Chapter Text
HEY EVERYONE!!!
Welcome to my latest story! I hope everyone enjoys! Remember new chapters will be posted every Tuesday by 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time! Make sure to follow me on X and feel free to join our little OuRoad Book Club community! It full of readers and other amazing authors from WattPad and Ao3!!! Links for it below!
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Please remember English is not my first language and my stories are written 95% on my phone. Please excuse any grammar or spelling mistakes.
Enjoy Responsibly!
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Offroad POV
If always being at the wrong place at the wrong time was a person it was Offroad. Imagine just trying to walk home after being jumped by some punk and his crew only to be walking past a building to have the alarm start blaring. Within seconds Offroad was surrounded by police yelling and screaming about how they had caught the suspect. It didn't matter how loud Offroad yelled that it wasn't him no one listened and that was how he ended up in the police station cuffed to a desk.
"The owner of the gym you broke into is on his way down with the CCTV footage." The officer said as he plopped back down in his chair. "So now is the time to own up to what you did son,"
"I didn't do shit and I ain't your son," Offroad growled jerking against the cuff.
"Yeah, that's what they all say," the cop sighed leaning back in his chair. "How do you explain your face then?"
"For the last time I was fucking jumped," Offroad said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, by who?" The cop asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Offroad just grumbled and sank back down in his chair. He wasn't a snitch. Pointing fingers only gave you a one-way ticket to a coffin on the streets. "Yeah, that's what I thought," The cop sighed again and sat up leaning on his desk. "I pulled your file, a list of petty crimes as long as my arm, but I can't help you if you don't help yourself."
"Yeah, all the petty crimes are for fighting, ain't a single one for breaking and entering or theft," Offroad laughed.
"Offroad?" called a familiar voice from behind him. Offroad turned to see Top, an older gentleman who used to be a trainer at his old gym, standing there holding a CD in his hand. "What are you doing here?"
"Sir, do you know this boy?" The cop asked, standing up.
"Of course I do, he is my student or was. What's going on?" Top asked, stepping towards them.
"Well, sir, we have reason to believe this boy broke into your gym," the cops said, nodding to Offroad.
"It wasn't me!" Offroad shouted.
"He is right it wasn't him," Top said, handing the police officer the CD he was holding. "You can't clearly see the burglar's face in this but the clothes don't match,"
"He could have changed his clothes," The police officer suggested.
"The person who broke in knew what would or wouldn't trip the alarm, it was tripped by accident." Top sighed.
"And that means?"
"It wasn't Offroad, he has never stepped foot in the gym. I highly even doubt he knew it was there," Top explained.
"We still have reason to believe that it was him, sir, and we will have to push him through the system," the cop sighed, tossing the CD on the desk.
"Oh fuck yo-"
"Then let me settle it on my own," Top said, interrupting Offroad and glaring at him to shut up.
"What?" The cop asked in shock.
"If you believe the intruder was in fact this boy, then I decline to press charges and wish to settle the matter," Top said, surprising even Offroad.
"I don't know what you think you are going to get out of a street kid but that choice is yours," The cop sighed, shaking his head as he bent down and released Offroad from his handcuff.
"He is worth more than he looks," Top laughed.
"You see his face right?" The cop asked, pointing to Offroad's face and it took everything in him not to bite that man's finger off.
"Yeah but have you seen the others' faces?" Top asked. "Come on son," Top said, helping Offroad up out of the chair.
"Let us know if you change your mind!" The cop yelled as Top pulled Offroad out of the police station. They got outside and Offroad shook off Top hand from his arm and started walking away.
"What? No, thank you?" Top called after him.
"Thanks!" Offroad said, throwing his hand up to wave behind him.
"Wait!" Top yelled. "You hungry?" It was at that time that Offroads' stomach betrayed him and growled. "My treat," Top said as Offroad turned around to face him.
Offroad reluctantly agreed and followed Top to a barbeque place not too far from the police station. It was one of those hot pot restaurants. Top ordered a plethora of Offroads' favorite food and beers. Offroad was mentally preparing himself for the 20 questions by downing his first beer. Top had been one of the main coaches at his old boxing gym before he had dipped out and never came back.
"Are you still friends with Ryu?" Top asked and Offroad choked on his beer.
"That's the first thing you ask me after, what? 3 years?" Offroad asked, wiping his mouth. Top just shrugged. "No, I haven't talked to that lying asshole, don't plan on it either if this is what this is about," Offroad said motioning to the food.
"No, it's not," Top said. "I just wanted to know how you've been,"
"And?" Offroad sighed.
"And maybe ask for a favor," Top shrugged.
"Whatever it is, the answer is no," Offroad said, shoveling his first bite of food into his mouth.
"You haven't even heard what I'm asking? You could at least hear me out first," Top sighed.
"Fine, you have until I finish this beer," Offroad said, holding up his cup as he started to chug it.
"I have this boxer, and that's the problem, he is a boxer, I need a fighter. He is too rigid and stuck in his ways. He doesn't know how to go with the flow, and I think if I can get him in the ring with you he could learn a thing or two," Top finished as Offroad finished his beer.
