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Watching Itt in the ring never got old. The way he moved, less explosive than Than, but always steady, calculated. Like he was waiting for his opponent's weakness to reveal itself so he could exploit it. Mawin loved getting to witness the moment Itt went for the kill; the right side of his mouth would raise in a shadow of a smirk, and Mawin knew the bout was about to end in victory.
That side of his boyfriend was so at odds with the kind, quiet person he was outside the ring; it took Mawin’s breath away. He probably shouldn’t have found it as hot as he did, but what could he say? He was weak where Itt was concerned, no matter what side of him he was presented with.
This match was closer than the others, but Itt stood like an icy pillar against his opponent’s burning inferno. His steps were measured and sure, and his punches landed brutally, knocking the air out of his opponent one, two, three strikes at a time. The other man staggered for a moment before falling backwards, not even trying to stop himself from slamming onto the mat.
Mawin saw Itt take it in, the way he paused like he was sure his opponent was going to rise again. He wanted to scream that Itt had done it, but he couldn't find his voice. Luckily, the crowd did what he could not, erupting in cheers and yells as the ref took Itt’s arm and raised it high above his head. Even through his mouth guard, Mawin could see Itt’s beaming smile, and when Itt found him at the edge of the ring, Mawin answered with a smile of his own.
“I did it, Hia! I did it!”
Mawin could hear Itt’s muffled yells, and his heart felt like it might burst with pride. “You did it!” He grinned as the ref spun Itt around the rink, showing him off. “You did it,” he whispered again, feeling tears well up in his eyes. Itt had worked so hard to get here, Mawin almost couldn’t believe it had actually happened.
He was Itt’s official mentor for this match, so no one questioned him hovering while Itt got checked out by the medical staff on site. He hadn’t fared too badly, mostly some superficial cuts and bruises, but it never got any easier seeing his boyfriend looking so battered and bruised. Mawin busied himself with organizing the water bottles and towels until the medical staff cleared out, watching Itt from the corner of his eye the entire time.
“They’re gone, Hia,” Itt said, interrupting Mawin’s precise towel folding. “You can look at me now.”
Mawin turned to do just that. Itt’s cuts were cleaned and bandaged, the deepest one above his eyebrow held together with Steri-Strips. Mawin cooed, brushing his thumb across Itt’s brow bone.
“I’m okay, Hia,” Itt reassured him. “It barely even hurts.”
“So brave,” Mawin said, leaning in to press a kiss to Itt’s forehead.
“I won tonight,” Itt pointed out, as if Mawin hadn’t been present for the entire match.
“I know.” Mawin moved lower, kissing Itt’s cheek.
“So, I think I should get a prize.”
Mawin’s heart leapt with excitement. “And what exactly do you want as your reward?” He pressed a soft, slow kiss to Itt’s lips.
Itt hummed. “That thing you do best?” he asked, thumbing Mawin’s lower lip.
Mawin smirked and hooked his fingers into the waistband of Itt’s shorts. “I think I can make that happen.”