"So you heard them too, huh?"
"You mean that friendly little chat that they had on the cruise a few weeks ago?"
"Uh huh."
"Yes, I sure did. But why are you bringing that up now?"
"I dunno. I've had a lot on my mind and I wasn't sure if I should bring it up or not?"
"How come?"
"Well, it is kind of a sensitive issue. Broken homes aren't the most nicest topics of conversation, you know."
"True, but remember? I did tell you that you could talk to me about anything. I told you that the first day that we met and I picked you."
"You mean that I picked you."
"Sure, if that makes you feel better."
"Hey I remember it like it was yesterday!"
Build-A-Bear
Sometimes when a person has been lucky enough to make that one true, most special of friends, they think back on that first meeting often. The first look between the two. Topics of conversation that helped break the ice between new friends and relieve any tensions. Shared secrets and giggling laughter that cemented what was to be a sure thing, a bond forged.
You think of those moments and find yourself wondering how you had ever managed without having them having been in your life. You couldn't imagine a time when they were not, and it would make you only cherish the time you spend with each other all the more.
It was those times when Despayre was alone, or pretending to sleep while watching Angel take his station at the base of his bedside to watch for the random monster or creepy crawly that might try to emerge from the closet or under thee bed. Angel took his profession very seriously, just as he took his friendship with his 'charge' seriously as well. Despayre thought to himself that Angel took one seriously, because of the other. And it all started when they had emerged from that store where 'Best Friends Are Made' just a scant few years ago.
It was the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it was not so long after that Despayre had even met his 'other' best friend and 'big brother' in Gabriel. Something about the store had called to Despayre, and he had went inside with a longing he could not describe, followed by Synn and Gabriel. And less than thirty minutes later, the trio emerged from the store, with Despayre holding up the familiar white and blue box with his new best friend cuddled up inside.
"Well," Synn said. "I am glad we managed to find you a little something that makes you happy."
This was, of course, back before Despayre knew that his father had been close to him the entire time after he had met the man. It had been before Despayre fully grew to even trust the man that had loved and guided him from the moment he had first set foot into his room in the 'bad hospital'. Despayre had remained quiet the majority of the time they were all together, silent and discomforting. He was completely drawn into himself, introverted, and remained within a part of his own personal world.
No, this was not the Despayre that we know now. As dangerous and unpredictable as he might be to this day, in those days, he was far worse.
Before they could walk completely across the Mall and toward the exit, Despayre stopped and froze. He brought the 'house' box up to eye level and peered closely inside.
"Joshua?"
Synn had stopped when they had reached the mall's exit and he realized the boy was still several feet behind them. Gabriel turned and sighed, his affection for his future tag team partner and 'little brother' having not truly manifested as of yet. No, this was back to a point when Gabriel had considered him to being too dangerous and more trouble than he could be worth.
Despayre had not noticed Synn's use of his given name. That, or he just chose to ignore it as his full attention was on the teddy bear inside of the box. Synn watched curiously and as Gabriel started to verbally protest, he was silenced quickly with a warning stare from his mentor. Synn turned back around to watch as his son looked closely into the box, and then turned an ear to it.
To this day, Synn would tell you that he would have given absolutely anything to know what went on in that one moment between Joshua and Angel. Even the then cynical Gabriel had knitted his brow in a curious frown, because at that very point, Despayre had pried open the box and pulled the teddy bear and his 'birth certificate' out. He then dropped the box and carried Angel in his arms from that point on.
Just as he does to this day.
"That guy narrating this thing sure does lay things on thick, huh?"
"He's probably been watching too many 'feel good' eighties movies like Sixteen Candles or Breakfast Club."
"Careful! He'll think you're dating him!"
"Puh-leeze! Even he can do better than him!"
"Oo! BURN! But you know, that really doesn't prove who was right and who was wrong."
]"I think I proved plenty! And aren't you the one who is always telling everyone that I'm never wrong?"
".... Boy it really frosts my winkie when someone uses my own words against me!"
"Well, it doesn't really matter right now. (`Cause I won!) There are more important things to talk about while we have a free moment."
"Yeah, like how come when Miley Cyrus's head moves, her hair doesn't? And why does she always have her tongue out? Is that taking over from duck lip poses?"
