The morning air outside the workshop was alive with the familiar chorus of clanging metal, the hiss of blowtorches, and the steady rhythm of men at work. But when Jason pushed open the heavy double doors with Sophie at his side, something unusual happened. Instead of the usual greetings and lazy waves, the entire workshop seemed to pause. Tools went quiet. Heads turned.
"Who's that cutie?" one of the older mechanics called out, wiping grease from his palms on a rag.
Jason felt Sophie squeeze his hand tighter. Her wide brown eyes scanned the bustling space, nervous yet curious, until Jason knelt beside her and whispered, "Relax. These guys are a bunch of clowns. Just smile."
"Is that your daughter, Jason?" another voice rang out from the back. Laughter exploded around the workshop.
Jason nearly choked. "Daughter? Are you kidding me? Do I look old enough for that?"
"Oh, come on," someone teased. "You've been hiding her from us this whole time. Admit it."
Jason rolled his eyes. "This is my little sister, Sophie. She's smarter than all of you combined, but unfortunately, she had to drop out of school 'cause her older brother was broke." His voice softened at the last part, but he forced a grin to keep the mood light.
Sophie, to everyone's surprise, lifted her chin and waved. "Hello. I'm Sophie. And no, I'm not his daughter. He's too dumb to raise one."
The entire workshop roared with laughter. A couple of the younger workers doubled over, slapping their knees.
Jason's mouth dropped open. "Wow. Already throwing me under the bus, huh?"
"I learned from the best," Sophie teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
It didn't take long before everyone warmed to her. They surrounded her with lighthearted questions, some asking her favorite color, some joking if she could replace Jason as their supervisor because she seemed smarter already. A few of the older ones ruffled her hair, which made her giggle, and within minutes, Sophie's initial nervousness had melted away.
Jason took a step back, watching the scene unfold. For so long, his life had been about survival—work, training, debt, and now fights. He had almost forgotten what it felt like for Sophie to be the center of laughter instead of pity.
"Hey, Jason!" Sam's booming voice cut through the chatter as he strode over, grinning. "So this is the famous Sophie, huh?"
Sophie tilted her head. "You're Sam? Jason talks about you all the time."
Jason blinked. "Wait—what?"
Sophie smirked. "He said you're always late, you eat too much, and you snore like a tractor."
The workshop erupted again. Sam clutched his chest in mock pain. "Betrayal! Jason, how could you?"
Jason buried his face in his palm. "Remind me never to tell her anything again."
Sam crouched down to Sophie's level, giving her a playful wink. "Well, nice to finally meet the boss of the family. Don't worry, I'll keep bullying your brother for you."
They laughed together before Jason gently pulled her toward a bench. He went around, introducing Sophie to everyone formally this time, starting with Sam—though she clearly already knew him—then moving down the line of welders, grinders, and machinists. Some cracked jokes about themselves to make her laugh, others acted overly serious just to get teased by the rest, but everyone contributed to the warm welcome.
Eventually, a kind-hearted woman named Clara—a machinist who had always looked out for Jason—came over and offered to keep Sophie company. "Come on, sweetheart," Clara said warmly. "Let's find you a seat away from all this noise. You can help me sort bolts if you want."
Sophie nodded eagerly, slipping away from Jason's side, leaving him and Sam a moment of quiet.
"Perfect timing," Sam muttered. "I was about to steal you away anyway. Let's grab lunch before the boss makes us clean the entire workshop."
Jason smirked. "Fine. But we're getting Sophie's favorite too."
"Deal."
They slipped out into the street, the sun high and warm above the city. The walk to the food stalls was always noisy—vendors shouting prices, kids weaving through the crowd—but Jason liked it. It reminded him of life outside the chaos of fights and survival.
"So…" Jason started as they weaved past a fishmonger. "There's something I don't get. Why didn't you tell me you used to fight in the Crimson tournaments?"
Sam slowed, his expression shifting from casual to guarded. "Ah. So you heard."
Jason shrugged. "Victor mentioned it. Said you were once in the pits."
For a moment, Sam said nothing. Then he gave a lopsided grin. "Yeah, it's true. I fought a few years back. Nothing big. Just… enough to keep the bills paid."
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie. Victor made it sound like you were good."
Sam chuckled. "Good enough to keep breathing, sure. But trust me, it wasn't glorious. It's blood, sweat, and broken bones. You think losing a tooth hurts? Try cracking ribs and still getting back in the ring the next week."
Jason frowned. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
Sam shrugged again. "Because I didn't want you walking down the same path. And look at you now—you're diving headfirst into it."
Jason smirked. "Guess we're both stubborn."
"Guess so."
The tension broke as Sam shoved him lightly. "Besides, I didn't want you thinking I'm cooler than you."
Jason laughed. "Trust me, no danger of that. You're still the guy with no girlfriend in how many years now?"
Sam groaned dramatically, clutching his stomach. "Low blow. You know the ladies can't handle this level of perfection."
Jason shook his head, still chuckling. "More like they can't handle your eating habits."
They reached the food stalls, ordered Sophie's favorite—fried chicken with rice and spicy stew—then grabbed several bags for the rest of the crew. On the way back, Sam balanced half the load in his arms while Jason carried the rest.
"You know," Sam said after a moment, his tone softening, "Sophie's a bright kid. You're doing good by her, Jason. Don't forget that."
Jason glanced at him, the weight of the words sinking in deeper than he expected. "Thanks. Means a lot."
