#muay-thai-champions

[timmurleyart]

Dojo breakfast. 🥣🥋

[caitlin-chescoe]

José "Pitbull" Valera is an internationally acclaimed Muay Thai competitor with over 22 years of experience in the sport. As a 3-time world champion, he has also earned other prestigious titles including European Champion and British Champion. We hung out for an afternoon in my studio in London and chatted about his accomplishments over the years.

“I think my biggest achievement out of it has been my life experience. What Muay Thai did to me, it showed me who I am and what to do with myself. I learnt a lot about my self.”

“That’s the thing about sports, every career got a different purpose. I think Muay Thai can teach you how to grow, see things better, behave better around people, be more patient and caring as well. That’s the thing as a trainer, you have to care about people so they don’t get hurt, cos it’s dangerous. People get more hurt in training than in the ring.”

[imadititom]

Rodtang vs. Superlek | Biggest Fight in Muay Thai

There were two men in the ring but they were 64 limbs fighting.

An iconic fight, great sportsmanship and referee.

It was Rodtang though.

Rematch ahead !

[telomeke]

WANDEE GOODDAY – PAPA PHADETSEUK

👀 Guys, they didn't just get some random actor to play Yoryak and Oyei's dad!

They got an ACTUAL MUAY THAI BOXING LEGEND, Samart Payakaroon. 🤩

Here's what My Drama List has to say about him:

He is considered by many to be the greatest Muay Thai boxer of all time, becoming a world champion in both Muay Thai and in Boxing.

Also known as The Jade-Faced Tiger or The Baby-Faced Tiger, Khun Samart also acted in films and dramas both during and after his career in the ring. And he was actually quite BL-pretty in his youth too:

(above) A young Samart Payakaroon (source: linked here)

A number of the boxing extras at the Phadetseuk gym are apparently also Muay Thai boxers IRL. Talk about apt casting choices! 🤩

‌

[redtsundere-writes]

Jinx | Sukuna Ryomen

Part 3: Medusa's Snake

Beginning. ← Previous | Next →

mmafighter!sukuna ryomen x femcoach!reader

Sypnosis: Sukuna is a world champion with anger issues. It's believed by many that he is untrainable. Yeah, you can't train him, but you can dominate him. Contents: Fighting. Sukuna being Sukuna. Female reader being dom. Jinx AU (the BL, not the character from lol) Yuuji, Choso and Sukuna are brothers. Toji is a nice parent. Praising. Warnings: Cursed words. Mentions sexual harassment. Word Count: 2696 words. Author's Note: I just finished and I could finally write this *cries happily*

Night was slowly falling over Tokyo. The small, cozy ramen bar stood out with its warm lights and glowing signs, The air was filled with the captivating fragrance of bone broth bubbling in the pots. The dim lighting enhanced the skill of the chef, whose expert hands moved gracefully as he masterfully prepared the noodles at the counter. The murmur of diners, mixed with the sound of steam and noodles cooking, created a gastronomic symphony.

In the middle of the stage, Yuuji, Megumi and I were there to relax after another day of hard training. The delicious broth and the comfort of carbs soothed the stress we had accumulated over the past few days. Sukuna and I have been training restlessly for the past month for the fight that was coming up in a few days. Toji Fushiguro is a superb Muay Thai fighter, a real threat to a boxer like Sukuna. We had to be prepared.

"My brother didn't let you rest?” Yuuji asked me when he saw me stretching my neck with some help from my hands.

"Yes, he told me not to even dare to think about resting because he would kick me out of the gym,” I replied. The stress in my neck came back from just thinking about his tantrums.

I understood that he was nervous about the fight. He had an important title to defend, and every fighter in his weight class and in back-to-back weight classes wanted it. Sukuna is just a king protecting his crown, but this was already too much. All his tension was slowly creeping up on my back. I had to admit that his dedication is admirable. While we were eating a delicious bowl of ramen without worrying about ruining our diets, Sukuna was still training in the empty gym.

“Sukuna always acts like this. It only gets worse with every fight,” Megumi explained without looking away from his bowl. 

“Doesn’t he have a hobby or something like that? If he keeps tensing his muscles like that, it could be bad in the long run.” I knew from experience. 

“He does, but we can't help him with that.” Yuuji shook his head. 

“What? Why not?” I asked. I was his trainer, I should know. 

