"You don't have to pretend," said Jace, rolling his eyes.

"No, we really were worried for a while!" exclaimed a man leaning against a locker. His dark skin was streaked with blood from the fight in which he had just won. He dabbed his cuts and winced.

"Yeah, even this place's new owner Drake was worried," spoke up another from the corner of the locker room. He was sitting on a bench, an earbud in, nodding to the music as he bandaged his bloody knuckles.

"Probably worried that I was gone for good, and then I couldn't win him any more money," spoke Jace nonchalantly.

"True," said Gabriel, the one dabbing his bloodied face. "Every fighter here knows the crowds come every fight night just to maybe get a glance at you."

The other, named Mark, laughed, showing rather crooked teeth. "So, what brought the mighty Songbird to pause his fighting for a month?"

They both looked to Songbird. He stared back, trying to think of a response.

"I needed a break," replied Jace curtly. He couldn't have guys like these two knowing anything about his personal life, let alone his girlfriend.

Gabriel and Mark gave each other clear we know he's lying glances, but they didn't push the conversation further. Although they would never admit it, Songbird put a degree of fear in them. His anonymous identity and silence while he fought only added to the fear that was already there by his ability to take down any opponent.

And Jace would definitely not consider Gabriel and Mark his friends. They were illegal fighters, just like Jace, that earned some money from their bets while fighting at the Pit. But they led more dangerous lives outside of the Pit than Jace. He knew for a fact that Gabriel was involved in gangs, and Mark was a drug pusher. He didn't speak to either outside of the Pit.

Most of the nights that the Pit was open – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights – Jace could count on these two being there. He kept his mask down and spoke around Gabriel and Mark; it was only in actual fights that he would cover most of his face and resume silence. But he still kept his distance from them emotionally.

"Hey, I think the ref's calling for you, Songbird," spoke Gabriel. Jace also didn't share his name with anyone at the Pit. Everyone knew him as Songbird, even those to which he spoke.

"I'd better—"

"Before you go," Mark cut Jace off, "do you want to go out with Gabe and I tonight? The owner Drake and a few others are going, too."

"I'll think about it," said Jace, probably too hurried. He knew his decision already.

Gabriel caught on quickly that Jace wasn't planning to go. "Eventually, Drake will force you to join us!" shouted Gabriel as Jace started out the door into the main room. "Eventually!"

Jace tugged his mask over his mouth and nose and pulled the locker door shut behind him.

Isaac came up to him immediately. "They're looking for you – your match is gonna start soon," he warned Songbird.

Jace simply nodded once and continued toward the makeshift arena that he was to fight in that night. His sweeping eyes caught Devin placing bets at the tables along the other side of the room.

It was quite crowded for a Thursday night, Jace remarked. Even so, the people naturally backed off and made a path for him to walk to the barricade arena where his opponent for the night was waiting.

Songbird moved the metal crowd-control barrier to enter the octagon. His opponent was pacing, staring, puffing out his bare chest. He was completely bald, and his shirtless torso revealed a huge tiger tattoo that spanned across his entire front. For some reason, it amused Jace. It was such an ugly tattoo.

A different card girl sauntered across the octagon, again staring down Jace hard, and the ref blew his whistle for round one of three to begin.

At the end of the three-minute round, the ref would choose the winner unless there was a knockout or someone tapped out. Without giving up, the round lasts the full time. Some matches go for the entire nine minutes, and the winner is whoever fought better in two out of three rounds. Quite often enough, fighters are held and forced to tap out. Knockouts are rarer, but they happen, especially with Songbird, which is why the crowds love him and love betting for him.

But today, something was different. Jace's mind was not entirely there. He tried to focus on studying the tiger man in front of him, but in truth, he was thinking about her...

What would she think of him if she knew this is what he did on his weekend nights?

Songbird dodged a punch.

Would she leave him if she found out?

He struck out against his opponent, but right after, he barely managed to dodge a heavy blow.

What if someone used her against him, and—

Suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, Jace got kicked hard in the ribs. He felt an instant sharpness to his breathing, and he was sure he had bruised at least one rib. Jace hadn't even seen his opponent begin to kick out.

The crowd fell oddly silent, perhaps stunned that their beloved Songbird took such a huge hit. Jace heard Devin's audible gasp somewhere to his right.

Something snapped in his mind. If he could knock out this tiger-tattooed fighter, he could win straight away and go home.

