Hey Readers! First update of this fic in 2024! Sorry this took a while but I had some writers block and I was focused on 'Aftermath' which I'm hoping to finish soon.
Chapter Five
Back down in Mutopia, Cam and Barry sat in the mess hall together looking at the poster advertising the Tournament.
After they spent time in the movie room where they had watched a Football Game, they decided to head to the Mess Hall as they knew supper wouldn't be long.
They could smell the food from the kitchens were Louie and Patch were preparing everything and Bill the Duck and Alice the Chinchilla were helping get all the utensils, plates, bowls, and other essentials ready for when it was time for supper.
As Bill passed their table, he saw the poster the Rhino and Warthog were looking at.
"Hey boys." He said, "What you got there?"
Cam and Barry looked up.
"We found this whilst salvaging topside." Barry explained "Apparently there's an Underground Fight tournament on in the city and we're thinking of going to watch."
The Duck raised an eyebrow.
"You want to go to one of those?" he asked.
"Why not?" Cam asked, "Looks like it'll be a good night!"
Bill shook his head.
"I don't know, fighters beating each other to death, baying mobs and riots? Don't know how anyone can call that fun!" he shrugged "But if you wanna go, whose gonna stop you?"
"Tyroth might." Alice said as she walked past "He might not approve, since what will happen if you're spotted?"
Cam and Barry frowned.
"Come on guys!" Cam said, "We've gone topside many times since we arrived in Mutopia and have never been caught, we've been to a few football games before and never been spotted."
Barry gave Cam a sideways look then looked at Alice and Bill.
"We'll talk to the boss about it later." He said, "but we got plans to have a good night and not get caught."
"Alright but don't be too surprised if Tyroth's against it." Bill warned as he walked away, Alice not far behind.
Cam and Barry looked at each other then down at the poster.
"I don't see Tyroth being against it if he trusts us enough to be careful." Barry said.
"We're always careful!" Cam said, "This shouldn't be any different to what we do normally."
"True!"
Back topside, Alexandra and Samuel sat at a table in the corner of the restaurant having just ordered some drinks.
Alexandra was sipping a white wine and Sam was having a soda.
"Enjoying yourself love?" Samuel asked as he saw his girlfriend gazing at him over the rim of her wine glass.
"I am." Alexandra said, "It's a nice place this, I'm glad we came here for our first night." She looked at the menu before her trying to decide for the evening what her meal was going to be, and she looked at her boyfriend also scouring the menu and she could only guess what he was going to order.
"It'll be Cheeseburgers." She thought "He practically lives off those! Although he has eaten other food, Cheeseburgers are always a winner to him!"
Just then a cheerful blonde waitress came over.
"Hey guys!" she said taking out a pad "You both ready to order?"
The couple looked up and Samuel gestured to Alexandra.
"Ladies first." He said to which Alexandra mouthed 'Thank you' to him and looked at the menu.
"I'll have the battered Calamari to start, then after that the Pasta Carbonara please." She spoke.
"No worries!" the waitress smiled then looked at Samuel "And you sir?"
Samuel looked back at the menu.
"Let's see here." He mused, "I'll start with the toasted Ravioli, then the chicken alfredo for mains please!"
"Good choice!" the waitress replied "Well, I'll get those sorted for you!"
As the waitress walked off Alexandra looked at Samuel in amazement.
"Wow! You've chosen something different other than Cheeseburgers?" she exclaimed.
"Trust me! I started to!" Samuel chuckled "But then I thought, why not try something different?"
"Well, I'm impressed!" Alexandra replied.
"I can still surprise you, after all this time!" Samuel winked.
"That you can!" Alexandra smiled "And speaking of new things, and the fact we got this upcoming tournament, I still think back to the first tournament you took me to!"
Samuel grinned.
"Ah now that takes me back!" he said.
Alexandra nodded.
"I remember feeling rather scared, but you did look out for me there! I was surprised at myself for even stepping foot in such a place!"
