Headaches & Hazbins: Book 1: New Kind of Life, New Kind of Hell

Chapter 10: Fight Club: Part 4

Jerry: (Quietly) Eghh... Crap...

[Jerry is sitting down on a backless bench in a large well-lit room. The room has a tiled floor, multiple other backless benches, and some green lockers. He seems to be sitting down in a locker room. He's the only one in the room at the moment, taking his time examining his left arm. He's gently rubbing his arm in an attempt to stop, or at least minimize the pain that he's feeling from his most likely broken arm. But nothing seems to be working as he grits his teeth in pain. Jerry grabs the cloth wrapped around his left arm and begins to unwrap it starting from his shoulder. After unwrapping the cloth for only a few seconds he notices something rather problematic. His skin underneath the cloth isn't its usual red, it's purple and looks to be swelling.]

Jerry: (Quietly) Damn it all...

???: Mourning your loss already?

[Jerry quickly wraps his left arm back up with the cloth. He looks to his right towards where the voice came from. There's a large scaly demon standing a few feet away from him. It's Croc, and he doesn't look any different than he did in the ring. He examines Jerry unimpressed and takes a few steps toward him. Jerry just glares at him out of the corner of his eye. He speaks to Croc in an annoyed tone.]

Jerry: (Annoyed) What do you want Croc?

[Croc stops walking a few feet from Jerry.]

Croc: Care to explain Warner?

[Jerry glares at Croc, visibly and still annoyed.]

Jerry: (Annoyed) Explain what exactly?

[Croc crosses his arms and glares at Jerry.]

Croc: The second round... That's not what you call a fight...

[Jerry raises an eyebrow confused.]

Jerry: (Annoyed) Why the hell do you care? It's another win for you and you get to keep the top spot.

Croc: Match isn't over yet! I care because I'm not getting the fight I signed up for!

[Croc angrily glares at Jerry.]

Croc: Everyone in the ring treats the entire damn thing as a show they can bet! But when it's you and me in the ring, I expect a fight! Not a show!

Jerry: (Annoyed) I'm giving tonight's fight everything I can dammit.

Croc: Bullshit! I know you were holding back last round... In the first round to... The question is-

[Croc circles behind Jerry.]

Croc: Why?

[The two stay silent for a few seconds. Croc angrily glares at Jerry from behind while Jerry just stares off in front of him unfazed.]

Jerry: Mmmm... I have a rodent problem back at my place. It's been keeping me up late every night. The lack of sleep is probably knocking me off my game...

Croc: Really now...

[Croc walks over to the left of Jerry. Still glaring at him angrily.]

Croc: If you were tired, you'd be slow. But you're just as nimble as ever... However, you seem to be fighting differently. It doesn't make any sense

[Jerry looks over at Croc with his usual unimpressed expression.]

Jerry: What are you talking about?

Croc: You know I have an eye for fighting people. Especially in beating the shit out of them... You're holding back punches... Specifically with your left arm.