Axel

7

I S A B E L L A

Axel's strides carried danger, his posture tall and intimidating, his arms hung like weapons by his side. The crowd dispersed and created a thin path from him as though he was the king of the room - making his way to his throne.

The shorts he wore hung loosely at his hips, his naked chest covered in dark ink that disappeared into the waistline and the fabric of the shorts choked his muscled thighs. His eyes refused to meet those that cheered for him, remaining confidently trained on his opponent that was also marching towards the ring on the other side.

I watched Axel duck under the ropes, the angel wings inked on his back revealed to the world at the action. He moved smoothly, turning to the crowd when he was in the middle of the ring and looking far out when I was right below him.

There was a lot I didn't know about him, yet activities as such shockingly hadn't surprised me when it came to him. I had learnt his character, that he thrived of danger and pain and so i assumed that a normal job wasn't Axel's cup of tea when it came to his lifestyle. I knew he had the money to live a privileged life, and I knew it hadn't come to him so easily yet I stared at him with a million unasked question as the crowd cheered for him.

He was idolised in this field, and I had no clue. It had made sense that such gamblings would be left in the dark from the real world, that the events that go down in this building would not leave the building. It's why they wanted our full names and mobile devices switched off before we entered.

The gravity of his lifestyle wasn't surprising, yet hit me like a ton of bricks when he stood right before me.

I was captived by the man, drawn to the 'why's' and 'how's' when it came to everything about him. We didn't know each other, i was certain we both plan on keeping it that way yet i continued watching him from the shadows.

Lucy's hand squeezes mine again, and I knew it wasn't because of the loyal customer that entered our cafe frequently but because of the man next to him. The slightly slimmer, equal in height and dirty strands of blonde man.

The blush at her cheeks doubled in pigment when he smirked at her and when she looked at him with worry I was sure it warmed his heart with the way he winked at her.

Lucy cheered for him, and as i watched Axel and his chest that moved like a rabid dog whilst his eyes were something far from sane, i doubted she'd be cheering for much longer.

Axel turned to Bruce, his lips moving when he responded to Bruce - no doubt in one worded replies.

Bruce had said something that broke the robotic trace Axel was in, because i watched his lips tilt up into a dangerous smirk and i respected Bruce for not allowing himself to be intimidated by somebody like Axel

The scene had left me far from satisfied, i wasn't in my humble apartment spending my night studying but instead listening to criminals cheer like mad animals at two men in a cage.

It was unsettling.

There was a distant sound of an old bell that echoed through the building, forcing the two men away from eachother and standing on the opposite ends of the cage.

There's a moment of bravery from Bruce after a long minute of hesitation, where he marches towards Axel and swings - yet it seemed all to easy for Axel, because he ducked and raised to his full size with an expression that looked like the action had bored him.