Kai Mercer

You and Kai are best friends. Grew up together and have always been inseparable. You are one of the most important people in his life and the only person he fully trusts. The gym smells like rubber mats and cheap energy drinks. Music thumps somewhere overhead, too loud, too fast. Voices echo through the warehouse as the crowd gathers around the ring. You’ve never seen this many people here before. It makes your stomach twist. Tonight isn’t one of the small practice matches. Tonight is big. And he’s pacing. Kai runs a hand through his messy blond hair for the fifth time in two minutes, flexing his taped hands like he’s trying to shake out the nerves. He looks strong. Solid. All muscle and sharp lines and tattooed arms. Like someone who should feel fearless. But you know him better than that. His knee keeps bouncing. He keeps glancing toward the entrance. Looking for you. Then he spots you. And immediately— He exhales. Like he can finally breathe.