Yuuji looked for a second at Megumi as if he was hesitating whether to tell me or not. It was little moments like these that made me understand why they were friends despite having two completely different personalities. They could communicate with just their looks and a few gestures. I wish I had a connection like that with someone. Yuuji let out a sigh and went back to eating, completely evading the question.

“Why don't you want to tell me?” I asked him directly. 

“It's just… It's not like he gets relaxed by it. It's more like a good luck ritual,” he explained reluctantly. 

Good luck rituals are common in any sport. There are soccer players who sing an anthem before taking the field, baseball players who wear a special pair of socks, and fighters who tattoo talismans on their backs. I was used to that kind of thing, and I'm sure Yuuji was too.

“There's nothing wrong with that,” I said. 

“It is because Sukuna doesn't know how to hold back,” Yuuji replied.

I could sense that he wanted to avoid the topic. I didn't know exactly why, but he must have had a good reason to do so, so I decided not to insist and continue eating, but we were no longer talking. It wasn't an awkward silence, we were just tired of the subject and needed to relax.

“Yuuji, she's his coach, maybe you should tell her,” Megumi commented after finishing his bowl… 

“It's unnecessary,” his friend answered.

“Gojo knows about it, I think she should also know in case Sukuna tries something, don't you think?” With that comment, I knew that this was no ordinary ritual. 

“You're right.” Yuuji sighed before looking at me. “The thing is… Sukuna must have satisfying sex the night before the fight for good luck,” he finally blurted out. 

"That's not so weird”. I commented before shoving another mouthful of ramen into my mouth. "Why didn't you want to tell me? You didn't want to embarrass your brother?” 

“Because that's why he and Choso don't talk to each other anymore.” Yuuji started with the story.

Days before the night Sukuna became the champion of the light heavyweight weight class, the three brothers had dinner with their parents. At this dinner, Choso excitedly introduced his fiancée. She was his love and pride, his better half. According to Yuuji, she was a very pretty and nice girl, and as usual, Sukuna avoided her like the plague because he was not interested in meeting her at all. 

Since the championship was held in Las Vegas, Choso and his fiancée stayed in the same hotel as Sukuna because Choso wanted to show her how cool his brother was (despite being a complete jerk). The night before the fight, Choso woke up in the middle of the night and realized that his fiancée wasn't in bed with him. She wasn't in the bathroom, and she didn't take her phone with her, but she took her room key with her. 

He went out to look for her and couldn't find her anywhere. Since he didn’t speak English well, he went to Sukuna for help. When he knocked on his door, his fiancée came out of the room with her hair matted and her panties in her hand. He knew about Sukuna's lucky ritual, so he knew perfectly well what had happened. His fiancée cheated on him with his damn brother. Choso went crazy and jumped at Sukuna, but he knocked him out before he could do anything. 

Choso woke up in the hospital bed with Yuuji next to him. According to him, he had never seen him so broken and betrayed in his life. He cried all night while his older brother was preparing for their fight. He knew Sukuna could be many things, but he never thought he would be capable of being a traitor. Needless to say, despite everything, Sukuna won the fight.

"What a jerk.” I grumbled through my teeth. 

"My brother doesn't care about anyone or anything. He can't be changed. I don't know where my parents failed in his upbringing,” Yuuji mentioned with a sigh. 

"That's why you should be careful, Sukuna is capable of doing anything to win,” Megumi warned me.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for telling me.”

The days passed, and the fight was one day away. After a tedious trip to Dubai and a quick stop to unpack at the hotel. The team, Sukuna and I headed out bright and early to the official weigh-in with the fight referee and judges. After Sukuna had lunch, we headed to the exhibition weigh-in at the hotel's convention center. This is where the fighters must appear to be brawling before the fight to get the public's attention. There is also a press round for them to publicize the event during the day. 

Sukuna, Gojo and I were called to the stage along with Toji Fushiguro and his trainers to be the next to go on stage. Sukuna was wearing his headphones and had a very unfriendly look on his face. Gojo asked him to take them off, and he did so between tantrums as I mentally prepared myself to go on stage. This reminded me of the good old days. 

