Post by charlirozzi on Nov 19, 2024 9:00:52 GMT -8
Levi Hall had skipped out on the celebrations last night, instead she had gone back to the Nightfall house and there had been relative silence from her since. This morning she was at the compound early, where usually she would be in the gym already on her second or third set, today she was in their main training room. The ring set up ready for whatever the next group training session would be had called to her. After spending most of the night on call with her father, she felt less sure than ever that she was doing the right thing.
Winning wasn’t enough, especially when she hadn’t been the one to secure the win for her team. While the others celebrated the factions undeniable success, she was bust defending every choice she made, explaining her thought process behind every move she took. When she got to the gym, nothing had felt right and that’s how she had ended up here.
‘Running the ring’ and trying to clear her head, every heavy footfall against the canvas echoing in the empty room and in her busy mind. The more she focused on the feel of the ropes against her back, the burn in her legs as she just ran and ran those ropes, the less she thought about the disappointment in his voice.
Jaime Idol strolled into the training room, his hands in the pockets of his joggers, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as he took in the scene. He spotted Levi running the ropes, the sound of her movements filling the empty space. For a moment, he simply leaned against the ropes on the outside, watching her with a slight tilt of his head.
”Oi, Hall.,” he finally called, his accent clipping the words just enough to give them that distinct British edge. ”You tryin’ to run the ropes straight into the bloody floor, or is this just your way of working out some frustration?”
He climbed into the ring, his movements smooth, but his expression thoughtful as he stood back, giving her space. Jaime wasn’t one to press too hard unless he needed to, but the silence and the look in her eyes said enough. She wasn’t just training—she was working through something, and it didn’t take a genius to guess what.
”Listen, you’ve got that look about you—the one that screams ‘I’m pissed off at myself.’” His tone was light, but there was a layer of sincerity beneath it. ”Now, I’m no mind reader, but I reckon whatever’s rattling ‘round in your head doesn’t deserve the power you’re giving it. Especially not after last night.”
He leaned casually against the ropes, his smirk softening into something more supportive. ”So, what’s the deal, then? You gonna let me in on it, or am I just here to keep the ropes from breakin’ under your heels?”
As soon as she heard his voice she stopped, dead still in the centre of the ring. The quick stop against her muscles immediately caused a sharp cramp in her calves, but the ignored it. Turning to walk to the ropes opposite him and leaning against them, pushing her hair out of her face and watching him quietly. Her expression was flat, emotionless as she watched him.
”Better the ropes than a someone.” She dropped her arms over the ropes, leaning all the way back into them and exhaling sharply. ”I guess it’s at myself, at least partially.” Her tone was quiet, almost timid. Despite her size and the presumed presence that came with is, her consistent shyness and hesitation to connect with anyone but Zxavier took hold.
”Last night was fine, I did fine. But I’m not here to be fine. If I wanted to be fine, I could be fine at home and actually be doing something with me life.” Even as she said the words, it was obvious they weren’t her own. There was a harder edge to her voice as she said them, as though she was parroting someone far crueller than she could ever be about herself.
”Sorry.” She exhaled into that quiet tone again, moving the the corner and sitting down, finally addressing the cramps in her calves and rolling her knuckles against one of them with a frown of frustration and annoyance at the ache in her muscles. ”Three hours of that kinda thing and it kind of gets stuck in there like a record on repeat. Usually I can drown out the noise at the gym but this morning I wanted to try something a little different.”
Jaime’s smirk faded slightly as he listened, stepping closer to the ropes and leaning against them, his hands gripping the top strand loosely. He could hear it in her voice… the weight of someone else’s words hanging heavy on her, words meant to cut rather than build. It wasn’t unfamiliar to him; he’d dealt with enough people in his life who thought tearing someone down was the only way to push them forward.
”‘Fine’ is a load of bollocks, anyway.,” he said, his voice calm but firm as he leaned into the ring. ”But don’t tell me you’re buyin’ into someone else’s version of what you should be. You didn’t come here to be someone’s parrot, Hall. You came here to be you.”
