Advice Ignored

”So….that’s it?” Austins voice broke through the haze. ”You’re done?”

Even though it broke through, even though the bass in Austin's voice was enough to shake the foundations and concentration of almost anyone. Let alone Zoey Lukas. She sat on a bench at Wolfslair, her hair in her face, her arms tired from a workout and the bar with weights still sat where she left it. She had been sitting, thinking, and in deep contemplation for the last few minutes. Minutes that felt like hours. But now, she sat silent. No idea what to say or what to do as Austin looked down. His growing hair was tied back in a bun and a few strands fell in front of his face.

He still didn’t look like the old Austin, even with the longer hair, and the shadow of a beard. He still looked like a new man, a mixture of the short-haired and even shorter-tempered man who returned last year and the honorable “good” man from years past.

But right now, he was in “older brother” mode. Standing and looking down at Zoey, a woman who he had been a mentor to, a woman whom he considered family. However, she was also someone who was at her wit's end. And Austin knew it. And this was a game of emotional chicken. Austin knew he had to wait for Zoey to talk first, to break that silence and to answer his question, he studied her, staying stoic and keeping a blank, emotionless expression on his face. But then, Zoey sighed heavily and threw her hands in the air, getting up and breaking the silence. ”I honestly…don’t know…”

Austin gave a small nod and stepped back, folding his arms over his chest. ”Your contract lapsed, so if you do want to do this, it won’t be for SCW….” He paused again, Zoey nodded at him and slowly took off her wrist supports. ” There are other companies, you’re good at this Zoey, don’t waste the prime years of your career trying to “find yourself” or some shit.” Zoey stayed silent but her look changed. A look of a teenager who was ready to be rebellious.

She backed up and shook her head, her voice changing and getting lower. ”Waste?....I’m sick of it…” Her response caught Austin off guard. Other members of Wolfslair stopped in their tracks looking over at them. Alicia, Aiden, Johanna, Alex. All of them watching and waiting. ”The grind, the waiting, the chances always being just out of reach…I need time off. So I let my contract end. I didn’t demand a title match, I didn’t throw a public tantrum on social media and then block people who beat me. I just quietly slipped away…” She shook her head and reached down grabbing her water bottle. ”I need time…this isn’t the end…but I’m going to go home…spend time with Aron…and relax.”

She shook her head again and turned moving away from Austin and the others, moving down and out of the weight room, Alicia moved up next to Austin, stopping him as he went to follow her. ”Don’t….she’s headstrong and she’s over it…we all reach that point.” She paused, Austin stopped and looked down at her. Alicia just smiled and laughed under her breath. ”Even me…it might take her some time to get over it and want to return…”

”Like you?”

”Kind of….atleast I signed a new contract…”

Austin raised an eyebrow stepping back and looking at Alicia with a confused look, this was news to him. The first time Alicia had spoken to him about the business and work. He hadn’t wanted to push or pry, he knew it took time and he knew it took a level of focus she wasn’t capable of at the time. ”So, when did that happen?” She chuckled and shook her head.

”End of last year, before SCW went on hiatus. Don’t know when I’ll be back, just waiting on them to tell me…” She backed up and moved out of the weight room, Austin followed Alicia out and into the main area, she walked slowly past the two practice rings, her eyes lighting up as she moved over them. ”You know, I didn’t originally want to do this…” She trailed off, Austin followed but stayed silent, willing to just listen to her as he reached out and let his fingertips trace the bottom rope. ”My upbringing had a lot in common with yours…my dad wasn’t really there…but while yours came in and took you away when you were a kid….mine didn’t come back into my life till I was in the business…”

”I don’t think I would have gotten into all of this if my old man hadn’t found me…you were drawn to it…it’s in your blood….in Zoey's blood.”

Alicia made a small noise as if agreeing with Austin, but she moved around the ring, studying it, looking it up and down as if she was getting familiar with it all over again. She pulled herself up and entered it before turning and calling for Austin to join her. Austin pulled himself up and stepped between the ropes. Alicia leaned on the top rope and tested the tensile strength. Austin just smiled. ”A smile?...well if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were happy…”

Austin raised an eyebrow and sighed heavily. ”Maybe, maybe I’m happy that you are getting back into something you loved. That I thought got taken away from you….” He laughed to himself, stopping and watching as Alicia bounced up and down on the balls of her feet and took off, hitting the ropes and crossing the ring to get used to it. Not the ring, she never really left that, but the idea of being a wrestler again, active and ready. ”I know your sister will be alright. But you….you were born for this…but, I suppose I understand how Zoey feels…I can’t lie and say I don’t feel the same way right now…”

Alicia slows down and turns as she comes to a light jog, looking over at Austin and shaking her head. ”Sometimes walking away is the best thing, look at me, look at Alex. We both needed it. Alex is still wondering if he should ever make a return and me? I needed that time and no one could tell me different…” Alicia stepped forward, moving to her tiptoes and kissing Austin softly. ”I want you to do something for me….I want you to close your eyes…right now.” Austin took a deep breath and did so, waiting for the next instruction. ”Now, breathe and pretend no one else is around, look inside and ask yourself one simple question…if you woke up tomorrow and you weren’t working toward something in wrestling…would it feel right?”

Austin took a deep breath and laughed to himself before opening his eyes and looking at Alicia. She was happy and nonjudgmental. She got him, she got the life. She understood. She was never going to force Austin to stay or to go. Only ever asked him what he wanted. And because of that, he had an answer, taking a deep breath before pushing it out.

”No…it wouldn’t…”

Alicia smiled and stepped forward again, reaching out and taking Austin's right hand in both of hers. ”Then…you’re not done yet….and you have a fucking tournament to win…”

Down the yellow brick road.

”Contemplation often leads to breakthroughs.”

Austin opens his eyes, his hair framing his face as he stays crouched down, wearing a pair of black jeans, combat boots a black shirt with the read wolfslair logo, and a leather jacket over the top.

” I’m going to tell you a story. And I hope that you bear with me on this journey because I promise you. This story has a point and it is relevant to the current predicament I find myself in. When I was a kid, before I knew who my father was, and before I knew what the family business was. I lived with my mother. Now, I don’t like to speak of the dead, especially someone who towards the back end of their life, tried everything that they could to make up for their shortcomings. But my mother was not a good woman. She was not a good mother, she was not good at her job, and she really didn’t have any skills to speak of. she did, however, work very hard to keep clothes on my back and food on the table as well as a roof over our heads. And for that, I will be forever grateful.”

“However, she still had a lot of floors. She liked to drink, and she liked to smoke, and those two things would contribute later on to the end of her life. And when I was a child, I thought this was how all families were. And for the most part, the other kids, I grew up with took pity on me and didn’t shatter my reality. They didn’t tell me that most of them had a father in their lives, whether or not that father lived with them or lived away. They still had them there. They still knew who they were. they kept the illusion going. And again, this is something that I was grateful for at the time. But while my mother‘s efforts are deserving of that gratitude, the children’s efforts to shield me from the reality of my life and help, pathetic, it did not need to be admired or looked at in such high regard.”

“I can remember the exact moment that the reality shattered, and I realized just how bad things were.”

“I had a friend, his name was Daniel. Daniel was extremely popular in school. We were 11 years old, and while I had my friends, and while I was known around the school I was not popular. Daniel was. Everyone loved him and everyone thought he was the most amazing kid that anyone had ever met. Great sports, amazing, and academically good-looking, he had all the little 11-year-old girls that we went to school with all fussing and falling over him and passing notes to him in the hall. he was my friend.”

Austin paused and pushed up to his feet. He sighed heavily and shook his head as if struggling with the memory.

”So, one day, Daniel comes to school. Now, the night, for I knew my mother had a visitor. A male caller. I went to bed and to her credit. She tried to shield me from such things, but I wasn’t stupid. And that night, I could’ve sworn to myself that I recognized the voice in the other room. but in ignorant bliss, I simply ignored it and drifted off to sleep. Content that the bubble surrounding my reality was still intact. That was, until the next day. I didn’t even see it coming. I felt a sharp pain hit me in the side of the face, and it took me a moment to realize that my friend Daniel, a kid, who had never heard a fly, had hit Me. Tears in his eyes. I looked up at him and had one simple question. There was on my lips burning that I needed to have answered.”

“Why?”

“He looked me dead in the eye, tears streaming down his face as hateful anger rose from the pit of his stomach. He told me that his mother had found his father coming out of the small apartment building that my mother and I lived in. He told me that his mother found out that his father and my mother had been sleeping together. My mother had ruined his family, my mother had ruined his reality. and in front of Me in the entire world, with everyone we knew watching, he verbally destroyed every single part of my innocence, as he told me that in the eyes of everyone, my mother was nothing, but a common Whore. An easy life for anyone who would give her any type of attention.”

“He shook his head and said he pitted me because my father could be any number of men. He knew who his father was, and he now knew that his father wasn’t perfect. But at least he wasn’t the son of a Whore.”[color]

Austin sighed again and gave a small shrug.

”A few weeks later, they found his body. Underneath the Eighth Street overpass. Apparently, he argued with the wrong people. In his depressed ignorance, he had walked down the wrong street and made a comment about something he should not have seen. His short life was ended in a moment of anger that he had nothing to do with. so what is the moral of the story? Why am I choosing to bring this up in this context? Well, it’s very simple. Sometimes you have to go through the worst things in your life and watch as your reality is shattered before realizing that other people's realities are just as fragile as yours. And that all you need to do to succeed in life, is to let go. because you never know how bad the other person has it..”

“So, would that being said I know most of you are sitting here, waiting for me to make excuses about my loss to Miles Kasey. After all, that’s what everyone else seems to do in this company. And if I’m being honest this business. People lose, like my opponent this week, did when he lost his mixed, tag team championships, they make excuses, but never really live up to the reality of it. They never accept it. Oliver can sit there and say that he accepts it and that he needed to do something to move on, but the truth is he never did, and that’s why he’s never been able to rise above the biggest win in his career.”

“His win against me.”

“And contrary to popular belief when someone beats me, especially someone like Oliver, I don’t get angry. I feel a small surge of pride. I was proud of Oliver when he beat me the first time, I was proud that this young upstart with a huge ego was not all talk and all bluster. just like I am exceedingly proud of Miles. Miles beat me at my own game. We went out there, and we went to war, and when the dust settled, Miles was the one with his arm raised and the championship around his waist. Miles showed the world what he was capable of. But Oliver? What have you done Oliver?”

Austin moves out of the dimly lit hallway, pulling a hood up from under his leather jacket as the snow crunches under his feet.

”You had a golden opportunity to usher in a new age for mixed tag-team wrestling with your partner. But it seems like those dreams dissolved in your hands. Luckily, through your apparent talent and the potential that everyone sees in you, you have been offered an opportunity to become the champion of this company. now, that is a position that I’ve held before. I’m proud to say that I was once the champion of this great organization and I was able to hold that championship for over 100 days and beat some of the best that this company had at the time. maybe you have the potential to do it. I don’t know.”

“Am I disappointed that no one is going to win the championship off the former champion? Well, of course, I am. But if this is what the company had to do with the title, then we all need to respect it. So some of the best names in this company are going to be fighting for the right to call themselves a champion. and trust me on this, I was as surprised as anyone else to hear my name was going to be involved. And I get it, why would anyone expect me to be here? I didn’t ask for this opportunity and deep down. I don’t even think I’ve earned it.”

“Just being honest.”

“But if I’m being honest about you. You do deserve it. Despite your losses, you have still had a good showing, and you still have a massive upside Oliver. You could be someone who leads this company into the future and becomes a champion to be proud of. Someone who can overlook their own ego for the betterment of this business and this company. just not now. With the eight of us in this tournament, I can see that one of us will end up being a champion worthy of the title. You can’t go through a murderous row like this and not come out the other side feeling like you deserve to be the champion.”

“If you get passed me, I’ll be the first one to shake your hand.”

“The problem for you is simple. I’m not done yet. And I get it, I do. Most people believe I should just walk away. I win some. I lose some, but in the end, I just can’t seem to get over the hump and become a champion again. Whether that’s the Internet championship or the roulette championship or the world championship or even the mixed tag team championships, I just cannot seem to hold gold again in this company. I face other people in sporadic matches and come out with my hand held high yet whenever I step foot in the ring for anything that is worth a damn I seem to stumble and fall. Much like you have in the past.”

Austin looks down at something on the ground. His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches.

”But Oliver, the measure of a man and the measure of a champion is never looked at when he falls. Anyone can fall. And whether you fall, one time, or 100 times, what matters you keep getting up. I understand that is cliche, and I understand that you are probably rolling your eyes right now. and if I’m being honest, I’m sure you’re also kind of pissed off that I admitted to the fact I’m not sure I should even be here, but I’m prepared to fight Famai right to stay. No doubt that was the majority of your argument?”

“You can get up Oliver. As long as there is breath in your lungs, you can stand up just like I can. We have both suffered losses and we’ve both watched as our championship dreams and glory have slipped through our fingers but as long as we are breathing. We can do everything in our power to regain it. as long as we are breathing. Keep that in mind. Because one day, you won’t be breathing anymore. And then it really will be over.”

“Carpe diem…”

Austin turned and walked away as it’s revealed what caught Austin's eye. A small gravestone with a simple engraving.

Here lies Daniel Montogomery, a beloved son.

