Sparks flew from Coop’s bat, an arcing shot going wide and coming down hard against the top rope of barbed wire. Over the sound of the chaos, Coop could hear TAKASHI chuckling. The cross of tubes was coming down at him fast, Coop planting his boot into the gut of his elder, who dropped the crucifix. Everything was so loud, making focusing difficult considering the circumstances. Coop grabbed onto the nape of TAKASHI’s neck, trying to gather up the momentum and crash him into the ropes, TAKASHI dropping to his knees to save himself.

Not that Coop was underestimating TAKASHI, it was that he’d spent enough time away from the station fighting aliens and fighters trained for the fight league’s style that he didn’t see the kick coming at the back of his knee. Before he could react, Coop was flat on his back, the bat bumping off the mat just out of reach.

TAKASHI cried out and out of the corner of his eye, Coop saw someone toss something to him. A smaller bundle of tubes rested on his chest and his opponent leaped into the air, bringing his knees down hard onto his chest, exploding the tubes on impact, the sharp, burning pain making Coop cry out.

The fans were heating up, another bundle of tubes passed into the ring. The crafty veteran hoisted it up high, Coop, fighting back up to his knees to avoid the blow only for TAKASHI to catch him, driving his elbow down across Coop’s nose and staggering him. Holding the light tubes out against Coop’s chest, Coop only had enough time to tense up and clench his eyes before the kick came, TAKASHI’s shin smashing the tubes right into Coop’s chest and neck before exploding, sending him crashing back into the electrified barbed wire that zapped and exploded around him.

“Fuuuuuck,” Coop shouted, tangled up in the ropes.

“Didn’t think you’d underestimate me like this,” TAKASHI stalked around the ring.

Coop glanced back at him while the smoke cleared and the smell of burning flesh and fabric seared his nostrils. That bastard had his bat and was winding up a shot. Letting out a primal scream, Coop tore himself off of the barbs that tore at his flesh, ducking under the shot, the bat smashing against the ropes and sending a shockwave through the air and left TAKASHI tied up in the ropes.

Having to grit his teeth through the pain, Coop rolled up to his feet and lunged at his old friend with a giant right hook that staggered the man. This was his opening, Coop following up with a looping left hand that connected on the jaw, loosening his grip on the bat and leaving the weapon tied up in the barbs. With TAKASHI bent over, Coop brought his right hand up with an uppercut, knuckles cracking against his jaw. His hand jutted out, catching the steel ring post and keeping himself from careening into the exploding ropes, a few minor cuts already open across his shoulders, forehead and chest, leaving Coop wondering how awful he looked after his trips into the barbs. Gathering up his strength, he planted on the ball of his left foot, swinging his hips and bringing his leg around in a beautiful arc with a hook kick, feeling his heel make contact and his adversary flying into the ropes, setting off an explosion that toppled Coop int a heap.

The referee came over and checked on Cooper, his voice reverberating like he was calling from deep inside a tunnel, Coop waving him away to check on TAKASHI, who laid arms extended in the ropes, crucified and a bloody mess surrounded by smoke. Coop knew better than to expect anyone to stop a fight in that pit with TAKASHI unless he called it himself. One trip into the ropes wouldn’t finish a living legend, even if he was physically done.

In fights like these, there was too much at stake and finishing fast was the key. Those explosive he saw outside? They were usually set on a timer that stopped for no one. Although unspoken, both men knew stepping into that ring that night if they set the explosive boxes up, there would be a big finish, like it or not. Coop had no plans to remain in that ring to see it, though.

“Just give up already,” Coop said. He knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but hoped they could call it a night. Blood dripped down his back and stained his shirt. Sam was gonna be pissed at another blood-soaked shirt and sets of cuts to mend, but she didn’t understand being in that moment. He’d have to make it up to her, though. She deserved better than a constant bloody mess on her hands.

There in the ropes hung his newfound tool of destruction, Coop tugging it free while the crowd watched with bated breath for his next move. TAKASHI was untangling himself, a younger man from the locker room helping to free him from the barbs while Coop waited and lined up his next shot. None of this would fly in the fight league. There were no pauses in action or agreements between competitors to not just try to murder each other. A bloody mess of TAKASHI staggered forward, nodding at the bat and smacking his bloody chest with his now crimson-speckled taped hands.

“C’mon!” He cried out, the fans erupting. “Hit me!”

“Tak,” Coop said. “Don’t make me...”

“Hit me!” He shouted, smacking his chest again. “Right here, have some balls!”

“Fine!” Coop channeled his energy, smacking the bat across his mentor’s chest with a pop and a thud, the explosion crackling. TAKASHI staggered backwards, turning back to Cooper with his chest dotted with long scrapes seeping blood. He smacked his chest again. “Tak, no...”

“What are you afraid of?” he called out. “Fucking hit me!”

Sucking the air in between his teeth, Coop lined up another shot, putting more strength into it.

Crack. Bang.

The smell was worsening. The welts on TAKASHI’s chest were a bright shade of red, deep scrapes running along where the bat hit him, openly bleeding. Cooper didn’t hesitate this time, smacking him in the chest again with the bat. A siren went off in the arena, a countdown timer starting at 30.

“Fuuuck!” Cooper screamed out, bringing the bat across TAKASHI’s chest again and again. Four times now, his mentor still standing. TAKASHI pointed at his chin, begging him to take the big shot. Coop threw the bat aside, cracking TAKASHI with a right hand while the audience ooh’d.

“20 seconds!” the announcer crowed.