"I was surprised too!" Samuel replied, "That you were up for going to one of them."
Alexandra shrugged and took a sip of her wine.
"I guess I wanted to see what you really did rather than just hearing about it."
"And your first experience was a really good one yeah?" Samuel asked.
"It was…" Alexandra paused "Let's say it was interesting."
"Yeah!" Samuel said, "For your first time that would be the appropriate word!"
"It was just before we became a couple!" Alexandra chuckled "And you were still in Alaska!"
"I remember it as clear as day!" Samuel replied dreamily.
Flashback
Two years ago, Anchorage City, Alaska State.
Samuel led Alexandra down some stairs towards the Underground Fight club that was being held in a large underground basement under a couple of Nightclubs, whilst Samuel confidently walked on, Alexandra held his arm feeling nervous as she looked at the rough looking men and women who were gathered there, some talking, others smoking and some even exchanging what she believed were drugs.
Samuel noticed Alexandra's look and turned to her.
"You okay?" he asked.
Alexandra looked over.
"I'm fine." She replied, "if not a little nervous."
"I can understand that." Samuel replied, "Being your first time and all."
"And in an environment unknown." Alexandra replied.
"If my parents knew about this, they'd go mad!" she thought "My stepdad would want to come in here with his boy's, guns blazing!"
When Samuel invited her to one of his Underground Fight tournaments, she had been unsure since she had heard bad things about them as many would consider them illegal or activity of street gangs, but she wanted to support Samuel and cheer him on, so she agreed and had lied to her parents about them going to a Concert in the city.
As they continued to walk through the area, some women dressed in street clothes and smoking cigarettes looked over and gazed at how different Alexandra looked compared to them.
She was dressed in smart dark blue trousers and a purple blouse with black chunky heeled shoes whilst the women looking at her were dressed in short skirts and halter tops as well as high heels.
"Chick's scared shitless!" the first one, a skinny blonde commented.
"Not used to the rough life Posh Spice?" the second one who was a Hispanic with short black hair asked.
Samuel glared at them, and they gave him a couple of snide looks before he pulled Alexandra away.
"Sorry about them." He muttered "It can be a bit rough down here."
"No kidding!" Alexandra muttered.
"Don't worry." Samuel reassured her patting her arm with his free hand "Just stick with me and you'll be fine!"
Alexandra smiled at Samuel trusting him to look after her, he seemed to have a reputation to be one not to be messed with as they walked together as none of the people standing around tried anything even if a couple of men wolf whistled at her and she heard a few voices.
"It's that Sam?"
"Yeah! He is! He's one of the favourites to win this whole thing!"
"Who's that he's with? Never seen her around before!"
"She's not one of us, that's for sure!"
"Yeah! She's too clean!"
Alexandra chewed her lip, but Samuel squeezed her hand as he looked at everyone with a serious face, making them back off or go silent.
Before long they made it to the entrance of the Fight Club and sounds could be heard inside as people were cheering and loud music could be heard.
A couple of guards stood in front and eyed the couple.
"Look who it is!" one of them said as he lowered his dark glasses "Not surprised to see you'll be competing!"
"That's right!" Samuel replied in a confident tone "Spots are still open right?"
The second guard nodded.
"You got the last one boy." He then cocked his head as he looked at Alexandra.
"And this is?" he asked.
"I'm Alex." Alexandra introduced herself "His supporter."
"Support hmm?" the first one asked as he took off his sunglasses and looked Alexandra up and down.
"Uh huh!" Samuel said, "She's a friend of mine, my plus one, so to speak, and this is her first time at one of these."
"I see." The second guard said, "I can see that, even how scared she looks!"
Alexandra frowned slightly.
"Anyway, in you go!" the first guard said and opened the doors so they could walk in, and they were greeted with bright lights as well as crowds of people gathered around a large, caged ring shouting and cheering as well as music playing from the speakers.
Samuel looked at Alexandra then at everyone surrounding the ring then a thought came to him.
