Daniel (An X-Men Story)
Chapter Fourteen: Tryouts
Daniel along with thousands of youngsters entered the collisium hoping to win a spot on one of the sixteen MMA teams. All were carrying their gear with them as they make their way towards the seats.
They see judges, referees, three octogons cages and sixteen men with suits on. Daniel figured them to be the coaches for all sixteen teams. With them we're several assistant coaches and trainers. He recognized one of them to be Tom Barrett who he had met the day before.
All of the youngsters took their seats on the bleachers to await further instructions. A gentlemen dressed in a suit came up to the makeshift podium so he can be heard.
"Gentleman, welcome to the first ever MMA Team Tournament tryouts." The gentleman said. All of the teens including Daniel clapped. "Today, you guys will compete against each other displaying your skills as fighters. It will be up to these sixteen head coaches here to choose who they will have on their teams. Once the teams are chosen, the coaches will explain the rules to you and you'll be given a fight schedule. Now, there will be two regions with eight teams on them. The teams will compete against each other until there is one team from each region to face off against each other in what is called the MMA Tournament Championship match." He said as the guys all clapped again. "There will be rewards. For each round your team advances will net your team big money and the reward is bigger with each round. The regional champs get trophies along with money. The team that wins it all will receive trophies, belts, watches, rings along with money." The guys all clapped. "Ok, there are two locker rooms. Get changed and be ready to compete." He said as the teens all got up and headed for the locker rooms.
Daniel excitedly got changed into his gear. He'd have to wait his turn. He'd be the fourth fight. He drew the fourth card along with another teen named Evan Carlson. The young teen eye balled Daniel who paid him no mind continuing to throw imaginary punches.
Tom and Sam along with his trainers watched the fighters.
"Isn't that the retard that came in the gym yesterday?" Sam asked.
"Yep. Let's see what he can do" Tom said smirking.
When it was his turn to compete, Daniel entered the octagon along with Evan. Evan is wearing black trunks while Daniel is wearing blue trunks. Both threw imaginary punches in the air getting themselves ready for the fight.
The fight commences with Evan immediately going for a take down. Daniel snuffed his take down and countered with a left hook to Evan's face stunning him. Evan backs up against the cage where Daniel begins to unleash a baray pf punches to Evan's face. Evan tried to block Daniel's punches even ducking a few times but the punches landed. Evan tries another attempt at a taken down but Daniel snuffs the take down again and knees Evan in the stomach. Evan pushes Daniel back and attempts a kick. Daniel catchs his leg and sweeps him off his feet. Daniel immediately mounts Evan and continues to rain down punches to Evan's face but Evan throws his hands up to block him. Daniel easily switches positions into an arm bar and submits Evan. The coach's looked on. The referee holds Daniel's hand as he is victorious.
"Holyshit!" Sam said smirking.
"Well what do you know? The kid can fight after all." Tom said.
Tony's car pulls up the drive way of the Howlett home. He could smell food cooking. Logan must be bar-b-quing. He smirked and made his way to the backyard. There he spots Logan at the grill. With him are Scott, Alex and Rion. He could see they are talking and laughing. He could see Ororo setting up the table with Megan, Emma and Jean. David, Azari and John are tossing the football while Lucas, James and Oliver were chasing Kendall. Professor Xavier is talking with Lex, Nate and Tyler. The music is playing.
"Hey..." Tony shouts getting everyone's attention. "Is this party private or can any hero join in?" He continued.
"Uncle Tony!!!" Lucas, James and Oliver all shouted as they ran to him and hugged him.
"What brings you by Tony?" Logan asked.
"Oh, the team has some down time and I figured what better way to spend it then with my favorite people." Tony smiling as he hugged by the kids.
"Well there's plenty of food." Ororo said.
"And drinks." Scott said.
"Now we're talking." Tony said getting a chair and sitting next to Megan.
"How's things with the Avengers?" Alex asked.
"Good. Widow and Banner are off playing hide the canoodle, Thor is back home dealing with some family issues while Steve is searching for his friend Bucky. Falcon is with him. Vision, Wanda and Pietro are vacationing in Hawaii. Hawkeye is a home with his family. Meanwhile I've been keeping tabs on a new hero in New York City. But all and all, things are quiet." Tony said.
"Quiet is good. No major threats to worry about." Jean said.
"None and that is good. I also needed a break from my projects I'm working on." Tony said.
"Well we're glad you're here." Professor Xavier said.
"Food is ready." Logan said as the ladies got up fix plates for everyone.
"Is it me or are we missing someone?" Tony asked.
"You noticed his absence have you?" Ororo asked referring to Daniel.
"Yeah where is the young man in question?" Tony asked.
"Well our mildly handicapped son left out a few hours ago." Ororo said.
"He doesn't say much these days." Logan said. Tony thought about that realizing Daniel must be more hurt than he realized.
With all the tryouts done, the coaches for the teams were ready to make their decisions. Daniel sat waiting to see if he'd be chosen to a team. The fighters began to find their teams as the coaches have chosen fifteen teams were complete. It was time for the Lions' heach coach to announce his team. Tom Barrett is the head coach. There are nine fighters left. One of them will be the odd fighter out. Daniel felt confident that Tom would pick him.
"Ok here's my list. Donovan Jones, Chris Edwards, Joey Niles, Steven Nichols, Billy Dillon, Michael Kyle, Walter Maddox and Casey Norris." Tom said. Daniel was shocked. He wasn't picked. He thought st the very least he would've impressed Tom but figured that wasn't the case. Daniel watched as the guys gathered around Tom. Daniel figured Tom didn't want the local retard on his team. Devastated, he gets up with his bag and heads for the exit to the collisium.
