work today. He worked the full open to close shift, she did not think it necessary to have him stay another hour behind to clean. He only made it as far as the sidewalk before he heard his name being called from inside the restaurant. The much younger part-timers, a group of a 16, two 17, and an 18 year old had just clocked out as well and approached him. They asked if he had plans to go to the Downtown Underground tonight for the fights (they've seen him there plenty of times before) and offered to walk with him if he did. It was a very tempting offer to take his mind off of his encounter with Ayna and he did not want to be left alone with his dark thoughts for too long so he agreed. It was a better plan than going up to his apartment to watch tv all night. But before he could walk anywhere with them, he had to ask if they had a way in. The illegal gathering only allowed in people age 18+ and if he was seen walking with them and it's discovered that only one of them is legal, those were not charges he wanted on his record. The 16 year old boy and the two 17 year old girls had fake ID's and the 18 year old male carried a legit driver's license. It did very little to ease his worries.

Vinny led the way and the teenagers lagged behind, whispering, laughing, calling out crude things in the silence of the night to embarrass each other like teenagers do. He wondered what Ayna was like when she hung out with her friends. Then he remembered when she told him there were no boys chasing after her so he thought maybe it would be a good idea to introduce her to the 18 year old, Danny. He was overly fun in and out of work, very annoying at times, in fact, all Vinny knew about his personal life when he was paying attention was that Danny wanted to go to school to be a physical trainer. Maybe they have a lot in common somewhere in that. It was someone he could approve of. Does Ayna even like white guys? The thought led him to look back at the goofball and examine him more closely. He was tall and lean with classic pretty boy looks. Blonde hair cut simple, soft blue eyes, and always smiling.

The kids had caught up to Vinny at the final traffic light before the pub and when the streets were bare and safe to cross, the excitement got to them and they ran ahead while Vinny briskly walked. He stood behind them in the line they formed on the way into the building, staring off into the distance behind them while wishing he had brought a jacket to protect him from the cold weather. There were plenty of people outside smoking, clearing their heads from the overwhelming noise coming from inside. A car pulled up behind them, their headlights creating a fuss, but Vinny simply turned the other way, his I.D in hand for when his turn came.

Sigr · Mar 28, 2018

Ayna walked into the Downtown underground as she had done a few times before, since she was legal of age to do so. She overheard talks about the event on Benny's gym once as two dudes passed by, so she had been feeling curious since. The first time she was just 17 and was rejected, but since she got to 18 she had been going once in a while, just to watch some action even if she didn't ever partake. Hell, she wasn't even sure how that went, but given that it was a place that even if illegal seemed to be properly structured with a bouncer and all that, so it had to need some trick to it. Ayna's step wasn't the same of other times she visited though, even if usually confident, her stride today had a furious energy to it, a sort of anger born from pride and frustration.

It wasn't like she was second guessing herself, or at least she didn't think so. She had said to Vinny what she needed to be said, and she was generous enough as to acknowledge that she'd think about it. Sure she had composed the paper that Vinny gave her after tearing it to pieces and took a picture of it, but that didn't mean anything. She wasn't going to call him. Or at least she didn't think so. There wasn't nothing wrong with doing so if she wanted to, but she didn't, for sure not at that moment. Ayna just wanted to vent.

The ring was the object of attention for most people there, a crowd that she didn't care about and were just an invisible mob for all she cared. Sure, they all had their reasons to be there, but Ayna just didn't share those. She was there, or anywhere else where fighting was done, for the fighting itself. Ayna wanted to be stronger, to be better, and the only way she could measure how much she had improve was through getting matched with others. That was the only path she could go if she wanted to make sure. She didn't even mind the discipline, as far as she could get involved in a match with a clear set of rules Ayna thought herself to be ready for either boxing or mixed martial arts, as the place was home for both.

Plowing her way through the crowd, Ayna managed to get closer to ringside, not for a closer look at the ongoing fight, but to talk with one of the guys that seemed to be in charge of the fights. "Hey, I want to fight, how can I do that?" she just asked, as direct as ever. The one that she was talking to, dressed with a referee shirt looked at Ayna in disbelief, although noticing her physique he doubted if it was some kind of joke. They did have female fights, but they weren't commonplace and normally didn't consist of the first woman that just passed by.

"I have no time for you now" he voiced, dismissing her.

Ayna didn't think it twice, even if she should. In a swift move her t-shirt was off, showing the sport bra she was wearing underneath, even if the man's eyes went immediately to her arms and midriff. It was quite clear she was no joke, although Ayna wasn't minding his eyes, busy as she was removing her shoes before pulling her leggins down to show some competition briefs and worked legs.

"You weren't joking..." he mumbled, taking one of his hands to an earpiece. "We don't have any female fighters tonight" he informed, seemingly with someone else calling the shots out of view.

"I don't care" Ayna said, sure of herself, approaching closer to him. "As long as they are on my weight class or around it, I'll fight them" she just called, wanting to test herself.

Whoever was in charge had to hear her, as he was communicating once more judging by the face of the referee. "About super middleweight?" he asked, receiving a nod. "You got your fight, wait until we set up things and this one ends" he said, running around to get things ready.

Ayna stood ringside, not a care in the world about the crowd surrounding her, just the fight in her mind.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Mar 30, 2018

The group maneuvered through the growing crowds in a single line with Danny at the head to lead the way to the kids' usual spot. The closer to the ring, the thicker the heat and brushing against shoulders was inevitable. For an average week day, the business was impressive. It's thrived tremendously ever since installing the fighting arena which allows fans of the sport to watch live competitions for free. The pub is registered under the proper license and provides its own security so the police stay out of their more "underground" business. By law, only licensed fighters can participate in the ring. But the pub discreetly bends the rules and allows anyone 18+ to enter so long as they sign a liability waiver to dismiss holding the pub accountable for any injuries sustained and at the cost of a fee. No one may remember, but because the pub was Vinny's first real sponsor in his career, and the whole fighting thing was a popular trend, the owner was inspired to have the ring built.

