Jab.

Nelson heard the command and his fist struck out, hitting the sand filled bag right where he was aiming. It was getting easier, with each lesson. He felt that maybe he was getting stronger too.

Left Hook.

That was good, the whole...getting stronger thing. He was worried, now that he wanted to help protect Sylvite...he couldn’t keep being a wet noodle, getting strangled at every turn. He still hadn’t found the courage to talk with Xander either...and honestly...he was now starting to wonder if he would ever find it.

Jab. Cross.

There was some kind of a rift between them now...and honestly, there had been since the issues with Jace due to the exam...but...he didn’t know what was going on, though he knew that he desperately wanted to fix it...Xander was his life. His love. His...well. His everything.

Uppercut!

The punch was executed swiftly, and Nelson had a moment where he pictured his fist colliding with the face of the senshi who had tried to kill him those times. Pictured the fragile nose crumpling and cracking as it rejoined with the skull. Blood poured everywhere and the senshi’s eyes rolled into the back of his head…

A sudden sharp pain as the punching bag swung and hit Nelson, as he had missed the last call and had completely broken his rhythm.

But that...that hadn’t been like anything he had imagined before...never had he wanted to actively hurt someone...goodness. That was horrifying.

Nelson tasted blood and realized he had somehow managed to split his lip. He slipped away from the class and headed to where his water bottle was nestled on a bench, taking a drink from it and glancing at himself in the mirror warily, half worrying that he might see himself covered in blood that was not his own.

...Thankfully that wasn’t the case and the male’s heart began to return to a more sedate pace.

It had just been a very odd...very...very realistic thought, that was all. But...maybe Nelson would have to re-evaluate why he was trying to get stronger...after all, self defense was much different than wanting power for power itself...wasn’t it?

Of course it was. He didn’t want to go looking for fights...but he wanted to be able to preserve his life if fights were thrust upon him...as they often were. He didn’t want to become a bully who tried to murder people but...he didn’t want to become the murdered either.

...There was a balance to all of this...and perhaps he had to find that again.

...Perhaps he had to start with Xander but…

Honestly the thought of losing the male was worse than anything else that he could think of...so perhaps it was just better to stay on the path he was on and…

Well. And just hope for the best.