The bags in Jason's hands were warm, the aroma of fried rice, roasted chicken, and pastries spilling out into the afternoon air. Sam carried the drinks—plastic cups rattling in a cardboard tray—while he kept teasing Jason about how much food he bought.
"You do realize you're feeding the entire block, right?" Sam smirked, nudging Jason's elbow.
Jason shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "They work hard. They deserve it. Besides…" He glanced down at the bag where Sophie's favorite treat was tucked neatly in its own container. "She deserves to have her first day here feel special."
Sam nodded, the smirk softening. "You know, for a guy who looks like he could break a man in half, you're too damn soft sometimes."
"Maybe," Jason muttered, but there was no shame in his tone.
As they pushed the workshop doors open, the noise of hammering, welding sparks, and chatter instantly returned. The smell of metal and oil clashed with the food's scent, drawing the workers' attention. Heads turned immediately, and someone shouted:
"Finally! The heroes return!"
Another worker, a lanky man with grease smeared across his cheek, called out, "What's that smell? Don't tell me you actually brought us food!"
Jason lifted the bags high, grinning now. "Lunch break's on me today."
Cheers erupted. Tools were set aside, aprons tossed onto benches, and suddenly the workshop floor felt less like a workplace and more like a family gathering. Sophie lit up from where she sat perched on a workbench, swinging her legs. Her eyes sparkled the moment she saw Jason.
"You got it?" she asked eagerly.
Jason walked straight to her first, pulling out the neat container. "As promised. Your favorite."
The girl practically bounced as she took it. "Yes! Thank you, Jason!" She didn't hesitate to dig in, the smell of cheesy pasta filling the air as she popped open the lid.
Around them, the workers were opening their share, laughing, talking, and thanking Jason. A few clapped him on the back, others teased that he was trying to buy their loyalty with food.
"You see that, Sophie?" Sam said loudly, grabbing one of the sandwiches. "Your brother just became the most popular man in this whole place."
Sophie giggled, her mouth already full. She swallowed quickly and replied, "He's always been the most popular. You guys just didn't know it."
The workers laughed at that, some giving her approving nods.
Jason sat down beside her, finally letting himself relax as he unwrapped his meal. He watched her eat, noting the color in her cheeks and the easy way she laughed with people she'd only just met. For the first time in what felt like forever, she looked like a normal girl again.
One of the older women in the workshop—Carla, who was known for her loud voice and even louder laugh—leaned across the table and smiled at Sophie.
"You're sharp, aren't you? Bet you were top of your class before life decided to make things difficult."
Sophie hesitated, but then smiled shyly. "I… I had to stop school."
The table quieted just a little. Jason shifted, ready to step in, but before he could say anything, Sophie continued.
"But it's okay. Jason teaches me things every day. He's smarter than all my teachers put together."
The silence deepened. Then, slowly, one of the men let out a low whistle. Another muttered, "Damn…"
Carla's eyes softened. She reached across the table and squeezed Sophie's hand. "You know, sweetheart, you'll get back to school someday. Don't you worry about that. With a brother like him, you'll have more doors open for you than you realize."
Jason swallowed hard, suddenly unable to eat. Pride and guilt tangled inside him like barbed wire. He wanted to believe those words, but right now all he had was scraps of savings, bruised knuckles, and a future tied to dangerous underground fights. Could he really give her the life she deserved?
Before his thoughts could drag him too far, laughter broke out at another corner of the workshop. One of the younger guys—Ralph, a joker who never knew when to shut up—leaned back in his chair and called across the table.
"Hey, Jason, you sure this little lady isn't your daughter? The way she defends you—she's got that same scowl."
The workers erupted into laughter. Sophie froze mid-bite, her cheeks puffed with food. Slowly, she swallowed, then narrowed her eyes at Ralph.
"First of all," she said, her voice steady and sharp, "if I were his daughter, that would make Jason way too old. And second of all, if you think this is a scowl, you should see his when he catches someone being lazy at work."
The workshop exploded in cheers and laughter. Ralph's face turned red as people clapped his back, teasing him for being outsmarted by a kid.
"Burned!" someone shouted.
"Man, she's sharper than you, Ralph!" another added.
Jason chuckled under his breath, ruffling Sophie's hair gently. "Careful, Soph. If you keep putting them in their place, they'll make you supervisor."
She grinned, clearly enjoying the attention.
Lunch carried on with more jokes, more laughter. Jason barely ate, instead soaking in the scene—the sight of Sophie laughing with people, belonging, glowing in a way he hadn't seen in years.
For a fleeting moment, the weight of fights, debts, and the system faded into the background. Right here, right now, he had family.
After lunch, the workers got back to their tasks, but Sophie insisted on helping. Carla kept her close, giving her safe little jobs—handing over screws, sorting small tools, keeping the workspace neat. She wore a bright smile the whole time, her eyes wide with fascination as sparks flew from welding torches and machines clattered in rhythm.
Jason leaned against the wall, watching her from afar. Sam came to stand beside him, sipping from a bottle of soda.
"She fits right in," Sam said softly.
Jason nodded, crossing his arms. "Yeah… she does."
"You should be proud."
"I am." Jason paused, his chest tightening. "But I also feel like I failed her. She deserves school, friends, a real life. Not…" He gestured to the oily floor, the noise, the bruises hidden under his shirt.
Sam placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen. You're doing everything you can. And she sees that. Trust me, Jason—sometimes love and effort mean more than anything else."
Jason didn't answer right away. He kept watching Sophie laugh at something Carla said, her small hands clapping as though she'd just heard the funniest thing in the world.
And for the first time in a long while, Jason felt hope.
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