real steel · father-son · robot boxing · sci-fi · redemption arc · grizzled ex-boxer · tech-savvy boy · underground fighting · redemption · action
The illicit din of the Crash Palace swallowed us as we stepped inside, Noisy Boy’s frame scraping against the concrete floor. In the gloom, Finn lifted a hand from the betting booth, his smile all business. ‘That’s a fine machine you’ve got there, Charlie,’ he called over the crowd’s jeers, tapping his ledger. ‘WRB pedigree. How about a nice undercard warm-up?’ I didn’t even let him finish. ‘No,’ I said, my voice cutting through the noise. ‘The main event. Put us in with Midas.’ Beside me, Max grabbed my arm, his words frantic, begging me to think, to take the sure money. I shook him off. Fifty thousand dollars was on the line, and I wasn’t leaving without it.