The Fault in our Scars (originally known as 'Maybe Baby' by Alex Snape)

Chapter 24

       Jack locked eyes with Manny as they stepped to the center of the ring, and he could see that his icy glare was cutting through to his opponent as the referee that stood between them quickly spouted guidelines and regulations.

The words were nothing but a blur to both boys when the bell sounded again and the referee ducked away and was through the ropes just in time to miss Manny's first roundhouse to Jack's chin. Jack stumbled back a bit, surprised at the weight behind the blow, but he just snickered and rejoined the punch with a barrage of his own as he charged the young fighter and pinned him against the ropes.

The Joker frowned as he grumbled. "He's gonna tire himself out."

However, Harley was bouncing eagerly on the other side of Two-Face, screaming as loud as she could, "That's it, Baby Boy! One, two! One, two! Knock his ass over!"

Manny was still against the ropes, covering his face with his gloves and shielding his torso with his arms until Jack bounced away. He raised his eyes to the black-painted ones of Jack's and saw that they were smiling at him, almost teasing him for cowering so soon.

Jack knew he could have easily taken down his prey with a few more punches, but, as Harley used to point out to him when he was a child, he loved to play with his food.

Manny growled as he lunged at Jack and sent his gloves to his chest and stomach, making him back away. It confused and frustrated him that he didn't even try to block his hits, so he punched with more force until his right glove came into contact with the left side of his collarbone.

Jack let out a loud groan and turned as he trotted to the ropes, meeting Brian who leapt up to him. "You okay, Jay-man?" he shouted.

He nodded and popped his neck as he turned back to Manny, where another roundhouse met his rib cage, and he winced as he bounced against the ropes as Brian jumped out of the way.

"Pay attention, boy!" The Joker growled above the din.

"Get him, Jack!" Two-Face shouted. "Don't let that Mick pound on you like that!"

"Beat his ass!" Harley added.

Jack growled back at his opponent as he charged him again, this time knocking him off his guard with a quick left uppercut, and the crowd grew louder as the first spray of blood glinted in the lights above the ring.

The girls behind Harley were screaming their approval with shrieks of his name and more professions of love.

Harley quickly turned her head to see the girls motioning to a few friends who had arrived late, and as soon as they climbed to their seats, she heard one girl say to one with straight black hair, "That's him! Omigawd, he's so freakin' hot!"

"Which one, Melanie?" the green-eyed girl shouted back to her.

"The one in the green shorts! I told you he was a dream!"

"That's The Joker's kid? Omigawd!"

Jack's mother smiled with pride as she turned back to the fight to see that Manny had once again taken the upper hand in the match.

Ronnie was wrapping his arm around the post that was Jack's corner and he was beating into it ferociously with his free fist. "Jacky! Come on! Wear him down!"

Jack did just that. He stood stock still in one place as Manny repeatedly punched him in the stomach, until his left knee finally gave out and he tumbled to the floor.

"Noooo!" Harley shrieked, truly horrified.

"Get up, Jack!" his father shouted at him.

Jack quickly crawled to the ropes as Manny strutted behind him with victorious biceps flexed. He could hear the girls behind his mother jeer at his opponent and he lifted his eyes to their direction and his quick glance locked with the girl with dark hair.