"Well, no. That wasn't the point I was trying to make, although granted it is a very good one."
"Thank you."
"You're very welcome! No. I was just trying to let you know that you don't hafta hold anything back with me. I told you that on our first night together as besties back at that hotel."
"I know. I love you for that Angel. I just don't want to send you off into overload. You already have so much on your plate already. I mean, you're a best friend to me and Melody, and now Bernie! You even listen to Gabriel now and then. Plus on top of that you mentor me in wrestling, and you're my bodyguard when I sleep!"
"Well the bodyguard job doesn't count."
"Whaddya mean!? It counts! You're the bestest bodyguard a fella could ask for! You field all those offers from the Hollywood elite and you turn down every one!"
"That's because I'm not their bodyguard, I'm your's. And I said it doesn't count because I do all the rest of that stuff because we're buddies! I do the guardian thing because it is my sworn duty, you know."
"Oh I know! I never slept so good as when you took the job."
"That's `cause I'm a pro! Plus, I take it even more seriously because we're such good pals."
"Do all teddy bears befriend their charges like you did with me?"
"Oh yes! You have to care about the person you're protecting. You even protected me a time or two, when Goth was being a big wiener. You remember?"
"I'd much rather forget all about that time, if that's alright?"
"That's fine. I'm sorry for bringing it up. I know that was a tough time for you. I just wanted you to know that as much as you appreciate what I do for you, I feel the same way about everything that you've done for me."
"If you keep that up, you're gonna make me blush and you know what that means!"
"Rage will start teasing you and I'll be forced to put laxative in his chocolate eclairs again?"
"....No. It'll mean dad will think I'm spending too much time in the water again and make me get out for the day!"
"Oh goodness no! We can't have tha..."
"Despy!"
"Ahhh!" Despy cried out in a shrieking alarm! He jumped to his feet and spun around in wild circles, swinging Angel in every direction! "Get `em Angel! Get `em!"
"Eep! Call him off!"
"It's us Despy!"
Despayre spun around and raised Angel for another strike when he caught sight of two of his friends, none other than Big B himself and SCW's resident 'fan girl' Miss Melody Grace. He came to a halt and stumbled back against a tree, holding a hand to his heart.
"Oh! ... Oh you guys startled me!" Despayre cried out. "What's the big idea, sneaking up on a man and his bear while they're out game hunting?"
Melody's eyes grew wide and bright as she took in the safari outfits that both Despayre and Angel were wearing. She asked, "Ooh! What kind of game were you after?"
"Flamingos!" Despayre answered enthusiastically. "One of the few mortal enemies of a teddy bear in the non-monster world!"
Big B blinked and looked down at Angel before he asked, "Angel doesn't like flamingos?"
Despayre crept forward to whisper in a conspirator manner, with Melody leaning in to listen too, "Nobody likes flamingos!"
Melody whispered, "But doesn't that Maggie girl like them? She has one of her own."
Big B nodded in agreement.
Despayre looked around as if he were seeing if the coast was clear before he spoke. Seeing the tourists far off on the beach, he turned back to his friends and said, "Personally I think that Maggie girl is a little..."
He twirled his finger around his ear and then rolled his eyes.
Despayre then perked up and asked, "So, what's up?"
"We thought we'd go swimming!" Melody said gleefully.
"Have fun!"
Melody scratched her head, then shook it and said, "No, I mean all of us."
Despayre smiled and nodded, "Better! Let me an' Angel go get changed and we'll be right back!"
Despayre started to take off when he paused and looked Big B over.
"Are those the swimming trunks my dad bought you?" He asked, taking in the sight of the blonde muscle man adorned in little more than the pair of tiny, baby blue speedos.
B looked down and nodded. "Mm hm. I need to thank him." He then frowned and adjusted the waistline while muttering, "They are a bit binding, though."
Despayre took off toward the beach hotel, calling back after him, "Angel said he can see your pulse, too!"
Big B blinked, then held up the underside of his wrist and glanced at it, and melody leaned over to do the same. They looked at one another and shrugged.
"So our boy is doing alright?"
"He's doing fine, Margaret." Synn said on the telephone in his room. "I just wish you were able to have made the trip so you could visit him and watch his match."