Once they settled for a spot on the side of the ring looking to Ayna's backside but from a few feet away, it was a recurring joke that Vinny treat the kids to alcohol. But he wasn't going to waste his money on kids barely old enough to buy ice cream on their own, especially when he didn't even drink himself. The ongoing fight in the ring had a clear winner, it was actually really boring to watch. But there were murmurs among the people around them of a female fighter wanting a match with a super middleweight or light heavyweight male. Not even Vinny could completely hide his excitement to see something like that. He had a long face most of the night but right then he smirked to himself and found it hard to stand still. The 16 year old, Reggie, noticed Vinny's behavior and nudged the others. It brought a smile to everyone's face, knowing they did good cheering up their friend. The night could only get better.

The referee stood at the center of attention in a bright yellow polo with "OFFICIAL" across the back in black, bold letters. He kept the fight from becoming a murder and once in awhile, he'd lift his first two fingers to his earpiece. It made Vinny scan the bar for the one and only person who could be calling the shots like that. And he found him, the owner, standing like a bouncer on the opposite side of the bar where he could see everything at once. He told the kids he'd be right back, but didn't tell them not to do anything stupid because well, he ain't their dad. Vinny squeezed through the crowds again, heading right to him.

"Nick." The man he addressed was 5'7 but he slouched in his black collared shirt, tucked in a pair of designer jeans. So when Vinny approached him, he towered over the man. Nick raised a brow, looking Vinny up and down and then even harder in the face.

"Vinny?? Damn, it's true: you really are a busboy. What are you doing here? Getting back in the ring? I could set it up now, you could get in there, knock a couple of heads for old times' sake." Nick reached up and gripped Vinny's shoulder in a friendly manner, "Listen I got a girl about your height, I'm pitting her against one of my bouncers but if you want...?"

"No way. I don't do that stuff any more." Vinny sighed.

"Stuff? What happened to you? You used to be all, jab jab jab this and left hook, uppercut!" Nick shook his head and scoffed, "Pssht, 'stuff' he says. Oh look, there she is, check'er out."

All eyes were on Ayna as she was directed to cross the black ropes of the octagon-shaped ring. Most were in awe over the rookie's athletic curves and aggressive height, standing eye to eye with her much heavier opponent. Judging by the look of determination in both their eyes, it's bound to be an exciting match. But Vinny could feel his heart jump into his throat as he struggled to breathe. A part of him wanted to scold her for being impulsive but mostly worried about her getting hurt. The other part of him marched forward, abandoning Nick to break through the other side of the audience and among the deafening cheers, Vinny cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed, "Ayna! Keep your hands up!"

Sigr · Apr 1, 2018

The thought of having made a mistake crossed Ayna's mind, but it was but a brief idea, barely a coherent one that was burned by the fire of her excitement. Accustomed to the boxing weight categories, she had certainly messed up when she nodded to the super middleweight suggestion, as it was clear that her rival, getting into the ring sooner than her, had a good thirty pounds or so over her. She had never been good at memorizing those kind of details, but even if she could protest or back off, she wasn't going to. The difference was made apparent when he stood at her height despite him being bulkier, but Ayna barely noticed it as she was distracted by the spot she was in.

The girl had stepped into a ring numerous times, practice, amateur matches... but never in a fight, a real one. Sure, this was an underground joint that got some kind of leeway with the authorities, but it was still her first real fight. It was a real ring the one under her bare feet, there were real ropes the one she held with her light gloves. Most of her training was boxing one, but she dabbled in MMA too, unsure about what kind of sport should she get into professionally. Her prodigious physique and devotion to training had allowed her to shine in both sports so far, as amateurs were no match for her, but this was a different animal.

The guy in front of her not only looked tough, but she also managed to recognize that brute from another one of her visits, as he worked there as a bouncer. He may have sport training or not, she didn't know, but he sure knew how to manage stupid drunks and rowdy visitors, so he wouldn't be a stranger to grapples, tackling and submission maneuvers. Ayna could handle punches like breeze, and even kicks after a bit of practice with a girl from the gym that was into kickboxing, but it was the wrestling part the one where she lacked most training. Sure, she had a bit of judo training from when she was little, but she always found it boring and abandoned it soon. Her inspection of her opponent also allowed her to peek at a couple of tattoos that seemed the kind of thing you did in the military, but with the distance, the lights and her lack of knowledge, she couldn't point to what kind of corps they belonged to.

All in all, she was ready to face that bull with a shaved head, eager to exchange blows with him, but before the yellow clad referee could even check them, a shout from behind her back pulled Ayna out of the mental zone she was in. That voice, and he knew her name. "Vinny? What the fuck are you doing here?" she asked, surprised and slightly angry, more about the intrusion in what was a moment for her than about being interrupted by Vinny in particular. That fit and scrappy young woman that was swearing on top of the ring didn't look quite the same as little Ayna, and yet, she yet had the same fire on her slate grey eyes that when she played at fighting with Vinny. "We'll talk when I'm done with this!" she shouted, turning her back to him, radiating self-assuredness like a palpable aura.

