Zane and Shane got up early that morning, Zane showered and mentally prepared himself for a fight with Jason, and Shane helped Zane organize his thoughts and made his outfit for the day. Shane's favorite thing to do for Zane was braid his hair back and pick his outfits. Shane made two outfits, one for Zane to wear freely and the other for the fight. Zane came out from his shower and admired the outfit Shane made him. Together, the two had carbohydrates for breakfast, and after the fight they would go eat protein. Zane's parents wished him well, and said to be careful. Chance promised to meet Zane there to be in his corner, then Zane and Shane set off for the gym.

Zane was working out his forms in his head, and his combos. He didn't know if that knock out was ready for use on Jason, but he was going to give it a shop. During the walk there Shane would watch Zane do air boxing, practicing his strikes, and Shane was growing more nervous by the second. Jason never followed rules, so he was terrified of Jason bring a weapon. He also knew that Jason talked about the match to the school and told some people to come watch, which was never a good thing. Jason thought he was going to win, and that made Shane nervous.

When the two finally reached the gym, they were met with a crowd of about 10 students from their school saying the fight should be there. Gavin held his arms locked against his chest, telling them to scram. Zane pushed past the crowd, protecting Shane in the process. He put Shane inside and shut the door before turning back to the crowd and saying "fuck off". A few of them tried to reason with staying because Jason invited them to come watch, but Zane said "Alright, you got 3 hours till the fight, so why are you so early?"

A pretty smart response was met with their stupidity as they insisted on sitting outside the gym until Jason showed. So, Zane said alright, and pulled Gavin inside and locked the door behind them. Zane told Shane it was going to be fine, and he and Gavin walked away to talk. Shane pulled out his phone and called Sammy ang Gill about the students showing up to watch the fight. So Gill left to go get Sammy so they could guard the gym in the meantime. Zane changed and started his warm ups and a light workout. He wanted to be prepared, but also wanted to conserve some energy. He and Gavin moved some things around to accommodate the crowd that would show up, because that was a given. Gavin and Zane didn't want anything broken or used by teenagers, so they thought it'd be safest to move things. When Shane tried to help Zane made him give up and sit still. Shane snapped at him and told him that he could help with things. So, Zane smiled, kissed his cheek, and told him to start rolling out the mats around the boxing ring they would be using. Shane gratefully agreed and got started.

An hour and a half passed, the gym was ready, and Zane was working through the mental preparedness. he had to give himself some therapy before scheduled fights like this. Often times he can lose control and end up really hurting someone or himself. There was once he broke his knuckle while breaking a guys jaw, while wearing gloves. He had to remember he wasn't like Jason and had to control himself and his past. It wasn't just his PTSD that messed with his head, it was his past of working underground for Big B. His missions were to torture, and either have to kill or you get killed. When he fought in the city, when he fought for B, and when he fought when he was a hopeless and homeless kid. He had to remember that wasn't him anymore and that he was safe and in a controlled environment.

Then Jason showed up. He had his jock friends with him, and a bag that carried his gloves, knuckle wraps, feet wraps, mouth guard, and everything else he thought he would need. He thought he was fully prepared, until he met Gavin. Gavin gave his hand a firm and demanding shake, with a look that told Jason not to step out of place. Jason challenged the stare with his own that he used against Shane. When their staredown was done, Jason looked around and saw Zane kissing Shane's cheek as they talked. If it weren't already obvious enough that Jason was upset, he threw down his bag on the mats to cause a loud bang. Zane snapped his head over, pulling Shane behind him in a protective manner. When Zane realized it was Jason he told Shane to stay put before he walked over.

"Jason," Zane glared.

"Zane, and Shane," Jason peeked around Zane to stare at Shane. Zane stepped into Jason's vision, arms crossed.

"Boys," Gavin called, and both look over. "Up for a drug test?"

Jason scoffed as Gavin pulled up two urine cups that are used for drug test.

"I'm not doing a fucking drug test," Jason raised a brow as he challenged Gavin.

"If you don't then the fight is canceled and Zane wins by default," Gavin countered, handing Zane a cup. "I know Zane will do a drug test, he has nothing to hide. I've also been told about your access to Tren. I'm not new to this kid. I make everyone that fights here do a drug test. You're not special."

Jason scowled and grabbed the cup. He glared at Zane, Zane continued to hold his poker face.

"Bathrooms in the back tough guy," Gavin pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

Jason rolled his eyes and walked towards the back. Zane smiled at Gavin.

"You never told me you give drug tests," Zane motioned for Shane to come over.

"Well, I didn't need to test you when you were doing professional fights, they did that for me. But, all personal fights taken under my gym's name is going to be drug tested. I know you're clear, but I'm making you take one too."

"That's alright, G. I get it," Zane put the cup in his pocket and looked at Shane. "You okay?"

"Yes, but also no. I'm scared, but yes."

"Scared," Zanes smile dropped, his hands go the Shanes shoulder. "Baby, why are you scared?"

"I've been beat by him so many times, I know what he can do Zane. He's tricky, he's always got something unexpected waiting around the corner. I'm scared for you."

Zane pulled Shane into a hug, and grabbed his hand. He placed Shanes hand on the scar on his side. "Oh my sweet little emo. You don't need to be worried for me. You know personally that I'm hard to kill, even harder to hurt. How can I show you that everything will be okay?"

"You can't," Shane frowned. "I know you've been training, and I know about your past, and I know you can protect yourself. I love you, and I'm going to worry about you regardless. I just have to sit back and wait, like I always do."

Shane hated waiting on the side lines and not being able to help. He wanted to protect Zane, even when Zane was protecting him. Shane felt as if a 50 pound weight was held on his chest, and that weight was from knowing he couldn't help or protect Zane.

"How about this," Zane backed out of the hug. "You'll be in my corner. You'll be the one to pull me out and treat me. Alright? Will that make you feel better at least?"

Shane smiled and nodded. Zane pressed a light kiss to Shanes lips, then pulled away. He pulled Shane to the boxing ring they would be fighting in, he put Shane in his corner.

"You'll be right here waiting for me. You can call out anything to warn me, you can also give me encouragement from right here. And, when I win this thing, I can come down and kiss you to say "we did it". How does that sound?"

"Much better," Shane laughed lightly as Zane pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Zane," Gavin called to him. "Your turn."

Gavin is at his desk processing Jason's test, Jason standing behind him to watch the results.

"You better not be a perv or something," Jason mumbled.

"Kid, I'm an ex MMA nationalist. This isn't my fist damn rodeo. I can't tell you how many of these test I've had to do, and trust me when I say I'm never happy about it either," Gavin sighs and stand up straight. He took off his gloves and put them in the red bin. He then used hand sanitizer.

Zane comes over with Shane in tow, he glared at Jason.

"G, watch over Shane for me. Dont let anything, or anyone, touch him."

Jason rolled his eyes and snarled at Zane. Zane flipped him off and walked towards the back. Gavin pulled Shane behind the gate and shut it, then went back to processing the test.

"I hope you're ready kid," Gavin shook his head gently. "This isn't Zanes first professional fight. I know what's on the line tonight," he said, mentally referencing Shane. Shane was involuntarily stuck in the middle of their feud. "You should at least warm up instead of standing there aimlessly."

Jason eyed Shane, then looked out the window to see students waiting to get in and watch the fight. "Watch your words old man," Jason laughed. He walks to the doors and steps out to boost about the fight.

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