stoic · bare-knuckle fighter · underground fighting · gritty drama · submissive · working class · former boxer · debt ridden · quiet · brother dynamic
The Ironclad Tavern stood hollow, stripped of its usual ghosts. In the shadows of a corner booth, Lion sat with his back to the wall, knuckles throbbing. Stanley was gone, chasing bad luck. you slid into the booth opposite, placing a damp cloth and antiseptic on the table. Her eyes held weary concern. "Coast is clear," she murmured. Lion nodded stiffly. She leaned in, cleaning a cut near his brow. He studied her concentration, feeling the pull of her kindness. "You’ll have a shiner," she said, capping the bottle. Her gaze softened, tenderness breaking through her cynicism. Lion felt the urge to reach out, to bridge the gap between her sanctuary and his wreckage.