Ayna barely paid attention to the referees spiel, knowing the rules by heart, as she was focused on her opponent's eyes. He was taking things seriously before, as did anyone that entered a ring with a minimum of respect, but she could notice that he could see it in her eyes now. This was no joke, she knew what she was getting into. After bumping fists as a sign of respect, Ayna assumed her fighting stance before the bell sounded, ready for the fight. It was a variation of her usual stance, mostly a textbook orthodox one that needed improving, but at least she had enough sense to lower and widen it a bit, turning it into something of a crouching stance that she thought could help with unlikely kicks and specially grabs. She had reach and agility to be an outboxer, but she lacked the training and more importantly the calm disposition for it. That way, anyone that watched her fight would easily peg her into the more offensive approaches of a slugger or a swarmer, as she had the power and pacing to do both.

As the bell echoed, Ayna darted straight forward, surprising her opponent with decision, eating a left jab for her efforts as soon as the bouncer reacted to her approach. He was faster than she expected, but she was already bobbing to the right so the punch just grazed her, allowing her to sink a right in his abdomen, painful but he had for sure suffered worse. Maybe Ayna wasn't as strong as she looked and he wouldn't have to resort to subdue her with a grapple and could end this returning punch for punch, as she had proven to be a slippery one. The punch he had taken was a strong one, but his core was his best feature and could take way more punishment than that. The bouncer started a solid combination of left jabs, showing that he wasn't just an ex solider, as he was managing to keep her arms up, unable to mount a proper attack.

Vinny's words echoed on her mind, more of a distraction than anything else, as she resented his intrusion, even if casual, in a moment that was all hers. Even then, the faltering of her guard was her fault and her fault alone, as her form was worse than she thought and even if the bouncer wasn't threatening her with grappling, the added pressure made her unable to keep a solid defense, as his jabs connected better and better each time. Ayna readied for a slip to the right, wanting to do something to change the pace, something that her opponent read like an open book, and used to get a right punch ready. After all, the worst she could punish him with if it went wrong was a left jab, and he had already tasted her right.

All sound seemed to fade as Ayna's left landed on the bouncer's face, her reach and stance allowing it to land before his own right. The girl stepped to the side, wanting to prevent a follow up that never came, as a combination of surprise and pure pain locked him on the spot for a moment. Finally able to react, the bouncer went for her legs, all too clear, all to slow given his state, managing just to eat a second left from Ayna, this time an uppercut instead of a straight that made him fall to her side. The girl stood there, processing what just happened, as the bell toll and referee standing between them clued her in.

She was victorious.

Rising her left fist, bloodied by the bouncer's broken nose, sound seemed to return to her ears, as the venue roared around her. Maybe it was childish, maybe it was the old instincts coming back, but the first thing she did was approach he ropes closest to Vinny. "Did you see that?" she asked, a pure and wide smile on her beautiful face, even if the jabs she took had swollen one of her cheeks. "He didn't expect that. Maybe he didn't notice I'm left handed..." she realized, opening and closing the fingers of her left hand, blood tricking down her arm.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 5, 2018

After Ayna's incredible win, the crowd went wild with applause and cheers. Their thundering voices made the entire pub quake, sending vibrations through Vinny's body from his head to his toes. It was impossible to see through the confusion as they all jostled around the ring and forced him even closer against the ropes from where he witnessed Ayna prevail under pressure. He'd been worried up until she delivered the winning blow, taking note of her strong offense and limited defense. It was because of the whatever guard she had that her face only sustained minor swelling and her body only bruised on the surface; not certainly because the bouncer showed restraint. The ex-soldier lay bleeding on the cold floor until enough man-power had gathered to lift and carry him away. Seeing how it took three men to do so, Vinny felt like a proud parent. It was his first time seeing Ayna fight and she demonstrated strength and security against a brutal opponent in a matter of minutes. They used to wrestle in the front lawn and back in those days she could barely lift one of his arms.

To his surprise, she immediately bounced over to him where he got a better view of her left hand to assess whose blood belonged to who. Her smile was contagious, reaching his lips, "Of course I saw, I couldn't take my eyes off of ya's! Now come on, let's get you all cleaned up." Vinny lowered the ropes a little so she could effortlessly climb over. He took her wrist into the palm of his hand, leading the way through the mob. It was useless to say anything while in the midst of all the noise but Vinny had so many questions to ask her, it was getting harder to have to wait until they were in a quiet setting. He took her to the ladies' restroom near the bar and patiently waited outside like he told her. Shortly after, Nick caught up and approached Vinny.

Indicating the door to the women's bathroom with his thumb, "She in there?" Nick nodded when Vinny confirmed. Then he asked, "I shouldn't be surprised that you know a great fighter like that one, but how do you know her?"

"Ayna's an old friend." At first he was unsure of what to introduce her as -a friend or family- when conflict between them was apparent. Vinny inhaled the rich scents of cognac blended with cigars, it was like an entirely new atmosphere on this side of the bar. "We, well, I lost contact with her until today."

"Well she can contact her new friend Nick for a fight anytime. That was the best matchup we've had in months."

Beautiful women walked in and out the door beside them, not sparing Vinny a second glance while in his work uniform. However, they teased in their outfits: most squeezed their curves into dresses with fabric so tight they wiggled instead of walked, their contoured skin glowed beneath the pub's warm lights, and their hair was fashioned in suitable styles per personality. The two continued to wait for Ayna while admiring a few flavors and when her familiar form stepped back into the public, Nick held out to her a simple white envelope Vinny hadn't noticed before. Inside was $400 in twenties.

"That was some fight you put up, Ayna. This is your cut, you earned it. And when you're hungry for more, the door's always open." Nick said with a bright smile on his face.

