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Grey eyes watch emotionless as the fight begins. The one known as Stitches attacks, launching a right hook. However the one known as the Hellhound seemed to block it without too much of an issue. However the Hellhound made no move to attack back. A small smirk rises on The Viper's face. Letting the opponent attack first. It was a good idea and it often worked.
Without a doubt it was clear who was stronger. But strength wasn't everything. Strength could only get a fighter so far. The way to win the fight was using your wits and being cunning. Stitches seemed to be fond of some body shots. He fought like he'd been a professional wrestler. But, Stitches was slowing down. He was getting cocky as well, by his sloppy hits. Hmm, that was his downfall. Viper scoffs as she leans back, her attention staying solely on her last hope of the night. The Hellhound.
Stitches threw some more hits but Hellhound kicked Stitches in the stomach. Even Viper saw the surprise in the man's eyes as he stumbles. Hellhound was quick to move on the distraction and got a good hit on the side of the man's face. Viper leans forward slightly, grey eyes sparking with interest. Now, Hellhound seemed to fight with wits and not muscle. That was something she was after. But, was he cunning enough?
Stitches stumbles backward, trying to collect himself, while Hellhound simply watches. The crowd was going wild, which was kind of annoying Viper. She hated crowds, they were too loud and it was too cramped. But she figured she could wait it out. She just hoped it was worth it. Stitches charged again, swinging. Bam. Right in the eye. Bam. Another hit came flying.
Hellhound was able to dodge it, throwing a punch back. But at the same time Stitches threw an uppercut. Both men stumbled back, glaring hate at each other. The blood had been spilled and more interest sparks in Viper's eyes. Hellhound had blood from his mouth and Stitches had blood from his nose. Illegal underground fighting was vicious. There was little to no mercy and she'd heard plenty of people dying from the fights. But that's just what they got into when they signed up for it.
As Stitches charged Hellhound, Hellhound headbutted him. Stitches stumbled and received a kick to the side, and crashed to the ground. A cold smirk curves on the Viper's face as her gaze fixes on the red-head fighter, she'd just found her bodyguard.
She watches as the redhead moves forward, pinning the bald man down and delivering punches. The announcer finally steps in and calls the match. The Hellhound had won. The crowd kept going crazy. Blood came out from Hellhound's mouth as he spits. The Viper was on the move at once before the red head even started towards the edge of the ring. She'd get him as a bodyguard.
She made her way to the changing room, she'd wait for him in there. But a bouncer stops her outside,"Fighters only." This time, Viper only moves her jacket slightly to show off her gun. The bouncer nods, moving aside,"Viper." The Viper lets her jacket drop back in place recovering the gun before entering the changing rooms. Her grey eyes travel around it, before she finds a spot to stand inside. Leaning against a locker. She'd wait for him to come in and then she'd offer him a job. |
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Joey and he would train together every now and then, the guy was just over 18 so really he did think that he should try to get an education and a stable job but Joey came from a rough past so in a way, it was better that he worked at the club and focused on training and fighting rather than getting involved with drugs and gangs.
After finishing his talk with Joey, he walked inside the changing rooms, drinking a little from the water bottle before walking over to a sink that was in there, spitting out the water and opening his mouth to see if he really had lost a tooth. Surely enough there was a bloody gap at the back of his lower jaw on the right side, damn bastard… The area around his right eye was also a bit swollen and it looked as if he would be getting a blackeye, just great.
His gaze shifted from his own mouth to something, or rather someone, behind him in the mirror, “Can I help you?” He asked with a tired tone as he turned around to get a better look at the woman and adding, “Actually no, whatever it is, I’m not interested.”
Dion then started the sink and leaned down before washing his face a bit and once again rinsing his mouth out with some water until the bleeding ceased.
After that he walked over to where his bag was and sat down, starting to unwrap both his hands and feet in silence. Dion didn't like strangers and he was a completely different person towards them rather than people he knew, much more cold and dismissive.
Whatever the woman had to say or offer, he didn't want to hear it. Most likely it was a request for him to fight at another club or something along those lines but he didn't fight at other clubs, he fought exclusively here in the exchange for making more money for each match. Here things were also done properly, at least as properly as an underground fighting club could do things, most other clubs were beyond sketchy.