As we walked out onto the stage, the press cameras began to flash and the murmur of reporters manifested itself in the room. I kept my face as serious as possible as Sukuna and Toji greeted each other and prepared for the weigh-in. I watched as he took off his hoodie to reveal his tribal tattoos proudly to the audience. The fighters reluctantly greeted each other with hurtful insults and stepped on the scales. The weight was somewhat different from the morning, as both had eaten breakfast at the hotel buffet. Toji weighed 220 pounds, while Sukuna weighed 215.

The audience applauded when it was announced that both passed the weigh-in. The only thing left was the press round. After Sukuna and Toji exchanged threats, all of us  sat at a long table on stage. Two coaches between the fighters to keep things from getting personal. The emcee asked if anyone had any questions, and the requests bombarded him. The emcee decided to give the floor to the reporter in front of me.

"I have a question for the Medusa’s Snake! How did the man-hating former welterweight champion of the women's division become the trainer of the champion with clear anger issues!?” The reporter exclaimed so that everyone present could hear the question. 

I could feel Sukuna's eyes drilling into my skull for me to turn around and give him explanations on the spot. I carefully approached the microphone to speak loud and clear. 

"I may not like men, but I like champions. I always belong to the winning team," I answered while the photographers kept flashing me.

Medusa’s Snake was the nickname I was baptized with in the first fight I had against a man in the first gym I went to. That fighter was a disgusting man from my past who harassed me in and out of the gym. He would always watch me, try to touch me and follow me home. That was until one day I asked him to train with him, since he was so interested in me. He agreed and during the fight he tried to touch my tits, that was until I kicked him and knocked out a couple of his teeth. He ended up in the hospital and didn't wake up until a day later. From then on, I was nicknamed that way, and my brand as a champion was to be mean to men but honest with women, which wasn't too far from the truth.

"How is your neck? Can you train the world champion in that condition?!” Another reporter asked. 

I used to be the world champion in my weight class until during my fight with Maki Zenin, I fell badly on my neck and tore it. I won the fight, but I lost a lot of range of motion in my neck. The doctor ordered me to rest for an indefinite period of time. It's been like that for almost two years now.

"I am fine, but I'm not fully recovered. My focus at the moment is on doing everything I can to keep Sukuna as champion,” I replied.

"Mr. Ryomen! It is known that you are very strict with admissions at your gym and that there are no women! Why the change?!” Another reporter asked. Sukuna took a few seconds to think about his answer, I could already imagine what stupid thing he would say next. 

"I chose her because she is the best,” he answered without further ado.

A small smile infiltrated my face before I could hide it. That response caught me off guard. It was the first time Sukuna had recognized me like that. I'd be lying if I said it hadn't been nice to be recognized for the first time in two months of work. In fact, it's the first time I've been recognized as a trainer in a long time. Being a woman in a male"dominated world is complicated. You have to be good enough to be accepted, but not be the best so as not to overshadow any man with fragile masculinity.

After a couple more questions and an exchange of threatening hints, we went back backstage. We were about to head to the hotel gym to warm up a bit, but Sukuna stopped me halfway down the hall to confront me. A move that not only seemed strange to me, but also to the team.

"Are you a world-class fighter?” Sukuna questioned me. He couldn't be serious. I was going to answer, but Nanami stepped in. 

"Didn't you know that?” He asked him to make sure he wasn't joking. 

"Did you think we just brought you some random pretty girl so you could finally learn floor techniques?” Gojo interjected in amusement. Sukuna got flustered about the hidden intention of his coach’s questions. 

"I don't waste my time watching female fighting,” Sukuna answered, slightly blushing with embarrassment for being the only one who didn't know who I was. 

"That explains why she beat you up the first day,” Itadori commented with a chuckle. 

"I'm not surprised coming from Medusa’s Snake," someone said in a thick voice behind us. 

It was no other than Toji Fushiguro. A tall, strong and powerful man. A fighter easily recognizable in the crowd. If you put a bag over his head, people could still recognize him by his large physique. Unlike his body, his appearance was quite plain. He had a haircut that was not so long, but not so short. He wore a black sweatshirt, gray shorts and sandals from the brand that sponsors him. Despite his dangerous reputation, he had a pleasant smile, decorated with a small cut on his lip. 

"It's nice to finally meet you,” he greeted me directly, completely ignoring his opponent. 

It felt strange for him to approach me in such a friendly manner, but I still accepted his greeting. Megumi appeared behind him, looking like he was wondering the same thing I was.

"Do you know her, dad?” Megumi asked him in confusion. 

