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.

What do I do?

Winter was coming. Very slowly the warm breeze of spring was giving way to the oncoming reality. That winter was about to roll in. And living in New York, that meant snow and darkness. It meant long cold days. But it also meant staying inside in front of a roaring fire, it meant nights, watching television and relaxing. And it meant the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s. It was all coming. And for the first time in two years, Austin was somewhat looking forward to it. Looking forward to spending time with his family. His entire family.

Austin now had Alicia in his life. Her kids, as Wellers his own. His sister and her son. They were all going to converge on his home for Thanksgiving, including his friends and family at wolfslair.

But, as spring rolled on, and we came through Halloween into November. Austin had a large shot of sadness run through his body. He was looking forward to something that he used to despise even before the death of his wife. Lisa had always loved this season. She loved everything about it. The snow, the food, spending time with family. She loved hunkering down and eating rich foods while chatting to everyone who was around her. She liked to be the center of attention and socialize. Something that Austin hated.

So why did he now look forward to it? The guilt started to pour on. There was only one thing he could do. He needed guidance, he needed to talk. And there was only one person who he could talk to. But he needed to do it alone.

He walked through the large gates. Large stone pillars on either side of the road, held up the black metal. His heavy leather boots stomped along the concrete as he moved past all the ornate, and some of them, at least, very old, gravestones, and tombstones. He shook his head and took a deep breath, turning and moving down a familiar path. One he had walked down many times over the last two years.

But as every step brought him closer to his destination, the guilt and sadness screw. The, normally very stoic. Austin now seemed all more human. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his wavy brown hair that had grown a little longer since he had decided to cut it. His face adorned with a 5 o’clock shadow, still not the full be that we used to see. But, he was wearing the more modern clothing that we had seen him in. Gone with a simple T-shirts and jeans. Gone with the suits. Now it was leather jackets, white button up shirts, black jeans, with black leather belt, buckles, and black biker boots.

This was not the Austin that Lisa would’ve remembered.

Would she have still loved him? It was a question that he’d asked himself a lot since he started to change. It wasn’t a change out of want or need, it was a change out of necessity. When Lisa had passed away, Austin needed to become cold as ice. Hardest stone. As I’m feeling and I’m thinking as the weather. But just as temperamental. He needed to become something different. Someone different. But, now, Lisa wouldn’t recognise him. Is he the kind of man that she would chosen to raise her children? All of these questions had weighed heavy on him over the last couple of months. he had buried them, deep down in the pit of his stomach. He had tried to forget. And when he was with her, it was easier.

Alicia helped him forget, Alicia helped him feel human and made him feel like it was okay to not be okay. She had gone through all of that pain as well. And her pain somehow dulled his pain. They were the perfect couple together. Knowing where they wanted to be in life, seeing the bad side of relationships in the evil side of other human beings, and knowing that they never wanted to cause that kind of pain for someone else ever again. They just wanted to be happy. But now, Austin was walking toward his dead wife’s grave, and all he could feel was guilt. Guilt that he had changed, guilt that he had somehow helped the people who took Lisa’s life take another one. Even if that life was responsible for her death in around about way.

His heart felt like it was going to explode out of his chest.

He came to a stop, turning to his left, and looking down at the tasteful, yet modest Tombstone in front of him. Two small, concrete flower holders sat full on either side. Amy had been here, bringing Austin‘s children with her to lay flowers. Every two weeks for the last two years. Austin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, it seem to stutter, he felt like he needed to gasp for air and bring more in.

He swallowed hard and opened his eyes. They traced over the words. Her name. Lisa and Mercer. Beloved mother, beloved wife, saving angel.

Words that Austin had asked to be transcribed onto it. Because that’s what she was. An angel. He pushed out and exhaled letting out a deep sighi, slowly, dropping down and crouching in front of her grave, with a slow shake of his head. Unsure of what he needed to say. ”Hey Lisa, sorry I haven’t…haven’t visited as much as I should. You uh, you should know, Alicia and I are together…and….I know you would have wanted me to…”move on”, but…” Austin paused, taking a deep breath, this was hard, harder than he thought it would be. ”I haven’t….”

He swallowed hard again and looked down, his hands picking up a small yellow flower spinning it between his thumb and forefinger. ”I love our kids, I love her kids and….I love Alicia, I do. But moving on is not what anyone ever thinks it is. I’ll light a candle for you, remind our kids you loved them….I miss you….”

He took a few moments, staring at her Tombstone with a small shake of his head. He stood back up, placing the flower in one of the small concrete holders. He smiled, just a small smile. Turning and moving back toward the entrance. He felt better. The type of person Lisa was, she wouldn’t of wanted Austin to be sad, to feel guilty. She would’ve wanted him to try and enjoy himself and be happy. And that’s what he was going to do. He was going to try and be happy. Every day, every breath, he was going to live for her.

Both Losers

”Well, this isn’t exactly something that I wanted to do.”

Austin lost to himself, shaking his head before throwing his hands in the air and sitting back.

”I wanted my first appearance after high-stakes to be me standing here proudly with the SCW world championship slung over my shoulder. I wanted to be able to tell you all that I did it, that I regained the title that I lost so many years ago. And I get it, a lot of people say I’m living in the past. People like Jack Washington love to throw that in people’s faces time and time again. Anyone who has had a long enough Paris in this company, bringing anything up they’ve done is living in the past. And maybe I am, maybe I am relying too much on what I’ve done over the last few years instead of what I can do now.

Maybe I need to try and regain that killer instinct I had. Which I’ve been trying to do. But the truth is? I’ve lost a step. I’m not as good as I once was. And the killer instinct I have been showing And the things that I’ve been doing have been to compensate for that. I went after miles to try and make him a better professional wrestler. I went off on Miles because I thought Carter was his weak point. I want after Alexander Raven because I thought that he shouldn’t be in this company. And the truth is? I was wrong.

Both Carter and Alexander prove that they belong in the main event scene of this company. They both showed that they could’ve been world champion. If J2H haden’t have won.

I was wrong about so many things. And part of me believes now that I don’t even belong here. I spent so much time over the last couple of months, telling people that I am still at big bad Austin. And trust me, there are many people in this company. I have no sympathy or empathy for. I am more than willing to grab a hold of someone’s face and smash it through glass window just because I feel like it. I am more than willing to try and break someone’s arm or break someone’s leg, just to make sure that I win. But, am I as good as I once was?

No.

No, I’m not.”

Austin chuckles and shakes his head again, looking to the side with a contemplative glare before looking back forward.

”The truth is, I don’t think I belong here any more. I don’t think I’m good enough to be here any more. And I don’t want to be like some others in this company. I don’t want to be like Mercedes Vegas, I don’t want to be like Samantha Marlowe, I don’t want to be like Bill Barnhardt. Jesse Salco. I don’t want to be like these names who have come into this company who have had moments in the sun and been the best that this company had to offer only to lose themselves, and become a parody of what they once were.

I don’t want that. So now I’m questioning whether or not I should. And I’m sure a lot of you were sitting there thinking that I’m feeling sorry for myself. Something to Goth, I opponent this week, will probably pick up on and think it’s hilarious. But the sad fact is that sometimes you outgrow places and sometimes places outgrow you and I think that SinCity wrestling has outgrown Austin James Mercer. Alicia isn’t wrestling as much as she was, Alex is spending so much time at the gym. Then I think he is contemplating being completely retired. Joanna went back to Germany. And while we have so many young up-and-coming is at that gym I don’t think they need someone like me in their way in this company.

I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I can see that maybe, just maybe it’s time for Austin James Mercer to go away for awhile.

Now.

Does that mean that I’m gonna simply rollover and allow Goth to get a win over me?”

Austin pause is waiting for an answer to the question that will likely never come. Instead, he puts his hands on his knees and pushes up, towering over where the camera is before. It slowly rises to a point where it’s at least a chest level.

”No. I’m not just going to roll over. I’m not just gonna let Gauff beat me and stomp off, saying that he was able to beat the Judys that he hated so much going in the high-stakes. And by the way, calling me a Judas? That’s rich coming from you. I want to be very clear on this. Just because I’m questioning my position in this company in the wrestling ward large doesn’t mean that I’m still not gonna go into that match with every intention of winning. Because what would be an even bigger insult?

Would the insult be me lying over and letting you get a win? Or would it be a bigger insult that I beat you as I’m questioning my validity as a performer and professional wrestler? The truth is self-doubt is healthy. He keeps you honest. So many others in this company don’t have that. You being one of them Goth. You don’t have that self-doubt, you just shuffle all of your doubts and all of your feelings and everything alright under the rug and you never address them. You like so many others in this company, I detached from the reality of the situation.

The reality that right now none of us are as good as we should be. None of us are living up to the potential. And the few that are? They overtook us along time ago. Carter, Alexander, Miles Kasey, even Jack Washington, while he lost, still show the world what he is capable of. Our people like you and me? We should not be in the conversation for championship matches.”

His nostrils flare as he  paces back-and-forth.

”If this is indeed my last ride, I’m going to make Damn sure that I do everything I can to go out with my hands raised. However, if you do happen to beat me? I’ll do what I always do. I’ll show you the respect that you have earned and the respect that you deserve because unlike most people in this company, I still know what that word means. I know what it is to celebrate a win by respecting the person who you beat. I know what it is, by respecting a loss and respecting the person who beat you and then feeling it deep down in your soul. Too many others in this company, just take losses and then don’t take them to heart and don’t let her goddamn thing. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of this entire system that is chewing people up and spitting them out and make him not care any more.

And that’s the problem, I do care. And in this match, Goth I’m gonna make. Damn sure you care too.”

Family Frustration

It had been a rough few weeks when it came to Austin and the rest of his family. His kids starting school, his sister and her son needing to go through the same things. Sending them all to school while making sure his sister was comfortable as well as going back to work at the gym as a trainer and re-focusing everything on his career as well as his budding relationship was starting to take its toll. But what really was unexpected Was Amy’s reaction to Alicia.

Alicia had been spending more and more time at Austins home. Bringing her sons over as they ate meals together and watched movies together as Wellers spend time doing other things. At first, Austin told his sister that they would just rekindling their friendship.

But over the last few weeks, as Austin and Alicia have grown closer, Amy has been colder, more short with her answers and withdrawn. It didn’t go unnoticed. Austin knew his sister quite well, it took years for him to coax Amy out of her shell, after so long watching her struggle after coming out of the hospital that she had been left in. All due to a lie. Those lies and everything that she had been through still affected her deeply, Austin knew it, he could see it in her face in her mannerisms, and how she would react to the simplest things.

But he was there for her. Amy was family, really, the only family that Austin had left aside from his kids and his nephew.

He had already lost Amy twice in his life, he wasn’t going to do it the third time. It all came to a head, Austin sat across from Amy. At the kitchen table, the kids had all gone to bed. Amy sat and finished her food, looking over at her brother with a kind smile by quite obviously hiding something. She hadn’t talked to him all day, only coming out, and looking around when he was alone. Austin took a deep breath, shaking his head and sitting back, folding his arms over his chest. ”Are you…alright?”