The explanation

He could feel it coming. The conversation. It was one of those moments, where for weeks she had sat and stared at him. Her eyes asked questions that the rest of her just couldn’t bring herself to bring up. Austin sat quietly. Bringing his coffee to his lips before letting out a deep sigh and looking over at his sister. She averted her gaze, looking elsewhere for a moment. She trailed outside to make sure that the children were not in earshot. Her son and Austin‘s son and daughter playing in their room upstairs

The sound of children’s laughter echoed down the staircase through the main hall and into the kitchen. Amy smiled, looking over at her brother, and taking in a deep breath, to bring enough confidence to talk to him.

She moved around the kitchen bench, standing just to the side of Austin around the corner. Placing her hands on the bench, she leaned her weight onto it before, tilting her head, and looking up at her younger brother. Austin raised an eyebrow, tilting his head, as Amy gave him a weak smile, still unsure of herself, and still unsure whether or not, she should even be breaching this subject. She finally worked up the courage to ask, a small quivering, voice betraying any confidence that she thought she could build. “So, that detective has come by a few times.”

Austin let out an audible drone, he couldn’t hide his annoyance and indignation about the constant harassment. Even though he was no longer in danger of going to jail, even though the matter, should’ve been settled, the fact that he was hanging around asking questions was a thorn in Austin’s side and the bane of his existence.

“What happened? He made it seem like Michael and Lisa’s deaths were linked somehow” Her eyes were full of questions that needed answering. Austin was not going to be able to get away with lying or trying to hide it from her. And he didn’t want to. He hated lying, he hated trying to deceive people who he loved and were part of his family. But he was also not going to be able to get away with not telling her anything this time. He could see it, in her body language, he could hear it in her voice, he was going to have to tell her everything.

“Michael….” he stuttered, taking a deep breath to steel his nerves before turning and looking at Amy with a frown on his face. He hated this. “He was responsible for Lisa’s death. She found out he was siphoning money from his business, from Wolfslair, and from Alicia to pay off a gambling addiction…” he trailed off a sudden anger appearing. Anger at himself for not knowing. Anger at Michael for doing it. “Lisa went to him….to ask him to get help….”

Austin shook his head, Amy leaned even closer, wanting to hear the rest. Also, she thought. “And? What? He had her killed?”

Austin stayed silent. But his eyes and body language said more than words ever could. Amy looked shocked, standing with her mouth open in disbelief as Austin put his hands on the bench and leaned forward. She took in a few deep breaths and turned away. Austin cleared his throat and looked over, reaching out and placing his hand on Amy‘s shoulder. “It’s a lot to take in. But there’s more…”

Amy swallowed, pushing all of her sadness down into the pit of her stomach before turning back to her brother. “Might as well tell me.”

Austin gave a small nod, trying to prepare himself for what he was about to tell Amy, and hoping that she would be prepared to listen. “I found out the guys who they put away for Lisa’s murder were…they were just two of them….of a bigger group.” He trailed off and shook his head before solidifying his resolve. “I found out, I knew where Michael was hiding when he disappeared and I….let them know where he was…”

It took a moment for Amy to register exactly what Austin was saying. In his mind, he was responsible for Michael‘s death. In his mind, he was a murderer. Whether or not, it was for revenge, whether or not it was for justice, and whether or not it was deserved was no matter to him. “Aus…”

He held his hand up. He knew what Amy was about to say. That it wasn’t his fault. That he did what anyone would do. But was that true? Would most people find out who someone’s enemies were after they committed such a grave fence only to have it repaid tenfold? Would they do that? Austin would. “What?....are you going to tell me it’s an understandable reaction? That revenge is a natural thought?” He paused and shook his head, trying to hold it all back but being agitated by his guilt. “No…what I did was wrong Amy. And I live with it daily.” He paused again, falling quiet as Amy seemed to have no idea what to say.

After a few moments, she spoke up, her eyes filled with worry and sadness. “Does….Alicia know?”

Austin gave a small nod and shrugged his shoulders. “She does, we only talked about it once but she knew before that…”

“And…she is still with you? Doesn’t that tell you something?” Austin stayed silent, Amy laughed to herself and shook her head, clearly disappointed that Austin didn’t pick up on it. “She’s with you, she took in all that information, all that emotional baggage, and damage, she accepted it and forgave anything that you believed was a slight…” He gave a small nod, taking it all in and accepting it but stayed silent. “If she can look past it and see that you acted in a justified…albeit extreme way, then why can’t you?”

“I don’t know” His voice was deep and almost disconnected. Like he was deep in thought but trying to respond the best he could. “Maybe she just hides it well..”

Amy groaned and rolled her eyes. “She loves you. She wanted to be with you. And through it all, she has had your back and understood it. In fact she probably has guilt with it too.” Austin looked up and gave a small nod, thinking back to what her actions and words had shown in evidence. “You should marry her…if she can stand by you in that she can do anything.”

Austin couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “Maybe one day…but, I still have a problem…Paloma isn’t going to let this go…I should tell him…and whatever happens…happens…”

Amy stuttered and stepped forward as Austin turned to grab his jacket, trying to stop him. “Tell him? TELL A COP? What the shit Austin?...AUS!”He moved to the door, closing it behind him. Amy shook her head and threw her hands in the air, clearly exasperated by it all.

The Lyon roars

” The match against Goth didn’t go like I wanted. To say the least.”

Austin leaned forward, his flowing brown hair was slicked back with a few strands sliding down over his forehead and eyes.

” But, I was beaten by the better man. I’ve never been one to mince words. If I go into a match with someone, and they beat me, then I will be the first person to congratulate them on a job, well done and be eager to see how they go in the future. if I lose to someone and genuinely believe I should’ve won? Well, I’ll still congratulate them on the win, but I will come at them with everything that I have because I know I can beat them. I know I can beat Goth, but I also know he is going to to a well-earned and deserved world title match.”

“But what about Me? What is in store for Austin James Mercer? I could do what people like Jack, Washington expect me to do, I could stop my feet and demand another match to get into the world championship scene. But contrary to popular belief that is not something I’ve ever done. Every single time I get selected to go into an opportunity for that world championship, a little part of me inside cringes, and I die. Because I never ask, I never beg, I try and earn everything I get.”

“That includes other title matches.”

“So, the distant future for me at December 2 dismember is an Internet championship match against Miles Kasey. But it’s not about the championship between myself and Miles. The fact the Internet championship is on the line is just an extra. The issue between myself and Miles is about respect, it’s about maturity, and it is about pushing someone to where they need to be, and making them who they need to be through any means necessary. That is what I’m going to do.”

Austin can’t help but chuckle to himself as he folds his large arms over his chest and shakes his head

”Miles and I have an issue that needs settling. And that is exactly what I aim to do at the end of the year. But before he and I get to go at it for the Internet championship and before I get to teach a lesson to someone who really needs it. I’m going to be making a detour. I get to face the “unbreakable” Eddie Lyons. And trust me on this, I am not the type of person to look past any opponent, let alone one as impressive, as Eddie has been since he stepped foot in a sin wrestling ring. I know who you are Eddie. I know what you’re capable of.”

“I don’t look past anyone, but you? You have my attention. You have won almost all of your matches in this company. Anyone who has crossed your path you’ve been except for Peter Vaughan, And. He is certainly not a pushover. Peter being the roulette champion was a highlight for that division. But it would’ve been for you as well. you and I certainly have a few things in common don’t we Eddie?”

“We both come from wrestling families. Wrestling royalty as it were.”

“My family, the Mercers ruled, the East Coast. My grandfather, my uncles, and my father, all spent time in the professional wrestling business. Stretching back generations. You? You’re from the Lyons family. The baby of the family. But, from what I’ve seen, you are definitely the most dangerous. And that is me knowing damn well what kind of competitor, your cousin Victoria is.”

Austin nods slowly in stark recognition.

”I’m not going to sugarcoat it, I’m excited to face you, Eddie. I want to know just how good you are. And I’m proud that I get to do it. You see I look at someone like Miles and I see someone who has wasted his potential. Someone who should be a world champion by now. Someone who should be in the main event scene, facing the biggest names in this company. but he can never get out of his way. He can never take that next step and always brings himself down. He fails and stumbles. No matter who is around him, and what they give him, whether that is time or knowledge or power he simply cannot get the job done.”

“So, before I step into the ring with him and get ready to take that Internet title, I get to step in the ring with you. Someone who is the opposite of miles. Eddie, you are the future of this company. I have nothing but respect and admiration for you and what you’ve been able to accomplish. you didn’t let your failure against Peter Vaughan stop you from stepping back into the ring and earning wins. Earning your way. And reminding everyone just how good you are.”

“I can see you becoming a champion.”

“A legend.”

“The best of the Lyons family.”

“Hell, I can’t go into this match with any promises of victory. I can’t sit here and say that I’m going to rip your head off or beat the hell out of you and force you to submit. I can’t use the fact that I’m a former world champion to intimidate you because you are very well prepared. I know you are. I know what type of person you are because I look at you and I see Me when I was younger. you grew up in and around this business, you grew up with a family who loves this business. And you all learned together. You are a student of the game and someone who prizes honor above all else.”

Austin can’t help but laugh as he looks over at his trophy case. A replica of the honor wrestling world championship sits there with his name on the nameplate. He scuffs and turns back to the camera before continuing.

”Honor, as a wider concept, is dead Eddie. It’s been dead for a while. And not just the company that I was once a champion of. The entire concept. There is no honor amongst thieves, and everyone in this business is a thief. They steal everything. They steal people's money. They steal people's time. They steal people's faith and they steal people's friendship. That is what we all do, and we are all guilty of it in some way shape, or form. you might be innocent, but I know you’re not naive to the way this business works. You’ve seen that with your family too. Just like I have..”

“I was ready to give my time to someone like Miles, and he stole all of that. He stole my time. He stole my motivation. He stole my knowledge, and he did nothing with it. So tell me, Eddie, are you going to steal my respect? I just sat here for the last five minutes and told the world how you are the future of this business and how I firmly believe in my heart of hearts that you could be a world champion in this company. So what are you going to do with that?”

“Are you going to take the respect I’ve given you and flush it down the toilet by not living up to my expectations?”

“And to be clear, my expectations are not that you are going to go out there and beat me easily. Hell, my expectations aren’t even that you are going to beat me at all. All I want from you Eddie is everything you have. And if everything you have ends up beating me? I will shake your hand and I will sing your praises to the moon. If all you’ve got is to give it all in the ring and still lose to me and fall to your knees and realize that I am still just as badass as I used to be? I will still do the same. But, we aren’t going to know that until the bell rings and you and I face off. And then we won’t know the definite answer until the bell rings again. From Bell to Bell, I want you to give me everything you have. If you do that for me, Eddie? Then you really will be unbreakable”

True Detective: Part 2

The problem with getting to know somebody is that when your attitude changes, or when something is going on in your life, they tend to know something is wrong. And if that person cares about you, then they will usually endeavor to find out exactly what it is. That is bothering you or on your mind in a vain attempt to try and fix it. Sometimes things can’t be fixed, sometimes people need to find their own path. But, what of the person who is watching it unfold. How do they feel when a person that they care about is clearly troubled and they can’t do anything about it?

It is a horrible feeling. Watching someone deep in their own thought, and needing guidance, but not being able to get it from you. Even if they were to understand, even if it was something that empathy could be shown, it is not always the case.

Austin was always stoic, sitting with a look of perpetual contemplation, plastered all over his face. Staring out into the abyss as his thoughts ticked over time and time again, studying and dissecting all the information that he had learned over the last few months. He thought it was all over, that the journey he had been on for revenge, and understanding had been laid to rest, and he could finally be happy.

From the moment he found out that his beloved wife was dead all the way to the shocking revelation that Michael Reynolds had something to do with it, and the pain that followed for both himself, and Alicia Austin had prayed for the day that all of it would be over. And he thought that they had come, he thought that he would be able to change and go back to the person that he was before all of this. But he slowly found out, there is no going back when it comes to a pain that heartfelt and tragic. Both The and Alicia had become different people, but they had found themselves. They loved their children and wanted to have a happy family, and they had found that happiness in each other.

But now, the information Austin had been given about the men who he had seen go in, and deliver justice to Michael, had shaken his resolve to the core. He now questioned if he made the right decision, was there even a right decision to make in all of this? Michael had not been the one to pull the trigger, he did not take Lisas life with his own hands. But he had been the cause of it, he had been the catalyst that set the entire plan in motion. Everything that Austin was now had been molded and shaped by those moments.

But all of these thoughts, as deep and meaningful, as they were, just distracted him from the wife that he had been given. The second chance at happiness that he held in his hands.

Alicia knew, she knew something had been on his mind. But she didn’t want to push. She also had her own baggage. Not just with Michael’s death, but also the relationships that she had been in before. While Michael was a smart, caring man and a great husband. He had also shown himself to have a controlling edge and tried to stop Alicia from doing what she loved. He had still been her best relationship until that point after the mental, physical and emotional abuse that she had gone through with other men. Of course that was until she and Austin begin the relationship.

And now? She was terrified she was going to lose him too.

She was scared, scared that if she pushed, it would push him away, but scared that if she said nothing, he would fold into himself, and not want to be with her, or talk to her, or share any of his fears and doubts. She came downstairs, looking at him from the landing as he sat in the lounge room. His elbows balancing on his knees as his hands came together, and his chin rested on them. She moved around behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Austin’s head dropped, She wanted to pull away, and for a moment was about to until his hand moved up and took hers with a small squeeze.

