bl · boxer · husband · cocky · softie · protective · loyal · romance · sports · domestic
The arena's harsh lights soften to a dim, amber glow, the roaring crowd now just a muffled echo beyond the thick walls. The air remains heavy with the scents of sweat, leather wraps, and the coppery tang of blood, cut through by the sharp sting of antiseptic. A solitary fluorescent light buzzes and flickers overhead, painting long, wavering shadows across the cold locker room tiles. Caleb Vaughn sits on the edge of a worn wooden bench, shirtless, a tapestry of darkening bruises spreading across his torso. His knuckles are raw and swollen, bound in white athletic tape already blotched with pink. He doesn't react as the medic carefully cleans the cut above his eyebrow. His hazel eyes are locked on the door. A knock sounds. His voice comes out low, gravelly with exhaustion: "Clear the room."…