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Against the Ropes [ Sigr & Captain Brandeau ]

"Maybe..." Ayna commented when Vinny had made a somewhat awkward joke about why was she so tall. There was still a painful tension between them, something that would probably still be there until he talked to her parents so they all could move on, but the girl was warming up to having him around again. Sure, maybe it was just the nostalgic effect of being around the old playground, or just seeing how the closer they were to home, the worse he looked. There was something there, something inside him that was tearing him apart. The years didn't fix it, just hide it and it was going to get much worse until he finally took the step the next day.

If he finally did so.

Seeing Vinny call himself a coward made Ayna understand how hurtful it must had been when she said it, how his voice lacked strength, conviction. And yet, as he turned around, he insisted that he was going to come the next day. Ayna could only think about how was he going to do that, how brave Vinny was to face the next day if just coming near the house rendered him into a mess. Before Vinny was gone, Ayna dropped her bag and crossed the distance separating them, hugging him from behind, pressing her toned body against his back, crossing her arms over his chest. "You won't be alone anymore. I was too young then, but now I can chase after you, I can hold you..." she whispered. It was odd, because even if the words could sound somewhat menacing due to her awkwardness, Ayna's tone was nothing but, sounding compassionate and tender, an oddity in that woman.

"Please come back tomorrow" she asked, before releasing him. This time it was Ayna the one turning around, too embarrassed after that show to face Vinny, just grabbing her things and going home. She had done her best, and now it was Vinny's turn to step up. Part of her still wanted to punch him because how abandoned he made her feel, but the governing feelings that were on turmoil inside her were two: the side of her that loved having him back and the part of her that feared he would flee again. Sneaking back into her own room, Ayna paused to take a good long look at the mirror of her bathroom, silently borrowing a few ice cubes from the kitchen to fight the swelling of her cheek. With a stupid and nervous smile the girl finally managed to get into bed and sleep, as she rarely had trouble getting her hours in even when her mind was restless.

The next morning came with her awaking somewhat scared, barely remembered nightmares about Vinny's disappearance still chasing her. After making sure her parents would be at home at the appointed hour and no surprises that prevented that, she decided against warning them. She didn't know how would they react, but she hoped for the best and didn't want them to plan anything for the meeting or try something weird. It had to be natural and it was all about Vinny coming back home and talking with them, any preparations they did would only serve as a barrier. A small part of Ayna's mind was biting at her, voicing that if she didn't say a thing about the visit was because she still feared Vinny wouldn't come and didn't want to set her parents up for disappointment, but the daily activities soon silenced that voice, reducing it to a whisper.

The school day was a pretty forgettable one, as Ayna didn't care much about it but this time she was even more unfocused than the norm, recent events plaguing her mind. The swelling of her cheek had gotten to a point where it could be easily hidden even with her awful makeup skills, something that she had learned since she started practicing that saved her a lot of questions from well meaning people. As classes ended, Ayna rushed home, mere minutes away from the appointed time. Her parents were at home as planned, but they didn't suspect a thing, as they expected Ayna to get her gym things and go practice as soon as she dealt with the homework. Instead of that, she nervously sat on the steps that lead upstairs to her room, wanting to be the one that opened the door for Vinny.

If he finally appeared. No. When he returned home.
 
Vinny lied in bed awake until late that night thinking back to Ayna's kind gesture. It reflected her fondness of him and her arms held warmth he was just starting to get used to. Almost everything about her was new to him, especially this side of her that deeply cared about him which she probably kept hidden in case he abandoned her again. He wished he could have properly returned the hug but both times she caught him off guard and the most recent time, she had his arms pinned at his side. When he closed his eyes, he could still feel the shape of her body and her glorious curves against his back. He could hear her pleading for him to come home and when she released him it was almost as if she were afraid to let him go.

He reopened his eyes and blinked to see the sunlight streaming through the blinds and illuminating his dark and dusty apartment. He was slightly confused about when exactly he had fallen asleep when his mind had been so active. Vinny's forehead was lightly damp from sweat but when he sat up, his lap was wet, cold, and uncomfortable from his blissful yet fleeting dream. His heartbeat was once again steady when the details of the time and date settled into his mind. The ex fighter sleeps naked, so it took very little effort to step under the hot water from the shower that morning to soap up and rinse himself off. And brushing his teeth while showering was a part of his morning routine to save time. There was a basket of dirty laundry purposely placed by the front door and he would have to add his stained sheets to the pile. Today's agenda was very simple, he went over it again and again while sifting through his closet for a simple blue hoodie and a pair of dark gray jeans: first, he was to go to the laundromat to wash his sheets, his work uniform, and his socks and underwear, then to get his haircut before finally stopping by a men's fashion store to buy something affordable and nice to wear since his options were so limited at home. Vinny grabbed a coupon book from the kitchen counter on his way out the door in case he also had time to pick up a few groceries.

No one looked twice at the man enjoying a green apple for breakfast, reading the newspaper in a laundromat, quietly seated on the farthest side where he and a select few people knew the dryers worked fastest. Who cares? Only one person was paying attention and she noticed that he wasn't a lazy man either; while most pile their clean laundry back into the basket the same was as they had arrived when it was dirty, Vinny took the time to fold his items neatly. This woman admired him from afar, too shy to do anything else, even as he walked her way with his hands full until she held the door open for him and he lightly smiled and thanked her, something and someone else clearly on his mind. She must've been new to the neighborhood, he'd never seen her at the laundromat before and he was here all the time.

