contains:

prostitution

death

explicit language

The hall filled with sounds of shouting men, surrounding a six foot square drawn in the dirt. Bookies circled the crowd, collecting bets and escorts clung to their clients.

The year was 1789, Dublin, Ireland. Illegal boxing and bare-knuckle fighting was popular as a way to entertain the feral men and to earn money if you were brave enough. One man brave enough was David Robinson. Dublin's favourite bare - knuckle fighter.

David pushed his way through the crowd to the dirt square and held up his arms and the men surrounding cheered. He grinned and winked to his escort, sitting up above the crowd on a balcony with her brothel mistress.

His escort ignored him and checked her corset. Her long fire red hair tumbled over her shoulders and she sighed.

"Lacey," Her mistress said, "You're paid to look interested."

David looked around, "Where's the bastard that dares challenge me?!"

Through the crowd pushed a tall, blond man. His tan skin was a patchwork of scars. His knuckles were wrapped in bandages and his eyes were dark and tired.

"That'd be me." The blond said, in a strange foreign accent, cracking his neck then back.

"Let's get this over with!" David shouted as the crowd roared. He looked back at Lacey and blew a kiss which she reluctantly repaid. The blond followed David's line of sight and his eyes widened as they caught sight of the angel sitting above them.

David saw his opponent was distracted and took the opportunity to land the first punch of the fight. Or rather, attempted to. The blond dodged and grabbed his wrist as the hall fell silent. He swiftly shoved his knee into David's stomach, winding him momentarily.

David fell to the floor and the blond landed a swift kick to the side of his face. Round one was won and a crowd gathered around David.

In the commotion the blond walked over to Lacey and looked up at her.

"What's your name?"

The brothel mistress spoke before Lacey could, "It's none of your business what her name is. She's paid for."

"By?"

"Your oponant!"

The blond kept his eyes on Lacey and she slowly blushed. He tilted his head, "She like him?"

"Of course!" The mistress said. Behind her, Lacey shakes her head and stuck out a tongue.

A smile spread across his face, revealing rows of sharp, shark - like teeth. "Should I hurt him?"

"No!" The mistress snapped. Lacey nodded her head and slowly ran her thumb over her neck. "Kill him." She mouthed.

The blond smirked and nodded then returned to the square as David returned to his feet. The fight continued. David landed numerous punches but the blond, though drawing blood, didn't even flinch. Instead, he ducked and kicked David's feet from under him, making him fall backwards.

The blond knelt on his stomach and spat out blood. He put his hands around David's neck.

The blond stood outside the fight hall, smoking. His crew had collected his winnings and spread out to enjoy the night in Dublin. He watched the moon then suddenly heard the clicking of heels. Coming over to him was the red - headed angel, looking a lot smaller now that she was next to him.

She opened her tiny plump red lips and spoke in an endearing Irish accent. "What's y'name, sweetheart?"

He opened his mouth but couldn't remember how to speak.

"Did David hit you too hard?" She smiled a smile that could end wars and placed a tiny white hand on his arm. It was the softest thing he had felt in years.

"N-no- I- I'm Kimi." He was motionless. He had never felt so scared or so nervous with a woman.

"I'm Lacey! Bet you got a lot of money f'winning, huh? Do you know how you'll spend it?"

Kimi was irresponsive.

"Wanna spend it on me?" She touched his stomach.

Finally Kimi moved.

He nodded.