Derision. Confusion. Disappointment. Anger. Chad bore it all, words from a tongue that was not his bouncing off his form that deflected so much like rain from an umbrella.

The bright lights of the Los Angeles Arena did not offer any warmth in the ring. Even into round 4. The blaze had yet to start. His opponent, Rodrigo Manzanilla was his challenger for the World Heavyweight title, and his talent was unmistakable. Technical to the core, Chad had taken every one of his blows, while Rodrigo had ducked away from him at even the slightest twitch. In the last round he hadn’t even adopted a defensive stance, just taking every hit as they came. He hadn’t felt a thing. He knew Rodrigo wasn’t weak, but he wasn’t trying to win by brute force. In his decade and a half long career Chad had never lost by any form of KO. It was the smart play: be cautious and win by decision. Chad let his coach’s words go in one ear and out the other. His ears were already full. The frozen muscles in his shoulders wanted to burn so brightly.

The bell rang. Chad sat up past his coach, long steps taking him right to Rodrigo. His arms were still at his sides. A roar of boos came but it too failed to shake his heart. Rodrigo threw a jab that bounced against the hair on Chad’s jaw. Chad threw an uppercut that ripped through the air like a gun. It didn’t even touch his opponent, yet a moment later he started to bleed, a cut forming down the side of his chin. He hadn’t even noticed, because Chad had already turned around completely. Reaching down, he took the towel off of his coach’s shoulders before tossing it over his shoulder to the ring behind him. The announcers gave word of Rodrigo’s victory as his side came in to tend to the wound that splattered the ring with blood.

Jeers taunted him as he left the ring. They couldn’t have hurt him any more than that uppercut had upon himself. [color=ac3755]“Lo siento, abuelo.”[/color][hr]The Big Cat Boxing Gym was as dingy as ever. While it was kept perfectly clean, the aged equipment gave it a rusty sort of feeling. Still, it was small and the equipment it did have was far from the standard when it came to the world stage. Yet Chad was here, a towel draped over his face as he laid back, arms crossed behind the back of his head while his feet were kicked up atop a loose tote.

After what must have been hours, a hand pulled the towel off of his face, revealing his stern mug to the outside world again. The bright blue eyes of Theodore Grant stared down at him, but their firmness didn’t stay for long. [color=4d82a9]<“That show last night. Did you come to my Gym because of a plan?”>[/color]

Chad unfurled his arms, his eyes widening slightly. [color=ac3755]<“You speak Spanish?”>[/color]

Ted grimaced, knowing full well his words came like gravel caught in a tire. [color=4d82a9]<“Not in a long time.”>[/color] Pulling up a seat, he cracked open a Bud before offering one to Chad, who took it but only held it.

[color=ac3755]<“I didn’t mean to hurt your reputation.”>[/color]

Ted gave a dark laugh and took a swig. [color=4d82a9]<“Nothing you do could ever hurt me there.”>[/color]

Chad let out a low sigh, before admitting. [color=ac3755]<“There’s a toy store near here, and a restaurant I was recommended. The other gyms were further away.”>[/color]

Ted was incredulous. [color=4d82a9]<“Toy store? You have a kid?”>[/color]

[color=ac3755]<“Squishmallows are nice. I want a custom one.”>[/color]

Ted raised his eyebrows before taking a sip. Tapping his fingers on his bottle, his curiosity got the better of him. [color=4d82a9]<“What happened back there? I’ve never heard of a champion walking away from their title belt like that.”>[/color]

Chad’s facial expression shifted subtly. He slipped his feet off the tote and leaned forward, His shoulders seemed heavy. [color=ac3755]<“I...saw myself in him. I didn’t like it.”>[/color]

[color=4d82a9]<“The way I see it, the one not trying in there was you. It’s not fun to watch, but Rodrigo’s fighting style is acceptable.”>[/color]

[color=ac3755]<“I know that. I’m the one in the wrong. I used to like boxing.”>[/color]

Liquid swished around Ted’s bottle as he swayed it lightly. [color=4d82a9]<“You can retire. You had a career longer than most. Your body should have fallen apart ages ago but you’re built like...> a tank.”[/color] His dip into English seemed to be understood. Chad lowered into silence, contemplating Ted’s words.

Stepping away, Ted heard a familiar faint chirping, heading another room over and cracking open the closet where he kept his police scanner. Taking another sip, he poked a hand in and raised the volume.

“Route 66, we have an officer down! Monster on the street, some...skeletal...creature!” The exclamation was followed by a scream that sent ice down Ted’s spine. [color=4d82a9]“What in the hell?”[/color] Fingers tapping on his bottle in contemplation, he heard a rustling, Chad rushing for the door. Paranoid old heart thumping, he called, [color=4d82a9]“Hey, you better not be going where I think you’re going!”[/color] The words went of deaf ears. With a growl, Ted chugged the last of his bottle and let it clatter to the ground as he pushed the door open further, revealing a full black jumpsuit, hood modeled after a black cat. [color=4d82a9]“Not this shit again.”[/color] he muttered, even as his lips failed to conceal a smile.