The First Punch [t.h.]

Prologue

Music blared through Tom's earbuds, loud and throbbing helping him block out everything around him. His gloved fists connected with the large bag hanging from the ceiling while grunts and heavy breaths fell from his lips. His chest heaved as he stayed on his toes, eyes focused and trained, readying himself for his first match in the new city. His arms flexed with every hit he took and damp curls fell onto his forehead with beads of wet falling down his face.  Determination radiated from him.

That's the thing. Determination always radiated from him when he's in the ring or training. He's always focused and keeps his eyes open, always on alert. He's won match after match after match back in England but that never stirred any of his focus or determination to win. He's confident in what he does but it doesn't go to his head. Of course, Tom can have an ego, one would have to in order to win as much as he does but it's always confidence, not arrogance. That's just how he is.

A tap on Tom's shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts, his fist nearly colliding into his best friend.

"Can you watch it? Scared the fuck outta me." Tom groaned, ripping the white wire from his ears with his glove.

Harrison chuckled with a one-shoulder shrug. "Turn your bloody music down and you won't have that problem."

Tom's eyes roll as he undoes the strap of his glove with his teeth. "What time is it?" Tom questions, realizing Harrison isn't supposed to be at the gym until it was time to leave.

"Just after five." Harrison says, handing Tom his water. "We gotta head out."

"Already?" Tom's brows raised before he squirted water into his mouth.

"Yeah, Arthur wants you to see your competition first."

"Why?" Tom presses.

"No clue. Do you wanna ask him?" Harrison scoffs.

Tom shakes his head knowing too well that Arthur isn't one who likes being questioned. "I'm good." Tom chuckles.

"Nervous?" Harrison eyes him, watching Tom's finger tap on the top of the bottle.

"Nah," Tom shakes his head. "It'll be like every other time."

Harrison doesn't respond for a few seconds, allowing the air to stiffen between the friends. "Yeah, sure." Harrison agrees but his words are unconvincing.

Tom's competed in plenty of different cities and the only thing any of the competitions have in common is that the rules are sure to be different. Tom doesn't know exactly what or who he's up against. He's not sure of the rules or regulations. Arthur has just told him this is the only way to repay him. This competition. He wins, the slate is clean and Tom is free. Tom loses, and well, it won't be very pretty for Tom. That's it. That's all either boy knows and it's only slightly unsettling. At least with every other competition Tom has competed in, he's aware of the rules and regulations, even a basic guess as to who he'd be up against at least a few days before the fights started. Not this time, however. Tom feels like he's going in blind and Harrison feels like he's the blind leading the blind. It's a mess.