”I know something is wrong…” her voice was kind, soft, it reminded Austin of his mother’s voice when she was sober. When she was drunk and became angry, he would be harsh, deep, and almost cutting like a knife. But if she was sober. Her disappointment remained calm and different. ”You’ve been different, distant. I mean, more distant than usual.” she chuckled, bringing some much needed brevity to the situation. Austin gave a small smirk, shaking his head.

”I know.”

And his answer was short, simple, but vague, and not even close to the point. Noncommittal at its finest. Alicia shook her head, seeing the door slightly open. She decided to walk through it. Not even so much walk through it as kick it down and bust open. Moving around Austin’s body, she turned and dropped to one knee in front of him, putting her hand on his knee and looking up into his eyes to force him into a confrontation. ”What is it? Was it something I did?”

”No” that answer was short, and to the point. He looked Alicia, right in the eyes with determination and honesty. She gave a small nod, confirming that she understood. ”I’m just going over a few things in my head, stuff from the past. Questions.” Austin trailed off, Alicia stayed silent and allowed him to think. ”Maybe I made decisions to rashly…maybe I should have thought deeper and not…been responsible for Michaels death.”

Alicia shook her head, getting to her feet and holding Austins hand in hers. Her face was swollen and quiet. As if the emotions that she wanted to feel have been pushed down and away, so they wouldn’t overrun the situation. ”Michael was responsible for his own death. Not you….all the decisions you made were your own and at the time felt right. We don’t live in a world of what ifs…we live in a world of things we did. Dwelling on the past….it just ruins your future…” She smiled and leaned down kissing Austin on the top of your head. ”Don’t stay up to long…come to bed when you’re ready…”

Alicia was right. Thinking about the past, too much clouds, your future and damages who you are, and what you want to do. Austin took a deep breath, looking over at the stairs as Alicia moved up towards the bedroom. He took a deep breath before pushing it out with a sigh and getting to his feet he gave a small nod, as if understanding himself what she was trying to say. The questions weren’t gone, but the regret was. We can’t change the past. We can only influence the future. And that’s what Austin was going to do.,

The World

”Champions…especially world champions arwe a rare breed.”

Austins voice booms, his hands clasped together as he tilts his head sideways, choosing his words carefully.

”I mean real champions. Not the ones who luck into a championship reign and hold the title for a month, thinking that they are top shit. I mean the real champions. The ones that win the championships and then do everything they can to make sure the title stays at Steve’s or higher when they got it. I mean the people who win a title and realise that the role is champion is not to stand there and soak in all of the adulation and love. It is to push the company to bigger Heights and further goals.”

“The weight of being a champion, especially a world champion is unique to this industry and something that not a lot of people understand. In the world boxing, for instance, you have all these different governing bodies, but they are all looked at is one world. In the professional wrestling world if you are the champion of a company, you are representing that company in a crowded market space. You need to be loud and brash and show the world how good you can be because you are always going to be compared to not only the champions in your own company that came before all the people who could possibly beat you, but you are also compare to the champions of other companies”

“That level of pressure is something not. A lot of people are prepared for. And fewer people can understand. In this match, there are a few people who felt that pressure and thrived under it. Myself, Jack, Washington, as much as he annoys me thrived under that pressure. That kid went from a lump of coal to a fucking diamond because of what he did as well champion.”

“It took him a few tries..”

“J2H and Goth also know this pressure. They have lived and breathed it. They know what it’s like to hold that championship and have the eyes of the wrestling world on them. But there are two in this match that don’t feel that pressure and never have. And this company cannot afford to have a champion that might crack under that pressure. I’m not saying that Alexander, Raven and Kara can’t step up and be those people that we need them to be, I’m just saying that right now I wouldn’t risk it.”

Austin chuckles and shakes his head going back into his thoughts.

”But  pressure also has a way to break people who felt it in the past. Look at J2H. A former champion, who I believe has a legitimate reason for being angry about this whole situation. He worked his arse off, coming back to go after the championship and became the world champion again only to be embroiled in this bullshit with Harris. Honestly? I’d be angry too. But to sit there and run me down and ask what I’ve done lately? What have I done lately? I have gone through and tried to teach lessons to people who should be champions.”


“I have been trying to raise those under me up instead of pushing down. And then I want the king for a Day. And instead of using my powers to give myself a world championship match, I tried to do something nice for my friend and get championships that we once Hill proudly and make them being something again. And in the end? We got cheated out of them. So take your little temper, tantrum tantrum J and shove it up your ass.”

“Before I kick your teeth down your throat.”

“It is rather telling to me, that, instead of coming up with real arguments, your entire bane of existence is that it’s more people for you to try and beat to get that world championship. Instead of seeing this is a challenge and reasoning, why they shouldn’t be in the match at all you’re just complaining and pissed off because you are not getting a one on one championship match. That’s all it is. Grow up..”

Austin pushes to his feet and growls before shaking his head.

”speaking of growing up…Carter, my my. How are you have grown. And I don’t mean that in a condescending way. For the longest time, I biggest critique on you was that your attitude was bringing miles down. I was focused on him and trying to raise him up, and I believe that his relationship with you was causing him to not take his own life. Seriously. I thought his career was going to fail all because you didn’t have the focus needed to help him move along like someone in your position should.”

“But as I said, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was wrong about you and honestly? Your attitude now proves maybe I misspoke when it came to what you are capable of. You have grown up, you have looked at your career and you’ve looked at where you can go and what you can do you have a goal and you are chasing it with the type of ferocity that very few people can understand or handle. Truth Be Told Carter”

“I’m proud of you.”

“You might not believe it or might not mean anything to you. But I am proud of you. I’m proud that you didn’t go back into your shell and didn’t let my attack on you. Destroy your love for this business or your determination to become a champion. I’m proud that you have chosen to stand up to me face-to-face and tell me exactly how you feel. It shows real growth. And it shows your ability to take something. Seriously, that deserves to be taken seriously. If you became the champion, while personally, I might be a bit fractured and hurt, I would also have a smile on my face because I know that you deserve it.”

Austin smiles, a real smile. One full of emotion and a hint of pride.

”But, just when I think life can’t surprise me any more, Alexander Raven says things that not only makes sense, but are also understandable. While a lot of what came before, was incoherent ramblings from a mind that was unfocused, and on willing to pull itself together, this time, Alexander seems to have pulled it all into one focus moment. do you want to be the champion Alexander, I understand that. I understand the drive I understand and excessively I understand everything. Because I’ve been there. You haven’t. But you want to, do you want to break those bonds and you want to take control of the system.”

“ The system that seems to of letter conspiracy against you. Or, at least in your mind. And to bring down a system, to control the system, you need to reach the highest point you can, and I will championship is the highest point. I can understand that. I still think it’s Batshit crazy and that you need to have a full frontal lobotomy, as well as some hard-core therapy. But at least what you said was understandable and a reason and a motivation that a lot of people and get behind. Behind.”

“Not me though.”

“I will still be doing everything under my power to make sure that you do not become the world champion. I will still be doing everything I can to make sure that I walk out with that championship. And it isn’t personal Alexander. It never has been. It’s always been about one thing, me being able to prove that I’m better. Approved it against almost anyone in this business, and while some people think I am done, and I haven’t done anything of note in the last few months, despite winning the king for a day…well…I’m still dangerous.”

Austin chuckles and shakes his head

”Unlike Jack. or should I call you whiny bitch? See, just as I was starting to like you and respect you. Jack you go and pull something like this. Do you want people like myself and Gothed Galloway, why? Do you act like he and I aren’t even a threat to you yet you want us gone so badly and you don’t want us to have opportunities. You sit there and question why? Why wasn’t you? Why didn’t you get all these opportunities when you apparently failed?”

“You did.”

“You have”

“You just can’t see it. You are so blinded by your own arrogant so you can’t even see that you have been handed the same opportunities. Everyone else has even through failure. I did feel to be miles. But I also didn’t lose. So I went into the king for a Day March and I want it. I came out the other side with that and I went after those mixed tagteam championships and also lost there too. Cheated out of titles that I wanted to hold and make better.”

“Life right?”

“But then Michael Harris decided that he was going to be a complete moron and get the championship taken off of him. So now, here we are. Six of us are competing for that world championship. And here you are throwing a tantrum like a child. I remember calling you any petulant child, many many times, and I finally thought that you had started to grow up, and you were moving away from that. But now, here I am, watching you meltdown and throw a tantrum about a few people being in a match all because you think that they don’t deserve it and you want everything else head to you wanna silver platter because you’re special.”

“Sorry Jack. But your family should’ve told you, you aren’t special. You are not a snowflake. You are just human.”

Austin straightens his back, subconsciously making himself taller and more menacing.

”And now on to the other man who apparently won’t go away and make Jack Washington happy. Goth. And, it’s funny because I think that your story is quite honestly underrated. To have been a champion so long ago and have walked away from this company only to come back and beat some of the biggest names that were rising in your absence is nothing short of miraculous. And yes, you did take the mixed tagteam championships off of myself and tempest.”

“And and after such a great win, what did you do? You lost them two months later, and you held them over an extended Christmas break when the entire wrestling world shuts down. You then lost them to a team that then ran them into the ground. Tempest and I were the last team that actually made it in that little run the titles hat. You and reckless elite destroyed them. So that little flakes of yours? Helping take those championships off of myself and Tempest? It’s not really the flex that you think it is.”

“I’m fast, it kind of makes you look like an idiot. “

“And that saddens me. Because I do love a good fairytale and a fairytale that would be worth following as watching. You come back from everything that you have been through only to take that championship. But this, much like your referencing to that great Christian fairytale by calling me, Judas, is not a fairytale. There is no happy ending, there is no magical princess, there is only the reality that you might not be good enough to be the champion any more. And you could prove me wrong. Or I could be proven right again. Because I want you to think back to when you and Mercedes came after myself, and Tempest, and I told you that I didn’t see it in you to make those championships mean anything. And I was right. So just call me Nostradamus, because I can see right through you and I can see that I’m right again..”

“High stakes indeed”

Motherly Love

The roar of the engine announced their arrival in the small suburban area of Atlanta Georgia that was the former hometown of one Alicia Lukas. Austin looked around and couldn’t help but laugh. It was a beautiful summers day, right before the end of summer before the beginning of fall, and Georgia was still hot, the sun beating down as the black car came to a stop out the front of a large stately home. Large white pillars going straight up. A path leading to a small staircase and a patio.

And in the middle, a door. Large, double doors made of redwood, gold trim on door knockers and handles. Austin took a deep breath and shook his head before looking over at Alicia. She was nervous, he could tell. Normally she was the picture of confidence. When she was in the ring, backstage or at the gym barking orders to eager trainees and rookies. Hell she even ordered Austin around. But right now, she was silent. Her eyes staring right past Austin to the doors.

Her heart was beating fast,, Austin looked up to the door then back at her with a smile, he reached over grabbing her hand and it slowly calmed her. Alicia took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair. ”Sorry, this is just…new to me I guess. It’s been a long time since I brought a man home to momma.” In that moment Alicia slipped back, back to her southern accent and drawl that she normally tried to hide. Especially around everyone in New York.

But they had to be here. The last week or so Alicias mother had been spending time with the boys. Rory and Ryan, her only grandchildren. She spoiled them, doted on them. She was an excellent grandmother. Austin simply smiled and sat back in the drivers seat, Alicia took a deep breath and Austin nodded slowly. ”It’s ok, everything will be fine…I promise.”

”How can you be so calm? I thought you might be getting…I dunno…a little intimidated?” She motioned toward the house.

Austin laughed, scoffing and shaking his head before bringing one hand up to his chin, letting his elbow sit on the armrest of the car door. ”Ali, have you ever known me to be intimidated. By anyone? Or anything?” She thought for a moment, then shook her head. Austin chuckled, flashing a grin and motioning toward the door. ”And that? That isn’t going to intimidate me. I grew up around things like that. Large, gaudy monuments to past luxury. It’s not going to impress me or tower over me…neither will your mother….not with the man I grew up with for a father…” Austin trails off and sneers before pushing the door and getting out.

He slid his sunglasses over his eyes as the sun came right fown across the white roof and the pillars casting a bright glow. Alicia moved next to him, dressed in a red and black sundress, her makeup impeccably done as Austin toward over her, a bright blue button up shirt with the top few buttons undone and black dress pants making him look a little classier than his usual leather jackets, shirts and jeans. They moved up to the door and Alicia knocked before stand9ing back, as it opened they were greeted by Barbara Maxwell, Alicia and Zoeys mother. She smiled warmly, with a hint of judgemental focus at Austin. ”The boys are out the back dear, but we made afternoon tea, come on..”

Austin raised an eyebrow, no introduction, no handshake or formality. Yet, they moved through the house, Austin taking his sunglasses off and sliding them into the top of his shirt as he looked at the various artworks leading into the kitchen and to the back onto the patio overlooking the grounds. As they stepped out Alicia moved down onto the grass to see her boys, Austin stopped near the top of the landing looking down across the lush green grass. Barbara poored herself an iced tea and stirred it before looking up at Austin ”Can I offer you a drink Mister Mercer?”

Austin shot her a small smile and a nod. ”Thank you, that bwould be much appreciated.”

