15

Normal POV

He was crazy, he had to be crazy right? Viktor's hand held the small black box in his hand while he had one maybe two minutes to himself before his father and a few other trainers hired by Buddy Marcelle came in to prepare him for this fight. He was insane and knew this was a fast and impulsive, but he just felt it. Deep down, Astrid was the one. All the time she was gone, he felt like he was in a void, or a black hole he couldn't climb out of.

Women tried to get his attention, but he felt nothing but annoyance by their flirtatious gaze. Astrid's eyes were pure and truthful. Besides there had been nothing but bad blood between the Dragos and Creeds. Maybe this would end it all. And if it didn't then who cared, they could have their world. He and Astrid will create their own. He could hear the crowd cheering above him and he lifted his head to listen to them. This was what he was training his whole life for. He was ready to start a new chapter in his life, a career and hopefully a deeper relationship with Astrid.

He knew she was up there, waiting for him. He could hear his team coming and so he quickly placed the small black box in his locker inside his black gym bag. He would ask her when the match was over. Once Viktor was ready, he was following his team out of the room, when Ivan's thick old hand stopped him. Viktor looked back at him and his father gave an old but stern glare.

"Keep your head clear son." he demanded. Viktor looked him over some with a light scowl, not ready to truly challenge his father.

"It's clear." he said and Ivan tilted his head in disbelief.

"When I was a fighter in that ring with Apollo, I was distracted by her. You should let that girl go? Why can't you see that she is not good for you?" he asked. Viktor looked away some feeling he was almost unable to speak before looking back at his father.

"Because I love her." he replied as if it was common knowledge. Ivan's face tensed some at his son's words. Viktor only turned and moved down the hall, hitting his gloves hard together.

The crowd was loud and ready for the fight of a lifetime. The announcer was giving his thoughts on the fight.

"Folks, this is a fight in history we never thought would happen, but prayed for nonetheless. Viktor Drago, son of the once famous Ivan Drago will be fighting Adonis Creed, son of legendary Apollo Creed who was actually killed by Drago himself over thirty years ago." he explained.

"And here comes the Creed family now taking their seats in the VIP section. Now leading the family is matriarch, Alicia Victoria Creed, sister of Apollo. Following behind her is Adonis' sister, Astrid Creed, and with her the newly engaged Bianca Taylor."

Astrid's POV

I was sitting between Bianca and Aunt Alicia. I could see the distant look in her face as Viktor and Ivan Drago took the stage. The entire room was brought to life, by their presence. I noticed my aunt curl her fingers tightly. She was nervous and I could only imagine. The roaring crowd must bring back memories she was hoping to forget. Adonis finally rolled in with his team. Both teams remained in their corner, talking and giving the fighters word of encouragement. I looked at Viktor to see the stone look in his eyes. He looked fierce and dangerous. I wasn't going to lie and say I wasn't worried. I was very worried, more so afraid for my brother. The size and muscle difference alone made me regret even agreeing to be here. Rocky didn't come and boy would I love to be where he is right now. The bell rang and now it had begun.

Boxing was always so fast for me, but I always tried to pay attention for my brother. The two danced around a bit, Adonis trying to land some punches into Viktor's sides. He wasn't moved. I watched as Adonis moved around Viktor but Viktor caught him with a few punches and they looked brutal all ready. Viktor had him in the corner throwing calculated punches.

"Out of the corner, D!" Bianca yelled standing up now. It wasn't a good first round for Adonis as Viktor managed to land one punch right during the first bell. Why is it I could drown out the ocean like roar of the crowd and only hear the punches my brother took. I kept my fingers curled over my knees as I watched both fighters move to their corners. Adonis is panting as he rides the ropes back to his stool. Viktor just looks ready to win, ready to kill if necessary.

"Trust me."

I had to believe this fight wouldn't end the same way my father ended. Is that what Ivan Drago wanted of his son, to kill Adonis in order to get back at Rocky for beating him. Did he blame Rocky for things not working out with my aunt? I glanced at her and saw her eyes glazed over with tears yet none fell just yet.

The next round felt just as brutal as the first. Viktor was going all in, eyes filled with wild fire as he threw punch after punch at Adonis. One of his punches almost sent Adonis through the ropes, but he managed to remain inside. Bianca slowly covered her mouth looking down as if helpless. I could feel my aunt's hand curl into mine and I held her hand firmly giving her a positive look. The fight continued and my brother lay shots into Viktor, but it was like punching a piece of iron. Viktor got him in the ribs and my brother's pained face showed it all. He was weakened. The bell rang just in time and I felt my body rising up and I moved past security and over to my brother's chair.

