Xavier walked into the training part of Devil's Circle fighting ring. He was one of the few famous fighters who got paid a lot of money to fight but rules of the circle you don't log in enough hours you lose your spot to fight on the schedule. They checked in and out through their phones, or they tell front desk they are there. The Training section was opened 24 hours and was huge with everything the human body could need or want to use. The best thing is it kept open not only for fighters but any other military or ex military soldiers. A place to destress and let loose some aggravations. The owner was a marine vet and now so is his son who has taken over. Xavier felt relaxed and at home here. This is where he and his friends made home and got peace.
"I was starting to think you weren't going to make it on time, because we all know I ain't ever early." Jaxon said taking his ear pieces out after he's already stretched. "Dude you need to get your friend to shut up about that cute little woman at that bakery, I'm about to shut him up myself." Axel said. "Ryder, is at it again? Ok well I'm going to stop that real quick." Xavier said. "Figured you would cuz we all know you like her don't know why you haven't made a move I think she would be good for you." Axel said. Axel wasn't only his cousin he was his best friend. "Ya, but that would mean he would have to tell her what he actually does for a living can't believe this chick still don't know who we are like seriously it's been what half of a year and this ain't exactly a big town." Jaxon said shaking his head.
"Beast, just the man I was looking for ok I looked up some material on spark notes on some of them books you and Jessie like to read because I want to ask her out this weekend and I don't want to sound as stupid as I really am. So can I talk to you about some of them since you actually read it?" You know dude you one of my best friends and normally I would but you ain't asking Jess out this weekend." Xavier said huskily. He wasn't sure why but he felt protective over here, hell you can call him possessive he didn't care he waited to long to finally come clean with his growing feelings for her and his friends knew even without him saying anything they weren't blind to him. He never took interest in any woman and could never take his eyes off her; and would talk about her and their conversations. He was a naturally quiet guy but he did like to talk about her.
"Why would that be she busy this weekend maybe we can all meet up with her little group?" "I'm going to be straight for you. You know how I feel about her. I know you got a crush on her but seriously dude she keeps turning you down. I need you to take the hint bro. Besides I already asked out this Friday and she said yes. I'm not going to say sorry, but I'm sorry if you feel hurt. But you've been trying for half of a year and she ain't biting on that hook you keep dangling it's past time to reel it in." Xavier said.
"You asked her out how the hell did that happen?" Jax asked all of them looking at him surprised gathering around him as he started lifting the weights with his legs. "You know how I go in the café." "You mean religiously only when you know she's working, I still can't believe Ms. Ellie tells you her schedule." Axel said chuckling. "Ya that ol woman love me we the sons she never got. Anyway well I made my small talk because I just really wanted to test the waters to see if she already had a man because not going to lie it was starting to kill me not being sure. Than out of no where Eric popped up and they got in some kind of argument and I think he won because she was starring at him with this type of fury." Xavier said looking at them because he was unsure how to say it.
Next thing I know I got this beautiful tiny woman marching up to me on a mission than when she got to me she was nervous as hell. It was sexy as hell. She told me she is intimidated by me and dudes it like my heart sunk in my chest, and it got tight thinking she was scared of me. I almost couldn't breath. However she wasn't intimidated by me personally but because she said an I quote I'm the most beautiful human being she has ever seen and she believes I'm too smart for her. Which we all know is a bunch crap, I never met or talked to any one more intelligent than she is besides Axel." They all chuckled but knew it was true. "So after she felt like she humiliated, and about to walk off I stopped her and told her I got feelings for her and asked her out. It was like she saw a ghost. I've never had this feeling before man it's like my heart can't stop smiling I don't know why I was stupid and waited this long." Xavier
"Awe man Beast done feel hard." Axel said shoving him. "Dude that's fucked up you know I like her." Ryder said with a pout. "Dude, do you really like her or do you just want her because she the first girl to see past your player ass and reject you. I swear she the only girl you can't get. Tell me do you think you would still want her after you had her or would get bored because the chase is gone?" Axel asked. "See that's why he the smart one." Jax said. "No it's not like that I actually like her she sexy, smart, kind, funny, I love a curvy girl like her but she got the biggest and best damn heart I've seen in a long time. Back me up Beast because you know I'm right." Ryder said. "I can vouge for that because that's what I told your ass I liked about her. Boy what is wrong with you? You gotta copy everyone notes about everything. Besides I plan on claiming her real soon and once I do I ain't letting her go so I suggest you start watching how you speak about my woman Ry because I may have to pound on you a little bit." Beast said standing straight in front of Ryder.
"You had many chances and her heart just ain't it it's time to back off now." Xavier said to him. Ryder squared up to him looking him dead in the eye. "I can't say I won't stop hitting on her you know how I am with that harmless flirting; but I won't make no more moves on her. If she ever tosses your sorry grumpy ass I'm swooping through warning you now. She still in the future could be my future baby mama." Ryder said laughing and tapping his shoulder. "Ya that's probably going to be a packed fucking club the way you doin things." Axel said. "Not as big as the club you need at the free clinic from being with his nasty ass." All the guys laughing and joking. The work out and sparring went by quick. Xavier was on his personal high and nothing was bringing this down for him. For the first time in a long time he had something to look forward to and he was actually excited about it.
