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Featuring; Leon, Nate and Sami
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The only way any of them were going to survive this road trip was small battles, tiny victories and time apart. Everyone had their own way of unwinding and calming the fires of their hearts. Some partied, some baked and others like Sami, they punched things; hard. The idea was simple enough, it was Vegas so he couldn’t resist the temptation to go to the famous and original Xtreme Couture gym. It was the home for a fantastic fitness and MMA program and it was the perfect place for Sami to push out a few demons before the evening's festivities. This time though, he wasn’t alone; Leon and Nate had joined him. They wouldn’t have too much time at the gym before they had to head back, there were so many things they had to do and their time in LV was short and sweet.

As the trio sauntered up to the state of the art gym, Sami looked at the two of them with his typical dad look. [color=5F722C]”Best behaviour in here boys. We do not have a booking so we’re going to have to lie our way in. Everyone in there can also kick our asses and we don’t want to cause any trouble, so let me do the talking, savvy?”[/color] 

[color=AD5050]“When have [i]I[/i] ever been the one to get us into trouble?”[/color] Nate asked with his eyebrows high in his face. He shifted his eyes to Leon [color=AD5050]“We should probably focus on Mr. Highwayman here”[/color] he said, jerking his thumb towards his best friend.

Leon squinted his eyes at Nate and rather proudly proclaimed, [color=1E90FF]“Joke’s on you, I’ve never stolen anything before.”[/color] Well there was that one time with the grape flavored gum when he was 5, but that was a long time ago and to his credit, he hadn’t actually stolen anything since.

Patting both of them on the back, Papi Sami led the two of them into the facility and straight to the front desk which was manned by a young woman with glasses who did not even look up from her computer screen. 

[color=pink]”Name please?”[/color]

[color=5F722C]”We don’t have a slot booked but I spoke to Randy and he said I could use the gym for a quick work out before my fight tonight at the MGM”[/color] in that moment, Sami was hoping that this receptionist was a racist who assumed all Latino people were the same. The woman finally raised her eyes up from the screen and her jaw nearly hit the floor when she saw the trio. [color=pink]”You can work me out whenever you want…..”[/color] She quickly sat back in her chair, attempting to salvage the sewage she had just spewed from her lips. [color=pink]”I mean, all UFC fighters are welcome to work out here, go right in”[/color]

Nathan couldn’t really believe the words that just left the receptionist’s mouth and had to almost pick up his jaw from the floor as they made their way towards the changing rooms. [color=AD5050]”I guess they’re really forward out here in Nevada huh?”[/color] he whispered. 

[color=1E90FF]“Don’t know why they wouldn’t be,”[/color] Leon said, unsure why Nate was being so quiet, [color=1E90FF]“Some people just need a good partner to work out with, hell I’d ask to spot her, but she seems a little busy right now.”[/color] Leon stretched his arms across his chest, he was already in rather appropriate gear, tank top, basketball shorts, athletic shoes, basically just clothes to get sweaty in. [color=1E90FF]“Anyway, what’s the plan Sami? Leg day? Arm day? I already got my cardio in...twice...ohhhh I get it now.”[/color] He laughed, finally understanding Nate’s quip at him.

[color=5F722C]”Well, I need to get myself relaxed for tonight, so I’m thinking of some light sparring, maybe see if one of these cage guys wants to go a round or two”[/color] Only Sami would find getting punched in the face as a way of releasing some tension. [color=5F722C]”Leon why don’t you go get us all some drinks from the machine, I got to talk to Nate real quick”[/color] Cuban Yoda handed the golden retriever a few dollars and patted him on his ungodly firm butt. [color=5F722C]”Now that shit just ain’t right...Nate, pick up the pads and square up, will ya?”[/color] he wrapped up his hands in some tape and cracked his neck. Some heavy stuff was about to happen and he didn’t just mean his punches.

[color=AD5050]“Oh I-”[/color] Nate started to complain, he wasn’t really here to work out, more so to just hang out and cheer his bro’s on while they did whatever they did in the gym. But as always he had a hard time saying no to Sami, so he picked up the pads that Sami had pointed to and stuck his hands inside of them.

Sami could feel some butterflies in his stomach, this was going to be one weird ass conversation. Sending Leon away wasn’t a necessity, he had nothing to hide but it would be easier if it was just the two of them and there was a lot of scantily clad, sweaty gym bunnies hanging around and no doubt they would all flock to Leon, buying Sami a little more time with his buddy. Once Nate was ready, the stocky boy raised his fists and began hitting the pads that his friend was holding. 

As Sami swung at the pads Nate stumbled a little [color=AD5050]“Ok Sami, calm down you don’t have to break my hands…”[/color] he grinned. But as he saw the look on his friends face his eyebrows knitted together. [color=AD5050]“What’s going on?”[/color]

[color=5F722C]”Listen brother, I’m not going to fuck about with this, ok? I love you and I want to be honest with you. I think there’s something going on with Josie and me”[/color] Sami punctuated his words with some strong strokes to the training pads. [color=5F722C]”I know how you feel about her and I wanted to get on this with you cos you’re my brother and it wouldn’t be right for me to snake you. There’s always been something you know but like high school, you know? We just click in a way. I’m not gonna do anything unless you’re good with it, ése”[/color]

There it was, the confirmation to the hunch Nate have had. The reason why Josie didn’t want to be with him in that way. She liked Sami… and he like her. [color=AD5050]“Oh-”[/color] was all he could say as Sami’s punches hit the pads. He didn’t really know how he felt about it, so he stayed quiet for a little while. [color=AD5050]“You know…”[/color] he said lowering the pads. “I’ll be honest” Nate took the pads of his hands and threw them back on the floor. [color=AD5050]“It’s an awkward situation, but I’m not going to be the one who comes between you and her.”[/color] he bit his lip in thought [color=AD5050]“If you feel that way for her… uh… go for it man.”[/color] he smiled at Sami shrugging his shoulders.

