Chapter 116: Restaurant Fight
"Are you really not planning to make a move on your old classmate? I don't get the appeal of black guys, but don't you think your little buddy is pretty cute?"
Ron smirked. "I bet when you try something with him, even if he's stone-cold sober, he'll just play drunk and take it like a champ. You sure you don't want to give it a shot?"
"Damn it! I'm telling you again, I'm definitely not gay!" Hobbs was getting irritated.
"Really? I'm not buying it," Ron said with a mischievous grin like a talk show host. "Just based on that unicorn T-shirt you're wearing? It's not very convincing. Seriously, are you sure you didn't raid Ellie's closet?"
"No, this is mine," Hobbs said with a touch of embarrassment.
"Well, I'm curious—if you needed backup, why didn't you come to me or Barney and the crew, but..." Ron trailed off as he spotted several big guys shoving Kevin around.
"But you picked such a weakling? You sure it's not because of your... special preferences?"
"Listen, I chose him because my old classmate happens to be an excellent accountant, and he can help me track down some useful evidence," Hobbs defended his friend.
"Plus he's got serious potential. You might not know this, but he had a nickname in high school—the Golden Jet."
"I had a classmate with that nickname too, but the reason he got it was because one time in gym class, his shorts ripped when he farted, and this massive cloud of mysterious yellow stuff came spraying out."
"NO! I swear he's definitely not like that!"
"Okay, I'll take your word for it." Ron waved dismissively, then nodded toward the restaurant. "But I suggest you get back in there fast—your Golden Jet's about to get turned into buffalo wings."
They could see a group of guys with muscles rivaling Hobbs's had surrounded their table and were pushing Kevin around like a rag doll.
"Hey! Hey! See that jacket? This seat's taken." Kevin tried to protect the seat next to him as one of the big guys attempted to sit down.
"Nobody's here, I can sit wherever the hell I want!"
Kevin immediately backed down: "Why are you being such a jerk? This seat belongs to my friend—he'll be back any minute."
"Boy, you really looking for trouble?" The big guy glared at him menacingly. Caroline noticed the commotion and was about to intervene when Ron stopped her with a gesture.
"If you really want to keep this up, there's only one place you're heading, and that's the ICU, bro."
"Sorry, Ron, that's my stalker—some local lowlife. I have nothing to do with him. Let me get them to leave." Caroline rolled her eyes helplessly and explained to Ron.
"It's fine. Having a persistent admirer just proves your irresistible charm," Ron kissed her gently on the cheek. "Don't worry about a thing. That big guy will handle everything."
Caroline and Ron watched the conflict unfold, looking slightly worried. "No, I'm just concerned they'll trash the place. This is the third time this month."
"No problem. If there's any damage, have Danny make me a list, and my muscle-bound friend will cover all the restaurant's expenses."
Ron agreed readily, mentally deciding to charge Hobbs double whatever was on Danny's damage report.
"Forget it, let's just move tables." Kevin compared his classmate's muscular build to the thug across from him and wisely chose discretion over valor.
"That's right, listen to your prissy little friend. Those gym-rat muscles don't scare anybody."
The thug sneered smugly, not forgetting to wink at Caroline. When he saw Ron kiss Caroline, his expression suddenly looked like he'd swallowed a turd.
"Hey! You pretty boy over there! Yeah, I'm talking to you. Touch my girl again, and I'll put you and that black boy in the hospital!"
"Huh?" Ron cupped his ear in disbelief. "Are you sure you, a scrawny little punk, are going to take on all three of us? Just by looking, I can tell you'll be the one ending up in the ER."
"You want my brother in the hospital?" A whole crew burst through the door. The fat leader aggressively patted his bulging waistband.
"If you crawl out of here right now, I might let you live. But these two ladies are staying!"
As he said this, the disgusting fat white guy blew a kiss at Max.
Well, Ron knew without Caroline telling him that this had to be Max's stalker. He facepalmed, thinking these two girls were real trouble magnets.
Unfortunately, this gesture was seen by the gang of thugs as further mockery: "Hahaha, weak white boy, you gonna cry? Run home to mommy... haha..."
"Hey, guys, this situation's getting out of hand, but I've got a solution," Kevin stepped out self-righteously to play peacemaker. "I ordered some nachos and two burgers, and they're all yours now. I've only got one request—let me and my friends..."
"Mmph!" He was cut off mid-sentence when Hobbs covered his mouth and yanked him back. At that moment, Ron sprinted from behind and planted his foot squarely in the troublemaker's gut.
"WHAM!" The big guy was sent flying backward by Ron's kick, his head smacking the wall hard before he crumpled unconscious.
The fat man, who'd been so cocky before, instinctively reached for his piece, but before he could get halfway there, Ron, still in motion, drove his knee into the guy's family jewels, dropping him like a sack of potatoes.
Two of the four men were down instantly. The other two bruisers, seeing things had gone sideways, exchanged glances and, drawing on their experience from countless bar fights, attacked Ron simultaneously from both sides.
Max and Caroline went pale with terror, clutching each other and screaming, "Look out!"
Hobbs, meanwhile, stood off to the side completely unbothered, watching the show unfold. He even pushed down a chair Kevin was about to grab for backup.
Just as he'd predicted, as fists from both sides came at Ron almost simultaneously, he didn't retreat. Instead, he took a sharp, diagonal step forward toward the bruiser on his right.
He caught the guy's fist, swept his leg, and launched him into the air.
But that wasn't the end of it. Ron kept twisting the airborne man's arm while his other foot pivoted backward. With agility that seemed impossible for his size, he spun around to face the bigger guy on his left.
He yanked the man he'd thrown into the air forward like a human battering ram.
"CRASH!"
Ron actually used one thug as a weapon to knock the other one flat.
Over-the-shoulder throw!
(End of chapter)
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01