SUMMARY

As The Traveler finally catches his now connecting train from Dusseldorf to Berlin after a fateful reunion with his old trainer/lover David, he now preps himself to reach out to, meet, and train with Rob Hunter. With no future plans and having been shaken up from the recent chain of events, will he be able to give it his all to be worthy student for Rob?

SCENE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019, 10:15 AM

The Traveler
As the train leaves the platform at Dusseldorf and I see David turn around to head back to his place, I settle in on my seat on the train. After an unexpected delay, I am finally in the final "stride" to Berlin. I open my phone and I see two email chains I had been copied on; one from Adam Reigns, and the other a reply to that email from my personal coach back at home. Adam reached out to Rob to let him know I'm on my way, and my coach "vouched" for me... as well as Adam. I tense up a bit as I read the emails, and then I see a small notification: "One unread email is in this chain. Would you like to view?" it reads. Rob writes back to them, "Looking forward to it." I take one big deep breath; my heart is racing; all that's left is for me to introduce myself to Rob in the email, solidify a plan. For the time being though, I'll hold off, wait until the train gets closer to Berlin, in case there's any more unplanned delays... Public travel can get so unpredictable in the winter...

THREE HOURS LATER: 13:15

The Traveler
Within the three hours that this train has miraculously run smoothly, I dozed off into a deep nap, with some interesting dreams... not that I remember the exact details anyway. With about an hour left until the train reaches its destination in Berlin, I decide to gather the courage and reach out to Rob and introduce myself.

I open my laptop and use the email chain to email Rob, but take out Adam and my personal coach from the recipient lines: "Good afternoon Mr. Hunter, As I'm sure you've seen from these previous emails, my name is Jackson Lau, and in the more professional fight setting I've been going by Jackson Rose. For the past few months, I've been traveling all over the world, training with various combat specialists to better myself, and wanting more training, one of your friends and my trainer, Adam Reigns, suggested I reach out to you. I will be rolling into the Berlin Central Station in another hour, around 14:55? I hope we can make something work! Thank you, The Traveler." and I hit send and begin to do a little research to see for Rob's pro wrestling history. He has a legendary reputation and I want to be prepared... if he finds me worthy to train, that is.

Rob Hunter
I hate this time of the year. The cold...the darkness...and everyone around me in Christmas stress. Honestly Christmas never really cheered me up. I mean...the lights are beautiful, I love that you can get ginger bread around every corner, and at least I see everyone of family together again. But all that doesn't really carry me through these days. So it is not surprising that I keep myself busy with fights, tournaments or just spontaneous fuck dates. Either way...as soon as it was a competitive encounter I usually been the one dominating. I love that feeling of being in control, it gives me something to hold on, it makes me feel safe. And so my winning streak is pretty impressive. That being said, this is not the first time I got asked for some training sessions or classes, but this one caught my attention.

He has some solid references as some of my close friends already worked with you and everyone told me that there is a new star on the rise. Frankly I was only waiting for him to contact me as my friends already told me that you would do so and just when I finished my thought I get a notification on my phone. My face is lit up from the screen as I'm reading the mail. I smile wide and close the locker, storing something in there and then head upstairs out of my dull basement and into my living room, answering to the mail.

"Jackson, I'm excited and ready for you. An Uber will be there at 03:00PM. B-PW 3856. Tell him your name is Hunter." I hit send and lean back on my couch. I look at the clock..."Oh shit...This is in an hour!" I jump up and order the Uber so he will be there in time and head toward the shower.

The Traveler
I get an email notification back from you. "Holy shit, that was fast," I think to myself. I open it and read that you confirm our session and what to expect when getting in to the station. I fiddle my thumbs a bit before writing back, "Mr. Hunter, Perfect! Thank you, and I look forward to this. See you in about an hour. Warmest regards, Jackson Lau." And I hit send and continue reviewing his entire pro wrestling history thus far. He can get down and dirty too, so this will be a relatively new experience....

I begin to think about the two key moments when I was in a cage and things swung in that direction as I continue reviewing your history. Around a half hour later, I decide to close my laptop and meditate to calm myself.