He walked over to the corner where she sat, crouching down to meet her at eye level. ”Look, I get it. You’ve got people in your ear tellin’ you what you should’ve done, how you could’ve been better. But the way I see it, you’re already miles ahead just bein’ here, doin’ what most wouldn’t have the guts to do.”
Jaime’s gaze softened as he nodded toward her legs. ”And three hours of that?” He let out a low whistle. ”I’d say you’ve earned a bit of slack. Not that I’m gonna let you take too much, mind you.”
He sat down on the canvas, legs crossed in front of him, his voice lowering slightly. ”But here’s the thing, mate. If you let their words set the tone, you’ll never hear your own. Drown out their noise, yeah? It’s your ring, your rules. Screw the rest.”
A hint of a smirk returned as he gestured toward her legs. ”And let me know if you need a hand with that cramp. I reckon I owe you after you’ve been such a positive influence on the team so far, despite your tendency to be a wee bit shy.”
She frowned, keeping her eyes on the canvas as she loosened the muscles in her legs, while what he said not only made sense, but was similar to what she had said herself, this was vastly different. Being raised in such a strict home, only ever having the words of her father and brothers to live by, she couldn’t just turn off the control he had over her. Even being away from the house, she still felt as though she were living under his roof.
”It’s a heck of a lot easier to say that than to believe it though, isn’t it?” There was nothing accusatory in the way she spoke, no judgment it was just the truth and she always spoke that, even when it might get her into trouble. ”It’s not so much that I’m trying to be what he wants, if I wanted that I wouldn’t have come here. But I made a deal and if I don’t hold up my end, I won’t be here very long...”
To anyone but her that might be hard to understand or accept. She was an adult and could do as she pleased, at least in theory. But in reality? She did what she was told more often than not and the deal she made with her father to come here, to work under Chris, to show she had a future in HIS eyes, she had to stick to it.
”But thanks. I do appreciate you caring, noticing, whatever else. But I didn’t win the match, I didn’t do anything special; I did exactly what I already know I can do.” Her expression shifted when finally looked up at him, a blush of pink to her cheeks as she half smiled.
”You’d be shy too if you had 500 loud brothers.”
Jaime listened carefully, the weight of her words settling between them as he leaned against the ropes, arms resting casually but his gaze fixed on her. There was no teasing in his expression now, just quiet understanding as he processed what she’d said.
”Aye.,” he said softly, nodding, ”you’re right. It’s easier said than done, and I’m not gonna pretend like I’ve walked in your shoes. Having someone else’s expectations wrapped around your neck like a noose… that’s not easy to shake off. And you’re dealin’ with it better than most would.”
He tilted his head, offering her a small, knowing smile. ”But here’s the thing, Hall. That deal you made? It got you here, yeah, but it doesn’t define you. It’s just a stepping stone. You’re here because you deserve to be, not because someone else granted you permission.”
He paused, his voice dropping slightly, a sincerity bleeding through his words. ”And as for last night? You did win. Don’t forget that. Eileen might’ve picked up the pin, but a win’s a win, and you were part of it. Hell, without you, who’s to say the match would’ve gone the same way? Just because your name’s not on the final moment doesn’t mean you didn’t carry your weight.”
When she mentioned her brothers, the faint blush rising in her cheeks, Jaime let out a quiet chuckle. ”Alright, fair point. I’d probably be shy too if I had to fight for a word in edgewise with that many blokes around. But you’re not there anymore, are you? You’re here. And you don’t need to prove a damn thing to anyone but yourself.”
He stood up, offering her his hand with an encouraging smirk. ”Come on, then. Let’s get back to it, yeah?”
She listened to his words without saying anything, her mind ticking over what he was saying as he spoke. When he offered his hand to her, she took it out of courtesy but got to her feet easily anyway. Pursing her lips in thought as she steadied herself, rolling her ankles to test the muscles in her calves.
”I don’t know how to be anyone or anything else.” Her admission was quiet but accepted, it wasn’t a way to feel sorry for herself, it just was. ”Everyone around here seems to be just as loud as my brothers, they throw around the most insane accusations and they’re so proud to be loud AND wrong, it’s just not me.”
