Day One“Did you get the same style room?”
“Yes, K.”
“Ocean view?”
“Yes, K.”
“Patio?”
“Yes, K.”
“Minibar?”
“Yes, K.”
“Well what about…?”Fenris was about to ask as he walked alongside his brother, having just boarded the ship. They were making their way down the corridor with Fenris grilling his brother about their accommodations, when finally Aron stopped at the assigned cabin door, only one floor below the top, and whirled about, exclaiming,
“For God’s sake, K! It’s the exact same style room you’ve had every year on this ship! Same amenities! Same perks! Same - everything! I’m not just your manager you know, I’m your brother! I know what you like so just settle down and stop the third degree, okay?”“Okay!” Fenris retorted, making a put off expression.
“Third degree stopped!” He made a face, and then swiped the key card from Aron’s hand and proceeded the unlock the room himself. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside first as was the norm. His luggage had already been brought aboard and delivered to the room by the ship’s many porters. Someone even unpacked his luggage for an added perk, hung it up, even ironed it before depositing it in the drawers. One of the many bonus perks of being on this cruise and this event. No expense had been spared, and the employees aboard took extra steps to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of those aboard.
The room indeed was the same as those times before; the sitting area was separate from the bedroom. The view that looked perfectly down at the ocean waters below from the balcony. He knew the perks that came with this stateroom, such as an exclusive dining area with an extended menu, a mini bar that staff had set up with a multitude of wines, which would soon be changed over to beers and hard liquor (Wine was Aron’s bag, not his brother’s). This was all just one of the many ways Aron took care of his older sibling in his own way. That being said, Fenris turned around to look at his ‘little brother’ and shook his head.
“This is wrong.” Fenris stated simply.
“Wrong?” Aron frowned and looked around, standing still in that one spot just inside of the door. Everything looked just right. Nothing out of the norm from previous experiences on this cruise.
“What’s … wrong?”
“That’s a queen.” Fenris pointed into the bedroom.
“Not a double. Where the hell are you going to sleep? You are NOT sleeping on that sofa…”
“K,” Aron smiled, almost finding his brother’s indignant thought of him being reduced to such accommodations somehow… endearing. But he held up a hand to calm him down and let him get a word in edgewise, saying,
“This is your room. I got my own this year.”Fenris stared at Aron as if he were attempting to process what his brother had just tried to explain. Since they first arrived in 2018, the two were a package deal in every way imaginable; right up to where they stayed when traveling. Sharing the same hotel rooms, and in this case, the same staterooms on the cruise. Fenris arched his brows and asked,
“Why? We’ve always shared so … what’s changed?”“Nothing.” Aron shrugged his slim shoulders, explaining.
“I… just thought you might like the change.”
“You’ve known me your entire life. When have I ever liked change?” Then Fenris narrowed his eyes with stark suspicion.
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing!”
“A…” Fenris took a step back and rested his backside on the armoire inside of his suite and crossed his arms. He took on that cocky, big brother stance that made even his closest of friends want to slap him upside the head - hard. Fenris said,
“You’ve never been a good liar so stop trying, hm? Wait…” He slipped off of the seat and took a step forward, directing a finger right at Aron’s nose.
“Did O’Malley’s brother put you up to this!?”
“No!” Aron exclaimed.
“For God’s sake, K! I just thought for once you might appreciate the privacy! Who knows? You might meet someone and not want your brother hanging around?” Fenris raised a single brow and tilted his head to the side, as Aron continued.,
“Or I might meet someone and…”Fenris scoffed, stopping Aron’s explanation as he stared at his brother who at that moment, realized some of his attitude must have rubbed off on Aron because he felt the desire to avoid eye contact and kick at an imaginary pebble.
“Newsflash, K.” Aron said in a calm, quiet tone.
“You’re not the only one of us that gets attention. You’re just the one that goes out looking for it.”Aron reached over and opened the cabin door and looked back to find his brother frowning at the accusation of him being an “attention whore,” true as the words might have been. Aron couldn’t help but smile. He said,
“It’s not like we won’t be hanging out this entire trip. Let’s just say that I was trying to do you a favor. And me - this way I won’t have to listen to you snore through the night.”The last thing he said in rapid succession as he slipped out into the hall, quickly shutting the door behind him. Fenris stared at the closed door a moment too long before he hurriedly opened it and stepped out into the hall, shouting at Aron’s back, “I. Do. Not. Snore!” And then realized all activity came to a halt; cruise employees and guests. All eyes staring straight at him.
“Fuck!” he growled and turned back into his room and slammed the door behind him.
Day FiveIt's the Sun Princess Bikini Contest!
“Seriously! First Grandma Self Defense and now this!?” Fenris barked as he stood at poolside, drawing a number of appreciative glances due in part to that “barely there” speedo swimsuit that could best be described as barely legal. A casual glance would reveal that the Ultimate X setup had been erected across the 20x40 foot pool. But that was of little consequence for the “White Wolf.” He knew he could be booked for any random task that would draw interest for the fans. His first year being a participant in a Mr. Tight Buns competition (which he won, for the record), and he was forced to teach a self defense course to a roomful of elderly women, some of which could not or would not, keep their hands off of him. But judging a bikini contest…!?
