Damon chuckled, stepping closer. "Only way to go is up, right? Good to see you here, man."
Edward nodded, his grin never fading. "Likewise. Looks like we're going to be seeing a lot more of each other."
The competing spirit came back to life for Damon, and he couldn't wait to see how they would push each other to new heights.
Edward's sparring partner stepped back, a wide smile on his face as he moved to give Damon a friendly dap.
Damon returned the gesture, nodding at him. "I'll take it from here if you don't mind," he said, a playful grin on his face.
The sparring partner stepped aside, giving Damon space.
Damon slipped on the protective pads, ready to take on the role of a human punching bag for Edward's striking drills.
Edward got into his stance, his hands up and his eyes focused, ready to deliver blows with precision and power.
Damon shook himself off while still smiling. He asked, "So," with a laugh in his voice, "how's life been treating you?"
Edward smirked, landing a light jab to test Damon's reaction. "Better now that I've got someone to practice on," he joked, but there was warmth behind his teasing.
He threw a number of careful punches and kicks, each one controlled but strong.
"Been working my way back up," Edward added between strikes. "And you? UFA, huh? You've been making waves."
Damon laughed, taking the hits and feeling the energy between them. "Yeah, it's been a wild ride," his expression shifting from curiosity to shock as Edward explained. "So what led you here, after two years?" he had asked, expecting a simple story about chasing opportunities.
Edward grinned, but there was a hint of heaviness in his eyes. "Well, after losing to you and getting an offer from Mr. Steele, I had to find a way to help pay for my dad's cancer treatment."
When Damon heard that, he stopped and naturally lowered his hands. It hit him hard.
Damon nodded, memories shared with the Steele family flooding back. "Yeah," he said, a small smile playing at his lips. "Svetlana's something else, isn't she?"
Edward raised an eyebrow, giving Damon a playful smirk. "Are you and her...?" he trailed off, clearly teasing.
Damon's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly shook his head. "Nah... not yet," he said, the words slipping out before he even realized what he had implied.
Edward's smile widened, and he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Not yet, huh?" he teased, but there was no judgment, just genuine curiosity and humor.
Edward leaned back, and he looked like he was thinking.
He'd had his share of experiences with girls over the years, but he'd never committed to anything serious.
His priorities had always been his family. His little sister and his father were constantly on his mind, motivating every decision he made and every sacrifice he was willing to endure.
"That's the thing, isn't it?" Edward said, looking off into the distance. "We all have people we're fighting for."
Damon agreed, and he could feel the truth settling between them.
They both knew what it was like to carry the hopes and dreams of their families, to fight not just for their own fame but for something more important.
Damon got up from the ground and brushed his pants off. "Want to keep training?" he asked Edward with a smile as his energy came back.
Edward got to his feet as well, nodding. "Sure," he replied, his own competitive spirit sparking up.
Damon began walking toward the locker room. "Be right back," he called over his shoulder. "Gotta change into some training clothes."
As he waited, Edward laughed, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.