It was late at night, very few people were walking around at that hour. Joe was carrying his light duffel bag as he looked around. It was becoming difficult for him to keep up with other boxers; everyone seems to be advancing while he was stuck in the same rank, being constantly mocked by the public. He tried to ignore it, but each time it seemed to get worse. He didn't have someone to relate or to talk to about this problem. Sure there was Gabby Jay, Kaiser, Gerbasi and many more, but he didn't want to bother them. Maybe he was the problem, with his passive nature. He wanted to be more assertive, but he just couldn't muster up the courage to do so.
While he was lost in his thoughts, he felt someone dragged him into an alleyway, pushing him to the ground. Startled, he looked up at his attacker only to find there were two more with him. He slowly got up, tensed and scared of what would happen to him. And that's when they began to speak.
"Well if it isn't Glass Fucking Joe!" said one of the assilants in a smug tone, "The biggest dissapointment to walk into a ring!"
"How does it feel for a kid to win against ya?"
"Why do you even entered boxing? You're just approving the stereotype that all French people are pathetic losers."
"Aren't ya ashamed of yourself?"
Insults after insults, he tried to contain all those years of frustration and anger as they shoved him against the wall. He felt humiliated as they injured his pride, denigrate the sport he deeply cared about and, worst of all, offended France and it's people, something Rosseau loved more than anything else.
He wouldn't take it anymore. All he saw was a blur and their screams fell to deaf ears. He had finally snapped after all those years.
"Joe..." said the Frenchman with wide eyes.
"Why didn't you say anything before, verdamnt?!" asked Viktor in a very outraged manner.
"Like I said before, I didn't want to bother anyone.."
"Oi, time's up buddy! Visiting hours are over!" stated the rude policeman from before.
"Don't worry Geoffroi, will get ya out in no time.." said Mr. Gerbasi in a worried tone as he watched how they took the boxer away.