He sat down, reaching over the table with ease to take his glass, letting out a deep sigh as he took a sip. ”When my daughter told me she was dating someone I wondered if it was going to be yet another business minded gentleman or another wrestler. Seems as if she has slipped back into her old dating ways.” Austin chuckled, not knowing if that was meant to be an insult or a compliment. ”It seems as if a good man is hard to find…I really tho0ught Micheal was the right one for her.”

Austin gave a small nod. ”I think a mans occupation has  very little to do with it. It’s always someones character that should be put above all else.”

He eyebrows raised, she sat back and drossed one leg over the other. ”Hmmm…so you’re not just a mindless brute or redneck like others my daughter decided to give herself to. Tell me…Mister Mercer. What do you plan to do with your life? You can’t wrestle forever.”

”I’m not sure. I’ll do this as long as I can do it at a high level, then? Well, I enjoy training the next generation…passing on knowledge.”

She took in a deep breath and waited a moment, studying Austin before shaking her head. ”Maybe you will. But from my experience, men of your ilk never know when to stop. And it costs them everything.” She pauses, Austin sits back, allowing her to continue. ”The problem I have with that, is costing you everything, means it will cost my daughter and my grandsons everything too…and don’t get me wrong, I don’t want that to happen…but I’m skeptical.”

Austin gave a small nod, taking another sip of the iced tea before clearing his throat and rolling up his sleeves, showign both scars and tattoos. Barbera looked him up and down, a disapproving scowl on her face. ”Well, Barbara, and I will call you Barbara since you felt it so necessary to be so forthright with me then I believe we know each other quit well, I want to say I respect your candor.” He nods again and takes a deep breath before giving s small shrug. ”However, you should know that I am not Jason Maxwell.”

Barbara rolled her eyes, gave a small tsk sound and sat forward ”Thats not what I sa-”

”Stop, you’re projecting.” Barbara was shocked someone would talk to her like this. Austin sat forward, clasping his hands together and leaning on the table. ”You believe, because you were abandoned by Alicias father that I am going to do the same thing to her as Jason did to you. All because we’re dirty carnies right? Thing is your choice for her..Michael Reynolds…he was a compulsive liar and a gambler…and a criminal. And that was your choice for her.”

Austin pauses again and shakes his head. ”Here’s the thing, you believe I’m an idiot like Travis was, or a redneck like Chris was….but, I was raised by my father who headed multi billion dollar corporate deals as well as him being from a wrestling family. I’m not stupid…” He shakes his head and leans closer. ”Now, I’m not perfect, far from it. But I’m also a good man..believe it or not…so take that how you will..”

Barbara was speechless, Rory and Ryan came running up the stairs, grabbing a few cookies from the table and talking amongst themselves as Alicia moved up and around beside Austin. ”So…everything good up here?”

Alicia smiled wider, Barbara snapped out of it and sho0ok her head. ”Yes. Everything is just peachy dear..” Austin raised his glass with a smirk, Barbara smiled back, nodding in defeat, raising her own glass to Austin as they both took a much needed drink.

Kryptonite

”Sometimes, the words “I told you so” need to be said.”

Austin laughs to himself leaning forward into the light as a lit cigar sits in his right hand, the smoke from it drifting upward toward the singular light above him.

”Did you hear it? The discontent and complaining? When I won the King for a day I heard it right away. Just another feather to add to the cap right? And what a collection of feathers I have. See, most of you tend to forget, since I haven’t been as focused on adding things to my legacy, just how much I’ve done in this company and this business. But winning the King for a day? It’s a fun th9ing to add to the resume. To show you can win something for the basis of control in this business that is so consumed by chaos. And when I told the world I was going to win, I also told everyone what I was going to do when I became the king for a day…but make no mistake, I’m not just a king for a day…”

“I just am a fucking king…”

“Look at me, think about what I’ve done and what I’m capable of. If this was ancient times I would be at the head of an army swinging a battleax to take territory. I would be leading men, dragging them to glory. But, in the modern day I am taking myself to those heights and winning that match? That was just the beginning. Even as the other three seemed to have no idea what they were getting themselves into…”

He reaches out with his left hand, grabbing a small glass of whisky and taking a sip as the smoke from the cigar keeps drifting across.

”Like Jack Washington, going with the “what have you done lately” approach. And how did that work out for you Jack? Your aspirations on winning and getting a championship match for yourself fell on deaf ears and failure. So, what have you done lately Jack? Cause winning King for a day? That wasn’t it. But, what was more satisfying than stopping Jack was shutting up Alexander Raven. See he and I have history and the fact is up until that match he had the advantage over me.”

“Raven had beaten me, more than once. And I was always man enough to admit it, but deep down I knew I could beat him, and as talented as Alexander Raven is in the ring, and trust me, he does have talent, he is also a rambling lunatic, incapable of forming a coherent thought. So he wouldn’t be the type of man you wanted in charge of SCW, even if it was for half a show.”

“But, someone who needed the win, who needed to step up and show us all he wasn’t just talk was Miles Kasey. And I have to ask. How did you likie my surprise Miles? See, I had a choice when I was planning your match. I could have given you a SCW title match, told you to go face J2H or Michael Harris or whoever was the champion on that spinning wheel of mediocrity. But, the truth is you needed to learn something.”

“So I brought in Finn Whelan. And I do so hope you enjoyed my surprise.”

Austin took another sip, closing his eyes as a hand slides in from behind, through the darkness, a female hand, red painted nails. The hand slides across Austins chest nand back up to his shoulder.

”What shouldn’t be a surprise, is my choice when it comes to matches for myself. I told everyone what my plan was going to be. I could have gone back on that, and given myself a world championship match against Michael Harris, but in the end, I know what I wanted. See, this isn’t so much about rewarding myself. it’s about rewarding tempest. I want to share personal story with you all. And I hope you will indulge me for this moment. Because it is relevant to why this match is taking place.”

“See, when I lost my wife, when Lisa passed away, I had friends who were there for me. Most of the gym was there, people who are known for years were there, but there is one person who went above, and beyond everything. And that was tempest. while my personal romantic relationships are certainly a matter of public record, people knowing what Alicia and I have gone through, no one really knows the support that I got from tempest. She is more than just my tagteam partner, more than someone who I have gone to war with so many times over the mixed tagteam championships, Tempus is my best friend.”

“And she and I deserve a shot at those mixed tagteam championships”

“She deserves so much more. And part of me wanted her to be facing Courtney Pierce for the bombshells championship, but with what happened last week and the championship already being defended, I couldn’t do that. So instead tempest and I are going to try and reclaim championships that were hours once upon a time. And in doing so, heard some demons from our past..”

Austin lets out a deep breath and shakes his head, his hair slicked back away from his face, a face that is still covered in a five o clock shadow instead of growing back the beard he once had.

”As much as I hate to admit it Eily and Oliver have been doing those titles proud. I might nnot like Olivers attitude, thinking that his win over me was something to be proud of, when I lost for kicking his ass too much, but he has carried himself as a champion, as has his partner Eily. Now, last time we were all in the ring together Eily and Oliver walked away with those titles. And since then Tempest and I have been focused on ourselves. The King and Queen matches, our personal lives and other things.”

“But Eily and Oliver? They have been focused on holding and keeping thoser titles. And trust me, I know how much that weighs on you. Especially two so young and inexperienced. That pressure is exhausting isn’t it?”

“That feeling of weight on your shoulders.”

“The air becoming so heavy that you almost choke on it.”

“It almost feels like you’re underwater, drowning and you can’t breathe.”

“So, Tempest and I are graciously going to help you both. We are going to give you some veteran advice and relieve you of that burden. See, pressure is a funny thing. It can either break you down and destroy you, like a hydraulic press pushing down on your body till it cracks and breaks. Or, it can fuse you and make you a diamond from a lump of coal. And who knows, maybe the pressure that Tempest and I put on you bo0th will turn you into those bright shiny diamonds you both seem to believer you are.”

“Or, you’ll break. I’ve been trying to do a similar thing with Miles and so far he has cracked. EVERY. SINGLE.TIME. So I wonder, what will you two do? Maybe you’ll subvert expectations and be the future stars we all hope you’ll be. Leading the company from the front as champions and doing your gym proud.”

“Part of me hopes you will. But then again there’s that other side of me.”

“There’s that side of me that looks at Oliver, and just wants to punch him in the face as hard as I possibly can. That side of me that wants to try and break you Oliver. Take everything from you. That same feeling Tempest has for Eily. And taking everything from you doesn’t just mean beating you, it means taking those championships from you, holding them high and being better champions than you. To show you the way.”

“And if there is any team on this roster that can do it?....it’s me and Tempest.”

Direction

Time has been moving slowly. Happily. Austin has been able to let go of so much of that pain, anger and frustration. A few months ago he was angry all the time, from the moment he opened his eyes at 5am till the moment he closed them at night, he felt a burning anger in his stomach and chest that wouldn’t go away. It was there, day in and day out. It made him snap at people, he was short with them with every answer and every moment.

But then a few months ago something changed.

Alicia, his long term friend and someone he had worked with and trained with for years had come to him. Their shared experience of life and sadness bringing them closer together than either of them had previously thought of or wanted. The close friendship morphed and changed, turning it to something else. Some nights spent together, talking in the backyard under the stars, eating together and watching their kids play.

Those talks turned to affection and caring. Then the looks between them at the gym changing from simply a glance and a smile to longing stares and warm looks. And those around them have noticed. The whispers and questions being asked. Just what the hell is going on there?

The thing is, Austin wasn’t sure either.

After the talk with Alex he was even more confused. He could see it, the connection between them, But as Alex asked his questions and Austin answered as best he could, well he realised he had more questions of his own.

So now here they were, a night that began like others had. Alicia and Austin made dinner for their kids, Austins young ones going to bed earlier, Alicia's boys passed out watching a movie. And the two adults sat outside, looking up at the sky and talking with a few glasses of wine between them. It felt warm and natural, the happiness between them was clear and so natural. Like breathing. Austin smiled, something that is so easy for most people that he had to relearn how to do. He looked over at Alicia and shook his head with a heavy sigh.

She knew him well enough to know something was up. She reached over, squeezing his hand to get his attention. ”Dollar for your thoughts?”

Austin smirked and shook his head. ”Isn’t it a penny?”

”Inflation.”

Austin couldn’t help but chuckle while also rolling his eyes. ”Stealing my dad joke gimmick?” She shrugged and Austin sighed pushing to his feet as he looked up at the clear sky. ”Alex was talking to me a few weeks back. About us.” Alicia just listened silently. But her facial expression changed from happy go lucky to more flat and almost annoyed. Austin leaned against one of the pillars, folding his arms over his chest. ”It was nothing bad or uncomfortable. I just had no idea how to respond.”

”Did you need to?” She smiled again and shook her head as Austin looked over with a quizzical look. ”This is us, just you and me. I get that people have been staring at us, we aren’t exactly subtle. My sister asked me about us to, and if I didn’t know any better I’d say she’s getting ready to confront you.” Alicia shrugged and stood up moving across to Austin. ”Does it bother you? Not having all the answers?”

Austin shook his head and looked over at her. ”I suppose not, but it would be nice.”

Alicia laughed to herself and gave a small nod before getting closer to Austin, getting up on her tip toes giving him a light kiss on the lips before putting her hand and her head on Austins chest. ”I am whatever you want me to be Aus. Stay friends, agree that we’re in a relationship…it’s up to you….” There was silence between them, Austin took a deep breath and gave her a nod before kissing her again. This time there was more feeling and passion behind it. As Austin pulled back Alicia couldn’t help but smile. ”So….”

”So…”

They both laughed, Alicia turning and putting her head and shoulder against Austins chest as he wrapped an arm around her. His large frame dwarfing hers. Neither needed to say it, theory both know where this is going. They know what they are.Relationships are never easy. But living without happiness, keeping everyone at arms length and staying broken….

That isn’t for either of them.

Alicia took his hand, backing up to the door, kicking it open they moved through the house, quietly sneaking around to the stares as Rory and Ryan stayed on the coach, snoring as their movie played on the television. Austin looked in on Marcus and Mia as they both slept soundly in their rooms. Alicia and Austin stopped at the bedroom door, Alicia opened it and backed into the room, pulling Austin with her.

King

”Being a king isn’t worth a damn..”

Austin couldn’t help but chuckle, his hair flowing down over his eyes as he lets out a deep, controlled exhale. His knees pulled up to his chest.

”There’s so many kings in this business that the term and name has lost all meaning. There was a time when calling yourself a king in professional wrestling was something to be earned and revered, now there’s so many that game of thrones thinks we’re overdoing it. But this one, atleast has a time limit. One show. One show that you get handed control over. It’s a fun concept, it really is. The whole idea of booking yourself or a friend in any match you choose. A championship opportunity. Or an act of revenge. The possibilities are endless. And what would I do?”

“Truth is, I don’t know.”

“Part of me would select a certain individual for a trial by fire. Or give a deserved title shot to a person near and dear to my heart. Then there’as another side of me, one that believes I would use it to serve my own glory. To get an opportunity at the SCW world title, or maybe, the Roulette title as a way to sew the seeds of chaos and anarchy that I enjoy so much.”

“But that’s what I mean, I honestly don’t know what I would do.”