ONE HOUR LATER: 14:55

The Traveler
The train arrives at Berlin Central Station, and I take a deep breath and gather my belongings and exit the vehicle. I make my way to the exit and an Uber pulls up. I go to the front window and ask the driver where it's headed, and he asks me for the name, I say "Yes, Hunter," and next thing I know I am being taken to you. As the Uber pulls up to your place, I am reminded of my first training session ever where I met my trainer at his place rather than a gym. A full-circle moment. I slowly and nervously approach the door and ring your doorbell.

Rob Hunter
I just got everything ready in time. Of course I already took care of my basement and made sure that everything is prepared when you arrive. But now I am also showered and I quickly arranged the rest of my house a bit...just in case I'll show you around. I can be messy...but I would never show that to a stranger. And just as I left the shower, only wrapped up in a white bath towel, the doorbell rings.

I waddle toward the front door as fast as possible but I might have wrapped the towel a bit too tight and so I slide my feet over the wooden floor and I'm just happy you don't see me like that. The Hunter more looking like a penguin...a pumped one...but still. I arrive at the door and open it shirtless, like always not shy at all. I smile and take a step out of the way. "Hey Jackson! Welcome!" I offer you a hug before leading you into my crib.

The Traveler
As you open the door, my eyes briefly scan your built frame as they go to meet yours. I look up at you and smile, more parallel memories of the first training ever. I almost chuckle. "Hello Rob, thank you, nice to meet you!" I place my duffelbag on the ground very quickly to return your hug, "how warm and welcoming the Hunter is," I think to myself, and we break the hug, I grab my bag and you lead me into your place. "Great place you have here!" I say as I look around.

Rob Hunter
"Thank you!" I smile wide and act like it would be always arranged like this. I even have fresh flowers on the table but that is just a nice coincidence. "Well...I heard a lot of great stuff about you and I wanna know how your journey has been this far. But first...you want some water?"

The Traveler
I see your wide smile and softly smile back at you. "Yes, some water would be great," I smile at you. I continue, "You have, have you? I wonder what you heard about me," I chuckle and ask, "And sure, we can talk about this journey of mine so far!" I nod and look at you, a little "starstruck" at your build.

Rob Hunter
I waddle into the kitchen and come back with two glasses of water. "Alright...let us head into the basement...and on the way you can tell me what you expect of our training session. I heard you are interested in pro wrestling?" I hand over one glass of water before I lead you downstairs and into my basement which is already lit by a single bulb in the center of the room.

The Traveler
I take a pause to take a sip before walking down to your basement with you. "Yes, I am interested in pro! Actually, this journey of mine started with wanting to train more in grappling-based combat in general. I've always been more of a striker," I begin explaining as we make our way to the main part of your basement. "I figured that if I trained with wrestlers of all backgrounds for a while, I could round out my skills, take it beyond the cage that I'm used to," I explain and take another sip. I fully adjust my view as I scan your basement, with the ring. "I have to say Rob, I'm very... well, impressed with how you make the most of the spaces you have," I smile at you. "For our training, I am looking further to seeing how I work in the ring, and learn even more variety that I've seen pro wrestling can offer, if that makes sense," I say to you.

Rob Hunter
I listen closely as you tell me about your story and what your expectations are for this day. We enter my basement and I can see how you scan the room and especially the ring.

Hunter's Basement Ring

"Well...As you can see you might have come to the right place then!" I smile wide and place my glass on the wooden bench beside the ring. "So if you want to, you can use one of these lockers over there. And...I should also change into something more appropriate." I grin and slurp over to one of the lockers and grab my camouflage speedos. I drop the towel and for a short moment I am standing there completely naked. I bend over with my ass toward you and slide into my speedos.

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The Hunter's ass

I straighten up again and turn toward you. The tight speedos perfectly showing off my bulge and ass cheeks. "So is this outfit fine for you?"

The Traveler
I nod and smile as you tell me that I may have come to the right place and you let me know I can use one of the lockers. As you lead with saying you should change into something more appropriate, you shamelessly drop your towel and fully expose yourself. Beyond just looking at your quads, how perfectly built you are, You really have, what they say "the full package." I chuckle a bit as I make my way over to a locker, open it and begin taking off my clothes.

First, my wool-lined leather jacket, I hang in the inside of the locker, followed by my green sweatshirt and black v-neck tee-shirt and my dark grey sweatpants, revealing me in only my red boxer-briefs. I squat down to my bag and take out my camo-themed compression shorts, slip those on, and then slip on my black ankle-support socks and some dark green hand wraps. You beckon me, asking if your camouflage speedos is fine. "Completely okay Rob," I chuckle out and notice how it really fits you. "Is this okay?" I drop and open my arms to gesture at the gear I'm wearing.

