Chapter three: Fight night.
"Jesus fucking Christ. Look what the cat dragged in." Ben breathed in disbelief. "Never thought I'd see you again, Vixen, but thank fuck I have."
Margo couldn't help but let her eyes scan over Ben's body. He had changed, much like his brother. He was taller than her, but that wasn't hard to beat. His tall frame hung over hers like that of a giant and beads of sweat ran down his forehead and seeped down his hardened chest, sinking into the hairs that trailed from his stomach and down to the waistband of his red shorts.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked to the white bandages wrapped round his knuckles, ignoring the pang in her heart upon meeting his eyes. He was breathless, either from the workout he'd previously endured or the feelings inflicted back upon him once coming within a foot of his old flame.
Truth be told, both Miller brothers fell for the blonde haired beauty, though she was sure about one, she wasn't sure about the other. The only thing she knew for certain was that she began to fall for them both back whilst serving for the country and that was apart of the reason as to why she had to cut them off so heartlessly; in hopes to drop any feelings for the pair that would only destroy them all but now, after many attempts to block them away, they resurfaced. He was no longer a boy, he was a man and it made her weak in the knees.
"Like what you see, Hargrove?"
Margo smirked up at him, her tongue pressing against her cheek, clicking in satisfaction. "I just can't believe how much you've changed."
"Then I can't wait to show you how I preform in the ring." Ben patted his chest. "Come here, darlin'."
Despite the horrific treks they'd take tomorrow, things fell into place for Margo as soon as she and Ben embraced. Her arms snaked round his neck and his hands rested on her waist, their heads inches away from each other and before an opportunity to lean in, Santiago coughed, letting himself be known to draw the pair away from each other.
"Holy shit, look who it is!" Ben exclaimed as he walked closer to Pope with his biceps extended, flexing the muscles.
When Ben and Pope embraced, another familiar face came into sight and Margo latched onto him, her head buried in his chest and his hands held her head close to him.
"You reek of gin and depression, kid." His chest vibrated with his chuckle.
"Nice to see you too, Catfish." Margo pulled back with a smile. "How's the baby?"
"How do you know about the baby?"
"Just because we haven't spoken in six years doesn't mean I haven't been checking up on you from time to time." She smirked.
Once the reunion commenced, Margo leaned against the locker once again with her arms folded. The shock and adrenaline of meeting her old friends sobered her up, almost as if her alcohol intake wasn't double the recommended amount. Every time her eyes trailed along every crevice of Ben's body, her mind electrocuted her with the excruciating reminder that their trip wasn't to reunite old lovers, but to make a better future for themselves with their lives on the line. She couldn't fall for William nor Ben, not just yet. It would only get her killed.
"Did you boys get my text?" Pope addressed the men. "Yeah?"
"What text? I didn't get a text." Margo frowned.
Santiago grimaced. "That's because I asked you in person."
"Ah, I see." A light beamed above her head as she now understood that she'd been duped into the mission. "You told me that they all agreed so I could do the same. You're a fucking asshole, Pope."
"Look, I'm sorry, but there wasn't another way." Pope held his hands in surrender. "Can you just-please say?"
Margo shrugged. "Yeah, but fuck you."
"Fish?" Pope looked to Francisco who looked hesitant. "I need a pilot. I can't do this thing you."
"I don't know man. I've got the new baby now and my lady isn't into me doing this kinda shit anymore."
Pope looked to Ironhead with uncertainty. "What? What does that mean? Did you read the text? This could change you and that baby's life forever."
Catfish leaned against the locker beside Margo with his arms folded. "What happened to that bullshit about going back to your mother's homeland and empowering the people to police themselves? Anyway, I lost my license. I can't even fly right now."
"Well, I don't need a pilot with a license. I'm in with the army there. I just need a pilot I can trust."
"Yeah, I don't think so."
Pope chuckled softly after a defeated sigh. "Okay. Lorea is destroying that country. So we get to take out a very bad man, and, oh, by the way, there's a winning lottery ticket stuck to the bottom of your cowboy boot."
"Every guy in that gym would jump at this." Margo's voice attracted the Miller boys' eyes.
"Come on, focus, guys! It's fight night." Ben announced after slipping on a dark top.
Ironhead stood up, close to his brother. "Yeah, don't worry about that bullshit."
"Sorry, Benny."
"You ready for this?" William asked to Ben.
"Hell yeah."
The five of them took off down the white corridor that would lead them to the heart of arena. While William hyped his brother up, preparing him for his fight, Margo watched them from behind, wondering where it all went wrong. She knew both of them had thicker skin because of her absence, though she'd never admit it because she wasn't the type of person to acknowledge her faults. She'd much rather pass the blame.
"I didn't mean to call your shit bullshit." Catfish spoke to Pope.
Pope chuckled. "It's all right."
"I got busted. It's not a big deal." Catfish admitted, keeping the pace fast to maintain speed with the others. "Actually, it is a big deal."
"Coke?" Margo asked with mischief in her tone.
When Catfish's silence responded, Pope rolled his eyes. "Jesus, Frankie."
"Technically, it's a suspension. I'm still under review." Catfish then turned to Ironhead. "What about you?"
William looked back. "I said if Redfly's in, I'm in."
"Benny?"
"And I said anywhere Vixen goes, I go." Ben kept marching. "Come on. Stick with me here, guys."
"Oh, I'm with you, Benny." Margo smirked, patting his back before she ran to his side. "But are you with me?"
Pope found Ben's other side just as they walked into the arena to hear the crowd go wild. "Are you in?"
"You know I am."
A moment later, Ben's name was announced to the audience over loudspeaker and when the gang entered the room, loud, heavy metal music shook the floor they walked on. It was a great way to enter, Margo thought.
Clapping and whistling, a smile formed on her plump lips as her body filled with pride, watching the man she once knew enter the octagon to meet his opponent. Unlike the other times she and Ben were around each other, this time was electrifying and it consumed her with both guilt and arousal. Clearly, there were some unresolved feelings and sexual tension between the two despite them both being oblivious to one another's opinions, but it was plain for William to see and it gutted him, he hated to admit it to himself. So, he could only watch his ex girlfriend cheer on his brother.
When another man walked over with drinks, Margo immediately recognised him as Tom Davis. His stomach had been slightly expanded, given his sedentary lifestyle upon being a father and countless beers to help him sleep at night.
"Margo! You don't look a day over twelve." He embraced her with a chuckle.
"And you don't look a day over eighty." She bit back, patting his back before standing back, holding the concoction he handed to her. "It's nice to see you, Redfly."
"You too, sweetheart. You too."
As the reformed group made their appearance closer to the octagon, Pope and Redfly discussed the logistics of their mission ahead whilst Catfish and Vixen stayed behind, his arm hanging over the younger girl's shoulders. It was safe to say that she missed them after all these years of pretending like she didn't need anybody.
During their bond at the Special Forces training camps and base, Francisco became a father figure to the girl and he always encouraged her to do her best and he fought her corner when she wanted to give up the intense training. The job took a tole on her and out of all people, Catfish had been the one to provide her with support and reassurance. They looked out for each other, as all friends should.
"I can see you eyeing Benny up and down like a piece of meat." He yelled high enough for her ears to hear. "What's up with that?"
"Oh, shut up. Nothing's up with anything. He's just a great fighter, I mean, look at him!"
Francisco's eyes glazed over their friend who was jogging on his feet in the cage. "You two have been undressing each other with your eyes all night, but okay. So then, what about you and Iron?"
"Nothing." Margo couldn't hide her frown but she quickly covered it with a red solo cup. "He's mad at me and he has every right to be. Let's just get this week over and done with, eh?"