It was met with a silent nod from Amy. She stood up, taking her plate to the sink to clean it off and put it into the dishwasher.

Austin sighed and shook his head getting to his feet and moving around to his sisters side. Folding his arms yet again and looking her in the eyes this time. ”Amy…you can’t lie to me. I can tell somethings been up with you for the last few weeks….” She swallowed and shook her head, Austin leaned closer. ”Come on….whats up?”

She swallowed and sighed before turning and looking at Austin, her demeanor changing as she seemed to get angry with the question. ”What is the deal with you and Alicia?” Austin raised an eyebrow, Amy sneered and continued. ”And don’t say nothing. She is always here, I see how you to look at each other, and smile and talk. What is it?”

”I don’t know.”

”You don’t know?”

Austin shook his head and threw his arms in the air before pushing away from the kitchen bench and moving around the counter that sat in the middle. ”No, I really don’t. And you’re not the first to ask me about it. His mind flashes back to his conversation with Alex. ”What else do you want me to say Amy? I can’t tell you what I don’t know”

Amy closed her eyes and leaned in before trying to calm herself down. Her body language showing moments of frustration and anger. ”Are you trying to replace Lisa?”

”What?”

Amy leaned closer and ground her teeth together. ”Are you trying to replace Lisa?”

”No.” He paused and shook his head, thinking deep on what kind of words he should use and wanted to choose them carefully. ”There is no replacing Lisa. And I would never try. But…Amy…I don’t know what Alicia and I are, or where we’re going. At the same time…I deserve happiness…and Alicia makes me happy…”

After a few moments Amy seems to soften, Austins words hit her hard as she puts a hand up and swallows hard. ”I want you to be happy, or to atleast find it. But…find out what you and Alicia are Aus. You both went through so much and it’s not fair to either of you to keep going…unless you know what you both want…”

Austin gave a small nod and a smile. He sighed heavily and grabbed his sisters hand. ”I understand…I get it…and…I guess I need to have that conversation then don’t I?” He smiled at Amy, Amy nodded back and squeezed Austins hand back before pulling away and moving to her room, leaving her younger brother to think.

Strange Bedfellows indeed.

”Chaos…the wrestling business runs on it”

Austin laughs to himself and shakes his head.

”From backstage attacks, to sanctioned street fights where everything including the kitchen sink is used. To championship matches has been booked involving people who don’t deserve them all due to a name or lack of credible challenges. Chaos is what this business was founded on, and where it will always go in the future. for proof of this, all you have to do is look at the match that has been booked for this week between the four of us. Four men who will be competing in the King for a Day ladder match are being forced to face each other and team with each other. Alexander Raven and Jack Washington, on one side, myself and Miles Kasey on the other. Amusing. Especially when you realize that Jack, Washington and Alexander Raven absolutely hate each other’s guts, and then you look at the past between myself and Miles. Interesting rib. Management apparently has a sense of humor.”

“But then you have to ask yourselves, who does this chaos benefit? Does it benefit any of us? The four of us going into this match and having to face each other. Oh few weeks. Before the biggest opportunity that any of us have a going right now? It doesn’t benefit any of us. Does it benefit the fans? Having to see the same for men involved in a match this week as they will in a few weeks at the paper view? no it doesn’t benefit them.”

“So then, who?”

“Management. It benefits them because they think that it’s going to get more eyes on the SuperCard. If the four of us getting the ring right now and have a fight. The different personalities, the different points of view. All of it, mixing in a melting pot. And in some sick and twisted way. I’m sure that they will spin this and try and make it out like the winning team gets bragging rights going into the SuperCard. But I fail to see how I win. In a tag match he can do anything when it comes to our mental states going into violent conduct.”

He shrugs and can’t help but laugh.

”The match, and violent conduct, the king for a Day, it’s every man for themselves. The winner having to take advantage of their opponents, being beaten and battered, and using that time to climb a ladder to win the match. It has nothing to do with pins or submissions, it has nothing to do with teamwork, it has everything to do with whether or not, you can inflict enough pain on the other people in the match to keep them down long enough to climb to the top and retrieve the means of victory.“

“So really, all this tag match is going to do is piss me off.“

“On the one hand, it is forcing Alexander and Jack to have to coexist. That in and of itself is going to be entertaining in a way. Watching a guy like Jack with all of his arrogance and all of his exuberance and hatred of having to rely on anyone else, team, up with a guy, like Alexander Raven, who has an ego five times bigger than his talent, who likes to talk in riddles and acts like he knows what he’s talking about when really he knows nothing. Watching those to try and make sense of each other, and come up with any cohesion is going to be the highlight of my goddamn week.“

“Maybe even my month.”

He shakes his head and paces back and forth.

”But then, there is the other side of it. Teaming myself and miles together. It must be some kind of joke right? Let’s put the two guys who have been at war with each other over the last few months on the same side and see if they can coexist. The worst part about all this is that I know Miles is going to try. He will. He’s going to try everything he can to win this match. He is going to go out with his usual youthful vigour and do everything in his power to walk out of there with his hand held high.“

“The problem though? While I know, I will going to destroy Jack and Alexander and try and win, I have no faith that Miles is going to be able to do the same thing.“

“I need miles to know that I am not going to lay a finger on him in any way, shape or form that will be considered aggressive. I’m not going to attack him. I’m not going to cost us the match, but I still have no faith in him. I don’t look at him and think of him as an equal, a real partner. Not like say, Tempest. I can rely on Tempest. I know a thing or two about being in a tag team. I tagged with Alex, I tagged with Tempest, I’ve won gold in a tag team.“

“I can look at someone and know who I can and can’t trust“

“And Miles, I can’t trust you. The only saving grace is that I know on the other side. Jack and Alex can’t trust each other either. Alexander Raven is more likely to just leave then team with Jack, and Jack is the type of person who won’t trust Alexander to actually hold up his end of the bargain, and he’s likely not to even look at him for a tag and wear himself out. That is the only saving grace in this. And the worst part about it all?“

“This match is worthless“

He scoffs and shrugs before continuing.

”It has nothing to do with the match at violent conduct, except for the competitors that are in it. The winners get nothing, the winners mean, nothing. Bragging rights in a match like this. Do not mean anything in a match that we are about to go into. There is no scouting each other because we all know each other so well. So I’m going to use this match for what it is. I’m going to try and inflict as much damage on Alexander Raven and Jack Washington as I can before we go into the SuperCard. I’m gonna use it as an excuse to go after the two of the men, who, in my mind, are the biggest threats. Because I know damn sure that Miles isn’t. See you guys at climax control.”

Electric.

It's in the look that she can give you.It's in the phrases that she can say to you.It's in the touch of her fingertips as they dance along your skin.It's everywhere all you have to do is look.That overwhelming feeling and the excitement that it can bring. Something that he hadn't felt a long time. Long before Lisa passed, long before they had two children and settle down into their blissful married life. The electricity and excitement,the feeling that so many others take for granted.But,feeling it now in this situation left him more confused than anything else.Was it appropriate? Not just for him but also for her. Everything that they had both been through especially over the last couple of months together and separately, it changed everything.

It was one moment, one small moment in time. Their eyes met and their skin touched. And that was it. There was nothing else there, there were no words said and no meaning behind them. Just a look and a split second touch. The years of equity in their friendship and relationship didn't come into play when it came to this. He had never thought of her that way, she had always been just a member of the gym and someone who he worked with. A friend, perhaps even closer to a sister. But since that moment things had been awkward, but not in a bad way. He would go to the gym, he would workout, and he could feel it. The gaze from across the other side of the gym and her eyes trained on him .He would look over and find her staring at him, bright blue eyes behind a veil of blonde hair.

It would not be a problem if he didn't care.

But their in was the problem. He did care. He cared about her and he cared about her feelings .He knew the pain that she felt all too well. Both of them losing someone that they cared about, both of them feeling that pain. The only difference was that Austin's pain was caused by the man who Alicia loved, and her pain was caused by Austin. It was a web that he didn't want to get into,two separate losses that didn't need to happen, two lives that were forever changed by one man's man's greed and fear of owning up to his own mistakes. But now he found himself in an impossible situation. Does he hide this? Hide from the pain that he caused as well as the future he could have? Or should he tell her?Tell her everything that happened and let her own conscience guide her.

Austin swallowedand shook his head,he looked away and pulled the towel over his head wiping away the sweat.After a few moments he looked to the side to find Alex standing with his arms folded looking over at Alicia and then to Austin with a shake of his head.Alex had always been amazing at reading people, seeing their talent, seeing if they had a lack of confidence and what they could be within.Annoyingly he was an excellent judge of character and also someone who could see through bullshit.Austin shook his head knowing that Alex had seen something and was ready for the barrage of questions that he may not have answers for. Alex coughed shaking his head as he moved closer to Austin.
“So…you two talked I take it?” Subtle as always.

”We..comiserated.

Alex scoffed and shook his head. ”That’s what they call it these days?” Alex thought he was being funny.Austin rolled his eyes and folded the towel sitting it on the edge of the bench.He tried to play it off as if it was nothing, a small chuckle underneath his breath,a dismissive wave of his hand, butAlex could see right through it. ”You know…there’s nothing wrong with finding happiness despite tragedy…” Austin knew what Alex was trying to do,and in a way he was right. There would be nothing wrong with two people who found themselves alone after knowing that they lost those dearest to them finding solace in each other.

Under normal circumstances. But this, this wasn’t normal. ”Things are…complicated. So, I’m going to have to pass.” He still tried to play it off,laughing to himself as he turned away.But Alex clearly had other ideas grabbing Austin by the arm and stopping him in his tracks.

”Don’t be stubborn…” Alex turned serious,the look in his eyes changed from playful ribbing too serious end concerned. Full of feeling and empathy, Austin looked at Alex and then down to Alex's hand, wrapped around his arm, that slowly loosened and pulled back.”I get it. I do. There will be looks and whispers. But…if you two can find happiness and…peace…then why hold back?”

Peace. That one word that seemed to impact Austin more than anything else. Could he really find peace? Every single part of his life had some kind of pain and sadness. From growing up with a mother who abused alcohol to forget her past, being taken away by her father that he never knew, going to a boarding school where everyone looked at him like he was poor trash. Losing his mother after making peace with her, losing his stepmother and his father,and then losing Lisa and feeling like he was losing his grip on reality. All of this had led him to this moment,and a nagging feeling that maybe Alex was right. ”I don’t even know if it was anything. We talked, we connected. She touched my hand. It was nothing..”

He tried to pour water on this fire,but it was too late.Alex rolled his eyes and stepped back looking over his shoulder at Alicia before looking back at Austin. ”Yeah, nothing. That’s why you two keep staring at each other and stealing glances like teenagers in heat…” He stepped forward. ”Maybe talk to her?..see where this shit lands?” Alex tapped Austin on the shoulder and turned to walk away.