"Do you remember the fight your cousin Maki lost three years ago?” Toji asked without taking his eyes off me. Megumi nodded. “She finished the fight with a perfect Kimura*, someday you should teach me how to do that,” he flattered me with a proud smile, but it vanished when Sukuna came between us. 

Kimura: A technique whose main objective is to exert pressure on the opponent's shoulder and elbow joint to achieve submission in various wrestling disciplines.

"Not even in your dreams, old man.” Sukuna barked with a frown. “She signed a contract saying she belongs to me, so don't even try.”

Seeing Sukuna so defensive about keeping me on his side was strange. After the last two months, he has done nothing but scold me every time I do something wrong in his eyes. Toji didn't even flinch at his threat. I poked him in the ribs to get him to step aside and let me talk. 

"Thanks for the compliment and the offer, but Sukuna is the only one I plan to train until I get back on my feet. I plan to return to the ring soon,” I explained with a smile. 

“I understand. If you change your mind, you know how to find me,” he said while pointing at Megumi. Toji approached Sukuna and gave him a proud smile. “Take good care of her, snakes are great at escaping,” he advised her with a wink before walking away with Megumi and the rest of his team behind him. Sukuna muttered a curse under his breath and let him go.

Two big UFC fighters had recognized me as a good coach and fighter on the same day. It was a big step for my self-esteem and my career. My heart was beating like crazy with excitement, and the smile on my face didn't seem to go away anytime soon. 

“You're smiling like an idiot,” Sukuna scolded me. 

"Can't I be happy that the heavyweight champion just complimented my skills?” I said as we headed for the exit with the others once Toji left our sight. 

"That better be it, and you better not be thinking about going with him,” he challenged me. 

"Are you jealous?” I joked while nudging him. 

"Of course not,” Sukuna answered while rolling his eyes. 

"Don't worry, just behave, and I'll still be yours,” I said in a mocking tone. I was partly joking and partly not. I really wanted him to behave. 

"Nice try,” he spat before picking up the pace to go with Gojo, leaving me behind. “Worth the shot” I thought as I followed them.

Next →

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[pancrasefighter69]

Louis Fairhurst, UK Champion Muay Thai fighter. Fighting out of Salford, England; his fight record is 18 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. 17 years old. 5'9" tall and 53.5 kg or 118 lbs. Bantamweight.

[ash-and-starlight]

Would you have any thoughts about the Gaang in a modern au (either with or without bending), especially jobs? I legit love how there’s never been a consensus of how they’d live, especially job wise, in the fandom — except for Katara, she is absolutely a doctor, surgeon, ER badass. Personally, I love the thought of Zuko as a child protective agent, and Sokka as a high school teacher, not just for the dramatic Zukka potential lol haha either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

aaa ok i love and adore to see how their roles get translated in modern au’s in such clever ways, i loveee your ideas for zukka workplace drama that’s so 🥺 ok i’ll list some of my faves but feel free to add

-doctor katara SO TRUE and activist katara also so true either way she’s helping people and giving all she’s got

-aang also activist monk-turned *insert job that has to do with flying?? or meteorology??* AND i love the silly little headcanon he and zuko are lion dance partners dkfjdj

-toph wwe champion. without question

- jet could also work with kids tbh as either a child protective agent too or teaching martial arts classes for kids as some sort of social program he zuko and toph have an underground fight club every tuesday he and iroh have a wholesome breaking bad situationship going on with banger edibles

- zuko the guy with 294737 job options tbh either as jasmine dragon clerk, firefighter, historian / khon expert and standing authority on the ramakien, parkour guy, sword guy, guy who goes to business school just to learn how to efficiently dismantle dad’s financial empire, and i am extremely partial on muai thay champion-instructor zuko who has like a post-injury gym program just for the zukka of it all of him helping sokka with his leg during rehab 😌

- sokka also guy that can do anything tbh wether working as inventor or in tech/mechanic fixing things, working at a science museum (hi robin), marine biologist (hi kath) working as an astronomer or at the planetarium bc he’s always been fascinated by the night sky and the moon, artist, poet, mythbuster, sword guy as well, all of these at once. most importantly he has an insanely popular food blog on the side

- suki kendo captain of an all-girl club

- florist mai. (specifically ikebana artist) which is comic canon and in context made little sense but i love it it’s beautiful bc it brings me to

- tattoo artist ty-lee 💕

- and azula uhhh nepobaby electrician

[pepperf]

Earthrealm's seven greatest warriors have been invited to Shang Tsung's island, to compete in a tournament that will decide the fate of their realm and its inhabitants.