That went better than expected. Nate had always been one to wear his heart on his sleeve, it was one of the many reasons that Sami loved him. Here he was being the mature man he had grown into, a far cry from the tearful child that Sam had to pull out from under his duvet on many occasions. He was right though, this was an awkward situation and the guilt that burned inside of the young fighter's chest like a fresh case of heartburn from downing too many drinks was not disappearing any time soon. Still, Sami was not going to run away from this problem, he was going to face it straight on with the same bullheadedness that he was famous for. [color=5F722C]”I love you brother, no matter what”[/color] He placed his hand on Nate’s shoulder and smiled. This was going to be a very new and very different chapter in their relationship and for once, Sami couldn’t see the future coming.

Like the goodest boy he was, Leon took Sami’s order without question. [color=1E90FF]“Sure Papi!”[/color] The strapping young lad went about to the vending machine, cash in hand, unflinching even as Sami smacked his ass. To be fair, a near lifetime of slap ass was the usual jargon in a high schoolers locker environment, so Leon was practically unfazed as his butt rebounded the firm hand of his close friend. Approaching the device, he perused through it’s wares, a mixture of soda, gatorade, red bull, powerade (were those two even allowed to be in the same unit?). Despite the near dystopia of it all, Leon chose the gatorade, it was like that Brawndo stuff from that one movie, the one that was what plants craved, something about electricity? Humans craved what plants craved right? Which was electricity, so Leon found no reason to spend his adequately given money on such beverages.

As he gathered his things, ready to head back to his awaiting crew, a young filly approached him. “Well hey there kid, never seen you here before.” In front of him stood a young woman..well as young as was legally allowed, she was clearly older than Leon, but still appeared youthful and spry, “What brings a strapping young man like you into LV?” Somewhat confused, Leon had to turn and see who she meant, only realizing she meant him, [color=1E90FF]“Oh...me? I’m just here with my friends, having a good time and getting to know the local scenery.”[/color]

“Didn’t realize the local scenery included a gym.”

[color=1E90FF]“Well, I like to keep myself in shape, went on a couple of runs this morning,”[/color] he emphasized, flexing his legs a little, [color=1E90FF]“But, I was more looking forward to work on my core and arms, y’know?”[/color] again emphasized as he once again took off his shirt to flex his muscles a little. Nothing too impressive to the average Adonis, but more than enough to swoo the lucky lady in front of him as she brushed uncontrollably ...that was until he heard an unsettling cry of anger.

“YO! WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!!”

[i]‘What the fuck?’[/i], Leon looked over as a rather heavily tatted man made his way over to him and his newfound friend. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Confused, Leon looked around before eying the bottles in his hand, [color=1E90FF]“Um...buying some drinks for my friends?”[/color]

“Oh really now?!?!” The man’s veins actually popped a little at that, “:and I suppose that included talking to my girl too?” To her credit, the young woman did try to pipe up, only to be shot down by the jackass beside her. To his credit, Leon tried to remain somewhat diplomatic, [color=1E90FF]“Yo, man I was just trying to get some hydration for my buds, then I saw her and she was asking some questions about my routine, and I thought, I should demonstrate,”[/color] Leon emphasized this by flexing his calves again and puckering his abs and pecs to the gentleman.

“You think you’re fucking funny, dontcha?”

[color=1E90FF]“I mean…”[/color] Leon didn’t really have a better response, he thought he was humorous if nothing else, but could this guy be asking for an act or something? [color=1E90FF]“I did perform in my high school’s talent show, I don’t think they have any video recording but…”[/color]

“That’s it!” Before Leon could even react, the man began to swing his fist towards him

Hearing a rumble from down the hall Nathan swiveled around squinting to see if he could see what was going on. [color=AD5050]“You don’t think that…”[/color] he asked turning back to Sami [color=AD5050]“Big boy finds trouble anywhere so I think we should go check that out”[/color] he said walking towards the sound of the fight.

Scratching the back of his head, Sami let out a tremendous sigh. He couldn’t take these fucking kids anywhere. Following Nate down to the other side of the gym, the two boys came across their friend about to be pummelled by some juiced up toadie being goaded on by his peers. Within seconds, Sam pushed the steroid freak into the wall by the drinks machine and stood between him and Leon. The man was almost two of Sami (although that wasn’t very hard) but he has fought off worse odds. The juicer grimaced at the boy through broken teeth. “Fights not with you, homie unless you want seconds. The use of the word homie was the perfect turn of phrase to show off this idiot's racism. The perceived gang affiliation because of his race and tattoos was something Sami had dealt with for a long time and it was the best fuel to add to an already burning fire. [color=5F722C]”I’m your huckleberry”[/color] He glanced back at his boys before throwing a heavy left hook into the side of the toothless wonders head. [color=5F722C]”So much for staying out of trouble, go back to the hotel boys, I got this”[/color][/center]