Austin took in a sharp breath and shook his head before looking away, but he could feel it again, Alicia 's eyes on him.It wasn't as simple as Alex made it out to be. If it was, just two people who had experienced loss in their lives getting together and trying to find some form of happiness in the World of darkness that they were left in, it would be that simple.But if this was going to start it would need to start with the truth, it would need to start on a fresh slate with no deception, laws, or secrets. He swallowed and ground his teeth together before muttering to himself. ”Fuck.”

He turned and walked toward Alicia,she turned her head to the side as her sister pointed out Austin,she gave a small nod to her sister and walked across the gym to meet Austin before stepping to the side away from everyone.Austin swallowed and went to talk but before he could say anything Alicia interrupted him putting her hands up. ”Look, before you say anything I…we need to talk in private.” She took a deep breath,visibly nervous.Which was strange for Alicia, someone who was normally so confident, or at least wore the mask of someone who was confident.This was different,she was nervous, anxious, vulnerable. ”I don’t know what..this is…or what it could be…but I feel like there’s things you should know…and things I need to get off my chest.”

She paused, she looked down away from him.Austin stayed silent for a moment, looking around before reaching downend lightly brushing his fingertips against her hand to signal for her to look up. He felt it again that warm rush of calm,that feeling of content happiness.She looked up and he gave her a small nod and a smile. ”This weekend…i’ll make you dinner…we can talk..”

She smiled, a warm smile as all of the anxiety seemed to rush away from her.She gave him her nod back as Austin took a step and turned with a smile.Now he could feel more eyes on him,not just Alisha 's but the entire gym. He shook his head looking over at Alex as he moved past him.Before Alex could say something Austin put a finger up and shook his head moving toward the locker room. He was done for the day,but now he had to figure out how to tell Alicia the truth.And just what that would mean for not just their relationship but also Wolfslair.

Teamwork.

”Well,it seems that you are all stuck with me.I told you all that if I failed to beat bill,that I had no business being in Sin City wrestling. Or even the wrestling business anymore.A man like Bill Barnhart shouldn't even be in the ring with me. It was something that I said, I said it to the camera, I said it to the fans, I said it to bill's face. And I will say it again. Bill Barnhart does not belong in the same ring as Austin James Mercer. He isn't on my level and never has been,I am a former world champion, I have beaten the best that this company has to offer and despite the fact that I seemed to have been on a bit of a unimpressive and uninspired run, I am still one of the most dangerous human beings that has ever stepped foot in a professional wrestling ring let alone this company.”

Austin shook his head, his large hands clasped together in front of him as his elbows balanced on his knees as he leaned forward.His wavy brown hair slicked back as a few strands flowed down the right side of his face coming to rest at his eye line.

”I recognise that I still have a lot of work to do to claw my way back to where I need to be,I am under no illusions that I'm not the man that I was even a year ago.I get that, I get that the professional wrestling business seems to move on a lot faster than you would like it to.Names come and go and they raise up to the top of the card and become world champions only to fizzle out and burst into flames. Hell we saw it this past year when Matt Knox came into this company. He became the world champion only to lose and disappear just as fast as he burst onto the scene.Very few people in this company have had the longevity that I have.”

“No matter what happens, I love this company and will stay here and do everything in my power to claw my way back to where I belong.No matter how many new faces come into this company and get pushed in front of me I will still do everything I can to destroy them. People like Mac Bane, Ken davison, Finn Whelan, Michael Harris and Calvin Harris might be able to get those spots that I once held near and dear to my heart but let's see how long they stay. Mac, Finn and Ken have already fallen by the wayside, Michael Harris was once a huge star here only to leave and only just claw his way back and bring his older brother with him who managed to eclipse him.But let's see how Calvin Harrisphase with the next couple of months shall we? Will he stay and become a staple of this company or will he end up fading away and burning to ashes like so many others?”

“Beating Bill was just the beginning of my rise back up.”

“Beating a man, and I use that term very loosely,like that is not a giant flashing neon sign saying that I am back to where I need to be,it is not the proof that you all want to see regarding the career, Life and Times of Austin James Mercer.It doesn't mean that I'm a world beater, it doesn't mean that I should receive a world championship match, it doesn't mean that I should be handed any other type of championship match. All it means is that I am not completely irrelevant. It means that I am not the pushover that many people thought I was.It means that when you get in the ring with Austin James Mercer, you better be ready for a fight.”

Austin couldn't help but laugh to himself,there was a certain confidence in his words,but behind it all there was still self doubt.Bill was not a challenge. At least he shouldn't have been.Bill was a gatekeeper, a midcard talent, someone who very few people respected or cared about.But Austin still took too long to get the win over him, he still was not the dominant force he should have been and that was slowly eating away at him from the inside out, he was just doing everything right now in front of the camera to hide that from every single one of you.

”However,I find myself in a much more familiar setting.For the first time in a long time I will walk down to that ring,I will look to the side and standing on the apron will be someone that I trust.Trust, something that I don't do a lot of.In fact I can count the number of people that I trust on one hand. But Tempest is one of them.She is one of my best friends on this planet, my tag team partner, and someone who I have a great deal of love and respect for.And I have to wonder if Samantha Marlowe truly realizes what she's getting herself into with this mixed tag team match.Sure, she and Ben can probably sit and dream of being the mixed tag team champions but to get to that point Sam has to get in the ring with Tempest.”

“Now, I'm not gonna sit here and say that Sam isn't a great professional wrestler, because she certainly is.”

“But,Sam is someone who has been a fading light in this company and the business for a very long time. And Tempest is someone who, and I think she would agree with me when I say this, hasn't lived up to her potential.Tempest is a Wrecking Ball,a beast of a woman who has a natural strength that very few people possess as well as an almost ungodly athletic ability. She is strong,emotionally, physically and spiritually.And if you getinto the trenches,in a war of attrition,there is no one on this planet that would be better to have standing by your side than a woman like Tempest.That is what you have to deal with Sam. You have to deal with a woman like that.And your bond and friendship with Ben Jordan might be strong and you might be happy that you get to team with him but it is going to be short lived.”

“I am going to stand on the ring apron and smile as I watch Tempest rip you apart limb from limb and destroy you,and perhaps if we are all lucky she will send you into retirement where you have belonged for a very long time yet you just refuse to accept.”

His upper lip curls into a snarl as he pushes to his feet and starts to pace back and forth.Austin is starting to feel it now, the confidence in what he in Tempest can accomplish.The confidence in what he can accomplish.

”But of course I would be remiss if I did not focus my attention on the half of the team that is going to be my problem come climax control.A former world champion just like me, a man who so many people respect, a man who i respect. Ben jordan.You, like me, are a man who does not need an overly long introduction,or to even be in everybody's face every week.It's sad, I see our current world champion throwing his face all over the show because he wants people to remember him,but men like you and me and Fenris? We don't need to resort to such tactics, we simply need to just be ourselves.That is all you have ever had to do Ben,  just be yourself.”

“And I understand that you and Sam teaming up is something that you have both waited to do for a while.And I'm glad for you, I'm glad that you are going for the mixed tag team championships because having names like Ben Jordan and Sam Marlowe in this tournament makes it just that little bit more prestigious. Those tag team championships have been disrespected for a very long time and I speak on that as a former champion,Tempest and I held those championships in high regard and we did everything we possibly could to make them mean something.I know that you and Sam would do the same thing despite the fact that Sam really shouldn't even be in a professional wrestling ring anymore.”

“In fact,Sam should pack it up and go home. She should retire and live the high life away from all of this madness. Just like your wife.”

“See, that is something that I respect about Evie. She knew when she couldn't hack it anymore and decided to stay home. She knew she didn't have it in her to claw her way back to the top likeI'm trying to do or that Tempest is trying to do.You see Samdoesn't have that self realization in herself to know that it's time to quit. And you? You still have the talent to be a force in this company. In fact I could see a Ben Jordan world championship opportunity in the future, hell you and I could headline any super card for a world championship and it would be one of the biggest matches that this company could ever have.”

“Got right now? All I want to do is team with my best friend again and go after those tag team championships that we should have never have lossed. We will bring respect and honor to those mixed tag team titles and we will pick up exactly where we left off. You and Sam? You are just the first hurdle.And Tempest and I?We never fall at the first hurdle.”]/color]

Truth and Consequences Part III

All he wanted to do was have a hot shower, lay down and sleep. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. Austin stepped through the door, being careful not to make too much noise as he closed the door and moved through the front of the house and the kitchen. He knew his kids were asleep upstairs, he knew Amy had already gone to her room. It was a quiet and peaceful early spring night.

Austin placed his gym bag down and walked over to the fridge, pulling out two beers and opening one before taking a sip, placing the other behind him on the kitchen bench. He chuckled and shook his head before breaking the silence with his deep voice. ”I’m not sure if you’re on the clock, but if you’re not…there’s a beer…”. After a few moments a hand reaches out from the darkness taking it, Austin shakes his head and turns the small downlights of the kitchen on.

Detective Solomon stands across the kitchen bench from Austin, his large frame casting a shadow across the floor as the lights hit him from above.

”You knew?..”

Austin laughs to himself and turns back to Solomon, leaning against the opposite counter, folding his arms over his chest while grasping the beer bottle in his hand. ”I could smell you a mile off. But, the question is, why are you sitting in my house at 1130 at night in the dark?” Austin tried to play it off, but he knew exactly why Solomon was there. Solomon, for his part tried to play it just as cool as Austin before clearing his throat and stepping back.

The two men stared at one another for a few moments before Solomon pulled out a file, placing it on the kitchen counter and looking up at Austin. ”Well, I’m investigating a murder. One that, truth be told, I thought was only connected to you in passing….” He paused, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment, Austin however, stayed stoic. ”A friend of yours has a husband that goes missing and is found dead in a hotel room, coincidence that you have both gone through your significant other being murdered. But I’ve seen stranger things…” Hew steps around the counter, standing next to Austin, placing his beer down before pulling the file across to him.

”What’s this?”

Solomon just stared ahead before darting his eyes down to the file. Austin grabbed it, opening it and smirked as he looked at various photos. ”You want to explain to me, why the night Michael Reynolds was murdered traffic cameras found you heading north along the freeway? And why cameras in the lobby of that flea ridden motel caught you moving toward the room?” He paused, Austin smirked and shook his head.

”So, I’m going to guess that, I don’t need a lawyer…” Solomon raised an eyebrow. Austin stepped back and folded his arms over his chest. ”You broke into my home, without a warrant, to show me evidence that implicates me in a murder….so my question is…why?”