Rob Hunter
I can see you're blushing a bit and then I realize that I maybe shouldn't be this "open" with strangers but anyway. "Ok, so now that you know all sides of me we should start!" making a joke about my behavior, I look you up and down. "Perfectly fine!" I answer as you ask me about your gear. "Then let me show you something..." I wink and head to the ring. I jump up onto the apron and climb through the ropes. "Let's start and see how it goes..." I mumble and put on a smile as I back into the corner and wait for you.

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Rob waits for Jackson in the ring

The Traveler
I smirk and chuckle a bit as you say you want to show me something and then you wink and get into the ring. It's all happening so fast. I take a deep breath and bounce up and down a little, my body already tensing up.

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Jackson's universal starting pose

And I make my way to the ring and head to the ringpost diagonal from yours. "How shall we begin... coach?" I smirk at you.

Rob Hunter
I slightly bounce in the corner and my eyes are following you as you get in the ring and head to your corner. "How we begin?" I immediately push myself out of the corner and get into a fighting stance. I wave one arm toward you to lure you closer to me. "Come here Jackson...I won't bite..."

The Traveler
I take a deep breath and smile a bit as I see you push yourself off your corner and get into a fighting stance. I keep my arms to my side but slightly tensed, my forearms forward just a bit, and I approach you cautiously, "Alright Rob, spar to begin?" I let out and circle and approach you, slowly making my way towards you.

Rob Hunter
We're circling close and I wiggle my fingers toward you. A few faint attacks later I suddenly leap in for a lockup. I grab the back of your head and pull you closer, our shoulders touch and I maneuver you around, trying to use my weight advantage to get you back against the corner.

The Traveler
You have the overall physical advantage. Having done some research on you a few hours prior, I know you can be faster than you look too. I clench my jaw as we lock up; you grab the back of my head and i try to grab yours as you pull me closer and shift me around and my back faces the corner you pushed yourself out of at the start. My right hand behind your head and my left on your right shoulder, I slide my left hand down to subtly stroke your right pec before wrapping that hand under your right pit and as we move back, I shift my left foot back and out and shift my right leg to be between your legs, to try to surprise you and pivot you to my right and your left to try to break your grip on me. If that works, I'll try to use the momentum to trip you into the corner.

Rob Hunter
You realize that I got the physical advantage in this match and you start using tactic moves to get out of my grip. I figure out what you are doing but I cannot keep the hold on your neck. You try to trip me and get me off balance and I quickly grab your wrist before I'm falling over and pull on it to fling you around me and then straight into the corner turnbuckle.

Irish Whip

The Traveler
You are as skilled as people tout you to be as you regain control of the momentum and grab my wrist and fling me around and push me into the corner turnbuckle that I started out in. As I barrel near the corner, I turn around so my back takes the force, and I grip onto the ropes beside me tight to stabilize myself and fight through the impact. I place my right foot on the middle turn buckle and use that to help me push me out of the corner and I charge at you, getting on my right leg as I near you to slide towards you to try to go for a counterclockwise low sweeping kick with my left leg at you to try to sweep you off your feet.

Rear Counterclockwise Low Sweeping Kick

Rob Hunter
You catch yourself in the corner but still the ring shakes a bit from the impact. We're staring at each other and you don't waste too much time and push yourself out of the corner and charge toward me. Not knowing what you gonna do you suddenly slide down and sweep my legs away with a low kick. I flail my arms around and THUD, I land with my ass on the canvas, only lowering the impact a bit with my hands. "Ugh..." I roll to the side in a three point stance and glare at you. "Nice move." I push myself up on my feet again and then circle you wide. Focused on your moves.

The Traveler
I smirk as you fall for the sweep, and as I turn from the momentum of the move and I go to rise up again, I get into a low and unconventional stance as I see you get into your three point stance and glare at me, I return your gaze:

"Thanks Rob," I wink at you and see you circle me in wide movements, so I charge in low and then spin a bit and go down low to try to fake you out with the same rear sweeping kick so as you try to dodge it, I'll use the spin to help propel me into a tight counterclockwise tornado to try to land my left heel across your face.