She blushed again when she met his gaze but nodded in agreement all the same, the giveaway to her shyness betraying her again.
”But I’ll… try and be less antisocial. As long as you’re prepared for the fact that my social skills usually descend into arm wrestling or who can lift whatever happens to be around at the time!”
Jaime chuckled, his grin widening as he let her words sink in. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it, stepping back just enough to give her some space to steady herself.
”Fair enough.,” he replied, the warmth in his tone clear. ”Being anyone but yourself? Waste of bloody time, if you ask me. And honestly? We’ve got enough loudmouths around here already. Don’t think anyone’s gonna complain about you bringin’ a bit of balance.”
He crossed his arms, tilting his head as he looked at her, his smile softening when he caught her blush. ”But less antisocial, eh? Now that’s a challenge I’d like to see you tackle. And if it’s arm wrestling or lifting heavy things that gets you there, well...” He smirked, glancing around the room theatrically. ”Guess I better start stretchin’ and keepin’ my ego in check.”
Jaime leaned back against the ropes, his playful tone returning. ”Just don’t expect me to let you win too easily, Hall. If you’re bringin’ the competition, I’m makin’ sure you work for it.”
She grinned this time, a genuine smile that was paired with that flush of pink to her cheeks again. Shaking her head to clear it of her shy nature creeping in.
”No one has EVER let me win!” She faked being offended for all of half a second before she was fully on her feet and ready to go. ”And balance is a good way of looking at it…. I need some of that too, a little fun mixed in with the work.”
She mostly meant it, she at least wanted to. She knew that she came here to figure out the mental game as much as improving in the ring and whilst she didn’t wanna become just another loudmouth, she did want to at least build the bond with her teammates going forward.
Jaime caught her grin, and the genuine warmth behind it made his own smile widen. He gave her a playful look, crossing his arms as if deep in thought. ”No one’s ever let you win, huh? Guess that makes sense, you don’t seem the type to take handouts. I’ll give you that.”
He pushed off the ropes, rolling his shoulders as if getting ready for whatever challenge she might throw his way. ”Fun mixed with work, though? Now you’re speaking my language. Can’t be all grind and no play, yeah? Keeps you sharp, and it stops you from losing your head in the process.”
Jaime stepped closer, his tone softening as he added, ”And, Hall, you’re already doing it. Being here, showin’ up, letting yourself be a part of all this even if you don’t feel it yet, you’re building those bonds. They’ll come. Just takes time.”
He flashed her another grin, nodding toward the training ring. ”So, what d’you say? Wanna kick off that balance with a bit of fun? Could be arm wrestling, could be runnin’ ropes. Hell, I’ll even let you pick what heavy thing we’re liftin’ today. But no way you’re walking out of here without showing me what you’ve got, luv.”
His insistent invitation was exactly what she needed, after a successful debut she had let the weight of her family’s critiques and expectations ruin her celebrations and enjoyment of it.
”You know, you’re a really good leader.” It was the highest compliment she could offer, not just because he was the leader elect of the team and she respected that, but because unlike the other leaders she had fallen in line with, this was being done by choice. Out of respect. ”But that’s not gonna save you today, Idol.”
She broke into a more determined smirk this time before pointing past the practice ring towards the weights room with a nod. ”Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy… no dead lifts.”
Jaime’s grin widened at her words, the compliment landing squarely, though he didn’t let it linger too long in the moment. ”A good leader, eh? Careful now, Lev, don’t go inflating my ego too much. Might start thinkin’ I’m invincible.”
Her shift in tone, the smirk that replaced the hesitance, was exactly what he was hoping for. That spark of confidence, that playful edge and it suited her. He let out a laugh, glancing toward the weights room she pointed to.
”Easy, she says.,” he teased, shaking his head as he started walking toward the weights. ”No dead lifts? You really know how to keep a guy humble, don’t you? Fine, but I’m warnin’ you now that if you show me up in there, I’m demanding a rematch in the ring.”
He looked back over his shoulder, his grin turning into a full-on challenge. ”Let’s see what you’ve got, Hall. And don’t hold back, I can’t have you thinking I’m just a good leader. Gotta prove I can hold my own too.”