Solomon stared for a moment before giving Austin a nod, moving around and grabbing another file, sliding it toward him, Austin opened it, his eyes darting across the pages  before Solomon sighed. ”Those emails were deleted from a private server, but we were able to restore them, and we found that the replies were from Lisa….” Solomon paused again and sighed heavily. ”She found out Michael had been embezzling from Wolfslair, and stealing from his wife. She confronted him….and he had her…”

”Murdered…”

”...Yeah…”

Silence between them, not awkward or forced. They both needed a moment. Austin swallowed hard and shook his head before looking over at Solomon. ”I know what you’re thinking….and…no…I didn’t kill him.”

Solomon chuckled and gave a nod. ”I know…” Austin looked confused, Solomon grabbed the files and moved toward the door. ”You didn’t pull the trigger, you just let the loan sharks who he was in debt to know where to find him…..I already dumped your phone records Austin….and don’t worry…as far as I’m concerned the cases are closed…” Solomon opened the door before stopping and looking over his shoulder. ”But…you still have to live with all that happened….and try and regain the humanity you lost…”

As the door closed behind him Austin thought about his words, taking a drink of his beer and finishing it. And closing the chapter.

Oliver

”Five years.”

Austins eyes open, he stares ahead and chuckles to himself.

”Five years I have been in SCW in one form or another. Only taking time away when I was injured or a personal tragedy hit. And even then, I never really stayed away too long. When my father died, I came back, when my mother died, I came back. Why would this time have been any different? Maybe I have come back too soon from all the loss. I can’t say I haven’t changed in the last five years can I? Think about it, are you the same person you were five years ago? So much has happened. Personally and professionally.”

“But the last five years in SCW have been nothing if not interesting. And if you look at what I’ve done, who I have beaten and the moments I’ve had? Well I can’t say I haven’t been successful either.”

“However, last time I was in an SCW ring, I wasn’t successful.”

“In the beginning it was all about going after Miles, teaching him a valuable lesson. But as Michael Harris and the SCW title got involved. Well. I can’t lie, the thought of regaining that championship and being the world champion again, my eyes started wandering away from Miles and to that title. But, I still wanted to keep my mind where it needed to be. And in the end, while I didn’t get pinned, nor did I submit, I also failed to stop Harris from retaining. So, it was a loss, a loss on the biggest stage of them all. A world championship match.”

“It turns my stomach.”

He lets out a sigh and stands up, pacing back and forth in his leather jacket, black jeans and a white button up shirt underneath.

”Not just the loss, but my failure. And to sit here and acknowledge that in front of you all and say the words. Well. I failed. I failed to teach Miles the lessons he needed to succeed. I failed to force him to step up and realize his goddamn potential. Miles failed, and his failure is mine, as a teacher and a student should share the blame. So, where do I go from here? I deliberately stayed away from that joke of a tournament because I didn’t want the fate of my success to be in the hands of another person, only to have a championship match where my destiny was in the hands of a person I don’t know or trust…”

“Strange how these things work out isn’t it? But what now? Where do I go? What do I do? Well, there are rumours that I’m not done with Miles. And for the most part, that’s true. But, another match for a world title and another failure.”

“Those mixed tag titles though…Tempest and I always wanted them to come back…”

“Before I get there though, I have to face someone that has never been in the ring with me. A new piece of meat. Or so it would seem.”

Austin reaches down, picking up a well worn and read copy opf the wizard of OZ with a smirk before putting it down.

”Oliver Zahn, The miracle of OZ. a young man from the “prestigious” training facility known as Jet city. Is that supposed to impress me? Let me explain something to you. Jet City, Hero Academy, Go gym, none of you and I mean NONE of you are the same level of star power as Wolfslair. So, I see the name “Jet city” on someones information and my mind is never drawn to it in a way that people might consider positive. I don’t look at it and give any type of respect or fear.”

“No, when I see Jet City, all I can say is…That’s cute.”

“You have so much to focus on with me Oliver, former world champion, Internet champion, Mixed tag team champion. But, what have I done lately? I have attacked, physically and verbally some of the most beloved stars on the SCW roster. I have also attacked some of the most reprehensible. So, I have been an equal opp[ortunity asshole. But, as far as wins and championships, well, I can’t say I have been too successful there lately. But, what can I say about you?

“Aside from the obvious.”

“Aside from seeing you walk around this place with an air of unearned arrogance that follows you. Aside from your failure to win the blast from the past. Aside from your stupid comments that you somehow “arrived” at the top of the mountain. What mountain was that Oliver? You get a few wins in that tournament and then your skinny little ass believes he’s somehow a name here? How unbelievably childish.”

He dismissively moves his hand before clearing his throat and sitting forward.

”I have seen a million of you come and go. If you stick around you might show me something, but right now, you’re just a wet behind the ears kind, fresh out of training who has gotten a small smell of what it is like to be a star and thinks he belongs at the top. And why? Because you say so? This isn’t some magical little fairy filled kingdom from a bedtime story where you can think it and dream it and have it appear Oliver.”

“This is the real world. This is what it’s like when you face a real champion. An angry champion. A man who has done and seen things that would, in all honesty, destroy you.”

“You can do everything you can to escape me, to disagree with me and somehow, someway beat me.”

“But saying it won’t make it happen. Going down to that ring and taking everything in your life that hasd ever harmed you, taking all your pain and fears and all your insecurities, putting them in front of the world and lying them bare, that is the only way to beat someone like me. Cause only when you have faced your greatest fears and realized they can’t hurt you like I can, well, only then are you ready for this business and what it does to you.”

“All I see is a kid with a dream, I see kids like you at Wolfslair all the time.”

“This business takes from you, it takes and takes and takes and even when your personal life is falling apart, when you lose everything, this business still wants more and more until you have nothing left. So, I’m going to test you, I’m going to hurt you and put you through things that no man should ever feel, and if you survive, if you thrive? Well, not only will I know you can be a part of this business, but I’ll also know I taught you something that Jet city never could…”

Suspicions

”I appreciate this Sonya, thank you…” Sonya Jones, the wife of Alex and the business administrator of Wolfslair INC stood across the table from Austin, a blonde haired woman with a determined stare and bright blue eyes, a woman who was intimidating and fit in her own right and could be seen in the gym busting her ass daily. She smiled and gave Austin a small nod before stepping back and folding her arms over her chest. ”It shouldn’t be more than a few days.”

She stayed a silent for a moment, Austin pushed up from the table, stepping back. ”They’ll be safe with us.”

He turned away from her, moving to the back window, looking outside where his son and daughter were playing, playing with Alex and Sonyas children. They were smiling, they were happy. Austin chuckled to himself and gave a small nod. ”I know. Thank you…” He leaned down, grabbing the black gym bag that had sat next to his feet, moving from the kitchen out to the front door when a voice suddenly stopped him.

”I know what you’re doing…”

It was Alex. He had been standing behind the wall, his back against it as Austin moved. He stopped after hearing his voice. A groan after as Alex pushed off the wall. His long hair tied back, his arm looking like it was almost healed. He looked like he had been working out, getting stronger. Austin raised an eyebrow looking him up and down. ”I’m just going on a trip, I’ll be gone a few days, that’s all” Austin said it with such conviction he almost believed it himself.

Almost

Alex though, he had a skill, a skill that allowed him to see through peoples bullshit. No matter how convincing. ”Right, maybe you will be back in a few days, but this trip? I don’t think you’re even leaving the state Aus…”

He moved around Austin, positioning himself between Austin and the front door. Austin gave nothing away, his stoic demeanor unchanged by Alex and his wannabe power play. ”I didn’t realize you were my travel agent.” He scoffed and took a step toward Alex, who stood his ground. ”It would be hard to leave with you i9n the way…”

Alex narrowed his eyes as Austins jaw clenched ”Doing what you’’re thinking of doing, it won’t bring her back…”

Austin swallowed, his eyes stayed locked on Alex, but not even on Alex, looking through Alex, to the door, even passed that. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in, as he exhaled his eyes opened. ”Alex, I appreciate everything you’ve done. Everything. But you need to move.”

After a few moments Alex slid to the side, Austin stepped forward and got to the door. ”I never thought you’d turn your back on your kids Aus…” Austin stopped, his hand on the doorhandle. Alex shook his head and sighed heavily. ”How long have I known you? How many years?...”

”Over a decade..”

Alex laughed and turned toward Austin. ”Yeah. And I remember seeing you as a punk kid, following his dad around. Trying to be a professional wrestler. Then, you came to Wolfslair.” Alex shrugged as Austin stayed silent, wondering just what the hell he was getting at. ”And you had this, raw talent. Something that had always been there but it just needed to be brought out. And it worked. You became a world champion, you traveled the world…became a man…”

Alex paused and Austin just listened. ”And we were all really proud of you. Then, when we got word your mother died, we all had your back, gave you time. Same with your dad, we all had your back…and then Lisa….”

Alex trailed off, Austins head snapped sideways and for the first time in a long time he showed real emotion. ”Just what the hell is your point?”

Alex shook his head and moved around between Austin and the door again as Austin stepped back. ”All the loss, all that you’ve suffered. You have had people with you. You’re not alone….I just wish you’d see it. You still have your kids. And..Marcus….Mia…they need you…” Austin put his head down, deep in thought as Alex cleared his throat. ”And you can’t be there if you’re behind bars…”

Austin stayed there for a moment, his eyes moving across the floor and slowly up to Alex, for a moment Alex thought he got through to him, through to the six foot six monster. Austin shook his head. ”And what about when you dragged your friend into looking for the guys that killed your brother?”

”Dylan has nothing to do-”

”To do with what?” Austin shook his head and stepped forward, face to face with Alex. ”To do with the fact you were to scared to do what should be done? You lost your brother, he was killed because his friends gave him drugs, and he od’d. You had a chance to take them out, to get revenge, to get justice. And you made the choice to walk away….”

”A choice you should make too…”

Austin shakes his head again and growls. ”I’m not you….I’m not. Your brother died and you took that high road. Good for you. My wife is dead Alex. The one person on this earth who could hold back that fucking monster inside of me, the one person who could calm me down and stop me from snapping is gone and you expect me to let that slide. You expect me to let them get away?” Austin laughed nervously. ”No…”

He pushed past Alex and went to the door, Alex turned and grabbed Austin by the shoulder. ”What would she have wanted?....for you to walk out there and give in to that darkness that you and your father had?...or be a father to her children?”

There were a few moments of silence, Austin then pulled away suddenly opening the door. ”Lisa doesn’t want anything Alex…..” His voice trailed off. ”She’s dead…” He stepped through the door, letting it close behind him.

The bigger they are…

”Things don’t always go to plan. Sometimes people pass your tests with flying colors, when you don’t expect them too. Calvin Harris did that. In a way. See I wanted to test his dedication to coming back to this company. After leaping off of it like a rat from a sinking ship, I needed to make sure he could face someone who, lets face it, has been a face of this company since I walked in…”

Austins deep voice booms, gruff and clearly annoyed.

