-Underground fighting arena somewhere deep in the slums of New York City-
An announcer stands in the middle of an old blood-stained octagon as he riles up the crowd.
"Ladies aaaand Gentlemen!!! Are you ready?! Did you bring your wallets tonight?!"
The crowd roars in excitement as they wave their wads of cash ready to bet. One man is even so excited that he headbutts his buddy next to him, knocking him out, and taking his wallet to double his bet.
"That's what I'm talking about! NOW, feast your eyes and prepare, because in this corner is, the fearless, the tallest, the sexiest, the strongest Shonen manga protag- uh wait who wrote this?"
The announcer raises an eyebrow as he glances towards the fighter he's introducing; the fighter puts up his hands and urges for the announcer to continue as if there is no problem.
Cough "Ladies and gentlemen, THE LIONNN!!"
The crowd roars even louder this time as a young fighter going by THE LION waves his arms up to the crowd, he is wearing a cheap worn and torn lion mask.
"He's not even 6ft, the tallest my ass!"
A young man shouts from the crowd, to which THE LION responds with a middle finger.
"Now, this fighter needs nooo introduction! He's fast, he's deadly, and if you're not careful, he'll sting! Ladies and Gentlemen! THE SCORPIONNN!!"
The arena becomes a shower of shouts and praises as they rush to place their bets on who will be winning tonight's fight. Meanwhile inside the octagon the two fighters size each other up as they circle around and prepare for the bell to ring.
"Your mask looks fucked up. Guess someone hasn't been winning fights to pay for an upgrade, hahaha.."
an older looking person, THE SCORPION says out from underneath his newly bought mask from winning his last fight. To which The Lion responds by putting his hand up towards his ear signifying that he cannot hear him.
DING!
The bell rings as it kicks off the first round. The crowd roars as the Scorpion is the first to rush in as he closes the distance. He first hovers around his opponent cautiously to see what he will do next as he incorporates jabs here and there. The two trade small jabs and low kicks for about thirty seconds before Scorpion gets a single leg takedown on Lion.
However, before he can complete his takedown, Lion responds with a deadly punch which his left, to which Scorpion sees coming and uses his other arm that is not holding his opponents' leg to block. Before the punch lands however, Lion switches to his right swiftly as he lands a deadly right punch into Scorpions nose.
"OOOOHHH!"
The crowd roars in satisfaction and bloodlusts as the fight continues. Scorpion is stunned as he realizes his nose might be broken as blood pours out of it. He wearily eyes his opponent as he gets up off his one knee to continue the fight. The two trade multiple kicks and punches as they fight skillfully around the Octagon, and the first round comes to an end. it isn't until deep into the third round that something worth mention occurs.
Lion throws a high kick towards Scorpions head out of nowhere, but Scorpion dodges and hits a takedown. Lion throws a weak kick to Scorpions chest to get him off as he quickly returns to his feet, however Scorpion was faster as the kick didn't affect him. He ducks low, slams an uppercut into Lion's chin, and before Lion can respond, Scorpion tries one body kick, then one high towards Lion's temple. After Lion blocked the high kick, Scorpion then followed up with a barrage of punches hammering his ribs and jaw. The crowd roars even louder. After that the rounds continued on with Scorpion beating the living shit out of Lion, respectfully.
"There's nothing respectful about this!"
The Lion randomly yells out while being barraged by Scorpion.
"Who are you talking to! Focus on this ass kicking you little shit!"
Now in the middle of the sixth round as Scorpion continues his barrage on his bloodied opponent. Somewhere in the dimly lit stands of the crowd is a hooded woman quietly watching the fight.
"First time seeing one of these things Ms? Heh, I noticed how silent you are despite being in this crowd right next to me."
An old blind man with a cane says as he turned slightly towards the young woman. She eyes him curiously as she responds.
"You're blind?"
"Haha! Is it that obvious?"
The old man responds sarcastically.
"I meant no disrespect sir, its just..."
"Yes heh, I am just messing with you. I know I know, what is a blind man doing in a place like this? However I'll have you know, that without my vision I can see and gather information even more clearly through hearing than some of these idiots can with seeing!"
