Luke walked toward the center of the crowd entirely unfazed by the jeering and negative comments filling up the room. Why would he be? This was precisely the effect he had wanted. He actually pitied the guy entering opposite him. Poor man probably thought he was an easy mark. Luke in the meantime was deciding how much he wanted to play his opponent. The air of anticipation he carried just seemed to grow by the second.
In the meantime, around him, the calls were getting louder and more obnoxious. He could hardly wait to see their expressions when he came out in the end. He would too, he had no alternative.
"Look at this kid? Is he suicidal or something?!"
"Does he think this is some kind of game?"
"Tch! Maybe this is that so called 'small dog syndrome?'"[2]
They all started laughing. All of them accept Charlie. If they thought the guards were something fierce earlier they had no idea of the storm they brewing up now. Charlie could run his temples. He'd only known Luke a short while but he already had a good handle on the kids personality. These guys were just adding fuel to fire. This was not going to be pretty.
Luke was circling the guy opposite him, sizing him up and smirked. This guy, this guy had to have shittiest luck ever! There wasn't anything at all to even suggest he held a chance. If Luke could describe him in one work it was average. The man was roughly 5 foot 6. He had some muscle structure but nothing substantial. If anything he was a little on the heavy side. Judging by the various scars on his face he'd probably seen some action before. If he had one it was probably due solely to brute force.
This was a joke right.
Luke was still deciding on what to do with him when his opponent decided to open his mouth.
"Don't worry little man, I'll make it fast. You won't suffer..much" He jeered, this kid was at most a feather weight. This was going to be simple, so easy. You couldn't even call it a challenge! "Hey kiddo? You sure you don't want to leave now? The big boss probably wouldn't mind!" He continued to jeer provoking Luke enough to finally come to a decision.
Luke who had been somewhat relaxed before, was becoming increasingly bored of this teasing, had made up his mind. It was time to play. Dropping his attitude of boredom he decided to play along with this guy a little. After all it had been sometime since he had had this kind of opportunity presented before him, how could he possibly turn it down?
"Rea- Really Mister!! You think so? Oh my God!! I am SO glad!!" He mock squealed, looking appropriately relieved and grateful. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on the boss. Hunter was just that kind of person, Luke was sure he would be able to spot him anywhere no matter how full the room or large the crowd. "Hey big boss!! Big boss!! This guy said I can go! Is that cool with you?"
The older man immediately turned white he wasn't expecting this kid to react that way. If anything he figured he would goad him into swinging first and then embarrasse him when he failed. Not only was he not mad, he was enthusiastically asking to leave?
The voice that broke through the whispers was thoroughly amused. "The fight continues. But, this once I make an exception. The first person to land a hit wins."
There were very audible gasps echoing through out the crowd at that statement. Hunter watched on to see what this kid would do next. He might have the rest of the room fooled, but a pair of eyes with that much confidence would not lie. The other men had been tense. This kid apart from eagerness to fight up until now how remained calm and collected so when Hunter had suddenly heard him asking if he could leave he became suspicious of his motivations. He could have just let the kid go but his instincts told him that was not his aim. So he amended the rule. He looked to his second with calculating smirk. "Lets see what he does with new arrangement shall we?" was all he said, before turning his head back to the room.
Luke could have died of laughter when he heard the bosses reply! Seriously!! Things were just getting better and better! He turned his attention to the man, his eyes shining with make believe innocence, and bounced excitedly. "Did you hear that Mr? You only have to land one hit and I can leave!!" He beamed at the man! "Hurry hurry if I am out much later than this I am sure to be in trouble! You sure are a life saver Mister!!"
Luke watched as the other man weighed his words and started laughing. "Alright kid, Alright. Be patient and you'll get whats coming to you soon enough!!" With that the older man took aim and started to swing, preparing to knock Luke clean off his feet.
He waited anxiously for the feel of flesh against his fist. Only, it didn't come?? The mans staggered almost losing his balance as he narrowed his eyes. What had happened? That kid should have been sprawled out on the floor bawling right now but instead when he turned around, all his saw was a short kid with spiky hair looking down at the ground...pouting?
Luke looked at the older man in front of him a look of confusion and disappointment etched upon his features. His eyes welling with fake tears. "Mister..I.. I thought you were going to hit ? I thought you said I could go!! Don't.. Don't tell me you were lying!!" Luke was feigning hurt on the outside but laughing on the inside as he watched the mans face switch between confusion and anger. How had he missed him? He was just some runt kid right? There was no way he could move that fast. Had his aim been off.
Luke waited patiently while he watched the man deliberate. There was no warning this time. No friendly banter. The other man didn't even reply. He mere pulled back his fist and prepared to swing again!