MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

A few hours had passed, and the conversation between the two brothers continued.

The tension was there, but beneath it was an unmistakable bond, the kind that only siblings who had weathered storms together could share.

Joey shared updates about his life, his son, his job, even small moments that might have seemed mundane to others.

Jake listened intently, nodding and offering the occasional smile, but Joey couldn't miss the flicker of pain in his brother's eyes every time the conversation drifted back to the reality of his situation.

It was clear.

The thought of never stepping back into the cage gnawed at Jake like an open wound.

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Back in Damon's apartment, he stepped out of the shower, a towel slung over his shoulders as he dried off.

His muscles ached slightly, but it was a familiar kind of soreness.

As he moved through the room, Svetlana stirred in bed, her head rising slowly from the pillows. Her hair was a mess, strands sticking out in every direction, but it only added to her charm.

"How can you walk after all that?" she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep and exhaustion.

Damon chuckled, rubbing the towel over his damp hair. "I fight for a living, remember? Plus, I don't think anyone has more stamina than me. So… lucky you."

Svetlana rolled her eyes, her voice muffled by the sheets. "Lucky me…" she muttered sarcastically, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips.

Damon moved to the closet, pulling out some fresh clothes. "Well, I've gotta head out," he said, slipping on a shirt. "Meeting Joey. Want to ask him about his brother and talk about announcing my plan to fight for the qualifiers in Ireland."

He walked over to her side of the bed, crouching down so they were eye level. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

Svetlana reached out, brushing her fingers lightly against his cheek before pulling the covers back up. "Okay," she mumbled.

As he turned to leave, she called out after him, her voice soft but clear. "Love you."

Damon paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder with a warm smile. "Love you too."

Damon pulled up to a small bar, its exterior modest and unassuming.

This was the place Joey had been talking about, a spot he wanted to meet at.

Damon stepped out of his car and took a moment to survey the building, his thoughts drifting as he did.

He had never consumed alcohol. It wasn't because of the memories of his father, who had become more violent when he drank.

Those memories were there, etched into his past, but they weren't the reason Damon avoided alcohol.

No, it was simpler than that. Drinking just never felt necessary to him.

He didn't crave it, didn't see the appeal.

His discipline and focus as a fighter didn't leave room for the distractions or indulgences others might turn to.

Alcohol was simply… irrelevant.

Damon stepped into the bar, his eyes scanning the quiet room. It was unsurprisingly empty, with only a few patrons scattered at tables and booths.

The midday lull was palpable, the atmosphere calm and almost serene.

He made his way to the bar and sat down on one of the stools, his hands resting lightly on the counter.

A moment later, the bartender approached, a woman in her mid-thirties with a sharp bob haircut and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She wore a dark apron over a simple shirt, her demeanor casual but observant.

"Well, hello there," she greeted, leaning slightly against the counter. "Don't think I've seen you here before. New in town?"

Damon shook his head with a small smile. "Not really. I don't usually go to places like this."

Her eyebrows arched slightly. "Oh, a rare breed. Well, welcome to our little corner of the world. What can I get you?"

"Water," Damon replied simply.

The bartender paused, blinking at him. "Water? Really?" Her tone wasn't mocking, but there was an undeniable hint of amusement.

"Yeah," Damon said, unfazed. "Water."

She smirked, grabbing a glass and filling it from the tap. "Alright, water it is. But I have to say, most folks come here for something a little stronger."

Damon chuckled softly. "Not really my thing."

She set the glass in front of him, studying him for a moment. "Huh. So, what's your thing, then? You don't drink, but you're in a bar. That's already intriguing."

Damon took a sip of the water, glancing at her. "I fight," he said simply.

Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "A fighter? Like boxing, MMA, what are we talking about here?"

"MMA," Damon replied, setting the glass down. He wasn't one to boast, but her interest was undeniable.

The bartender leaned closer, clearly intrigued. "MMA, huh? That explains the whole 'water-only, disciplined vibe' you've got going on. You any good?"

Damon smirked. "I do alright."

She laughed. "That's humble-talk for 'I could probably take down anyone in this bar,' isn't it?"

He shrugged. "Depends who's in the bar."

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "I like you already. I'm Erin, by the way."

"Damon," he replied, offering a polite nod.

"So, Damon the Fighter," she said, tilting her head. "What brings you to our little watering hole in the middle of the day? Besides the water, obviously."

"Meeting a friend," Damon said. "Figured I'd wait here while he wraps up something."

Erin nodded, a small grin on her face. "Well, while you wait, feel free to tell me about this fighting gig. You've got me curious now. Ever been on TV or anything?"

Damon hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, a few times."

Erin's eyes widened. "No way. I'm gonna have to Google you later, aren't I?"

Damon chuckled, taking another sip of his water. "You could."

Joey walked into the bar, his presence immediately catching Damon's attention. He strode over to the counter, a casual smile on his face as he nodded at Erin.

"Joey... long time no see," Erin greeted, she leaned against the counter, clearly pleased to see him.

Joey returned the smile and slid onto the stool next to Damon. "Yeah, it's been a while."

He glanced between the two of them. "I see you've already met Damon," he said, gesturing toward him.
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Damon gave a small nod. "We've been chatting."

Erin crossed her arms and looked at Joey with mock suspicion. "I haven't seen you in years. What happened? Found another place to drink?"

Joey shook his head, a small chuckle escaping him. "No, nothing like that. I just stopped drinking. Had to finish school, get my life together. Turns out, life's pretty good without the parties."

Erin arched an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and approval.

Damon watched the exchange with quiet amusement, piecing together the story. He knew Joey had been a party regular back when he was a freshman in college.

Joey shrugged, his smile widening. "What can I say? Priorities change."

Erin nodded, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Good for you, Joey. I'm glad to see you're doing, So, what brings you back after all this time?"

Joey leaned back slightly, glancing at Damon before replying. "Just catching up with an old friend here. Needed a spot to chat."

Erin gave them both a knowing look. "Well, you picked a good place for that. Let me know if you two need anything else."

She moved away to tend to another customer, leaving Damon and Joey alone at the counter.