Sigr · Apr 5, 2018

Still shocked by the victory, deafened by the crowd's roar and overwhelmed by the situation, Ayna smiled wide, unable to prevent being happy for the fact that Vinny had watched all that. In any other situation she may have shaken off his grip on her wrist, but as he guided her through the club crowd, she couldn't help but feel fine about it, looking at the back of Vinny as he opened a path for both of them to walk. She was barely able to grab her things on the way, and maybe it was due to her fight but thanks to a small miracle there was no waiting line for the women's bathroom, so she was able to go straight in.

The women in there looked at Ayna like a rare animal, almost an intruder on a space that was all girly. Once the initial surprise passed and everyone got to their business, she noticed something else on the glances around. Sometimes it was envy, others admiration, even disgust, pity or lust. Towering over the ones that even wore high heels, Ayna didn't have time for that, and still restless from the fight, it didn't take long to clean herself up a bit and get dressed again in her comfy black nondescript clothes. The tips of her fingers poked at her cheek, trying to size up the damage sustained. She was tough, so pain wasn't much of an issue, but she didn't really know anything about medicine, so she was at a loss there. "I won" she said to her reflection, getting a "good for you, darling" of one of the women getting out of the bathroom, a somewhat humbling nod that eased her back into Earth.

Cleaned up to the best she could manage on such a place, Ayna walked out of the bathroom in comfy black sportwear, nothing like what the women around her were wearing, feeling awkwardly out of place now that the high was starting to fade. She had got the release she wanted, she had even won and to make it better Vinny watched it, but now it was the time for her to go home, although she noticed right away that it wouldn't be something that happened immediately. Getting close to Vinny and the smaller man he was with, she extended a hand for a shake, but received an envelope instead. "Ah..." she mumbled, confused. Of course that fighters got paid, thinking otherwise was silly of her, but she was so focused on fighting that didn't take that into consideration. It seemed to be quite a bit of money, something that could pay for transportation and gear for a bit, though she didn't count it there.

"I guess I will?" she said, at a disadvantage with what she guessed was the owner of the place, as she didn't even know his name. Ayna shuffled a bit on her feet, unsure about how to conduct herself in such a situation, wondering what would be appropriate. "Vinny, time to talk" she said, defaulting to her brash, straightforward self when in doubt, no matter who was around. "I still don't know what are you doing here. Did you came alone?" she asked, wondering what was he up to. "I said I'd think about it, right?" she added, in case that Vinny was chasing her out with methods unknown. "Although there is much I don't know" she admitted, "it's a matter of trust. Can I trust you Vinny?" Ayna asked.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 6, 2018

"Oh! Sorry, sorry, I'm Nick. I run the whole show here." He could read the discomfort in her actions and hoped to ease some of it by properly introducing himself. It made him feel silly to hand her the money without doing so, shown by the reddening color in his cheeks. "Your friend and I used to do business when he was still involved with the league." Nick continued to fill the empty silences between the three of them despite the obvious tension growing thick as Vinny tried to hold eye contact with Ayna, desperate to get a private word in. Nick would have opened his mouth a third time thus capturing her attention once more but a single warning look from Vinny was his way of telling him to scram. Ayna's hasty tone helped significantly, things becoming too awkward for a third wheel, and Nick gave them a curt nod before walking in another direction.

Vinny hadn't wanted this conversation to end like the last and treaded carefully with his words, "Guys from work invited me to tag along out here. I didn't really wanna at first but I'm really glad I made it. Seeing you twice in one day is like fate or something, yeah?" the smile he showed her was soft a genuine before his face slowly relaxed into a thoughtful expression when he absorbed her questions. "I need this chance to show you guys how badly I want to be there from now on, Ayna, to support you guys the way you were always there for me. Trust me." He pleaded.

There was noise; roaring laughter, inappropriate language, he said, she said, it was nothing completely out of the ordinary but the commotion nearing them as he and Ayna conversed outside the bathrooms had Vinny look up to see the kids had found him once again. Among the group, Danny was the loudest, "Hey look, there he is!" Causing more than several heads to turn nearby. The attention made Vinny hunch his shoulders and look down to the floor briefly. "We thought you left us behind, man."

"I got wrapped up in something." Vinny mumbled, making it known he wasn't alone. The kids glanced at Ayna, examining her up and down before the 16 year old Reggie bursted, "You're the fighter from earlier!" The group of four approached her, all of them excited and talking at once about the details of the fight like she wasn't there until Danny spoke out and the rest hushed, "You were amazing out there." It created order, one by one they had something to say about her sick moves, her bravery towards a larger opponent, and from one of the 17 year old girls, Taylor, who obviously did not share a whole lot of interest in fighting, commented on her beauty.

"I'm going to be taking Ayna home to make sure she gets there safely. You guys coming along too?" Vinny suggested while reminding everyone he was still here. They all agreed, not minding extra company for the long walk home. Vinny was first out the door, loving the return of fresher air and his own personal space. He waited on the sidewalk for Ayna and the rest of the kids, one by one exiting the congested building.

Sigr · Apr 6, 2018

Something in the back of her head made Ayna feel bad about scaring Nick away, but she had some more pressing matters in her mind that took all her attention, and the club felt muted and distant once Vinny started to talk, as the rest didn't matter. "Like fate" she echoed, having felt the same notion, although in her case she wasn't so sure that it was something deserving of the same tender and honest smile Vinny had plastered in his face. Looking at him like that did soften Ayna though, feeling that as true it was that she wasn't the same little girl she was when Vinny disappeared from her life, he wasn't the same man either. The difference was that for the first time, Ayna entertained the idea that such a change didn't have to be a bad thing, although it would take more than that for such an idea to settle. After all, they were now almost strangers, as she didn't know a Vinny that didn't fight nor did he knew an Ayna that wasn't a little kid.