By lunchtime, Vinny had returned home to drop off his laundry and took the bus to the only salon he could trust with his hair. The stylist skillfully trimmed Vinny's damaged ends while it was wet before he began work on the actual hairstyle Vinny selected from a magazine in the lounge. He had no problems engaging in the small talk that took place as it helped distract him from his fears. After running his hands thoroughly through his thick, dark brown curls full of professional product, the stylist blow dried and combed it, handing Vinny a mirror to judge the final result for himself. He smiled at the reflection, seeing a lot of his younger self; it was perfect for tonight. The stylist deserved the tip while paying on his way out the door. Now all he needed was an outfit. A glance at his phone for the time. 2:07 pm.

Dressed in a green short sleeve V-neck with a storm gray blazer draped around his shoulders and black trim fit slacks, it had been awhile since Vinny upheld such a clean image. It looked as if he had never changed but to those closest to him, his attitude contrasted greatly to that of La Rosa, the young fighter. The store clerk that helped choose his sleek style, asked if the occasion was for a woman.

"Actually, her parents." Vinny slouched a bit, thinking of the time.

"Ah, then I have some advice for you: it's not just the clothes, it's the confidence. Make them feel secure and show them their daughter is in good hands." The man placed his hands on Vinny's shoulder and back to straighten up his posture.

"Yeah...sure..." He mumbled, "Easier said than done." But he was right, although Vinny knew they were thinking differently and it was odd to consider Ayna in that type of way.

The bus only takes passengers to the corner store near the park so he would have to walk the rest of the way. A shopping bag in his hand holding his clothes from earlier, he took his time to avoid sweating in his outfit and ruining his hair. Three spritz of cologne would mask the faintest scent of perspiration and keeping his chin up would hide the nauseating anxiety he felt brewing in his stomach. His vision blurred while standing in front of the door and his breaths were short and quick as he panicked, fighting the desperate urge to bolt down the street and throw up at the same time. He sent a merciful prayer to a God he didn't believe in shortly after ringing the doorbell just once, hoping no one would answer and he could go home. But an image of Ayna popped into his mind and he remembered why he was doing this to begin with: he let her down and this was how he could start to gain back her trust.

Vinny took slow, deep breaths through his nose and out his mouth, just like training and reimagined how he felt when Ayna hugged him last night. It helped to calm him immensely, especially when she was the one who answered the door and allowed him inside the Omarov home.
 
Ayna waited sitting on the stairs, bent forward with her arms resting on her knees. Her hungry eyes stared at the door as they would a rival on the opposite corner of the ring, her body slowly swaying back and forth. She didn't even want to look at the clock, not wanting to feed her impatience more, as all kinds of doubts and scenarios plagued her mind. Unable to stay still, Ayna went upstairs and changed her clothes, opting for the more comfortable attire of some blue sporty shorts and a loose shirt. "No training today?" her father asked as he spotted her going back downstairs, curious as she usually got the advantage of any free time she could get to hit the gym. "No..." she answered without further explanation, a tone strange enough that her father well knew. It was useless to pressure her for answers in moments like those, as she would only withdraw more and explanations always came in due time.

As Temir moved to the living room and Ayna continued going downstairs, the doorbell rung, prompting the girl to hastily gallop to the door and open it wide in mere moments. Time seemed to stop as Ayna looked at Vinny at her doorstep, cleaned all nice and despite the clear struggle in his face, his expression seemingly relaxed into acceptance as Ayna's was stuck in surprise. "You came..." she muttered, leading him into the house, closing the door behind. Being the good hosts they were, Ayna's parents didn't stay in the living room and started to move towards the entrance. It wasn't usual for Ayna to bring someone home if ever, so they came by expecting some kind of classmate, perhaps even a boy, but not the one standing there.

The house was roughly the same, maybe a few little changes here and there, but time didn't only pass for Ayna. Temir had always been a youthful looking man, always looking younger than he was, but it seemed that time had finally caught with him. His old fashioned mustache was still there crowning an open mouth, but silver accented his once pitch black hair, specially at the temples. Inzhu was still a beautiful and elegant woman even if her always expressive wrinkles had multiplied, at that moment they only reflected her disbelief. Those same slate grey eyes that shone fierce in Ayna were bright with emotion on Inzhu, shining wet.

Temir closed the distance in the blink of an eye, wrapping Vinny in a tight hug. The retired fighter couldn't see his face, but it was clear by the muffled sounds and the heaving of his chest that the man was sobbing. "Vinny..." Inzhu called, covering her mouth with both hands as tears fell along her face, Ayna getting close to her mother and standing close to her. Ayna was breathing deeply, clearly fighting the tears back, as even the feisty girl was overcome by the emotion of the moment. A few blinks and a couple sighs and she managed to stave the tears off, but she wasn't fooling anyone.

"Please..." Temir broke the embrace after having cleaned his face of tears behind Vinny's back, gesturing for him to enter the living room and unable to voice many more words. "Welcome back" he managed to say before it was Inzhu's time to pull him on another hug, as Ayna stepped a bit aside, nodding to her father. "Welcome home" were the words Inzhu could only whisper on Vinny's ear, leaning on the taller man for support when she faltered a bit, emotions running high.

The Omarov living room was a traditional one with a couple of couches facing each other with a table in the middle, an arrangement made for family conversation, not watching the television that was confined to a corner. Vinny had been there hours and hours, although at some moment of the past the old and busted furniture had been changed for a newer ones. As Temir helped Inzhu calm down and brought a glass of water for her, Ayna basically dragged Vinny into one of the couches, seating next to him, while the Omarov parents rested across them. It was a moment of calm after the storm, silence settling on the room until Ayna leaned against Vinny, kissing him on the cheek as time hadn't really passed.

"Thanks" she said, happy that he was really there, although it had just begun.
 