He says with a hearty tone and chuckle as he smacks his cane over the back of a screaming and shouting young mans head Infront of him. The young man stands and turns angrily before seeing who it was, he turns back around confused and weary as he sits back down.
"That much I can understand Sir, but what I meant is that it says there that you betted on The Lion. I was going to give my sympathies, all considering..."
The young lady says as she eyes the betting card in the old mans hand.
"Haha! Your sympathies?! I don't need your sympathies! In fact, I suggest you extend those emotions towards that Scorpion fellow down there..."
"But he's been winning all this time? if anything I feel bad for The Lion, he's all bloody and-"
"Yes, yes, I know."
The old man cuts her off as he continues a bit more solemnly now with a scowl.
"I have been to this young mans fights before, and one thing I can tell you about him is that he is an sinister fellow..."
DING!!
The last round begins as Scorpion confidently rushes in to continue his attacks on a bloodied and tired Lion. He starts off with a front kick, to which Lion dodges and the kick rattles the cage. However right as Scorpion is about to follow up his attack Lion gets his opponent in a single leg. Scorpion tries to get out of it with a punch to Lions face, but Lion just lets the punches land as he continued his hold.
Scorpio is then hit with a deadly elbow to his face, as his damaged nose from before becomes even more damaged, doubling the pain. Then after finishing the takedown, Lion seemingly lets scorpion get up before he continues his attacks. A right hook that blurs scorpions vision, a strong left body shot that lands with a loud BOOM! As if a gunshot just went off in the arena, being heard over the raging and roaring crowd.
Scorpion is not given enough time to recover as he is hit with a roundhouse kick that is so fast, you would have never thought that the one carrying out the attack was the same "bloodied and tired" fighter from all these previous rounds. BANG! The lightning-fast attack ends as Scorpions consciousness leaves this earth.
The unconscious body falls to both knees as it throws up a flood of blood, more than puke. Before falling flat on his face and stomach. The crowd is silent for five seconds. This last round had just started, and yet it ended so fast just like that. it took a second for the viewers to comprehend what just happened, before they all collectively exploded with noise in response.
"OOOHHHHHH!!!!"
Those that had bet on Lion, with tears in their eyes as their cheered in relief. Those that had betted Scorpion shouting in rage and disbelief having lost. The one fellow from before that was headbutted by his friend, now with a band aid over the spot, punches and knocks out his dearest beloved best friend for having put both their money on Scorpion.
"Bullshit!"
"He just got a lucky break!"
"Scorpion was just tired from kicking his ass for six rounds!"
"You're just mad you owe me 1k now!"
"What he said, pay up!"
"I never doubted Lion for a second!"
The last man in the crowd says as he puts a Scorpion fan mask in the back of his pocket.
With that the fight comes to an end, and the bets are completed, and happy or not. Scorpions body is dragged out the caged Octagon, meanwhile now as Lions in a shitty locker room.
BANG! a strong slightly hairy tattooed arm punches Lion across his face.
"What did I tell you! Don't pull that crap on a big night like tonight!"
"Relax, I won didn't I?!"
The Lion says as he rubs the spot after taking off his mask.
"Yeah guess ya did, get me a beer and cigarette on your way out would you?"
Scoffs "sir yes sir, old man."
The "old man" in question is actually this young fighter's long-time coach. And this shitty underground, and totally legal fighting arena, is owned by said coach. By day, upstairs it's a small routine gym for boxers, trainers, and all sorts of fighters. And by night, an underground, very legal, betting and fighting arena. The young fighter takes a shower and throws on an all-black T-shirt with rough gold patterned wings on the shirts back, along with black sweatpants, and short black boots. He runs his hand through his slightly long messy black hair, it doesn't reach his shoulders but it is still a little long. His bright golden eyes flash in the cracked mirror as he leaves the showers and locker rooms. On his way his way out the back, he tosses the two items his coach requested into his office.
"Fuck- What if I didn't catch?!"
"Hahaha but you did catch."
The coach responds to that with a grim smirk as he shuts his office door. The young fighter makes his way out the back, where a door leads into a small alley. It is cold and slightly snowing out this time of year. The air in this area of the city smells bad as the sewers pollute it. The young fighter slings a ragged black gym bag with a spray-painted logo of a lion on it, over his shoulders with a yawn as he is making his way out the alley. However, before he turns around to leave, all of the sudden, a cold sharp object presses dangerously against his neck as a slender, yet strong arm holds him.