As Ayna was opening her mouth to talk, Vinny's distracted expression and the closing ruckus gave Ayna some pause that felt irksome, but also provided her with a chance to think things through. Turning around to look at the bunch, Ayna sized them up quickly. The enthusiastic boy was clearly not of age to be there, although it wasn't like Ayna cared about such a thing and had a slightly obnoxious energy to him that made him look friendly yet immature. The two girls were about her age, perhaps younger, perhaps older, hastily applied makeup making it hard to guess and didn't look like they shared much else with her besides their gender. Ayna did nod thankfully to the one that commented on her beauty, just out of courtesy.

The most mature one of the group, both in age and behavior caught Ayna's attention a bit more, even if it was just by the admiration of her performance. Like some guy out of a boy band, Ayna couldn't deny that he was pretty even if conventionally so. He looked athletic and had nice charming eyes, the classic kind of person that never cared for girls like her, feeling diminished by her presence. "Ayna Omarov" she introduced herself, rising a friendly hand, sounding a bit distant but still decently raised enough to not be uncouth. "You must be Vinny's work mates" she commented, knowing nothing else about them or why they had decided to go there of all places. Was it a hip place to be even if you weren't interested in fighting? Ayna was never aware of those things, as any quick look at her clothes would tell.

"I don't need an escort, but I want to keep talking so it's fine" Ayna protested at first, making clear the point that she was the one allowing him to stick, not some kind of protective need. Once out of the building, Ayna separated herself from the rowdy foursome, wanting to continue her conversation with Vinny. "I thought about it" she announced, a pause making him sweat a bit. "I'm fine with you helping me, but I have one condition" she said, getting slightly closer to him to make sure he got the seriousness of the message. "You have to come home. Talk to my parents into it. They deserve at least that" she announced, wanting nothing for herself, but caring for her parents.

Leaving Vinny some time to think about it, she turned to face the younger bunch, still walking next to Vinny without hurry. "A fighting club is an odd place to sneak into, but it's nice to see interest" Ayna said, trying her best to be friendly.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 6, 2018

Home? Vinny's eyes focused on a distant spot in the ground as he remembered when exactly was the last time he stepped foot into the Omarov house. He had not seen his own parents in ten years. He had always been terrified of what they might do or say if they ever saw his shameful face again. Even Ayna had shown kindness at first and then things after were bittersweet. What was he supposed to say? Could he get through it all without breaking down? Just thinking about it troubled his breathing. But he'd do anything for Ayna if it meant she'd trust him again and things between them could go back to the way they were. And he'd finally get closure to end the nightmares and help him move on faster.

He was responsive to her request, walking down the side of the street in complete silence yet still aware and listening to the kids talk with Ayna. They introduced themselves earlier inside the pub as Danny, Taylor, Reggie, and Viv and now since Ayna brought it up, they were talking about things that took place early in the night. "It's the only bar that will let you in even if you aren't old enough to drink yet." Danny explained. "Everyone hangs there. Well, everyone who can get in." He laughed since he was the only one among the others who was legal.

"How old are you?" Reggie asked Ayna. The four of them not only worked the same job, but they also attended the same high school. They were curious to know if Ayna went too, though they would have definitely seen her around. Danny and Viv are graduating seniors, Taylor's a junior, and Reggie is only a sophomore. So they didn't see much of each other at school. But it would be amazing to be seen hanging around with someone like Ayna, quiet student by day, underground fighter by night.

"What school do you go to?" Taylor asked for him, as it was also on her mind.

"Are you going pro?" Danny's turn.

Sigr · Apr 7, 2018

The condition Ayna gave Vinny had the expected effect of leaving him mute, lost in his thoughts. Maybe meeting twice was fate as he said, but that didn't mean that her family didn't deserve explanations, not as much for herself but her parents. Either Vinny stepped up and did the right thing with her parents or he showed that she did well not trusting him, either way Ayna won. Giving him time seemed the right thing to do and that way she could mingle a bit with his friends that played no part in their drama, so they didn't deserve being shunned off.

"Eighteen, almost nineteen" Ayna answered Reggie, noticing that Danny seemed oddly silent and composed. "Once spring clears I'll be done with Westside" she explained to Taylor, caring little about her studies. She wasn't dumb, but they had always been a struggle and she lacked the focus and drive needed to prosper in academics, not to mention that it wasn't what she wanted. "You?" she wondered, returning the question. In the end of the day, how much beyond age had in common with those people? Sure, they all had their dreams in their minds, sometimes humble, others ambitious, but none of them knew what was to fight.

It seemed that for all his silence, Danny had mulled a question worth asking, even if the answer should be obvious enough it seemed that the pretty boy didn't exactly want a yes or no answer. "I am. As soon as I'm nineteen" Ayna affirmed, dead serious. "I need to settle a few things up like gear and sponsorships" she said, admitting what she lacked. "And tonight's fight made obvious that I need a coach, that remains to be detailed" Ayna added, glancing at Vinny who had been silent for a while. "I'll found a way, college is not for me, and even if it was I just... I just want to fight, nothing else" she mentioned.

"What are you going to do?" Ayna asked. "College? Work in the restaurant or somewhere else?" she added, her voice completely devoid of judgment. Each person had to choose and work through their path, and she didn't think that there were better ones that others. Sure, some works paid way better, but that didn't make you a better person than the rest. Her anger towards Vinny wasn't for working on a restaurant instead of fighting, was for distancing himself as he did.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 8, 2018

"West Side? Boooo. CAHS for liiife!" Taylor's perky voice carried her pride for Chicago Academy to fill the empty streets except for the occasional passerby. This side of town was usually quiet around this hour, Vinny had pulled out his phone ten minutes ago to see the time had barely reached midnight. Taylor had let her hair down right after work, its blonde waves reaching the bottom border of her back and waist easy. She was the envy of all her caucasian friends who would worship YouTube tutorials for great hair tips and tricks whereas Taylor's length, volume, and color came naturally. Her eyes were even more blue than Danny's and her smile had a long history of braces.