"Big crowd huh?" he asked, "but then again, this sort of things draws huge crowds, and seeing how nervous you are, would you feel more comfortable watching from the back area?"
"The back area?" Alexandra asked as she looked at the crowds.
Samuel tugged on Alexandra's arm and lead her to the side where there was a door and they walked in.
"Where are we going?" Alexandra asked.
"Sometimes, the crowd can get a little rowdy." Samuel explained "there's security here to help keep things in line but every now and again it can get pretty crazy, I've been places where near riots break out!"
Alexandra gulped.
Samuel nodded.
"So I think for your first time, the best place is back here." He led Alexandra to a hallway of doors, and he walked to one with the number 4 on it and opened it.
"I've been here a few times, and the fighters are all assigned a changing room where they have TV's set up to watch the fights."
As they entered, Alexandra blinked as they entered a small living space with a sofa, a fridge and a cupboard, a table, and a mirror as well as a TV in the corner which showed the inside of the Ring.
"Wow!" Alexandra said, "Very convenient!"
Samuel nodded.
"That way, we can rest and change as well as watch the fights before we're called, so we can scout the competition, also in here is safe, so you can stay in here."
"Really?" Alexandra asked.
She was surprised that Samuel was giving her the luxury of watching from his changing room rather than from the main room, but she was relieved as she wasn't so sure she felt safe in the main arena after what she had seen and what Samuel had told her.
Samuel nodded.
"It's not every day I get the luxury of a changing room." Samuel said as he locked the door, then dropped his bag on the floor and walked over to the fridge where there were cans of soda as well as bottles of water.
He picked out a couple of cans and tossed one to Alexandra who caught it.
"Thanks." She said sitting on the sofa before opening it and taking a sip.
Samuel nodded then opened his bag to take out his Mixed Martial Arts Shorts which were camouflaged style as well as white tapes for his hands and feet.
Whilst Alexandra was watching the TV, he quickly changed into his shorts and taped up his hands and feet then tied his black hair back in a tight ponytail.
"Alright." He said checking himself in the mirror on the wall "I'm all set!"
Alexandra looked over and she blinked several times as he saw he was dressed in his shorts, and he was wearing no top so she could see every muscle on him.
"Wow…" she breathed as she took in every curve and pulsing muscle as well as the many scars he bore from previous fights.
Samuel looked over at her, then coughed making her break her admiring and she blushed slightly.
"You sure you're gonna be okay in here?" he asked.
"I should be!" Alexandra said quickly and shaking her head "As long as I stay here."
"And you can keep the door locked too." Samuel said winking "Just to be on the safe side."
"Okay thanks." Alexandra said.
"After my fights over." Samuel said, "I'll come right back here." He took a deep breath as he readied himself.
"I should be on my way." He spoke.
"Be careful!" Alexandra said, worry crossing her face and she stood up before walking over to Samuel and placing her hand on his shoulder.
As she did that Samuel felt himself get rather hot and it was his turn to blush.
He took Alexandra's hands and held them gently in his taped ones.
There was a moment of silence between them before he spoke.
"I'll be careful." He said seriously and gently "I promise." He winked and smiled.
Alexandra smiled and blushed too.
"Go get 'em tiger!" she said.
Samuel nodded at her then left the room to go to the ring.
Alexandra chewed her lip as she watched then went to sit on the sofa to watch the fight.
After leaving the changing room, Samuel walked with confidence towards the main arena.
As he did, he passed many fighters waiting for their turn in the ring, men and women from all backgrounds and shapes and sizes.
Four fighters consisting of a white male in white shorts and an Asian man in green shorts as well as two females in leotards, one was black haired and wore a purple and blue leotard whilst the other was red haired and wore a gold leotard.
"There he is! The Man himself!" the man in the white shorts commented.
"Sam Ray Henry." The red-haired woman muttered as she watched him.
"Definitely made a name for himself around here!" the other woman agreed.