Reverse 720 Tornado Heel Kick

Rob Hunter
You're fast and I can clearly see that you're not new to fighting and you know exactly what you're doing. I'm trying to figure out what your next move will be but you confront me with stuff I've never seen before and so it makes it almost impossible to counter or react to it. I'm staggering, loosing my balance and my head is spinning a bit. I drop to the side and push myself up on my knees again. I need to regroup for a moment as I am surprised by another solid hit. I crawl backward to the ropes, getting some distance from you and focus again.

The Traveler
My shots land and I see you stagger and drop to your side, but you push yourself onto your knees and craw back to the ropes to get some distance. "You good coach? Wanna keep the pressure on?" I back up a bit cautiously, my right foot slightly behind my left.

Rob Hunter
I grab the top rope with one hand and glare at you. "Who taught you these moves?" I ask and wipe away some saliva that is dripping out at the corner of my mouth from the blow. I don’t hesitate too long and push myself out of the ropes and toward you. Fast. My eyes glued at you and right in front of you I duck down, trying to get momentum and drive you back into the ropes.

The Traveler
You make your way up and ask me who taught me the moves I hit you with. "Self-taught," I answer back but in no time you push yourself out of the ropes and make your way towards me, increasing in speed, and as you get near me, you duck down and "UGHHH" you drive me into the ropes, your shoulder pressed into my abs. We are near the corner but my back feels the elasticity of the ropes and I wrap my arms around your torso and as we bounce forward a bit I turn us to my left and then plant my feet on the ground in a stance and try to see if I can hoist you over in a sort of suplex.

Rob Hunter
My shoulder connects with your core and I can feel your bricks flexing. You do have a solid ab wall but the impact forces you to bend over my back, trapped against the ropes. I can feel your arms wrapping around my waist and I know you try to gain advantage out of this position but I got you where I want you now, knowing that I need to keep you close to avoid your fast strikes and use my advantage against you. I lean into you, not letting you lift me off the canvas. Instead I grab your hamstrings and with a loud ROAR I straighten my body and lift you over me to have you hanging at my back. I turn toward the center. "Gonna show you some moves now, stud!" I shift my weight, lean forward and go for an Alabama Slam to rock you into the mats.

Alabama Slam

The Traveler
As soon as I feel you keep me in place on the ropes, "Shit.. I knew it wasn't gonna be that easy.." I think to myself, and then you let out a loud roar as you go from under and hoist me up, my head seeing the view between your legs, I clench my jaw for a second, and as you make your way to the center, you slam me down to the canvas in an Alabama Slam, "MMMMGH" I let out through pursed lips, and I arch up my back from the slam and try to roll to the side away from you, getting into a three point stance I saw you do earlier, shaking my head to try keep an eye on you while trying to recover.

Rob Hunter
THUD! The ring shakes after this power move and I watch you closely as you take the impact pretty well and roll around in a three point stance. "Get up buddy...I got some more for you!" I grin and go into a fighting stance, circling you slowly.

The Traveler
I rise slowly back on two feet, bend a bit and extend my forearms out slightly. I shoot you a quick glare but that soon turns into a smirk. As you circle me, I begin to mimic your movements, when suddenly, "let's dance Hunter," I murmur, then I charge at you and go for a jumping clockwise spinning heel kick and low sweep combination.

Jumping Clockwise Spinning heel kick to low-sweep

Rob Hunter
I am focused on your moves and I watch you closely as you plan your next attack. I know you will use one of your skilled move set and there it is. I know I cannot risk to let you get me out of focus so I do what I do best. I duck under your first kick as you twist around and go for another sweep kick. But I'm not letting myself fool again and I instantly grab you from behind, hoist you up, twist us around and use my superior strength to go for a solid power bomb to ROCK you into the canvas one more time.

Spin-Out Powerbomb

The Traveler
You read me like a book. As you duck under my first kick and see my sweep before I can even complete it, you grab me up from being and use your power to get me up and slam me down in a powerbomb. "URRRNNGGHH" I strain out and then I cough a bit feeling some air leave my body. As you're still seated from the powerbomb, I let out a growl and I use my free right leg to try to send two kicks, one with my calf aimed to your head/neck and the other a push kick to your solar plexus, hoping to at least push you away so I can recover.