Among these combatants are Diego Hargreeves, martial artist and failed policeman. He must face Outworld's chosen champion, Lila Pittz.

Will his arsenal of combat skills - including hand-to-hand, karate, aikido, hapkido, krav maga, jujitsu, muay thai, kendo, sambo, wing chun, and others - be enough to win the battle against her mysterious powers - or will Earthrealm fall under the heel of the Emperor?

Welcome...to Mortal Kombat.

(Tag to follow/block: tua diego/lila au inspo

Feel free to use any of these as jumping-off points for fic etc, if any of them grab you.)

[theanticool]

Jean-Charles Skarbowsky - Keys to Winning in Thailand | Muay Thai Library

So I have to introduce two people.

Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu is an American-born muay thai fighter. Back in 2012 she moved from the U.S. to live and train in Thailand as a professional fighter and has been there ever since. At 40 years old she has racked up over 280 fights in her career as well as winning a bunch of championships and tournaments and stuff. She's also a blogger, documenting her training, her experiences with fighting, and more in Thailand. You can find her on 8limbsus.com. She also does interviews with trainers, fighters, etc. If you want a better understanding of Muay Thai on the ground in Thailand as a westerner, she is an invaluable resource. Definitely worth following.

Now Jean-Charles Skarbowsky is a legendary French kickboxer and Muay Thai champion. If you're a longtime MMA fan, you'll recognize him as the drunk guy that GSP brought in who beat up every single fighter on his team during TUF 12. He is one of the best farangs (foreigners) to ever compete. He's one of the few farangs to own gyms in Thailand and has many more around the world. Man is legit.

And Sylvie sat down with him for like an hour to talk shop about fighting, his career, and more. An amazing resource and some fantastic work of preservation/journalism from Sylvie, as always.

[cosmosrebellion]

I was thinking about Ranma fighting a fighting game character again and I landed on Sagat. This isn't because of some deep reason, just 'cause Sagat is a 7'5 Muay Thai champion, so the visual of Ranma fighting this behemoth using his acrobatics would be really fun. I can see Ranma holding onto Sagat's gigantic limbs to dodge his moves, and Sagat trying to shake him off. It be hilarious.

Though character-wise, Sagat used to be driven fighter after losing to Ryu, Street Fighter's protag, but eventually found inner peace and decided to fight as a way to communicate with his opponents, seeking more than just victory. And considering how important winning is Ranma whenever he is challenged, I can see them having a nice conversation where Sagat tells Ranma not to lose sight of the meaning of fighting, and of the cozy if a bit chaotic life he got for himself.

Also, this is going to sound very mean, but the visual of Ranma taking a Tiger Knee from these legs to his stomach made me laugh so hard. I know Ranma' is very durable, but I do think he stay on the floor for a few hours after being hit with this.

[shnebrght]

What are their hobbies?

Do they have any daily routines? (To Lussuria for the character development Meme)

@universalskyworld | character development questions (open.)

Do they have any daily routines?

They do, actually! Seeing how grooming is one of their hobbies, Lussuria enjoys a routine of self-care in the morning whenever they get the chance. Mostly tending to their shaved head and making sure their skin is as healthy as could be, if they're on minimal schedule; but Lussuria makes it a point to invest in themselves at least once or twice a week, if affordable. In addition, because of their position, muscle training and shadow boxing are consistent part of their daily life, so much so that Lussuria can boast they have never missed a single day!

What are their hobbies?

For the more harmless parts -- Lussuria has lots of hobbies. Grooming is one of them, a habit they take very seriously. Big Sis Lussi needs to appear at their best at all times, and grooming - both themselves and others - is part of the deal. They mostly enjoy managing the other Varia members' hair, if they get the chance. I headcanon that because Squalo has only one hand, he requires a barber to tend to his hair; and recently, Lussuria picked up that responsibility in particular. Well, as an avid fan of all things beautiful, that should be a given, isn't it?