He checked for any blood on his body once he'd gotten done with the wraps but found none, only his face had been badly hurt then. The man stood up while completely ignoring the woman and he started changing back into his regular clothes, he'd shower at home, he didn't have any plans of staying for long, he'd just grab a drink and talk to Mickey and Joey a bit before going, especially if this stranger decided to stick around for long and try to convince him of whatever it was she wanted, people could never take a no. |
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Grey eyes flash to the door as it opens and the Hellhound steps inside. At first he didn't even notice her, walking to the sink to spit out the water he had just drunk. As she watches him open his mouth, she knew he was checking for missing teeth. From how hard Stitches had punched, he had to have lost at least one. And not to mention the black eye he'd received. It had made his right eye swollen and was turning colors already.
Finally the Hellhound's eyes shifted from his mouth to her. A smile curves on the edge of her lips, it was cold and not real, but she steps forward, out of the shadows. "You can." Only for the Hellhound to change his mind. "Oh really?" He wasn't interested. She kind of figured. Going from fighting every night to guarding someone? It was a boring job. But he'd be paid well, and with any luck, it actually wouldn't be too boring. From how her men had talked, the other gangs were moving in fast. No doubt the assassination attempts would be starting soon.
She watches as he leans down and starts washing his face and mouth. She'd talk, and he'd still hear. "I have a job proposition. It would pay twice as much as what you are receiving now. And, you'd still get to fight." Grey eyes track the fighter as he walks to his bag, unwrapping his hands and feet. The Hellhound was silent, and Viper couldn't blame him. Fighters didn't like being talked to. "I'm not a recruiter from another arena." A cold chuckle escapes her lips,"Oh, no. What you'd do for me, it will be more dangerous than fighting in arenas." So much more dangerous.
"You won't have to worry about injuries. I have some of the best medics this city has seen." She comments as she watches him check for more blood. However the man continues to ignore her, changing back into his normal clothes. She wanted him to show some interest before she told him exactly what he'd be doing and exactly who she was. She knew her and her gang were well known around the city. But did underground street fighters really give a shit? If she mentioned her name, what would he do?
Viper figured he'd say yes. She could offer him a third more of what he was making now, if that was what it would take. With the more illegal activities her gang was doing, they had plenty of money. They were even talking about expanding. Hell, he probably wouldn't even have to be her bodyguard that long if he didn't want to. She figured after they got to the top, the others would leave her alone. But for now, she was expecting some interest and a yes. Who wouldn't turn down that kind of offer? |
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The man glanced over at the woman and raised an eyebrow before shaking his head softly as he looked down again, putting his things in his bag and closing it. Dion put his cap on before looking down at the woman. Did she not understand the words ‘not interested’?
“Look, I make enough money to only fight one or two times each month. Whatever you think they are paying me, it's more than you think. And I said I wasn't interested, you can promise me whatever you'd like. I'm still not interested,” he told her.
She was a good-looking woman, there was no denying that so it was no wonder she was the one trying to recruit him and not someone else.
He turned his back towards her and started walking towards the door, stopping right in front of it and looking back over his shoulder at her. “A tip for the future, telling someone that what you're offering is ‘more dangerous’ than what they are currently doing, it ain't a good way of selling it in.”
He scoffed a bit as he opened the door and left the room, he had a feeling that the woman would follow after him and continue trying to convince him but he had already heard more than enough.
The crowd had already cleared up a lot. A couple groups of people left that were talking to each other but that was all. He made his way toward the door that led back up to the bar, hoping that the woman would take the hint and leave him be. He didn't necessarily need more money, he had enough to pay for the basics, if he wanted more then he could just ask May to give him more fights but the money he made currently was enough, he didn't need more, he was a simple man.
As he re-entered the bar, the sound of music mixed with people talking and laughing filled his ears and he made his way over to the bar where Joey was sitting and talking to Mickey. Having a bar as a front for an underground fighting club was brilliant really, people went down and bett money on the fighters, the ones who got lucky and won money back, they all went right up and started celebrating by buying drinks.
“Hey! That's my doggie, Joey said you won! I knew it the entire time that you would,” Mickey said excitedly as he handed the man a drink when he sat down.
