This one is a little more angsty but no big trigger warnings, just big feelings happening.

The Boxing Lesson

Somedays all the feelings that constantly lived in Julie's mind morphed into anger. It wasn't a conscious choice and it wasn't a feeling she enjoyed, but she couldn't help it. The world was so unfair. Her mother, the sweetest woman ever, was dead. Her bandmates were constantly in danger of crossing over and leaving her alone again. The stress and anxiety she felt from these things were often outweighed by the joy of playing with the band and being with her family, but sometimes they weren't. And on these days, Julie mostly locked herself in her room so she wouldn't take it out on anyone else.

That's where Luke found her, screaming into her pillow.

"Jules oh my god, what is happening?" he asked. He sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed her back. He'd never seen Julie like this.

Julie took a deep breath and said in her fake-calm voice, "Nothing, I'm just feeling angry today."

"About your mom?"

"Yes. Well, that and lots of other things. The risk of losing you guys. Also everything happening in the world. All of it."

Luke nodded, thinking, and then said, "I have days like that, too. Where everything pisses me off and I just want to tear something to shreds. What do you do to deal with it?"

"Nothing, basically. I just try and avoid people so I don't take my mood out on them. I wish music helped but music for me is about feeling happy usually. I don't really like angry music much, and I definitely don't make it. What about you?"

"Sometimes I play angry chords on my guitar but when I was having a lot of anger towards my parents after I ran away, the guys convinced me to take up boxing and that's really helped."

"Boxing?" Julie asked curiously, sitting up.

"Yeah, just beating the crap out of a punching bag really helps sometimes, you know?"

Julie paused for a moment, before saying, "Show me?" A slow smile spread across Luke's face and she smiled back.

A little while later they were alone in the studio, a space cleared in the middle of the floor. Luke had "borrowed" a freestanding punching bag and some gloves from a gym that was currently undergoing renovations. Julie had changed into leggings and a cropped tank top, which made Luke do a subtle double take when he saw her. Julie looked great in everything, but he thought athletic wear might be his new favorite.

He dropped his sweatshirt on the couch, so he was just in a tank top and sweats and said, "Okay, watch what I do here." He threw a couple punches in slow motion to show her the rough technique, and then had her try. She threw a few light punches, and frowned.

He encouraged her to hit even harder, to get her anger out, and she did, starting to smile as she felt her muscles work and felt the release of punching something without worrying about hurting anyone.

Luke saw her technique was a little loose, so, without thinking about it, he came up behind her and moved her arms for her, showing her how to keep her elbows from going out too far. Julie was focused, but not so focused she didn't notice his body pressed up against hers. Luke might also have stayed there a minute longer than strictly necessary.

Luke put on some upbeat music for her to get pumped up to, and she started punching harder. Without realizing it Julie started cursing at the bag as she punched, verbally and physically releasing the tension. She felt like she was taking punches at all the forces beyond her control in the world, things without faces or names but that had ruined parts of her life.

Luke was amazed to see all of this anger coming out of Julie. It reminded him that, as much as she could be perfect and sweet and kind, she was still human. She couldn't be put on a pedestal and she had all the same emotions he did. It made her seem more real to him, and made him care about her all the more. He was also so grateful that she had let him see this side of her because he got the sense not many people saw this kind of anger in her.

When she started almost screaming at the punching bag he finally walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. This stilled her instantly, and she was afraid he was judging her for losing control, but all he said was, "You might want to scream a little more quietly if you don't want your Dad wondering what the hell is going on in the studio."

She took a deep breath and nodded, giving him a quick grin, before she lowered her head and got back to punching. Fifteen full minutes later she stepped back, panting.

"God that felt so good," she said, turning towards him. Luke could see she was almost glowing from the adrenaline rush. She pulled the gloves off and he came towards her to grab them from her. Their hands brushed when he took the gloves from her and she froze for just half a second. He was surprised by the look of uncertainty and then fierce confidence that crossed her face.

He was even more surprised when she closed the distance between them, reached a hand up around his neck, and pulled him down into a fierce kiss. Her adrenaline rush was powering her through any fear or doubt, and all she wanted was to be closer to Luke and show him her gratitude for giving her this outlet. He froze momentarily, but then he responded, wrapping his arms around her waist. She pushed him backwards until the backs of his legs hit the couch and then they crashed downwards. Somehow, she managed to wind up with her legs on either side of his, sitting in his lap, as the kiss became even more heated. His hands tangled in her hair and she groaned at the touch.

She ripped her lips from his just long enough to say, "This is also an excellent way to deal with my anger," and grin before continuing to kiss him senseless.

Can you tell how I was feeling this weekend? Lol. Anyway, hope you all like it.