Tales of the Underground: Crestfallen - 18. Aidan's House

Have you ever felt your soul jump from within your heart? Felt like you’re absolutely untouchable? Like you’re immortal? You better believe that’s exactly how I feel every single time I enter that octagon. This is my house and no one’s going to take me down in it…not while I’m still conscious and breathing.

“The challenger standing at 5’7 weighing in at 165 pounds, fighting out of the blue corner the power puncher, the feared hard hitter out of New York, New York Jared “The Powerhouse” Marx!” a loud voice boomed over the mic. The much bigger man stared me down as he walked back and forth on the soft padding.

I flashed a confident glare as the announcer turned towards me “And now you’re home fighter. Standing at 5’5 weighing in at 150 pounds the undefeated, infamous, young gun out of Short Hills, New Jersey, Aidan “Static” Taylor!”

The adrenaline filled me as the ref called us both to the center of the cage and gave us the familiar speech. I reached out my fists to touch gloves, and he slapped them away. “No respect?” I yelled out with a smirk.

“I’ve heard a lot of hype about you, but it looks like you’re falling short in more ways than just one.” He dismissed.

I lunged forward but the ref shoved me back towards my corner “Easy there” he ordered trying to establish his control over the fight “not until the bell rings.”

I walked back to my corner and looked down to my coaching staff “Don’t let him get in your head yeah? Remember what your dad’s expecting tonight. Go put on a show.” The head coach primed. I nodded my head, and set my stare forward. I felt my heart beat with anticipation as I waited for the ring.

The second the bell sounded the other fighter charged. I stayed on my toes and dodged the oncoming attack. I spent the next minute or so dancing around big punches and kicks, every now and again I would get tagged, but for the most part I was able to avoid any big damage. My unwillingness to fight back was met with restlessness from the small crowd. “Fight Back!” I heard Henry scream out. A call that was met with even louder whistles and cheers from the crowd, yet they’re not the ones fighting, I am. Being the smaller guy in most of my fights I’ve had to learn ways to adapt, ways to grow, almost every fighter has different trends…different weakness. However there’s always one constant with bigger guys, they get absolutely exhausted after the first few minutes if they don’t get the knockout they so hungrily strive for.

As the second minute of the fight passed I saw Jared’s energy quickly begin to fade. “You smell that?” I called out to him “death is in the air tonight!” I taunted dancing a little bit more. I felt a big shot tag me in the lower stomach, but played it off like I was unaffected “that all you got?” I further taunted, baiting him into my trap. Another big punch flew out from him, except this time he made the mistake of going for my head. I quickly jumped to the side and met with him a fist of my own. His face exploded off my first punch of the night, and he stumbled onto his back. Wait for big men to tire out, taunt them, hit them…the recipe always works! I went to jump on him realizing the damage I could go to him, but remembered who was in the crowd…more importantly what it meant for him to be in the crowd. I waved the fighter to his feet, and felt my decisions begin to waver. My indecision left me vulnerable, and before I knew what hit me a blow landed on my face and I felt blood began to drip down from above my left eye. Every damn time with that cut! I fell onto the ground but quickly bounced right back to my feet. I shook off the hit, and refocused on my target with a new objective. I faked a punch but soared up with a kick with met him right to the head. As he struggled to protect his head, I laid on a big shot right to his liver. The large span of pain had Jared stumbling and struggling to defend himself. I stepped up and began to tee off on him. A barrage of fists met his face and body in the form of different combinations. I backed him into the corner and continued my assault. As my own breathe began to grow heavy I pulled back and unleashed one last big shot to his head. The big body in front of me fell back into the cage, and collapsed down onto the floor. I let out an involuntary scream of victory, and fell to my knees to catch my breath.

I slowly crept to my feet and joined the announcer at the center. “Winner by knockout, covered in his own blood and yet still undefeated Aidan “Static” Taylor!” I let out a sigh of relief, knowing that this fight was so much closer then I should’ve allowed, but yet I was proud. I didn’t fight rough, I didn’t fight dirty…I fought hard, clean and honest and I fucking dominated the last few minutes of that battle.

I went towards my head coach and gave him a big loving shove “How was that for a fucking fight?” He laughed and tried to wipe away some of the blood with a towel but I pushed it away “and you said I don’t hit with power! Did you fucking see that!” I let out with excitement and passion filling me.