The crowd swelled and roared as Songbird got that gleam in his eye and started toward his opponent. He could barely hear, he could barely breathe, but he was determined. He had trained so much for moments like these, moments that seemed to freeze time, as though all hope was lost... That was when Jace had learned how to come back.

And come back he did.

It came so naturally, so easily that he almost scared himself. He dodged another swing, blocked a hook, and went right in for a powerful cross paired with a half-step to generate even more force. With his opponent's guard down the second after the cross, Songbird made the semi-circular punch of a hook straight to the ear.

The tiger-tattooed man seemed to crumple slightly, but he tried to kick out again. This time, Songbird was ready; he caught the leg, twisted himself around, and delivered another powerful hook. This was the one that took out the tiger man. He fell to the ground as the crowd pushed against the barricades, barely containing themselves.

Jace stumbled out of the arena, Devin coming up beside him at once.

"Isaac went to collect the money you earned, he'll meet us outside," said Devin.

Songbird could only nod. His ribs were on fire; every breath was excruciating, and even just walking through the throng of people back to the locker room, the room was beginning to spin.

Get a hold of yourself, thought Jace. He had been through worse injuries – far worse – but broken ribs were always one of his least favorites to go through. He couldn't get away from the pain because he had to breathe.

He must have looked pale, because Mark, still in the locker room, stood.

"Whoa, you okay, Songbird?"

Jace didn't answer. He grabbed his things from his locker and went straight out again.

Devin hadn't followed him into the locker room, but he was waiting right outside again. Usually, Isaac and Devin only went in with Songbird when there weren't other fighters like Gabriel and Mark in there.

"Are you okay?" asked Devin, same as Mark but with more concern in his voice.

Jace nodded. His mask was still up, and with each step, his lungs burned. The room was definitely spinning now.

"Okay..." Devin walked with Jace out to the subway tracks, where Isaac was waiting.

"You sure fooled some of the betters tonight," said Isaac excitedly. "You made so much—" He stopped, squinting at Jace. "You okay?"

"Yes! Yes, I'm fine." Nope. His breathing sharpened even more when speaking. He winced visibly.

"You took a nasty kick," said Devin in a worried tone. "Do your ribs hurt?"

Jace considered hiding it. Then he knew it was no use. He nodded once.

"Ouch," said Isaac rather flippantly. "You'll get over it. Battle wound, eh?"

Jace shot him an irritated look that shut him up at once. Every breath he took in was absolute pain. Did he bruise more than one rib? How long will this take to heal? he thought, annoyed.

The entire trip back to the apartment was just about torture for Jace. As soon as he got home, he went to the cabinet and took some ibuprofen for the pain. Then he retired to his room for the rest of the night. Devin came to check on him once, Isaac twice, but Jace pretended to be asleep. He hated the fact that he was this injured... and with one kick! He couldn't sleep with his mind replaying that fight.

Eventually, though, he did fall asleep, because he woke up early the next morning with a clearer mind. It already felt slightly better to breathe in (although he could just be used to the pain at this point), so he decided to go to work at the gym anyway.

Thankfully Tim wasn't there that day to be suspicious as Jace moved around more gingerly than usual. Jace figured Tim would have been disappointed to hear that one strong kick did this.

When Jace got home after work and collapsed onto his bed once more, he suddenly remembered he had told City he would meet her at Indigo tonight as she worked. He groaned loudly, trying to get his frustration out somehow without hurting himself. He still hurt himself with the groan.

Devin came into his room after knocking. "You're not feeling better?" he asked after one glance at Jace, clearly worried. He adjusted his glasses, something he always did when he was anxious.

"I'll be fine," said Jace. He sat up and held in a wince. "Wanna go to Indigo with me tonight?"

"To see City?"

"The one and only."

"Sure!"

"I do too!" called another voice. Isaac was standing at the bedroom door now. "You can count me in, thanks for asking!"

"Fine. But neither of you are getting drunk. I'm not up for another stupid alley fight," said Jace, already regretting his decision to let them both tag along. As usual.

"Easy for me, what about you, Devin?" asked Isaac with a playful grin as Devin scowled.

"Cool it, you two," Jace intervened before Devin could respond.

They took an Uber over to Indigo. It was already 9pm, and there was a line of people waiting to get into the club. The wind was picking up again, whistling through the city streets as the three stood in line to get in.