"Wouldn't be surprised if he won this whole thing!" the Asian man said.
Samuel smiled as he heard the comments.
It was true, since settling in Anchorage for the tournaments he had made a name by coming first in all of them before entering this one.
"By next year." He thought to himself "I'll have made a name in a few more states if I keep this up! I've already done well in the Texas cities, Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, and Austin!"
Before long he made it to the main arena and he along with a couple of other fighters watched as the crowds bellowed and shouted words of encouragement as well as some insults whilst waving posters that had pictures and names of their favourite fighters.
Samuel licked his lips as he watched the current fight which consisted of two men.
One was red-haired with matching stubby beard and wearing red shorts whilst the other was a Latino man wearing black shorts.
Both bobbed about as they looked for an opening and Samuel saw people at the front shouting as well as exchanging money as they placed bets.
After a while the Latino man saw an opening and he ran at his opponent and slammed into him sending him against the bars of the caged ring!
Samuel winced as he watched then saw the Latino man take a step back as his opponent was winded for a moment then regained his composure.
"Smith is winded but he's ready for round two!" he heard the commenter shout through speakers "He's not going down easily! Perez is waiting to strike again! How will this end? Place your bets guys! This is gonna get intense!"
As Samuel waited his turn, Alexandra watched the fight on the TV from the changing room, she felt relieved she was somewhere safe as she had seen how loud and out of the control the crowd got in the front row and even at the back people were getting rather violent as they were shoving each other and having their own matches.
As she watched the fight, she winced and swallowed hard as she saw the fighters in the ring really going for each other.
"Jeez!" she cried "Sam wasn't kidding! This is a real fight and they really do go all out! This is nothing like the World Wrestling we see on TV."
After about five minutes, the fight was over when the Latino Fighter Perez managed to subdue Smith and the red headed fighter was forced to tap out.
"Perez is the winner!"
Samuel narrowed his eyes.
"He's gonna be a tough nut." He thought "But I got this!" he punched his hand into his fist and took a deep breath.
"Great fight there!" the commentor shouted "But Perez came out the winning party! But will he be able to face off his next opponent?"
A few cheers and shouts were heard from the crowd as a couple of medics helped Smith out of the ring and started to treat him.
"That's my cue!" Samuel thought as he stepped forward and started to walk down the aisle towards the ring as some loud hip hop music was played.
"Will Perez be able to stand against our next fighter! He's sure made a name for himself in this city! Give it up for Samuel Ray Henry!"
Alexandra smiled as she heard Samuel's name being called and she leaned forward eagerly.
She watched him stride up to the cage then climb in.
"You got this…" she thought "I got faith in you!"
Samuel strode up to the cage and faced Perez who got into a fighting stance.
"Samuel Ray Henry." Perez drawled "I've heard of you! Got quite a name for yourself!"
"You're about to find out why!" Samuel smirked and licked his lips.
"Don't think this is gonna be an easy fight!" Perez growled "I'm ready for you!"
"You know the rules boys!" the referee said, "Either get crippled or tap out!"
"Yeah, yeah! I got it!" Samuel said rolling his eyes then faced Perez.
"Let's dance!" he smirked.
"Lets!" Perez replied and rushed at Samuel tackling him to the ground.
A few oohhhs were heard in the crowd and Alexandra winced as she watched from the changing room.
Perez kept his weight on Samuel and was ready to punch him, Samuel grabbed one of his own legs lifting it up over the back of Perez's neck to keep him grounded and trapped.
Perez cried out in pain as he did that and struggled but Samuel used the momentum to roll over, taking his opponent with him and ended up on top of him in the mount position but Perez showed just how strong he was by pushing up with his hands throwing Samuel off him and he jumped up taking a few breaths.
Samuel cursed as he looked at his opponent who raised his fists.
"Gotta be faster next time!" Samuel thought as he watched Perez come at him.
Samuel at once got on the offensive and rushed at Perez, swinging his foot at his ribs with a swift kick to his side making him go flying into the bars of the cage.