"Adonis! It is enough!" I cried out to him as the security pulled me back. He looked back at me with a panting face. You should never have to look at your loved one so beaten and bruised. We shared a long stare, our bond strong enough that he could read my eyes. He didn't have to prove anything to anybody. He didn't need to fight for revenge or for justice. His left eye had already shut and he looked very bad. I couldn't lose him, my twin.

"It's okay, Alicia I got him!" Tony said as I was pulled back further.

Tears streamed down my face as I felt soft hands grabbing my hands. Aunt Alicia. I let her lead me back to my seat.

"You have to believe in your brother." she said, her voice trembling. The next bell rang and the two fighters went at it again. Bianca and I remained on our feet watching their bodies violently move across the ring. I could paint a picture of this. Adonis is a raging fire god battling against the ice king Viktor for land and power. The two elements feuding for hundreds of years on the blue earth. Whoever wins creates a new legacy for their family.

My eyes widen as I can see Adonis covered in fire due to his anger, and Viktor a pale blue figure with ice fists. He is calm and collective, but mighty and terrifying.

I watch as Viktor lands a blow to Adonis' bruised ribs causing him to drop to his knees almost in defeat. My stomach tightens, and I feel my hands cover my own ribs due to imaginary pain of seeing my brother punched there. I can feel my rib piercing my lung. The pain is vicious and I am devoured by pain. I feel my twin's pain. Viktor is going for an upper cut as the ref is waving his arms for him to stop. Now it's silent all around me. There is no one else in the stadium. It's just me and Adonis, twins who have shared a womb together, who shared a juvenile cell together, who shared the world together. I feel my heart split in two and tears fall down my cheeks immediately.

The roaring crowd hits my ears as if someone has smacked them both simultaneously. I don't see Adonis anymore just the ring filled with people.

"Oh no no no no." Aunt Alicia chants eyes filled with pure shock and dread as all her past horrors flooded back vividly. My chest hurts from the pain that's devouring me. I moved through the rows, Bianca right behind me. The arena is crowded and we are pushing past people.

"LET ME THROUGH! ADONIS!" I cried out shoving shoulders trying to push pas the security team. My mind is a blur. From running to the stage and seeing my brother lying lifeless on the ground, to fighting against the cops as they tell me I can't ride in the ambulance with him. Viktor is not even in my head.

"Trust me."

I could hardly think, hardly breathe as it felt the world was crashing down all around me. Aunt Alicia and Bianca were talking to the doctor and I was just sitting outside in front of the hospital. The cold hurt my face but I didn't care. I was just holding myself as I sat on the icy bench. I felt numb, so very numb. I should have seen this coming. There was no way Viktor could fight his primal instincts, his urges to win. He had to impress his father. That much I knew. It would always be about his father. I could hear heels on concrete and I looked up as my aunt was sitting down beside me. She took my hands and I just examined her face. She was tired, so very tired.

"The doctor had a lot to say, but in the end, Adonis will be okay. He will heal. It just takes time." she said and I closed my eyes just looked up praising God for the news.

"I don't know what I would ever do if I lost him to that ring." I said sniffling some and she looked at me with light eyes.

"He is strong and he is a fighter. This is his life, a fighter's life." she concluded tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. She looked over my shoulder and looked intently at something. I followed her gaze to see a familiar white truck moving toward the roundabout in front of us. My aunt and I stood up as we watched Viktor Drago get out of the passenger's side. Of course, his father drove and I just stood there watching as he walked onto the sidewalk over to us. Ivan got out and just stood against his door. Both were in heavy jackets trying to hide their identities. Guess it wouldn't look too good for the Drago men trying to confront the Creed women.

Aunt Alicia placed her hand in front of me and stepped a few inches in front of me as if to shield me. Good lord how did this look, the two Creed women who had relations with these two Drago men.

"You two should not be here." Aunt Alicia stated. Ivan nodded before taking a few steps from his truck and holding his hand out to her.

"We should talk." he said. My aunt's brow arched perfectly.

"This is a family moment, this is really not appropriate." she said, and as the two talked, Ivan trying to convince her to leave with him, and my aunt denying his advances, Viktor just looked at me shyly, guiltily.

"I need to return to letters." Ivan suddenly said and now my attention was brought back to Ivan. He reached into the truck and pulled out the stack of envelopes. "There is much we must talk about. We can go for walk."

"You have some nerve, my aunt's not going anywhere with you!" I snapped, but Aunt Alicia raised her hand to me.