He gestured for her to follow, his steps light but his tone carrying enough weight to let her know he was ready for whatever she was bringing. ”Come on, then. Let’s make this a bit of fun before the rest of Nightfall shows up and demands their turn.”
Winning wasn’t enough, especially when she hadn’t been the one to secure the win for her team. While the others celebrated the factions undeniable success, she was bust defending every choice she made, explaining her thought process behind every move she took. When she got to the gym, nothing had felt right and that’s how she had ended up here.
‘Running the ring’ and trying to clear her head, every heavy footfall against the canvas echoing in the empty room and in her busy mind. The more she focused on the feel of the ropes against her back, the burn in her legs as she just ran and ran those ropes, the less she thought about the disappointment in his voice.
Jaime Idol strolled into the training room, his hands in the pockets of his joggers, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as he took in the scene. He spotted Levi running the ropes, the sound of her movements filling the empty space. For a moment, he simply leaned against the ropes on the outside, watching her with a slight tilt of his head.
”Oi, Hall.,” he finally called, his accent clipping the words just enough to give them that distinct British edge. ”You tryin’ to run the ropes straight into the bloody floor, or is this just your way of working out some frustration?”
He climbed into the ring, his movements smooth, but his expression thoughtful as he stood back, giving her space. Jaime wasn’t one to press too hard unless he needed to, but the silence and the look in her eyes said enough. She wasn’t just training—she was working through something, and it didn’t take a genius to guess what.
”Listen, you’ve got that look about you—the one that screams ‘I’m pissed off at myself.’” His tone was light, but there was a layer of sincerity beneath it. ”Now, I’m no mind reader, but I reckon whatever’s rattling ‘round in your head doesn’t deserve the power you’re giving it. Especially not after last night.”
He leaned casually against the ropes, his smirk softening into something more supportive. ”So, what’s the deal, then? You gonna let me in on it, or am I just here to keep the ropes from breakin’ under your heels?”
As soon as she heard his voice she stopped, dead still in the centre of the ring. The quick stop against her muscles immediately caused a sharp cramp in her calves, but the ignored it. Turning to walk to the ropes opposite him and leaning against them, pushing her hair out of her face and watching him quietly. Her expression was flat, emotionless as she watched him.
”Better the ropes than a someone.” She dropped her arms over the ropes, leaning all the way back into them and exhaling sharply. ”I guess it’s at myself, at least partially.” Her tone was quiet, almost timid. Despite her size and the presumed presence that came with is, her consistent shyness and hesitation to connect with anyone but Zxavier took hold.
”Last night was fine, I did fine. But I’m not here to be fine. If I wanted to be fine, I could be fine at home and actually be doing something with me life.” Even as she said the words, it was obvious they weren’t her own. There was a harder edge to her voice as she said them, as though she was parroting someone far crueller than she could ever be about herself.
”Sorry.” She exhaled into that quiet tone again, moving the the corner and sitting down, finally addressing the cramps in her calves and rolling her knuckles against one of them with a frown of frustration and annoyance at the ache in her muscles. ”Three hours of that kinda thing and it kind of gets stuck in there like a record on repeat. Usually I can drown out the noise at the gym but this morning I wanted to try something a little different.”
Jaime’s smirk faded slightly as he listened, stepping closer to the ropes and leaning against them, his hands gripping the top strand loosely. He could hear it in her voice… the weight of someone else’s words hanging heavy on her, words meant to cut rather than build. It wasn’t unfamiliar to him; he’d dealt with enough people in his life who thought tearing someone down was the only way to push them forward.
”‘Fine’ is a load of bollocks, anyway.,” he said, his voice calm but firm as he leaned into the ring. ”But don’t tell me you’re buyin’ into someone else’s version of what you should be. You didn’t come here to be someone’s parrot, Hall. You came here to be you.”
He walked over to the corner where she sat, crouching down to meet her at eye level. ”Look, I get it. You’ve got people in your ear tellin’ you what you should’ve done, how you could’ve been better. But the way I see it, you’re already miles ahead just bein’ here, doin’ what most wouldn’t have the guts to do.”