Through a well-respected man named Rafael Esparza, a client of the banks Inzhu occupates as a successful wealth manager, is how Vincenzo first met the Omarov family. Rafael managed and marketed the ex fighter's business and was responsible for all scheduling, sponsorships, and advertising the La Rosa name among the Chicago area first, and then the state of Illinois and then the central time zone and so on. Rafael arranged a dinner to mull over all the details and of course what there was to gain if the banks entrusted a large loan to the talented fighter of the world's fastest growing sport. Not only did Inzhu approve of the loan, she and her husband invested their personal funds into the project. That night they had dinner at Rafael's estate, Vinny made his first appearance in their lives. He was young, handsome, very fit and well dressed and his personality left a lasting impression. To show his gratitude, he trained hard everyday and would make frequent visits to do work around the house. Their relationship became less professional and more friendly before the Omarovs considered making Vinny a member of the family. This reunion was about something much greater than business and everyone in the room felt it.

Temir's arms wrapped above Vinny's shoulders and around his neck in an emotional hug. Vinny returned the hug with just as much strength, patting the old man's back to comfort him as he shivered with every breath and sobbed. Vinny fought back tears of his own, knowing if he started now, he'd never stop. But while he hugged Temir, his watery eyes landed on a crying Inzhu and Ayna behind her and he broke his brave face and gave them a crooked smile. He let go of Temir and walked to Inzhu who was frozen in place, crouching over slightly to give her a hug as well. She felt much smaller and more frail in his arms, very different from Ayna and Temir.

"Thank you.." Vinny finally managed to say something without having to worry about his voice cracking. Ayna had to take him by the wrist and lead him further into the house, otherwise he would have just continued to stand there awkwardly, staring blankly at the hanging photos while remembering every last memory. There would be more time to reminisce later. He sank comfortably into a couch cushion, realizing this was a whole new furniture set. Free of stains, pillows fluffed, sturdy structure. He looked over at Ayna as she closed the distance to support him, happy to have her on his side. His eyes widened at the sudden kiss, the heat of her lips lingered a few seconds longer and in that time he searched her eyes, then examined her face more and noticed the makeup used to hide her bruises from last night. Vinny glanced back at Temir and Inzhu who studied this rarely shown character of their daughter and this man with lost confidence that needed to rely on her to get a sentence out.

But once he started, he couldn't stop. Halfway through, he started to cry and then his words slurred. At that point, it didn't matter if any of it made sense, he just kept bawling while talking and he was embarrassed so he cried more. "I... I um..I read this article in the paper after I lost the Ramada fight and they said, 'Don't make promises you can't keep, La Rosa.' And I..." Vinny's body suddenly grew very tense before he took another deep breath and relaxed, "I wanted to show everyone I still had so much left in me and it cost me way more than I could ever imagine. Only two minutes into the fight, Ramada broke my arm with a single kick and when I fell, it dislocated too. I-I was so scared, I couldn't move it but I kept getting up and he kept coming at me but I couldn't even focus when all I could think was 'They're watching, you can't let'em down now'. And when it was all over and the doctor told me I could never fight again unless I wanted to live with a prosthetic arm, I was forced to retire. I spent all my earnings on surgeries to change their minds but nothing worked. I wanted this so badly but the universe just won't let me have it. I couldn't show my face to you guys or anyone without being reminded how much of a disappointment I am so I fucking ran. I was scared of what you'd say, what you'd do, I was so scared... so scared..."

He buried his face in his hands, unable to make eye contact with any of them. He was waiting for it, the part where they tell him that if he can't fight, there's no need to have him around anymore. Just like Rafael.
 
Once Vinny started talking, Ayna looked at him go, as unstoppable in his confession as he was as a fighter. How open and sincere he was felt a bit overwhelming, making her think twice about herself and her own attitude, hermetic compared to his. As he cried and cried, she didn't know what to do, nervous but without even flinching as she sat next to him and she didn't want to further disturb him. That was her fault, she had pushed him there and Vinny cared so much about her that he subjected himself to that torture because she dragged him into that situation. Ayna looked apprehensive to her parents, worried, but they only had eyes for Vinny as it should be, so she returned her attention to that shivering and crying man by her side. Had always Vinny been like that? How many feelings had he bottled while she was just a brat? How much did he held back?

How much was she holding back?

Ayna's unease facing that idea made her attention shift outwards once more, focusing on the details Vinny talked about. Of course she had watched the fight, not just live as Vinny always managed to get her in even if he shouldn't, but several other times on YouTube during years after. What it had been scary yet inspiring as a kid, watching her hero get up over and over again at whatever cost, it was a gruesome show of reckless stubbornness once she was older. While Vinny finished his story, Temir and Inzhu were shocked and teary, but it was Ayna the one that hugged him as he hid his face on his hands.

"It's enough..." Ayna said, noticing for the first time as her voice broke that tears had been flowing from her eyes for a time now. "I'm sorry... I didn't-" she tried to apologize for making Vinny go through that moment, but she didn't know how nor how to excuse herself. Part of Ayna still believed that it was a good thing, something the four of them needed if things were to move forward, but she didn't expect for it to be that painful. Hunched over the leaning man, Ayna tried to wrap him, offering the physical relief with her embrace that her words didn't reach.

"The only disappointment were you running away" Temir said, his voice steady despite sounding hurt. "That you didn't trust us to help you, to ease your pain-" he continued.

"Father!" Ayna yelled out in anger, wanting to protect Vinny from precisely the situation she had got him in.

"No, your father is right" Inzhu managed to add, her eyes wet yet firm. "That was what really hurt. But he has come back, so we are grateful for that miracle" she said, her stare warming up to her daughter.