”But, as far as in the ring, he passed that test. Outside the ring though. Well. I showed him the proper respect, the respect that certain others in this company refuse to show their opponents. I told Calvin Harris, publicly, that he was the better man on that night. And in a moment where he could have shown he has changed, that he is the better version of himself that he tries to convey to us all, he failed. Because all I got from him, was fake respect and an arrogance that wasn’t earned or needed.”

“A tiger can’t change his stripes, rather, a more fitting statement would be a rat can’t change it’s nature.”

“But where does that leave me? This entire change in attitude you all seem to think I’ve undergone with a simple change to my appearance is a novelty isn’t it? I cut my hair, I shaved my beard, I got a few tattoos and suddenly Austin has a “killer attitude”. The truth is, I’ve always been like this. If I face someone and they beat me, I give them respect, but ever single time I’m in the ring my goal is the same.”

“To destroy my opponent.”

“That is what I tried to do to Harris, and as much as I like him, that is what I plan to do to Carter in a few weeks. See, it has already been announced that Carter and I will be going one on one. And, I have to be honest. I don’t know why. See, Carter is not a threat to me, to who I am, my career, anything. He’s a kid who has followed me around with hearts in his eyes for years. Looking at me like I’m some kind of golden god and I never took too much notice. I knew it was there, but I ignored it with a chuckle….but when we face off in the ring, there won’t be any laughing…”

His eyes burn, he stares ahead, there is no humor in his voice and the only emotion is a hint of anger and frustration.

”However, now I’ve looked to the past and then the future let me focus on the present. A match against one of the few men in this company who is, physically at least, my contemporary. Osbourne, the big, bad bodyguard in London Underground. And what a beast of a man he is. Six foot six, built of muscle. Physically he should be a challenge. But, really that is just surface level. See, Osbourne is, capable.”

“That is the best word I can use, capable. He has done the job, but as far as success he has always had someone nxt to hin, pushing him. Taking him to tag team glory. And hey, that is nothing to sniff at, being a tag team champion in the different divisions we had in SCW before they ultimately died is still something to behold. I myself am a former mixed tag team champion with Tempest after all. And I am damn proud of what she and I accomplished.”

“As you should be of what you did with your partners big man.”

“But, this isn’t the tag team division. And only one of us has had the kind of success you reach when you can stand on your own two feet. Only one of us has been to the top of this business and this company. Hell, I’ve done it in other companies too and I did it with style, respect and grace. And now? Well Osbourne, now I’m going to do it with brute force and anger.”

He growls and stands up, to this point he had been calm, sitting with his hands clasped, now he is on his feet, stepping forward with a slow and very deliberate pace to do things on his terms.

”One of the th9ings I have seen and heard for years Osbourne, is the comparisons of London Underground to wolfslair. And I really don’t get it. The two groups are not and have never been the same. See, Wolfslair was a group made of individual greatness. The four names that were key members were all great in their own right and between us we have held three SCW world titles, a mens roulette a mens internet, two womens roulette titles, three bombshells world titles and two mixed tag team titles.”

“Look at that list Osbourne.”

“That is a level of greatness you, nor your London Underground alums will ever reach. But don’t get it twisted here, I’m not shitting on you. See, a team is as good as it’s parts, so Wolfslair should have been great, we were expected to be great. So we became great. We were great because of the sum of our parts. But you? London Underground? That was different entirely.”

“Wolfslair succeeded because of our skill”

“London Underground succeeded despite none of it. Succeeding and overcoming the added nsum of its parts not coming together in the same way. But now you want to stand all alone. You want to stand on your own two feet and go at it one on one with me and while I find that admirable and worthy of respect I also have to help you see the truth. That alone, you’re not the man you want to be. Alone you’re not the champion you want to be. So, at climax control…I’m going to do you a favor Osbourne…and in the process get a win that, if I’m honest I desperately need…”

The color of leaving

The weather matched his mood. It was overcast, the grey clouds above mixing with darker almost black ones that covered the normally blue sky. There was still some snow on the ground, but the cover had noticeably become lighter and not as dense as it was over the start of the year. Indeed, winter was ending and the warmer spring weather was on it’s way.

Not that Austin cared.

He had just buried his wife, the mother of his children. And he had no idea why, no questions had been answered. All that Austin had were questions in himself and the questions that had been asked of him. The police had their suspicions and no matter what Austin did or said their eyes were, at leas particularly on him.

And why wouldn’t they be?

He knew it had been strained lately. Their relationship and home life. And what was worse? Others had seen it. Neighbors, friends, family. They all saw Austin and Lisa arguing. But arguments were a part of love. Atleast, thats what he told himself, that’s what others too told him. But why did it feel so wrong? Why did it feel like the passion and happiness he felt needed the darker side of anger and frustration. The ying and yang of it all.

And now he sat in his loungeroom. Lisa had been buried, the children, still young and confused, Marcus at his age knew his mother way gone and didn’t understand why, asking for his mither, asking when she was coming home. His daughter, his sweet little May, she was too young, and Austins new fear was that she wouldn’t remember Lisa, ever. That she would grow up without those loving memories. And now, with all the questions, he wondered if he would even be there to help raise his children.

Or if he too would be taken away, if they would be raised, convinced that their father could be capable of something so cold and callous.

He groaned and leaned forward, his hair, newly cut and styled as he felt like he needed a change, even his face was different, the once bearded expression, trimmed and shaved back to show his true looks, his true face.

He heard the door open, the latch click, and the foot steps. It was Amy, he knew she would be coming over. He knew she wanted to be there for him and be close, but he also knew she had it hard. She still struggled with some human interactions. Things she had no experience with, and one of those things was empathy. She knew anger, hatred and love. But empathy, voicing the feeling of joined sorrow.

She had no idea how to do it.

”Hey….”

She smiled lightly, walking over to Austin and sitting down next to him, reaching out and putting her hand on his shoulder. Austin sighed, looking lightly to the side as she again smiled. ”Thank you for being here Amy, but I….I would rather be alone…”

Amy gave Austin a nod and a smile but didn’t movie, she cleared her throat and leaned over giving Austin a hug. ”Bullshit. I’m not going anywhere Aus. Lisa was my family to…for better or worse.” She trailed off, her pwn voice filled with sadness and regret. Austin took a deep breath and sighed. With a heavy heart before looking to his sister again.

”Thank you…”

Last Week

It was overcast and raining again, it was horrible as the first snow of winter had come so early and soon. It was white and thick, covering the ground and road. Austin hated it, he hated being out in it but also knew what he had to do.

”It’s been a long time…son..”

The voice broke the silence. Austin ground his teeth together and shook his head with a loud sigh. ”You shouldn’t call me that, old man.” From the shadows stepped Mark Kristianson, the man who married his stepmother Elena DeDraca, but was alos, not so secretly, his father. Christian Mercer. A different face, a different look, surgery and a fake funeral all for the American government to use him as a mole. Witness protection at it’s finest.

”You think anyone is listening down here Aus?. And you also think I didn’t take all the precautions in the world?...” He moved around next to Austin, his face changing to a more down and sour look/”I’m sorry about Lisa, she….she was a good woman…” Austin stayed silent, simply nodding slowly.

There was silence between them, Austin turning sideways waiting for Mark to do the same as they came face to face. ”Do you have it?”

Mark took a deep breath, he slowly reached inside his jacket pocket and brought something out, a picture, folded in  half, a note inside, he held it and shook his head looking Austin up and down. ”Are you sure you want this?....knowing, and having this information….it could lead you down a path you don’t want to go on.” Austin stopped, thinking for a moment before holding out his hand. ”You made your decision….

He handed the piece of paper to Austin, stepping back and giving him a nod. Austin gave a small one in return, waiting till he was gone before slowly opening the picture, it was grainy, grey and fuzzy. The note with an address scribbled on it.

Now he knew.

And he was going there for a little visit….

Taking down a king.

”No matter the opponent standing across from you in the ring, the greatest foe, is the one in the mirror.

Austin leans forward, his short hair slicked back as a few strands slide down over his forehead.

”You can be physically dominant and have some of the best skills imaginable, you can work hard and put in all the effort, but if you step into a  match believing you have already won, then you have a serious problem. This is the problem I had with Alexander Raven. In our first match we had a draw, and I was furious, I was so angry I wanted to break something, anything. It was that type of rage that makes even people who know you and have known you for years FEAR you. That is what a draw did to me.”

“I said it, I would rather lose than go through that. And in my mind I honestly believed there was no chance Alexander Raven was going to beat me. I had my ducks lined up, I had the gun in my hand and all I had to do was pull the damn trigger, that kind of arrogance, that kind of cocky nature the feeling of being unbeatable. It shows a weak psyche. And I had that weakness. However, where I differ from some of you knuckle dragging neanderthals is that when I lose, I can look that person in the eye, congratulate them and move on.”

“Alexander Raven, he survived me in our first encounter, but in our second. He beat me. And he deserves all the respect in the world for that.”

“Beating me is no easy feet, beating me is not something that happens every single week. I am not someone with a losing record who is only around to sign the contract and get paid every week. Austin James Mercer is a force in this company and I always will be. So everyone, and I mean everyone, should put their hands together and respect that man. Because Alexander Raven proved to me and proved to the world he isn’t just talk. He isn’t just a mess of jumbled words and a bohemian world view. He is a capable professional wrestler.”

Austin chuckles and nods before standing up.

”And that’s what we’re doing here right? Wrestling. No matter what kind of personality we have or personal issues we are going through, we are wrestlers. The crux of our lives, the reason why we’re all here is to step in that ring and see who is better. That is what I enjoy about all this. That’s what I enjoy about facing someone like, say, Mac Bane. A former world champion, a man who had beaten Alex Jones, my mentor, or so some would say, taking that title from him. I know what kind of man Mac is, I know the power he has and the self belief he has.”

“He has done this for so long, he knows the business inside and out.”

“You do not underestimate a man like that….ever”

“That is something my father taught me, appreciate everyone you are in the ring with, because anyone who has the guts to get in the ring deserves a little bit of respect. But when it comes to someone who has real, tangible accomplishments. You respect that shit. Right Mac? You respect it, appreciate it and you try and overcome it. And against me, well despite recent losses, you know you have alot to overcome.”

He throws his arms out to the side and steps sideways, reminding us all at his sheer size.

”For starters I am one of the few in this business and in this company that isn’t smaller than you. I match up with you physically Mac, I also match up with you as far as accomplishments. I have been the Internet champion, the mixed tag team champion and I have been the world champion, I have stepped in the ring with the best of the best in this company and I have beaten them.”

“I also know what it’s like to slide down the mountain after being on top oif it. To loser the title you worked so hard for. And that championship is damn hard to hold onto. You found that out when you challenged Alex to put his roulette title on the line and lost, handing him a world title in the process. It’s why longer world title reigns are so hard to come by. The pressure gets to you.”

“Fenris, myself, Ben Jordan, we were all able to hold the title for longer than a hundred days.”