Cooper reared back and pushed TAKASHI into the ropes—far easier than before—like the life force was fading from him. The explosion went off, TAKASHI tearing himself away and coming back with a headbutt right across the nose, blood exploding out while Cooper’s vision flashed at the blow. Protective glass shields emerged between the crowd and the ringside area, pock-marked with battle damage from previous double hell deathmatches. TAKASHI smashed his elbow into Coop’s jaw, Coop fighting to remain upright. Calling out, the guy at ringside slid the giant mass of tubes taped into a cross before TAKASHI, Coop watching it slide in between the two of them.

His mentor’s hands gripped his head, tucking it under his arm, then tossing his arm over his shoulder, grabbing his waist and scooping him up off the ground, legs up in the air. It all came crashing down in an instant, Coop’s weight driving down across his neck and shoulders while the clock ticked down, head-first onto the tube cross, them bursting from the impact.

Fighting on sheer instinct alone, Cooper staggered to his feet, TAKASHI there to greet him, throwing another elbow that Cooper absorbed and let out a cry. Gathering up all his strength, he smashed his fist against the cheek of his old friend, following with a big left hook.

“TEN! NINE! EIGHT!”

Cooper grabbed TAKASHI’s head and tucked it between his legs, reaching down and grasping around his waist, hoisting him up onto his shoulders and crashing him down onto the mat with a thud, the back of his head and shoulders bouncing before he came to rest on the ground. The referee was already in a defensive posture, readying himself for the explosion. Cooper realized there was no stopping it now.

“FIVE! FOUR... THREE...”

In panic, realizing neither man would escape the blast, Coop dove onto his old comrade-in-arms, covering his face with his arm, cradling him close to protect his face and eyes. Defeating him was one thing, but he couldn't bear to see him hurt further.

“TWO... ONE!”

The explosion roared, deafening and all around him, the heat unbearable while he bore down on top of his old friend. Coop roared out in pain at the explosion, holding on while the smoke filled his lungs and everything melted into confusion. Everything smoldering around him, Coop sank back to his knees, able to see parts of the crowd through the smoke while they watched in awe. His opponent grumbled and stirred on the mat beneath him, sitting up to bring the two men face-to-face. TAKASHI mumbled something but Coop’s ears were still ringing, pointing at them and shrugging, which made TAKASHI laugh. A bloody hand reached out and grasped him across the nape of his neck, Coop returning it and bringing their foreheads in close.

“You didn’t have to do that,” TAKASHI said.

“What?” Coop yelled, hearing it but not believing it. “I did what you would’ve done.”

“Then you’re a fool like me.”

His rival pulled him in closer for an embrace, the smoke clearing enough for the crowd to see both men okay and embracing, cheering them on. Together, they stood up, TAKASHI raising Coop’s hand up high with his left hand, the right clutching at his chest while blood seeped out from his old scars and the new scrapes and cuts. The ring crew clipped at the barbed wire to create an opening, both men staggering to the back while the crowd urged them on. TAKASHI stopped and took a bow, urging Coop to do the same, the crowd eating it up before they left the raucous pit and stepped through the curtain where the entire crew and fighters were waiting. Rapturous applause rumbled through the locker room.

Within an instant, Sam rushed to catch an unsteady Coop, his arm bracing himself against the cold concrete wall. She did so without hesitation, not worrying about the blood and sweat, grabbing his arm and wrapping it around her shoulder to allow him to shift his weight onto her. Together, they stumbled forward through the throngs of supportive fighters and onlookers until they reached a bench and she let him down, giving him a visual inspection and laughing.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re a fucking mess, you know that?” she said.

“Thanks, Sam,” was all he could muster. They locked eyes for a moment and she shook her head.

“Oh Cooper, always going too hard.”

“Something like that.” The pain was hitting him now, his body covered in cuts, bruises and burns. “I’m in pretty rough shape, I can tell.”

“Um, yeah.” She was tending to him with a can of the sealing spray, each squirt from the bottle a new world of pain that he flinched through. “So, you remember how I went off before to do manager things?”

“Um, yeah, I guess so.” What was she up to? He’d let her say whatever she had to, but his guard was up after all of Regis’s little “surprises” over the years they worked together. Not that Sam would be like that.

“If it doesn’t hurt too much, turn around right about...” there was a dramatic pause. “Now.”

“Fine, but—” Coop craned his neck and shoulders to the side, aching jaw dropping when he saw that old bastard himself, hunched over with a dour expression on his face. “Uncle Regis?”

“Hey, kid,” he grumbled. “I, uhh... Yeah, I kinda lost my head for a moment there.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Sam here called me, told me you were back here and hey, wait.” He raised his hands up. “Before you get mad at her, she told me you were fighting, and it was your choice. You know how much I hate this stinking place, but she told me it was your choice and what you needed.”

“It was,” he said. “I had unfinished business here.”

“I know, I know and look, that was mostly my fault, I guess.”

“You guess?” Coop laughed at his uncle’s audacity.

“Okay, it was my fault. I’m sorry. Look, I’m trying to apologize here. She called me up, told me where you were, what you were doing and—”

“You tried to get him to stop me?” he turned to her, lost.

“Listen to me, kid,” Regis said. “She did nothing like that. On the contrary, so set me straight. Told me how it was and how I was being. I came here to support you. That was one helluva fight out there.”

For the first time in a long time, Cooper’s emotions got the better of him. Maybe it was the fight, or his uncle, or having someone like Sam there to support him for once in his life, but he couldn’t control himself. Tears streamed down his cheek. Coop let himself get lost in the moment, Sam cradling his head in her hands and kissing the top of his head.

“It’s okay,” she said. “It’ll be okay.”

“I love you.” The words had been there before, he’d just never verbalized them. Letting them spill out felt like someone had lifted a weight from him.

“I know,” she said. “I know.”