Written for comment_fic on livejournal. The prompt was Alec/Eliot from Leverage, Eliot fights Monty Cora

He was short. His hair was loose, wild. He was one of those fighters who respond to a hit to the face with a smile.

He was strong. And more importantly, he was fast. For the first time in a long time Alec had to make an effort. To concentrate or risk getting his ass kicked. Because when this guy punched, Alec really felt it.

But eventually Alec managed to get in a few good punches. He tried to hit only hard enough to knock the guy out - no point in doing real damage - but in the end he had to put some muscle into it.

As Eliot fell to the ground unconscious, Alec let his eyes linger on the muscular body, the ruddy skin from the bloodrush of adrenaline, the hair, messy and wet from sweat. The guy really was a damn good fighter.

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Walking home that night, Alec heard steps behind him. Not loud, but certainly not stealthy enough to be Manticore.

"Monty!" a voice demanded.

A fan, Alec thought. He turned around and said, "You like what you saw in the ring?"

"Rematch." Eliot demanded this of Monty as if it were certain to happen.

"Forget it. I won, fair and square." Sort of, Alec thought. "Besides, we're not in the ring. And I only fight for money."

Eliot walked closer to Alec and yelled, "Then you're not really a fighter!"

"Kicked your ass pretty good," Alec said and turned to walk away. But Eliot caught up with him and did his best to put Alec in a half Nelson.

Alec pushed Eliot off of him, but not before Eliot noticed the back of Alec's neck.

"You're one of -"

Eliot didn't finish his sentence, but Alec knew the rest anyway. One of those transgenics. One of those freaks. Those monsters. Better than - and therefore much, much worse - than actual human beings.

Seeing the rage on Eliot's face spread, Alec knew that this would be a problem. Alec felt a gust of regret for being stupid enough to think he could be a local celebrity without bringing hell down on them.

"You went easy!!" Eliot yelled.

"What?"

"You weren't even trying your hardest, were you?!!"

Alec couldn't help himself. He laughed. Of all the things to be upset about - the unfair advantage, the deception, the fact that most people think transgenics are just lab-made filth that needs to be eliminated -- and this guy is mad that Alec wasn't giving all of himself to the fight.

"Funny?" Eliot said as he threw up his hands and started pacing, "Is it funny to prance around in satin shorts for a few extra bucks when you could be doing - you know, ANYTHING else?!"

"Hey, you looked pretty good in satin shorts, too," Alec smirked.

"I was only there because people said you couldn't be beaten!"

"Looks like the people were right. Look, I don't know what you thought you saw -"

"I don't care that you're - whatever you are. I do care that you're a jackass who won't even show me the respect of a real fight."

Alec stared at the man, who was seething with accusation. His blue eyes were intense, daring Alec to dismiss him again. Alec looked at him a long time, thinking about what kind of man discovers that a mutant freak publicly beat him and responds by demanding a rematch.

Or what kind of man just assumes that transgenic or not, they had an obligation to treat each other as equals.

Alec knew that this man's anger was real. But he also knew that Eliot had no idea what he had stirred in Alec, who wasn't usually a big believer in human decency.

Finally, Alec answered. "Earn it."

"What?"

"I don't fight for free. So if you want me, you'll have to earn it."

That night, as Eliot came inside of Alec, he whispered into Alec's ear, "You'd better not be holding back on me, Monty."

"Wouldn't dream of it."