"Mother..." Ayna sighed, relieved that things weren't as harsh as she feared for a moment.

"I'm going to bring some drinks" Inzhu excused herself, getting up. "Both to wash away the tears and to celebrate the return" she said, although it was clear that she needed a moment to herself after that ordeal.

"I don't know how this happened or how my daughter managed to drag you in, but I'm grateful for her to do so and I admire the courage that you showed accepting to come back, there is no way it had been easy" Temir acknowledged, nodding.

Ayna broke her embrace, giving Vinny some space but still sitting by his side. Cleaning her tears with hasty and awkward gestures, inadvertently dragging off the makeup and revealing her bruised cheek.
 
His quiet sobs only lasted a few moments longer, subsiding into soft sniffles and even softer shivers. He could feel Ayna's delicate touch again when she wrapped her arms around his frame and into a supportive hug responsible for suppressing what remained of his tears. When she was younger, her hugs always held some sort of superpower that brightened his day. Back then he could never truly confide into her on his dark days, she wouldn't have understood. However, she could always tell when he was feeling down and managed to put a smile on his face every time. Lifting his head to accept a tissue from Temir, he gently dried his face before balling it into his fist.

"I had to tell them, Ayna. You don't have to apologize." He straightened up his posture, listening to Temir and Inzhu agree on the fact that Vinny should have put more faith into his family, because fighting or not, he was a part of them now and no loss would ever change that. He recognized Temir's cold tone, having heard it in Ayna's voice yesterday. It was unsettling since he shed the most tears. Inzhu's was just as firm but the two of them meant no harm. Ayna warned them, ready to defend Vinny, and while he was thankful, he needed to face all of his demons head on. Inzhu excused herself to make drinks, leaving Temir and Vinny to talk more.

"I'm grateful too... it's been a hard journey to travel alone. I found a light to guide me back on my path." That's when he turned to look at Ayna just after she let him go. She'd held back but soon gave in to tears of her own, made apparent by her wet cheeks. They smeared the makeup off of and uncovered her bruises, VInny raised his hand and wiped the rest, using the unused side of his balled up tissue. "But that's not all I have to tell you today."

Temir leaned forward in his seat, attentively listening. There was evidence and obvious signs present throughout this visit that backed his suspicions that Ayna and Vinny were lovers and this was either a meeting to confirm it or announce Ayna's pregnancy. He wasn't ready for either and could only express his worry through raised brows.

"I'm sure you both are well aware of Ayna's fighting talent," Vinny started, loud enough for Inzhu to hear from the kitchen, "I'd like to coach her and share everything I know to help her achieve her dream." His voice was solid throughout, his confidence regained.

Temir visibly relaxed his posture greatly, chuckling to himself, "Of course, Vinny. But, and she knows how we feel about this, her studies come first until graduation." He exchanged glances with his daughter, giving her a smile and nod of approval. Inzhu returned from the kitchen holding a tray with three tall glasses of iced water and lemon slices, as well as two slices of a strawberry pastry they had in the fridge for Ayna and Vinny. She placed the tray on the small table in front of them before retaking her spot beside Temir on the couch.
 
Ayna didn't cry easily, not even when she was a little girl, but that didn't mean she didn't get injured or throw tantrums from time to time. Having Vinny clean up her face made her feel nostalgic once more, accepting of what he was doing when she would usually back off and deal with that by herself. She nodded to Vinny as he got calmer, wanting to continue talking to get to the other big topic of the day. Her eyes returned to her father, seeing some strange look of worry on him, something that made her frown and wonder what kind of problem he had, but it seemed that he was just anxious to see Vinny say so himself. Or at least that was what Ayna thought when Temir visibly relaxed and chuckled, almost too happy to hear the news of her progressing on her dream of fighting.

She was a bit more comfortable now that Vinny sounded confident and the topic was back to her. That was a problem she could face, a weight she could shoulder, unlike seeing Vinny suffer from past deeds. "Yes, yes, I have it very present, Father" she groaned, still not realizing that the bruise on her cheek was visible again. "But I'm almost done with school and things can't catch me unprepared" Ayna voiced, leaning forward to take one of the lemon water glasses and take a gulp, clearing the knot on her throat. "I stumbled into Vinny by chance and we... discussed it" she said, leaving her glass back on the table. It was a nice euphemism referring to their screaming fights, bordering on the physical. She felt silly at that moment for behaving like that, but it had lead to this moment, so even if it had been painful it was now for the better.

"So I need a coach. Not only for the fighting part, I don't have a clue on how to manage fights, sponsors and the like" Ayna admitted, having no trouble recognizing those weak spots, at least when it didn't come to fighting itself. "Any contract will go through you, Mother" she said looking to Inzhu, as she was the expert and could easily spot any iffy parts that paperwork could have. "I promise I won't fight before graduation" she said, already a lie, "but I have to start getting ready to not be left behind" she added, this part completely true.

Waiting to see how her parents reacted, Ayna didn't know what to do with her hands, so she reached for her piece of strawberry pastry and started to eat it. Nervously chewing into the sweet homemade treat, her clear eyes danced from her parents to Vinny and back, wanting to be sure that things were fine. "I'm fine with Vinny being my coach, my only request was that he came here to talk with you two" she explained, another gulp of water to down the pastry. "So... it's fine, right?" she outright asked, still somewhat confused by the face her father had a few moments ago.
 