"I've never been robbed by a woman..."
He said casually with a raised eyebrow.
"Name."
"What kind of robber asks for their victims name?" The young man says in a low voice with a soft chuckle. The mysterious woman pressures the knife against his neck a little more in response.
"Shut up, Name."
"Kyle Butler"
"Try again Dexter."
"John Bonham."
"Supernatural-" She presses the knife further...
"alright alright... Wayne Dunlap." He said feigning a scared and serious tone before he burst out laughing.
"Do you WANT to die?" The woman said before pressing the knife just deep enough for a small drop of blood to fall.
"Jesus lady where's your sense of humor. My name is Julius."
"Seriously kid? The others were a little sneaky I'll admit but this one could be a reference to any-"
"Yeah I know sherlock that's why I said it, because its my real name."
"..."
She thought in silence for a second before Julius quickly grabbed her wrist, twisted it slightly so the knife would fall, catches it and then swiftly switches their positions so that now he's the one holding a knife to her neck. The woman quietly gasps in surprise having not expected that.
"You gotta be a different kind of stupid to try and rob someone after just watching them fight." He said in a teasing tone as he held the knife to her neck. The woman was more confused than unperturbed as she sighed.
"How did you know I was there?"
"I make an effort to look at every single person in the crowd. And I remember your long, white or blonde, whatever color it is-hair. Which I may add peaks through your hood, so if you're going for a disguise, haha- people who know you aren't falling for it."
"Well congratulations, it takes a skilled person to disarm me like tha-"
"yeah yeah I'm asking the questions now, name?"
"Faith Connors"
"Try again Mirrors Edge~"
"Kait Diaz"
"Ooh good one, I'm more of a Mariah kinda guy though for that one."
"Lara Croft?" She said with a small smirk before he pressed the blade just deep enough to draw blood like she did previously. She sighed in defeat as she responded.
"Iris.."
"Iris what?"
Just as he asked that she swiftly apprehended the knife and pushed off Julius with a flip. The two now facing each other. Julius was met with a beautiful mature woman with long light wheat-colored hair, and bright red eyes. She was wearing an expensive hoodie with a black and red patterned skirt, and expensive black boots.. And Iris was met with a rough, handsome young fighter with messy black hair and bright golden eyes that glowed a little, and who was just slightly shorter than her.
"Was the slightly shorter part really necessary?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Seriously you're the weirdest, but sexiest robber I've ever met haha-" The knife in the her hand flew past Julius' shoulder as it pierced the wall behind him. Slicing a cut over his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow to this before sighing as he straightened and stretched his back.
"Alright, whaddya wanna know?"
"Age."
"21"
"Real age."
"18, how'd you know?"
"I know a brat when I see one." She responded lightly with a smirk
"okay okay.. can I atleast know your age too then?"
"20, and that's the rest you're getting from me. Where do you live?"
"What kinda robber are you..."
The young woman grumbled annoyedly in response to him not answering the question.
"Haha, relax I was gonna tell~ in one of those apartments a couple blocks down."
"Alone?"
"Yep."
"Family? Guardian?"
Julius laughed in response before shaking his head in response. Iris' gaze softened slightly in thought.
"What kind of 18-year-old lives alone?"
"This kind!" He said pointing his thumb to himself with a smile.
"I found a landlord that'd rent to youths in this shitty side of town."
"What about paying for-"
"Ahh what is this, twenty questions?"
Her gaze lowered in a threatening way in response.
Sigh, "I pay through winning fights, it's a good deal if you ask me."
"What about school and food and-"
"Uh well there's a thing called public school, and not all the money goes towards rent I get groceries every now and then."
Iris was silent in thought for a while as some things didn't add up. However, she could tell that he wasn't lying as there was a hint of loneliness in his eyes when he spoke, even if he was smiling through it.
sigh "Alright listen, I'm offering a job-"
"I'm in, now lets go I'm starv-"
"I wasn't done!" She said in an almost whining tone with a stomp of her foot.
"I did not whine!"
