On The Ropes

Round 25

Back again. Reminder to those who don't keep up with my board—updates have been active on my Patreon, with them getting each update as they're finished while I waited to post over here so I could have a backlog of content to post while I'm writing. Hopefully this way now you guys can keep getting frequent enough updates while I don't have to feel like I'm rushing to write.

If you want updates as they're finished, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Not mandatory, just an option for those of you who miss OtR and want to see the updates quicker (there's two more after this one on Patreon right now with one more about to be posted soon).

Anyway, enjoy the chapter

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Rodney's POV

Life has been busy for all four of us. So busy that we actually haven't been spending all of our time together the way we usually would—not for a lack of trying, but our schedules are completely different now.

Javier has been focusing on training with Tyreek for boxing as well as handling things with his family. Antwon has been preparing for graduation and the move to college. Zavier had been spending more time back in the Kingston household, bonding with Tyreek and DeAndre now that everything was calming down again.

As for me—I'd been preparing for graduation and college as well, plus the new interest that was being shown in my art. Antwon had finally convinced me to start posting my art on social media, so I made accounts on different platforms and began posting my finished pieces as well as my works in progress.

There's been an influx in interest since then, from strangers who either just liked seeing a black man explore with art or from people who wanted to commission me.

I didn't expect the love, but I appreciated it. The commissions kept me busy and paid between college preparation while also helping to build my confidence—something I definitely lacked as an artist.

Outside of my art and school, I was working on something else as well—something scarier than all of those things combined.

I was working on going to see my mother more frequently.

Seeing her and the state she was in triggers me down to my bones—but I miss and love her, and I need to get past that mental blockade so that we can be there for each other.

That was something my therapist and I had been working myself up for. Seeing her without feeling guilt and fear, as well as no longer blaming myself for the actions that led to her current position.

Today was the day. I'm meant to go back to the facility and spend extra time with her. This time, my therapist gave me a list of things to do to keep myself and her calm and regulated. She warned me that I needed to focus more on the present and spending time with my mother rather than getting lost in the memories from our past.

So while the boys were out doing their own things, I packed up a bag and hopped inside of my truck, tapping my fingers against my steering wheel in soothing gestures to help ease my anxiety as I started the drive to the facility.

I did my best to stop my thoughts from returning to the past, taking deep breaths every few minutes when I could feel my heart rate spike. I put on the "calming" playlist that Zavier made for me and chuckled as trap and drill started playing instead.

In hindsight, it did help calm me down. It took my mind off of everything else as I rapped along to the songs I knew.

When I pulled up in front of the facility, I forced myself to take a few more deep breaths before I got out of my truck, grabbing my bag from the backseat before slowly making my way into the building.