Vincenzo leaned forward and over the table in the center of the room to politely and quietly take a few sips of his iced water while Ayna explained the main points of the beginning of her fighting career to her parents. They were very patient with their daughter and more than supportive; they were involved. Though they did not care much for the sport, even in Vinny's time, they cared greatly for Ayna to hopefully gain a better understanding of her by paying close sttention to her hobbies. He noticed there were still a lot of details to discuss between just him and her, the idea was still very new and they hadn't had a real moment of privacy to go in depth over their plan. But to assure her parents, she promised to uphold her good study habits until graduation in a few months. As she mentioned before and probably a thousand times in the past, she had been doing an excellent job balancing school and fighting and her parents had to trust that.

"I'll be her manager too. I can teach her everything I know." Vinny did squeeze that in for consideration just before he bit into his strawberry snack. He was the most qualified candidate and neither of her parents could forget their inseparable bond and how well they get along with one another. The day Vinny vanished from their lives was hardest on her and they used to worry how it would affect her development and future relationships. The last thing they wanted was for her to be this dependent on Vinny, or more than friends as they continued to somewhat suspect, all for him to walk out again. It went unspoken but with every gesture and look they exchanged between each other, Vinny could easily read. Ayna had/has the same concerns afterall. The scowl she inherited from her father and narrowed eyes from her mother.

When Vinny opened his mouth again, he hoped to put an end to their worries once and for all, "I admit, when I walked away from my old life, I was selfish. I had no idea of the damage I would cause... But I am different now and I want to give everything I have left into making sure Ayna becomes a champion. I want to be here for all of yous." His hand reacted and moved to lay on top of Ayna's while giving a strong squeeze filled with just as much emotional promise.

The maturity in his character could not be overlooked. He was a man unafraid to admit his mistakes and unafraid to learn from them. Whatever happened in the past, as painful as it may seem, was the best thing for him and made him that much stronger. Temir and Inzhu felt their eyes water once more, proud of the Vinny in front of them now.

"It's true that we have our doubts," Inzhu started, "But I think I speak for both of us when I say you have our permission to prove us wrong." And Temir nodded with a broken smile and continued, "Yes, of course."

"Wait, wait, Ayna, what's wrong with your face?" Inzhu sharply inhaled at the sight of the dark bruise under her daughter's eye, getting to her feet to walk over and examine more closely. "Your senior photos are tomorrow..." her voice carried concern but gently scolded, "I thought you said you weren't fighting until after graduation? Don't tell me you're going back on your word already."

Vinny kept his lips on the glass of water, wondering if he should step in and save Ayna or not get involved at all. "Well here, lemme see..." His large hand easily cupped Ayna's good cheek and had her tilt her head his way, "Ah, looks like Benny caught you with a right hook during practice, yeah? He used to get me like that too."

Temir hadn't been able to shake the idea that there was more to Vinny and Ayna than they explained. He'd stay quiet for now, but would ask Inzhu about it later on before bed.
 
Ayra turned to face Vinny, mouth full of sweets, as he announced himself as her manager. They didn't have the time to discuss anything, as that very talk with her parents was a prerequisite for things to even start, but she had nothing to say against the idea. She felt like she could trust Vinny again, and it wasn't like she knew any better, not to mention that they would have the help of her mother for all things money related. "Oh please, stop with that..." Ayna begged as Vinny got corny once more, not wanting to break into tears again, but she returned the touch on her hand with pleasure. It was nice to have him back on her life, as it filled a gap, a lack that she didn't even noticed she had. She had grown accustomed to fend for herself, accustomed to disappointment, to abandonment even if her parents were there. Vinny's absence cut deeper than Ayna would ever want to admit, shaping the woman she was now, but she felt like things could be right from then on.

"Thank you!" Ayna nodded to her parents when they gave their approval, briefly hugging Vinny first then about to get up to hug them. It was then, facing straight forward when Inzhu noticed the hit and Ayna was now finally aware that she must had brushed the makeup before with her tears. Why didn't Vinny said anything? The exact thing that bridged their gap was now going to be the end of it? She was frozen, quite an oddity on her, unable to say a word, when she found sudden and unexpected refuge.

Leaning her head into the warm, gentle touch of Vinny's hand in her face, she relaxed and let him do whatever he planned to, putting for the second time during that same day her life in his very hands. "I guess, it doesn't even hurt..." Ayna followed Vinny's lie. "Don't worry mother, we can cover it with makeup for the pictures..." she added, her eyes looking at her then back at Vinny. She was still in his hands, feeling safe, but the sooner she changed topics from her bruised cheek the better.

"I'm all up to hear the training and other plans you have, when they are ready" Ayna commented, backing off a bit towards the rest of her strawberry sweet, finding a distraction there. She figured out that with the stomach churning nerves of coming there Vinny wouldn't have anything in mind yet, but she didn't really know. "I don't have much homework today, but I still have to do them" she said, showing her responsible side mostly for appearances, but still being honest about it.
 
Looking into her eyes, Vinny could see the gratitude and in return, he playfully winked. There were plenty of times when he had to lie to his mother about his own scrapes and bruises so she wouldn't have to worry all the time. She, of course, would never fully believe her own child; he was always so charming and had a way with words. And though that mouth got him into a lot of trouble, Mrs. Vittoria La Rosa knew her son would accomplish great things with that sort of charisma. He ought to pay her a visit for the reunion she deserves. And Pop too. He couldn't bear to imagine what they went through when he left everyone behind.

"First, I need to see what you can do in the ring." Vinny worded that very carefully as to not reveal the fact he already saw her in the ring. Against a 300 pound brute. With military combat training. Something her parents can never ever find out. "I'll record what I can on video to help convince some sponsors."

"Won't you need a large loan like last time to help you get started?" Temir asked the same question Inzhu was thinking.