“Oh yeah? You never doubted me for a second, huh?” Dion said with a grin on his lips as he thought back to their conversation from earlier. Mickey was funny like that but he did have a short temper so he wasn't everyone's type of guy. That shirt temper was also the reason why Mickey wasn't allowed to fight, or just spar with someone, when he lost it it ended badly and that wasn't just a one time thing…
“So Dion, when do you think we can train together?” Joey asked, looking up at him hopefully. |
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Oh, she knew exactly what the arena was paying him. And she knew she could triple that easily. But, it seemed money would not be the way to go with him. Hmm. Grey eyes watch as the man turns his back. Alright, well, clearly he was not interested. But, she'd watched plenty of fights and she'd never watched someone fight like him. She would be safe with him as her bodyguard. She wanted him as her bodyguard. And she would get it. She had connections... among other things.
Lips thin at his next words, some people lived for the thrill. Some did not. She did. If she had been offered a job with more danger... Well, she would take it. But, apparently, he did not care for the thrill either. So what was his tick? His thrill? She watches him leave. Counting to five before following. Her best option was to watch and see what he got excited about and go off of that.
As she enters the bar behind Hellhound, her grey eyes scan the room. The crowd had come back up from downstairs and it was pretty busy. The bouncer at the door had been replaced, and this one recognized her, nodding at her,"Viper." She inclines her head slightly, spotting a group of her men in the corner. Laughing and drinking. Grey eyes flicker to the Hellhound as he walks to the bar.
She follows, though she ignores him. Looking at the bartender. "Get me your strongest drink." She orders. Leaning against the bar. Out of the edge of her vision she could see Hellhound, but figured if she didn't want to chase him completely away, she better keep her distance for now.
"Aye! Viper!"
The women turns slightly,"Kieran." She greets, one of her men had come to get a refill. She studies him,"Are you drunk?" Kieran shrugs as he leans against the counter beside her,"Maybe." She rolls her eyes, and Kieran protests,"What? I'm not on a job. There's no shipments. So, some of us boys decided we'd come have some fun." A small smile flickers across her face as she shakes her head,"Just don't get too drunk. We've got work to do tomorrow."
Kieran pushes his empty glass towards the bartender, ordering another whiskey before turning back to his boss. "Oh, we've always got work. And you know we always show up." Viper retorts,"Always hung over. And you know tomorrow is important." Some seriousness comes back into Kieran's eyes,"Oh. That's tomorrow?" Viper nods,"That's tomorrow."
Kieran grimaces,"Alright. I'll keep the boys from getting too drunk." He glances at the bartender, canceling his order. With another nod at the women he heads back to the table. Grey eyes follow as Kieran takes a seat and all the men gathered start pounding on his back and hollering. She rolls her eyes, men. Especially drunk men. |
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Dion and the younger man talked for a bit before deciding on a day that would work for both of them. After that, their conversation went over to what Joey needed to train next, it had been awhile since Dion had seen him fighting so it was hard to say, although he did know from before that the man wasn't too talented when it came to kicks so maybe they'd work on that?
Suddenly Mickey put his glass of beer down to get their attention, “Hey, I'm still here, let's talk about something more fun than training and fight, that's all you do anyway.
“Sorry Mickey, we just didn't want to keep you from working, you're always working so hard,” Dion said with a sarcastic tone as he drank his beer, a grin on his lips.
Mickey grabbed the towel hanging over his shoulder and threw it at Dion who was just chuckling. “I work hard, you just can't see it, you half-blind mutt.”
Mickey’s reaction caused Joey to start howling laughing, the kid being easily entertained and always loving Mickey’s outbreaks at Dion, mostly because Mickey never got a reaction out of the man.
“I think you dropped something Mickey,” Dion teased as he handed the towel back, “It's amazing that the bar is able to still maintain some type of flow when you're just drinking though.”
“You litt- You big..! Ugh, shut the fuck up,” Mickey sighed before a smirk appeared on his lips and he looked to the side at the other bartender,“That's what the part-timers a-”
Both Dion and Joey turned their head towards the same direction that Mickey was looking in. There she was again, the woman from before. His suspicion that she'd follow him to the bad was right but fortunately she'd realized he wasn't interested.
“Shit is that..?” Dion heard Joey and gave him a weird look, who was he talking about?
“Uh huh… it fucking has to be… Damn she's hotter than what they say…” Mickey looked dreamily at the stranger from the changing rooms. That man had two weaknesses, alcohol and hot women.
“What are you two on? It's just some woman, she tried offering me a job in the changing rooms earlier,” he muttered.