"Hell no," Offroad burped. "Wiped my hands of that gym a long time ago,"
"I'm not with Red's crew anymore," Top said and Offroad could hear the sadness in his voice. "I left once I figured out..." His voice trailed off and he just stared at Offroad.
"Once you figured out he had his son ruin my career and future?" Offroad laughed.
"Look I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you then but things have changed more than half the circuit knows what happened-"
"So what, you think I can just walk back into the ring and be all smiles and rainbows with everyone?" Offroad asked, interrupting him. "More than half the circuit would have done what Ryu did if they had the chance and you know it,"
"Look I'm not asking you to get back into the ring and fight, I am asking you to help me turn my boxers into fighters," Top asked with a hopeful look in his eye that just annoyed the shit out of Offroad.
"Thank you for getting me out of there with the police but sorry, no," Offroad said as he took a final bite and stood up and started walking out of the restaurant.
"Wait!" Top yelled after him but Offroad kept walking. "It's a paying job!" Again it sounded nice but it wasn't worth it not to him. "If you change your mind you know where it is!" Top yelled as Offroad jogged across the street waving once more. It would be a cold day in hell before he stepped foot back in an official ring for any reason.
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Daou POV
Daou walked into the gym and just wanted to turn around and leave. Ransacked again. Daou took off his headphones and ventured deeper into the gym and saw Top sweeping up some broken glass while a couple of the guys were fixing the ring. Daou had followed Top to his new gym after a blowup between him and his old coach Red. Something involving Ryu, Red's son. Daou didn't care much for either of those assholes. They had always cracked jokes about how Daou was a late bloomer in everything he did in life. They had been right but it was whatever. He did things on his own time in his own way. Why was that so bad?
"Again?" Daou asked no one in particular. "What the fuck are they looking for?"
"Beats me," Top sighed as he made his way over to Daou. "If we kept cash or anything of value on site it would make sense but we don't and all they seem to really do is smash windows and bust up the ring but don't actually break it,"
"Did the cameras you installed help?" Daou asked, sitting his bag down on a bench.
"Kid was wearing a mask," Top sighed looking out at the mess his gym was in. "Insurance won't cover these repairs,"
"What why?" Daou asked, confused.
"Because the police said they caught whoever,"
"So is he paying for it then?"
"No," Top said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It was the wrong person,"
"So why won't the insurance cover it?" Daou asked, confused.
"Because I said I would settle it with the kid to keep him out of trouble," Top sighed once again.
"You what?" Daou practically yelled. "Why?"
"I knew the kid. No way in hell he did this," Top said sternly. "But he has a record and cops just wanted someone to blame,"
"So how do you expect to pay for all of this?" Daou asked motioning to the gym.
"I'll pay for it, don't worry," Top said, slapping his shoulder. "We need to get you fight ready,"
"I don't think entering these street competitions is a good idea," Daou moaned, taking a seat on the bench. Street boxing wasn't regulated. People did shady shit to win.
"You are too stiff in the ring," Top said, making a scrunched face. "Street competitions will help you loosen up,"
"Yeah and that isn't part of the circuit so when you get your ass kicked it doesn't count on your official record," Best laughed from the ring.
"Fuck off," Daou said flicking him off.
"While that's true, I have faith he'll do just fine," Top smiled at him.
"I know how to fight," Daou protested.
"You know how to box," Top corrected him.
"Yeah you've never been in a real fight in your life," Gap joined in with the laughter.
"Look kid, you want a match against Ryu?" Top asked him and Daou nodded. "You want to prove that you're the best?" Daou nodded once again. "Then you gotta learn how to fight,"
"Fine!" Daou said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "But if someone does something shady and I get hurt, it's going to kill you," Daou warned him.
He had joined boxing a couple of years ago, bouncing from gym to gym just trying to learn the basics. He had his degree in environmental science but his desk job drove him insane. He couldn't do it. He had started his career at the age people typically start to retire. Daou knew it was going to be a longer road when he started out but it was worth it.
....
Daou followed Top through the crowd closely. There was a fight actively happening and people were screaming and shouting fights were breaking out among the crowd as things got too heated. Daou wouldn't say he had a sheltered life but he just wasn't used to these kinds of things. He gripped his bag a bit harder. He felt like a sheep amongst wolves.
"Registration is this way," Top yelled over his shoulder. They pushed threw the crowd to get to a small table near the announcer's booth.
"Is it always this packed?" Daou yelled back.
"No," Top smiled as they made it to the table. "Need to register a new fighter," Top yelled, pointing his thumb at Daou.
"You sure?" The small grimey-looking man asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Not too many rookies tonight,"
"Ya were sure," Top said. "Its practice for him,"
"It's a single-round elimination AB rounds," the man said. Daou watched as Top's face shifted.
"Who is here tonight?" Top asked with a growl.
"Red's boy," The man said and Daou immediately went on alert and started scanning the area for Ryu. He found him towards the corner of the building surrounded by his groupies. "It's a $750 buy-in,"
"That's bullish-"
"You take cards?" Daou asked, interrupting Top. The grimey man nodded and Daou slapped down his black card without hesitation.