"Tom, one of the fighters has an injury." Sam the assistant head coach said to Tom.
"Who?" Tom asked.
"Casey Norris." Sam said.
"Shit!! Who was the other kid?" Tom asked.
"Daniel Howlett." Sam said.
"Shit! The retard. Go get him." Tom said as Sam took off for the exit to the collisium. Daniel was walking towards the bus stop with his duffle bag his head hung low from the disappointment of not being picked.
"Daniel!" Sam shout to him. "Daniel!!!" Daniel stopped and turned to him. "You're Daniel Howlett?"
"Yeah." Daniel said not sure why he was asking for him.
"You need to come back inside." Sam said.
"Why? I wasn't chosen." Daniel said sounding bitter.
"That's just it, Casey Norris is injured. You can take his place." Sam said. "You are healthy right?"
"Yes of course." Daniel said.
"Good come back into the collisium. You need to get your training equipment." Sam said grabbing Daniel and gently pulling him back into the building.
"Daniel?" Tom asked.
"Yes sir." Daniel said. "We met yesterday."
"Yeah. I remember. That was some fight you had." Tom said.
"Thank you sir but I wasn't chosen." Daniel said.
"No you weren't. Casey is better fighter but he's injured so you're in." Tom said. "Have a seat." Daniel does. "Ok gentleman welcome to the Lions MMA team. I'm the head coach Tom Barrett. This is Sam Louis, he is the assistant coach. To my left are the trainers Javier Rios, Lane Castle and Davis Donaldson. Javier will work with you guys on your jujitsu, Lane will work with you guys on your wrestling and Davis will focus on your kickboxing. Get to know them and get to know each other. I only have three rules. One: Don't be late to training. That shows disrespect to me and the team. I won't tolerate lateness. Two: No one is allowed to miss a practice. There's only two exceptions to that rule. There's a death in the family or you yourself become injured. I don't care if you have a cold. You will sweat it out." The third rule and most important rule: you all will treat each other with respect and support one another. You are a team. We will either win as a team or lose as a team but we will do it together. You guys will work together to make each other better, stronger, faster and in doing so we should win. Are we clear on the rules?" Tom asked.
"YES SIR!" The fighters said in unison.
"That's what I like to hear. Now Sam here is going to give you all folders with the schedule and packets in them. You will get team jackets as well as a duffle bag filled with all the team gear you'll need. The first training session is tomorrow afternoon at four pm. See you then." Tom said as he begins to walk away.
Javier, Lane and Davis provided the fighters with their team jackets, duffle bags filled with fighting equipment and they were given the folders with their schedules and other information the fighters will need. Daniel excitedly left the collisium with his team jacket and duffle bags. He got on the bus smiling happy that he had been picked. He hated the fact that he had been picked due to a fighter being injured but all that mattered to him was that he was in. He was going to be competing in his first MMA match.
When Daniel arrived back home, he noticed a fancy car in the drive way of the house. He recognized it as his uncle Tony's car. He had come by to visit. He hadn't seen him since the time Tony brought him home after helping to defeat Ultron. He frowned and decided to go around back. He stops short seeing his family out back with Tony. Logan had finished grilling and had Kendall on his lap. Azari and John were tossing the football around. David and Lucas were tossing the baseball. James and Oliver were riding their bikes around while Ororo was chatting with Tony. Nate and Lex were playing with Scott and Alex while Tyler was giving Jean kisses. Everyone stops when they see Daniel who by now is frowning.
"Well look who's home." Tony said.
"Hey Danny where you been?" Ororo asked.
"Out." Daniel said plainly. Ororo looked away somberly.
"What's that you got there?" Rion asked.
"Nothing." Daniel said not wanting to let them in on what he's been up to.
"That looks like workout equipment." Alex said. "You training on your own?"
"Something like that." Daniel said beginning for his room.
"You wanna join us?" Logan asked. "There's still food left."
"No thanks." Daniel said heading towards the staircase to his room.
"How's it going Daniel?" Tony asked.
"Mr. Stark." Daniel said then heading up the stairs to his room. Tony stared after him. Everyone was shocked at that. Ororo and Logan sighed deeply. "Did he just call me..." Tony asked.
"Yep." Ororo answered.
"Has it gotten that bad?" Tony asked.
"Yes. He only speaks when spoken to, he doesn't eat with the family nor does he participate in school assignments. It's bad. He's kept his distance since you brought him home." Ororo said.
"Wow." Tony said. "Maybe he's still mad with me or he thinks I'm still mad with him. I should talk to him."
"That won't work uncle Tony." Oliver said.
"Yeah he's been like that with all of us." Kendall said. Tony looked up at Daniel's room one last time before everyone went back to what they were doing.
Daniel locked his door making sure he wasn't disturbed. That's how it's been for him. He didn't want to talk to Tony or see him. He was pissed off at him for banning Daniel from his place. Daniel was hurt and felt his uncle didn't want to be around him. Much like his family, Tony hadn't spoken to Daniel in months so Daniel kept his distance from them.
Daniel sat at his desk thinking about the tournament. He felt great and couldn't wait to begin his training. He was certainly looking forward to getting in the cage and displaying what his talents.
Daniel began going through the duffle bag. The duffle bag is black and gold with a Lion symbol on the both sides of the bag. Inside of the bag are two sets of gloves, two mouth guards, two sets of trunks, tshirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, gloves, two sets of hand wraps, head gear, knee pads, two caps and two knit caps. In the folder we're papers with the team schedule, and one has the rules and regulations on it, the other has the gym's location along with pictures of how the gym looks. Daniel noticed that the gym isn't that far from where he lives and he could ride his bike to the gym. He was excited. He sat and laid back on his bed and fell asleep dreaming of someday winning a championship.