He watched Joey and Mickey quietly exchange looks, as if they expected him to read their minds and figure out who the stranger was. |
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After she gets her drink, Viper takes it, her gaze landing on Hellhound for a moment. And then she turns and joins her men. They were less rowdy now. Apparently Kieran had gotten through to them and the drinks had slowed down. Though none looked too happy about it. That simply got an amused eyeroll from their leader as she sits down. At once, everyone turns their attention on her. "Hey, boss." Viper takes a sip of her drink before she sets it down,"Hey." Kieran nudges her,"You've got an audience?"
Grey eyes follow Kieran's to bar where two men were staring at her. They must be friends with Hellhound because he was there too. Viper turns her gaze away,"Well, don't stare back." She orders as all of her men quickly look away. Kieran muses,"What time is the job tomorrow morning?" The women looks around the bar, everyone was too drunk or too far away to be able to overhear anything. "About ten AM."
Murmurs ripple around the group. Viper had set up this particular job about three months ago and it was suppose to be a job that would boost them up quite a ways. Hopefully to the top. Especially considering what the arrangement was about. She could only hope that everything went according to plan. This was the riskiest thing they'd ever done before. They'd done drug deals, they had men within prison systems. Plenty of robberies and even some homicide. They did have their limits though. They did not do human trafficking and hated children trafficking.
Despite their criminal warfare, they were actually pretty civil. They had rules and morals, but they were different from normal life. They didn't traffick humans, helped children get out of trafficking, didn't kill innocents. But, they did do a lot of drug operations. They had men in Edinburgh's police force, another reason they hadn't yet been busted. They grew drugs, sold them, and traded them. They'd gotten allies with many other gangs and had murdered quite a few other gangs. Whatever it took to climb the ladder.
After Viper had made it clear that all of the details would be discussed back at HQ, the men had gone back to their normal rowdiness. Talking, laughing and teasing each other. Some went and played some games, and some went with Viper back to the bar for another drink. But only those who'd only had one and could hold their liquor good. Viper leans against the counter again, as she slides her drink to the bartender who starts making another round for her and the two men who'd come with her.
Once again she was ignoring Hellhound and his two friends. She wouldn't pester him, that would come later. She needed something to pester him with. A motive, a means for him to join. Something he wanted so desperately that she could offer him, or pretend to offer him, and that he would have to accept. |
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“That's The Viper Dion…” Joey finally said in a hushed tone, as if the woman would be able to hear him in this crowded bar otherwise.
The red-haired man raised his eyebrows a bit before looking over with narrowed eyes at the woman who was now sitting with a group of men at a table. “She should have said so earlier, now I'm even less interested,” he stated with a frown before turning back around, “Quit staring now before you get yourselves killed, you know better than to mess with those types of people. Well maybe not Mickey but you do Joey.”
“I heard that you piece of shit,” Mickey muttered while he stood turned around and was making a drink, either for himself or a hot woman. You never knew with Mickey.
“I meant for you to hear it,” he said with a grin before he downed the last of his drink and stood up, “I’m out, see you two another day and stay out of trouble, don't get mixed in with those kinds of people,” he said and glanced over at Viper and the group of men, men that most likely worked for her. It was mostly meant for Joey, he didn't want to see someone so young get caught up in a gang, Mickey did as he pleased, there was no use in trying to tell him to stay out of trouble, he caused trouble, regularly.
“Yeah yeah, wish I could say it was nice to see you, but it wasn't, I forgot how annoying you are,” Mickey muttered.
“See you Thursday then for training.”
“Nice to see you too Mick and yeah, don't be late, you know I hate that,” he said before giving Joey a pat on the back before picking his duffel bag up from the floor and hanging it on his shoulder. Waving a final goodbye before walking towards the door.
Dion’s brown gaze landed on Viper and he looked the woman up and down for a second time tonight, she's not what he’d expect the well-known Viper to look like. Although he wasn't sure what he'd expect. He then looked at the men around her table, noting what they looked like.
