"I like gyms early in the morning. Before anybody starts performing."
Nobody needed him to explain what he meant.
Ryan slowly got to his feet.
His ribs still hurt where Leon had touched him with that short body shot.
For once, he didn't seem concerned about who was watching.
He walked toward the wall.
The mop had already been retrieved, but the bucket Ryan had kicked earlier was still crooked near the edge of the mat. Dirty water had spread underneath a bench.
Ryan picked up the bucket.
He carried it back.
Then he grabbed a towel.
Leon watched him.
Ryan crouched and began wiping the water from the floor.
One of the fighters stepped forward to help.
Ryan shook his head.
"I made the mess."
The fighter stepped back.
When Ryan finished, he stood in front of Leon.
For several seconds, the coach seemed unable to find the words.
"I'm sorry."
Leon waited.
Ryan looked toward the students.
Then back at him.
"No. That's not enough."
Leon said nothing.
Ryan took a breath.
"I've been treating you like you're less important because you clean this place."
His voice was quieter now.
"And I've been teaching them to do the same thing."
Several students looked down.
Ryan rubbed the back of his neck.
"I thought respect came with being the toughest guy in the room."
Leon looked at him.
"That's a dangerous thing for a coach to believe."
Ryan nodded.
"I know."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"You know now."
Ryan almost smiled.
"Yeah."
The tension in the room finally loosened.
But Leon wasn't finished.
He pointed toward the fighters.
"You want to apologize to somebody?"
Ryan looked confused.
"Apologize to them."
Ryan turned.
The students watched him.
Leon continued.
"They came here to learn from you. Every time they see you humiliate someone weaker, younger, poorer, slower, or less experienced, you're teaching them that's what strength looks like."
Ryan's face tightened.
Not with anger this time.
With recognition.
Leon picked up his bucket.
"That's a worse mistake than throwing a bad right hand."
Nobody laughed.
Ryan faced the students.
"I'm sorry."
The apology sounded awkward.
That was probably why everyone believed it.
"I've been an ass."
Matt folded his arms.
"A little."
A few nervous smiles appeared.
Ryan looked toward Leon.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You just did."
Ryan smiled despite himself.
"Can you show me what I was doing wrong?"
Leon looked at the clock again.
"With which part?"
"The punch."
Leon glanced around the gym.
"Your punch isn't the biggest problem."
Ryan understood.
"Fair."
Leon started pushing the bucket toward the hallway.
Tyler called after him.
"Mr. Mercer?"
Leon stopped.
"Would you ever teach us?"
The question seemed to surprise him more than anything Ryan had done.
He looked at the young fighters standing around the mat.
Then he looked at Ryan.
Ryan nodded.
"If he wants to."
Leon considered it.
"Saturday."
Tyler's face brightened.
"What time?"
"Six."
"In the evening?"