The crowd went wild as they watched, screaming, and bellowing as they encouraged the fighting.
Samuel continued to stay on the offensive, kicking his opponent repeatably in the ribs until Perez coughed up blood and fell on the mat.
Samuel soon saw his chance and he mounted him grabbing one of his arms and twisting and pulling it painfully.
But Perez wasn't giving up easily and he moved around to release the pressure on his arm and kicked Samuel into the bars of the cage.
Alexandra winced as she watched yet she was surprised as she saw Samuel smirk.
"Jesus!" she thought "it's almost like he's enjoying the pain!"
Her eyes widened as she saw Perez lunge at him again and Samuel did nothing but waited until Perez had gotten close then he delivered a swift kick to his knee!
Perez yelled in pain and stumbled, and it was then Samuel grabbed him and jumped on his back wrapping his arms around his neck, locking him in a rear naked choke!
Perez struggled but Samuel still kept a good hold of him and wrapped his legs around his body trapping him more and it was then that Perez realised he was fighting a losing battle and tapped out.
As he did that the referee ended the fight and Samuel was declared the winner.
Alexander smiled and clapped as she watched the fight on the TV from the changing room.
"Nice work!" she thought "Well done Sam!"
Yet she felt concerned as she saw the many bruises adorning his body and how bloodied up he looked as he stood next to the referee who held up his arm and the crowd cheered and roared at the result.
After a few minutes, Samuel left the cage to return to his changing room, as he did, he held his ribs as well as wiped the sweat and blood from his forehead.
He made it back to the changing room to rest before he was called again, his wounds throbbed but he just smirked as he took the pain in his stride.
"Heh!" he thought "Good thing I'm friends with a nurse!"
He opened the door of the changing room and was greeted by a worried looking Alexandra.
"Sam!" she cried upon seeing his bloodied up and sweaty face.
He had a gnash on his forehead, another on his right shoulder, his left eye was black and swollen and there were other bruises forming on his face and chest, yet he smiled.
"Hey Alex!" he said brightly.
"Jesus Sam!" Alexandra exclaimed as she studied him "Look at you!"
Samuel gestured to himself casually.
"Oh this?" he said, "This is nothing!"
"Nothing!?" Alexandra yelped "How can you like this is nothing!"
"Comes with being a fighter!" Samuel shrugged as he was led to the sofa and sat down so Alexandra could analyse him properly as well as clean his face "Gonna get roughed up every now and then!"
"How can you cope with all this pain is beyond me!" Alexandra muttered as she wiped away the sweat and blood as well as looked at the cuts and bruises "I've seen Football Players cry like babies when they've been knocked over! Snowflakes!"
"I've seen it too." Samuel agreed as he looked up feeling Alexandra cradle his cheek as she continued to clean him.
"You don't need stitches luckily." Alexandra said softly as she stroked Samuel's jawline with her thumb and got a little closer to him "But you're gonna be black and blue for a while."
"At least…" Samuel breathed as he gazed at Alexandra "I'm in one piece."
"That you are." Alexandra said as she stroked the cut above Samuel's eye then lowered her other hand to his cheek, so she was holding his head.
For a few seconds, Samuel and Alexandra just gazed at each other, then Alexandra felt Sam's hands on hers and he smiled, then Alexandra lowered her head, so her forehead was resting on Samuel's.
"Well done Sam." She whispered, "You did great out there!"
Samuel blushed.
"I did my best." He said, "And this was only the beginning."
"I got faith in you." Alexandra breathed as she kissed his forehead.
Samuel smiled as he felt her lips on his forehead then Alexandra knelt in front of him, so she was level with him on the sofa.
Samuel ran his hands down Alexandra's arms, and he placed his hands on her shoulders then cupped her own cheeks, just looking into her eyes he felt a longing and he could tell Alexandra was feeling the same as she leaned towards him, and it wasn't long before their lips connected.