“But my god Mac, did that take alot out of me. So much out of me in fact that after I lost it, every single time I have had a shot to get it back, I just, I fail. It’s like a mental block, and every time I face Vinnie, the man who took it from me, I lose confidence. It has mentally affected me. And I know, it sounds weak right?...”

He scoffs and raises his eyebrows.

”It is not weak to admit your shortcomings, it is weak to ignore them. And as much as I respect you Mac, the truth is that I don’t think you have the strength to look at your own shortcomings. To admit and accept your failings as a wrestler, a man, a champion, a leader…or a husband…”

“You watched as your wife went through horrible things and showed barely any emotion or thought. You failed her Mac. As a wrestler you failed yourself by not living ujp to your own lofty expectations leading you to fail as a champion.”

“And your failure as a leader? You had a groyuop, three men who stood with you and you lasted…what?...a few months? And now only Ken is here and thriving? Someone who already had years of experience? The others left and fell off real quick. Do you know how long Wolfslair dominated SCW? Alex, myself, Alicia and Johanna?...years Mac….years.”

“And that fact, that your collection of talent couldn’t stay together and fell apart? The fact you all imnploded? Mac, that speaks volumes on your faiilures as a leader….”

“But, now we get to jump in the ring again and go at it, two big bulls ready to tear each other apart, destroy one another. And that is the true essence of wrestling Mac….”

Do you know what it’s like to be viewed as a monster?

Not even in wrestling terms, the monster in wrestling is a large, lumbering oaf often stronger than the average wrestler and someone who will destroy others in the ring. No, I mean a real monster. Someone who has lost all their morality.

Suspicions raised and half truths told as you are questioned and stripped even further of any and all sanity.

That’s where I’ve been for the last few months.

Stripped of my morality, my sanity and made to feel like a criminal, a monster…

Subhuman.

3 Months Ago

”What about the issues you and your wife were having Mr Mercer?”

Solomon sat forward, clasping his hands together on the papers in front of him, a few files left open at strategic pages. His eyes trailed up to Austins, and Austin stayed staring forward, a steely eyed look right ahead, his eyes sunken into his face, dark rings underneath as he stays silent and stoic. Solomon raises his eyebrows waiting for Austin to say something. Anything. This entire thing, was a game of chess. Waiting to see who would break the silence first. Solomon was clearly losing, his eyes darting from side to side, looking up at his partner who stood by the door, his arms folded over his chest and his cheap lightblue shirt and black tie.

Solomon clenched his jaw, shalking his head and then slamming his hand down on the table, raising his voice as if to startle Austin. ”We know you and your wife argued. We know over the months leading up to her murder you and Lisa were starting to become estranged. So again, I am going to ask you. He leaned forward, closer to Austin and staring him right in the eyes as Austin kept staring. ”What were the issues between you and Lisa?”

Silence again, the only thing breaking it was the sound of the chains between the handcuffs clinking together as Austin moved his hands from his lap to the table, shifting his weight as he shuffled straight on.

Paloma, the giant lug who Solomon brought in moved a half step closer to Austin as a precaution. Austin was, after all a very large human being. Powerful, strong and now with his haircut, sunken eyes and five o clock shadow he looked like some kind of criminal kingpin. He growled and finally spoke, his deep, gravelly voice booming while speaking in a whisper. ”Issues. You’re sitting here talking about, minor, marital arguments that had nothing and have nothing to do with any of this?” He raised his eyebrows and and gave a small shrug moving a little closer, pointing his right pointer finger right at Solomon. ”You should be out there, looking for my wife’s killer, and instead you’re here asking me about petty arguments. How do you sleep at night? Austin stood up.

This may have well been a sin as he moved around the room looking into the double sided mirror. Knowing that behind his own reflection there would have been multiple other police officers, maybe even police psychologists, watching and staring. ”Sit down Mr Mercer.” Austin turned and shook his head, blowing off the detective. Paloma stepped up to Austin, he turned and came face to face with the other detective, the younger partner. He was almost as big as Austin, kept himself in shape and in an instant Austin had him sized up. He could tell.

The detective knew how to handle himself. Austin slowly grinned and turned, looking past Paloma to Solomon, who was still sitting at the desk, hands clasped. ”Oh, that’s why he’s here…”

Solomon took a deep breath and shook his head. ”Mr Mercer…sit down.” After a few more tense moments Austin shook his head and turned, stepping forward then to the side and back down onto the chair across from Solomon. Solomon pulled the file on the bottom to the top and pulled out a few pieces of paper. One of them was a police report.

Date: Sunday, 23rd January 2022, 215pm.

Austin swallowed hard and shook his head sitting back. Solomon waved his hand over the piece of paper bringing Austins eyes back to it. ”So, care to tell us what happened that day, and why two uniformed patrol officers were called to your residence that day?”

Austin put his hands back on the desk, staring right at Solomon before clearing his throat and starting. ”It was a stupid argument…”

January 23rd

”She’s my family Lisa!”

His voice was raised, not quite to a yell but it was loader than Austin usually spoke. His long hair was tied back in a bun as he threw his hands in the air. He paced back and forth as Lisa shook her head, her tattooed arms over her chest as she ground her teeth together and tapped her foot. Austin stopped and looked right at her, they both looked tired. Tired of the arguing, tired of the situation. Tired of everything. ”Tell me what you want me to do.”

Lisa exploded, her hands flying up in the air. ”I want you to take care of your family. I get it, I do, your sister needs help but you are putting so much time and effort into this for her and we are struggling Aus, we need you, the kids need their father and I need my husband.”

Austin sighed heavily and shook his head, breathing deep and moving back against the couch, leaning on the back of it and folding his hands over his chest. ”I’m right here. We have our house, you never go hungry, you and the kids get everything you want and I provide for you..” Lisa was boiling, Austin could feel it and see it.

He held his breath and she stepped forward. ”You’re not here. You’re either helping her or working, at the gym or at a show. You are never HERE with me, with the kids. You like to think that throwing money at it can fix it.” Lisa shook her head and stepped back, looking angry and disgusted at her husband. [color[=hotpink]”You have become your father.”[/color]

”Don’t! Don’t you dare bring him up or compare me to him. Now Austins voice was raised as he stepped close to Lisa, his hand outstretched as he pointed at her, his fonger right in front of her face. ”I am nothing like him. My father left me with my mother, who he mentally broke to the point where she couldn’t fix herself. He was never there and I didn’t even see him til I was eleven fucking years old!. DO NOT EVER COMPARE ME TO HIM.”

Austin yelled louder, his anger was almost uncontrollable. Lisa reached out slapping Austin across the face, the children both started crying, Austins head snapped back and at that moment there was a knock at the door, it all happened so fast as two uniformed officers came in, Austin turned and yelled at them without thinking, it all turned to slow motion, everything, and for a moment Austin could feel everything that happened that day, his heart sinking as his cheek even stung from a slap.

”It was an argument about your sister. An Amy Mercer?”

Austin gave a small nod and sat back, slumping in his chair. ”Lisa thought I was spening too much time fighting Amys battles for her, combined with work, the travel and the gym I didn’t have time for her and the kids.”

Solomon leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. ”So she was trying to control you? I bet for a guy like you that really got under your skin, or was it the shot about your father?”

Austins eyes flashed up toward Solomon and back down again, his face changing as he shook his head sadly. [color[=lightblue]”No. She was right…..she was right…”[/color] Austin went back to being silent, staring ahead as Solomon and Paloma exchanged looks, Solomon got up and talked to his partner, whispering. Suddenly there was a knock on the mirror, both detectives shared a glance and turned leaving Austin alone in the grey, cold and silent room.

Four men enter, one man leaves

He moves around a chair, turning and sitting across from a camera. The filter set to black and white as Austin chews gum and laughs under his breath with a sigh.

”An armageddon. My own private one. It’s funny, I’m sure so many people thought a man that size was going to be some sort of challenge for me. After all, despite being a former world champion and a man who many consider to be dangerous I was also…rusty. For lack of a better word. Rusty in the ring, rusty talking in front of a camera and rusty in the way of the world right? The way the wrestling world works.”

He couldn’t help but look down and laugh under his breath, being amused by the situation and the match from a few weeks ago. But this wouldn’t be the last time we had seen Austin. Not by a long shot.

”After moving past that giant man that SCW thought was going to slow me down I was ready to keep doing what I had to. I really was. See, I beat him and then wanted to keep going. I wanted to throw myself into this world again, because wrestling, the pure essence of it, is where I feel home. The feeling of violence, combat and the cheer purity of inflicting your will on another human being is what I need and what I crave. So after doing exactly what I told you all I was going to do, and having to sit back and wait till the following week, well…not having another match made me…antsy.”

“But, leading up to that show someone, a little birdy, decided to chirp my name. Now, I don’t want it to seem like I was doing this out of some kind of loyalty to Wolflair. I won’t deny that I have a soft spot for the gym and everyone there but I am a member in nothing but name at this point. I attacked and took out Alexander Raven, because he dared to mention me. By name. When he had nothing to do with me. See, he has been verbally taking down the gym I was once a part of, and while he clearly had an issue with Lachlan, Miles, Finn and Zoey, well, I couldn’t have cared less about it.”

“Hell, who is going to take a man like that seriously when he stomps his feet about listebning while not even getting members of the gym right. Like Fenris. Hmm?”

“So, following his loss to Ken Davison, a man who is still the SCW champion, out of pure luck, I decided to send a message. And considering he likes to talk about how people don’t listen I am begging, BEGGING Alexander to pay attention to this. That message was very. Very simple. Don’t fuck with me. Don’t mention my name. And now that I did lay you out, now that I did take you out from this opportunity, well, do us all a favor, and learn from your mistakes. Don’t be an idiot. Stay down.”

He laughed again and tilted his head, a small smirk coming ac ross his lips.

”Now, what of this opportunity. What are the other three men and myself fighting for? A shot at Ken Davison and the world title at High Stakes XI. And if you can all believe it I had called this beforehand. See, Ken wanted me to call him out, I said I didn’t need to. I said I would earn my way and I called him a fake champion. Low and behold here we are a month later and I am on the precipice of earning that title shot. Cause, I told you so Ken. I told you I wouldn’t need to jump the cue and I could earn it. So maybe now you see what kind of real power I have Ken.”

“And how your title reign is in real jeopardy.”

“And not just from me.”

“Look at this match. Four men, four men who are some of the best in the wrestling world. Goth a man who has just as much history in SCW as me, Finn Whelan a guy who has fought tooth and nail for respect everywhere he’s gone and Chris Page. A legend in his own mind and a world weary veteran in the minds of others. And then, of course. Me. And trust me,l while I look different and while I clearly have gone through some things that have given me a fresh outlook on life I am still the guy who ruled this company with an iron fist. Actually. Let me rephrase.”

“I am better than I was. I am more dangerous than I was.”

