~~3rd POV~~

Marvin waited silently for Joel to exit his office and take the both of them home, everyone had already left since school was dismissed and the coaches believed that practicing after maxing out lifts would be too much stress on the body. This left Marvin to patiently wait on one of the benches outside the locker room, his eyes closed, his face twitching but showing no emotion as he slept the time away.

"Hey, pussy!!" A voice called out in Marvin's direction, but before Marvin could open his eyes to see who was talking to him, he felt a hard object smack right into his cheek, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Marvin tasted blood and grit as he pushed himself up from the pavement. The area outside the locker room was deserted except for him and his attacker. He blinked to clear his vision and saw Desmond, the linebacker who had picked a fight with him the day before

"I told you that locker was mine, didn't I?" Desmond taunted, stepping closer. Marvin's heart pounded, but he refused to back down. He could see it in Desmond's eyes, if he ran now, things would just get worse. He wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, his eyes locking onto Desmond with fierce determination.

"Yeah, you did," Marvin replied, his voice steady. "But I decided you should go fuck yourself."

Desmond's sneer turned into a snarl. "Get up, you little runt," he growled, grabbing Marvin by the collar and lifting him off the ground. Marvin's feet dangled for a moment before he swung his fist, catching Desmond off guard with a solid punch to the jaw. Desmond's head snapped back, and he dropped Marvin, who landed on his feet and immediately took a defensive stance.

Desmond, rubbing his jaw, looked more furious than ever. "You're gonna pay for that," he spat, lunging at Marvin. Marvin ducked under Desmond's outstretched arms, using his smaller size and agility to his advantage.

He delivered quick, precise jabs to Desmond's midsection, each hit landing with a satisfying thud. Desmond swung wildly, trying to catch Marvin, but the smaller boy was too fast. For every punch Desmond threw, Marvin countered with two of his own, relentless and unwavering.

Desmond finally managed to grab Marvin's arm, twisting it painfully behind his back. Marvin gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out. With a burst of strength, he twisted his body, slipping free from Desmond's grasp and delivering a powerful kick to Desmond's knee. Desmond stumbled, his balance momentarily lost.

Seizing the opportunity, Marvin tackled Desmond, sending both of them crashing to the ground. They rolled, each struggling for dominance. Desmond managed to land a few solid punches to Marvin's ribs, making him gasp in pain. But Marvin's determination was fierce, his punches and kicks fueled by years of pent-up frustration and anger.

Marvin didn't hold back. His fists moved like hammers, each punch aimed to cause maximum damage. He pummeled Desmond's face, blood splattering with every blow. Desmond's nose broke with a sickening crunch, and his lips split open, blood pouring out.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Marvin shouted, his voice a raw growl. "You think you can kill me, I'll fucking kill you!"

Desmond roared in fury, summoning his remaining strength. He grabbed Marvin's shirt and yanked him close, delivering a headbutt that made Marvin see stars. Staggering back, Marvin barely had time to react as Desmond charged at him, slamming him against the wall.

Marvin grunted in pain but used the wall for leverage, kicking out and catching Desmond in the stomach. Desmond doubled over, and Marvin took the opportunity to bring his elbow down hard on Desmond's back. Desmond fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

Marvin's eyes were wild, his punches unrelenting. He targeted Desmond's ribs, feeling them give way under his fists. Desmond's groans turned into cries of pain, but Marvin didn't stop. Survival was all that mattered, and he was going to make sure Desmond understood that.

Desmond's struggles grew weaker, his attempts to shield himself futile against Marvin's ferocity. Marvin grabbed Desmond by the hair, lifting his head and smashing it back down onto the pavement. Desmond's head bounced off the ground, his eyes rolling back.

Marvin's breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn't relent. He kneed Desmond in the stomach, the linebacker doubling over in agony. Marvin's kicks followed, targeting Desmond's sides and legs, leaving no part of him unscathed.

Just as Marvin was about to land another blow, a strong hand grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Marvin, that's enough!" Joel's voice boomed, filled with authority and concern.

Marvin struggled against Joel's grip for a moment before recognizing who it was. Joel, the varsity coach, and his new foster dad looked at him with a mixture of shock and disappointment.

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"What's going on here?" Joel demanded, looking down at the battered and bloodied Desmond on the ground.

Marvin, still panting, wiped the sweat and blood from his face. "He started it," Marvin said, his voice hoarse. "I was hit first."

Joel's expression softened slightly, but he kept his grip firm on Marvin's arm. "I understand, but this isn't the way to handle it. Coach Hartman explained this yesterday."

Joel turned to Desmond, who was struggling to sit up. "And you, Desmond. I'll be calling your parents, consider yourself off the team, and maybe even suspended."

Desmond glared at Marvin but didn't argue. Joel's presence and authority were undeniable.