“This entire concept is not without its flaws. I look at the others in this match and question what they would do. The dark holke of stupidity that certain individuals would step into with their own choices. While my choices are up in the air I can honestly say that they wouldn’t be overtly moronic. I can’t say that about others. But this match has a chance to revitalise a career, or make a persons life in one moment and one chance. That is the nature of the King for a day match and to win it, all you have to do it climb a ladder and retrieve it. To grasp it.”

He slowly closes his fist with a small smile before exhaling and continuing.

”Jack Washington, Alexander Raven, Miles Kasey. Three men who I have history with in some form or another. Admittedly Jacks history is more intertwined with Alex than me. But I was there Jck, I was there when you and Alex first tussled. I was there when I saw your amazing ability to get under his skin. The way your words twisted him and made him snap. It was impressive to see.”

“You made a veteran of this business, someone who has been playing mind games with others for twenty years snap. And what a career you have had. You came into this company as a smiling, smirking, arrogant little upstart. A little shit that we all loved to hate.”

“But, in three years you’ve become something…different.”

“You are a two time world champion, a two time internet champion, beating Alex Jones and Kris Ryans for the former and Ken Davison and Alexander Raven for the latter. Like me the only singles championship you are yet to hold is the roulette title. But, while your contemporaries and those you face have been veterans or become veterans you yourself are still viewed as the young upstart.”

“An unfair statement maybe…but one that holds true when you look at how people talk about you or view you. And three years in to your SCW career it’s somewhat maddening isn’t it? To have grown so much, as you have, to have won so much, as you have. And still be viewed in that way. Well, make no mistaker Jack, I see the truth. I see what you are, I see what you’re capable of. And I’m not going to make the mistake of underestimating you…”

Answered

It was a new day.

Yes it is.

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping. The morning was a mix of laughter and hard work. Austin had walked in, helped set up the different stations, he talked and laughed with those at Wolfslair. He laughed with Alex Jones and Lachlan Kane, he even gave a respectful nod in Miles Kasey and Finn Whelans direction. He even helped Aiden Reynolds, the one he usually referred to as “that dumb Australian dickhead.”

Everyone noticed a certain, skip in his step. A change in Austins demeanor. He still wasn’t the laughing, smiling, happy go lucky Austin of days past. He was still weathered and hardened by his experiences. And maybe that was the point.

Everyone wanted the old Austin back. The one before losing his mother, his father and his wife.

The one who was happy to be there.

The long hair, the beard, the bouncing personality with jovial jokes and lighythearted comments and conversations. But, that Austin was gone. Dead and buried. Thing is, the Austin of the last few years also needed to go. The angry, dark, pained Austin filled with disdain and hatred for humanity and a depression that seemed to crush his heart. The one that covered his body in tattoos to map out that pain, the one who cut his hair short and shaved. That Austin needed to go and disappear.

What was left now? A combination. An amalgamation. A metamorphosis.

We can’t turn back time, but we can learn from it. And that is what Austin was doing. He sat down on the concrete steps outside. His container of food in his hand. Steamed broccoli, grilled chicken and sauce. All the iron and protein a growing boy needs. In high doses. Alicia sat next to him, a similar container with the same mixture in it, she shuffled a few pieces in her mouth and smiled, they laughed, she leaned over and put her chin on his shoulder.

He chuckled and gave her a nod as Alicia turned and looked up, she gave a nod and pushed off the steps moving back inside the gym. Alex stood there, his eyebrow raised, his hair tied back except for a few errant strands down the side of his face. He was still in phenomenal shape. Almost as if he was in a constant state of readiness.

”Well, you two seem…”

”Close?”

Alex laughed and sat down next to Austin, his feet on the step directly under him as he let his arms rest on his knees and his hands clasp together. ”I was going to say happy…” Alex laughed again and Austin gave a slow nod. ”So, you got your answers? You know where it’s going and where you stand? And you thought about what I said?”

Austin growled and put his large plastic container down, now empty and finished. Austin wiped his mouth, cleared his throat and turned to Alex with a small smirk. ”Yes and no…” Alex tilted his head, his eyebrow raising again, asking a question that he didn’t need to verbalize. ”I know what she wants, she knows what I want. How we get there, what we do there? Well I don’t know.”

”And you’tre both alright with that?”

Austin took a deep breath in and stared out toward the street. The day was calming, the city sounded quieter than normal. ”Yeah, yeah I am. And she is too. But, to answer anyones questions, yes Alicia and I are together and yes we’re happy. And truth be told Alex…that’s all that matters…and it’s what we both deserve….after everything.”

He trailed off and smiled. Alex said nothing. Instead he stood up and gave Austin a small tap on the shoulder. This wasn’t the old Austin, or the one that had infected the place the last few years. This was a new Austin, one who had been harened by life and his past experiences. But also one that remembered how to smile…and enjoy life.

The raven and the swallow.

”It seems destined that you and I will fight forever Alexander.”

Austin sneered, his growing hair slicked back now away from his face with a five o clock shadow on his face. His bright blue eyes looking almost a shade of violet as he turned his head and moved with it.

”I have said it many, many times. I don’t like you. I don’t like anything about you. I don’t like your face, your voice, your attitude. The fact you try to make everything some kind of debate or physiological evaluation. I don’t like that you keep trying to sound smarter than you are while freely admitting ninety percent of what you say is nonsensical jibber jabber. You are an infected boil on the ass of SCW. And as a person you are the literal definition of crocs footwear…”

“However, you're not without your merits. Much l;ike crocs.”

“I do respect what you are capable on in the ring. You are someone who can take beating after beating after beating and somehow, someway still come back for more. I’ve seen it. I’ve watched it and I have been impressed  by it. You are a former roulette champion and internet champion, having respectable runs with those titles and even beating me.”

“Yes Alexander, unlike others I have no problem admitting my loses and trying to grow from them.

“Don’t get it twisted. I was impressed with your wins and your accomplishments. You beat Finn Whelan, no easy task. Despite the fact Finn has wrestler ADD and loses focus in about five seconds. But if you know anything about Finns personal like you’d understand why the poor guy has no idea which way is up and why he had to leave. But, you still beat him, you still wernt on a great run with the roulette title and still parlayed that into an internet title run.”

He pauses and laughs, looking down at his black and red wolfslair t shirt.

”It just occurred to me that you should be thanking us Alexander. Thanking Wolfslair. Because we have been there at all your big moments. You won the Roulette title from Finn Whelan, a man intertwined with the gym, you lost it to Miles Kasey, one of Wolfslairs promising professionals who I have been trying to take under my wing. But it was in a match that was incredibly hard fought and well received and earned your respect”

“You beat me, in a match that some would say was your crowning moment in the sun. Beating a destructive force and former world champion is a feather in your cap. And hell, even your internet title win was against Lachlan Kane, another wolfslair member.”

“You owe more to the gym than some of it’s members Alexander.”

“But I can’t help but wonder, someone like you. Someone who is so intertwined in ideals that make no sense and inside his own mind and up his own ass, what will you do if you become king for a day? What kind of random stupidity and assholary will you book? That is a future that I don’t want to see and would purely be the darkest timeline.”


Austin shakes his head, moving around and reaching down to pick up a photo frame. Inside it, a picture of the key members of wolfslair. On one side is Austin, towering above move, but crouches down to the other side, putting up the two fingers, an eye closed and his tongue out, a young Miles Kasey.

”This next one. Well. This is hard. Because I want to seer you succeed Miles. I do. While Jack has proved himself time and time again and Raven is a nonsensical moron, he has still had success. While your lone moment of clarity and lone moment of glory was against him. Since then you have been nothing but my bitch. And all I have wanted through all of this. From the moment I attacked Carter to the moment where I beat you last was for you to step up and show your worth.”

“But each time you let me down and you failed Miles. And now as we head into the King for a day match and as I look at someone like Jack Washington it finally hit me. Jack is everything you are not and everything you should have been. But what you were never mentally strong enough to be.”

“He is ready to go that extra mile, to destroy those in front of him verbally and physically. To be a champion.”

“But you? You’re content with just being here. Content with playing the clown with Carter and not focusing on your career. Content with living under Finns roof and having your friends around you. And, you know what another word for content is Miles?”

“Complacent.”

“That is what you are, what you have become. Complacent.”

Austin lowers the picture back down and grinds his teeth together, clenching his jaw before taking a deep breath in.

”This match is a chance for you to break that. And I wish I could say for sure that I know, if you won, that you would take the opportunity with both hands and do something with it. I really do. I want to have faith in you, that you’ll win and go after someone like J2H with all the vigor you have and try and become a champion.”

“But, I don’t have that faith in you Miles.”

“Instead, I believe if you somehow won, you’d book Carter in a match against J2H after he failed. You’d gift that to him in some kind of misguided selfless act of love and respect. And while it’s a lovely story and while Carter is an impressive athlete and someone who has accomplished alot….it would still be a waste.”

“And I refuse to allow you to waste this chance.”

“I’m going into violent conduct to collect heads and become a king. To book my way to what I want and what I need. And this lesson, Miles, willl be your last. Much like the ass kicking I give Alexander Raven will be, or the eye opening I give Jack…”

Problems

”How long has this been going on?”

”A few weeks.”

”You know….this could be a problem…”

”I’m aware.”

Alex looked disappointed. Like a stern father figure, trying to be supportive while also teaching some kind of profound lesson. Austin just stayed silent. While he wasn’t the young man in his early twenties that Alex met all those years ago, he still had a certain respect for Alex and his opinions. At the end of the day though, well, Austin was a grown man, in his thirties, he had lived a life that many others would both dream of and consider a nightmare.

From his birth mothers decline, his upbringing, his fathers issues and then of course his relationships. His life was a constant roller coaster, up and down.

But, it had hardened him. No longer was Austin the smiling, naive child. He wasn’t the type of guy who would let others walk all over him or suffer fools. Austin was now determined to live his life and be happy. To make those he cared about happy. His kids, his sister, his nephew, all his friends at wolfslair. And of course…

Alicia.

The cause of this conversation and truthful. Austin should have known something was up. He had walked in, it was still dark outside. He set up, he opened the doors, he looked over and said good morning to Alex and Sonja. But, something was off. They were slightly off with him, still saying hello, still happy he was in the gym. But there was something on their minds. Weighing heavily. And now Austin knows what it is. His relationship.

Alex had approached him, pulled him into the office with a heavy sigh as he clearly had been thinking about how to broach the subject with him. Austin sat back in the chair and shook his head with a sigh. ”Look, kid.” Kid? Austin’s nostrils flared as he swallowed hard and shook his head. ”Your personal business is not really my business.” Alex paused for a moment before clasping his hands together and leaning in. ”But, this is something that could affect Wolfslair as well as your career…..”

Austin gave a small nod and looked out the window for a moment before turning back to Alex ”Anytime you have any type of relationship or friendship it can affect you in this business.”

”Not like this.” Alex put his hand up dismissively and sighed before scratching the side of his head. ”Look at the issue between you and Miles. It is settled in the ring, settled how it should be…” Alex got to his feet, moving to the window that Austin had looked out through, seeing all the talent under the Wolfslair roof. ”But this, a relationship….we have others in this situation, training together, living together…but…”

”It’s different because of the history between myself and Alicia…and the other history we have…”

”Yes…”

Austin chuckled and shook his head getting to his feet to stand next to Alex, he looked out across the floor, his eyes settling on Alicia. She was sitting in a circle, her sister Zoey to her right, but surrounded by younger trainees. Austin smiled and looked at Alex as Alex studied his face. ”I understand your concern. I really do. But….we fit Alex.” He paused, his voice went from deep, brooding and monotone to lighter, happier. ”She and I have been through so much. We have lost people close to us, been pushed further and harder than anyone else. We deserve to be happy.”

”I’m not saying you don’t…I just…” Alex trailed off.

Austin laughed and turned away toward the door. ”If it ends you’re worried it will end badly. You’re worried it will break us both…..” Austin paused and shrugged looking over at his old friend. ”It’s great that you’re worried about us. And I know you, I know it comes from a great place. But she and I…this thing, whatever it is. It’s just starting, I don’t know where it will go. But, we both deserve to find out and we deserve to do it without the doubt of others..”

Alex softened and threw his hands in the air, some would say it was in defeat. ”You’re right…if either of you need anything, I’m here.”

Austin shot him a small grin and a nod. ”Thank you.,..” He moved out the door and down to the floor. Austin talked to Lachlan Kane and Aiden Reynolds two of Wolfslairs best before making his way to Aliica, she smiled and got to her feet, the two talked, they smiled at each other and Alicia grabbed Austins hand for a split second before everything went back to normal. Alex folded his arms over his chest, still concerned, still wary, but more accepting of all this.

For now.

Rivalries

”It’s incredible, the feeling of failure. It always stays with you. The losses. Wins are amazing memories. Don’t get me wrong. I will always sit back and remember beating someone like Fenris. A guy who is a beast of a man. Winning the world title, defending it against everyone. But, well, the things that really stick with you are the losses.”

Austin sighs and shakes his head getting to his feet and moving back and forth.

”Tempest and I did everything we could to regain those championships, and trust me on this, she and I are not done as a team. She is still my partner, she is still my friend and that woman and I are still the most dangerous mixed tag team, not just in this company but on this goddamn planet. So for right now, Oliver and Eiley need to cherish their moment in the sun, hold those titles close and remember the feeling of being champions as much as they can. Because soon, someday very very soon…”

“Tempest and I will be coming for those straps…”

He growls and nods slowly, a determination in his eyes that many have seen when standing across the ring from the six foot six destruction machine.