"Alex…"
"Sam…"
It started a gentle kiss for a few seconds before they pulled apart but after a moment, they felt the need to feel each other again and soon they were engaged in a passionate kiss.
Samuel grasped Alexandra's hair and felt it's softness, and Alexandra at the same time held his cheeks between her hands.
End Flashback
"Our first kiss." Samuel said dreamily as he sipped his soda "And in the changing room in the Fight Club of all places!"
Alexandra blushed.
"Yeah!" she said, "Not what I would have expected, but it happened at the right time, and it couldn't have been a more perfect time!"
Samuel nodded and laughed.
"I can't believe I fibbed to my parents about that night." Alexandra chuckled.
Samuel looked a little guilty.
"Oh yeah! If your stepdad knew where we had gone that night, he would have had me down the Klink for taking you to such a place!"
Alexandra laughed.
"Oh Gosh! That makes me think of when you first met my parents! That was a month after our first date in the park and a week after the tournament!"
Samuel went a little pink.
"They were very warm to me!" he said, "And especially pleased I had been of assistance to you that night!"
Alexandra chuckled as she had another sip of her wine as the memory came to her.
Flashback
Two Years ago, Anchorage, Alaska.
Samuel hummed to himself as he walked down a street in the city looking for an address he had on a piece of paper along with a bunch of flowers.
It had been a month after their date in the park and after few more dates in-between Alexandra's shifts at the hospital, she had invited him for dinner at her parents' house.
Samuel had felt honoured that Alexandra wanted to introduce him to her family, and he was both a little nervous and excited about meeting them.
Before long he saw a house with the number on it that matched the address he had in his hand.
"This must be Alex's parents' house." He told himself and he walked up to it, he then looked at himself.
He was wearing clean blue jeans; a white shirt and white sneakers and he had his hair tied in a long braid behind his head.
"I think I look alright." He thought "I do hope Alex's parents like me."
Inside the house, Alexandra was wearing a purple cotton dress and was rushing about to get the table laid as well as keep an eye on the dinner she was cooking.
All the while a white-haired woman dressed in black cotton trousers and a white blouse watched her.
"Goodness me Alex!" she said, "Slow down!"
"Sorry mum!" Alexandra said in a hurried voice "I just want everything to be perfect! Oh dear where are those napkins?"
"In the top-drawer darling." Her mother said, "Dear me, I've never seen you this worried apart from when you're at work!"
"I do hope he likes the pasta dish I've done!" Alexandra said as she opened the drawer and found the napkins.
"I'm sure he will!" her mother smiled "I'm looking forward to meeting him! He's gotten you rather smitten!"
Alexandra blushed.
"I'm looking forward to meeting him too." A male voice was heard from the doorway and Alexandra saw her stepfather, a large broad-shouldered man with white hair and a thin beard wearing a green shirt and dark green cords "I'm surprised you've found someone so quick especially after how things ended with Ricky!"
"I know." Alexandra said, the blush still on her face "But Sam, he's…he's different, there's so much more to him than any other guy I've met!"
"I see." her mother said cocking her head and eyeing her daughter with a suspicious smirk.
"Mum!" Alexandra went a deeper shade of red "Don't give me that look!"
She ran into the dining room and placed the napkins in their places then grinned.
"There! Ready!"
Alexandra's mother and stepfather walked in and nodded in agreement.
"Nicely done darling!" her stepdad said, "Now all we need to do is size up your new man!" he clenched his fists "Make sure he knows what he's in for!"
Alexandra saw her stepdad clench his fists and her eyes widened.
"Austin!" she cried "You're not gonna try and intimate him? He's my new friend, not a criminal!"
Alexandra's mother shook her head.
"You know him darling." She said, "He doesn't always leave his work fully when he comes home!"
Alexandra nodded but before she could say anything the doorbell rang, and she raced to the door.
"Walk don't run!" her mother reminded her.
On the other side, Sam waited patiently then the door opened, and he smiled.