Rob Hunter
WHHHAM!! The ring shakes again as I successfully countered your skilled and fast moves with my strength. I got you close in front of me and you instantly kick up, aiming for my head and my solar plexus as I snap back and drop on the canvas. "Ughh!" I roll around and get on all four, looking at you and getting back my focus.

The Traveler
My lower body is able to find some grounding as it lowers to the canvas as you drop down and roll around on all four. I take a few more moments to breathe and chuckle out as the move was successful. I gather some focus and adrenaline, count to three in my head, and roll back to get on both my feet. I smirk and push out, "let's keep dancing coach," and I get into an intimidating dragon stance while completely focused on you.

Dragon Stance

Rob Hunter
You're resilient, I like that. And it doesn't seem like my strength is intimidating you. But I want to keep the pressure and don't give you too much time to recover and make new plans. I push myself up again and watch you going into another fighting stance. I also pull my arms up again but compared to you my stance looks way more aggressive, not as elegant as yours. I circle you again and then suddenly leap up and charge toward you, trying to get you close again in another lockup and keeping you busy.

The Traveler
I see you get up and circle me again, when you leap up and charge towards me, I stay focused on my moves and lunge low and forward to break your lockup attempt and bring my right arm to swoop down low and up into an uppercut aimed at your chin. If that works, I'll follow up with two jabs to both of your shoulders and finish with a clockwise heel kick across your face.

Rob Hunter
You dodge the lockup. Smart move, as you need to rely on your speed and there it comes. You send a solid uppercut under my chin and my head snaps back. WHACK! You skillfully maneuver me backward with two well placed jabs at my shoulders. "UGH! UGH!" and as I am without any guard for a moment you aim a vicious kick right at my face, sending me straight to the canvas. I groan and flex my body as I slowly crawl toward the ropes.

The Traveler
I smirk and chuckle again as I see all my shots land, and the cockiness overflows like a nasty habit. I circle you with a smirk and cock to you, "what's going on coach? By now you would have made guys like me call you daddy! Just a wolfboy with no more bite?" I stare down at you.

Rob Hunter
My head is spinning as I crawl toward the ropes. I wasn't expecting this guy being that fast and I need a moment to regroup again. But your words are stinging somehow. I really don't like losing control. But right now you're even rubbing my nose in it. My head reddens and my blood is boiling up. I need to get my vision clear again and I reach out for the ropes, pulling myself up on my knees again and try to get back my focus on you.

The Traveler
I see you pull yourself up onto your knees using the ropes. As you try to regain focus on me, I take the opportunity to run back to the ropes behind me and use it to boost me forward and as I get in close, I shift angles and lunge out, grab the top and middle rope as I get out, and try to swing myself back in to try to land a good swinging kick at the back of your neck.

Tiger Feint Kick

Rob Hunter
I shake my head to get rid of the cobwebs as I pull myself up...rope by rope...I pull my legs under my body again and feel the ring shaking as you run into the ropes and I know you're going for another attack. I brace myself for the impact and try to figure out what you're about to do as you swing through the ropes and in the corner of my eye I can see your legs coming toward me. I throw my hands up in front of my head to lower the impact a bit but it still knocks me back and I stagger across the ring, closer to the opposite ropes. I'm huffing and puffing, waving my arms around to grab the ropes behind me and get my balance back.

The Traveler
You are able to block the full impact from your head from this move, but it still knocks you back and you stumble away, and you make it to the ropes opposite from where we were. I smirk even more, feeling electrified at how I'm able to corner someone like you like this. As I see you stumbling, about to get to the ropes, I know I have to plan the next move out cautiously. Still, I can't stop this feeling of the chance to outplay you from bubbling over. I stalk you as you're just about there, approaching you very slyly, trying not to make any shaking on the canvas, and it's easier because I don't have boots on. I see your hands climbing the middle then the top rope as I sneak over to you. I make it over right in front of you, I send an uppercut to your naval, then I punch your hand that is on the rope to break its grip, and then I wrap my hands around the back of your neck and jump up for a flying triangle choke.

Flying Triangle Choke

"C'mon wolfie, near your limit already?" I let out another cocky taunt as I amp up the pressure of the hold right away.

