MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 384 Unspoken Pain

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.

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.