"Go, Taylor, go!" Danny and the others egged her on, and Taylor raced ahead of them by only a few paces before executing a few beautiful back handsprings, revealing her cheerleader status. The three cheered and applauded loud enough to wake Vinny from his thoughts. He hadn't looked up from the ground once until now and it didn't go unnoticed. The kids had seen Ayna play her part here and Danny witnessed what took place at the restaurant and of course blabbed to the others when they showed up to their shift. But they were clueless about a majority of the story and did nothing to get involved. They also did not think anything less of Ayna, but were getting more and more curious about Vinny's backstory and how she tied in to it. Everyone knew he was an ex celebrity but between then and now was forbidden to discuss at work.

Reggie could relate most to Ayna's statement; college wasn't for him either. "I'm going down the military path, like my dad." If you've met Reggie, you've met Reggie's father. The two were like a single image mirrored, born in two different worlds but the same in looks and personality. Reggie, when standing straight, reached 5'5 like Taylor. He was black, his skin was flawless and dark colored, and his hair hadn't been cut in awhile but it was far from a fro. At school, he was the type of kid involved in the Junior's ROTC program and took it too seriously as if it were the real thing.

Danny glanced over at Ayna, "With the way things are looking, I can get into almost any college in the States for free. I'm looking at South Carolina though, for a degree in physical training, specifically sports medicine. My mom's a nurse and after my uncle's motorcycle crash left him paralyzed, I watched them struggle a lot but one day he just got up and was standing. It was a miracle.." There was complete silence for a minute, everyone had been listening. Though it was a story they had heard a million times, it always gave them hope.

Shortly after walking by the restaurant, the official checkpoint of being halfway home, the group paused at a four way intersection. Danny and Taylor were due to the left, Reggie and Viv to the apartments across the street to the right, and although Vinny should have turned a few blocks behind them, he wanted to make sure Ayna got home safely, even if she didn't want an escort. They started saying their good byes to each other and then to Ayna, "It's really cool meeting you. I hope we get more time to hang before graduation." Danny said with a smile, extending his hand out for her to shake.

Sigr · Apr 8, 2018

Ayna didn't care much for the popular girls in school, as any of them knew better than to mess with her, but she did't hate them either. As far as she could tell, they had their thing, be it the student council, cheerleading or what have you while she had hers. Different worlds that once more touched as Taylor honored her looks and specially that golden mane of hers as she started cheerleading. With Vinny still lost in thought, Ayna found herself smiling a bit with Taylor's contagious attitude, seeing why she was a cheerleader after all. She wasn't even curious about girls, never finding herself wondering how it could be, but even so she could understand how others could feel their courage fueled by the energetic blonde girl.

"Hmm?" Ayna looked at Reggie, hearing his unexpected statement. He was still young, but he seemed to have things pretty clear even for his age. Was she much different than him a few years ago? No, it has been longer since she knew she was made to fight, not suspecting it, not wishing it. Knowing it. How long had it been when she took that decision? She didn't know. "That's hard" Ayna just stated, taking a good long look at Reggie, sizing the youngest of the bunch up. It didn't matter how close they were, making the height difference bigger, she noticed that even if he wouldn't win against her, he sure wouldn't flee either, and the young man didn't even flinch when she stared at him. "You'll do good" she concluded, another short sentence that sounded like an absolute truth.

As Danny started to talk, not brag, about how he could get where he wanted but instead of anything classically ambitious wanted to get into sport medicine Ayna couldn't help but get more interested about the blonde guy. "Interesting" she said, a bit touched as Danny did really get through you, but still appearing mostly unmoved. "If you know your stuff and need practice, tell me. Although I probably can't afford you yet" Ayna commented, a sincere offer that could help them both. Someone more socially wise, experienced or extroverted wouldn't said it like that, but at least she managed to talk about it without sounding hostile. "Right now I'm still a one woman operation, but maybe things will change" she added, looking at Vinny, still lost within himself.

"Same" Ayna accepted the handshake. After standing there thinking for a couple of seconds, she shared her phone number with that bunch. Maybe it was an effort at normalcy, maybe it was curiosity about how reserved and somewhat shifty Viv had been on the way there, or just playing nice with Vinny's friends in his practical absence. Whatever it took her to that decision, she didn't analyze. They seemed like a nice few, and even if they wasn't Ayna had no trouble ditching them off if needed.

Left alone with Vinny, she resumed her walk home, the man following her as a shadow of her past. "If you are thinking of dealing with it like the hasty removal of a band-aid tonight, forget it" Ayna warned. "My parents will be asleep by now and they don't know I went there" she admitted. More silence. "Viv didn't say much, does she like you and saw me as a threat or she's just that shy?" Ayna asked, trying to break Vinny's silence.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 10, 2018

After a long and thoughtful pause he answered, "N-no, not yet. I can't let them see me like this..." Vinny was in desperate need of a hair cut, a shower & shave, and a pair of decent clothes. He'd been wearing this uniform for about 16 hours now, reeking of sweat, grease and dirty dishwater. Every food stain on the black fabric was evident and, from his experience, needed to be scrubbed by hand before being thrown into the washer. On top of that, Vinny was a deadbeat, in the nicest term possible. Once a promising young man with a bright future, now a boring recluse with an Average Joe life. No friends, nothing new ever happening, he was useless during any kind of small talk. He could see the awkward silences ahead when the time would come to explain himself to Ayna's parents.