“Physically I am still a beast. I am still the same six foot six athlete I always was but now, instead of being all about honor and respect, instead of this competitive outlook and the “may the best man win” attitude, well, now I want to simply. Win. And win in the most violent way possible….”

Austin shakes his head and looks down.

”Now, a wrench is somewhat thrown into that with Finn Whelan. See, I don’t have a problem with Finn. He has come in and done wonders at Wolfslair and I don’t think he is inherently a bad guy. He gives Alex, the Alex who actually matters noit the birdbrain, he gives our Alex a headache, constantly at his throat over some personal family drama in the past involving Finns sister and her wayward vagina. But as far as myself and Finn? I don’t dislike him.”

“In fact I kind of identify with Finn Whelan. See I know what it’s like to be discarded and thrown away by family and then having them periodically come into mylife for help and to need me. Something Finn knows all to weel.; His parents, his sister, his little brother and all the friends he’s made. They all walk away and only come back when they want something.,Right Finn?”

“Well, I can tell you, man to man, I don’t want anything from you. I don’t need anything from you and while you are a formidable opponent and I know you could give Ken Davison a beating and snatch up that SCW title I have to tell you…I won’t roll over and let it happen.”

“I won’t sit back and just observe.”

“But good luck Finn, maybe this match and a win will give you that boost you so desperately need to reclaim your place as the dominant male member of your family since your younger brother has been the real star for the last few years..”

Austin slowly stands up, folding his arms over his chest.

”Before I get to Goth, let me get one thing straight. I can understand the allure of someone like Chris Page. See, Chris has increased his profile as of late, Fight NYC, guest spots at other companies like PWE and otters, I get it, Chris Page is a brand he is everywhere. But, he’s also tiring and boring. Let me explain something to you Chris, you are a dime a dozen type of guy in wrestling. The whole “I’m richer than you” businessman schtick has been done to death. Somehow there is a huge amount of millionaires in wrestling who didn’t actually make their millions from wrestling. It’sd even more maddening for someone like me. See Chris…my father turned his back on wrestling, on our families lineage in the north east to go into business…”

“He made alot of money, and I mean, alot. But a guy like me? Well I have been a world champion multiple times over. Honor, WWH, here, I have held top titles in this company and the wrestling world yet somehow, with all my success, with all my amazing skills I am not filthy rich.”

“And to be honest, I’m glad I’m not like you Page.”

“See, in not having a mountain of money, it means I’m hungry. I’m hungry for everything this business has and offers. I’m hungry to inflict pain and violence on anyone in my way and make a living from it. What is it you have left to want or prove? You have done everything, you have more money than you could ever hope to spend in a lifetime and now what? You’ve come to SCW to try and capture the world title, you really want to try and keep up with this company and the killers at the top? Well, goodluck to you. Cause I won’t sit back and applaude you, I wont verbally blow you like some others…”

“I spends more of my time wondering what your head would look like on my fucking trophy case. And your scalp, Chris Page…is a valued one…”

Austin points and nods before clearing his throat.

”But not quite as big as Goths. See, Goth is the only other man in this match who has climbed to SCW’s apex, like I have. In fact you can see the influence a guy like Goth has had on SCW and the main event scene. And hey, you are someone who belongs here. Anyone can see that. A two time SCW World champion, a three time Roulette champion, a former tag team champion, mixed tag team champion and internet champion. Lets face it, Goth has done it all in SCW and it’s not hard to see why.”

“You are a large, strong, beast of a man Goth.”

“I won’t ignore it, I wont sit here and roll my eyes and spout of some kind of rhetoric that I am in someway better or scarier than you. No, I’m not that insecure about who I am. I can look at you as everything you are, a challenge, a former champion. Someone who should be respected and one of the only people going eight now who has a better resume on paper than me. Anf that alone is a reason for me to destor you as much as it is for me to go after Chris Page or Finn.”

“You are the biggest target.”

“The strongest prey.”

“And I am the hunter. I am climbing my way back up to the top and I am doing it by walking on the broken bodies of Finn, Chris and Goth…and I am just waiting to see if any of you can stop me from reclaiming what is always…always..mine…”

Do we have a problem here?

You know those times when you have so much on your mind that you can’t focus? That everything feels wrong and no matter what you do you can’t get your head in the game? That is where we find Austin James Mercer. Everything has gone wrong or hasn’t been his way in recent months. From losing the SCW mixed tag team titles, to losing his shot at the SCW World title. Everything seems to be against the former champion. A man who is widely regarded as one of the best in the company.

But now, he doesn’t feel like it.

Everything he’s done was a failure.

And everyone knew it. The new kids, the veterans, Alex, Alicia, everyone. They all stared at Austin as he sat on the bench toward the side of the gym. His hands clasped together. He didn’t notice them, his mind flashing through everything wrong in his personal life, his professional life and where he was and fit in the wrestling world. Was it time to leave SCW? Should he leave Wolfslair?

The questions in his mind were valid. His heart was broken. His sister was still in a court battle, his wife had a struggling business that she was stressed about and his friendship with Tempest was on the rocks. And Now to top it all off, the mixed tag titles they had held and made matter were now going away. All of this seemed to bear down on Austin, it played on his mind and made him fade in and out of reality.

He didn’t even hear Alicia.

The former three time SCW Bombshells champion had been on fire, rediscovering her fire for wrestling and doing everything that Austin should have. She was in the same area as Austin, watching the wrestling world pass her by. But unlike Austin Alicia snapped out of it, found a target and found her voice. She moved around and titled her head looking Austin up and down before moving forward and poking him in the ribs. Austin didn’t move, Alicia cleared her throat and again Austin said and did nothing.

She grumbled and folded her arms over her chest looking over at Alex, he just shook his head and gave her a shrug. Alicia moved around the side, grabbing a bottle of water with a small smirk, she popped the top, squeezing the sides forcing water to spray across Austins face. He sputtered he shook his head and looked over at Alicia with a raised eyebrow. ”Oi…what the shit Ali?” He frowned and stood up.

Alicia shook her head and folded her arms over her chest. ”Are you done moping around her like someone just stole your sweetroll?”

”Did you just quote Skyrim at me?”

She chuckled and gave a small nod before moving around and sitting down next to him. ”So, what’s the deal? Why do you keep looking miserable and so..not like you? Austin groaned and took a deep breath before straightening up and leaning against the brick wall behind him. ”Fine. Don’t tell me. But I will sit next to you, and move around you, and chew my gum…very loudly.” Austin sighed heavily and shook his head, Alicia made awkward eye contact with him, slowly pulled a piece of juicy fruit from her pocket and inserted it between her lips before chewing, slowly, but loudly. Very loudly. Like obnoxiously loudly.

Austin growls and shakes his head before going to get up, as he moves toward the showers Alicia chews even louder, he places his hand on the locker room door and pushes it open before realizing Alicia is trying to follow him into the male locker room. He stops, shakes his head, and shuts the door turning around. ”You really aren’t going to let me get away from you are you?” She shakes her head, Austin nods and folds his arms over his chest stepping sideways. ”Anything I say or tell you stays between us…right?”

Alicia crosses her heart and nods. ”Consider me your priest…I’m ready to hear your confession.” Austin makes a face and shakes his head.

He closes his eyes taking a long deep breath before opening them again and throwing his arms in the air. ”My lifes a mess Ali.” She raises an eyebrow sitting back and listening. Austin groans and runs his hands through his hair. ”My sister is in a custody battle, my wife’s business is stressing her out, I feel like I’m not relevant, anywhere and Tempest and I had a huge fight cause I stupidly listened to my sister and wife about something…” She nods and taps her finger on her lips. ”That’s it? A nod?”

Alicia clears her throat and leans forward. ”So what?”

”I’m sorry wha-”

”Shhhh I’m not done…you’re prettier when you’re not talking…” Austin  swallowed hard and went to talk, Alicia shakes her head and puts her hand up. ”You think you’re the only one who has issues Aus? Your sad because your life isn’t perfect?” He blinks a few times and stays quiet. ”I’m getting divorced, I’m barely holding on, i’m in therapy. Alex is injured and working through it, Johanna is leaving SCW because she believes she doesn’t have what it takes to be here…Aiden and Dcikie are at each others throats, Kallie is in the middle….”

Austin holds his hands up ”Ok I get it…everyone has their problems I’m not special…”

Alicia slaps him on the arm and shakes her head. ”We all deal with it Aus, we all turn up, we all bust our asses…and you need to bust your ass the hardest….” She pauses and smirks. ”Besides we all look to you…we all see you as a leader.” He nods slowly and Alicia steps back. ”So be a leader…and call Tempest…”

Lets get grimey

”Well, I’m back.”

A shake of the head, his shoulders drop and his chest pushes outward. Outwardly he was still the former world champion, former mixed tag team champion and former Internet champion. A man who has beaten the best of the best and refused to back down. But inside…inside was different.

”But where did I go? What have I done? Why did I disappear for almost a month? Well. The truth is I needed to center back in on myself. See, last time you all saw me I was talking about being lost in SCW. Like I had no direction, no meaning. And do you kn ow what that is like for someone like me? Do you? There are so many names in SCW who are talented but don’t have the drive and don’t learn from their mistakes, who refuse to grow and be better. But me? I am always learning, despite my success, despite what I have accomplished I still know and understand I am not the be all end all of this business. “

“I am a cog in the machine.”

“But, I’m a cog that is still useful, that can help turn the wheel. I just need to be given purpose. A direction. And beating the hell out of Brayden Hilton is not a goddamn direction. It is however a direction I was pointed in. And as hard as Hilton fought he still failed. And as much as I hope and wish he would have learned and become a better professional wrestler, part of me knows he didn’t learn a goddamn thing.”

“He isn’t the type to look inside himself, admit his failures and become what he feels he is destined to.”

“I am. I am someone who fought against my future. I didn’t want to be what my father wanted. In fact, I actively rebelled against it. That is why I’m even in this business. See, my father wanted me to be a leader, to be someone who was a success in life and in business. And after his failures in wrestling, failures he never learned from, he tried to push me away week after week and turn me away from wrestling. But, I did what I wanted and in the process…lived up to his expectations…”

Every word was a lie, every emotion he tried to portray outwardly was a betrayal of his real heart. Austin smiled, a mask to hide how he really felt.

”Butr what expectations do I have on me now? Where do I go from here after beating Brayden and taking time off to heal and grow? Well, according to SCW it is to put me against the finalist of the blast from the past and see if Austin James Mercer still has something to offer aside from beating up arrogant children. And, while I welcome the challenge I can’t help but feel as if I am being used to measure Max Burke and if he can earn another shot at Mac Bane. After all, Max took Mac to the limit, he looked like he could win and become the World champion. So what better way to show the world Max is the next big star of SCW than by having him face and beat Austin James Mercer right? Good plan SCW…”

He chuckles and laughs it off as a joke with a small wink. But inside, part of himk believes it, the feeling of being set up to fail eating at him from the inside out.