"Ayna shouldn't have any problems getting enough sponsors to do that. She's young, she's talented, she's fit," Vinny counted her most notable qualities on his fingers, "She may be a rookie, but she's with me. And the La Rosa name still has some shine on it. Rookies that work with vets are more likely, you know what I'm sayin'?" He only wished he felt as confident as he sounded and hoped his name wouldn't cost Ayna of her one real chance to go pro. He looked to everyone, happy to answer any more questions.

"All ya need to do is focus on your schoolwork and make some good friends to keep close. When this thing takes off, the UFC is gonna wanna know who Ayna Omarov is and they are gonna ask the community, your neighbors, your family, teachers, and friends, so make sure you keep good company." It was answer Temir and Inzhu approved of, answering with understood nods of their heads. Vinny fished for his cell phone in his pocket and checked the time glowing on the screen. He stood, arms wide for another hug, "I'm done holding you guys up. I should be going-"

"Hey! You're insulting us, Vinny. You know you have to stay for dinner." Inzhu stood as well with a beautiful smile played on her lips and waved him into the kitchen, "You remember how it goes..." She equipped him with a large, sharp knife and a wooden cutting board, instructing him to make a salad while she sauteed shredded chicken with onions and peppers. She glanced over his shoulder, seeing how much his technique with the knife had improved since the very last time they cooked a meal together. He told her he works at Marina's as a busboy and sometimes when there's a rush, they let him cook. When Vinny was younger, he was too busy in his childhood to bother to learn how. Whenever he tried to watch his mother, she kicked him out of the kitchen and told him a mother's duty is to provide for her son. Vittoria was a very old fashioned Italian immigrant with values and principles a lot like those. "There's nothing in this world thats stronger than a woman." She'd say, raising her son to be a gentleman and to respect women the right way.

It was Inzhu that taught him how to cook the basics. She didn't want to give away too many secret recipes, but she did show him to clean raw meat, season, and boil water for pasta. Everything else he picked up by paying attention. Temir asked Ayna to help him set the table for their own father daughter time. He placed Vinny's plate next to where Ayna always sits and set a wine glass. "Oh..uh is Vinny still not a drinker? Go ask him if he'd like some wine tonight to celebrate."
 
Ayna was relieved enough that Vinny covered her with that lie that she managed to not even smirk when he talked about seeing her on the ring before anything else. It wasn't entirely a lie either, as he hadn't really seen all of her, all she could do at that moment. "Record on video, okay" she nodded, not having much trouble showing her prowess, although she wondered who could show herself off against, as he couldn't fight anymore and had to be the cameraman on top of coach and manager. The money talk worried her, but Vinny sounded confident that her qualities and the fact he was with her would help with that, part of a world she knew nothing about. The magazines and videos about the fighting always had male and female fighters here and there, exhibiting and advertising gear, supplements and all sorts of things she couldn't afford, so she wasn't even knowledgeable about brands or the like.

"Oh come on, like I needed a third person reminding me of school" Ayna whined, more of a joke than a real complaint. "I'll do as instructed, coach" she added with a smile. School would be no trouble, as she was almost done, but she didn't have any friends in there, just classmates. Well, maybe his work colleagues and friends could be hers as well? It was still soon to say, as even having each other's phone numbers since yesterday she didn't cross messages with them, that family meeting occupying all of her mind. Maybe she could send a message later, they would probably like the news of Vinny being her coach and manager now, or perhaps she should let him tell them himself. Ah, she was so clueless.

"Ah-" Ayna sighed, as Vinny suddenly stood, about to leave. Before she could even protest, her mother invited him to dinner and soon put him to work. Ayna frowned for a moment, distracted by the notion that it mattered to her so much that he would leave so promptly, that it made her happy that he stayed for dinner, but soon just accepted it. It was just her younger self happy that things were back to how they should be, nothing more. In the meantime Temir started to set the table and Ayna rushed to help him, remembering for a moment the strange face he had a few minutes ago. He seemed happy to have Vinny back, to have someone to trust her training with, but as an artist Temir sometimes wore his emotions on the outside, and even Ayna could see that something was on his mind.

She stared at him as he asked her about Vinny's drinking habits, as if she had any idea about that, and instead of answering at the very moment, Ayna stared at him a bit, trying to decipher what was going on. Guessing that he would talk when he pleased, she soon shook the idea out. "I don't really know" she admitted, turning around and walking a few steps to the kitchen doorstep. Her parents had raised her to not scream around the house, so she knew how to behave. "Hey Vinny, father wanted to know if you'd have some wine to celebrate" she asked, informally, a bit transfixed with the moment. Vinny was there helping her mother, while Ayna and her father set up things on the table, and for a moment it was as time didn't pass since she was a child.

And yet it didn't felt the same, not worse, just... different. Of course the time had passed, but everyone else seemed more or less the same, with the lost passion back on Vinny's eyes even if he wouldn't be the one fighting. What was different? What had changed? Ayna soon realized how silly she was, as the one that changed the most was her, no longer a little kid, but still oblivious to some of the things going around her.
 
There is one thing to be made clear; Temir Omarov was never jealous of the relationship Ayna shared with Vinny. As a little girl, Ayna had done her best to give the only two men in her life equal attention. Sometimes Vinny a little more since he acted as her older brother and best friend, the boundaries of a threshold a father should not approach. He always looked to Ayna as a daddy's girl at heart and so he never felt left out. He knew his daughter, she would always come to him whenever she felt ready and so he thought it best not to confront her about her true relationship with Vinny. That odd look had shown on his face for the last time that night before relaxing, looking into his daughter's eyes with a newfound trust that respected her age and her decisions in this new life. He could see her trying to read his expression but he shrugged and smiled, "If you ask your mother, maybe you can have some too, hahaha." And he jokingly put an empty wine glass at her place at the table.

