Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rocky's Condo
To say Rocky wasn't worried about Severus would be a complete lie.
It had been nearly two weeks since Severus was expelled, and the strain on him was obvious. Rocky had spent a week in Los Angeles with him and Mary-Anne, making sure they were both holding up, but it was clear that Severus wasn't himself.
He hardly spoke, throwing himself into training with an intensity that was unsettling. With only two weeks left until the fight, it was almost painful to watch him. Severus never looked up, never let his eyes leave the punching bag, his face set in a hard, unyielding expression.
Rocky watched with a furrowed brow, his worry deepening as he observed Severus's relentless focus on the punching bag. The kid's intensity was almost frightening—his gaze never wavered, and his face remained a mask of cold determination. There was no joy, no satisfaction, just a grim resolve that seemed to eat away at him from the inside.
"Kid," Rocky called out, hoping to break through, but Severus didn't respond. His fists kept pounding the bag, harder and faster, as if he could beat away the turmoil that had been building since his expulsion.
Mary-Anne, watching from the side, exchanged a worried glance with Rocky. "He's not going to stop, is he?" she whispered, her voice thick with concern.
Rocky shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh. "Not until he's worn himself out—or something worse."
After the first week was up, Rocky and Severus went back to Philadelphia, where the fight was happening, while Mary-Anne stayed back as she would watch the fight on TV.
Watching Severus get in his element, using his anger to his advantage, was something he hadn't seen since the boys father was alive.
What they didn't know was that something Mary-Anne had beg Severus not to tell the world,was bound to come out sooner or later.
Philadelphia Main Event, Delphi Boxing Academy
Rocky leaned against the doorframe, watching Severus get ready. This was his first real fight—live audience, TV broadcast—the whole deal. Severus looked prepared, but Rocky could see the nerves in the way he was sweating bullets.
He knew Mary-Anne didn't want Severus carrying the Snape name into the ring, so Severus chose to wear his birth mother's maiden name: Prince. And damn, it suited him perfectly.
"Rock," he turned to see Pete Sporino, an old friend and the father of Severus's opponent, standing there. "Hey, how you doin', Pete?" He watched as Pete walked a few feet away from the room Severus was in, clearly wanting Rocky to follow.
With one glance at Severus, he followed Pete into the hall, noticing the man's upset stance. "Something wrong?" As he came to stand in front of the man, Pete immediately spoke up.
"Rock, I knew, I knew there was something with this kid." Rocky let out a soft sigh; he had a feeling he knew where this was going.
"Rocky, I have been trying for years to get you to come work with us." When Rocky tried to turn away, Pete kept talking. "All of a sudden, this kid from Hollywood gets you out of the shadows..."
Chuckling, Rocky took a few steps away, trying to shift the focus on himself and not Severus. "Ain't no shadows, I just didn't want to do nothing in the gym, that's all." He could see his attempt to change the focus didn't work by the way Pete was looking at him.
"Rocky, I made calls to L.A. The kid's name is Severus, and the kid's got Snape blood." Rocky felt his blood run cold; this was not what he was expecting Pete to say. "Now, this fight just got big time—"
Rocky was quick to cut him off, not wanting to hear more. This was Severus, not Tobi... this was Severus. "I apologize. Do me a favor, can we keep this between ourselves?"
Pete scoffed. "Look, I'm asking you as a favor. I want him to make a name on his own." He watched as Pete seethed for a minute before walking off, mumbling that the secret was safe.
Rocky watched Pete disappear down the hallway, his mind spinning with everything that had just unfolded. The revelation that Pete had dug into Severus's past, finding out about his connection to the Snape's, left him uneasy. Severus didn't need this kind of pressure on top of everything else. This fight was supposed to be his shot at starting fresh, away from the shadows of his past.
He took a deep breath, trying to push the conversation out of his mind as he walked back to where Severus was getting ready. The kid was still taping up his gloves, his focus sharp and unwavering. For a moment, Rocky just stood there, taking in the sight of Severus in his gear with the name Prince emblazoned on his shorts. It was like seeing a different person—a fighter ready to take on the world.
But Rocky couldn't shake the feeling that this fight had just gotten a lot more complicated. He stepped forward, putting a hand on Severus's shoulder. "You good, kid?"