”But, it’s not like Max needs that right? Blast from the past finalist, former Roulette champion., Grime champion. I’m sorry but, maybe the more I think about it the more I realise Max does need all the help he can get. See, GRIME and SCU was something I have been critical of. Aside from one or two talents who have shown they can go in SCW more of the time at our supercards I never paid attention to the matches SCU would force down our throats. In fact, what did some fans call the SCU matches?...”

“Bathroom breaks?”

“But what about the SCW roulette title? Well, it was almost a decade ago Max, and while I can appreciate you had success in SCW I find it funny that some people believe I live in the past when I mention my accomplishments. But, the Blast from the past is recent. Being a runner up elevates your status. And I can respect that Max. But what I can’t respect, what I cannot accept is that so many people think you are going to beat me and go on to be a bigger star. That you are going to finally realise the promise you had ten years ago.”

He raises his eyebrows and shrugs folding his arms over his large chest. A black and red wolfslair shirt over a pair of jeans. His long hair flowing down his shoulders and back.

”I am no stepping stone for you Max. See, I have unfinished business with Mac Bane. Mac believes he is the best champion to ever hold the SCW world title. I take umbridge with that. After seeing what Alex accomplished, what I accomplished, what Fenris and Ben Jordan have done, that man still walks around with an air of arrogance. And you are standing in mhy way. And that is my direction, that is my path and I refuse to let you stand in my way.”

“When the company you work for fails you, when they don’t give you what you need then you need to take your career and life in both hands.”

“And that is what started with Brayden and what continues with you. And as I fight my way back to0 the top, back to the main event and back to Mac Bane, or supreme machine, I will leave a bloody path, laid with the bodies and bones of those who fall to me, including you…I refuse to be a name on your list. You get in the ring with me and you will feel what it is like to face someone who is truly the best…and one pissed off giant…”

A very Wolfslair thanksgiving

The first thing that hit him was the smell.The amazing aromas that wafted through the air.Turkey, gravy, vegetables, Mac and cheese. It all smelt so incredibly amazing.Austin pushed the door open stepping into the gym. A gym that normally smells like body odour and sweat.But now it was the smell of food. Most of the equipment had been put away, the grappling mats law rolled up and shoved into the corner.And in the equipments place were tables pushed against each other. The chairs all around,members of the gym getting ready to sit down and enjoy a meal. Complete with laughter and conversation. Austin gave a smile, his wife and kids had gone away for Thanksgiving with Austin staying in New York.

But he wasn’t going to be alone. Alex had contacted him a few weeks before, telling him that a large thanksgiving dinner had been organised.

And here he was, standing in the main hall. Alicia Lukas, Alex Jones, Johanna Krieger, Sonya Jones, Charlie Jones, it was a family affair. A few members of the gym weren’t there, having other plans, but the core members, the originals. They were there and that’s what mattered. Austin took a seat, Sonya gave him a warm smile as he pulled a few pieces of turkey on his plate, gravy, the vegetables, a large scoop of mac and cheese. It was all amazing. And he was hungry. Alex leaned forward, looking Austrin up and down.

”So, your tag partner is absent…”

Austin sighed and shook his head. He had invited Tempest, he knew she was going to be alone. And he really didn’t want that. Their bond had grown, he found himself not just caring as a partner, but as a friend. ”Yeah, I dunno, I told her…” There was a hint of sadness in his voice. But he still had alot to give thanks for, as did everyone else. ”I guess she had other plans...anyway this all looks amazing...Sonya did you do all this?” She smiled and nodded slowly, Austin put a spoonful of mac and cheese in his mouth and sat back looking over at Alicia, she talked to Jo, the two biggest female stars in Wolfslair…..allegedly.

Alex smirked at Austin and shook his head, as the conversations died down and the meal started to come to a close Alex pushed to his feet, grabbing a glass of bourbon, hanging one to Austin as the two took a small post food walk. Alex took a sip and shook his head. ”So, what are you thankful for kid?

He scoffed and shook his head at Alex. ”I dunno….I guess there’s the regular stuff.My wife, my kids. Wolfslair...my career.”

”Your tag team partner?”

Austin laughed to himself, he shook his head and sighed. There was Alex again making sure he was getting in Austins head, reading his mind. ”Yeah, I am thankful for Tempest...it’s crazy man. Alicia put her and I together and I just never realised what being in a team would mean. Even if our own team was always there..” He trailed off, his mind flashing back to earlier in the year. ”I made lots of mistakes over the last year or so...the way I treated some of you.  It was a hard time…”

”Is that why you have been like this?” Austin stayed silent, staring back towards the inside of the gym, watching some of the newer members talking to Sonya, Charlie, Alicia and Jo. He sighed heavily and swallowed hard. ”You’ve changed. You were out for yourself for so long, and after what happened..threatening Alicia, coming after me...you alienated everyone” He paused again for a moment. Shaking his head before breathing deep. ”You and Tempest have a great team going, and I think she’s taught you a few things….so I get it…”

Alex turned and moved down toward the table, grabbing a plate, he stacked it with leftovers, as much as he could, taking some foil and folding it over with a smirk and shoving it at Austin. ”Take that to her…” Austin took the plate in two hands and sighed heavily. ”Just do it. Maybe next year she’ll join us…”

He swallowed hard, looking down at the plate and then back up to Alex. ”Maybe,,,” He tapped Alex on the shoulder moving to the end of the gym and out onto the street.

The Rematch

Austin tapped his fingers on the SCW mixed tag title belt, obviously deep in thought as he considered his words carefully.

”The landscape of SCW has changed. A new power dynamic has joined this company and what a world we live in huh? A new group and everyone is so excited. This group of amazing athletes that are looking to take over SCW and be the best of the best. It’s just unfortunate that this company already has a group that is the best bof the best. It is unfortunate that this company has a group with myself in it. And while this group of loudmouthed newcomers decides to talk a big game and then lose, myself and the other members of wolfslair do what we do best. Win.”

“And for some, like Alex, that means defending the world championship, and for others, like Johanna dn Alicia it means earning their way back to the top, for me it means something completely different.”

“The Sin City Wrestling mixed tag team championships.”

“See, myself and Tempest have been the flagbearers for this division for a while now. We have been the champions for 175 days as of the next defence. Tied for most defences. We have ruled this division and we have done it better and with more pride in these titles than anyone else has, and that is with all due respect fo the former champions. Except the black sheep who substituted members out of fear. Tempest and I continue to overcome expectations and show the world what we can do and at Climax Control 317 it will be no different.”

Austin folds his arms over his chest and shakes his head.

”Even though, as much as it is hard for me to admit anything, Goth and Mercedes Vargas did even better than I thought they would. And don’t get it twisted this isn’t a shot at them, in fact much the opposite. See I have previously mentioned that Tempest and I won the titles in our first match together and as always there are growing pains as you start to team with someone, but she and I have gotten better each defence and through spending almost half a year as the champions, it took time for us to bond and form a team unti, Goth and Mercedes seem to have clicked even better than we did.”

“The sum of it’s parts already made the team formidable. Goth is a beast, a former champion, a man who, after being in the ring with him, could still operate at a high level and perhaps challenge for the SCW title. And Mercedes Vargas has that hall of fame career behind her and is also still an incredible talent.”

“They have already shown that they can be a great team. And with experience against the top team in SCW, it means they can only get better.”

“That will be difficult for us. Goth and Mercedes, with the calibre of competitor they are, were always going to be a tough test, but in our first match I focused in on the fact it was their first real match and there was a hurdle there. They lept over that fucking hurdle and now they’re getting even better than they previously were. So now where does that leave us? The champions? Well…”

He pauses a moment and looks down before a small smirk appears on his face. His eyes piercing in color and focus as he stares forward.

”Being a champion means more than simply holding championships and gloating about it. Being a champion means being the leaders of the division, it means showing the world that you do not back down from a challenge, instead you rise above it. And that is what Tempest and I do. We rise above. We rose above adversity to become the champions by having to work together, two loners who had no history, no past, no bond. We went above and beyond to become the champions.”

“We beat J2H, a fucking legend and Crhsitina...Crystal...you know….her…”

“We have been at the tops of our game and even with all of that I go into this match with the knowledge that you two are good enough to take these titles from myself and Tempest. But, with that being said, I’m sure you are both sitting there, knowing that we could also beat you just as easily. And keep these. And honestly, that fills me with all sorts of excitement. I like adversity, I like being challenged. I like having to actually try harder than normal and remind myself that I’m human…”

“And this match does that…”[/color]

Austin laughs under his breath and shakes his head before continuing.

”As much shit as we all give Mercedes Vargas for not being able to recapture her previous success, the truth is more complicated than that. We all go through ups and downs, we all pull ourselves back up and even though one could make the argument that Mercedes is trying to do the same thing Crystal did by plucking an SCW legend out of the ether to come after us, I can’t push Mercedes down that far. See, Mercedes I get it, I know what it’s like to lose the top spot and want it so bad that you just keep trying, pushing, building yourself up. But sometimes to get back to where you need to be, you need to take a detour. Try something new, or in some cases, retread ground you have previously walked…”

“And that’s what you’re doing right? Trying to win the Mixed tag titles back with a different partner. Get these titles to remind everyone you still have it in you to be a champion.”

“And you do Mercy, really you do. For years I have heard the legend of Mercedes Vargas, a woman who went to war in different companies, won titles and beat that companies best. I know more about you than most, but alot of that is because we did walk the same ground for a time. I’ve never been stupid enopugh to write you off, and neither has Tempest. See, Tempest isn’t just a mindless brute anymore than I am. We both have been put in that box in the past. Tempest is smart, strong and ready to tear you apart again….”

He growls the last few words and takes a deep breathe.

”I know the other fifty percent of this match is taken care of. So that means I just have to take care of my side. And that is of course Goth. And I’m pleased to say he really is as advertised. His return for some reason hasn’t been as big as it should. For months he has been mulling around the company, and honestly we should all be glas he’s back…”

“See, I have been in the ring with the best of the best. The greatest champions that SCW has had to offer. Fenris, Ben Jordan, Senor Vinnie, J2H, I have been able to get in the ring with all of them, even my own mentor, the current SCW world champion, Alex Jones. And I want you all to trust me when I say this.”

“Goth can still go with ANY of them.”

“But, he’s not just up against any of them and this isn’t a singles match. This is still a mixed tag match, and in the first one we had a few short weeks ago at High stakes, the biggest show oif the year it was my hand being raised, it was Tempests hand being raised and our title reign continued. You have to understand that beating us will never be easy, it won’t be a walk in the park any more than Tempest and I beating you would be. But at the biggest show oif the year you tried and we got through. You and Mercedes earned yourselves a rematch. But for us to break the defense record and hold these titles long enough for the reigns record...well...we have to get passed you…”

“And I want those damn records...so try and stop us Goth….try and stop me…”