Rolling my legs under my body, as my hands flip up and down carrying my weight. Jumping back up, my feet moving around each other as I walk them in a straight line across the room. Spinning around doing the same thing the other way. Making sure to keep both sides even in their workout. Walking over to a water bottle downing the whole thing, before tossing the plastic container. Grabbing the bar again gripping with my fingers pointing at me, lifting my dead weight. Crossing my ankles as I pull up faster.

    The steady pulls up, only to slowly drop back down. Sweat sliding all over, as the tingling sensation in my body is reminding me or long hours working out with my family. Far to long ago had I been a fighter, the daughter of the great Butler. Only to get knocked on my ass, that day was horrible. He was big for the weight limit I was in, but father had said I would be fine. My brothers giving me big smiles, and thumbs up. Scared wasn’t even half of what I was feeling. My body trembled at the mere sight of the dark giant, standing at least a quarter more then me.

    This eyes like fiery hot coals, hands easily able to grip my face in one hold. Gulping down the fear as I took up my stance, chewing on the mouth guard. The white covers wrapped around my hands, flexed around my fingers. The feeling of my black sports bra with grey piping trim. Matching shorts and black shoes, feeling the floor give under my feet. The thought that my legs would turn to rubber bands, making me wobble around like a drunk. It felt like everything had slowed down, time giving me a short view of what I had just stepped into. His pounding feet with a blood red outfit, glaring down at me with a crimson smile. To him I was no more then a fly, something to squash.

    A loud ding as the muffled sounds of family yelling, and lights flashing all over. That dusty smell of cigar smoke, and booze numbing my senses. Screaming crowed ringing into my ears, shaking them out he was already on top of me. Dashing to the left before a tree truck sized arm fly past my face. My feet doing the most work, trying to keep me out of the damage zone. Dancing with death, the rumbling of all the people. Never taking my eyes off the giant, afraid he’d snap me in half. My fathers screaming words, snapping me back into killer mode.

    “Riae dreams are taken.” My brothers cheering from the sides. Blood running threw my veins, pump faster causing the surge of speed to my feet. Sliding to the left, as my right leg swung out using such horse power. It connected, wasting no time as I sent a double fist into his sides. Stepping back sliding to the right, working all the angles. Like the animal he was a roar emitted out, causing my blood to freeze. Like a deer in head lights I stopped, giving him the opening he needed. Swiping his leg out, it wrapped around mine like a python.

    The crack of my body hitting the mat, my father screaming for me to get back up. Hearing the sounds of my breath, as I coughed on air that was suppose to be my savior. Craig screaming at me, can be picked out of a crowed nearing five hundred.

    “GET UP RIAE, GET UP NOW” He’s pleading voice seemed like the fire that ignited the rocket inside of me. Like a possum I sprang back to life, back flipping and taking up my stance. Looking up at the giant, thinning my eyes. His heavy chuckle before barreling my way. The leg that took most of the beating, was shaking and I knew it was damaged. Knowing I wasn’t going to win this fight, but having to prove I had to hold out for my fathers name sake. Taking a quick look, my eyes asses the problem. Noting that indeed my knee is starting to swell.

    Rolling out of the grappling arms, as I send a single handed punch to his turning face. Catching him off guard as my knuckles collide into his bare nose. Popping and cracking is all I hear before blood starts to trickling, dropping to the white mat. Feeling proud that he is indeed just human, its soft lived when his fist taking my left side like a meat tenderizer. Green blur as I see my mouth guard, fly across the ring. Gripping for the air that should be flooding my lungs.   

    Another rocking blow, as I feel his leg hit the same swollen knee. Screaming out in pain, I know its broken now. The ref halts the fight, as my father and oldest brother come running to my side.
    “Riae” Dad grabs my face, as its pushed deep into the mats. My hands gripping for anything, wanting to finish this fight. Brad touching my shoulder, I pound my fist into the mat before looking at them.

    “I’m sorry” Tears pricking the back of my green orbs. Dad looking pale, as he scans as to why I’m apologizing. His eyes finding the oversize knee, before sighing.

    “Fights over” He says looking at my brother. Picking me up carefully, Brad giving me a sympathy look, as he moves to the back room. Looking away from his gaze, I hate that look. Its like I just failed at being a Butler, only ever wanting to fit in with my brothers. Making my father utterly embarrassed, not including tainting his name. Weeks I refused to talk about anything, ignoring the constant questions from fighters, and media. Locking myself in the house, it was then that I decided to move in with my mom. It seemed to upset my father, but if it had he never said anything.

    Brothers begging me to stay, I just gave a weak smile before shuffling like a failure, to my flight gate. That day I didn’t look back, to much of the pain was preventing me from seeing their faces. Knowing they were sending me everything from, failure to sympathy looks. After the match, I was taken to the hospital where pins were set in my knee. Holding everything together, knowing I was never going to be able to fight long term again. Still being able to fight and work out, but not professionally.