Severus glanced up at him, his expression calm but serious. "Yeah, Rock, I'm good."
Rocky nodded, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. "Alright then. Just remember, this is your fight. No one else's. You go in there and do what you do best."
Severus gave a small nod, his eyes already shifting back to the task at hand. "I will."
Rocky squeezed his shoulder before stepping back, giving him some space. As he watched Severus continue to prepare, a mixture of pride and concern filled his chest. Severus had come so far, and now, with the weight of his past hanging over him, this fight was going to be even more crucial.
Whatever happened tonight, Rocky knew one thing for sure—Severus was ready.
Fight Time
Both Severus and Leo entered the ring, facing each other as the referee started talking. "Y'all had your instructions in the dressing room. Obey my commands at all times, protect yourself at all times."
After the ref made them touch gloves, they each went back to their corners. Severus took a deep breath; he had to win this. This fight wasn't just for him—it was for his dad. The man who brought him here, the man who died for him. He was going to win for that man.
The bell rang, signaling the beginning of round one.
Severus moved forward cautiously, his focus razor-sharp. Leo was fast, but Severus had been trained to be faster. Leo threw the first punch, a quick jab. Severus blocked it easily, but he could feel the power behind it.
He's strong, Severus thought, dodging another punch. But I'm smarter. I have to be.
Severus countered with a jab of his own, connecting with Leo's jaw. The hit was solid, but Leo barely flinched. He came back with a combination—a left to the body, a right to the head. Severus managed to block the headshot but took the body blow. Pain flared in his side, but he pushed it down, focusing on his footwork, circling away from Leo's reach.
Stay calm, stay focused. Remember what you trained for, he reminded himself, hearing the distant echo of Rocky's voice in his head.
Leo pressed forward, throwing another barrage of punches. Severus blocked and dodged as many as he could, but Leo's speed was relentless. A right hook slipped through, catching Severus on the temple. His vision blurred for a second, but he shook it off, refusing to go down.
I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever.
The crowd roared as Leo backed Severus into a corner, throwing a brutal uppercut. Severus ducked just in time, feeling the air rush past his face. He countered with a left hook, then a right cross, driving Leo back a step.
You can't lose, Sev. Not after everything.
The first round ended, Leo being the winner of the round, and Severus stumbled back to his corner, his chest heaving. Rocky was there, talking to him, but Severus's mind was racing, replaying every move, every hit. He had to do better. He had to win.
He watched as Leo stood up, the second round about to begin, and the crowd chanting his name, "Leo! Leo! Leo!" The noise was deafening, a wave of energy pushing against Severus, trying to break his focus. But he blocked it out, narrowing his world to just him and Leo.
Let them chant, Severus thought, his jaw set. They don't know what I've been through. They don't know why I'm here.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the second round. Leo came at him like a freight train, fast and aggressive. Severus braced himself, blocking the first few punches, but Leo's intensity was overwhelming. A powerful right hook slipped past Severus's guard, smashing into his ribs. The pain was sharp, almost making him double over, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.
Stay strong. You've taken worse.
Leo's next punch was aimed at his head, but Severus ducked, feeling the rush of air as the fist whizzed past his ear. He countered with a quick jab to Leo's midsection, then a left hook to the jaw. The impact reverberated through his arm, but Leo barely flinched, his eyes still locked on Severus with a ferocity that made Severus's stomach tighten.
He's not going down easy, Severus realized, his breaths coming in quick bursts. But neither am I.
The crowd's chants grew louder as Leo pressed forward, his punches coming faster, harder. Severus dodged as best as he could, his mind racing to keep up with Leo's relentless assault. A brutal uppercut grazed his chin, and for a split second, his vision blurred.
Focus, Sev! Don't let him get to you!
Severus retaliated with a combination of punches—a left to the body, a right to the head. He managed to push Leo back a step, but the Gryffindor fighter was relentless, immediately coming back with another flurry of blows. Severus felt his strength waning, the toll of the fight starting to weigh on him, but he refused to let it show. He had too much riding on this.
You can't lose this fight. Not now, not ever.
The seconds dragged on, each punch, each block, each dodge, feeling like a lifetime. The crowd's roar became a distant hum in Severus's ears as he focused entirely on Leo, on surviving this round, on finding an opening. The pain in his ribs, the ache in his arms—none of it mattered. All that mattered was the fight, and the promise he made to himself.