Rob Hunter
I'm back on my feet again and you continue your fast attacks. "Ugghhh!" I bend over a bit from the uppercut. SLAP! I release the rope from my grip. And then you follow it up quickly, pulling my head towards you as your legs wrap around my arm and neck as you keep me in place and apply a nasty Triangle Choke. "FUUUCK!" I yell out as I realize I need to do something. As you pull on my arm, I'm on one knee and one foot. I grunt deeply and then reach around to grab your wrist and hold onto it. Luckily I got some energy left even though my head is still spinning. And in this position I know I can get good leverage. I try to keep us close to get me as much balance as possible. And then I plant my heels firmly on the canvas, shift my weight back and pull on your upper body as I ROAR out loud, summoning my strength to hoist your lighter body up, and just as I reach the limit I SLAM you back down onto the canvas, hoping it will be enough impact to escape your Choke.

The Traveler
With my choke I'm able to get us down on the canvas, but your experience shines through. I should have modified this old somehow. For a moment I smirk as I hear you yell out "FUUUCK!"... Then I see you reach around to grab my wrist and grip it tight. I clench my jaw, even try to make the hold tighter, but you dig in deep and roar like you're going to war and you plant your heels in the canvas, shift your weight back and up and lift us up and then slam me down hard onto the canvas, "ANNNGHHHH!" I yell out and then cough, my legs unwrapping from your neck and my hands letting go of their grip on your arm, falling to the canvas. "NNNGHH" I groan out and begin panting heavily, trying to roll side to side. I even arch my back up and use my feet to try to scoot away from you while lying down.

Rob Hunter
My counter worked. The ring shakes with a loud THUD! and I am free again. "Near my limit?" The rage in my head suddenly boils up. It's like I'm in a rush. I reach down as I see you squirming on the canvas. My palms are sweaty and my legs are shaking a bit as I grab your throat. TIGHT! It's not really a problem to pull your smaller body up. And so I do. You get lifted up inch by inch. My thumbs digging into your arteries as hoist you up until your feet are leaving the mats. I look up into your face, clenching my teeth. "You wanted some pro wrestling training?" I growl, holding you up there and then SLAM you down onto the canvas with full force in a brutal choke slam.

The Traveler
I pant loud, wincing in pain trying to recover. Suddenly I feel a strong grip around my throat. My eyes widen "SHIT!" I think to myself and I suddenly start to get flashbacks of every time this was done to me. You hoist me up with ease, your grip getting tighter by the second, I pant more and more, and as your grip gets tighter, the panting becomes more and more strained. My feet are dangling off the canvas. I can't fully hear what you say except the growling tone, and my left hand is hovering over your right wrist ready to tap, when all of a sudden you slam me HARD into the canvas in a brutal choke slam. The slam sends another wave of memories through me, and upon impact, all I let out is a gasp and I try desperately to roll onto my front, my body flopping back on my back each attempt. The panting and the gasping evolve into slight whimpers.

Rob Hunter
My chest is heaving and I watch you closely with a determined facial expression. I called this a training, but I don't see it like that at the moment. This is a match. And you are my opponent. And you were cocky. It pulls a switch and only leaves me one option now. Attack. I walk over to you and see how you're whimpering in pain. "You had the desire to call me daddy, right?" I growl and grab a fistful of your hair and yank you up with me. One hand on your neck, other hand at the back of your knee. I bounce a few times before I flip you over and on the way back, rocking you face first into the canvas.

Reverse Flip Powerslam

The Traveler
I groan as you make your way over to me, asking that I had the desire to call you daddy while grabbing me by the hair, and futilely I struggle against it, both hands gripping your wrists trying to yank myself away. Totally dazed, even your moves are taunting me now; one hand on my neck and the other on the back of my knee, you bounce a few before you hoist me up, flip me over and then slam me down face first into the canvas. I gasp and whimper even more, wincing in pain. I go to curl up and as I bring my knees in, my head angles itself that I can see you in front of me. As I pant more, I grit my teeth then let out a huge growl, "mmMMGGRGHH!" and I impulsively pivot myself and lash out so my legs are facing you, send my self forward and lock your legs between mine, right leg in front and left leg in the back, and try all I can to twist my body to the left to try to trip you down face-first on the canvas.