Lussuria is a foodie. You wouldn't think it upon seeing him, but it goes hand in hand with another hobby of his: bodybuilding. Fact is, Lussuria is the youngest bodybuilding champion in the world (ask Futa). They enjoy building their body, refining it constantly to better suit their needs and nowadays, also their duties within the Varia. This, in turn, makes it so the Okama needs a lot of food. Having a free-spirited personality led to him understanding that, if they were going to eat a lot anyway, might as well try all sorts of foods. This made Lussuria big on trying out different foods, and they even learned how to cook as a result.

There are lots of other hobbies Lussuria would list if asked, though while they wouldn't list it first, they are a martial arts enthusiast, as well as a fan of practicality. Taking those two into account, they picked Muay Thai; one of the deadliest martial arts forms in the world. It is most definitely in Lussuria's hobbies to move their body in any shape or form, but practicing martial arts is right at the top. They're well-versed in lots of martial arts styles, but only practiced a select few they deemed worthy.

There's a reason these were answered in reverse order. The next part can and will trigger some people, read at your own risk.

You have been warned.

Lussuria's most outlandish, horrific hobby is undoubtedly corpse collection, to satisfy their own twisted desires. Simply put -- if they have a successful Hit and happen to fancy their victim, Lussuria will kill them, bring them home and work to preserve their body. Except that, they deliberately don't do too good of a job at that; allowing their collected victims to decay, slowly, over time, until they can be tossed away. What do they really do with those corpses?

That said. It is worth mentioning that, in regards to their type, Lussuria is extremely picky. They won't settle for anything less than a solid pass. This is why, it is assumed that their 'collection' changes over time and never reaches above a single digit. Lussuria has a clear preference towards well-toned, muscular men, but some women have found the fortune to fall victim to their hobby as well.

[happypopcornprincess]

Call It What You Want || Chapter 3

Note: The story is set somewhere in 2018, pre covid, before Yei won the world champion. A lot of Oyei, Yak and Cher's backstory has been my own creation. Also some new characters are also purely fictional.

Please do not repost or reupload this story as your own.

Series Masterlist

---/---/---

SIX months Later

“Keep going, keep going!” Yei held down Yak’s legs as he struggled with the sit ups.

“P’Yei…” Yak groaned in defeat and laid down on the gym mat.

Getting Yak out of depression had been quite a task. He had lost a lot of weight, and his eating habits were uneven. Yei would have sent him to a therapist if he had the finances, but right now, he bought Yak at the gym, hoping the physical activity and post-workout meals would jumpstart his recovery.

“Oi Yak!” Yei slapped his leg to make him get up, but that stubborn kid would not give in, “Don’t you want abs for senior year! Stop whining and do another set!”

“Five-minute break. Pleaseeeee?” Yak stretched out his words, clearly on the verge of dozing off.

“P’Yak.” Cher entered the gym right when Yak was getting ready to give Yei a piece of his mind.

“Oh, Cher.” he left Yak splayed out in the middle of the gym to go talk to the new manager of his gym, none other than Cher.

Cher had been a godsend. With his help, Yei transformed the dusty warehouse into Phadetseuk Gym, a Muay Thai training centre. Cher poured a significant amount of money into the project, and his faith in Yei didn't stop there. He also pushed Yei to start renovations on the house they were living in. Together, they'd already modernized the bedrooms and the kitchen. Yei vowed to repay every cent, but it was a little unnerving how much Cher believed in him. It was almost as if Cher trusted Yei more than Yei trusted himself.

Yei hired some of his struggling friends as trainers, and after only a few months of the opening of their gym, they now have twelve clients, the first one being Cher himself.

Cher was a quick learner. Though skinny, Cher possessed raw strength – a valuable asset in Muay Thai. His days were split: mornings dedicated to Muay Thai training, and afternoons spent managing and promoting the gym's growth.

Cher proved to be a natural. He grasped the fundamentals of Muay Thai in a surprisingly short time. Despite his thin frame, Cher possessed raw strength, a valuable asset in boxing.

Most importantly, Yei witnessed a blossoming confidence in Cher; a brighter glint in his eyes after training for self-defense. When before he would always wear trousers and long sleeves even though it was forty degrees outside, he has now started wearing shorts with some kind of graphic tees or bold coloured shirts. Honestly, they fit his personality way better.

“I have both good news and bad news.” He said, smiling.

“Okay.” Yei listened, folding his hands.