Shaking his head softly, he left the bar but instead of heading home, he decided to go for a walk first, just in case. If Viper followed him or sent one of her men to follow him, he wasn't going to lead them to his place. He didn't know what she wanted from him or how hard she would work to get that so call him paranoid if you’d like but he was going to be careful. |
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Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hellhound shift and then finally move. "What are you eyeing him for boss?" She was glad that he'd kept his voice low, and Viper turns her head towards him,"I'm after him for a job. He refused." The man, Jacob, raises an eyebrow,"He refused?" Viper waits until she was sure Hellhound was out the door,"Yeah. I offered him money and a better job, but he just refused." Jacob muses,"Hmm. You want us to follow him? We could probably convince him?"
Viper shakes her head,"No. I'll come back around night after night. I need something to hold over him. He doesn't want money. So, maybe something else he wants." Jacob grins as the bartender slides their drinks back,"Well, I'm sure you'll get him." Viper simply picks up her drink and sips at it.
Suddenly the bar was filled with yelling. Grey eyes flicker to the source of the noise. "I thought I ordered them to stay out of trouble?" Jacob grimaces as he places his drink down,"I think they had one too many drinks." Viper scoffs,"I thought that I ordered them to stop drinking?" Jacob simply shrugs at that. The bartender behind them was yelling at the bouncers to get to the fight. But Viper simply pulls out her gun and aims it at the roof. Boom. Went the sound of the gun going off and at once the bar quieted. Shocked by the sound of a gun. Viper holsters her gun, staring at her men who had no doubt started the fight.
"Deon. Danilo. Josue. Alexis. Gustavo."
The five men who had been in the midst of the fight, slowly raise their eyes until they meet the gaze of their boss. "Yes...?" Came the meek reply. Viper's voice was cold,"Get your asses off the floor and out the door now." Her grey eyes sweep the bar,"All of you." All of Viper's men start for the door, some stopping to haul the five men to their feet before dragging them out the door. Jacob stays beside her, while Kieran joins the two.
Viper throws a cold smile at the bartender,"I apologize for my men's actions." Then she steps away from the counter, headed for the door. And with Jacob and Kieran flanking her, they exit the bar. Where her men were climbing into cars. Kieran nods at his,"Did you drive here?" Viper changes directions towards Kieran's car,"No. I did not." Kieran unlocks the car and Viper gets in the passenger seat. While Jacob gets in the back and Kieran climbs into the driver's seat. After starting the car, Kieran is off.
A few seconds later, the rest of the men follow. Just a line of cars, headed for HQ. Kieran glances sideways,"Do I need to find five more men to replace them for tomorrow?" Viper nods,"Yes. Those five will be sitting on their ass for what they did tonight." Jacob chuckles,"Oh. They're gonna get an earful." Grey eyes flash to the mirror to meet Jacob's eyes,"You bet their ass, they're gonna."
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~The Next Day~
It was raining outside, it had been most of the day. Dion didn't have a problem with the rain but he’d still stayed in the whole day. Normally he would go for a jog the day after a match but he figured he could have one day off this one time. Truth be told, he did feel pretty sore after his fight last night.
Instead of going out, the red-haired man had slept in and then spent the day resting and doodling a bit. It wasn't something he shared with others, but he did draw quite a lot, it was a nice way to relax in his opinion and he liked coming up with different designs for tattoos. When he was younger, he'd always wanted to become a tattoo artist. Life had had other plans in store for him though.
The man glanced over at his phone, pressing the screen once to see it light up and showing him the time. After being bugged by Mickey, he'd agreed to a night of drinking with him and his friend Sawyer. Sawyer was an asshole but for some reason he and Mickey got along and Dion, well, he had just learnt to deal with the man.
With a sigh Dion got off his couch and walked out into his hall. He’d never been a big drinker but knowing that it would be enough to have Mickey stop bugging him for a bit, he'd said yes.
After slipping on a pair of shoes and a jacket, the tall man left his apartment, making his way outside with quick steps. Once outside, he realized that he’d underestimated the intensity of the rain, it was pouring down.
“Just lovely,” Dion muttered as he took off towards the bar with his hands in his pockets. Mickey would have to pay for forcing him out of his apartment in this weather.
As he walked in silence, he started thinking about the woman from last night, The Viper. He didn't understand why she'd asked him, there were plenty of other fighters she could ask, or why not just make one of the guys working for her her bodyguard? Although it did seem like she'd let it go since she had left him alone after he’d walked away so perhaps he should do the same, let it go.
((Sorry for taking look, mental health got kinda shitty but I'm doing a bit better now)) |
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Winter 
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