"Who are you talking to lady?"
"Huh? Anyways the job is that you'd be my bodyguard, for as long as I need. There'll definitely be travelling involved... so you'd need to drop this fighting stuff you got going on now, and probably.. leave school.." She stopped in thought as she heard what she was saying.
"N-Nevermind what was I thinking I can't just recruit a kid to-"
"Hey! Listen lady, school is useless after sophomore year anyway, haha and don't even try to bring up college. As for the fighting stuff, as long as the pays better than here, which by the way the old man takes all of it and puts it towards the gym. He's all about giving the kids on the street a fighting change blah blah-" He mocks before continuing.
"Basically, as long as the pays better, I don't got a problem."
Noting his tendacy to overshare, Iris ruminated over many things before speaking again.
"This... "old man?" Is he your-"
"Coach? Yeah. He doesn't give a shit what I do trust me." Julius said with a yawn.
"Can we wrap this up? I got a last box of Kraft Mac and Cheese waiting for me at home. And I gotta tell you the street deals you can get around here are crazy! I got a ten in one box deal for just twenty bucks, that's ten mac and cheese dinners, aka two weeks of dinner right there for twenty-"
"Wait- Jesus... are you an idiot?! Who just SURVIVES off mac and cheese!? What about your protein and nutrition! Aren't you a fighter-"
"You sound just like my coach, relax... Besides he gives me fat meat sandwiches and stuff to eat occasionally when I need- Hey wait hold up who said I have to tell you any of this? Who even said I'd agree to be your bodyguard, you just tried robbing me!?"
"Umm you did, not even like thirty seconds ago."
"I did? Huh because I don't really remember-"
"Listen little shit! It'll be nine hundred a wee-"
"1,000" Julius interjected with a yawn. Iris bit her tongue in thought with an annoyed look.
"Come on I see what you're wearing, and that knife ain't cheap either."
sigh "1,000 a week... You'll have to leave your current living situation to come with me. There are multiple groups of people after me, bad people that are tasked with killing or capturing me at any time. Which is why I-"
"Alright alright I get it. Why not hire some James Bond off the black market? Also, you're not completely helpless as you're trying to make it out to be..."
"Those same people you suggest I hire are the ones that'd be after me. And it won't just be one or two people, I need a strong partner. And let's just say someone like you is easier to..."
"What? Put a leash on? Real nice boss I got here ladies and gentlemen."
Sigh "It's not like that; it's just I'd trust someone who's younger... uh and that's outside of all this and-"
"Right... I got it."
Iris grumbled in annoyance from being interrupted so many times, but eventually let it go.
Julius stretched before he began making his way out the alley.
"Where do you think you're going?" She said, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.
"WE are going to find a five-star restaurant and I'M going to try lobster for the first time in my life."
Julius said matter-of-factly as he continued walking. Easily slipping out her grip.
"You do know finding one of those around here is practically impossible right? I mean come on look at this-"
The two continued walking through the streets in the night as Iris babbled on before they arrived at an old burger joint.
"Eh? I thought you said you wanted to try Lobster?"
"I did? Huh I don't really rememb-"
"Listen... if this is about me complaining before then it's really no problem, we could just get a cab and find a real five-star restaurant." Iris said softly, feeling a little guilty now.
"Did you know I only get to eat at these sorts of places once every two to three months or so? And every time it's because coach takes me. I don't know what your version of five star looks like, but lady, right here, this is it!"
Just as Julius said that with a grin, he pulled the handle and entered the "five-star" burger joint.
Later now as the two are seated in a booth.
"What can I get you Jules?" Hassan, a longtime employee says as he comes to take their order.
"Two burgers, four large fries, uhh thirty count chicken nuggets, and a double size large Mr.Pibb. and stop calling me Jules I hate that."
"Got it Jules." Hassan nods nonchalantly before turning to Iris. Iris is in a daze staring out the window before turning in shock.
"That was all for you!?"
Later now as the two are enjoying their meals. Well, enjoying may be an overstatement for Julius. He is more like a gluttonous pig bastard at the moment.
"Jesus, was the bastard part really necessary?"
"What?"
