You never told me why you really fight

"You know, you never did tell me why you fight."

Adrian shifted her head from Rocky's shoulder to look up into his eyes. Her small arms tightened around his chest as he looked back down at her.

"Hmmm?" Rocky mumbled as he rubbed his large hands up Adrians slim back.

Adrian reached up to brush a strand of hair out of her face and burrowed her chin into Rocky's chest. "Earlier, when I asked you why you fight, you never answered the question."

Rocky sighed. "Well, you know I've always been a fighter. Growin' up like I did, in the neighborhood y'know, it's a pretty rough life." He grimaced down at Adrian who smiled back up at him. "There wasn't a lot to look forward to at home either, you know, so I spent most of my time out on the streets. And you know I've always been a pretty big guy, so there's always some bum who thinks he can get a reputation as a tough guy by fighting the biggest guy around."

Adrian's face creased in a small frown.

"So, you got in trouble a lot then."

"Yeah, well I was never the best student, but getting kicked out of school for fighting didn't help none. I was pretty wild when I was a kid, you know. At least until I started really training to be a fighter. Before, I thought I'd probably end up in some factory somewhere. I never thought I could make a livin' fighting."

"So, that's the only reason?" Adrian asked.

Rocky grimaced again, rolling his shoulders to look up at the ceiling. "C'mon Adrian, what do you wanna hear? That I hate my crummy life and my crummy apartment? That fighting's the only thing that makes me feel like I'm not a bum? That it might be my only ticket out of this dump heap of a neighborhood?"

Adrian reached up, lightly touching her fingers to Rocky's chin. He looked down, meeting her eyes. "I think you fight because it makes you feel powerful. I think it gives you a sense of purpose. I envy that."

Rocky pulled Adrian's fingers to his lips, kissing them softly. "Yo, Adrian, you're stronger than you think. It takes more than guts to live with Paulie as long as you have."

Adrian laughed and smiled wider. Rocky pulled her up farther and rolled over so they were face to face laying on the pillow.

"Hey, Adrian, did you hear the one about the butcher who backed into the meat grinder?" Rocky whispered softly. "He got a little behind in his work."

Adrian's giggles were smothered by Rocky's sudden kiss. She curled her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. After a few minutes, Adrian pulled back, panting lightly.

"I don't think you're a bum," she said tenderly, brushing her thumb down his cheek. Rocky just smiled back at her, shaking his head, and leaned over to kiss her lightly on the forehead.