"Hey you!" he grinned.
"Sam! Hi!" Alexandra said excitedly as she opened the door fully and let him in "You look great!"
"So do you!" Samuel replied then handed Alexandra the flowers.
"Wow thanks!" Alexandra said accepting them.
Samuel winked then looked at Alexandra's parents.
"Ah, you must be her mum and stepdad."
"That's us!" Austin said, "I'm Austin."
"And I'm Claudia." The mother said "It's lovely to meet you at last…" she paused then Samuel spoke.
"Samuel Ray Henry!" he said holding out his hand to which both parents shook it as they welcomed him.
"I'm so glad to finally meet you both!" he said.
"Us too!" Claudia said, "Alex has spoken highly of you!"
"Indeed yes, after all he did save me from a mugger." Alexandra said.
Austin frowned as he remembered Alexandra telling him.
"oh yes! That mugger!" he growled as he started to pretend to box the air with his fists "I wish I had been there! I would given him what for, for touching my daughter!"
"I promise you sir, I did that and more" Samuel assured the serious looking man as well as thanking his lucky stars he wasn't in his bad books.
"Glad to hear it!" Austin said glancing at Samuel making him feel a little intimidated.
"I have to say, you were in the right place at the right time!" Claudia sighed "I'm always telling Alex how dangerous it is at night."
Alexandra rolled her eyes.
"Oh mum, it was just a one off, I've never had any issues till then!"
"It was no fault of hers ma'am." Samuel said "It could've happened to anyone. As you said, I'm just thankful I happened to be around at the time it was happening."
"And I'm glad you were there." Claudia said stroking Alexandra's hair affectionately.
"As was I ma'am." Samuel winked.
"Hmmm, that's got my approval!" Austin murmured still eyeing Samuel like a suspect.
"Austin, ease up!" Alexandra said, "He's not one of your criminals to interrogate!"
Samuel chuckled.
"I understand." He said, "He's just being a caring father."
Austin smiled proudly.
Samuel then sniffed the air.
"Mmmm something smells pretty good!"
"Oh Gosh! The bake!" Alexandra cried and ran into the kitchen and Samuel watched her.
"I take it Alex is cooking?" he asked.
Claudia and Austin nodded.
"She insisted." They spoke.
"It's ready!" Alexandra shouted from the kitchen "Go sit at the table!"
She soon entered the dining room with a pan of Cheesy Pasta Bake and garlic bread which she set on the table along with some tossed salad.
"Here we are!" she said.
"Wow!" Samuel said "This looks great! Can't wait to try it!"
Alexandra then started to serve everyone then she sat down in-between Samuel and her mother.
After having a few mouthfuls of Alexandra's cooking which went down very well with everyone, Austin decided to do his own interrogation of his stepdaughter's new male friend.
"So young man." he said, "What do you do for a living?"
Samuel looked up from chewing on a piece of garlic bread.
"Well, it may not be the most common thing but I'm a fighter sir. Mixed martial artist, to be exact."
"Mixed martial artist?" Claudia asked.
Austin almost spat out his food.
"You're what!?" he exclaimed "Like a professional fighter!?"
"Yes sir, something like that." Samuel said.
"Hmm, interesting." Claudia said with a frown as she placed her hand on Austin's "I must say, I wasn't expecting to hear that."
Austin frowned harder.
"Tell me more about these fights Sam, how does it go?" he asked.
"Yes, of course sir." Samuel said nodding "I mainly compete in tournaments, made quite a name for myself as well as quite living doing so. As a matter of fact sir, it's because of it that I ended up meeting Alex proper."
"I see..." Austin mused.
"He was competing here, and he happened to be in the neighbourhood when he saved me from that mugger." Alexandra explained.
"And not too long after that, I was sent to the hospital because of some injuries I got, ones that honestly a good night's rest would have handled may I add, and she was the one who treated me."
"Wow! Really!?" Austin asked.
"What are the odds!?" Claudia chimed in.