Jaime’s gaze softened as he nodded toward her legs. ”And three hours of that?” He let out a low whistle. ”I’d say you’ve earned a bit of slack. Not that I’m gonna let you take too much, mind you.”
He sat down on the canvas, legs crossed in front of him, his voice lowering slightly. ”But here’s the thing, mate. If you let their words set the tone, you’ll never hear your own. Drown out their noise, yeah? It’s your ring, your rules. Screw the rest.”
A hint of a smirk returned as he gestured toward her legs. ”And let me know if you need a hand with that cramp. I reckon I owe you after you’ve been such a positive influence on the team so far, despite your tendency to be a wee bit shy.”
She frowned, keeping her eyes on the canvas as she loosened the muscles in her legs, while what he said not only made sense, but was similar to what she had said herself, this was vastly different. Being raised in such a strict home, only ever having the words of her father and brothers to live by, she couldn’t just turn off the control he had over her. Even being away from the house, she still felt as though she were living under his roof.
”It’s a heck of a lot easier to say that than to believe it though, isn’t it?” There was nothing accusatory in the way she spoke, no judgment it was just the truth and she always spoke that, even when it might get her into trouble. ”It’s not so much that I’m trying to be what he wants, if I wanted that I wouldn’t have come here. But I made a deal and if I don’t hold up my end, I won’t be here very long...”
To anyone but her that might be hard to understand or accept. She was an adult and could do as she pleased, at least in theory. But in reality? She did what she was told more often than not and the deal she made with her father to come here, to work under Chris, to show she had a future in HIS eyes, she had to stick to it.
”But thanks. I do appreciate you caring, noticing, whatever else. But I didn’t win the match, I didn’t do anything special; I did exactly what I already know I can do.” Her expression shifted when finally looked up at him, a blush of pink to her cheeks as she half smiled.
”You’d be shy too if you had 500 loud brothers.”
Jaime listened carefully, the weight of her words settling between them as he leaned against the ropes, arms resting casually but his gaze fixed on her. There was no teasing in his expression now, just quiet understanding as he processed what she’d said.
”Aye.,” he said softly, nodding, ”you’re right. It’s easier said than done, and I’m not gonna pretend like I’ve walked in your shoes. Having someone else’s expectations wrapped around your neck like a noose… that’s not easy to shake off. And you’re dealin’ with it better than most would.”
He tilted his head, offering her a small, knowing smile. ”But here’s the thing, Hall. That deal you made? It got you here, yeah, but it doesn’t define you. It’s just a stepping stone. You’re here because you deserve to be, not because someone else granted you permission.”
He paused, his voice dropping slightly, a sincerity bleeding through his words. ”And as for last night? You did win. Don’t forget that. Eileen might’ve picked up the pin, but a win’s a win, and you were part of it. Hell, without you, who’s to say the match would’ve gone the same way? Just because your name’s not on the final moment doesn’t mean you didn’t carry your weight.”
When she mentioned her brothers, the faint blush rising in her cheeks, Jaime let out a quiet chuckle. ”Alright, fair point. I’d probably be shy too if I had to fight for a word in edgewise with that many blokes around. But you’re not there anymore, are you? You’re here. And you don’t need to prove a damn thing to anyone but yourself.”
He stood up, offering her his hand with an encouraging smirk. ”Come on, then. Let’s get back to it, yeah?”
She listened to his words without saying anything, her mind ticking over what he was saying as he spoke. When he offered his hand to her, she took it out of courtesy but got to her feet easily anyway. Pursing her lips in thought as she steadied herself, rolling her ankles to test the muscles in her calves.
”I don’t know how to be anyone or anything else.” Her admission was quiet but accepted, it wasn’t a way to feel sorry for herself, it just was. ”Everyone around here seems to be just as loud as my brothers, they throw around the most insane accusations and they’re so proud to be loud AND wrong, it’s just not me.”
She blushed again when she met his gaze but nodded in agreement all the same, the giveaway to her shyness betraying her again.
”But I’ll… try and be less antisocial. As long as you’re prepared for the fact that my social skills usually descend into arm wrestling or who can lift whatever happens to be around at the time!”
