The Pit

Another day, another blade made, another cold bed to remind him that he was never going to be loved.

Women were uncommon in The Pit, a city of barbarians. And everywhere else too, Caleb assumed. And those that were there chose to only be with the best warriors and gladiators in the arena, at least he thought so.

And who’d want to be with him, when they could have one of the finest fighters in the city? He had little to offer; a good job and home, and that was about it.

So he’d just have to live with it, like most of the other men in here. He sighed, watching in silence as a man with a woman on his arm walked past. Caleb frowned, unconsciously running a hand over his stomach. He was all soft, not like the man that had just walked past.

He didn’t even see you when you came up to his storefront, lost in thought.

But when you did get his attention, his eyes widened.

“Ah! S-sorry miss, uh, didn’t notice you,”