”However. Both she and I have our own chances this week to get a future opportunity to book a show. The queen and king for a day matches are back. And Tempest will be getting ready to break Alexandra Callaway toi earn her place in the queen for a day match. And if she happens to win it, well it will be up to her how she uses her powers for the night. Book us in a mixed tag team title match, or, and this is my own personal feelings. Tempest should book herself in a bombshells title match…”

“Cause no one deserves it more than her.”

“But, for me, well, I have to get passed someone I know quite well to get my opportunity. Miles Kasey. And,I had said time and time again that I wasn’t done with you Miles. And now we can settle this without the interference of a dipshit narcissist. By the way, before I get into the ins and outs of this match between myself and Miles, let me say that while I’m not the biggest J2H fan, I am more than happy to see that he is the SCW world champion and that Michael Harris is regulated back to being the bum that we all know he really is.”

“See, for those of you who need a quick history lesson on myself and Miles, let me refresh you all. Miles is a talent. I have said it from day one. Miles Kasey has the physical gifts and ability to be a star and a champion.”

“But…his mind is clouded by playing the clown…”

Austin sneers, clearly still angry about the situation.

”Miles could be so much more, so I decided, a a mentor should, to take some distractions out of the equation. So, I went after Carter. I did it for two reasons, one for Miles sake. To free him from all that was holding him back, forcing him to embrace that anger and come at me with everything, never holding back. And the other? Well, the second reason was more personal and I believe…selfish on my part. I took Carter out because he was one of the few strands of humanity holding me back…that friendship…”

“So I cut those goddamn strings. And just as I was getting it into Miles head what he needed to do, Michael Harris stuck his nose in our business. And very quickly we both lost sight of what we hated about each other and focused on hating Michael Harris and wanting to take that title from him. But that triple threat match, it did nothing to end our issue, it did nothing to prove my point and we found ourselves at an impasse.”

“So now Miles, I ask you…what are you going to do switch this opportunity?”

“Laying in front of you is a shot to get into a match, a match that could unlock all your dreams. A match where you could win it and book yourself in a match against J2H for the world title, or get yourself a rematch for the roulette title or the damn internet title. It;’s a match where winning would unlock so much potential. Unlock your failing, stagmnant and limping career.”

“And all that is standing in your way of this golden opportunity…is me…”

Austin chuckles, running a hand throw his brown hair that seems to be slowly growing back to it’s former long glory.

”You can take this Miles, take the opportunity and use it to get to the top of this business and you can do it by beating me and going on with it. The only problem, is I no longer have faith in you to be able to. I no longer believe that if I motivate you enough you will have the drive to do what needs to be dome. You’re a lost cause Miles, you’re weak. You don’t have it in you to cast aside your relationships and stop being the flippy floppy dancing clown you have become.”

“It defines you now.”

“So you’re too scared to leave it behind to chase real glory.”

“And that’s fine, not everyone has what it takes. You don’t, Carter doesn’t. Half of the members of Wolfslair don’t. Hell Malachi, Lachlan, Bella, Zoey….the whole lot of you had talent and could be anything, but when was the last time any of you lived up to it? No, the “second generation” of Wolfslair has not been able to live up to what Alex Johanna, Alicia and I created and did. So now Miles…now I am sick of taking a step back waiting for one of you to stand up and take that brass ring…”

“So…I’m going to take my rightful place at the top…and do what I should of done months agho…and send you home…”

Complicated

Why did we have to go and make things so complicated?

Austin sat at the edge of the small concrete loading dock near the large roller door leading into the gym. He let out a deep breath as if trying to push out every single piece of worry and stress that was on his shoulders out. But running through his mind all he could think of was her. Why was she there? Why did this all have to happen? Over the last few months he had become accustomed to being by himself and being alone. He socialized when he had to he talked to people when he felt the need to. But for the most part Austin James Mercer had become a loner. He did not actually need anyone or want anyone to join in his darkness and commiserate in the world that he had created around himself. He talked to his sister he talked to his kids, he talked to those he worked out with and who were his friends.

But, as far as letting anyone else into his life and letting them see the pain he was going through, well that didn't happen. Until recently. From the moment that Alicia had come to see him to the moment that she walked back out the door encouraging him to come back to the gym he had been thinking about her. He felt like he was foolish; he felt like it would not matter even if he did talk to her, the dark secret of his role in her husband's death and his role in Lisa’s death hung over him like a dark cloud. But, with that being said he still found himself sitting outside the gym his hands clasped together as he stared out into the field around the front where various trainees would do cardio work and explosive power workouts involving large truck tyres and sledgehammers. He took a deep breath and shook his head looking down but all he could think of was the wild blond hair, the blue eyes, the cherry red lips.Her hand grabbing a hold of his.He felt anger, anger at himself for even entertaining a thought that he and Alicia could be something more. What made it worse, what made this pain unbearable is that he was fairly certain she felt the same way.

Since they had that moment, they had electricity between them, Alicia had been different around him. She would run up to him say hello every single morning they would talk and for a few moments Austin would laugh and would feel free.Free of everything that he had been through over the last few years, free of all the loss that had followed him around from the moment he was born.Feeling abandoned, feeling thrown away, watching his loved ones die.All of this had weighed down upon him and changed him from a positive happy person to someone who was cynical and thought the world was nothing but a void being filled with people who had no idea when they were going to leave and be lost. But moments with her, laughing and smiling it made him feel alive, happy, human.

Looming up in front of him was the promise of a night with her. A dinner where they could talk about everything and try and work through their grief.At least, that's what he thought it was going to be.But being around each other seemed to help them with the grief it seemed to help them move forward just being able to talk to one another and act the way they had been. Various members of the gym had taken notice, Alex would look over at them and smile, happy that they had found each other and found that common ground. Others were amused but also skeptical of the two's relationship.And tonight, well tonight Austin would make her dinner. He pushed off his knees and got to his feet, grabbing his bag that had been sitting next to him.He looked over his shoulder at every one else cleaning up inside, including Alicia who shot him a small smile and a nod.He smiled back and turned making his way to the parking lot.He took a deep breath and got in, enjoying the small drive back to his home.His sister had taken the kids for a weekend away and the house seemed so empty again.

He swallowed hard, he was nervous.It was a strange feeling being nervous about this.It was just a dinner between two friends who had both lost someone close to them.But, he knew it could be more than that.The small glances between him and Alicia, the moments where they would talk privately between them and she would laugh at his jokes and he would laugh at hers.The fact that they both felt free when they talked to one another like they hadn't missed any time being friends while Austin had been in his own little pity party crusade.

He was deep in thought while he started to cook.Cooking always helped him focus it helped peel away all the awkwardness of the day. He looked over at the clock, a few hours had passed, a few hours where he focused on himself and tried to push down all the nerves, a few hours where he decided to make pesto chicken pasta dish, one he knew Alicia would like. As it finished he heard a knock on the door. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath before pushing it out and turning towards the door, he popped the lock and opened it, and there she stood and at that moment he realized that this was less of two friends talking and more of two friends going on a date. She was dressed ina beautiful black dress, her makeup was done and her hair tied back.She held a bottle of wine in her hand and tilted her head with a grin as Austin suddenly felt very underdressed for the occasion. Wearing a tight black T shirt and jeans.

”Hey…” Her smile was bright, her mannerisms were relaxed. She was genuinely happy to be there with him.Austin smiled,a real smile.His heart lifted and he was happy to see her. ”Smells good…..I never knew you were an amatuer chef”

Austin scoffed, a dismissive move that he turned into a joke. ”To be honest with you, I know how to make this and spaghetti, two really easy things but my kids love them, so it’s pretty lucky…” He paused for a moment looking at her and studying her face her bright blue eyesand cheekbones that curled up into a flirtatious smile. ”I can also handle a mean phone and call for chinese or pizza”  Alicia chuckled, grabbing two wine glasses and popping open the bottle, she poured a glass for Austin and one for herself as he grabbed the frying pan moving the pasta and chicken in the sauce before plating it up into small bowls.

They moved through the house to the backyard, a small table sat outside as the sun started to go down. Alicia Took in a deep breath and relaxed as she sat down taking a sip of her wine. After some light conversation and eating they both sat back laughing. This is when things started to change. The light hearted meal becoming much more serious as Alicia tilted her head and leaned forward. ”So, how long do you think the grieving period lasts before you can…see someone?” Austin raised an eyebrow not wanting to presume anything as he was having some wine, he swallowed and Alicia quickly realized she should clarify. ”I mean…Michael and I weren’t together when he died. We…had broken up and had signed divorce papers…so…you know…”

She trailed off. Austin sat back and shook his head. It had been a year since Lisa had passed. Was that enough time? He knew what Alicia was getting at. And he wanted it. He wanted to see where this was going to go. But then a shot hit his heart, he couldn’t do this. Not until he was honest with her. He took a deep breath and sat back. ”I honestly don’t know. I suppose it depends on the person. I don’t know if I’m ready…or rather if I would be ready…”

He needed time, he needed time to formulate a way to tell her what had happened. Alicia though looked at him, tilting her head and looking as if a cloud of sadness had suddenly come over her head.Was she taking this as a rejection?

Austin sat forward, acting quickly to make sure she knew exactly what was in his mind. ”I don’t know what this is between us Alicia. But I do want to see where it leads. When I’m with you I feel….I don’t know.”

”Free?”

She felt the same way he did.Looking over at him with a smile they both seemed to be on the same wavelength.The problem was that Austin had guilt hanging over him. Guilt about Michael's death, guilt about how it all came together.And guilt about having feelings for someone when in his mind he would only ever love Lisa.What was between he and Alicia was not love but it was definitely something. ”Yeah…but…I….there’s something you need to know…”

Austin stood up, moving down onto the grass of the small back yard.Folding his arms over his chest as he looked up on to the deck, at Alicia.She got to her feet as well moving down onto the grass as they both stared right at each other.Time stood still for a moment and Austin's eyes became sad, his body language dropped as he felt the need and want to tell her everything.His voice trembled as he opened his mouth, but to his surprise Alicia reached out placing a finger on his lips and shaking her head. ”Not now…. She smiled. ”It can wait…we can wait”

She leaned toward him, putting her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest.Austin took a deep breath in and instinctively wrapped his arms around her.And that is how they ended their night.Staring up at the star filled night.Holding each other. And it was as simple as that. Austin led himself feel.He let himself let go of the guilt. But for how long?

Tag teams everywhere.

Austin stood in the study of his house. His eyes trailing over everything, looking down his list of accomplishments and accolades. Looking at his championships. Or rather the replicas he got to keep. The honor world title, the WWH hellsgate title, the SCW world title and Internet titles. But one caught his eye. One that is relevant to this moment. His replica of the SCW mixed tag team titles.

”I remember when Tempest and I won those, well, I can’t speak on her feelings but mine were, mixed. To say the least. See, I was proud of what we accomplished. Proud of the dominance we had as a team. But, at the same time I was annoyed. Annoyed at the fact we honestly had very little competition because very few people cared about those titles, and cared about what those titles represented. It ball started with who we beat for them…”

“See, I want you to cast your minds back to who held them before me and Tempest. The Barnharts. Bill and Bea.”

“It was a joke, those titles became a joke. So Tempest and I chose to take them and raise them back up.”

“We took them and defended them and made them a prize. That is what the titles need now. They need champions. They need two dominant professionals who will make them mean something again. When she and I lost them, when Tempest and I watched another team walk away with those titles we hoped and prayed that they would be treated with the respect they deserve. But, they weren’t. Goth and Mercedes treated those titles like things to pad their resumes. Goth quickly disappeared and Mercedes retreated back into being an irrelevant shell of who she once was…”

Austin backs up and turns, sitting on the edge of his desk with a smirk, his brown hair flowing down over his eyes as his tattoos peak out from under the rolled u sleeves of his shirt.

”And very quickly, those titles disappeared. Goth and Mercedes lost them to Reckless Elite and the entire division shut down. The entire division guys. An entire part of a company got dissolved because of those teams. All because it was crushed when Tempest and I were no longer the ones with the division on our backs. And now, well now we are expected to do it again and I do love a challenge. And rebuilding thise shattered division, well. It is a challenge.”

“And looking at our competition, I bel;ieve she and I are the only two who can do it. We nare the only team in this match who have championship experience in this company. And Tempest and I picked up exactly where we left off. We got in the ring to earn our way into this fourway and we did it by clicking as the dominating force we were before we l;ost those titles.”

“But these three other teams, the six individuals against us. I can look at them and believe they have no idea what they’re going up against.”

“I know mAlexander Raven quite well. He and I wernt to war and he impressed me with his tenacity and his defence of his championship. I applauded him, I did. And I was able to respect what he was capable of and as a singles competitor. As a man who stands across the ring from you, one on one, well Alexander should never, ever be overlooked or underestimated. However, with that being said, Luna and Alexander as a team, well, they don’t measure up to us. Tempest could, and would eat Luna alive and Alexander knows damn well how dangerous I am.”

“I can admit though, they could walk away with the titles and I would be content in knowing they would at least try and make them worth something. I would just rather avoid the citation and take those titles ourselves.”

He laughs and shakes his head grumbling under his breath.

