Series of Death, Draft 02, CH 10 (Patreon)

Whitecollar’s Fighting Club was different from Greg’s gym in almost all ways. The structure was strict, with a schedule that needed to be respected, rather than a suggestion of when one of the circles would be occupied. Partners mandatory, proper equipment definitely required.

One of the officers at the precinct, an ermine he’d trained with at the academy, had mentioned it to him when Trembor had commented on how he couldn’t go to Grebor’s in case he’d run onto the wolf. It was the one she went to, it was close to the precinct, and it did ensure Marlot wouldn’t be at it.

Changed into shorts, combat boots, and gloves, he scrolled through the listed fighters, looking for anyone not having a partner currently. The downside of being strict was that on days when he couldn’t schedule a partner ahead of time, he might not be able to train. The odds were better later in the day for unassigned fighters, but he preferred training before work.

This early, the list didn’t have many people on it, two couples, and one solitary tiger named K’Dar. He found him by the counter, drinking out of a water bottle. He wore shorts and combat gloves and had the kind of body that shouldn’t be covered up any more than that, lean muscles under the short striped fur.

“K’Dar?”

The tiger looked him over and smiled. “That’d be me.” There was a hint of an accent in his voice.

“You’re not matched with anyone in the schedule. Are you waiting for someone, or open to any partners?”

“I’m waiting for a lion of my own, but he should have been here a while ago.” He gave Trembor another look. “I can take you in his place. M’Lady,” he said to the mongoose on the other side of the counter. “Put—”

“Trembor,” He told her.

“Trembor as my partner,” the tiger said. “T can bloody wait his turn for not being on time.” He headed for a ring. “How do you do this? Word of warning, I’m not good at holding back.”

“A real fight is what I’m looking for. I’m not prey, but no claws.” Trembor indicated the tiger’s uncovered feet.

“Birth defect,” he replied, “no claws. You can check, but M’Lady Talls did clear me.”

“I guess we’ve evolved beyond using those in a hunt, so it doesn’t put you at a disadvantage.”

The tiger gave Trembor an amused smile. “You could say that. I can still kick as hard as anyone else. You prefer a style? I’m all over the place with my fighting.”

“I’m a kicker, but I like training against someone who can surprise me.” Trembor’s chest tightened at the memory of Marlot’s unorthodox’s fighting, but before it could overwhelm him, the tiger threw a punch. He blocked reflexively and kicked out, catching the retreating tiger in the side.

“Fast little bugger,” the tiger said with a grin and launched himself at Trembor. Experience cut his surprise down and Trembor threw himself to the side as the tiger flew through the previously occupied space.

He rolled to a crouch. “You weren’t kidding when you said your fighting is all over the place. I don’t think I ever saw someone pounce within the confines of a ring.”

“Can’t let tight places cramp your fighting; that’s asking for death.” The tiger rang at him and Trembor blocked and dodged fists and feet until he had space for a roundhouse kick, which met air as the tiger rolled back to his feet.

“What would you do if someone started ordering you about?” Trembor asked as they circled each other. He closed the distance, almost planting a foot in the tiger’s chest as he opened his mouth. Trembor had to give the tiger that, he was fast.

The tiger was back on his feet. “You ask to distract me?” punches came, Trembor dodged. “Or you interested in my opinion?”

Trembor staggered at a knee connecting with his side. “Interested.” He straightened. “Sparring helps me think.”

The tiger paused. “You’ve been in strange fights. Dunno anyone who likes talking while fighting.” He covered the distance in two steps and a volley of punches came at Trembor with a few words mutters in something he didn’t understand. “Need to know if the person doing it’s a commanding officer first.”

“Trembor blocked and managed to connect with a kick. “Boyfriend, would-be mates.”

“You into that stuff?”

Trembor froze. You didn’t leave me any choice. The lion’s golden eyes glaring down at him, Trembor’s blood on his knuckles. Falling down the stairs, he’d told the medic when he’d gone to the hospital, hours later.

“No,” Trembor snarled when he pulled himself back, surprised the tiger was still at a distance.

“Kick his ass.” He waited a second. “You good to keep on?”

Trembor went at the tiger angrily. “I did, but I can’t stop wanting him.” He kicked and kneed and the tiger mostly blocked. Trembor even threw a poorly aimed punch, hoping to surprise the tiger, but it was caught and Trembor was on his back.

