The gym was decently crowded for a Friday evening. Hunter and I warmed up outside then got in. We were wrapping our hands on a bench when I noticed he kept glancing away. I followed his gaze. Aaron, aka devils spawn, was in attendance today, and my boyfriend kept looking at him.

"What is it?" I asked.

"What?" He flexed his hands once he was done, then took over the task of finishing the wrap on my right hand. I always had trouble with it since I was right handed.

"Why do you keep looking at Aaron."

"No reason."

Uh-huh. As if I'd believe him. But I had no time to follow up my interrogation, because Steve spotted us and bellowed. "You two! Get moving! You're not here on a date."

Ugh. My cheeks burned. Steve's teeth gleamed against his dark skin. He looked too pleased with himself. He just liked teasing me too much for my own comfort. Hunter finished wrapping my hand calmly. He didn't seem rattled. It was kind of funny. Sometimes, he had a quick temper in reaction to some things, but not to others. But I guess everyone had their triggers.

"Go on," he said. "I need to ask Fernando something."

I strapped on my gloves and made my way to a sandbag. I glanced over. Fernando had been stretching nearby. Hunter stood over him and asked something. Fernando grinned and replied.

After several more words, Hunter made his way over to Steve. Coach listened to what Hunter had to say. After a few seconds, he nodded and pointed to the second ring.

I paused and held the sandbag. Was he going to spar? Normally, Steve wouldn't let underage beginners spar until at least a few of months into their training. I guess Hunter must've made an impression.

Steve and Hunter stood by the second ring and spoke. It was currently occupied by two guys. Steve pointed to the boxers, no doubt giving Hunter pointers.

I returned to my sandbag and kept an eye on Hunter. Sweat beaded my forehead when he was finally ready to jump in. He glanced around, caught my eyes then ducked into the ring. I jogged over, along with almost half the gym goers.

I stood next to Fernando and glanced at all the interested people. "I guess Hunter is pretty famous."

Fernando nodded. "The guy is ripped, and he moves like he's been boxing for years. Most these guys want to see if he's as good as he looks."

"Huh."

Hunter's opponent was a guy a couple of years older. He was an inch or two shorter than Hunter, but had more muscle mass. Looking at his stocky, muscled build, he reminded me of a bulldog. He looked bored, as if he was simply wasting his time sparring with the new kid.

Hunter and the bulldog put on their headgear. Steve spoke to them both in low voices then retreated to the corner of the ring.

"Alright, go!" Steve said.

Hunter and the guy bumped their gloves and parted. Over the past few weeks, Hunter had taken in all Steve's advice like a sponge. Fernando was right; he moved like he'd been boxing for years.

He raised his guards and jumped on the balls of his feet. Fernando chuckled next to me. "Your guy doesn't even look nervous. I remember the first time I got into the ring for a spar like this, I almost shit myself."

I snickered. "I remember."

He wrapped his arm around my neck and choked me. "You're supposed to say no, you brat."

I hit Fernando's arm with my glove. He loosened his hold, and just as I looked up, Bulldog charged at Hunter. He attacked with quick succession punches, not giving Hunter the time to even think of attacking. Hunter kept his guard up, surprisingly patient, and dodged the punches like he weighed nothing.

"Damn, that footwork is insane," Fernando mumbled.

Hunter was very quick on his feet, his arms bore the brunt of the punches, but he didn't let his guard down.

It happened so fast I had to blink hard to even follow his movement. Bulldog sent a wide right hook. Hunter ducked under it, and as he was standing up he threw an uppercut followed by a right hook. Bulldog fell on his ass, looking dazed. Hunter kept his guard up, but his eyes looked a little confused beyond the headgear. Even he didn't know the full extent of power behind his punch.

I gaped at him. Stunned quiet reined for a couple of seconds before whispers rose in the air.

"What the hell does your boyfriend eat?" Fernando asked, his eyes wide. "I think his punch might break the damn headgear."

"That was flawless," I mumbled. The speed with which he'd thrown those punches and the technique was simply flawless. But more than that, the sound his punches made when they connected showed just how powerful they were.

I was smiling like an idiot. I couldn't help it.

"Benson, are you alright?" Steve called out.

Benson, Hunter's opponent, jumped to his feet. "Yeah, yeah. Just caught me off guard."

He looked at Hunter with new eyes. That's right. he should be afraid. My boyfriend might be a beginner, but it was only a matter of time before he surpassed the majority of people in this gym. The thought made me flush with pride.

The match continued, with Benson being more careful and serious about the fight. Benson managed to land a few hits, as did Hunter. But there was no knockdown. Steve let them play three rounds before putting a stop to the match.

Hunter came our way after a few words with both Steve and Benson. He crouched behind the rope and winked at me. He looked exhilarated. I knew the feeling.

"How about you jump in, Sapphire?" He said.

"So I can knock you around a few times?" I said.

Hunter grinned. Fernando chuckled. "If anyone could do it, it's probably you, Sapph."

"Why? Because I'm that good?" I asked, joking.

"No, because he's smitten with you. He'll let you knock him around all day, everyday," Fernando said.

I punched his side and laughed.

"Lookie who's here," Fernando mumbled, looking aside. Devils' spawn was hanging around with the spectators. Hunter and Fernando exchanged a look. I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all.

Then Fernando called over the crowd. "Hey, Aaron! Why don't you have a go with Hunter?"

The crowd quieted down. I nudged Fernando. "What are you doing?" I hissed.

Aaron glanced around. Everyone was looking. Steve stood in the ring, not intervening. What were they up to?