The Devil's Circle was a special kind of ring. They had personal set of rules. You could not have any weapons allowed on the property, you were allowed to be buzzed but not drunk in the ring you had to be in sound state of mind. Any style fighting was accepted MMA, Boxing you got a checklist both fighters agree to with the ref before you started. Drinking at fights were fine unless you were no longer in sober state of mind again being buzzed was ok, being drunk was not. No sexual assault was accepted between either sexes both male and females. The males got harassed more the females did especially the fighters. It was not welcomed with most who happily committed. Any fighting in the gym for any reason was allowed with out punishment whether it was for practice or otherwise. If you got arrested or cited you had to report it to the owner and than your place as paid fighter will be evaluated. NO registered sex offender is allowed on property. You must log in g or show up for training hours and you must be checked out by a health professional after fights if you take a good beat down no matter what or you forfeit you place on the next fight.
It was a strict place but laid back at the same time. Noah was doing a good job. He understood that there would be some people who no matter what wouldn't be able to fight each other so he had groups along lines of weight class. You were allowed to fight outside your weight class on only 2 occasions. The first being a personal challenged has been offered. The second would be you went through everyone in your weight class that wasn't in your group. Groups could be anywhere up to five people. If you are in a group you will never be forced or scheduled to fight any other member in your group. Unless you call for a personal challenge. There were also group fights, or group tornaments and those paid big. Everyone had a stage name to protect themselves from crazy fans but it real names were known anyway.
Xavier Graves was known as the Beast he was the best and the scariest one known around he even went to other states and competed, he was a pay per view fighter in all areas. Axel Graves was the Axe he was quick and fast and felt like you got chopped he's area of damage was mainly in the head to chest most people always joked about feeling he chopped them down like a tree so it just stuck. Jaxon Brooks was also known as Blade because it always felt like you were getting gutted is house of pain stayed in the torso and legs. He was strong and stable he had very accurate hits and rarely missed targets he set a general area as target and stayed with it. Ryder James was known as Pryo mainly because that boy would always be setting something on fire. Noah Bentley also called the Devil even though he was the owner he stayed within the group to as the silent fifth partner who sometimes fought too. It wasn't against the rules for hi to fight or joining group as long as he fought by the rules agree upon at the beginning with the ref. He was probably the most fair and honest fighter there. It was all about being fair and fighting like a real man. There were no women in the rooster or members not because it was a rule it was just so violent most the times none wanted to join. The boys would never accept a fight from a woman in other places either, none of them could ever stomach the thought of raising their to a woman no matter what the reason was it just didn't feel right."
The boys never had to worry about money because they made more than enough to retire probably by the time they turn 45 and only being 28 they weren't as far away as they thought. Xavier and the boys were retired navy seals and have been back for about four years but born and raised here, getting paid to fight even in high school saving as much as they could for whatever future they chose to have later.
Xavier was left horribly scarred after a mission didn't go the way they though it would. His group was sent I to extract some people from a bad situation and he was grabbing the last two kids about 4 and 7 years old and smaller than they should be thanks to their drug lord parents who sold them off to this hell hole. He was walking out of the room walking with both of them close to him. Out of no where long grenade shut right into the room he quickly got the kids down and out had them safe. When he noticed another child about three crying over in an open area he quickly went and grabbed him, as he saw another one shot at them it was too late to run so he just used his body and a metal sheet to cover over the poor kid.
He ended up with a couple of burns and mainly scratches and deep cuts all over his body from all the things laying around that rushed through them. The children were saved and unharmed but Xavier was so injured he had to be hospitalized worrying if he'd still be able to use some of the left side of his body. As he got home he worked out with his friends who left with him and his family. He didn't want to sit and sulk he wanted to make him self stronger and even though people were now scared of him just based on his size, appearance and what he does for a living, he was still holding out hope that he would meet one great woman who would just take a chance and love him for him. Only Axel knew that Beasts real dream was just to have a family.
It's been five years since he's been home and he was starting to think that dream was just a fools dream. No one who even looked twice at him was worthy of his time just another damn ring bunny. Which was a nicer way to say a girl who just wanted to sleep with a fighter. The thought of being touched by them made him sick. What ever happened to dating it was a scary thing now a days. You never know what someone else could be carrying because everyone seems to just want sex. He needed more than that.
Axel seemed to be the only to agree. Jaxon had no problem with commitment but he still dated around either they worked or not he was a good guy. Ryder was a walking man slut. Noah was just looking for someone who wouldn't use him and wanted to settle down. He wanted the long haul, it was harder for him to do when in a small town you didn't have that much a variety for his type. I honestly think Jessenias friend eric would be perfect for him. Watching him the last couple months they seem perfect for each other I a lot of ways their differences would be perfect. Xavier said.