“It’s about precision not power” one of the trainers lectured “but ya did good kid, you treated it like a chess match, that’s why you won.”

My head coach nodded in agreement “It was good; you created your own openings and attacked. That hesitation you had was ugly though, and you paid the price for it.”

“Blame my father for that” I quietly shrugged knowing that it was he who had me confused as how I should be fighting.

“Speaking of him, we all better go face him; he’s not going to be happy.” My coach sighed

“No fuck that, I’ll handle him” I said with a smile. I waltzed over to the medium sized man in the suit standing near the cage. His face showed a combination of frustration and relief.

“Aidan, what the hell was that?” my dad demanded, yelling at me for everyone to see.

“It was a fight dad, just be happy I won.” I shrugged

He shook his head with anger “That wasn’t a fight, it was pathetic. You had a chance to actually do some damage, and you just stood there like a wimp, then you ate a punch because you were staring off! Your last fight was so much better! What was that your peak? Was that the best you’ll ever be? Was this too much for your small fragile body?” I bit back frustration as his words dropped like bombs “Boy oh boy are we gonna have to toughen you up hard. Clearly you’re not competent enough to find a way to by yourself!”

Before I could say anything I felt a powerful shove push me back into the outside of the cage “What the fuck kinda fight was that?” I heard a familiar high pitches yet gruff voice growl “You looked pathetic out there, we’ve gotta work on this shit.” He spoke and acted as though he didn’t even see my father there.

“Who the hell are you?” my father called out

“Who the hell am I? Who the hell are you?” Eli spit returning the attitude “Wearing a fuckin suit and tie to a gym, what are you new here or some shit? No wonder your kids such a pussy.” I looked over to my father and saw anger begin to boil in his eyes “What do you want a fuckin tissue?” Eli edged out, staring him down “Go! I gotta actually work on making your boy into a man, evidently something you failed at.”

My father shifted his stare from Eli to me “Aidan, who is this?”

“I’m Eli Warren” Eli proudly announced. My father’s stare changed from anger to surprise “Yeah that Eli Warren” Eli growled, showing that he had seen that reaction a hundred times before “Now if you haven’t heard, I’m not someone you want to piss off, so fuck off already!” He spit

A devilish smile grew on my father’s face “I like this kid.” He decided, as his anger faded “You could learn a lot from him. Anything you need we’ll supply to you Eli.” My dad nodded his head once again happy with what he had seen, and made his way to the exit.

“Woh Eli, that was good!” I spit impressed by his show “You really didn’t have to do any of that! That was like woh, you were scary as hell! I’ve never seen anyone talk to my dad that way!”

Eli shoved me once more “This isn’t a game; you feel that blood on your face? That’s your own if you haven’t noticed you idiot. That other kid rang your head like a bell. You want to go down to the black market and live to see tomorrow? Well we’ve got a lot of work to do before then now don’t we?”

I shook my head “I don’t usually fight like that, I just didn’t want to fight rough…not tonight.”

“too scared?” Eli pressed with a cocky smile

“No…I had to know I was still in control, that I was still calling the shots, not my dad.” I admitted replaying the fight in my head.

Eli’s eyes softened “I understand. I’ll see you Monday” as he turned and started walking towards the door I saw his eyes lock onto Jayden, and I swear I heard a small laugh come from him.

I soon found my own eyes locking onto Jayden and a small smile filled my face as he, Ivy and Henry made their way down to me. “You stayed this time!” I joked giving him a light push on his shoulder.

“Yup” he nervously nodded

“Well did you like the fight? See I kept composure today!” I excitedly yelped, realizing I had partially done it for him.

“Yeah you did.” He shyly spit looking down.

“What’s up with you?” I said giving him another push

“It’s because you’re bleeding everywhere you asshole!” Ivy shouted, reminding me of the cut on my face “Your face is covered you ass!”

I shrugged my shoulders and turned towards Henry, who was laughing “You know as well as I do that he doesn’t even realize it. He’s too hyped up on adrenaline. Look at him, his face is kinda swelled and he’s still smiling like an idiot.”

“It is not!” I nervously defended.

“Yes it is” he reassured “The one night I’m not in your corner and you almost lose, go figure!”

