Max Carlyle belongs to Bright (2017).
Sat on the locker room bench, his head lowered, still wiping away the blood and sweat from his face, Max Carlyle entire body ached. Not just from the fight, but from the crushing weight of his own disappointment. All that training, all these efforts⌠only to lose. Even his coachâs words of encouragement ( and revealing his own orcish heritage ?!) hadnât fully removed the weight pressing down on his chest.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed the soft knock on the door. When he finally looked up, expecting to see his coach again, he was surprised to find someone else entirely. A tiny, young human woman, hesitating at the threshold.
Visibly nervous, by the way she fidgeted with her fingers. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, unsure, with her thin voice:
âExcuse me⌠I just wanted to say⌠you were great.â
Was she joking ? Max blinked, caught off guard. His eyes briefly scanning the room before going back to her, blinking again.
She laughed nervously, probably aware of how stupid her statement could sound.
âYes, I mean⌠you got back up after every hit. You fought until the very end. That was⌠impressive.â
She paused, to inhale a little.
âAnd from what Iâve heard, itâs difficult to be accepted as an orc in the UFC. But you did it anyway ! SoâŚâ
Silence settled between them. Max wasnât used to hearing praise, at least not from non orcs. And definitely not from a tiny, nervous human who looked at him with admiration instead of disgust.
Thatâs when he noticed it. That faint, lingering scent of anxiety. She was nervous, but it wasnât the kind of fear he was used to. No, this was different. This was⌠anticipation.
He frowned slightly, curiosity sparking through disappointment.
âYouâre nervous⌠Why?â
She jolted slightly, caught off guard. âWhat? NoâI mean⌠maybe⌠a little.â
Her awkwardness was oddly endearing. For the first time since the fight, Max felt something other than frustration. A tiny flicker of amusement, of intrigue. He studied her for a longer moment, then leaned back against the bench with a tired smirk.
The tension shiftedâsubtle, but real. She hesitated, then, after a small pause, nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
âI⌠I go to other fights sometimes. Maybe Iâll see you again?â
Max caught the scent of her hopefulness this time, warm and hesitant. And without quite knowing why, he let himself smile, just a little.
âYeah. Maybe you will.â
She turned to leave, but before she could disappear completely, the words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.
âHey⌠Whatâs your name?â
She glanced back, surprised. Then, with a small, almost shy smile, she told him.
Max watched her go, rolling her name over in his mind, something unfamiliar but pleasant settling in his chest.
That fight was a not so bitter defeat after all.