MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

"Come on, Don, let's go somewhere fun. It's been so long since we got out," Svetlana said, tugging playfully at Damon's hand.

Damon smiled and pulled her in close. "Alright, how about this: I pick up my car from the dealership, then we grab dinner, and after that, hit the beach?"

Svetlana blinked, tilting her head in surprise. "Wait, you bought a car? Since when? And why didn't you tell me?"

Damon chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, a couple of days ago. I wanted it to be a surprise."

Svetlana crossed her arms, pretending to glare at him. "A surprise? For who, yourself? You didn't even ask me for help picking it out!"

"That's because I knew you'd roast every choice I made," Damon teased, grinning as he nudged her shoulder.

"Probably because your taste can be questionable," she shot back with a smirk. "So, what'd you get?"

"You'll see," Damon said, keeping the mystery alive as they headed out.

When they got to the showroom, it was a sleek, modern building with huge glass windows showing off shiny cars.

They were led inside by Damon, where a salesperson welcomed them and showed them to the delivery area.

The shop was spotless, with shiny cars lined up under soft lights on the polished floors.

The air smelled like new leather and paint.

Victor had sent Damon pictures of the car ahead of time, but seeing it in real life was a whole different experience.

The salesperson was quick and friendly, and they quickly finished the papers and gave the keys to the new owner.

Damon stood in front of his brand-new, sleek black 2023 Audi RS7.

It was a strange feeling.

She walked up to him with her eyes moving back and forth between Damon and the car.

Her face showed that she was both surprised and happy for Damon.

"An Audi RS7," she said, her tone slightly teasing.

Damon glanced at her, confused by the hint of amusement in her voice. "What?"

Svetlana smirked. "Nothing, it's just, my dad used to have the same car. Well, almost the same."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Damon raised an eyebrow. "You know every car now, huh?"

She shrugged, her smirk widening. "No, but I know this one. It's hard to miss."

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course, you'd point that out."

Svetlana got closer to look at the car and ran her hand lightly along the shiny, smooth surface.

Under the dealership's lights, the black paint shone, drawing attention to the car's sharp edges and stance.

It looked luxurious yet powerful, a perfect blend of sophistication and muscle.

"You've got good taste, I'll give you that," she said, flashing him a genuine smile.

Damon shook his head with a light chuckle. "Would love to take credit, but... Victor's the one who picked this car."

Svetlana tilted her head, smiling warmly. "Well, he's got good taste. Looks beautiful, though, you deserve to treat yourself."

Damon smirked. "Yeah, yeah. You wanna take a ride or just keep admiring it from here?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Of course, but are you sure you're ready? You're not exactly known for being a top-tier driver, Mr. Cross."

"I can hear the sarcasm in your tone," Damon replied, feigning a dramatic sigh. "Tsk, just so you know, taking a month or two off from fighting doesn't mean I'm not doing anything productive. Took driving lessons, for one."

Svetlana blinked, then burst out laughing. "Driving lessons? That's your big flex?"

"Come on, let's go," Damon said, motioning for Svetlana to hop in.

It didn't take long for them to drive the car away from the shop after signing the last papers.

Damon carefully put the Audi RS7 on the road and kept his hands on the wheel the whole time.

"What about your car?" he asked, glancing at Svetlana in the passenger seat.

They had come to the dealership by cab, knowing they'd return with the new car.

But her car was still parked at the hotel-apartment lot.

Svetlana shook her head casually. "It's fine. It's safe there," she said, brushing off the concern.

Damon smiled and looked ahead at the road.

It was safe because the parking lot was part of Victor's apartment building, which they all knew and trusted.

"So," Svetlana said, turning to him with a curious smile, "where to?"

Continue your adventure at empire

Damon smirked. "That's the beauty of today. You pick."

Svetlana leaned back in her seat, her smile widening. "Well, since you're the one treating yourself, how about dinner first? I could eat."

"Sounds like a plan," Damon said as he drove through the city streets, the engine hummuring softly.

For a moment, they sat there in quiet comfort. The car's comfort and the easy ease of their conversation set the tone for the day.

It had been a month or two since Damon had last stepped into the octagon.

He could understand Victor's point about taking a break as he thought back on that time.

Physically, Damon knew he could keep fighting forever.

His stamina seemed limitless, and with the system's help, he could recover and push through anything.

But mentally, the constant grind was a different beast.

Victor had been right, stepping back, even briefly, was necessary to avoid burning out.

Damon hadn't quit training all together, but his routine had changed. He wasn't pushing himself as hard or as long as he had been.

He allowed himself more time to focus on other aspects of life, to enjoy moments that weren't tied to fighting or the octagon.

Still, the fire to compete burned as brightly as ever. Damon knew his break wouldn't last forever.

Deep down, Damon couldn't deny it, he wanted someone to call him out.

The thrill of being challenged, the anticipation of another fight, it was always there, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside.

Right now, it was about spending time with Svetlana.

She had been busy with her own commitments, and their schedules had barely aligned in recent weeks.

That was their chance to catch up and enjoy each other's company without having to worry about obligations or responsibilities.

And they both intended to make the most of it.