This is it, Severus thought, adrenaline surging through him.
He landed a devastating uppercut, and Leo's head snapped back. The force was too much. Leo's legs gave out, and he crumpled to the mat. The referee started the count, but Severus knew it was over.
"One... Two... Three..." The crowd hushed, tension thick in the air.
"Four... Five... Six..." Leo didn't move.
"Seven... Eight... Nine..." Severus's heart pounded in his chest.
"Ten!" The referee called it, and the arena erupted in cheers.
Severus stood there, breathing heavily, his hands still clenched into fists. He had done it. He had won, not just for himself but for the memory of his father.
"We got one, Rock!" Severus shouted, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins as he rushed over to Rocky. He wrapped his arms around him, giving the man the biggest hug he could muster. The weight of the victory, the emotions he had been bottling up for weeks, all came pouring out in that moment.
Rocky patted him on the back, a proud smile on his face. "You did good, kid. You did real good."
Severus pulled back, his eyes shining with tears he refused to let fall. "I couldn't... without you, Rock. I—" His voice broke slightly, the words catching in his throat. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "I just…thank you."
Rocky gave him a firm nod, understanding more than words could convey. "You earned this, Severus. No one can take that from you."
As the crowd continued to cheer, chanting his new name, "Prince! Prince! Prince!" Severus took a moment to soak it all in. This victory was his, but it was also for his father, for the man who had believed in him, and for the future he was determined to carve out on his own terms.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rocky's Condo
"Morning, Champ."
Severus couldn't help but smile like a kid on Christmas when he heard Rocky call him 'Champ'. He took a frozen waffle out of the toaster and sat down at the bar, watching Rocky crack an egg into a bowl.
"So, how'd you sleep, old man?" Severus asked, his tone teasing.
Rocky chuckled as he whisked the egg. "Better than I have in a long time, kid. That fight really took it out of me."
Severus grinned, taking a bite of his waffle. "You mean you actually slept? I thought you'd be up, analyzing every move from last night."
Rocky smirked, setting the bowl aside and starting on the pan. "Nah, I figured I'd let you handle the analyzing for once. You were the one in the ring."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And what do you think of my performance?"
"Impressive," Rocky said, flipping the egg into the pan. "But don't let it go to your head. There's always room for improvement."
Severus shrugged, a bit of pride in his eyes. "I'll keep that in mind. For now, I'm just happy to be out of that ring in one piece."
Rocky nodded, turning to face him. "You did good, kid. Real good. Now, let's eat before we head out. We've to get you back to your Mother."
Severus was about to reply when he noticed the TV on the counter, the headline flashing across the screen: "Severus Snape: The Son of Boxing Legend Tobias Snape, Secrets Revealed!"
His face went pale, and his heart raced as he read the headline over and over. Panic surged through him. "No. No, no, no," he muttered, his hands trembling.
Rocky turned to see Severus's reaction and instantly knew something was wrong. "What's the matter?"
Severus's heart raced as he stared at the headline, his vision blurring at the edges. The room felt like it was closing in on him, each breath coming faster and more shallow. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears.
"No. No, this can't be happening. How did they find out? What if my mother sees this? What if it changes everything? What if they come for us? What if—"
His hands shook uncontrollably, and he tried to grasp at the counter for support, but it felt like everything was slipping away. Rocky's voice seemed distant, muffled by the roaring in his ears.
"Hey, Severus, calm down. Just breathe, okay?"
But the words faded into the background as Severus's panic took over. The room seemed to spin, and he struggled to catch his breath. He could barely hear Rocky's attempts to soothe him through the fog of his fear.
"I'm losing control. I can't handle this. I can't—"
His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a desperate attempt to cling to reality. His vision darkened at the edges, and he felt like he was teetering on the brink of something too overwhelming to face.
Rocky's presence was still there, but his voice was now a distant echo, blending into the background noise of Severus's panic. The only thing that remained clear was the terrifying realization that his world was shifting in ways he wasn't ready to face.
Severus sank to the floor, his body trembling as the overwhelming wave of anxiety crashed over him.
He Felt like He Was Going Crazy...