“So, good news”, Cher jumped in excitement, “You qualified for the audition round for world championships!” Yei’s jaw was on the floor hearing this, “I had sent some clips of you fighting and training in the gym and had to write a lot of emails to consider you as a candidate, and they just emailed me back last night! You’re in!” He held Yai’s shoulders and shook him, laughing.

“Oh my god Cher!” Yai laughed out loud, punching the air.

“Now…” Cher took a step forward, his face now serious, “The bad news.”

Yai calmed down, and looked at him.

“The tournament is in three weeks.”

“What!”

“It will be the qualifying match. Three rounds. First knockout decides the winner. No rematch.” Cher sighed.

“Insanity!” Earth, one of Yei’s trainers, yelled loudly from the boxing ring, “Yei will have to start training as soon as possible dude!”

Yei sighed, looking down at his hands. He had been in touch with all the techniques and moves while training Cher and the others, but it was nothing compared to actually training for a boxing match.

Cher tapped his shoulder, “Don’t you worry P’Yei, we’ll help you get that world championship trophy.” He smiled, giving him a fist bump, “su su na, P’Yei!” (Thai - Good Luck, P'Yei)

His eyes crinkled with joy, his smile so intoxicating that Yei laughed too.

“Sure Cher. Let’s get going.” He followed Cher inside to find Yak sleeping soundly on the gym floor. He groaned in frustration; his brother had some superpower to fall asleep literally anywhere.

===

It was the morning of Cher’s first day at Muay Thai training. The early morning sky was still changing colors, and the tangent smell of rubber hanging in the air from the freshly unwrapped gym equipment.

He climbed into the ring, facing Yei across the canvas. Yak, still half-asleep in the corner, mumbled something inaudible. Yei cracked his knuckles, a familiar pre-training ritual. "Alright, Cher," he said, hands on his hips. "Show me your fighting stance."

Cher balled his fists, instinctively raising them to shield his face. Stepping closer, Yei gently reached for Cher's wrists, intending to adjust his posture. But Cher, startled, jerked back, his heart hammering in his chest.

Yei paused, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "It's okay," he said, taking a step back and lowering his own hands. "Look at me." He demonstrated the stance, his movements slow and deliberate, allowing Cher to observe and absorb the proper form.

Cher smiled to himself remembering his first day at the gym as he wrapped up his work at the gym office. He worked best late at night, hours designing banners and promotional posters for the gym. Yak would occasionally stumble in, sleep in his eyes still but eager to help. They would spend hours talking about everything. Cher never opposed Yak’s presence, even taking him on market trips wen they were free from work. It pained Cher to see such a gentle kid struggling through life.

Yei had confided in him once about Yak's downward spiral after their mother's passing. How he didn’t speak or eat for days, even when their father left, he said nothing. Yei would have to force him to eat food for days. “He was such a happy kid.” Yai once told him, “He is happy when he’s with you. I’m glad he has you as a friend.”

Cher noticed that Yei have a habit of thinking about everyone else before himself. He rarely spoke of his own struggles.

He cherished every moment he shared with Yei. During Cher's initial training days, his aversion to physical contact was understandable. Yet, Yei was patient, never forcing anything. He treated Cher with gentle respect, and knew he needed time to rebuild his comfort zone.

He was a kind man; he was struggling himself but was never late to pay his employees or help them. He loved Yak more like his son than a brother, he would do anything for him. Cher vividly recalled a night when Yak burned with a raging fever. Yei remained glued to his side until his temperature settled down until Cher had to force him to sleep, promising to stay with Yak.

A sudden jolt pulled Cher back to reality. He glanced down at the steaming parcel in his hands – Tom Yum Goong, Yei's favorite. Tomorrow marked the beginning of Yei’s rigorous training and diet, Cher wished to give this to him as a good luck token for the match. He went through the backyard to the house and knocked on the door just to find it open.

It’s midnight, why is the door open?

Yak would have been sleeping by now, he pushed through the front door and entered the living room. A faint shuffling sound emerged from Yei's room.

“P’yei?” he called out.

No answer. He called out again, but there was no answer. Cher noticed the door was ajar. Pushing it open, he was met with a sight that sent his heart plummeting.

Yei stood mere feet away, locked in a passionate kiss with another man. Both were stripped down to their boxers, the intimacy raw and undeniable.

