MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 428 A Journey's Weight

The day moved swiftly, as if time itself was urging Damon forward.

By the evening, the bags were packed, and everything was ready for the flight back to the U.S.

Svetlana checked her phone while Damon carried their luggage down to the lobby of the hotel. She had been unusually quiet since morning, her usual vibrant energy subdued.

Damon glanced at her as they waited for the car to the airport. "You okay?"

Svetlana looked up, startled out of her thoughts, and smiled faintly. "Yeah, just thinking about everything. It's been a lot, you know?"

Damon nodded. "I get it. These last few weeks have been insane. But hey, we're heading back to handle what needs to be handled. One step at a time."

As they rode to the airport, Damon stared out the window, the weight of everything hitting him at once.

The tournament was just the beginning. There was so much to do, Joey's brother, his mom, the Ismael Desayen challenge, and somehow preparing for his next step in the tournament.

When they arrived at the airport, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

Damon always felt a mix of relief and anxiety when traveling, relief that he could breathe and leave certain things behind, but anxiety about what was waiting on the other side.

The flight itself was uneventful.

Svetlana leaned her head against his shoulder and dozed off while Damon skimmed through social media, catching glimpses of the ongoing buzz about him, Demaien, and Niklas.

Every now and then, he'd see another post about Ismael Desayen's retirement announcement, fans arguing over whether Damon was ready for someone of his caliber.

Damon couldn't help but smirk. Ready or not, they'll find out soon enough.

As the plane landed and they got off, he changed his attention. The air in California felt unique. Almost heavy. Damon took a deep breath as they left the airport.

"First stop?" Svetlana asked, her voice curious but knowing.

Damon exhaled, his jaw tightening. "Home. Need to see my mom first."

The ride to Aoife's house was long, giving Damon too much time to think. The roads in California seemed to go on forever.

Damon exchanged a glance with Svetlana, who smiled knowingly. "Pretty well," he said with a casual shrug, downplaying it. "I won my match. Let's just say it wasn't a boring fight."

Svetlana snorted, shaking her head. "That's putting it lightly."

Aoife's brow furrowed slightly. "You're not... pushing yourself too much, are you?"

Damon chuckled. "Ma, it's literally my job to push myself. Don't worry, though, I've got a great team, and I know what I'm doing. Besides," he added with a grin, "I'm still pretty enough, aren't I?"

Aoife rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You're incorrigible. But... I'm proud of you. Even if I can't bring myself to watch, I know you're doing what you love."

Damon's grin softened. "Thanks, Ma. That means a lot." He leaned forward slightly. "But, hey, enough about me. How've you been? Everything alright here?"

Aoife smiled as she leaned back in her chair, her tea cradled in her hands. "I've been thinking about my next trip," she said casually. "Russia's been on my mind lately. I've even started learning a bit of the language."

Damon blinked, caught off guard. "Russia? That's... unexpected. What made you decide that?"

"Oh, I've always been curious about it," Aoife replied, her tone light. "And I've been practicing my Russian! Listen to this..." She cleared her throat and confidently said, "Я хочу съесть грязь!"

Svetlana, mid-sip of her tea, froze, her eyes going wide. She immediately started coughing, barely managing to set her cup down before bursting into laughter. Damon glanced at her, confused.

"What's so funny?" he asked, frowning as he watched Svetlana clutch her sides.

Svetlana waved a hand, her face red as she tried to control herself. "Oh... nothing... nothing at all," she said, her voice shaky from suppressed laughter.

Damon's confusion deepened as he glanced between his mother and Svetlana. Aoife looked mildly puzzled, clearly not understanding the reaction.

"What?" Damon asked, his gaze narrowing on Svetlana.

But Svetlana quickly shook her head, her laugh softening into a smile. "It's fine, really. Let's move on," she said, changing the subject swiftly.

Damon didn't press further, but he noted her reaction, mentally filing it away. His mother, oblivious, continued with a proud smile. "I've been trying hard to get the pronunciation right, you know. It's not as easy as I thought."

Svetlana stifled another chuckle, nodding. "I'm sure it's... coming along well," she managed to say, her tone light but still amused.

Damon let the moment pass, shaking his head slightly as the conversation shifted to other things.