Vinny's back was to the entrance of the kitchen, he had not known Ayna was standing there and watching until she spoke up, asking if he wanted wine tonight. "Uuhh," he awkwardly started to say no like his brain was wired to do so because he's only ever enjoyed alcohol twice in his life. He never allowed that poisonous substance in his system, especially when he was dieting to become a champion. But that life was over for him now and maybe he ought to enjoy something new for a change. He slowly turned from his position at the counter, the knife still in his hand as he sliced more vegetables. His green eyes caught Ayna, and with confidence, he nodded affirmatively, "Yeah, why not?" Placing the knife on the counter and grabbing the large bowl of salad he had made, decorated beautifully and well tossed, he approached Ayna and handed it to her. "Feels weird, doesn't it?.." his voice steadily trailed off, voicing his opinion on the nostalgic memories in this house. Though the only real difference he saw was Ayna. Everyone had gotten older, but Ayna grew taller, more muscular, more beautiful, and more mature into a woman. He stood by her side to physically see her perspective on it all, their height nearly even. A lot of their greatest memories was captured in frames and hung on the wall, Vinny noticed, and he took a short break to go look at them. He hardly recognized the kid he used to be, the one in the photo was outgoing and always smiling. He truly felt that with Ayna, some of that could return to him.

As Inzhu poured the sautéed chicken and vegetable entrée into a large glass dish, her attention briefly turned to Vinny, noticing his interest in the photos Temir hung on the wall. Most of them would be new to him, those were the ones they hung after he left and they had much more in a box in the attic. Her husband squeezed by Ayna at the entrance and into the kitchen where he slipped on some oven mitts and moved to help Inzhu take the food to the table. While the two were distracted by the photos on the wall, he whispered in Inzhu's ear, "Do you think they're dating?" And he briefly explained to her the little signs he picked up on; the hugs, the hands, the cheek kiss, the sudden closeness. They hadn't seen each other in a decade but it's like they were picking up where they left off.

Vinny laughed and pointed at one photo in particular, showing obvious favoritism above the others, "I remember that!" It was a thing for Ayna's middle school and Vinny volunteered to take her but he thought it'd be funny to dress exactly like Temir, with fake facial hair and all and no one saw a difference. "Man, what was I thinking?" he laughed again, giving Ayna a final glance before he went back to clean his mess.

"Dinner's ready!" Inzhu called from the dinner table, "Vinny, please grab the bread rolls and butter by the stove, I forgot them."
 
"Hmm, maybe I will" Ayna answered her father when he jokingly suggested that maybe she could have a glass. She didn't have the age to drink, but as a celebration it didn't really matter if she had just one glass, it wasn't like you could get a girl her size drunk with just that even if she wasn't accustomed to drink. As Vinny's green eyes answered affirmatively to her question even before he even nodded or agreed, Ayna knew she had to drink a glass as well, not out of wanting to seem more mature to him, that was silly, but she wanted to celebrate. "Mother, father said I can have a glass if you agree. Just for a celebratory toast, please?" she asked, knowing that with such reasoning she would be more prone to agreeing, even if Temir's words were at least partly a joke.

"Hrm, fine. But just one!" Inzhu warned, raising her index finger. Even if her father had probably hear them from the table, Ayna turned to face him. "Four glasses of wine then, father" her usual respectful tone and manners of addressing them was there laced by an almost childish musicality as she got what she wanted. "Just for a toast" she soon added, just in case, seeing her father cave in and agree.

Turning back to the kitchen she found Vinny handing her a well done salad bowl, his voice as lost as his emerald eyes as they jumped from picture to picture while she took the salad to the table. "A bit weird, yeah. But not wrong, just the opposite" she acknowledged that it was somewhat strange, but that paled to how fantastic it felt to have him back. "That one is from my first high-school day" Ayna pointed to a picture with her parents where Vinny was painfully absent, already a few years since he parted ways. "And that other with the drama club" she gestured to another with a big group of people, some of them in medieval looking costumes. "Don't get weird ideas, they needed help so I was a stagehand for a while" Ayna explained, as she didn't have such an interest, but she wouldn't be deaf to the pleads of her classmates and she was strong enough to be a great help behind the scenes.

Vinny found a picture he was part of, not long before he disappeared, but it was still from a fun and sweet moment. "It was a bit embarrassing" Ayna said, "but I didn't mind, we always have fun together" she said with a smile, not even noticing that she used the present tense and not the past one. Dinner preparations had moved ahead without them as they were absentmindedly walking the memory lane, but there were too many gaps for Ayna to fill with just a handful of pictures. Vinny had left a little girl, but now faced a young woman past her awkward teenage years, an adult already even if she was still months away to be able to legally compete. There was a lot he had missed, the transition that naturally turned the girl she knew into the woman he just met was absent from his life, and that precisely that absence one of the core elements that shaped her into who she was now.

"Lets look ahead, staring back is of no use" Ayna said, a bit bothered by the moment, not wanting to get all mushy and vulnerable again, not in front of him, but still keeping a mostly happy behind her practical statement. Her mother's words called them to the table, another request allowing them to cut that somewhat awkward moment as she went to the table while Vinny went for the bread rolls and butter. The chicken smelled wonderfully, but now it seemed that Temir's scrutiny was contagious and her mother got it too, as Inzhu was looking at her as well. Waiting for Vinny to join hands and bless the meal, Ayna found refuge in those habits, even if she was nowhere near as religious as her Christian parents. She guessed that the bruised face worried Inzhu, as was only natural in a mother, so Ayna soon stopped worrying about how she looked at her.
 