    Something warm touched both my back and cheek, as I looked up to see the twins staring at me with worry. At some point I had dropped down from the bar, and sat on the cold hard floor. My hand rubbing my broken knee, the wound already open. Sighing I had done it again, stupidly brought up painful memories that I hid deep in the pit of my stomach.
    “Riae?” Van whispered shifting on the floor.
    “I’m fine” Giving the best smile I would think to give.
    “You don’t look it” Owen huffed, he had been touching my cheek, when his hand fell to my other knee.

    “I am, just thinking.” Feeling my body slowly cooling off on its own. Pushing off the floor I got up, as two sets of eyes searched to see how much of a lie I was really telling. If on cue they stood up, mimicking each other. Again my thoughts wandered around, but this time it was to the fight that was to be held in a few days.
    “When was the last time you guys had a real match?” Watching them. Looking at each other, then back at me.

    “No in a while…why?” Owen asked before Van got the chance.
    “No reason” Shrugging it off. I still wasn’t convinced I should bring them, but I had a few more days to decide before the entry sheet was due. Heading out they shadowing me, my father was working on his last fighter. Eyeing me he gave a short smile, knowing I was working out. Nodding once I headed to my office, taking their seats in front of my desk I sat down quietly.
    “I want to do some defense training with you two.” Owen was the first to make an annoyed sound.
    “Owen, you need defense training.”
    “No I don’t” Grumbling.

This was going to go nowhere, and I was to tired to fight with him. Deciding I was going to try another method of getting around his attitude I turned to his brother.
    “Van” His eyes locking with me.

    “Do you feel the same as Owen?” He paused looking at his brother, who was neither looking at me or Van. Shrugging he finally answered.
    “What did you have in mind” Resting his head on his palm.
    “Tomorrow, be ready to match off. Well be working on your style of blocking. Owen you can do whatever you please, your presents isn’t necessary.” His mouth started to gape open, as I got out of my chair and headed out.

    “What?” Jumping up he stood to the side of me.
    “You heard me, you don’t need to come tomorrow. I only want Van” Without so much as a smile I left jogging down the stairs. Speaking with my father, I caught the sight of Owen. His fists were balled up, eyes glaring daggers at me. All while his face had lines, that made him look terrible unattractive. Grinning to myself, I knew that would set him off. It wasn’t my style to pin them against each other, but with their early comment of ‘we share everything’ I thought this would work to my favor. Having just Van come in, would set Owen into a blind rage.

    He’d either show up tomorrow more pissed off, ready to attack me. Or he wouldn’t come in and go off in a pouting childish manor. Either way I had one Cunning brother, who was going to learn how to block better.

Once home I made myself something to eat, I had received a text from my brothers. They were going out and having a male bonding night. Letting them know to have a good time, I also sent Craig a text letting him know, we would talk soon and I still wanted cookies. He was compliant and happy, I still wanted to talk. Dropping the cell on the kitchen table it bussed, grabbing my attention again. Picking it back up, the call was from a number I didn’t know.

    “Hello?” Waiting for an answer. It went to a dial tone, making me frown. Clapping it shut, the front door pounded. Jumping nearly out of my skin, I grumbled. Walking over I opened it, taking a step back when I saw a raging mad Owen. His eyes had turned an even darker color, while his fists were like before. Balled up and looking for something to break. Storming into my apartment, kicking the door closed with his foot.
    “Owen?”

    “SHUT UP” Grabbing my shirt in the front, pulling me to the now closed door and holding me to it. The patting of hot breath, as his face was mere inches from mine. His other hand pushed firmly, against the door as if preventing it from being opened. Looking for some kind of cue, as to what he was going to do. I wasn’t ready of the hard pressure of his lips, into mine. Dropping his grip on my shirt, only to grab the small of my back pulling me deeper into him.
    Trying to talk while he took over my mouth, wasn’t really working. Pulling away from me, his lips moved to my ear.

    “Why do you favor Van more” It was a simple question, that came out deadly and full of anger.
    “I..I don’t” No sure where he was going with this.
    “Then why don’t you want me to join tomorrow?” Growling, in a heated rage that proved to make my stomach do a crazy flip. Angry with the fact that he really thought I was picking favorites, I shoved him away. A look of shock and anger as he tried to close the distance between us.
    “Damn it Owen” Pushing him away again.
    “WHY” Snapping with more venom.

    “Don’t you dare raise your voice, in my house. I’m not picking favorites Owen, you made it clear you didn’t want me to teach you. So I am letting Van learn. You’re the one paying me to train you, if you don’t like my teaching methods. GO SOME WHERE ELSE” My palms bounced off his chest, as they shoved him even more.

    “You told him to come, and me not to why?”
    “I just told you why. God you’re a block head.” Grumbling. It had gone silent, as we listened for something to happen. Finally I decided, this was a good point to give him some advice.
    “Owen” Meeting his gaze. No words as he waited.
    “From now on, you will listen to me. No more huffing at my ideas, or unneeded comments. When I say were doing something, you will either keep quiet and do as your told. Or you will not come. Do I make myself clear.”

    “You can’t order me around” Snapping back to fast. Smirking I moved in for the kill. Poking him in the chest, he slowly moved away from my jabbing.
    “Listen hear Owen Cunning” Tossing my head around, as if I were a wild horse.