"Hey guys schedules up no fights this week. Maybe next week. I'm thinking of just chilling for about two weeks and you guys still need to log in in hours we need the votes on whether to have the cook out or fight night next week. While we wait for the schedule of Tuleside town's roster. I need to know if their will be teams or groups wanting in or just all of the fights solo." Noah yelled through the gym. The ring had a fight everynight for eight nights so he's treating everyone to a little rest to get back in the right with our body before anothers town fighting ring sent the people wanting to be scheduled for us. This was perfect it could give me two weeks to not get time with Jess but tell her and give her time to discover what I actually do for a living. Hopefully it won't be to violent for her and scare her off.
"Beast I heard you got a date." "How the hell did you hear that so fast?" "One you guys don't talk as quite as you think you do. Two Jaxon texted me hell just froze over and that was the best guess I could think of and I guess I was right. Seriously your sour grumpy mug got a date? What lady is lucky enough to finally grab your interest. Was it that baker chick at the café you flock to all the time?" Noah asked with a smug smirk. "You know just because you worked in intelligence doesn't mean you gotta read me and put me on blast damn dude I swear you fucking know everything about everybody. You like the head hair dresser at a salon you know everybody business as it happens." Axel said laughing. "Don't hate on me, because my skills are that good. Seriously though is it her?" Noah asked hopeful and happy for his friend.
"Yes it is. I finally broke down and asked her." "More like she confessed she crushing hard and paved his way." Jaxon said laughing even harder. " I still asked her though didn't I. Bunch of assholes the lot of ya." "Seriously man happy you finally got your head out of your ass and out of your own way and I hope it goes great for ya. I still can't believe she doesn't know who any one of us are except for us being vets." "Hey Noah maybe you should come with me tomorrow morning and grab breakfast. I think there maybe something there to catch your eye." Xavier said in a low voice only Noah could hear. "I aint one to turn down free food count me in text me the time." Noah said walking away. "I didn't say I was paying." Xav yelled back. "can't hear you bro to far away. La la la la." Noah said rest of guys laughing. They finished their hours and work out and left.
Making his way to shower he came walking out dressed and going into his kitchen only to be startled by Axel and Xaviers laptop with his mothers face on the screen. "The hell you doing here. Hey mama." "Boy watch your mouth. Now your cousin has told me you have a date with that one girl you talk so much about." "Dude. Seriously you told my mom does the whole damn town know?! I swear you all going to scare her off before I even get her. This town needs more things to occupy yalls time." "Dude this is a big deal for you man whether you want ot admit it or not. Not because you haven't hade a date in the last eight years, but who it's with this is the first person you actually have feelings for ever. So your mom an dI both know how emotionally invested you are into her since she got her." Axel said faltly. "It's been six months Xavier I happen to know this girl an di like her. I want you to keep her. So you have to know that first date impressions are important where are you taking her? What's you rgame plan son?" His mom shot at him.
"I though I would take her to eat and get to know each other better." "Well that's a good start son. What about after?" "After what?" "After you feed her dude?" Axel said dumbly. "Oh I didn't get that far but I still have four day s to choose I got three ideas I think she would like." "Well you better think quickly. I need this to go well it maybe my only hope for you to settle with someone decent and give me grandbabies I aint getting any younger her child." "Mom you need to chill you have plenty of time and how do you know her so well?" Xavier asked. "It's a small town and she's the best cook around she offered baking class out in the park couple weeks back me and all the other old foogies went and enjoyed oursefls we swing by the bakery just to shoot the breeze at tea time" She said flatly.
"She does classes, sign me up. I can't cook for shit." "Watch your mouth Axel or ill call your mama. So do you know what you want to do?" "Mama I'll call you later I have eveyrthign under control thank you for your concern about your future grandkids trust me they'll be fine. Love you bye." Xavier said shutting the screen down. "You had to sell me out hell you couldn't wait one day for me to tell her. It just happened a couple hours ago you boys gotta chill."
"We all know how much you like her. We just want to help. Besides I may have something I need to confess too." "What would that be?" "Well you know how we would all go into the café and her friend would be there the cute one with the black hair and she a little taller her name Lexi? " "Ya, what about her?" "I've been crushing on that for six months too, and I'm to much of a dick to say something to her. Like I just fucking freeze when I see her. Which is a lot because she lives literally just a couple houses from me. I never told you because I don't even know. I just need to know how you got over your own mind and stepped up so maybe I can too."
"I didn't Jess came up to me. But you know maybe you should come with me in the morning you know Lexi going to be there getting her coffee before work maybe you can ask to walk her to work?" "Sure, I can try that. Besides I never turn down free food." Axel sai walking out the house with smug smirk. "Again I aint saying I pay, they hell is up with these children Xavier said shaking his head making a sandwich.