Knockout

Chapter Five

You felt yourself growing nervous as Kylo pulled his car up to the deserted building. The once lit sign was now falling apart, decades of paint chipping off. He hadn't told you where he was taking you yet, but the pit in your stomach grew as you realized how eerily similar this place was to the alley where you had found Kylo butchered just the night before. Once he put the car in park, Kylo quickly got out and jogged to your side of the car, opening the door for you

"My lady," he said jokingly, smirking as you shuffled out of the door.

"Thank you, my liege."

The gravel ground crunched under your boots, the sound making you more aware of how close you were getting to the large ominous building before you. You wrapped your jacket tightly around your body, the east coast chill seeping into your clothes. Kylo looked over and saw you shivering, and he wrapped his strong arm around you.

"Where are you taking me Kylo? This place looks... sketchy."

"Shh now doll, you gotta be patient. The surprise is inside."

"Okay, okay, I'll be patient. I just wanna know what all the secrecy is for."

He playfully fingered the hair on your shoulder, twisting it around his long fingers. You hadn't noticed before, but the cologne he was wearing was inviting and warm. Kylo smelled like the most intoxicating mix of amber, tobacco and just a hint of vanilla; you don't know why but he smelled like home.

Reaching the large metal door, he took a deep breath and pulled it open for you. The room in front of you was dimly lit, two large but well worn boxing rings sat center stage. The creak of the door opening had alerted the occupants, and suddenly you were met with the stares of six very large, very sweaty men. Kylo brushed past you, greeting each of them with big friendly smiles that the goliaths in front of you matched. Your medical training wanted to tell him to stop smiling, but you couldn't make yourself say anything. His face bright with a smile was too beautiful.

"Boys, this is my girl I'd been telling you about, and Doc, these guys are part of my boxing club, The Knights of Ren ."

Your cheeks burned. His girl .

Though he introduced each man to you, your mind was still reeling. You hadn't caught many of the names, other than they all were more unique than the last. You stayed in your head, processing all that had happened. Normally Kylo was so cocky, full of himself, but not here. In the warehouse, he was... relaxed. Happy. No peacocking, just Kylo being Kylo .

"Whaddya think Doc?" he asked, gently placing a hand on your hip. Your skin burned under his grip, the possessive action new but welcomed.

"It's... wow. So are there others?" You asked, trying to grasp the extent of the fighting ring he was in. The thought of him being hurt again worried you.

"Oh yeah. There are some small clubs scattered around the city, none quite as good as mine, though." He shot you a toothy grin, beaming in pride at their accomplishments.

The two of you sat on two foldable chairs near the door, turned to each other.  He was explaining the intricacies of how their whole system works when a man with vivid red hair and a pained expression revealed himself from the showed corner of the warehouse.

"Ren," he called, "Glad to see you're alright after last night." You noted that his expression was unchanged, his voice flat, like he didn't really care what happened to Kylo.

"Hux," he said plainly. Kylo stood to greet the other man, who looked scrawny next to Kylo and the 'Knights'.

"This is the doctor who helped me last night."