"It is alright, Astrid. It seems we all need to get some things off our chest." she said, her tone edgy as if she did not trust the situation, but knew this scene was bound to happen. She looked at me. "Ivan and I will walk one lap around the hospital. By then everything will have been said." I looked at her stunned before looking away with mixed feelings about this. After everything that has happened, Adonis needed us. But Bianca was with him, so I guess this was the perfect time to give them space. I didn't want to know what they would speak about. I watched the two approach each other and slowly they began to stroll onto the road. They stood so close to each other, and I don't even think they noticed. Even after all of this, they couldn't deny their feelings. It looked almost natural for them to be so close. Now Viktor was standing over me and I just looked up at him and tensed with anger.

"Astrid-" but that's all he could say before my hand connected with his cheek. His face hardly moved from the action, but he got the message.

"That is for convincing me to trust you." I said sharply before turning and moving back toward the hospital. However, my wrist was grabbed and I whipped back to see him staring at me with those big eyes.

"Astrid, it was not my intent to hurt your brother. I demanded that my father bring me here to see how your brother was." he pled, as I tore my hand from his hold.

"So ask!" I snapped and he winced at my tone.

"How is he?" he asked. I glared at him too busy thinking about my aunt going off with his father.

"He will survive, his wounds will heal. It seems you couldn't see daddy's plan after all." I said. He frowned now.

"You think my father wanted to kill your brother… using me?" he asked.

"Yes." I said without much thought. "I saw it in your eyes the sheer focus, the want to win by any means necessary. If that punch to my brother had ended his life, taking him from me, your father would not bat an eye." He stared at me angrily before shaking his head.

"My dad may want a lot of things and he may be a lot of things, but he would not stoop so low." he said.

"God I half expected you to say "he is not a killer" but what difference does it make? You hated my brother in that ring. You wanted to do every horrible thing imaginable to him."

"That is not true."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! I was going to win! I knew it, I could have easily defeated your brother." he said.

"And what happened?" I asked angrily. I was finding it harder and harder to control my feelings and anger.

"You happened! You got inside my head. I planned to demolish your brother the legal way- the right way, but knew if I did that, the damage could have been a lot worst. You got inside my head with your art and your beautiful soul." he said raising his hands at my accusingly and I scoffed.

"Don't use me as an excuse." I said and he shook his head.

"It is the only truth I know. This way, neither of us lose. He remains champ and I remain nothing." he said, his tone lowering as he tucks his hands inside his jacket looking away. I stared at the side of his cheek for a moment taking in his words. Whether he planned this or not, the damage was done. My brother was going to need a lot of strength to overcome this. We just stood there now, me looking at him and him just looking off in the direction of our elders. I thought back to our times together before any of this happened. He was always determined, always head strong.

"You've never been nothing." I said finally and he slowly faced me. "You re Viktor Drago and only you can make a name for yourself. Your father can only do so much for you." I didn't even know where I was going with this before I slowly walked beside him, my hands rubbing my shoulder.

"I can't believe you two even showed up." I added. Viktor shrugged.

"The only reason he truly came here was for her." he said motioning his head in their direction. I looked down in thought of his words.

"We're never going to keep them a part." I said allowed accepting that there was nothing I could do or say to stop my aunt from loving his father.

"I would never stop him." he said and glanced up at him confused.

"Really? Why wouldn't you?" I asked now genuinely curious of his statement. Now his eyes were soft and gentle, the same gentle stare that always managed to arouse me with some kind of deep inner emotion.

"Because she makes him happy, despite the horrible past that brought them together. Because there is nothing he could ever tell me that justifies getting me to stop loving you." he explained. My eyes flickered in shock at his words and I looked away some.

"How do you know I still love you after what you did?" I asked. Would I let myself believe he planned to get himself disqualified to spare me pain of losing my brother, to spare him pain from losing his title. I felt my hand being raised up and pressed against his chest suddenly, causing me to be pulled in to him a bit.

"You love me." he stated. "And I love you and if somehow this has pushed you from me, then I will show you how much I will forever love you by drawing for you and painting you pictures of all the things I feel when I look at you, at the butterflies that flutter in my stomach at the thought of you."

I could feel tears falling down my cheeks as I knew he was opening himself up to me. He couldn't draw, but I knew he would try.

"I give you pictures to put back up in your apartment." he continued gently. "I will draw rainbows and puppies and kittens-" He was starting to babble now and I knew he was going to embarrass himself and so I hooked my fingers around his neck and pulled him into me, our lips crashing together swiftly. His lips tasted of blood from his fight and I didn't care. His arms wrapped around me pulling me into him as I felt my hands wrap around his neck. I pulled back inches from his lips, our foggy eyes staring at each other as our hands never let each other go.

"I could hate you and be justified in it… but to hate you would mean hurting us both." I whispered before feeling his lips devour mine again.

Author's notes

And let's not forget Rocky had come to visit Adonis in the hospital. Should be fun!