"I don't know." Aaron chuckled, his smirk grating. "He must be tired from the fight."

"I'm not. But if you are, it's fine," Hunter called out. I looked at him. He was busy staring Aaron down. I knew that look in his eyes. I knew it well.

He was going to wipe the ground with Aaron.

"You're almost in the same weight range, and the same age. It makes sense you have a go," Fernando said. Aaron's expression tightened. "But if you're not up for it-"

"Sure. Let's do it," Aaron said. He jumped into the ring while someone fetched him his headgear. Hunter straightened and joined Steve and Aaron in the centre of the ring.

I gripped Fernando's arm. He looked smug. "What was that about?" I hissed.

"What? They'll have a little match, just like everyone else. Why are you worried?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You did it on purpose, didn't you?" I said, remembering the way Hunter spoke to him before the match. "Hunter asked you to provoke Aaron, didn't he?"

Fernando grinned. He didn't even deny it.

"If Steve finds out-"

"Steve knows."

I blinked. "What? And he's okay with it?"

"Why wouldn't he? It's a fair fight," Fernando said. "Also, Aaron has been flinging his weight around the gym for a while now, beating up people weaker than him. Steve wants him to learn a lesson, and your boyfriend has a score to settle with him, so it's a win-win."

"What score? Is it the black eye he gave me? Because we've only started dating after it happened."

Fernando patted my head. "It doesn't matter if it happened before or after. He still wants to beat his ass."

I huffed. A delicate arm thrown around my shoulder. Emma.

"I think it's impossibly romantic," she said with a grin. Even she came to watch.

"It's completely unnecessary," I said. "What if he gets hurt?"

Both she and Fernando scoffed. "Please, you've seen Aaron fight before, right? He doesn't stand a chance against Hunter."

"Well, Aaron isn't exactly known for playing fair," I said.

"Don't worry," Emma said, squeezing me to her. "I think that even if he pulls out all the nasty tricks up his sleeve, Aaron will have at least a black eye by the end of this."

"I say two black eyes," Fernando said. "Want to bet?"

"Deal. Twenty bucks." Emma and Fernando shook hands on it.

"You guys aren't funny." I was still worried. Aaron had been fighting longer than Hunter. Sure, he wasn't exactly good at it. Still, it gave him enough experience to know how two pull off dirty tricks.

Hunter looked over then. I scowled at him. He winked. Boys.

Too soon, Steve called on the match. The glint in Hunter's eyes changed. And unlike the first match with Benson the Bulldog, he charged as soon as Steve gave them the green light. My breath froze.

Aaron looked surprised, as well. He put his guard up and chin down. But as soon as the first blow made contact with Aaron's arm, I knew he wouldn't last. It sounded like it really hurt.

"Damn, that must hurt." Fernando winced.

Hunter didn't relent. I'd thought he was fast before. He was even faster now. He must've been holding back in his fight with Benson.

He threw punches and jumped back and around Aaron. Aaron turned to keep him in his line of sight and threw a punch here or there. But Hunter just kept his relentless attacks.

Aaron's arms must hurt from being up all this time, though, and as soon as they dropped an inch, Hunter took advantage of it and swung a mean left hook that connected with Aaron jaw. The brute force of it shoved him backward. Hunter didn't relent.

Jab. Jab. Hook. Jab. Uppercut. Hook.

The gym held its breath. The only sound was the two boys' heavy breathing and the thuds of the punches as they connected. Aaron didn't stand a chance. Hunter cornered him against the ropes right in front of us. I could hear Aaron grunt as more punches connected with his sides and face and arms.

He was done.

One of his arms dropped a little, and Hunter took the chance, holding onto Aaron, squeezing Aaron's arms between their bodies, he drove his right hand over and over again into Aaron's side and face.

Aaron mumbled something. But Hunter didn't relent.

"Stop!" Aaron said, his voice sounded high.

"Enough!" Steve called out. "That's enough!"

Hunter dealt one more punch that sounded as if it broke something in Aaron's side.

"You touch her again and I'll make this seem like child's play."

Steve pulled Hunter off of Aaron. Aaron immediately crumbled to the ground. Steve hunkered down next to him. One of Aaron's friends jumped in. They took off his headgear.

I caught a glimpse of his face as he turned and winced. His nose was bloody, he would definitely have at least one black eye, and a bruise was coming to life in his jaw.

Hunter took off his headgear and shook his head. His hair stuck to his forehead. He was sweaty and breathless, but other than that, he didn't look like he'd just fought two people one after the other.

People talked all around us.

"Does your boyfriend think of going pro?" Emma asked, sounding as surprised as I was.

"I don't know. I never asked him," I said.

"If he does, he's going to be a monster," Fernando said. Emma patted my shoulder and went back to her post at the reception desk.

Hunter ducked under the rope and jumped down. I gripped his wrist and pulled him along. People parted, some congratulating him, others simply stared.

I dragged Hunter along to one of the secluded benches and pushed him down. He dropped the headgear next to him and watched me. I got his towel and bottle of water and shoved them at him.

I flicked his forehead. "That was rash."

He unstrapped his gloves. His eyes simply looked amused. "Was it?"

I put my hands on his cheeks and squished them. "It was."

He put his hands on mine and smiled, or at least, tried to. With his cheeks all squished like that, he looked cute.

I pursed my lips, but a grin peeked through. I couldn't help it. I was honest enough with myself to admit I enjoyed seeing Aaron's butt being handed to him. That might make me a bad person, but there it was.