"Nothing, by the way what's your deal? Hiring a young child to protect you and what not, I gotta leave my whole life behind and shit. What if I fucking get killed or something huh?" Julius said casually as he was eating.
"What! You're 18! And you seemed more than willing-"
She stopped as she realized there was a small smirk on Julius' face.
"You're an asshole." She said in a huff crossing her arms.
"Listen... I don't feel good about it. But somebody that was in the system for a short period, then disappeared from it and started living on their own, coupled with the fact that you're not an ordinary fighter... It's just, rare, okay? and coincidentally exactly the sort of person I need at the moment."
Julius nodded in thought as he continued eating before responding.
"So you're a stalker too?"
"What?"
"That part about the system and what not. I never mentioned any of that."
"I-"
"Listen alright I don't care about who you are really or your reasons. You pay me, I protect you, I get to eat good, sounds perfect to me. As for all that other stuff about it being a coincidence and me being the person you need right now sounds like some bullshit lazy writing the author came up with for the sake of-"
The two continued on their interesting conversation and meal as Iris eventually felt less guilty about the whole thing. She noticed that Julius, as already odd as he was, had definitely strayed from normal a long time ago. Even with the mention of gangs, assassins and mercenaries he seemed... more excited than suspicious or scared. As if he was a child discovering their new favorite video game to grind.
Now, as they're finishing up.
"Wait one more thing, why did you choose to hire me and not good old Scorpio back there? I mean how can you be so sure I'll be able to protect you? Wasn't I getting my ass kicked for six rounds?" Julius said while trying to suppress a smile.
"It was something an old man in the crowd said... Also, it was quick, but I could tell you were a better fighter than Scorpion after you won. Out of all the fighters I'd been tailing and monitoring for this job I've never seen someone do what you did."
"Some fighters you went to see then, haha, never seen a roundhouse-"
"It's not that shithead, and you know it."
Julius put his hands up innocently with a smile and chuckle as he finished his food and cleaned up.
After Iris paid and the two were about to leave, all of the sudden the glass next to the booth they were sitting at shatters, as a motorcycle crashes through it. A group of about six men wearing black ski masks come rolling into the place.
-Intermission-
"Fuck! What the hell man, you can't park there!"
Julius said as he was dusting himself off. Iris had already skillfully jumped from her seat and flipped over landing on a nearby table.
"Julius! This is serio-"
Just then one of the attackers' faces was practically caved in as a deadly bone crushing punch destroyed his nose and sent him into the floor.
"Fuck! You broke my nose!!"
The man said writhing in pain on the floor, the other five men looked at Julius wearily before approaching him. The punch was way too fast for any normal person to pull off.
"You broke his nose..." Iris said, more worried for the man on the ground if anything.
"Dude not cool..." The leader of the gang said, taking off his black ski mask.
"Yeah what the hell man.."
"Oh come on! I didn't- He's- You're just a drama queen get up!"
Julius said slightly kicking the man on the ground, to which he was met with grumbles of pain from the man.
"You motherfuckers! That window had the logo on it!" Hassan shouted before appearing behind the counter while holding a shotgun that he retrieved from the back.
"BOOM!"
Hassan pulled the trigger and absolutely fucking blows up one of the men in a black ski mask. He is sent flying into one of the booths now bleeding unconscious from his chest. In response the other men find tables to use as cover as they take out their pistols and began a firefight with Hassan. Julius takes Iris and hides with her behind a large counter where the cashier would usually be. Just then Hassan is shot in the shoulder as he goes down.
"You fuckers shot Hassan!?"
Julius said as he retrieved a gun that went flying from the man Hassan shot just a minute ago. He aimed and began shooting randomly.
"You do not know how to use that! Give it to me it's not like the bullets will coincidentally hit in your favor and-"
Iris was saying before three out of the ten bullets randomly shot luckily grazed past three out of the five remaining attackers' hands. Causing those three men to drop the guns in their hands.
"What the fuck is happening?"
Iris was saying before one of the men aimed their gun at her, smoke was slightly coming out the tip as they had been shooting a lot, way too much even since they started the firefight with Hassan earlier. This caused no bullet to come out the gun that was aimed towards Iris as the clip was already empty.
"If you did come here for her. Then you're doing a real bang-up job at it, I mean who doesn't bring extra bullets or clips or whatever to an assassination attempt?"
