A/N: And yes. You're probably telling me, "Hey, update Resistance and Victory and quit writing these little oneshots." Sorry, but I HAD to! It just came to me and I had to write it. I will start the next chapter for Resistance and Victory after this! I promise! This oneshot is sort of related to my other oneshot It's Better This Way. Well... Here it is!

Fight For Me

"I want you to fight for me! That's all I ever wanted!"

Max Kenton's words were still ringing in Charlie Kenton's ears. How stupid he had been. Just twenty-four hours ago, he had been debating this. Should he fight for him or not? And here he was, still standing, dumbstruck by his own son's words. After several moments, he rubbed the back of his neck and closed up the back of his truck. He had one glimpse of Atom before he locked it. Charlie walked to the front of the truck slowly. He took out his keys and unlocked the door.

With great hesitancy, he started the truck. His thoughts only deepened as he drove through the city and out to Bailey's place. All the memories, all the flashbacks, were now coming back. Their first meeting, Metal Valley, Atom's first fight, everything. Why did I let him go? Why didn't I fight? That's what he wanted after all... And then the night came back to him so clearly. After the brawl with Ricky.

He had been debating it for so long. Then his thoughts wandered back to just a half hour ago. Max nearly crying and telling him he just wanted to be fought for. Charlie had a very cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, as if a ghost was there. He looked out the side window, a stony silence setting in as he entered the countryside. Beautiful fields of grain and corn stretched out to the horizon.

But Charlie couldn't care less about the scenery. He felt such an aching longing in his chest for Max. The feelings he had tried to push away when he first met his son. He had obviously failed. The sun started to set as he continued to drive. By the time he got to Tallet's Gym, it was nearly midnight. He parked the truck and sat there for a few moments, thinking over everything that happened.

He slammed his fist on the steering wheel, "Dammit!"

Before he knew it, he was inside the gym with boxing gloves on. He began punching the punching bag hard, venting out all of his stupidities and anger. With every punch, with every violent thrust of his fist, he was releasing regrets. Releasing everything. This punch is for not caring about my son. And he swung hard at the bag. This one is for letting him fall down the cliff. Another hard punch.

For the next hour he vigorously swung his muscular arms at the punching bag, counting off all of his regrets with a punch each. Sweat was now pouring down his face and his body reeked of perspiration. And this...This one is for not fighting for Max. And he swung one last time. Feeling somewhat accomplished, Charlie silently slipped upstairs. He passed Bailey's room and noticed she was sleeping.

Smiling to himself, he went to the bathroom. He stared in the mirror at himself. He needed to shave. And then he was in the shower, washing off all of the left over anger. After a long, hot wash and a lot of thinking, Charlie knew what he was going to do. Even if it killed him, he was going to fight for Max. He would do anything for him.

A/N: Just a short thing. Not exactly a oneshot, but not exactly a ficlet either. Don't worry, I'll start on Resistance and Victory's next chappie now.

Morgan