It was an honest way of living, this. The fighting. The brawling. Adam spat over to one corner first before holding his fists up. Well…maybe there were more decent means of making end’s meat. Those other methods of employment weren’t so close to the pub though, and with the crowd beginning to roar out their bets around him Adam Walker was given a quick shove into the boxing ring and a laugh that followed from his mate’s mouth. James. The idiot hadn’t thrown one punch in his life yet was keen to make his own fortune off his friends’ fists. All he had to do was bet on Walker, the short, gingery Scotsman who had made something of a name for himself in the streets of London. 1953 it was, and yet the rings were still packed with people calling out just like they had done before the war. Only difference now was the fashion of the viewers, and the cameras that shuttered off in a fury around the pair. And maybe the loose hope here and there that one of the fancy big wigs from the television companies would be sitting in on a match. Other than that though it was a filthy thing. Cigarettes everywhere and bottles being smashed to clash with the ringing of the bell, followed shortly by the low grunt of Adam’s opponent once the first strike was thrown out. There was no way the ugly idiot in front of him was a lightweight. But then again, this was far from the professional shit the sport fanatics mooned over. This was for free beer and just enough to pay the rent, and if he were lucky, the thrill of beating someone twice his size and being able to brag about it to the birds who were far too timid to every step foot in a place like this.
Strange then, that when Adam had reared back from a short burst of punches to what’s-his-face’s abdomen that his eyes fell right under his arm to find a skirt. A skirt that was presumably attached to a girl who had found her way to the front of the audience. And Adam would have seen her face too, had it not been for the clumsy swing towards his head that came moments later. Not that it really took much to dodge and side sweep away from the oaf. Honestly Adam could already tell that this one wouldn’t be much of a challenge save for his size. But that was easy then, to wear him out and keep the hits short until eventually he slowed enough to finish him off. “Knock his teeth in, Walker!” James shouted from behind. As if Adam could reach his bloody teeth from here, he thought right back, wishing his hands were free of the gloves to flip him off. Though he supposed it was a good thing he had them after all when his rival was busy trying to clear his head off his shoulders. Adam scurried to the side again, the glove of the other man whizzing right past his ear to mix with the excited groans and cries of their audience. And then another dodge that actually forced a growl of frustration out past rugged lips. Serves him right, for not sticking to his goddamn weight class, Adam thought as another quick punch was thrown out. But then there was that skirt again, and a wave of long hair that wasn’t covered in tan or black trillby hat hats. And his eyes, blue as anything and distracted for just one moment from his fight landed on a girl wedged between those betting men. A suitcase was clutched to her chest, as though she was fearful that someone might snatch it out of her hands. And even in the bright lights of the makeshift ring he could see the faint makings of a blush. So not only had a bird wandered in, but a pretty one too. Pretty enough to keep Adam staring until the other man’s fist found its way right into Adam’s gut. And pretty enough for him to look right at her eyes before the pain of it all finally hit him. “Fuckin’…” He back peddled far enough to keep away. “Hell.” He was going to make a fool of himself if he kept trying to catch her eye, whoever she was. But it was a hard thing to keep himself away, no matter how James roared from the sides to wake up and the other men who had bet on him, no matter how he needed to focus on his current task of trying to win the damn thing. And as he dodged another blow, Adam had the gall to turn his head ever so slightly in the girl's direction, throwing her a smile before whipping right along back to fight.