He decided he would meet with them after school around 4 so Ayna would also be present, then he told her the plan. "Is tomorrow between 4 and 5 a good time?" If things went good, he could imagine staying for a nice family dinner and dessert like it used to be. Working at the restaurant, he could eat all he wanted so he never went without a home cooked meal but food made especially for you by someone who loves you added a whole new kick. And the Omarovs have always treated Vinny like their own. Maybe there was hope...

"Me and Viv? Ha." Vinny laughed but turned to her so she could see the seriousness in his green eyes. "There's nothing going on there." It was painful to admit that he wasn't involved in any kind of relationship. And Vivian Ramirez was a beautiful girl. Vinny thought back to just a few moments before, when Vivian walked just a little behind him and beside Reggie. The Latina was in her cell phone the whole time, probably texting her father.

"She gets like that when she misses curfew. Her dad's just very protective." Vinny remembered Mr. Ramirez coming to him at the restaurant, asking that he keep an eye out for Viv since he couldn't watch over her at work. It was a favor from a fan of the fighter so Vinny didn't mind. Mr. Ramirez asked the same of Marina and a select few of the female staff at the high school. From what he remembered, Ayna's parents weren't much different when the time came to send their daughter to middle school in the city. So Ayna could probably relate.

"Ever since her mother... do you remember Estefania Ramirez in the news?" Suddenly there was a bad taste in his mouth. Terrible things happen in the city all the time but the Ramirez case was too close to home. It shook the whole neighborhood. She was sexually assaulted by a man who stalked her and knew her husband was out of town for business while the children stayed at their aunt's for spring break a few years back. The abuse went on for two days and would have went on for longer if her coworkers had not reported her missing. Instinctively, Vinny stepped a bit closer to Ayna, almost shoulder to shoulder, the quiet night feeling more eerie.

"So you're parents don't know you do this kind of thing? You know if you get caught fighting before you're legal, you'll never get to go pro." There was a hint of anger in his voice when he asked. She put so much at risk to attend one measly fight. She came alone and had Vinny not been there she would have left alone, her parents didn't know she even left, "So if something happened to youse, no one would know where to start. And what if that bouncer put you in the hospital? Ayna, don't look at me like I'm the crazy one here. What were you thinking coming out here on ya own?"

Sigr · Apr 10, 2018

Vinny finally managed to say something, even if it was a nervous and stuttering acceptance of what she said, as he wasn't interested on visiting her parents looking like that. He was morose, but Ayna wasn't the kind of woman that felt the need to fill the silences unless she wanted to say something. There was calm on those silences, reflection, as she walked seeing how what she asked of Vinny worked its way, making him come to a final decision. "Be at home around four thirty, that way I will get time to get there and you won't be alone with them" Ayna said, wanting him to talk with her parents but without needing him to suffer for no reason.

"Oh, so it's a curfew thing" Ayna nodded, understanding the issue even if her parents were quite permissive. Maybe Vinny was just changing topics, but she was the one who asked so she couldn't blame him for answering. "Oh shit, that's horrible, no wonder her father is so protective" she nodded, reflecting on those terrible news from some time ago. She didn't quite know the name at first, but with how Vinny said it she was soon reminded of it, seeing why Vinny himself could be so protective as well. "Maybe..." Ayna mused. "I don't know if I'm the right one, but I could teach her some self defense if she's up for it" Ayna offered. "I don't say that it will help her father feel better, but she probably will" she said.

It seemed that reminding her of what happened awoke something on Vinny. It wasn't quite the old fire she remembered, but then again she wasn't a little kid anymore so her memories weren't to be trusted. Ayna took his whole barrage without interruption, saying nothing until he was finished. "I don't do this kind of thing, it's the first time" Ayna started once he was done. "And no, they are okay with my fighting but they don't know about this. I had been on the club a few times in the past but this is the first time I fought" she clarified. "And no, I didn't know, I thought it was my business and my business alone. It won't happen again" she stated, sounding perfectly sure.

"That said, you haven't earned the right to talk to me like that" Ayna added after a pause. "Not yet" she explained. "I wasn't thinking. I was riled up and needed to vent. Needed to fight" she said, finally sounding irritated. "Can you guess what made me mad? No, don't stand silent now, fucking tell me!" she roared. "And can you still relate to the need for a fight? Do you remember what that fire was?" she insisted, chest against chest until she was shouting at his face. Her slate grey eyes shone fierce as they searched for fire in his green ones, and she was almost bumping her forehead against his. "Because I'll need that fire besides your smarts, as I have no one else" she grunted, taking one step back. "If tomorrow you don't chicken out" she said, before continuing the walk home.

"Again" she sneered, not even looking back.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 10, 2018

Guilt burdened his gut with a familiar, sharp pain that would have made him sick had he not felt more strongly inclined to prove he was trustworthy to Ayna. She boldly stepped up to him again and it was nothing like their earlier encounter. The tension and heat between them was stronger and twice as dangerous. And when she searched his eyes, the flames of passion were there, burning twice as bright as before. His voice was deep with certainty, "Of course I remember. I'm fighting for you, aren't I?" It's the first rule of fighting, knowing it's more mental than physical. To overcome an opposing powerful force takes serious strength Ayna hasn't quite reached nor realized yet. Vinny desperately wanted to interfere now before its too late, to help her veer off this course she's currently on otherwise she's going to end up just like him. It was hard, but he's been learning to forgive himself even when others didn't. And it was even harder, hearing Ayna say it was because of him that she needed a release and took it out in the ring.