Joel's authoritative tone cut through the tension, and Desmond winced as he tried to get to his feet. His face was battered, his lip split, and his eyes swollen. Marvin, panting heavily, stared at the mess he had made, his adrenaline still coursing through him.

"Marvin, come on. Let's get out of here," Joel said, his voice gentler now but still firm. He guided Marvin away from the scene, his grip firm but not punishing. Marvin glanced back at Desmond, who was clutching his ribs and gasping for air and felt a pang of regret. He knew he had gone too far, but the anger had consumed him.

As they walked towards the parking lot, Joel's presence was a grounding force, his steady hand and calm demeanor providing a semblance of order amid Marvin's chaotic thoughts.

Once they reached Joel's truck, Joel turned to Marvin. "I'm going to handle this right now," he said. "We can't just leave Desmond like this."

Marvin nodded silently, watching as Joel pulled out his phone. He dialed a number and waited as it rang.

"Hello, this is Coach Joel Keppler from Evergreen Ridge High School," Joel said once someone answered. His voice was steady and authoritative. "I need to speak with you about an incident involving your son, Desmond."

Marvin stood by, feeling a mix of unease and relief. Joel's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the turmoil inside him.

Joel continued speaking into the phone. "Yes, there's been a fight. Desmond is injured and needs immediate attention. I'm currently outside the locker room where it happened. I'd appreciate it if you could come over as soon as possible."

He listened for a moment, nodding. "Thank you. We'll be here waiting."

Joel hung up and turned to Marvin. "Desmond's parents are on their way. We're going to wait with him until they arrive."

Marvin's face showed a bit of concern and apprehension. "What happens now?"

Joel placed a reassuring hand on Marvin's shoulder. "We'll make sure Desmond gets the help he needs. Then we'll have a more in-depth talk about what happened and what needs to change."

Marvin nodded, watching as Joel walked back to where Desmond was slumped on the pavement. Desmond's groans of pain filled the air, but the bully's struggle was now met with a more humane approach as Joel's authoritative presence ensured that help was on the way.

Joel sat beside Desmond, his expression serious but calm. He kept talking to Desmond, trying to provide some comfort while they waited. Marvin, feeling the weight of his actions, stood at a distance, his thoughts swirling as he awaited the arrival of Desmond's parents.

When Desmond's parents arrived, their faces were a mix of shock and anger. Desmond's father, a burly man with a stern expression, was the first to speak. "What happened here?" he demanded, his voice edged with fury. Desmond's mother, a petite woman with worried eyes, clung to her husband's arm, her concern evident.

Joel stepped forward, maintaining his composure despite the intensity of the situation. "As I said over the phone I'm Coach Joel Keppler. There was an altercation between your son, Desmond, and Marvin."

Desmond's father's eyes narrowed. "An altercation? It looks like he's been beaten half to death! What did you do about this?"

Joel held up his hands, trying to defuse the situation. "Desmond started the fight. Marvin defended himself, but I understand that this looks bad. I called you right away to make sure Desmond gets the medical attention he needs."

Desmond's mother moved closer, her voice trembling. "My son's in a lot of pain. Why wasn't anyone there to stop this sooner? The police should have been called!"

Joel's face was a mix of concern and determination. "I understand your frustration. We're dealing with this now, and I've made sure Desmond gets the care he needs. But I assure you, this isn't something we're taking lightly."

Desmond's father shook his head. "You should have called the police. This is serious, and we're considering legal action. My son's injuries are severe."

Joel took a deep breath, knowing the gravity of the situation. "I understand. I'm here to take responsibility for what happened on school grounds. We'll cooperate fully with any investigation and support Desmond in every way we can. However, I want to assure you that this was a matter of self-defense. Marvin didn't initiate this."

Desmond's mother wiped her eyes, her voice breaking. "This is outrageous. We trusted this school to keep our son safe, and now he's hurt badly. We need answers."

Joel nodded, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. "I'll be in touch with the school administration and work with you to ensure we address this properly. I'll also make sure that Marvin gets appropriate support. Please, let's focus on getting Desmond to a doctor first."

Desmond's father looked at Joel, his anger giving way to a more controlled concern. "We'll see about that. We'll be in touch with our lawyer. But right now, we need to get Desmond medical attention."

Joel nodded, understanding the gravity of their frustration. "I'll make sure this is documented and that all necessary steps are taken. Let's get Desmond to the hospital."

Desmond's parents helped him up, and with Joel's guidance, they headed towards their car. Desmond's father shot one last, angry glance at Marvin before driving off, the scene still echoing with tension.

Joel turned to Marvin, his expression serious. "We'll talk more at home, but right now, it's important to understand the seriousness of this situation. You need to learn how to handle conflicts without resorting to violence."

Marvin nodded, feeling the weight of the evening's events. As they drove home, Joel's words echoed in his mind, and he knew that the road ahead would be challenging, both legally and emotionally.

'Fuck me' Marvin thought as he watched the road on the way back home.