Rob Hunter
The ring shakes once again and at this point it looks like I'm throwing you around like a rag doll. But it's not enough to stop you as you're still fighting back and kicking your legs toward me. You can manage to make me trip...but also manage to make me fucking raging. It kind of blinds me and as I start to lose my balance I shift my weight toward you, to fall on top of you, pinning you down with my weight. And in an outburst of rage I start throwing punches at your head...aiming at your temples...your forehead...your jaw...as my only thought is to get you quiet.

Mounted Punches

The Traveler
My eyes widen as my trip seems to work at first, but it only trips you on top of me. You press your weight down onto me, pinning me down. At first, I try to shield my face. "OIIGHFFF" I let out as you nail me at my temples, and it loosens my guard. Then you hit me on the forehead. "ROB??" I yell out your name but then you hit me in my jaw. "PUHFFFFT!... Nghhh..." I moan out and some blood and spit flies out of my mouth and my face begins to swell as you continue throwing punches all over my head. "...Rob... please..." I pant and groan and my arms drop to my side as I fade in and out of consciousness. I don't remember much and I no longer know where I am, and I feel a solid hook to my jaw, more blood flies out of my mouth, and then one to my temple, and I hear a ringing and see white before that fades away too. Any sign of consciousness slips and I fall completely unconscious, bruised, bloodied up, my lip cut, face swollen.

Rob Hunter
I don't realize that you already passed out under me, I didn't even notice you begging me to stop. My fuses are blowing and I only stop as your body doesn't move for a while and I see your bruised face, swollen cheeks...I look at my fists...bloody..."what the...?" I lean down, grabbing your head...my ear close to your lips...but nothing...I slide off you and kneel beside you. "Jackson?" I slap your cheek..."what happened?" I asked myself, trying to remember the last few moments, but it's dark. I only remember that I suddenly mount over you...bloodied up, bruised and unconscious. "Oh fuck...fuck...fuck..." I slap your cheek again, trying to get you back to consciousness.

The Traveler
As you snap out of it and kneel beside me, I remain unconscious. You fully realize the state I'm in and begin to panic to try to wake me up. I remain unconscious for at least another five minutes, phasing between memories of past brutality. Suddenly, my eyes snap open and I gasp and cough awake. "MMMGH! HUH? WAIT! WHERE AM I??... Rob?... what happened?" I wince in pain and grip my head and fall back flat on the canvas. "I feel... dizzy..." I moan out.

Rob Hunter
It felt like an eternity waiting for the ambulance. My attempts to bring you back into consciousness weren't successful and my whole body is shaking as I'm repeating the last scenes I can remember...over and over again but before I saw you laying under me, there is nothing...I look at the clock and wonder how long they will take as you suddenly start wincing. "Jacks...?" I kneel beside you and look at you with a worried face expression. "Dude...I'm sorry...stay down...I called an ambulance...I'm so sorry..." I stutter. "I don't know what happened..."

The Traveler
I wince in pain again. "nghhhh..." Then I try to take a deep breath in while remaining flat on the canvas. While the ambulance still hasn't made it here, I look over to you, shifting my head to look at you, and after a brief pause, I let out softly, "...those punches didn't feel like part of the training," I try to chuckle out to lighten the mood, but I get a sharp pain in my head and I grip it and groan again. I keep a soft gaze locked on you. "You okay coach?" I ask sincerely.

Rob Hunter
I start to smile as you're still making jokes. "Well...I was pretty worried...think that got a bit out of hand. Sorry again. That wasn't my intention. I just.." *RING* I shrug as the doorbell interrupts me. "There we go. I'll be right back..." I rush upstairs and open the front door to let the emergency doctors in. I tell them you're awake but they still rush down the stairs and into the basement, obviously confused about the setting.

The Traveler
I continue to lie on the canvas as you go to let the emergency doctors in, gently massaging my skull. As I hear them rush down to the basement, they see how banged up I am and go to treat me. The blood that has mostly dried on the canvas... Even more than me, they could see that I would need to be taken to the hospital; I lost a lot of blood and that I couldn't stand on my own, they needed to rehydrate me as well. They load me into the ambulance and let you ride in the back too. "I'll be okay coach, and you're okay, alright?... Guess I should work on my arrogance," I chuckle at you as they close the ambulance doors. I give you a soft smile, attempting to be as reassuring as I can to show you that I'm tough and will be okay, but being dehydrated and having lost a lot of blood, I try all I can to stay awake, but I'm not totally cognizant of the time between going from your place to arriving at the hospital.

