"YOU CAN DO THIS ARCHIE"

"HE NEEDS TO GET HIS HANDS UP!"

"THROW A COUNTERPUNCH"

-5 minutes later-

Archie sat in the locker room with a swollen lip and blood coming out of his nose. His left eye had an unhealthy shade of purple. Veronica helped him with his injuries as he feels unable to move himself.
"You did your best Archiekins, the guy had years of experience. This was one of your first real fights, you should be proud for how long you held your own."
Archie knew he couldn't have beaten this guy in a long time but it still felt wrong to lose. He knew he wasn't a loser, he was a winner, always has been.
"Your dad will drive you home."
Veronica patched the last bandage around his arm and threw the remaining wipes away. They didn't speak for a while. Archie loved how Veronica always cared for him, even when he didn't deserve it.
"Thanks Ronni, for everything, I just don't feel like myself today."
She walked up to him and cupped his sore chin.
"You don't say, it's okay. Just take a long rest once your home, I'll come by later once you're feeling better"
They smiled at each other with a short silence. Then the door opened and Fred ran in. "Are you okay son?", he asked as he sat on his knees before his son.
"Yeah I'm okay dad, it's not that bad", Archie said with the last bit of energie he had left.
"I wouldn't trust him on that mr. Andrews. He needs a long rest and little less stress and he'll be just fine."
As Fred helped his son up he turns to Veronica and says:"Thanks for helping him".
"No problem"

They got to the car with difficulty as Archie was snapping in and out of reality every so often. Once seated Fred sights. Since when did it become normal to have your injured son in the seat next your own he thought. Not even a year ago did Archie had the dream persue a career in music. Maybe not what Fred wanted for his son but if he was happy with it, Fred is too. But with boxing he is only slowly killing himself. He loved his son with all his heart and doesn't want to lose him anytime soon.
He looked at him as he is sleeping with his fire red hair pressed against the car window. His hair was what he found the most beautiful about his son. The same color as his former wife had. It showed that he has a true fire burning inside of him. Fred only hoped that the fire wouldn't burn Archie whole.

Archie woke up in a shock. The last thing he remembered was him being shouted at from all directions while a giant blue fist is looking for his face. When he opened the curtains the bright light hurt his eyes.. His phone told him it's 13:50 pm.
As he came down the stairs, he saw his father sitting with a scrambled egg reading the Blue&Gold.

Fred delightfully looked up from his paper.
"Good to have you back son"
Archie tries to smile too but almost loses his balance. His dad jumps up and in less than a second reaches his son. He puts his left arm around his waist and his right on his back.
"Easy there."
When Archie felt the warmth of his father's hand on his back, he realized that he is only wearing his boxer. Which is a different one from last time he changed for his match. When was that last time?
"Dad how long have I been asleep?"
"About 19 hours I think. You were in pretty bad shape yesterday so I figured to just let you rest as long as you needed. Veronica insisted, she even came by this morning."
Fred helped Archie to sit down but his body still felt sore and bruised.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes but every muscle still hurts. I thought I could take him, guess I'm just a loser."
Fred could feel the sadness in his son. He puts his hand on Archie's shoulder and cups his chin so they stare directly into each others eyes. He sees the tears starting to form.
"Archie Andrews you are anything but a loser. You gave your everything in that arena. That's what I admire so much about you. Each time you fall you come back even stronger."
Fred felt something strange, deep in his stomach. A loving feeling. He always had that for his son. But now seeing him so vulnerable and fragile made the feeling much more powerful.
Tears are now streaming down the younger man's cheeks.
"You really mean that dad?"
Fred took another good look at his beautiful son and says: "Every word of it". He then pressed his lips against Archie's. They stayed in that position for some time.
Archie held the loving embrace of his father very dear. He feels more connected to him then in years. He wants to stay like this forever.
Fred softly let go of his son's lips. He was quite scared of the reaction Archie was about to give. Fortunately when he opened his eyes, he just looked happy.