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either. The rest of the group didn’t look inclined to get involved, being all office types, I wasn’t surprised. The lion could sense they were all unsure, and he was pressing his advantage. It was obvious he was exactly the rough and tumble type they weren’t.
    I took off my apron with a sigh and vaulted the bar; this was going to take more then a stern voice this time.
    “...fucking faggot’s” he was saying as I walked up behind him.
    “YOU,” I said loudly from behind him. “OUT! NOW !”
    He turned on me rather quickly, I could see he was spoiling for a fight, he had his weight balanced and his hands were up already.
    “What the fuck do you want?” he growled.
    “You the hell out of my bar. Now.” I said keeping my voice even.
    “You standing up for these prissy’s?” he laughed looking down at me.
    “Yea. Now you can either walk out, or be carried out. Your choice.” I moved closer to him, I knew what his choice was going to be already. Some folks are just too easy to read.
    He swung at me then, I slipped out of the way, and slid in kicking his knee hard while giving him a punch to the sternum. He grunted and tried for a grab. I blocked and dodged back, drawing him more to the center of the room as the crowd cleared.
    He charged, but came up short with a feint, giving a combo of wheel kicks that continued to move me back. I gave ground a little, then shoved a chair in his way. When he paused to deal with that I came in and gave a flurry to his chest, then gave him an uppercut to the chin as I slid back out. He roared and closed, swinging fast and furious, but still in control of his senses. I couldn’t slip or dodge them all and started blocking as well.
    He kept pressing, so I dropped to a knee and gave a hard combo to his crotch at point blank range, then turned and drove a knuckle shot into the side of his thigh with all my might. He screamed and I jumped up, kicking him in the face as he caught me in the side of the head with a solid hit.
    I backed away, he was on one knee. I came in again, kicked the knee that was up and did a round house combo to his head and jumped back before he could do more then trade a light blow or two. He started to get up slowly then, so I spun in, and landed a spinning heel kick to his face, which I followed with a bar stool. He went down.
    And stayed there.
    “Asshole” I mumbled, leaning over to make sure he was still breathing. I grabbed him by the belt and bodily hoisted him up; he sure was a heavy sucker. Walked over to the door and tossed him out onto the pavement. Next I went and got some ice and slapped it against my face after putting my apron back on. That was about when I noticed the bar was still quiet, except for some whispers.
    “I’m sorry about that folks. But we don’t appreciate people starting fights in the bar. Next round’s on the house.”
    That got them moving, though they were still a tad stunned. Harvey, Bill, George, Jeff and the rest all looked very shocked. And I felt very guilty.
    “Where’d you learn to fight like that?” Jane asked, she had stayed late to help with closing.
    “Oh, I’ve been around.” I replied, pressing the ice in so I wouldn’t get a lump.
    “Obviously,” Harvey piped in.
    I looked over at him and shrugged, “Couldn’t let him go beat up my customers, and friends, could I?”
    “I didn’t know we were your friends,” Jeff said. “That guy was huge. He could have killed us.”
    “Well I don’t know if he could have killed you, but a hospital would have been in your future.”
    “Well, thanks. Thanks for stopping him.” He smiled and shook my hand, “George and I owe you.”
    I grinned, “Don’t worry about it.”
    They nodded, and left, not bothering to have their drink, skirting the still unconscious body out the front door.
    “Somebody better call a cop or something for that guy. If he lies there all night I don’t think he’ll wake up in the morning.”
    Jane nodded and went to call the