They wheel me straight into a room and get me onto a hospital bed, a nurse slipping me into those poor excuses of hospital robes, and another telling you you'll have to wait in the waiting room until they can nurse my body to a better condition... When I can sort of see again, they've hooked me on IVs and the clock reads 16:00. I take a deep breath and settle down in the hospital bed.

TWO HOURS LATER: 18:00

The Traveler
Before I know it, it's 6 at night (18:00). I slowly wake up and hear some chatter outside. You were pretty antsy and the nurse finally told you I'm ready to be visited. I hear you knock on the door and you inch your way in.

Rob Hunter
The doc said you'll be fine very soon and that calmed me down a bit. But still I am walking up and down the corridor in the hospital, repeating this day in my head over and over again and it seems like the more I try the less I can remember. I know how emotional I can be from time to time but I usually can remember what happens during my rage. I'm not even sure if it was that. And that bad conscious for beating you into hospital. Too many thoughts in my mind as the nurse pulls me out of my trance. "Oh...great..." I answer as he tells me I can go inside and I open the door. "Knock knock" I say as I walk inside and look at you with an accusing face expression "That's what happens when you meet with strangers", trying to make a joke and smile. "How are you mate...feeling better?"

The Traveler
I subtly try to sit myself up in the hospital bed to not show any pain. "Hey coach," I smile at you. "I'm better, stable now," I chuckle out. "How are you man?" I take a long pause, looking at your facial expressions, your eyes... "wanna talk about it?" I say in a more serious tone.

Rob Hunter
I get closer and softly poke your shoulder with my fist. "Well...I'm fine...and...I don't know what I should say. Honestly I tried to remember, but it's gone." I shrug and look back at you. "Do you?"

The Traveler
I giggle a bit when you poke my shoulder with your fist. I nod as you explain that you can't remember what happened. "... well," I start, "yeah..." I take another pause. "I... remember you slamming me down to the canvas face first, does that track with you?" I see you nod. "Next thing, I tried to trip you but your face became... cold. You fell on top of me..." I avert my gaze at first, then slowly look to you with subtly vulnerable eyes.. "And then you started to punch the daylights out of me..." I try to smile at you to keep the mood light.

Rob Hunter
I shrug as you tell me what happened and I'm having trouble finding the right words. I lower my eyes, feeling ashamed that I lost control and as you look at me with your innocent eyes, it gets hard to keep up the smile. I bite my teeth... "Calm down Rob..." I take a deep breath and then SLAP my leg with my hand. "Well. Good you can leave the hospital soon. What you think about a coffee, I'll go grab one."

The Traveler
I see you getting tense, I can tell you don't know what to say.. I mean in your position, who would? "Yeah, uh, one blood transfusion and some IV fluids later, doesn't seem I'm that banged up haha," I chuckle out. "A coffee sounds great..." I take a deep breath and see how your body betrays what you want to portray. "Rob, everything's fine," I say to you softly with a smile. "See? We're all good!" I try to reassure you.

Rob Hunter
I get up and smile back at you. "Yeah. Everything's fine..." My eyes wander over the room and my thoughts drift away for a short moment. Maybe a few seconds before I shake my head out and get back into reality. "Alright, I'll be right back...don't run away..." I wink and leave the room.

The Traveler
I continue to hold a soft smile at you, and then you get up to go get the coffee, joking with me telling me to not run away, not that I could anyway, and I chuckle as you wink and leave the room. Talking to myself, "Thank you Rob. We will figure this out," and I ease my back into the pillows I put up against the hospital wall, wandering on all that happened today.

NARRATOR

Later that night, Rob and Jackson resolve any feelings that may have arisen from how their spar-turned-war turned out. Around 22:00, the doctors clear Jackson to be able to leave the hospital by 08:00 in the morning. After that, Rob and Jackson discuss next steps, as he is booked for at least another two weeks of training with him... About a week and a half into training, Jackson asks Rob for a personal favor to train him through the rest of December. He agrees, and they continue training through January 03, 2020. Through it all, even as Jackson gets better, he is more uncertain, more than ever, if he's ready to return west to start having official fights again. After he wraps up his last day of training with Rob, he spends a couple days in Berlin to figure out and plan what's next for him.

Published: 2023-01-28, viewed 71 times.