”But then there is the team of Oliver Zahn and Eiley. They seem oddly familiar. These upstart rookies who believe themselves to be the future. Well, if these two are the future then I don't want any part of where this business is going.It's nothing about their character, it's more to do with how they present themselves and their arrogance.I have earned my position in this company and so has Tempest.We have both done everything in our power to make any titles that we have held and any matches that we have been apart in feel important.Important for everyone involved.These twothey only want to promote themselves.They don't see the bigger picture.They don't see where this company needs to go and what the championships mean.They are simply…”

“Not ready.”

“I'm sure Oliver is going to bring up the match that he and I had, that is the problem with youth. They see things in fragments.They see things like a jigsaw puzzle but only focus on one piece at a time instead of the whole. And yes Oliver and I had a rather interesting match that ended with him being able to walk away and say that he got the best of a former Sin City Wrestling World Champion.But ,he never saw the best of me, he never saw the best of what I can do.And he along with his partner are going to be just a footnote in the history of those tag team championships.The worst parties I wish I was wrong.I wish these two rookies would stand up and be counted for and attempt to be the best that they can be.But they will, much like Luna and Alexander”

“fail.”

He shrugs and pushes off the desk stepping forward.

”Of course there is the final team in this clusterfuck of a match. We have the dark horses in Alexander and Luna, the rookies in Oliver and Eiley and then, well, then we have the veterans, the SAVIORS. What are they saving? Who lknows, I still haven’t figured that out. See, I know Kim Pain, I know what she has done, what she is capable of and I also know Peter Vaughn. I heard his name long before I ever saw him in person and in a very short amount of time Petter has shown us just how good he can be.”

“He is the Roulette champion and by the end of Summer Xxxtreme he could hold two championships. And you know…atleast he’s ready to EARN it.”

“But Kim and Peter, as good as they are individually, well, in this company, they still pale in comparison to us. Tempest is a beast, a large angry incredible athlete ready to rip arms off like wings off a fly. Luna, Eiley and Kim, well, they don’t match up at all. And me? People tend to forget what I’m capable of. They forget what I can do and my past. Former world champion, Internet champion, mixed tag team champion. I have a track record of greatness and it would be a huge mistake…”

“To underestimate us…”

When you begin again.

It was a strange feeling, the guilt that had been eating away at him for the last few weeks. Since having that fateful conversation with detective Solomon. It had been eating away inside Austin's brain, like a disease very slowly killing and devouring the cells around it. Every single time he saw Alicia he would be reminded of it, his mind flashing back to the moment that he sat there and stared into Michael Reynolds eyes and told him that he knew what he did and was responsible for. The moment that Austin left and Michael thought he was going to be able to escape and leave his life only to be ended by the very people who he had fallen in debt too

He had no idea what to do. He had no idea where to go with this or what to say. So instead he did everything he could to avoid her, when they would both be at the gym he would go into the weight room and work out until she walked in there, at which time he would go out to the ring and start doing rope work and facing off against some of the other members.

However, that too came with its own problems.

He had seen that Alicia would look sad, feeling as if her friend, someone who had been in her life for the better part of the last six years was for some reason avoiding her. Which he was.But Austin had no idea how to fix this, he had no idea how to bury those feelings deep down so they would not influence anything that he did or said. He had been keeping to himself, he didn't talk to Alex or anyone else at the gym. Only ever saying a few words and grants to get people's attention whenever he needed someone to workout with.That's how it had been for the last few months. Since Austin had lost her.

That excuse was going to run out. And today felt different, he walked into the gym he looked around and the anxiety seemed to break him down.A man who for almost six months had completely ignored any emotion that had come his way. All he had felt was anger,he had avoided sadness and he had avoided anything else that could get in his way. But now with his purpose coming to an end and his life in front of him to refocus onAustin seemed tostart let it all creep in. He missed Tempest, his best friend and someone who he could always go to with these problems, he missed Alex his mentor and someone who would always give him advice and he also missed Alicia woman who had almost been his conscience for the last six years whenever Austin had almost lost himself.

So, he went home.

He walked in the door and sat down, his sister and the kids were not home. The children being dropped off at daycare and Austin's sister going off to work as she also struggled to rebuild her own life after so many setbacks. And in these moments of loneliness, in the deafening silence of a home that was once filled with happiness and laughter Austin could feel and hear the guilt creeping in even louder than before.

Like a voice that didn't have any real depth to it, almost a whisper asking him questions. Why did he do it? Why did he end it the way he did? Why couldn't he just let the police do their job? Could he really live with himself and not tell Alicia what happened? All of these things weighed on him, pushing his shoulders down and causing his head filled with pressure that started to shock and cause pain through every single nerve and down to his fingertips. He took a labored breath in only for it all to stop when a knock broke the silence.

He stayed silent, looking over at the door and waiting.After a few moments there was a voice on the other side of it. It was Alicia. ”Aus? Hey…you there?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head, his right hand moving up as his thumb and forefinger pinched his nose, at the top right near where it would meet his eyebrows. After a few moments, he answered. ”Yeah…hold on..” He got to his feet, moving over and undoing the dead bolt and opening the heavy front door.Alicia tilted her head, her bright blue eyes filled with concern and care. This made Austin's stomach dropped even more as the guilt started to fester.

”You ok? You left really quick…we were all worried…”

She smiled,a sweet smile that had nothing but honest sincere care behind it.Austin stared at her, his gaze lingering a little bit too long and he came to his senses just in time to snap out of it and shake his head. ”I just…I walked in and had a headache, I feel under the weather and I don’t want anyone else to get sick. I’m sure I’ll be fine..” He tried to answer as normally as he could, to try and show honesty.But the small smile that he gave her afterwards betrayed him. Alicia wasn't stupid.

But she shook her head putting her foot just inside the door so it would be impossible for Austin to close it. She leaned on the door frame and crossed her arms over her chest looking up at him. As most people did. ”Look, I get that, for some reason, looking at me and knowing what I lost takes you back to Lisa but….I can’t change that so please stop punishing me by ignoring my existence.” Austin was shocked, his jaw opened and he had no idea what to say. Alicia shook her head and shrugged before stepping back. ”That’s all I wanted to say.”

She turned to leave, Austin shook his head and his hands clasped into fists. Every single part of him was screaming to tell her, every single part of him wanted to be honest. Except for one small part of him that just wanted to let her walk away. But in the end, it landed somewhere in between. ”Wait…” His voice boomed out and he let out a breath as she turned around. ”Why don’t you, come inside and talk. It might do us both good…”

Alicia smiled and gave a nod as she moved back up toward the house, Austin closed the door and Alicia moved around the kitchen before leaning forward against the bench in the center. Austin swallowed hard and ran a hand through his brown hair,he took a deep breath and Alicia couldn't help but chuckle. ”I hope you’ll actually be a conversationalist…” Austin shook his head and laughed as well. Alicia smiled. ”See, you can laugh….”

Austin gave a nod and leaned forward just across from Alicia. ”Yeah, but it’s been hard to. I don’t know how you’ve done it. You bounced back and have shown such strength after Michael's death…meanwhile I have been nothing but weak, I have barely been able to say Lisa's name..” Austin trailed off and let out a sigh.

Alicia just shook her head. ”I’m not strong Aus, I’m broken….I mean…Michael left but….it still hurts. I can’t imagine what you went through though…and…if you need anything…I’ve always cared about you…” Alicia reached forward and grabbed Austin's handhe swallowed hard and he looked up at her. Their eyes met and for a moment time started to slow down to a stop.But Austin pulled his hand back as did Alicia. ”Uh…I better get back…”

”Yeah…let everyone know I’ll be back tomorrow…”

She smiled and stepped back. ”I will….and…thanks for the talk…”

”...You too Lic…”

Same song and dance

He paced back and forth. Anger rising from the pit of his stomach as he tried to keep everything calm and centred. But this was hard,after everything that had happened. Everything that he had been forced into. And all the failures that had mounted up. Austin was enraged. And there was really only one way to get all of this out. He needed to get in the ring and destroy the next person in front of him.

”You know, it isn't easy being a professional wrestler. It isn't easy putting your body on the line week in and week out. Every single time we step out and walk down in front of all those people we are taking our own lives in our hands. One slip, one wrong move, and your entire existence can be ended.Your body can be broken down and you can never have any type of meaningful life again and most of you, well, most of you have no idea what that kind of dedication and bravery is like. That is why I will always respect anyone who has the balls to step into a professional wrestling ring and put their body on the line.”

I don't have to respect anyone as a person, I don't have to agree with their views, I don't have to think they've earned anything but I will always respect someone's bravery for stepping into the ring. I respect Oliver stepping in the ring with me. And despite my best efforts he ended up walking away with the win. I personally don't believe he deserves it. I had my hand raised I had it won. And I'm sure there are a whole bunch of people sitting there ready to run their mouths about how I apparently “cheated” . But, how many times does shit like that get ignored?”

He paused for a moment. Letting that statement sink in. And he was right, how many times on a wrestling show does cheating get ignored and the other person have their hand raised?He was angry and he was frustrated,and he was getting ready to take it out on one person and one person alone. His opponent for this week.

”It is amazing to me how many people will justify the fact that the match got restarted.It seems like I'm a victim now right? A victim of this company and their ability to pick and choose who they want to go ahead and win. Their selective use of the rules. Where are they when Michael Harris cheats and keeps that championship? Where are they when someone else decides that they want to grab onto the ropes or use tights as leverage? This company has a serious problem with discipline and I'm sick of it. Either you bring in some kind of instant replay system and you make damn sure that we're all apparently playing by the rules, or,you let it go when the referee makes a mistake.”

“But the only mistake I have made is not ending each and everyone of you. The truth is, I have been going too easy on this division.I have been trying to teach, trying to raise you up, trying to make sure that this god damn company doesn't end up in a sorry state like it had been for the last few months.We have an opportunity to make sure that this company grows and becomes what it is supposed to be.And for that the glory days of wolfslair need to return. But not in the same way, not the way it used to be. I wanted this new domination to start and end with Miles.But my attempts had tried to drag him up from the position that he found himself in was left wanting. We had a chance to dethrone Michael Harris, one of us had a chance to walk out as the champion and in the end we allowed Harris to keep that championship.`

“But now what? I failed against Harris, I failed against Oliver, and now I find Bill Barnhart standing across the ring from me. Are you kidding?”

“I recognise that my win loss record isn't in the best shape right now, but the fact that I've been lowered to facing him is ridiculous. Am I really that low on the totem pole that I have to get in the ring and soil my hands on that bitch tits piece of shit? My entire family lineages weeps.End now I've let myself down as well as the gym and everyone who I have ever teamed with or helped raise up to a respectable point in their career.”

Austin can't help but growlas his entire body seems to seize with frustration and anger. He takes a deep breath in trying to calm himself down but every single moment brings with it more and more thoughts about having to get in the ring with Bill, when a month ago he was getting a chance at being the top champion in the industry and this company.There are falls from grace and then there is this.

”Just in case it isn't obvious, I don't like you Bill. I've never liked you. I think you are one of those people who is a throwback to a time when professional wrestling sucked, you have done nothing of note in this company and for whatever reason they just keep paying you to turn up. You keep getting opportunities and matches like being involved in the four way for the vacant roulette championship. And you failed. The only time you or your bean head wife end up doing anything is when you are just plain lucky. You have never been able to take a championship and make it mean more than it did when you want it. You have never been able to go on a long run and actually defend it in a way that a championship deserves and elevate it.”

“This is something that you have never been able to do.You just exist in this company.And now here I am being put in a match against you.And why? You seem to think that you are going to be half of the mixed tag team champions again with your wife. Because that ended up going so well for you the last time.Face it Bill, you and your wife are nothing in this company and never will be.But, if I can't beat you, if i can't get in that bring an utterly decimate you, then i honestly don't deserve to be in this company anymore.”

“After everything I have done, and everything that I have gone through, if I can't beat you then I simply have lost whatever it was in the beginning that made me special. And unlike you Bill, I am special. I am a special kind of athlete and a special kind of destructive force that very few people can stand up to or withstand in a professional wrestling ring.”

“I come from a wrestling family with a pedigree that has hundreds of years instilled in it up and down the eastern seaboard. What do you have? What do you have in this company? A few nothing title reigns and hours upon hours of nonsensical stupid promos that you never backup? You never sit there and follow through with any promises that you make, and when you lose instead of looking at yourself and seeing where you could have bettered yourself you just make excuses.You are the worst kind of person.And the fact that you're still in this company makes me weep for it.”

“So maybe, just maybe I need to…exterminate the problem….it wouldn’t be the first time I beat you Bill, but I will do everything in my power to make sure it is the last time I ever have to disgrace myself in facing and beating you..”

Suspicious Minds.

It had been a few weeks. A few weeks of seeing Alicia put on a brave face. Come into the gym and work hard. Watch her help Zoey prepare, watching her be a mentor to the younger members of the gym. Austin took a deep breath and looked away, back at the large tyre sitting on the grass in the small courtyard outside the large warehouse that Wolfslair New York had occupied since day one. He grabbed the small pouch of chalk and readied his hands.

Bending down Austin gripped the rubber, grunting as he stood up and pushed the tyre upward before flipping it, he bent down, repeating the process. Over and over again flipping the heavy object from one end to the other. He turned and went back the other way, pushing through all the pain and burning from the lactic acid building up in his muscles and joints.

He sighed heavily, bending down as some of his hair fell into his eyes. It had been growing back, it’s length reminding him of what he once looked like. The loving father with a bushy beard, long hair and no tattoos. But that man was dead.