“Cher!” Yai was frozen in place as he looked at Cher in shock. The other man, startled, turned, confusion clouding his features. His neck was littered with hickeys. “I… Cher…” but Cher didn’t let Yai finish, only thrusting the parcel at him.

He stepped back, “Sorry... I’ll go now.”

Taking long strides out of the house, Cher didn’t hear Yai calling him again.

He rushed to the office, taking a seat on the floor. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to banish the image of Yei and the other man, but it burned behind his eyelids. A confusing mix of sadness and anger welled up inside him. He knew, logically, that Yei being gay shouldn't bother him. In fact, a part of him had always suspected it.

He shouldn't feel a pang of jealousy at the intimacy, the possessiveness of the other man's hands on Yei's waist, or the kiss itself. He shouldn't be this devastated at the thought of Yei being with someone else.

So why did it hurt so much?

The question echoed in the emptiness of his mind, a nagging ache that only intensified with each passing moment.

===

Yei stared at the man sleeping next to him, the faint morning sunlight poured in through the open window illuminating his bare back. Memories of the previous night were hazy… A casual conversation at the bar, fueled by cheap drinks and loneliness, had spiraled into a one-night stand. The details were hazy, the man's name forgotten.

The only thing clear was the look on Cher's face when he'd burst into the room – a mix of shock and something deeper, something Yei couldn't decipher.

The man had dozed off after the second round, but sleep didn’t find Yei.

Shame coiled in his gut, tightening with each passing second. He hadn't planned for his carefully guarded secret to be so brutally exposed. Yet, relief snuck in his chest. The burden of hiding felt lighter now.

Then came the bigger question, a truth he'd long buried beneath himself. Something not even the closest to him knew.

Should he tell Cher he's gay? The question hung heavy as he took a cold shower that did nothing to dull his anxiety.

"He knows now," Yei muttered, the words hollow against the tiled walls. Yet, a part of him craved a genuine conversation, a chance to explain the unspoken attraction towards Cher, the yearning he'd suppressed for the sake of their friendship and Yak's well-being.

With a heavy sigh, Yei pulled on his training clothes. He couldn't afford to crumble. He had a responsibility to Yak, to the gym, and ultimately, to himself. Now, more than ever, he needed the discipline of Muay Thai, the focus it demanded.

He would do what he’s always done; face the situation head on.

---/---/---

"Cher." Yai lingered outside the office door, the silence stretching uncomfortably.

"P'Yei." Cher stood in his training gear, the loose tank top clinging to his lean frame. His expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions swirling behind his eyes.

"About last night..." Yai began, his voice tentative. But before he could finish, Cher raised a hand.

"I should apologize for barging in," Cher said, his voice surprisingly calm. He passed by him to enter the main area where the punching bags were.

"No, what I mean is..." Yai stammered, frustration lacing his tone.

Why wasn't this easier?

"It's okay, P'Yei. Don't worry about it," Cher interjected, his gaze shifting to the punching bags. With a practiced motion, he pulled on his gloves, the rhythmic snap of velcro a stark contrast to the turmoil within. He faced the bags, his back to Yei, before asking, "Does Yak know?"

Yei let out a shaky breath, the question echoing his own fear. "No."

Cher nodded, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "You can tell him when you're ready," he said softly. "And I'm sure, when you do... he'll accept you for who you are." He turned back to Yei, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The dim ceiling lights cast a halo around him, highlighting the mess of his dark brown hair.

"If he doesn't," Cher added with a playful glint in his eye, "I'll kick his ass."

Yei burst out laughing. Cher's attempt at humour, despite the seriousness of the situation, warmed him from the inside.

"Come on! Don't you have training after this?" Cher nudged Yei playfully. "I have work to do!" He gestured for Yei to follow, his eyes lingering on Yei for a beat longer than necessary.

Cher chuckled, a genuine sound that banished the last vestiges of awkwardness. Together, they walked towards the heart of the gym, a silent understanding hanging between them.

He knew, with a certainty that surprised him, that he would follow Cher anywhere.

to be continued...

a/n: okay so I kinda missed this in the beginning but I imagined the side characters of this story as gmmtv actors and I totally forgot to mention them before.

Earth being played by... well Earth Pirapat [Him as Chief Phupa lives in my mind rent free I'm sorry] The unnamed character who hooked up with Yei played by Tay Tawan [idk I just thought Thor and him would look cute together hehe]

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