"Daou, it's a waste of money," Top whispered to him.
"My money to waste," Daou shrugged.
"Sign this," the man said, smacking a clipboard on the table with a waiver on it. Daou quickly signed it, grabbing his card and fighter's band from the guy. "Last call was already made they will be calling fighters to the ring soon, good luck,"
"Daou, listen to me, it's not worth it," Top said as he chased Daou through the crowd to the fighter's area. "The AB elimination is shitty, you lose your fight it's over your finished,"
"I don't care," Daou growled. "Have some faith in me,"
"I do have faith but the prize money for these causes people to do shady ass shit!" Top warned him.
"All fighters for the AB elimination please make your way to the ring for round selection," a voice called over the music. "Fighters not on stage by the time the bell rings are eliminated,"
"Take my stuff," Daou said, turning around and shoving his bag into Top's arms.
"Daou!" Top yelled after him butch he was already making his way to the ring. He climbed up it and stepped in as fighters began pouring in. After a few minutes, an official came by labeling everyone A or B.
"Here are the rules," another official began. "Team A will fight Team B in the first round you will randomly draw numbered balls to decide your round, if you lose grab your shit and get out," He said as Daou was labeled an A he turned to look at Ryu who was also sporting an A. "If you win your fight after the first rounds we will meet back here until there are only 2 of you," Daou breathed a sigh of relief hopefully with some luck he would face Ryu eventually. "The winner of tonight will take home $10,000." Daou almost choked on his own spit. He knew street fights had money but not this kind of money.
"Okay!" The official who was lettering people called out. "A's to the right, B's to the left!" People started moving to their rightful sides. Ryu spotted Daou and they made eye contact. Ryu gave Daou a sinister look but within a split second his face went pale. Daou turned to see what was the cause and watched a smallish stocky boy climb into the right as the bell rang out.
"Damn I thought you weren't coming," the one official called out as he and the boy greeted each other.
"And what? Miss easy money," the boy smiled at him. "Not on your life,"
"You're a B," he said "to the left," the boy nodded and headed over to the left side of the right, greeting a few people. The boy was pretty Daou would give him that, but what Daou was more interested in was why Ryu was acting like he was seeing a ghost. The boy turned and Daou watched as he and Ryu locked eyes and the boy smirked at him.
"Hey pick," the official holding a bucket of balls said, shaking the balls in front of his face.
"Oh sorry," Daou said, reaching into the bucket and pulling out a ball. "4" Daou told him as he made a note of it on the clipboard. Soon everyone had selected their balls and a few fighters automatically advanced to the next round as they didn't have fight partners Daou hadn't been too lucky. They began to file out of the ring and Daou immediately headed straight to Top who was also wearing a shit-eating grin. "Who is that?" Daou asked him.
"Ryu's weakness," Top laughed. "You know the 1 in the 23-1?" Top asked. "Him," he nodded to the boy who was making his way into the fighter's area. "Offroad Kantapon,"
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Daou asked.
"He was Red's golden boy until his golden boy refused to step aside for his son to take his place," Top said. "Then Ryu and Red sabotage him,"
"How?" Daou asked.
"I'm not sure but what I do know is that did that boy dirty," Top growled. "He hasn't stepped foot in a ring since, well an official one anyway,"
"Is he the reason you and Red had a falling out?" Daou asked, being nosey.
"Yeah, I found out finally it was their fault he had been disqualified from nationals. Red tried to play it off as it being what was best for the brand but I knew better," Top sighed.
"So what is he here to get revenge or something?" Daou asked as Top helped him out on his gloves.
"I'm not sure," Top sighed once again looking back at the boy. "But one thing is for sure, you better hope you don't get him," Top warned.
"I don't want him, I want Ryu," Daou said through clenched teeth.
"Son, there is a line from here to kingdom come to give that boy the ass whooping he deserves," Top laughed. "But unfortunately you are dead last in that line and Offroad is dead first,"
"All because he fucked up his fight?" Daou said, rolling his eyes.
"It wasn't just a fight Daou," Top growled. "All Offroad had was boxing, he has no family, no college education, even though the boy is as sharp as they come. He grew up in foster homes and shelters, he had a strong career but once the rumor got out sponsors started dropping him left and right. He was humiliated. Plus being betrayed by the person you love is a whole other level of pain,"
"I'm sorry what?" Daou asked, thinking he misheard Top. "Person you love? What were they dating?" Top nodded. "Ryu is gay?" Daou asked shockingly.
"You didn't know that?" Top asked.
"No!" Daou said. "Why on earth would I know that?"
"I figure you know since you are," Top said and Daou felt his heart racing.
"Wait how did you know?!" Daou asked quickly.
"Son, you flirt with the cute barista across the street every day," Top laughed and Daou could feel the blood drain from his face. He didn't think anyone knew. "Whoa kid calm down it's okay we are all cool with it," Top reassured him.
"My parents don't know," Daou said, still in shock. Top almost never interacted with his parent but still Daou hadn't found the time to tell them.
"Your secret is safe with me," Top said, mimicking the locking of your mouth and throwing away the key. "Now let's get you ready for your fight,"