"I wish I could have." Margaret said in return. "But I've already taken enough time off of work to take these little trips with you guys. It'd be expecting too much to ask them to cover for me even more."
"You know, you wouldn't have to worry about things like that if you'd just do as I suggested."
"Synn..."
"Can you imagine how thrilled Joshua would be if his mom would move closer to him?"
"I know, and I would love to, but Synn? My job is here. My house is here and, my mother is here. This is my home."
Synn responded, "A home is where you make it, Margaret. Trust me, I know that as well as anybody."
Margaret sighed audibly and said, "Give Joshua my love, alright? We can discuss this later."
"So long as we discuss it." Synn said amicably. "Goodbye."
"Bye."
And with that, Synn hung up the phone in his part of the room. He stood up and left to make ready to join the others outside, so he was not privy to the sound of the extension in the other room being hung up as well.
Despayre, in his swim shorts and cradling Angel in his lap, smiled brightly while staring at the phone.
<img src=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mafd9nSlOj1rpt0eoo1_500.jpg>
"I hope you'll forgive me for stepping in here where someone else usually handles these things, but I am afraid that Synn is rather tied up at the moment. Literally, if I'm not mistaken. So rather than wait for his date to remove that gag, I thought I'd step in and address the two key individuals whom my boys, Despayre and Gabriel, are going to be opposing here in just a few short days; Jeremy and Jason, collectively known as the Flying Jetts."
"Our opponents are liars?"
"No, not the Lying Jetts. Flying."
"Oh good. I'd much rather compete against respectable fellas."
"Indeed! Might I continue?"
"Sorry. Commercial."
"I understand. Anyway, what Jason and Jeremy might not realize is the fact that there is quite a bit more riding on this match than they might understand. True, there are no tag team titles up for grabs. True, even if somehow Despayre and Gabriel were to lose..."
"We won't."
"I know that. I was just talking hypothetically."
"Oh please go on. That's a beautiful language."
"Um... yeah. Anyway, like I said, even if somehow the Jetts walked away the winners..."
"They won't!"
"I know that! ... isn't it time for you to take your medicine?"
"Is it? Hunh. You know I thought my buzz was wearing off."
"Now, hopefully that'll buy us a few moments. See, if the Jetts were to win, the number one contender status of Despayre and Gabriel for the SCW Tag titles wouldn't be in jeopardy. So what is so important about this match? Well we all saw that piece of brilliant work on the part of Hot Stuff Mark Ward, winning ACW in a poker game and bringing their talent over to us. The Jetts were a fixture in the ACW tag team scene so now not only will they get to prove their mettle inside of an SCW ring for the first time, but this will also serve as a bit of preparation for Sinful Obsession as they get set to take back what's rightfully theirs; the SCW Tag Team Championship!"
"You see, they never lost those titles. Not technically, at least. When Blood Omen walked away from that triple threat tag match with the titles, it wasn't a member of Sinful Obsession that took the fall, was it? It was not! So from that moment on, Despayre and Gabriel have waited patiently and now their time has come. Giani Di Luca and James Huntington-Hawkes III are starting to understand that their title reign is on borrowed time. And Jetts?"
"You two gentlemen are going to start to understand just who it is that you're going to be going up against this coming Sunday. Look at Gabriel! He is a former SCW Heavyweight Champion and still is considered a top challenger for that title. Add to that his tag reigns in SCW and NWA *gags*, and viola! How many men can say they are a top contender to not just one, but two championship titles? Not many, that's who!"
"And then there's my buddy, Despayre! He had the same tag titles as Gabriel (duh, because they were partners!), and people are constantly trying to get him to make a go of the singles belts here in SCW! Heck, even Gabriel has tried to get him to target the champions every so often, but always he refuses. Good luck for the singles champions, but not so good for the tag. And not so good for the Flying Jetts."
"Despayre and Gabriel are going to take no chances this coming weekend when you are all inside of the ring together. They want no doubts left on anyone's minds as to just who the next SCW Tag Team Champions are going to be! It is going to be Sinful Obsession, and the Flying Jetts are going to get their wings clipped in the process."
...
"How'd I do?"
"Perfect!"
