Mixie Moxie (COMPLETED)

Round One

The screams around me were deafening, so much so that I could hear the decibels ringing in my ear. The crowd roared as they attempted to trample over one another to get a view of the ring. I could barely break through the hype as they bounced around the ringleader. The place reeked of sweat and sewage, which matched the look of the walls around us. 

The ringleader placed the microphone firmly to his lips, extending his arm to the rest of the crowd, "LAAAadieeeees AAAaaaaand GENTleman! WELCOMEE to the SOUTH JERSEY UNDERGROUND TOURNAMENT!" 

The crowd screamed hungrily in response. I fastened my weights tightly in my hand, watching my gloves jingle at my hip. My stomach was riddled with butterflies, but it wasn't nerves. I brought my head back up to the ringleader, as he continued to hype his circus. 

"ARE YOU READY TO BE ENTERTAINED?!"

YEAH!

"OUR FIRST BATTLE , OUR DEFENDER, WEIGHING IN AT 182 POUNDS, THEEEEE FOX!" 

AAAHHHHHH!

The guy was short. Maybe 5'6 or so, and his boxers were a honey glazed orange. His gloves were white, orange at the wrist like a fox's would be. I was expecting a tail to be clipped to his ass, but no such satisfaction for me. He bounced along the ring like a bouncy ball, too focused on getting the crowd on his side. They tossed their dollars into steel buckets, betting on him eagerly. I couldn't help but shuffle my way towards the ring. I was so ready. 

"ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGER?!"

OH YEAAAAAH! 

"WEIGHING IN, AT 150 POUNDS, OUR NEWCOMER TO THE TOURNAMENT, THEEEE RED BULLLLL!" 

I launched myself onto the ring, and the look of Fox edged the crowd almost instantly. Fox's face blanked, painting itself with a new fear I hadn't seen. They couldn't help but scream louder, suddenly bombarding the ring with flashes of their cameras and recordings. They had heard so much about me, and here I was. 

I didn't bother to introduce myself. All I could see was Fox's gloves. 

He fumbled with his mouthpiece, attempting to plaster confidence back into his mind by glancing around at the people who tossed their bets like dice. 

"BOXERS, TOUCH GLOVES!" As we walked towards each other, gloves slapping together bluntly, Fox couldn't help but widen his hazel green eyes in shock. 

"You're back huh... ?" He mumbled. A sly smirk crossed my face, hidden by my red mask. My curls hid themselves inside my hooded sports-bra, and I walked silently to my spot on the ring. The crowd's noise was just a tuneful hum in my ears. My vision seemed to target Fox, I could see nothing else. 

And then I heard it. 

DING! 

Fox danced around the ring, his legs resembling something out of Step It Up. I threw my guard up, waiting for him to charge me. 

"What, Bitch? Not gonna make the first move? Ladies first!" he taunted, laughing to make the crowd fist pump. I could see him gulp when I hadn't replied. He wanted me to charge? Fine. 

I ran towards him, making him drop his guard in shock that I was following through with his words. He attempted to throw his guard up last minute, but I had already connected with his cheek. Spit flew from his mouth as he grimaced with pain. I wasn't letting up. 

Chest, face, stomach, nose. 

I hit him with a barrage of jabs and hooks, the last one connecting with his lower lip. Bruised along his pale vanilla face, he winced, falling back onto the floor. The referee gave him the count, as people attempted to change their bets last minute. 

1!2!3!4!5!6!7!8!

He wobbled back up, staring me in the eyes as his legs buckled. his hands hung like vines along a tree. 

I couldn't help but laugh. 

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME?!" Fox cried out, tearing up in his one eye that hadn't swollen up. 

"You're a bitch, kid." I replied, "Come on, hit me." I slapped my gloves together, and suddenly he found some new swift courage, landing a hit at my shoulder. It didn't hurt, but at least he tried. I acted like it had wounded me, and he stood over me. Winding up another punch, he swung. 

I was in the perfect position. I curled under his arm, swimming up his body until I got to his chin, and my glove followed through in one synchronized motion. Uppercut. 

Fox's body fell back lifelessly, hushing the members of the crowd that had paid hundreds of dollars for him in bets. The ref began his count again, this time reaching ten instantly. 

The ringleader hoisted my arm up high, "AAAAND THE WINNER IS, BY FATAL KNOCKOUT, THEEEEE RED BULLLLL!"

The crowd launched into cheer, jumping over each other to ask for autographs. Flashes clouded my vision, and in that sweaty trance I couldn't stop myself from smiling. That unknown void I had felt was gone. 

"Here's your earnings, congratulations." The ringleader smiled at me before he swiftly turned to dismiss the crowd. I glared deeply into the pool of green that was placed in front of me. I almost got lightheaded. 

Two. Thousand. Dollars.