He died with Lisa Mercer.

Austin went through the motions with his children. He loved them, he wanted to protect them and make sure they grew up to be healthy and happy members of society. But it was not the same as before Lisa passed. She was his heart and soul. And now, now his heart was black and his soul was empty and devoid of light. His emotions dulled by the loss of the only person he felt he had left. The loss of his mother, his father and his step mother disappearing up her own ass in a cloud of lies and deception,

One could barely blame Austin for feeling like this, for feeling the pain of loss and the anger that went with it.

Alicia stepped out of the gym, taking in a deep breath and sitting with her back against the wall as Austin wiped the sweat from his brow. He gave her a nod and grabbed a towel before heading inside, but, before he could move through the door Alicias voice stopped him. ”Aus, you got a minute?” He stopped, looking down at her with a stoic and emotionless face. ”Does it get easier?”

”Yeah….it does.” He was lying. It wasn’t easier, he was still angry. Still broken.

”I know Michael and I….I know we were getting divorced but, I did love him. And losing him…I’m hurting…” Austin stayed silent, his mind flashing back to a few months before as he ground his teeth together. Trying not to look Alicia in the eye. She was too into the moment to notice Austin not looking at her. ”How have you been dealing with it? Growing with it?”

Austin takes a deep breath and shakes his head, he knew he had to say something, he knew he had to do something. Anything. He let out the breath and leaned down sitting next to Alicia. ”Losing someone you’re close to, it’s never easy. I’ve been through alot of it. But, it does get easier. If you use the anger, the sadness, the frustration and channel it into something…”

”Like what?”

”Your kids, your career, something creative, shit I don’t know, revenge or empathy for others?” Alicia stayed looking down, she shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. ”Having to deal with someone being murdered in your life…it’s a unique feeling that many will never have to go through…”

His voice trailed off, Alicia slowly turned her head staring at Austin before clearing her throat. ”How did you know Michael was murdered?” Austin turned to her, before he could say anything Alicia continued. [color[=hotpink]”I haven’t…I didn’t tell anyone…”[/color]

There was silence between them, Austin took in a deep breath and shook his head before shrugging. ”He was found in a hotel room, and Alex said I should talk to you. I thought maybe that was the reason why. I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have assumed.”

Alicia took a moment but gave a small nod, accepting Austins answer. ”I don’t understand though. I don’t get why anyone would kill Lisa or Michael. Even if…”

”If what?”

Alicia sighed, thinking back and wanting to tell Austin something, to reveal something. It was on the tip of her tongue. ”The last three or four months before he left, Michael was acting strange, he was asking questions about wolfslair and you and Alex and even Lisa. I don’t know what was wrong with him…he was just…shady…I’m sure I’m overreacting…”

Austin studied her, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes before pushing to his feet looking down at her. ”Maybe…maybe neither of us will ever know for sure the hows and whys.” He stared out, looking passed the gate and then he saw him, staring through at them both. Detective Paloma, Austin growled before backing up. ”If you need anything….you know where to find me Ali….I’m just a phone call away alright?”

She gave him a nod. ”Thank you….I will.” She noticed his look, the steely gaze out of the courtyard, Austin turned and moved back inside, Alicia looked over at the gate. But no one was there.

Failures.

”I have failed so many times.”

Austins deep voice booms, his eyes stare forward as his hands clasp together.

”I wanted to hold the world title as long as Fenris did before me, and when Vinnie beat me, I failed. I wanted to make sure the internet title was to a certain level and I wanted to make sure I didn’t lose another title to Vinnie, and I failed. I wanted to beat Mac Bane for the world title and in the end, I failed. Failure after failure after failure. Sprinkled between successes. Or atleast thats how I feel. Tell me, is that how you all feel?”

“So you see me as a success or a failure?”

“You ask most in SCW and they are so interested in downplaying mine and others accomplishments that, if believed, SCW has never had anyone worth a damn. Ever.”

“And I come from a gym full of champions. Full of the best of the best. And I don’t just mean the group I mean the whole gym. Lachlan Kane, Sierra Williams, Johanna Krieger, Alicia Lukas, Alex Jones, Bella Madison, Malachi, Finn Whelan, Zoey Lukas, Myself and Miles Kasey….”

“All of us members of the Wolfslair gym and have stepped foot in SCW and competed here.”

Austin pauses and shakes his head with a laugh.

”SCW world titles, bombshells titles, roulette titles and internet titles and mixed tag titles. The group and the gym did it all and now I am in a position where I want the next generation to rise up. I want Mal and Miles to be better. To rise up. Same with Zoey and Bella. Admittedly the lovely Bella Madison, a woman who Michael Harris decided to threaten is now out pregnant…but they are the future…”

“And Miles needs to realize it.”

“This was never about you slighting me Miles.”

“This is about yuou slighting yourself. This is about you not seeing and living up to your own goddamn potential. And that word, that fucking word is one that is both a blessing and a curse. See, with you, and with Malachi all we have ever heard is that you have potential. You have the potential to be a champion, to be great, to be as great as me, as Alex as all the o0thers in that fucking gym that came before you. The POTENTIAL to be great,”

“But atwhat time does the word potential in and of itself become an insult?”

“When you start6 out, potential is meant to inspire and to be a glimpse into the future. But when you hit your stride, when you enter your prime, the word potential becomes a mockery, and I refuse to let you make a mockery of your own goddamn talent Miles….that is why I attacked you, that is why I attacked Carter, that is why I have done everything I can to wake you up and make you the man you need to be….this had nothing to do with Lisa, nothing to do with my past and my losses, this has everything to do with you needing to realise that you don’t need all of that…you need to wake up and take your destiny in your hands and be a damn champion…”

He growls and therows his hands in the air.

”You want to know something Miles? Something hat might surprise you? Even though I want to be world champion again, even though I want to pop Michael Harris’ head like a damn zit and take that championship oiff him and rule this company with an iron fist …in my heart….I want to see you rise up and win….become the world champion.”

“Miles Kasey, SCW world champion, what a sight that would be huh?”

He chuckles again and his facial expression turns. The smile fades, his eyes burn and he cracks his knuckles.

”Of course, there is also the world champion himself. The third wheel. Something that I’m sure gets an egomaniac like him hot and bothered, so hot and bothered he might need to take out that anger on his wives and mildly inconvenience the poor women for the three and a half minutes we know he can last….”

“After all, he uses most of his energy up on the long winded rants that devolve into an old man ranting at a cloud..”

“Does Bill Barnhart know you’re stealing his gimmick?”

“Freedom of speech is sometimes overrated, and it doesn’t mean you can waste all of our time by running your mouth and simply repeating everything I said to you Michael. But your assumption about me and about the eyes I have had on me is ridiculous. SCW was fine before you came here and it would be fine if you left. Same as Mac Bane, same as J2H, same as me. The company will endure and go on and no one name is bigger than it. And the fact that you have been holding that championship for this long makes me sick.”

Austin pops to his feet and growls, his eyes burning even brighter as he becomes furious.

”I may do things that others consider distasteful. But Carter is a professional wrestler, he is active and can defend himself. I attacked Alexander Raven who is also a fucking professional. I have never and will never threaten someone who cannot physically defend themselves. Shit even Aron, Fenris brother is a man with blood in his veins and flash over his bones. He could fight.”

“You? You threaten pregnant women and act like an edgy teen who likes to listen to death metal and jerk off to racist and transphobic stand up comedians.”

“The truth is Michael, that the wrestling world has moved on from people like you. And now, with your little fragile ego out of control and being padded by the fact you have been able to become the SCW champion, you have had a false sense of purpose and security. But, look at me. I am a six foot six destruction machine. I break people in half and I have been the world champion here and in other places before. I know what it takes to carry a company on my back.”

“And I am willing to do it again to save it from the likes of you.”

“See, I want Miles to stand up, to rise up and live up top his potential. But you? I want you to just fade away into non-existence. I want you to go home, be with your wives and live out whatever fantasies your mind comes up with so you can live the li9fe of a 14 year old boys wet dream. And thats all you are. A fantasy, a piece of history in a world that doesn’t need you. You have no emotional depth, no real pain to speak of and no adversity in your life.”

“And at into the void, I am sending you to hell, because we all know the second you lose that title…you’ll throw a tantrum and be gone. And nothing of value would be lost…”

The turning tide


He was furious. But, he needed to hide it. To calm his emotions and let the information sink in. A feeling of betrayal and a feeling of confusion. How could this happen? Why did this happen? The problem with finding answers is that sometimes those answers lead to even more questions. His hands clasped on the arms of the chair he was sitting in, he glossy wooden ends slid under his fingertips as his teeth ground together.

The waiting was the hardest part.

Not the things he had done to get to this point, the pain he caused for the information, the anger he showed and the aggression he needed to use. Austin was not a violent man. Ironic considering his occupation. But growing up, despite his size, his strength and his natural ability he was calm and collected. He studied in school, he played sports but preferred to read. Becoming a professional wrestler and following in his family lineage and living up to their legacy was one thing.

But the violence he needed to show for this? It was out of character for h9im, for his personality and who he wanted to be.

What does not make a human being worse in himself cannot make his life worse either: it cannot harm him from the outside or inside –  Marcus Aurelius “Meditations” Book 4 Verse 8

Words to live by, wisdom to keep the mind moving. But, living by those principles was harder for Austin. Sitting here now and waiting. Knowing what he was probably going to do. Something that was personal made all the more cutting by who it was. Now he needed to find out the one simple question that was also more complex and confusing than anything else.

Why?

Why Lisa? Why his family? Why did it happen?

The door clicked, it opened and a man stepped through the door, the sound of keys hitting a glass table and the light clicking on rang out. And he suddenly stopped, looking in the doorway. There was silence between them before Austins booming voice finally rang out. ”Hello Michael”

Troll Slayer

He was annoyed. And who wouldn’t be? Being forced to stand in this match, forced to face someone who didn’t deserve to even be in the company. His nostrils flared, his teeth clenched and Austin groaned.

[coloor=lightblue]”The fact I have to be here, now and address this person, well, it’s demeaning. It’s demeaning to me and tyo my family. Demeaning to the bus9iness and thye sport we all hold dear. The man who is a self professed “Troll”....it’s a sick joke really…”[/color]

Austin pauses, leaning forward and balancing his elbows on his knees as he brings his hands together and placed them under his jaw.

”I have bigger issues right now than dealing with this moron. I told you all, I told you how I didn’t want to do what I was going to. I didn’t want to face Carter. I didn’t want to hurt Carter. But I had to. I had to, because a point needed to be proven to every single one of you. I spant weeks calling people out. I called out Ken Davison, and I was met with private messages asking me not to. I called out Chris Page only to be met with silence. So when Carter was standing across from me I needed toi make something perfectly clear..”

“I am to be feared.”

“I am to be respected.”

“I look bat the top of SCW and it makes me sick. Mac Bane, Ken Davison, The Harris boys. I showed them respect and in the end it meant nothing. Hell Calcin Harris beat me and I told him on that night he was the better man and I got hit with the equivalent of “Lol I know”. Really? That is what we’re doing now? So, imagine, if you will how surprising it was that when I set my sights on someone else that Michael Harris would take umbridge with it.”

Austin pauses and laughs to himself, shaking his head as he runs his hands through his wavy brown hair.

”Michael Harris. Our world champion. See, I went after Miles and you just happenerd to be in the way. I went after them because they are two names from my past that need to be made an example of. Carter and I were friends, Miles was someone I trained with and I looked at as a little brother. Someone I wanted to help realise his dreams. You, Michael, were just in the way…”

“I didn’t want you or your title.. I didn’t want anything to do with you and all you had to do was simply…..Walk away. Go on with your life, content in the knowledge that you dodged a bullet. But your ego couldn’t allow that. So, while I remained silent on it at the last Climax Control, you ran your mouth in a truly heroic display of ignorance and delusion that we had all come to expect from someone like you.”

“Not everything is about you, you arrogant fuckwit…”

“So, now I find myself embroiled in a third wheel situation. I want to end Miles. Go after him and teach him a final lesson yet Miles seems fixated on Harris and getting his hands on a world title while also fending me off. And Harris. Well, Harris is like the jealous side piece. Wanting all the attention…”

“But, they will; both have to wait…”

Austin pushes up, standing up straight, dressed in a leather jacket, a black button up shirt and black jeans. He titls his head and lets out a disappointed sigh.

”Now, I am being forced to deal with someone who has been a thorn in so many peoples sides for the last year or so. A man who calls himself a troll. And when you get people who are delusional in a room he still somehow manages to stand out. And no, Gabriel, that isn’t a compliment. You want attention so bad you say and do outlandish things, you stomp your feet and do anything you can so eyes are on you.”

“Actually. Now that I think of it. You and Michael Harris are more similar than most realize.”

“You stepped into my business. Ridiculous claims and stupidity about things you know nothing about. Typing on your phone or keyboard expecting to be able to get away with it. But when have you? When have you been able to? The power that Trolls have is that they can say things with a certain level of safety in anonymity. It’s something they all understand yet you…you say things with the full knowledge that we can all seer you.”

“We all know you…”

“To be honest, I’m not sure if that makes you extraordinarily brave, or stupid. But what I do know is that now you have to face me, in a ring. One on one. And it will not be a good night for you. It will not be fun or entertaining. It will be painful anfd awkward for everyone in that arena to watch. And you have no one to blame for this but yourself…”