Hounded

57: Cage fight

Tyler was returned home after that. He was given a little sticky note with the date, place and time of his first fight on it. Josh was worried sick as was everyone else and he bombarded Tyler with questions on where he was, hes been gone a little over five hours.

"I'm fine." Tyler replied. "Where were you what happened?" Josh asked. "Nothing." Tyler said sternly. There was a silence. Tyler let out a breath before turning and grabbing his bong off the kitchen counter. "I'm going to get stoned." He said, heading out into the backyard.

He sat on the step and started getting everything ready. Ignoring how Josh and the family were inside probably talking about him and trying to figure out what happened.

Josh didnt come out until Tyler was so stoned he couldnt even think striaght. "Tyler?" He asked softly. Tylrr hummed. "Why wont you tell me what happened?" Josh asked. "S'not important. M'home. M'okay. N'thats it." Tyler mumbled in response.

"You have a black eye Tyler." Josh said. "I fell." Tyler replied. "Promise?"josh asked. Tyler was quiet for a moment. He doesnt usually lie to Josh. "Promise." He whispered. He felt guilty but he doesnt want josh to know about what happened or what hes gonna be doing.

"Okay." Josh sighed. "Are you gonna come in and eat?" He asked. Tyler looked up at him for the first time since he came out. Josh laughed. Tyler was right out of it. Tyler smiled. "Y'know I always want food." He said, standing up and following Josh inside. "Especially when you're stoned." Josh chuckled. Tyler nodded.

Tyler sat down to eat while everyone else talked in the livingroom. Josh stayed with him. "Are you sure you're okay? You were gone for hours.. and you didnt even get the stuff from the grocery store." Josh said. "M'okay josh. promise. Please drop it." Tyler said.  "Okay." Josh replied.

After tyler finished eating they went into the livingroom with everyone else. Momma Dun took a look at his eye. "It should clear up by next week, it's not that bad. " she said before kissing his forehead. He nodded. The rest of the night was spent watching movies until everyone went home.

The next few days were normal. When the day of Tyler's first fight came he was nervous. He really hadnt used any of his mutations over the last year or more. He had no idea if he could still fight like he used to. After josh had gone to work tyler called momma to come watch dix.

He told her he was going for a walk to clear his head because his ptsd was acting up. She agreed to come watch dix for him. He headed once she got there and met with the man at the end of the street. He got in the van with him and they were off.

When they got to the location Tyler's nerves only spiked more. It looked sketchy as all hell. People were shouting and throwing things, the entire building reeked of strong weed and alcohol. Tyler followed Gordon, the man, through the building until they got to a big cage in the center of the room.

"Bets are high tonight, they love new comers here.. take this shit off." Gordon said, forcibly taking off Tyler's sweater and tshirt, leaving him in his gym shorts. Tyler felt uncomfortable being so exposed. All his scars from previous wounds and battles were visable.

"You better do good." Gordon said before Tyler was being shoved into the cage and the door was being locked behind him. He swallowed thickly. "Tonights fight, last weeks champion killer against newcomer Tyler!" A voice over the pa boomed followed by cheers and yelling.

Tyler took a deep breath and he stared at his opponent. Killer, was slightly taller then him but was definitely more muscular. He was caught up in his thoughts, questioning on why he agreed to this when the bell rang and killer was coming over and punching him across the face so hard he fell to the ground. It snapped him out of his thoughts though.

Instantly he was in fight mode. He went to get up but was grabbed, he teleported behind him and put him in a choke hold. Tyle groaned softly when he was slammed against the edge of the cage.  He was thrown over killers shoulder to the ground. He slid across the floor and hit the other side of the cage.

He growled lowly, his eyes starting to glow. He pushed himself up and ran at killer, tackling him to the ground and laying punch after punch. Killer grabbed his wrists and kicked a leg up, hitting him in the groin, hard. Tyler groaned in pain, but that pissed him off.

He got a hand lose and pressed it to killer's throat, burning a deep red handprint into the flesh there. Killer screamed in pain and threw Tyler off him before he stood up. Tyler growled at him again.

Within seconds they were back at each other. Tyler got hit in the ribs a few times and once more in the face before he had enough and pressed his palm to killer's forehead. Killer dropped to the floor, completely out.

People were cheering some were booing, a bell rang and a ref was coming Into the cage and grabbing Tyler's arm, holding it in the air. "We have a winner!" The pa announced. Tyler stood trying to catch his breath, he didnt know he could still do that.  Everything was so loud and Tyler really just wanted to get out of the cage.

When he was good to leave he did so quickly, going over to Gordon and letting himself slide down the wall to sit on the floor. Gordon was smiling. "You were amazing fuck. Here drink some water." He said, tossing tyler a bottle of water.

Tyler caught it and took a sip before placing a hand on his rib and wincing slightly. He was trying to breath through the pain. Gordon walked away and came back a few minutes later, holding out a stack of Bill's. "Three thousand five hundred and fifty dollars.. your earnings from tonight." He said.

Tyler looked up at him. Gordon motioned for him to take it so he did. "Get dressed and I'll take you home." He said handing Tyler his shirt and sweater. Tyler took them as well and forced himself to stand up and put them on. He stuffed the money in his pocket and followed Gordon out of the building.

When they got to the end of Tyler's street gordon pulled over and handed Tyler another sticky note. "Your next fight.. you should be training a little bit in between fights. I noticed you're a little rusty." Gordon said. ".. yeah.. it was the first time I fought in a long time." Tyler replied. "You did good though. Made me lots of money." Gordon said. Tyler nodded.

"Alright I'll see you next week." Gordon said. "Yeah.. see you next week." Tyler replied before he got out and started walking towards his and Josh's place. He noticed he had a slight limp but tried his best to hide it so no questions would be asked.

Momma Dun smiled softly at him when he got inside. "How was your walk? You were gone a while." She said. "It was good.. um I'm gonna go get a shower.. are you a to stay a little longer until I'm out?"  He asked. She nodded and he thanked her before heading upstairs. He first hid the money he earned in an old backpack before going to the bathroom

He shut the bathroom door and began to strip. He looked at the bruises forming on his ribs in the mirror and grimaced at them. He decided to ignore it and got in the shower to wash himself. After his shower he went back downstairs.

He thanked momma again for watching dix and walked dher to the door. "Hey um... can you not mention this to Josh?.. he doesnt like when I go for walks by myself." Tyler said. "No problem sweetheart. Take care. I'll talk to Yiu guys tomorrow." She said.

"Okay. I love you." He said. "I love you too." She replied. Before going and getting in her car. Tyler and dix waved to her from the window before settling in the livingroom to watch tv.

Dix eyed tyler. "You okay?" He asked, he was speaking in full sentences now after being in a speech class the last while. "Yeah I'm okay." Tyler replied. "Are you hurt?" Dix asked. "I'm okay." Tyle said again.

"Whta happened?" Dix asked. "I said im fine dix." Tyler said. Dix was quiet for a moment. "You have a bruise on your cheek." He whispered. Tyler looked at him. "Dont worry about it okay? I'm okay I promise." Tyler said. "Okay.. i believe you." Dix said. Tyler gave him a reassuring smile before turning to the tv.