"I'm curious to know, what tournaments do you partake in?" Austin asked.
"Different kinds," Samuel explained "but my specialty is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu."
"And that would be?" Claudia asked.
"Grappling, ma'am." Samuel replied, "A fighting style about ground positions where you win by making your opponent submit."
"Ah yes!" Austin said clicking his fingers "I believe I am familiar with that son, I know a couple of people on the force who do that."
Samuel grinned inwardly at the fact that Austin called him son.
"It's a very effective fighting style" he said.
"So I'm told, as well as rather complex" Austin mused then he looked at Alexandra.
"Maybe you should learn some of his skills my dear." He said, "Might save your life if you get confronted again."
Alexandra chuckled.
"Oh he has Austin, Sam gave me a few basic lessons."
"That I did." Samuel agreed "She was curious about it, so I showed her a few things."
Alexandra nodded.
"He said I could use them, should I be confronted with trouble, although that night I was just unlucky."
"I'm just thankful you're alright Sweetheart." Claudia said placing her hand on her daughter's.
"I promise you ma'am," Samuel said fervently "I wasn't going to let anything happen to her, neither then or now."
"That makes me happy to hear, truly." Claudia said.
"I have to say young man, you're a million times better than the man she had before!" Austin said with a half-smile half frown.
"Austin!" Alexandra exclaimed.
"He's just being honest Sweetheart." Claudia said, "After you told us what you were going through with that Ricky!"
"I know mum," Alexandra sighed "I do ask myself why I didn't leave sooner?"
"You didn't know how to." Samuel comforted placing his hand on Alexandra's shoulder "And that's fine. Sometimes it takes time for a person to gather the courage to do so. I'm just thankful that you left when you did before it could get worse."
"As am I hun!" Claudia said.
Samuel squeezed Alexandra's shoulder.
"And I know that this is new for us both." He said looking at Alexandra "You getting into a new relationship quickly and me giving one a go for essentially the first time. But I'm sure that we will be fine together and make this work.
"I hope so." Alexandra smiled.
"But be warned boy!" Austin glared pointing at his eyes then at Sam "I got my eye on you!"
"Austin!" Claudia exclaimed.
"It's okay ma'am!" Samuel chuckled "And yes sir, I understand. You have nothing to worry about, I promise."
"That gives me peace," Austin said, "but I warn you boy!" he held up his fists "One is serious injury, and this is certain death!"
Alex and Claudia looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"Oh boy..." Alexandra sighed.
"I'll keep that in mind." Samuel said nervously.
"Don't feel scared Sam, it's only his way." She assured him.
"No, I understand." Samuel said, "He's just being a father, if it were my dad, I'm sure he'd be the same to some extent."
Austin just laughed cockily, and Claudia just shook her head tittering.
End Flashback
Alexandra laughed.
"Typical of my Stepdad to speak to you like a bad cop," she said.
Samuel nodded.
"I could tell he liked me," he said, "Despite his interrogating of me!"
"Like I said, he doesn't always leave his work at the office, and he is proud of his profession."
Just then, the waitress arrived with their food.
"Here we are!" she said, "Enjoy your meals!"
Sam smiled.
"Thanks!" he said then looked at his food "This looks good!" he said, "Although that first meal you cooked for me, that was a real treat!"
Alexandra chuckled.
"Well, I'll cook it for you again when we return home!" she winked "Call it your celebratory meal when you win the tournament!"
"Got confidence in me?" Samuel asked.
"Yep!" Alexandra said, "Always have! You got this in the bag!"
"Well, we can only hope so!" Samuel chuckled giving a knowing smile.
So Cam and Barry are planning to go and watch the tournament despite Bill and Alice's doubts of what Tyroth might think and we've seen more of Samuel and Alexandra's pasts in Flashback, Alexandra's first tournement and her first kiss with Samuel then him meeting her parents!
Big Ackowledgements to Meian16 for helping me with the Flashback scenes.