Julius said as he ditched his own gun. Meanwhile Iris behind the counter with a confuzzled expression as many of the events that just played out were very unconventional.
"Listen, you probably don't even know who that is you're protecting do you?" The leader says seriously with a scowl.
"I don't need to know, she's paying a WHOLE $1,000 just to protect her."
"Hahaha... big bucks huh kid? I'll cut the shit for you, Iris Valentine, her family put a bounty on her head for $15,000 and it rises another $5,000 each week someone doesn't capture or kill her."
Irish flinched slightly at the mention of her bounty and her family being the one that did it. Julius stood there with a surprised look on his face, as he turned to face her and then look back at the gangsters, then back to her. Before smiling.
"Heyyy so that's your last name?"
Iris sighed silently in relief as she realized that Julius seemingly did not care to switch sides on her even after hearing her bounty.
"I just said she has a bounty of $15,000 and you're worried about her last name?!"
The lead gangster said as he and the other four men rushed to attack Julius. He parried every one of their attacks before letting them gradually land more and more, causing his nose to cough and leak blood occasionally.
"Haha! John, this who broke your nose?" One said to the gangster with a broken nose who was also huddled around Julies and kicking.
"What are you doing? Why are you letting them hit you!" Iris said in annoyance. Before gangster number four turned to face her.
"Shouldn't we be going after her now that he's no problem? I mean that is the whole reason why we are here. It's been about a minute of kicking this losers ass?"
"Shut the hell up smartass! That's why you're gangster number four and don't even get a real name!"
Gangster number three said before he returned to beating up Julius. However, four wasn't convinced as he went to attack Iris, before he could reach her however a hand grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back.
"Hey! you're gonna get me fired on my first day..." A bloodied Julius said as he dragged him back. Before letting them hit him again.
"What is wrong with you! You masochist shithead! Why aren't you-"
"Listen, I'll take care of these assholes once you bump my pay up to fifteen hundred a week."
Iris was stunned before responding.
"Wh- What!? That's seriously what this is about! You want a fucking raise!?"
"They said your family put that bounty on you, meaning they're loaded, meaning you're loaded!"
"The money's not the problem idiot! Okay, um, $15,000 a week?! now just stop letting them hit you."
Just as she said that the leader of the gang suffered a bone crushing punch to his jaw, completely shattering it. Before he and others could respond however, Julius kicked upward, hooking the man's mouth with his foot. With a twist, he yanked the man's head sideways into his buddy's skull. After that, the leader fell to the floor unconscious while the other tried getting himself back up from the blow.
However, before he could, Julius grabbed him and pulled him up by the neck, dodging punches that came from two other attackers that were to his side, and using the man in his grip as a shield from the third attackers' kick. To which Julius cruelly chuckled as the gangster ended up kicking his own partner that was being used as a shield.
Now with three attackers remaining. Julius, with a dodge, slammed one's head into the nearby wall, then further punishing him by smashing him again with his elbow causing his body to go limp.
Two attackers remaining, they were both weary now as they tried to coordinate an attack, one throwing a body punch while the other kicks at the back of Julius' heels, trying to unbalance him.
Julius lets the two carry out their attack, the punch lands and so does the kick, however it doesn't do anything to him as he stands there before laughing hysterically, one of his eyes is half lidded while the other wide open.
"Dude, you are not in an edit..." Iris says, standing and watching from around the counter, her arms resting casually on the counter as she's been watching while also on her phone.
After that, Julius landed a deadly punch to one of the gangsters faces, shattering his nose causing blood to pour out of it. the man isn't given time to assess the damage before he is hit by an even stronger punch to his liver, then his stomach. Causing the man to puke out blood as he fell to his knees. Julius was still giggling hysterically to himself with the same expression, having ignored Iris' earlier comment.
"Haha- Dude... you look like Glenn in that one episode of the-"
Just then Julius noticed the final gangster trying to make his escape out the burger joint as he began running away. Julius' expression darkened as he saw this and quickly went after him.
Catching up to him and tripping him so he landed in the now destroyed booth from earlier that he and Iris previously ate at. The fleeing man's expression from under the ski mask was horrified as began desperately trying to back away while on the ground.
