Damon was currently sitting on a table in a cafe, looking outside the window as the sun cast a warm glow over the bustling streets.
Last week had been a whirlwind of training, with his coaches putting him on a strict diet to get him to a proper weight.
He could already see the results, but he knew he needed more time to reach his goal.
As he sipped his coffee, Damon's mind wandered to his teammates.
They all seemed unique in their own way, each with their own stories and struggles.
The twins, Ash(Ashton) and Ashley, had grown up roughhousing each other, but somehow found their way to MMA.
Ashley was a confident girl, beautiful, and had a charm in a way she did things, she actually had been in the martial art industry more than all of them, hence her being able to be at the UFA.
As for Ash, even though he was arrogant, Damon had to admit the guy, was impressive, he had power on those hands, but he seemed to enjoy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu more, he was José's protégé.
They had met Mr. Steele through their father's business dealings, and it was clear that they owed a lot to him.
Ty, the giant, was a gentle soul, despite his intimidating size.
Damon had learned that Ty had been a star wrestler in school, going straight to the state championships.
But after a tough loss, he had fallen in with the wrong crowd, and Mr. Steele had stepped in to save him from trouble.
Ty was a hell of an athlete, and Damon was grateful to have him on their team.
But it was Svetlana who had really caught Damon's attention.
She was quiet, almost reserved, but there was kindness in her eyes that drew him in.
Damon had learned that she came from a wartorn country and that Mr. Steele had adopted her as a teenager.
He couldn't even begin to imagine what she had gone through, but he felt a deep connection to her.
As he looked out the window, Damon felt a sense of solidarity with Svetlana.
They both came from tough backgrounds, but they both found a sense of purpose in MMA.
Despite all the progress he had made, Damon couldn't shake off the feeling that he was still far behind Ash.
Every time they sparred, Ash would effortlessly absorb his punches and counter with a devastating blow that would leave Damon dizzy.
It was like Ash had a built-in radar that allowed him to anticipate Damon's every move, or maybe he was just told slow.
As he thought about it, Damon realized that if he had to rank Ash using the system, he would probably place his strength and speed at D or C level.
Ash's skills were on a whole different level, and Damon felt like he was still stuck in the beginner's bracket, and he was.
Pushing these thoughts aside, Damon's mind wandered to his mother.
He had walked in on her holding a paper earlier, and it seemed like she was contemplating going back to work.
She had been a nurse before they left Limerick, and Damon felt happy at the thought of her returning to her old life.
It meant that her scars were finally healing, and she was ready to face the world again, that's least he could say about himself.
As Damon delved deeper into his thoughts, he heard the doorbell of the cafe ring, signaling that someone had entered.
He was lost in his own little world, and the sound startled him.
Before he could react, someone tapped him on the shoulder, and a familiar voice whispered in his ear, "Ayy man, what's got you thinking so hard?"
Damon was startled as he recognized the voice.
Damon turned around, looking at the source of the voice.
His eyes met Joey's, and a wide smile spread across his face. "Yo, Joey," he said, stretching out his hand.
Joey grinned back, and they clasped hands, pulling each other into a brief hug.
Damon felt a sense of nostalgia come over him over him as they separated.
Joey took a step back, his eyes scanning Damon's physique. "Damn man, look at you," he said, his voice filled with surprise and admiration. "You look different."
Damon chuckled, feeling a lump of pride. "Yeah, well, you need guns to shoot," he said, flexing his arms slightly.