"Anger blinds you. And if you wanna win, you need to be focused at all times." He sternly said, each word breathing on her lips as she forced her intimidation tactics down his throat. Still, Vinny didn't back down, knowing the odds weren't in his favor but he was taught to always give 110% into anything he decided to do. And no matter what he'd stand by Ayna as he should have. Even when she hurt him further, implying that she was so far behind from where she needed to be that she was desperate to consider a washed up has been like Vinny for help. As she said, she has no one else. He wasn't special, he could've been anybody. "Nothing you say will make me go away, Ayna. We're in this together, so I suggest you take that chip off your shoulder. I live with it everyday, I don't need you or anyone else reminding me!"

He stormed after her tall figure, shouting, "The only chicken here is you! 'Cause if you gotta problem with me, you bring it to me!" It may have been immature, but Vinny did not abandon his family and close friends to vacation for 9 years, he suffered too long and hard to be considered a chicken.

Sigr · Apr 17, 2018

Ayna turned over her heels with practiced ease, soon facing the chasing Vinny, using the momentum of the twist to throw a lightning fast punch to his face. Her hand stopped dead in the air, mere inches away from his face before dangling by her side. "I'm focused. If anger blinded me you wouldn't have this chance, if anger blinded me you would be on the ground now" Ayna grunted, taking a brief moment to breathe and calm. "But it's true I'm angry" she confessed. "I'm frustrated for not getting what I want. Scared that I won't never get what I want. And disoriented by..." she blurted, averting her eyes from him. "I want explanations too. I think... I think I can forgive, but first I need to understand. Tomorrow" she settled, making clear she wasn't on the mood for listening to anything at the moment.

"And I'm sorry for implying you were a coward" she added, walking home once more, slowly, invitingly. "But don't call me a chicken again" she insisted, sounding more like the little girl from his memories than ever. It had been years and years, but she always got headstrong and unruly every time anyone doubted about her courage, punching anyone close and getting into reckless situations. One time she climbed a tree on a dare, but then she couldn't get down and instead of asking the other kids to go and get help she said she didn't want to get down at all. Once the kids went away, she was unsure of what to do, until Vinny found her up there, in a park not far from home, it would come into view soon.

"The tree was hit by lightning, I can't climb it anymore" she muttered, looking at the charred stump in the distance. She couldn't undo what happened, she couldn't go through the past now. All she could do was to struggle with the painful present to get a better future. "It doesn't matter" she shook her head, sighing deeply afterwards. Fierce she was attractive, but when calm she was beautiful, even if she really didn't pay that kind of attention to herself. "It must feel even weirder for you" she said, the closer they got to her home, wondering how the place had changed in some ways and yet stayed the same in others, how would Vinny feel about that. "You don't have to take me all the way if you don't want to" she said, the closest she was to saying sorry for making him go through all of that.

"But you have to come tomorrow. You have to" she insisted, for the sake of not only her parents and her, but also for his own good.

Prof. H. Xander Storm · Apr 18, 2018

Had it landed, that punch would have done the same damage to Vinny's nose as it did on her most recent victim, perhaps much worse. She was definitely fast if not just showing off, her fist once a blur, now frozen mid air with her center knuckle locked onto the bridge of his nose. She had been so close, his eyes were crossed, trying to focus on her large hand. As she backed off, before dropping her hands to her side once again, he could see the faint combat bruises across her fingers. Vinny stood tall and relaxed his posture when it felt safe to do so then sighed, "It's fine, Ayna. I've got some explainin' to do and I'll do it tomorrow." He agreed, hoping what he had to say would satisfy their years of wonder and give everyone closure.

Resuming the walk, taking his place by her side, the tension subsided long enough for Vinny to get a good look on the old neighborhood. He practically knew every name on the block from here, they all stood behind him and supported him the most at the prime of his career. Across the street from them was the corner store where Vinny used to buy Ayna sweets she wasn't allowed to eat and the bus stop where he'd wait for her after school on the days his visits were less and less frequent because of training and more like surprises. Up ahead was the park, their favorite hang out spot, and it hadn't changed a bit. The tire swing, the jungle gym, the sandbox, ths small forest trail with the wooden bridge were all old but still functional and held all sorts of memories. It wasn't until Ayna said so that he noticed the tree was gone. Not completely, the burnt remains of the stump still stood. It was heartbreaking to remember the best moments shared with that tree, particularly when Ayna climbed near the top to prove herself to her friends but later got stuck. Vinny had climbed up to her level to save her but before he grabbed her, he carved her name into the bark so everyone would know of her accomplishment.

The feeling of nostalgia thickened. He had not walked these streets in a decade despite living only 20 minutes away. His heart began to ache for the lost time, wishing things had turned out different for only a brief second. "It's uh..." but Vinny couldn't find the words to animate exactly how he felt, "Yeah, it's weird..." he decided on the words she had chosen, glancing over at her and studying her face more closely, "I still can't believe how much you've grown. And why are you so tall? Tryin' to be as much as your Uncle Vinny as possible?" he coughed out a laugh and focused back ahead. With every passing marker, indicating how close they were getting to her house, his pace slowed, his heart beating unevenly while his eyes throbbed from anxiety. Maybe she was right and he was a chicken. But that didn't matter, he'd have to overcome his fear tomorrow when he came back. Vinny had stopped in his steps altogether, staring blankly ahead at her house, at the end of the cul-de-sac. He folded his arms and hugged them close to his body to stop them from trembling.

"You... you probably think so little of me now... I really am a coward.." he whispered while turning away, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Against the Ropes [ Sigr & Captain Brandeau ]

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid

Magenta Goon

Planetoid