Vinny agreed with Ayna by sharing a silent yet very affectionate glance over his shoulder and a dusty, winning smile upon the maturity in his face. Though she turned away at her mother's call just as he did so, she may have missed it. In his mind, deadlines and schedules raced, as well as tasks to complete and people to call. There was not even the time to look back with so much to look forward to now. In a few blinks, the man that stood faceless in front of the kitchen sink returned to present day, the knife and wooden cutting board clattering to the bottom of the basin before submerging them in a few inches of hot and soapy water. He grabbed a hand towel first to dry and then the platter of dinner rolls that Inzhu mentioned next. His experience at the restaurant showed here while balancing the rolls and the glass butter dish on one arm and using the towel to quickly wipe around the stove and counters.

The emotional tension and "mushy" moments subsided after the family departed from the living room. The tears seemed to stay in there while in the dining room, this evening meal would broker all honesty and peace from here on. Vinny appeared and set the rolls in an open space on the table before taking his seat beside Ayna and across from Temir. As he settled, moving the chair as close to the table as he could manage, he first saw Temir's hand reaching for him, and to his right, Ayna's. Her parents shared the same expecting look, that it be Vincenzo to share a prayer from the heart for tonight. Like his mother and father, grandmother and cousins, he is of the Roman Catholic Church with a meal prayer already in mind from the years under the same roof as his devoted mamma. He hadn't hesitated to take their hands and waited patiently for everyone to bow their heads. He had not done so himself, peaking at everyone while he spoke, "Oh Lord, In a world where many walk in hunger, where many walk in fear, In a world where many walk alone and without knowing love, my family and I give thanks. In saecula saeculorum. Amen."

He'd taken his hands back and rubbed the palms together, anticipating a delicious meal by motherly hands like he had been for years but would only serve his share after everyone else had gone. A bit of salad touched his plate first, he passed the bowl to Temir who handed off the chicken entrée to Inzhu who shared the rolls to Ayna and such the rotation lasting until everyone had gotten their share. A very organized system that kept anyone from starting first. Temir raised his glass of wine to the center, Vinny caught on and followed, giving Ayna a friendly nudge.

"To Ayna and Vinny." It was simple, suggestive, and cheesy, somehow expected of Temir. The contagious smiles illuminated the room, fragile glasses clinked softly and echoed. A small vibration shivered down the shaft of the wine glass and caused his fingers to tingle in a familiar way. It was not his first toast, after all. After plenty gulps of food, the aged wine still had a lasting taste on his tongue, even as he shared with the family the work he's accomplished living on his own with a job, rent, bills, and trips to the laundromat. It was kind of Inzhu to suggest that he bring his laundry by to save on money but Temir recalled a hilarious moment back then when Inzhu would confuse the men's underwear with one another. It was a warm memory that brought an absent smile on Vinny's handsome face, even as he chewed with a mouthful of food.
 
In the cozy safety of the dining room, Ayna felt at home, with her family back together. It wasn't the same than it was years ago, it couldn't be, and not precisely because what had happened, although it weighted on her development, but because she wasn't a child anymore. There, joining hands in prayer with Vinny and Inzhu, she was aware of how his hands didn't completely cover her own, no longer her tiny girl hands were lost in his protective grip, but now they seemed equal. Vinny still had those years of fight and life experience ahead of her, but Ayna wasn't as aware of that or maybe he didn't want to. She trusted him to be her coach, her manager... but she couldn't see him as that big brother figure anymore. Pleased with having him back, Ayna still had trouble to fit Vinny back in her life, but the future was looking brighter than ever.

As usual, being yet a bit greedy and somewhat childish, Ayna's self served rations were bigger than the rest, but she always cleaned her plate, size and athletic lifestyle requiring quite the hearty meals for her. That didn't excuse her sizeable plates, as she could always have seconds without stuffing her plate full from the start, but even if graduation was close, there were parts of the childish Ayna still there inside that magnificent woman. Distracted with the meal while uttering appreciative and muffle sounds, it required a nudge from Vinny so she was aware of Temir's intentions. A toast that this time included Ayna and her own glass of wine, so she eagerly joined in celebration, washing her father's usual corny side with the new yet interesting tinge of red wine.

"Don't get accustomed" Inzhu chastised with a smile, noticing that her daughter's wine testing session wasn't accompanied by a wince of disgust, but an appreciative eye gesture. "I know mother" she nodded, frowning a bit. There was no need to warn her like that, she was an adult, even if she couldn't legally drink yet, and she was responsible. It wasn't as she frequented troublesome teenager parties or had ever caused trouble for them, but she still had to watch her every step. Well, as long as they allowed her to fight with Vinny coaching, she was fine enduring a bit of hard parenting, as her dream was becoming true. For a while the dinner was just food appreciation, casual comments and complicit looks and smiles. Everyone knew how much they have missed that and thus made an effort for the magic to last, not wanting to disrupt what could easily been a dream up to the day before.

The faces around her barely changed for Ayna, retaining that eternal quality of the ones you know and love, as if they went unchanged with time, and yet she felt different. Something there wasn't like the old days, and yet it wasn't something bad. She felt comfortable and happy with Vinny back in her life, and even if she was the one that was different, she couldn't quite point out what caused that difference. Perhaps it was the eagerness to train, to learn, to fight. She also had a fight the night before, and she could remember it in almost slow motion, sometimes tensing her hand when she remembered how good the punch felt, so it was probably just that, excitation after a fight and eagerly awaiting the fighting to come. Ayna smiled at Vinny, confident and assertive, pleased of how things had turned out.
 
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