Ivy rolled her eyes and slowly started to walk towards the exit “I’m out of here, if you want a ride it’s leaving Henry, that goes to you too Jayden!”

Henry quickly ran up to meet her at the door “Peace!” he announced walking out.

“My mom’s coming to get me” Jayden shrugged “Thank you though!”

“Tell her not to bother.” I shrugged walking over to my trainers “Perry will drive you home. Where is he by the way?”

“He said he had to go pick your sister up from somewhere, but it’s cool my mom already left.” Jayden said, still not daring to look at my face.

“Damn, so she missed the fight too?” I asked finally sitting down next to my medical trainer.

“Yup” Jayden shortly responded.

“Aidan!” My medical trainer began “Why is it that every time you need medical help you make me stay late?”

I smiled and turned towards him “That’s why you make the big bucks.”

“Yeah, not big enough to deal with you” he playfully jabbed starting to clean off my face. I squirmed and wiggled at the unwanted contact, but did my best to stay still as he actually began to thread the needle through my brow. “How do you even hang out with this kid?” My trainer teased, looking up at Jayden.

Jayden shrugged his shoulders and looked down at me “He’s a handful, but I guess we just deal with it.”

“Hey!” I let out “Who’s side are you on?”

Jayden let out a small laugh, but concern grew on his face as he saw the stitching grow further then it had the last time “So how do you like know he doesn’t have a concussion?”

My trainer let out a short polite laugh and looked up at him “He’s doing too much coherent talking to have one, god you should see Aidan with a concussion. He’s a shit show.”

“How many has he had?” Jayden asked, with concern growing

“Only two” My trainer answered “They were both minor though. He risked getting a concussion tonight, but I guess he dodged a bullet somehow.” I discreetly kicked my trainer, trying to get him to shut up “Don’t worry about it though, Aidan’s a tough kid.” He let out finally getting the hint. “He’s resilient as hell. If anything happens I’ll take care of him for you.”

Jayden shook his head and I jumped to my feet, finally done with medical attention. I led Jayden over to the bleachers and took a seat “Would you stop worrying all the time?” I teased

“I’m not worried; it’s just fighting is so dangerous. I mean the way you shook that kids head around…it’s so crazy to me.” He said, finally looking me in the eyes.

“It is what it is” I shrugged “ We both agree to it ya know? I could’ve done so much more damage.”

“But you didn’t” Jayden said approving of how I fought.

“Not every night will be like that though, you understand that right?” I sighed “Some night will be rough, some night I’ll have no choice but to be a lot meaner, to go a lot harder.”

Jayden nodded his head “I’ll handle that when it comes.”

“Oh then you’ll be around for a while?” I slyly laughed

“Maybe” he let out, I saw a little bit of fire drip into his eyes “You’re cute when you’re all worn out.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the blush on his face “Oh yeah? Is that the only time I’m cute?” I baited looking for more compliments.

“Yes” Jayden laughed “The only time ever.”

“Maybe it’s just because you like when I don’t wear shirts!” I laughed. His face grew even redder but he kept the same smile “I for one think you always look cute.”

“Stop saying things like that!” Jayden pushed out, blush still there

“Why I like to tell the truth.” I giggled

“It’s not the truth, you’re just being nice.” Jayden sighed, finally returning to his normal pale color

“Yeah I’m being nice because I think you’re cute!” I laughed “Your eyes, the way you talk, the way you carry yourself, it’s all cute.”

“Save it for tomorrow!” Jayden insisted

“Alright, I’ll tell you you’re cute all tomorrow while we jump around!” I smiled, giving him a light elbow

“Works for me” he smiled, beginning to stand up “Alright my mom’s here, are you sure you don’t want the ride home?”

I got to my feet and stood next to him “that’s alright, Perry’s just around the corner.” I looked into his deep brown eyes and couldn’t help but smile “Come on I’ll walk you out.”

As we walked out of the enormous building, we didn’t say a word…we didn’t need to. It felt as though the silence was doing enough of the talking for both of us. As I dropped him off to his car Perry pulled up right next to it. Watching Jayden’s car pull out I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. I mean I’ll see him in a few hours, but still, I just can’t get enough. Tomorrows going to be a day to remember!