MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

The door creaked open.

Joey walked inside, his nerves tense.

A short pause let him hear the faint sounds coming from the kitchen.

He took a deep breath and walked toward where the noise was coming from.

Ashley was stirring a pot by the stove when he got there.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Her attention was on the food, and she moved slowly and quietly. Joey thought for a moment before moving closer.

The thought what happened earlier was still heavy on his mind.

He grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a soft hug without saying a word.

"I'm back," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "I should take over."

She gave him a quick look back and then nodded. "Thanks," she said in a low voice as Joey took the spoon from her.

While he stirred the pot, there was quiet. The sound of the food bubbling filled the space between them.

Joey turned around quickly as Ashley moved toward the doorway, ready to leave him alone.

"Ashley, wait."

She stopped mid-step, turning to face him.

Joey set the spoon down and walked over to her.

He reached for her hands, holding them firmly but tenderly.

His eyes searched hers, filled with sincerity and regret.

"Look, I'm sorry about earlier," he began, his voice steady but soft. "I was frustrated, and I shouldn't have let it out on you. You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Ashley's expression softened, her lips curving into a small, understanding smile.

She stepped closer and kissed him lightly, her touch warm and forgiving.

"I know," she said quietly. "I'm sorry too."

For a moment, the tension melted away as they stood there, holding each other.

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When Damon walked into the gym, the smell of sweat and mat cleaner greeted him.

His eyes moved around the room until they found Svetlana, who was training with a group of other fighters.

She moved with ease and kept her mind on the task at hand as she executed a series of strikes.

When she spotted him, her face lit up, and she waved. Damon returned the gesture, making his way to meet her in the middle of the gym.

"Hey," Damon greeted her, his smile genuine.

"Hey," Svetlana replied, stepping closer. "How was it? Is everything good?"

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Wanna go for a ride and talk about it?"

Svetlana chuckled, tilting her head at him. "You love driving now, huh? But how about this, you tell me while teaching me some Jiu-Jitsu? I was missing a partner."

Damon couldn't help but smile at her suggestion.

Her energy was infectious, and he felt his mood lifting already.

There was a faint blush on his cheeks, subtle but noticeable if you knew him well enough.

Unbeknownst to him, Svetlana's cheeks mirrored his own.

"Alright," Damon said, his grin widening. "But don't say I didn't warn you. I'm not going easy."

Svetlana smirked. "Good. I don't want you to."

With that, they headed toward the mats, both feeling a little lighter.

Whatever weight Damon had carried into the gym seemed to dissipate in her presence, and as they prepared to train, the unspoken bond between them grew just a little stronger.

Damon adjusted his stance, looking at Svetlana as she tied her hair back. "So, what do you want to learn?" he asked, his eyes focused and curious.

"Anything," she said with a shrug, rolling her shoulders to loosen up. "Anything you think could be useful. I've never trained any groundwork, you know I just like Muay Thai."

Damon smiled, a faint hint of mischief on his face. "How about–"

They moved to the mats, diving into training.

Damon started with the basics, guiding Svetlana through foundational techniques, explaining each move and its purpose.

She was a quick learner, adapting her natural strength and balance from Muay Thai to the intricacies of grappling.

As they trained, Damon talked to her about his earlier meeting with Joey, sharing the details of their conversation and the concerns his friend had opened up about.

It wasn't a emotional conversation, just Damon letting Svetlana into a part of his day, trusting her with the things that weighed on his mind.

Svetlana listened as they practiced, her focus split between the moves Damon showed her and the story he shared.

It was clear that Joey's struggles had left a mark on Damon, and while he didn't dwell on it, Svetlana could sense his quiet determination to help.

Their training continued, each moment a mix of technical focus and personal connection, strengthening not just their skills but the bond they shared.

Damon lay on the mat, his back pressed against Svetlana as she locked in the beginnings of a rear-naked choke.

Her legs wrapped around him as she worked to position herself properly, the movement deliberate and controlled.

"I just want to help, you know?" Damon admitted, his tone heavy with thought. "Not only are they both my friends, but Joey is like a brother to me. My best friend. But I don't know how to actually help."

Svetlana adjusted her position, wrapping her legs carefully around Damon to secure the choke.

She leaned forward slightly and kissed the side of his head, her voice soft but firm. "Sure you know how."

Damon grunted as the choke tightened. "Not so tight," he muttered, tapping lightly at her arm.

Svetlana chuckled and loosened the hold just enough. "How?" he asked, still unsure.

She sighed, shifting slightly but maintaining the lock. "Joey's studying media, right? Journalism or something like that?"

"Yeah, something along those lines," Damon replied, frowning as he tried to piece her thought together.

"Well," Svetlana continued, her tone thoughtful as she leaned closer, "don't you need someone to manage your media accounts? Promotions, interviews, scheduling? That's a lot of work, and you could use someone who knows what they're doing."

Damon froze, the struggle against the choke momentarily forgotten.

Her words hit him like a switch flicking on in his brain.

He stopped moving entirely, his mind racing with the possibilities.

"That's... actually a really good idea," he murmured, more to himself than her.

Svetlana smiled, her hands loosening the choke completely as she leaned back to meet his gaze. "You know Joey. He's smart, driven, and he's been working hard for years. Give him something he can sink his teeth into, something that uses his skills but doesn't make him feel like he's taking charity. Help him help himself."

Damon turned his head slightly, his lips quirking into a small smile. "You're smarter than you look, you know that?"

Svetlana laughed, shoving him lightly as they untangled from the mat. "Is that suppose to be a compliment?"