Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

44

My opponent and I met each other in the middle, our gloves touching as she looked at me in victory. But as soon as that bell rang, I was on her.

Her surprise evident as she scrambled to move backwards and avoid my hits. But she couldn't escape me. If she dodged one, another was coming her way.

I had her backed into her corner. My fists dealing blow after blow as her training staff shouted at her to wrap me up, to get out of the corner. Literally to do anything to get away from me.

But I wasn't having it. I pushed her hands away when she tried to wrap me up. I stepped in front of her when she tried to duck out of the corner.

The surprise was evident as the arena had quieted down before shouting out. Cheers and yells filled the area as I pummeled the fighter in front of me.

She got one hit on my side which was enough to let her wrap me up. The referee coming and separating us as I pushed away, jumping on my toes. A smirk planted on my face as I saw the fear in her eyes.

"Brad, this is the Xena Tallen we know and love. Raw and untamed yet cunning and precise. The pure power coming off her was enough to silence this entire arena just now."

"I'm still speechless, Walter. She had been toying with Williams for two rounds. And like the unsuspecting prey, Williams fell right into Tallen's trap. This is Tallen's fight to win. It always has been."

"Williams will need something big to beat this hunter, Brad. With how tired Williams appears to be, it may already be too late for that."

I slammed my fist into the exposed underside of my opponent's jaw. My arm pulsing from the collision as she stumbled backwards.

I followed, stalking her backwards to once again push her against the ropes. My fists focusing on protecting myself and hitting along her sides. My left arm working to get her right side exposed enough I could land a hit.

"Go Babe!" Kie shouted over the other fans.

"Kick her ass, Wifey!" JJ hopped up onto his feet the rest following.

"Let's go, T!" John B called as he hooted and hollered.

"Put your back into it, Xena!" Pope shouted as he reeled his hand in the air like he was fishing.

"Atta girl."

"Atta girl."

Two different voices spoke beneath their breaths. Eyes full of admiration and pride glowed in the dimly lit arena as they tracked Xena's movements.

Murphy gave the forty second signal as the referee separated us once again. Once we started again, I made quick work to be upon her once again. My fists falling relentlessly as I attacked her torso, her arms, and her face when it was unprotected.

The bell pulled me from my rhythm as I stepped backwards. My eyes not leaving hers as I made my way to Murphy and Roy.

"Last round?" I asked as Roy pulled my mouth guard free.

Murphy nodded as Roy examined my form, putting more gel on my jaw as he gave me water.

"One clean hit to the right side of her ribs will leave her exposed for you to make the take down. She had a similar injury to yours. Except she fractured her bone and didn't let it heal fully." I furrowed my eyebrows as I thought about that situation.

"We could have delayed the fight if she needed time? Why did she push it?" The two shrugged their shoulders as we all looked over to see a tall male yelling in her face. "After I win, I'd like to pay that man right there a little visit." I hissed as I examined his form. Angry. Hostile. Authoritative. I watched her shoulders dip inwards and down.

When the time came to return to the center, I reached out to her without grinning or smirking her way. Instead I glared daggers into the eyes of the tall man I'm assuming was her trainer. Asshole. No wonder she hasn't managed to get past her endurance buffer. Her trainer has been to busy yelling at her to actually train her.

At the bell, neither one of us went to strike immediately. Instead we sat back and circled. I sized her up, checking to see if anything had changed. Other than her getting increasingly more tired, she maintained her stance.

Once we had done a full circle, I struck. My left arm coming out to jab as I sent her peddling backwards. I could sense the blood rushing in my veins as the world went silent. I heard my breath as I inhaled while aiming then exhaled as I hit my marks. If I concentrated hard enough I can feel my muscles pulsed as my body thrummed. My adrenaline spiking as I sought to put an end to this fight.

As I rained down hooks and crosses and jabs, my opponent stood no chance as she had to take blow after blow. Her endurance failing as I gave her no chance to recover.

This time when the referee came to separate us, it wasn't due to her wrapping me up, it was due to her not being able to fight back. The final straw being when she relied on the mat behind her to keep her upright.

The referee pushed between us, his arms rising and crossing over his head as he called the fight. A roar of triumph left my lips as I backed away. My fist in the air as I pounded against my chest with the other one. Murphy and Roy were quick to hop up and pull me to them as the referee examined my opponent.

Roy did a quick evaluation as applause and shouts filled the arena. My zoned out nature fading as I finally looked around at my surroundings. The attention that I soaked up and entertained as I rose my fists in the air.

Roy grabbed my mouthpiece as I stood on the lower ropes and leaned over to face my VIPs. My Pogues. Their faces beaming as they rushed the stage. Murphy helped get my gloves off so that by the time they reached me I was able to grab them.

Kie had tears in her eyes as she wrapped me in a hug. Her beautiful dress getting sweaty despite me telling her to not hug me. Then came JJ, his arms wrapping around me and lifting me off my feet. We spun once as he congratulated me.

John B lifted me from the ground and squeezed before setting me down gently. Pope was next as he grappled me into a hug. His words of praise making me laugh as he complemented my intellect.

Once I let go of Pope I looked at the second row of VIPs to an already smirking male. My lips curling into a smile as I saw him making his way over.

Though my smile dropped slightly as I caught sight of a blankly looking blond male. His maroon suit standing out as he looked at me. I shook myself from looking at him as I focused on the male who was climbing through the ropes.

"I almost thought I'd never be in a ring with you again." I joked as he pulled me into a sidehug. His lips at my ear as he chuckled. Promises of a better congratulation celebration away from the cameras came from the dark haired male as I moved to meet the referee in the center.