Al Olinsky x Reader (Friendship): Ringside
The boxing ring had seen better days but it was one of the places that you still felt truly at home. Throughout your teenage years this place had been a sanctuary for you. You had been a scrawny kid back then with braces and a backpack filled with books, an ideal target for school yard bullies.
The first time you’d come home with a busted lip, your grandfather had given her a lecture about learning to hit back and marched you down here. The next time Shirley McIntyre caught up with you in the stairwell, she’d gotten a nasty surprise and you had ended up with a week long suspension. The look on your grandfather’s face when he’d been called up to the school had been a mixture of pride and amusement.
As the years went on boxing had given you the confidence and drive you had been lacking in your life. Being held accountable for yourself and your choices had helped you to mature, it gave you the strength to confront your own insecurities and developed your sense of self respect. You wanted to do the same for other young girls, ones in worse situations than your own so when Antonio had taken over the gym and asked you to step up and take over Roman’s training sessions you had accepted the voluntary position. These days you had your own set of trainees, which was why you were at the gym at seven am with Michelle Sovana.
The younger woman had come on in leaps and bounds over the past year, in terms of boxing and personal growth. She had gone from wayward juvenile delinquent to mentor of several younger girls that were enrolled in the community program that Gabe’s charity had set up. As a boxer Michelle was naturally gifted, she had great reflexes and she could take a hit better than most people. Her boxing style was more defined these days and you didn’t think it would be long before she was competing in the big leagues if Michelle kept up the trajectory she was working at.
For the millionth time this morning you held up the black focus pads that covered your hands, planting your feet firmly on the ground in preparation for Michelle’s onslaught.
“Ready?” You asked the younger woman.
“Are you?” Michelle shot back, tapping her gloves together before taking up her fighter’s stance.
“Give me all you’ve got.” You challenged your prodigy, mentally preparing yourself for the next bout of blows.
The impact rolled through your lithe form as Michelle’s punches landed, each one a stellar example of power and dexterity. Her right needed more work but that wouldn’t take long if they focused on that in the next couple of sessions.
“Alright Rocky, you got it.” You told Michelle, waiting for the other woman to put her fists down before you lowered the focus pads. “That’s all we’ve got time for today.”
Michelle nodded her agreement before she stripped off the velcro holding her red boxing gloves in place.
“Are we still good for Thursday?” she asked as you tugged the black focus pads you’re your hands before the two of you headed towards the edge of the ring.
“Definitely, before work is best for me so we’ll stick with seven am if it suits you.” You told her, using the back of your wrist to wipe the sweat off of your forehead.
Michelle paused for a moment and you could tell she was sifting through her mental calendar, you waited patiently for a moment, taking a sip out of the water bottle you had placed on the bench, alongside your gym bag at the beginning of the session.
“Seven’s fine.” she agreed before jerking her thumb in the direction of the locker room. “I’m gonna hit the showers.”
You nodded your acknowledgement before busying yourself tidying up the inside of your gym bag.
“She looked really good out there.” Al Olinksy commented, appearing in the space right beside you, almost giving you a heart attack.
“Jesus Christ.” You cursed, placing a palm on your chest in a bid to still the violent beating of your heart. “You have got to stop doing that.”
Al shrugged his shoulders haplessly.
“If it helps to make you more aware of your surroundings.” he said in a tone that left you wondering if he was serious or not. You chose to ignore the statement before responding to his original comment.
“We need to work on her right a little bit but I think she’s about ready to start competing.” you informed him.
“You think she’s got a shot?” Al asked, adjusting the rim on his hat so that it sat more comfortably upon his head.
“I think she’s got more than just a shot.” You confirmed, your fingertips picking at the white boxing tape that was wrapped around your hands before you managed to get purchase and unwind it. “I’ll look into getting her carded next week if she’s happy with the idea. Getting her into the Youth League would really give her an advantage if she wants to get into the Elite League when she turns eighteen.”
“That sounds good, how much do we owe you for today’s session?” he asked you withdrawing his wallet from his back pocket and flicking through the dollar bills tucked away in there.
“Just thirty.” You told him, tossing water bottle into your gym bag. Al raised his eyebrows, giving you a pointed look before withdrawing two twenties.
“You’ll take forty.” he told you, pressing the bills into your palm as he shook his head. “I keep telling you guys you’ll never make money if you keep undercharging.”
“It’s about making it affordable.” You reminded him before holding up the money between two fingers. “Thank you though, I appreciate it.”