Jaime chuckled, his grin widening as he let her words sink in. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it, stepping back just enough to give her some space to steady herself.
”Fair enough.,” he replied, the warmth in his tone clear. ”Being anyone but yourself? Waste of bloody time, if you ask me. And honestly? We’ve got enough loudmouths around here already. Don’t think anyone’s gonna complain about you bringin’ a bit of balance.”
He crossed his arms, tilting his head as he looked at her, his smile softening when he caught her blush. ”But less antisocial, eh? Now that’s a challenge I’d like to see you tackle. And if it’s arm wrestling or lifting heavy things that gets you there, well...” He smirked, glancing around the room theatrically. ”Guess I better start stretchin’ and keepin’ my ego in check.”
Jaime leaned back against the ropes, his playful tone returning. ”Just don’t expect me to let you win too easily, Hall. If you’re bringin’ the competition, I’m makin’ sure you work for it.”
She grinned this time, a genuine smile that was paired with that flush of pink to her cheeks again. Shaking her head to clear it of her shy nature creeping in.
”No one has EVER let me win!” She faked being offended for all of half a second before she was fully on her feet and ready to go. ”And balance is a good way of looking at it…. I need some of that too, a little fun mixed in with the work.”
She mostly meant it, she at least wanted to. She knew that she came here to figure out the mental game as much as improving in the ring and whilst she didn’t wanna become just another loudmouth, she did want to at least build the bond with her teammates going forward.
Jaime caught her grin, and the genuine warmth behind it made his own smile widen. He gave her a playful look, crossing his arms as if deep in thought. ”No one’s ever let you win, huh? Guess that makes sense, you don’t seem the type to take handouts. I’ll give you that.”
He pushed off the ropes, rolling his shoulders as if getting ready for whatever challenge she might throw his way. ”Fun mixed with work, though? Now you’re speaking my language. Can’t be all grind and no play, yeah? Keeps you sharp, and it stops you from losing your head in the process.”
Jaime stepped closer, his tone softening as he added, ”And, Hall, you’re already doing it. Being here, showin’ up, letting yourself be a part of all this even if you don’t feel it yet, you’re building those bonds. They’ll come. Just takes time.”
He flashed her another grin, nodding toward the training ring. ”So, what d’you say? Wanna kick off that balance with a bit of fun? Could be arm wrestling, could be runnin’ ropes. Hell, I’ll even let you pick what heavy thing we’re liftin’ today. But no way you’re walking out of here without showing me what you’ve got, luv.”
His insistent invitation was exactly what she needed, after a successful debut she had let the weight of her family’s critiques and expectations ruin her celebrations and enjoyment of it.
”You know, you’re a really good leader.” It was the highest compliment she could offer, not just because he was the leader elect of the team and she respected that, but because unlike the other leaders she had fallen in line with, this was being done by choice. Out of respect. ”But that’s not gonna save you today, Idol.”
She broke into a more determined smirk this time before pointing past the practice ring towards the weights room with a nod. ”Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy… no dead lifts.”
Jaime’s grin widened at her words, the compliment landing squarely, though he didn’t let it linger too long in the moment. ”A good leader, eh? Careful now, Lev, don’t go inflating my ego too much. Might start thinkin’ I’m invincible.”
Her shift in tone, the smirk that replaced the hesitance, was exactly what he was hoping for. That spark of confidence, that playful edge and it suited her. He let out a laugh, glancing toward the weights room she pointed to.
”Easy, she says.,” he teased, shaking his head as he started walking toward the weights. ”No dead lifts? You really know how to keep a guy humble, don’t you? Fine, but I’m warnin’ you now that if you show me up in there, I’m demanding a rematch in the ring.”
He looked back over his shoulder, his grin turning into a full-on challenge. ”Let’s see what you’ve got, Hall. And don’t hold back, I can’t have you thinking I’m just a good leader. Gotta prove I can hold my own too.”
He gestured for her to follow, his steps light but his tone carrying enough weight to let her know he was ready for whatever she was bringing. ”Come on, then. Let’s make this a bit of fun before the rest of Nightfall shows up and demands their turn.”