"You sure you're up for this?" asked Devin, glancing sideways over at Jace, who was blinking heavily a few times.

"I told Felicity I'd be here tonight. Plus, what would my excuse be for not showing up?" said Jace. He tried to take a few deep breaths to see if that would lessen the pain. It didn't.

"Aren't you just the sweetest boyfriend ever," cooed Isaac.

Devin ignored Isaac and said to Jace, "You could just tell her that you fight."

Isaac spoke before Jace could. "You're actually insane. She would dump him faster than you get drunk, Devin."

"Ha, ha," said Devin. He looked to Jace again. "I'm sure she wouldn't, and you need to tell her."

"I know," said Jace shortly. The subject was dropped, mostly because they had gotten to the doors.

The bouncer, Jace now knew his name was Gordon, gave his strange grimace of a smile and let them through. Jace went to the back where the nightclub was situated, where he knew City would be working.

And there she was. Weaving amongst the dancing crowd, seeming to drown out the music and lesson his pain all at once, Jace saw her. City had her wavy, blonde-streaked hair in a ponytail tonight, and Jace found himself staring. I have the most amazing girlfriend, he thought.

Isaac sniggered. Jace whipped around, clutching his side as he did so.

"You've got it so bad for her," said Isaac.

Jace rolled his eyes and walked over to City just as she delivered the last drink on her tray to a table.

"Jace!" she exclaimed. She hugged him, taking in his amazing scent, feeling his warmth against her body... All the while, Jace was struggling to hold in a gasp as his sides seared in pain. But he still wouldn't trade in that hug for the world.

"Hey, Felicity," said Jace, a bit winded but showing a grin. Just seeing her smile brought out the joy in him. "How's work been?"

"The usual. Only one guy has tried to flirt with me so far," she said.

"All you have to do is tell them you have a boyfriend who could beat them up," said Jace, also smiling, even though he literally meant it.

"I will," City laughed.

They talked for a while, Jace keeping one eye on Isaac and Devin in the corner of the club. Isaac had a few ladies surrounding him, Devin looking rather uncomfortable as the women got closer to him as the night progressed.

After about an hour or so of talking in between City's work, they got to sit down at the bar during her break.

"Is something wrong?" asked City when Jace winced as he sat.

"I, uh..."

"Don't tell me you got in another fight!" exclaimed City. After seeing Jace beat the crap out of the three men who had tried to steal their wallets, City couldn't get her mind off how Jace had been an amazing fighter. She knew he didn't get that way by punching a bag; he must have practiced against others. He was so hot when he was fighting... she thought. What am I saying?! How thirsty can I sound right now?

"What do you mean?" asked Jace, trying to play it cool and see how much City knew. Did Isaac accidentally spill?

"I only figured you fought regularly," said City. She had an unusually calm tone to her voice, one that Jace didn't expect. Maybe she would take his secret better than he'd thought...

"Yeah, it was a fight," said Jace hesitantly. He hated lying to her, even though he was still doing so at this very moment. "But I'll be fine, I've been through worse!" He tried to laugh it off, but the searing pain stopped his laugh abruptly.

City looked worried, no doubt wondering what horrid things he had been through, but she dropped the subject. They spent another half hour talking between her work duties.

With work the next day for Jace, and City being needed to help close the club for the night, the two hugged and said their goodbyes. Isaac and Devin were already making their way, Jace saw, toward the street. He was sure they were giving him space to finish up with City, for which he was grateful.

As soon as Jace stepped from the club area to the restaurant in front, he was pulled roughly aside by a pair of hands. The unexpected movement caught Jace by surprise and sent a sharp pain through his sides as he took in a deep breath out of shock. It took him a brief second to get over the pain and realize it was Shane who had pulled him over.

"If you know what's good for you," growled Shane right in Jace's face, "you'll back off from City."

Jace's back was against the wall, and Shane was practically on top of him. But Jace kept his voice steady, especially as each intake of air caused him more pain than ever. "She made her decision, didn't she?"

Shane's eyes glared into Jace's. Then, he moved aside and let Jace go. Jace walked to the front doors where Isaac and Devin were standing, talking to themselves and oblivious to what had just occurred.

Shane watched as Jace met up with his two friends. Then, to Shane's surprise, Jace winced and felt his side. His friends looked immediately concerned. Jace was clearly in pain... but Shane wondered why.

What are you hiding, Jace Knight... he thought.