"You seriously tried to pull that? I was just gonna knock ya out since you were the last one... But now you've got my attention." Julius said in a low tone as he approached the man. Iris, seeing this, raised an eyebrow as she stood up and put her phone away with a yawn.
"Hey, wrap it up already."
There was no response. And as Julius barraged the man with multiple deadly bone crushing attacks each one worse than the last, the blind old man's words from earlier this evening poured into Iris's mind as she watched the gruesome scene.
"-about him is that he is a sinister fellow... Why do you think he goes by The Lion? You would think that, well it's because the Lion is the king of the jungle, or Lions are just big, strong, and cool right? No! It is because at its core a Lion is just a big strong cat! And what is true for all cats? They like to play with their food."
"This! Is what! You get! For trying! To run! AWAY! You ruined the moment! Fuck!"
Julius said in-between cruel hits with the man's hair gripped in his hands, slamming him into the broken table repeatedly, he had already taken the ski mask off a second ago. He then stepped up onto the couch in the booth, dragging the man with him in his grip before stopping at the broken window. Iris rolled her eyes not too amused with him dragging this out.
"Julius? Hey! It's over lets go already I'm surprised the cops haven't already-"
Julius didn't seem to hear Iris as he shoved the man's face into the broken glass, pushing it down hard into it despite the man's screams, and began slowly dragging his face across the sharp shattered glass. Julius' expression was a darkened, silent and unperturbed by what he was doing as blood trickled down his face.
Before he could continue however, a strong kick across his face wakes him up. Julius is stunned by the strength behind the kick, as he knows none of the gangsters previously had such strength behind their attacks.
Before he saw that it was Iris.
"You little shit! I said Let's go!"
She said leaping out the broken window and onto the sidewalk, her boots crushing the bits and pieces of glass that was on the ground. Julius' dazed expression seemed to come to as he blinked while letting the wailing and crying man in his grip go and following Iris out the burger joint.
"Oh shit, I forgot about Hassan he-"
"He's fine, he was just shot in the shoulder, besides I saw him scrolling on TikTok the entire time after calling the cops, probably still is... anyways that's all beside the point! What was that back there? Are you going to pull that shit every time?! Because if so, I'm sorry I don't need a bodyguard that doesn't know when it's the right time to leave a place that will either be A, swarming with cops soon or B, more people coming for my bounty!"
Iris said in a frustrated tone before letting out a huff.
Julius, who now looked like a sad pet after being disciplined.
"Ah what are you, my mother? And no I wont do that every time okayyy~" Julius said annoyed with a guilty expression.
"He just pissed me off after trying to run away like that alright nothing else."
"Pfft, you seriously got some screws loose. Now I don't feel bad at all for taking you away from fighting and school. If anything, I'm doing society a favor by-"
"Alright Alright..."
The two side eyed each other before laughing slightly as they fled from the scene. Later as Iris is waiting outside of Julius' apartment, he suddenly exits it with two things in his hand, a phone charger and a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.
"Are you fucking serious?"
"I didn't know rich girls cursed this much-"
"That's all you're bringing? No clothes or-"
"All that other stuff is in here-" He said patting the black ragged gym bag with the golden spray painted lion logo that's existence definitely wasn't forgotten about up until now. Iris just sighed before turning to a small black car with tinted windows.
"Alright lets go."
"Wait you had your car parked outside my apartment all this time? Also tell me we're not hopping cities just yet, I still got some things to take care of while I'm here."
"Don't worry I'm currently staying at a much... nicer place still in the city."
Iris said as the two got into the car. Seemingly ignoring his earlier question about her car being parked there.
"You really sure about this? This job its..."
"Shut up, drive already. If it's any consolation I had more fun tonight than I've ever had in that shitty octagon. Plus, I'll be getting paid for it!"
finish with a laugh as he scrolled on his phone.
"Somehow you make my guilt disappear each time you open your mou- What are you doing?"
Julius plugged his phone into the car as he began playing music.
"It's time you listen to real music-"
"You don't even know the type of music I list-"
The radio cuts her off as it began playing Surrender by Cheap Tricks.
Iris stopped in thought as she shrugged and started up the car.