MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

A few days had passed, and Victor and Damon found themselves meeting once again, this time at Victor's home.

They weren't alone. Joey sat with them, his leg bouncing nervously as he tried to mask the unease in his expression.

The reason for the gathering was clear: Joey's brother.

Damon leaned back in his chair, watching Victor closely. Something about his expression didn't sit right.

Victor's usual calm demeanor was replaced by a somber air, his gaze fixed on the papers spread across the table.

Damon's gut twisted. He didn't like what he was seeing.

"Victor," Damon began, his tone cautious, "what's going on? Did you find something?"

Joey's leg stopped bouncing, his attention snapping to Victor, who let out a long sigh before speaking.

Damon glanced at Joey, noticing how his friend seemed to brace himself, his thoughts likely spinning with every possible scenario.

Joey's leg bounced again, an unconscious reaction to the tension in the room.

Victor sighed, running a hand over his face before meeting Joey's anxious gaze. His voice was calm but heavy.

"Joey," Victor began, "we found your brother."

Joey's leg froze mid-bounce, his eyes narrowing as he searched Victor's face. "But?" he said, his tone cautious, already expecting bad news.

Victor hesitated for a brief moment, the pause feeling like an eternity.

Then, with a steady voice, he continued.

"It seems he was involved with some bad people," Victor continued. "We found him in the hospital… in a very bad condition."

Damon could see Joey's shoulders tense, the air seemingly sucked out of the room. But as Victor's words sank in, Joey exhaled, a faint, shaky sigh of relief escaping him.

Though it was terrible news, Joey had braced himself for the worst, for death. Knowing his brother was alive, even in bad condition, was a relief in itself.

Victor allowed a moment for the news to settle before continuing, his tone heavier now. "Joey, his knees… they were broken."

Joey's expression froze, his relief giving way to a mix of shock and anger. His hands balled into fists on the table, knuckles turning white. "Broken?" he echoed, his voice low and trembling. "Who the hell…?"

Victor nodded solemnly. "The details are murky. We're still piecing things together. But from what I've learned, it wasn't an accident. Whoever he got involved with… they made an example out of him."

The room grew silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them. Damon placed a hand on Joey's shoulder, grounding him. Find exclusive stories on empire

Joey's jaw tightened as he nodded slowly. "I need to see him," he said quietly. "I need to know he's okay."

Victor gave him a reassuring look. "You will. I'll make sure you can visit him as soon as possible. But Joey, right now, he needs rest. He's stable, but he's got a long road ahead of him."

Damon, ever the pragmatist, leaned forward. "And whoever did this?"

Victor's tone shifted, his voice firm and authoritative as he straightened in his seat. "You'll both forget about it."

Joey shot up from his chair, heated and ready to protest. "But—"

Victor cut him off with a sharp look. "But nothing. Neither of you, or any of your friends, will go looking for revenge."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. His gaze moved to Damon, who sat still, his expression unreadable. "Damon, you have your health and career to think about, not to mention your mother. You've worked too hard to throw it away over something like this."

Victor turned his attention to Joey, his expression softening slightly but his tone still resolute. "And you. You've got a son at home who needs you, and now you have your brother back. You don't get to risk everything because of anger."

Joey's defiance melted into guilt as he looked down, realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice low. "It's just…"

Victor's expression softened further, and he nodded. "I get it. It's fine."

He understood. If it had been one of his own loved ones, if someone had hurt his family, he would feel the same rage, the same pull toward retribution.

His eyes flicked to Damon.

But these two were young, and Victor knew how impulsive they could be. He couldn't allow them to get caught up in something dangerous.

Victor leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "Listen to me. The last thing either of you needs is to get tangled up in the criminal world. Let the right people handle this. Your focus should be on the futurenot revenge."

Both Damon and Joey nodded silently, the tension in the room finally easing. Victor's words, though harsh, carried a truth they couldn't ignore.

Victor sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, let me grab some stuff, and we'll leave." He made his way upstairs, leaving Damon and Joey in the living room.

As the silence settled, Svetlana entered from the backyard, her gaze briefly meeting Damon's.

She had come with him earlier but had spent most of the time outside, giving them space to talk.

Joey stood, stretching as he glanced at Damon. "I'm taking a walk," he said, his tone subdued but steady.

As he passed Svetlana, she paused and offered him a small, sincere smile. "I'm sorry about your brother."

Joey stopped for a moment, meeting her gaze. He managed a faint smile, the corners of his mouth barely lifting. "Thanks," he replied softly. "He'll live."

With that, Joey nodded at her, then at Damon, and headed toward the door. Svetlana watched him leave before turning her attention to Damon, her expression warm but questioning.

She sat down beside him, resting her hand gently on his leg.

"Hey," she said softly.

Damon smiled at her, his gaze still lingering on the door Joey had just walked through. "Hey," he replied, then nodded toward the door. "He'll be fine. Joey's strong."

Svetlana studied him for a moment, "What's up?" Damon asked, his tone lightening as he turned to face her fully.

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "My mom wanted to talk to you," she said casually.