“Love’ll do that to you. Kill him and pay the tax, since you can do that here.”

Trembor launched himself at the tiger with a roar. He needed to rip the male apart for suggesting such a thing. Spill his gut over the floor, roll in his blood, make him regret—He hit the mat hard enough his breath left him.

“Real bad letting emotions distract you like that.” The tiger offered a hand and pulled Trembor to his feet. “You tried talking? With him, not me.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to do that? He lies. He told me he loved me and then did exactly what Gorrek did, blame me for hurting me! How am I supposed to believe one fucking word that comes out of his muzzle?”

The tiger winced.

“Ya should just rip his spine out,” a new voice said, “since ya can do that here.” Trembor rounded on the speaker, a new lion with paler mane and a similar accent, but thicker.

The tiger grabbed Trembor arm to prevent him from jumping. “T, where’ve you been?” he looked at Trembor until he nodded to indicate he had his anger under control. “You weren’t here so I’ve been trying on this one for size. Might replace you with him.”

“Pack oh hyena jumped me.” He shrugged. “Had to show ‘em the error oh their way.”

“You killed any of them?” the tiger asked, sounding worried.

That he lion had managed to take on a pack of hyena and walk surprised Trembor enough he almost missed the implication. They were visitors and were from somewhere where predation wasn’t the same as here. He wondered where that was. He’d have to ask Harezik whenever he was back from the latest trip his mate had taken him on. They’d know what place had different predation rules.

“Ya know better, K.” The lion grabbed the tiger’s face in both hands. “As for replacing me,” He whispered, pulling him close and kissing him hard. The moans that escaped the tiger and lion hurt Trembor.

He and Marlot had kissed like that. He wanted to kiss him like that again so badly. Maybe the tiger was right, he should give him a second chance. He had sounded reasonable, even apologetic at the crime scene.

You didn’t leave me any choice.

Gorrek always sounded apologetic afterward; could be downright nice and loving for a few days. Just long enough Trembor almost forgot being hit.

He strengthened his resolve. He’d promised to never put himself through that again.

“‘Fraid you’ve got to keep looking for a partner,” the tiger said, panting. “I’m keeping this one.” His scent indicated exactly what he intended to do to the lion and seemed utterly unconcerned that others could smell it.

Trembor blinked the forming tears away. “It’s okay. I’m not looking to replace anyone; just wish I had what you two do again.”

The lion opened his mouth, but yelling from the entrance kept him from saying anything.

“Out!” the mongoose was in the doorway. “Predators only.” She blocked most of who she was addressing, but Trembor saw a long ear. “I don’t care if you think you can take on one of us. No prey in here, too much clean up when you get gutted. Go to your gym and leave my customers alone!” He saw gray walk away, and she stayed in the doorway a few seconds before returning to the counter.

“Harsh,” the lion said. “Just cause they not like us don’t mean they can’t fight.”

Trembor eyed the lion. Definitely not local. Maybe a search on the network would give him places where prey got this kind of equality. “Prey doesn’t know how to fight. Whoever that was, they’re probably looking for someone to end their lives, and that isn’t something the owner should have to deal with.”

The tiger and lion shared a look, then shrugged in unison.

“I’m going to let you two fight,” Trembor said, suddenly feeling like a scavenger eying someone else’s meat, and headed for the locker room before they could respond.

He spent a long time under the shower jet turned a little too hot to get the sight and scent of that kiss out of his head. He punched the wall. “Why?” Why had Marlot have to be an abuser? They’d been so perfect together; once he’d stopped being terrified of people finding out about the two of them… Had that been an act?

It couldn’t be. He shook his head to clear it. No, it hadn’t been, he decided. Maybe it had kept the abuser side in check, and once he’d shown him where he came from, the abuse Marlot had undergone, he’d grown comfortable enough the abuser surfaced.

Trembor growled. Why couldn’t Marlot have been the simply broken male he’d seem like? Trembor had looked forward to helping him heal from the abuse, he knew about abuse himself, he could have helped him so much.

He missed Marlot; missed him so much it hurt. And he hated himself for thinking that maybe the abuse the wolf would inflict on him wouldn’t hurt as much, since he knew so much about being abused too.

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