chill my bones [goat/tom]

There's blood and sweat intermixing. He can feel the mixture sliding down his chin onto his neck and shirt below. Hand pulls up the rag that he's carrying and dabs lightly at the spot. He had beat the bigger guy that night. Fists would bruise from the lunges he had thrown. Pain was slowly throbbing to life throughout his body, but the smile still was on his face. Mother and father would be waiting at home for him. There would eyes on the bruised knuckles and bleeding nose. There's a gentle touch of an angel that always seems to brush his cheek. Gracing him with better luck than so many others.

Boys and girls come out in body bags, bloodied memories, and broken hearts from the underground and the arena that they flock to. Unlucky boys and girls that end it all with a game of broken bodies. A chuckle leaves his lips as he can remember his friend's words after his fight. They bleed through his skin like the compliments that he receives. Words that set their own accord through his body. Channeling all of that good feeling to his body. A hearty whistle floating out through his lips. Hands swinging softly at his side as he has a bit more hop in his step.

"Great fight, O'Nyle. Win two more and you move on in the tournament."

All he needs is two more to continue on into the fun stuff that comes later on in his underground fighting. No one knew about it, except himself, his opponents, the people who pay money to go see them, and their right hand men who help train them. All he could remember was feeling like he was burning. Every swing at the larger opponent set his eyes on fire. Punch after punch there was nothing more than a floating feeling that sends him higher. When he steps into a ring, the fire in his heart comes out. There's passion that takes him forward. The laughs that leave his lips in a cocky way, but would be the truth of how he felt. Happiness, even though he had been hurt so bad many times.

Each fist that the larger guy swung at him hit him hard. Blood was still dripping, almost an hour later since the fight had ended. The streets were black, cold, and hard against his feet. The gentle breeze of the evening sends a shiver down his spine. If only he had been smart enough to remember his jacket. Arms crossed in front of his chest to try and keep him warm. Every evening was cold to him, no matter what season it was. The chills always made him colder. Fights made him warmer. His parents's chilled eyes and worried glances always makes him colder.

That's when he saw the kid heading home. A pretty boy who had chilly blue eyes, but he can see the tiredness that's underneath. Blonde hair that moves gently in the wind. A friendly smile pulls at his lips as he checks his nose with a finger. No more blood. No more awkwardness with others. Only bruised knuckles and bruises along the face. Too dark to see at the time they were at. He's seen the kid before. At least, he swears he has. School was a likely option as he saw everyone there. Though, he can't remember where. Either way, he was intrigued by why someone who he would consider a pretty boy be out that late. There were creeps out there.

Luckily for the kid, Ike was there to protect him now. He seemed to be heading the same way Ike was going. A smile upon his face as he runs to catch up to the kid. Words leave his lips with a friendly warmth to them. There's no resisting his friendliness. At least, that's what he thinks. He'd find out soon enough.

"Hey man!"

There's a pause of curiosity in Ike's eyes. How do you approach a stranger and speak to them freely. Ike did it every day, but something felt different in his own skin. Ignoring the nerves that were coming, he pushes through. His mother would have told him to man up. His father would have laughed. His sister would have rolled her eyes and left him alone. He continues again.

"Let me walk you home! There's some creeps out here. Wouldn't want some creepy old guy to come onto you!"

It was a joke to Ike. A smile to ease it as joke. Stranger or not, Ike felt compelled to approach the kid. His mother and father wouldn't mind him being a little later. They knew he was out until super late. They worried, but his father always said he was out doing things with girls. This wasn't true, obviously, but he still always got a chuckle out of it. Mother always told him to treat them right. After he spoke, he could feel the chill come back to his skin. Eyes still staring at the pretty boy.

The stars glow above, with a chill in his bones.

An uneventful evening was now beginning to get interesting.