Sammy

I thought about what Grayson had mentioned, while I slid the plain white shirt over my damp head.

"All I'm saying is, don't fully accept defeat. Show Dante how charming you can be. Be less of your insane workaholic self so you two actually have the time to talk..."

It was just difficult, when Dante and I were both so busy. I'd argue with the competition season coming up, this might be the worst time for me to start perusing Dante....

But when I neared the top step, and saw him lounged out on the couch, all reasoning went out the window.

He had since changed out of his gym gear.

He honestly hadn't brought much gym gear here... or I'd really guess much of anything to NYC, so he'd been rotating through the same shorts these last few weeks. I left him a few pairs on his bed for his first day back this week. He told me he couldn't accept those, but I just lied and said they were from our lost and found here.

He was now showered, and wearing shorts that looked like sweatpants material, with a loose fitted top. I usually let Dante hit the showers first while Grayson and I sparred with each other. It was the only time Grayson and I really had, plus now with my injured hand, I was going to need to accommodate my fighting technique for it. Competition season was what all this extra work had been for, Grayson would have straight up killed me if I wasn't able to fight.

"You were beyond amazing today." I spoke to Dante, breaking his concentration. It didn't seem like he even noticed me walking up these steps.

"T-Thank you." He nodded to me. That dazed state made me wonder what he was thinking.

"The fighters have taken a liking to you. You may be one of the best teachers I've seen, honestly." I continued. Although most days I tried to let Dante know how well he's doing, some days it just slipped my mind. Today was a day he deserved to know.

"I- thank you." The smile that was tugging at the edge of his lips, widened.

"I was-" I started, then stopped himself. For a second there, I felt like I had built up the courage to ask him out. As those doe-like eyes held my gaze, my nerves got the best of me. "How does Chinese sound tonight? I could put an order in to have some takeout delivered."

He curled his bottom lip back to moisten it, and I looked on with intensity I'm sure was far from necessary. It was just impossible not to want to taste those lips again.

"Y-Yes." Dante replied with a sudden raspiness. It was beginning to turn me on. "That sounds good. I just- I needed to run to my place quick to get a few things. I think my first check was also mailed there. Could you give me about thirty minutes or so?"

I nodded. "For sure, take all the time you need. Did you want me to accompany you?"

The thought of Dante leaving this place past hours again, sat the farthest from right with me. Tidal Wave was just across the street, but his apartment was a few blocks down. After what happened in Hunts Point, I felt like accompanying Dante everywhere.

"It's okay!" Dante replied quickly. "It won't take long at all."

Those were the last words he said, before he shimmied past me down the stairs.

-

It only took about five minutes of Dante being gone, before some worry started to settle in. I kept telling myself that he was just going down the block, but something didn't sit right.

A sudden vibration from the coffee table pulled me from my thoughts. It was Dante's phone.

I knew he didn't keep it on him that much, but I was sure he had meant to take it with him now. That was the only sign I needed, to go after him. I slid the burner into my pocket and grabbed my gym keys.

-

It had been almost a month since I was last here.

Good ol' apartments on 88th.

The building almost looked... worse?

It definitely smelled worse.

Fumes hit me like a pan to the face, as soon as I stepped through the entry doors. "Jesus." I couldn't help but whisper as I attempted to breath through my mouth.

Making my way to the hallway leading towards the stairs, I noticed a different man approaching. In a place like this one, my general approach would be to keep my head down and keep walking. But there was something about this man that warranted my attention.

Maybe it was the almost pitch black hair he had tossed haywire. Or the deep evenly tanned skin that matched his golden-brown eyes perfectly.

But I was pretty sure it was the obvious gash under his eye, and the creepy ass smile he had playing on his lips.

When his eyes caught mine, I gave him the briefest head nod humanly possible. Luckily, he did nothing but continued on past me.

The creepiest part was that he didn't stop smiling.

By the time I reached Dante's apartment, I thought I was going to pass out. The combination of stairs and the smell in that stairwell, was as good as chloroform. I gave his apartment door a few knocks.

"Dante? Are you there?" I asked, digging into my pocket to pull out his phone. I wanted to be able to explain myself before he thought I was some sort of crazy person who couldn't leave him alone for two seconds.

Which, I mean, I kinda was acting like one.

There was a rustling of metal, before the door was thrown open.

"Hey, sorry. I saw you left your cell and thought just in case of an emergency or something, you might need it-" I stopped himself short when I started to read his wide eyes... then the rest of his demeanor. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Dante's mouth opened, then closed. It took him a moment before he finally gave me a nod.

"I-I'm okay." He spoke hesitantly. "I was just wondering- is it... is it too late to start fighting?"

I held Dante's gaze, with my eyebrows furrowing deeply. "Like... tonight? Or like fight fight? Like competitive fight."

Was I entering some sort of parallel universe or something?

"Fight fight." Dante replied. "I want to get on the roster."

I sort of just stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. "What made you change your mind?" I asked finally.

Dante took a little bit to respond. It looked like he was contemplating something... maybe telling me the truth. I didn't hold it against him for wanting his secrets, but since he wanted to start fighting in my gym, I was hoping that earned me a shred of honestly.

"The man I was telling you about. My previous relationship. He was, um. He was just here. He found me, and I um-" Dante stopped himself short. My body went into high alert immediately. I took a step closer.

"What do you mean he was just here? Where? In your apartment?" I asked him. Dante looked a little frazzled himself, so I tried to cool my emotions.

"H-He, yeah I think he broke in." Dante replied. "The locks busted... well, more busted than it already was. It's not like he took anything, there's really nothing to take."

I first glanced down at the lock on the door, which was in fact busted. I was surprised I didn't notice earlier. Then my eyes darted past Dante, to his apartment. It was dark inside and difficult to make out much, but from what I could see, there was just a sleeping bag on on the old wooden floor accompanied by a half empty backpack.

"Did he hurt you?" I asked. Dante shook his head.

"I knew he wanted to."

That made my jaw clench tighter. "What did he want?"

He paused a moment. Every time Dante did, I felt like there was a fifty percent chance he would choose not to tell me.

"He wanted me to go back. I told him I wouldn't." Dante finally stepped aside to let me fully into his apartment. I could tell his guard was still up, as I entered. Nothing made him release the breathe he was holding until that chain was back on that door.

I wasn't sure how I was going to break it to him that a monkey could kick this door in if it wanted to.

"He was letting me know he had plans to stick around." Dante finished.

That last sentence made me want to punch a hole through something- more particularly someone.

I tried to keep my growing anger at bay.

"You don't have to worry about him, or fighting. I'll never let him get near enough to see you again." I told him honestly.

"It's not that." Dante replied. He bent down to pick up a piece of paper that was crumpled up on his sleeping bag. Just seeing that sleeping bag on this ruined floor further solidified the fact that I was not going to let him come back to this.

Check or no check. Bed or no bed.

He pulled me out from my thoughts with a question, as he straightened out the paper in his hand. "What can you tell me about the gym Serenity?"

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