IRON FISTS || Axel Kovacevic

X - Night Off In Barcelona

chapter 10: Night Off In Barcelona
warnings: underage drinking, foul language.

Jisoo lay sprawled on the hotel bed she shared with Tory, her eyes fixed on the TV mounted on the wall. The sounds of a chaotic prank show filled the room, the exaggerated laughter of the audience doing little to drown out the nagging ache in her knee. She adjusted the brace absently, trying not to think about the competition she was missing.

The room felt unusually still, save for the occasional flicker of movement from Tory across the room. She sat at the edge of her bed, her shoulders hunched as she scrolled through her phone, her expression unreadable.

Jisoo tilted her head, noticing the way Tory's lips were pressed into a thin line. "Why so glum, America?" she teased, attempting to lighten the mood. "At least you've got a functioning knee." She gestured dramatically to her own injured leg.

Tory snorted, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Wow, thanks for that reminder." She shook her head, setting her phone down and crossing her arms.

Jisoo softened her tone. "Seriously though, what's up? You've been in a foul mood since we got back from the arena."

Tory hesitated, biting her lip before finally meeting Jisoo's gaze. "I just..." She sighed, leaning back on her hands. "I miss my boyfriend."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, surprised by the vulnerability in Tory's voice. "Didn't know you had one."

"Had," Tory corrected. She looked down at her lap, fidgeting with the hem of her shorts. "We took a break just when the Sekai Taikai started. I thought it'd be easier to focus, but now..." She trailed off, her voice dropping. "I just wish things were different."

Jisoo didn't know what to say at first. Relationships weren't exactly her area of expertise—at least not anymore. She shifted uncomfortably, her thoughts drifting to a time she'd rather forget.

"Y'know," she said after a beat, her voice quieter than before. "Me and Kwon used to be together."

Tory's head snapped up, her eyes widening. "You and Kwon?"

"Yup," Jisoo replied, the corner of her mouth twitching in a wry smile. "Surprising?" She leaned back against the headboard, her gaze distant as she continued. "It was a while ago. We were both too ambitious, too prideful. Karate was everything to us, and it just... wasn't working. We fought more than we got along, so we ended it."

Tory watched her closely, her expression softening. "Do you regret it?"

Jisoo shrugged, though there was a flicker of something wistful in her eyes. "Sometimes. But I think it was for the best. We're better as teammates than anything else."

A heavy silence settled over them, both lost in their own thoughts.

Then, suddenly, Jisoo's face lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across her lips. "Alright, enough of this sappy stuff. We're in Barcelona, Tory! We should go out and party!"

Tory blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. "What?" She asked, not believing this was the same Jisoo she had met a few days ago.

"You heard me," Jisoo said, sitting up straighter. "We're not just here to sulk in our hotel room. Let's go out, get dressed up, and have some fun for once."

Tory hesitated, her brow furrowing. "I don't know... What if sour senseis find out?"

Jisoo waved a dismissive hand. "We'll be back before anyone notices. Come on, you know you want to."

Tory still looked unsure, but Jisoo's enthusiasm was infectious. With a sigh, she relented. "Fine. But if this goes south, I'm blaming you."

"Deal," Jisoo said, already swinging her legs off the bed.