Standing before him along the side of the pool was a bevy of beauties of different ages and all shapes and sizes; each and every one wearing a colorful bikini. Some casual style, others about as daring as his own choice of swim attire. And many of them were eager to use this opportunity to openly flirt with the Icelandic Superstar, either in hope of better securing the win for herself or in a misguided attempt at an invitation to his stateroom; ignoring the obvious fact he preferred the company of men.
“Who’s fucking bright idea was this, anyway!?” Fenris barked at Aron who stood nearby, appreciating the predicament his normally confident brother had been coerced into. Fenris then turned to Aron who shook his head, holding up both hands, “I swear it wasn’t me!”
Roxette’s “The Look” is blaring across the sound system of the pool deck, and there are whistles and catcalls aplenty as one by one, each bikini-clad passenger sashayed her way up to the judge and posed, giving Fenris a wink or a pouty look, before returning to her spot in the lineup. One young woman even turned her back to him to give him a little jiggle of her backside, prompting him to roll his eyes and turn to Aron to say, “Amazing. They go through all this trouble and yet it does nothing for me.”
“Hey I’m enjoying it.” Aron smiled, causing his brother to do a double-take in his regard. He was about to return his attention to his duties when someone else approached him from the side.
“Wow! Silicon valley!” Bobbie Dahl stated, drawing a few gasps and another double take from Fenris; she was wearing that hot pink, blinking bookies bikini seen on social media. And Artie? Poor guy was bashful in his own Spongebob yellow and blue design trunks. Bobbie turned to Aron who gave her a coy and friendly wink before they returned their attention to the contestants as the final lady returned to her spot by the pool.
Fenris turned and picked up the “Bikini Champion” trophy and turned -- and handed it to Bobbie!
“You win.” He said nonchalantly, sparking some cries and moans of disappointment. Some ladies stormed off while others ran into the arms of their disgruntled boyfriends, husbands and family members for consoling. Bobbie looked at the trophy before passing it to Artie, then pulled her phone from (you don’t want to now where) and started to discreetly turn it on.
Fenris himself turned away from poolside to make his way to the bar for a nice, relaxing drink; the first of many, when he openly groaned at the sight of O’Malley’s brother Alastair approaching where he was standing. Alastair was clad in what had to be an Armani suit worth at least a couple grand. An Armani suit … on a cruise ship!? Oh, and he had that perpetual swarthy smile on his face as his eyes practically drank in the sight standing before him.
“Well, well!” “If you aren't a sight for sore thighs.” Alastair said as he took his spot beside Fenris, barely leaving any room between Alastair himself and Fenris’s exposed flesh.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Fenris asked, taking in his attire through the shades that covered his eyes.
“I beg your pardon?”
“A suit? On a cruise?”
“It’s called style.” Alastair stated simply, adjusting his tie while taking it all in, and by it all, I mean everything Fenris wasn’t wearing at the time. Alastair draped an arm encouragingly around the shoulder of Fenris, only to have the Icelandic star shrug it off, adding a verbal warning, “I do not care if you are O’Malley’s brother. Any part of you that touches me again, you won’t be getting back!”
“Now, don’t be like that.” Alastair continued trying to impress. “I thought you and I could go and have a drink. Get to know each other a little better. Maybe tell me your real name.” He leaned in a little closer to whisper coyly, “I would be embarrassed to scream the wrong name tonight.”
His hand slid down Fenris’s band and found itself resting comfortably on his barely covered backside. Fenris s-l-o-w-l-y turned to stare into his eyes and then he smiled….
“Artie! Watch out!” Bobbie shrieked! Artie turned and gasped, ducking quickly just in time as Alastair went SAILING over his head and landed in the pool with a big, wet splash! People laughed. Cameras flashed. Fenris shook his head and turned to leave when something else caught his attention…
Across the poolside area, Bobbie had her camera out - aimed at him and pointed … down? Artie noticed Fenris noticing and he blanched, growing even paler as Fenris approached.
“Er, Bobbie?”
“Just a sec, Artie! I just found out how to use the zoom lens feature!”
“Bobbie!”
“What!?” Bobbie shrieked right back, before returning her eye into the camera and found not that nefarious bulge she had been recording just a moment ago, but a close up shot of an angry Icelandic man staring right into the lens! Bobbie ever so slowly lowered her camera and found herself looking directly at Fenris who stared her down. Bobbie then cackled and shoved the camera into Artie’s hands. She pointed an accusing finger at him and turned and got the hell out of dodge. Fenris looked at Artie who rapidly shook his head in denial before Fenris took off after Bobbie...
***
And he would have caught her too had a certain host wearing a similar swimsuit not been out and about and distracted him just enough for Bobbie to make her getaway. Rather than head for the bar as he had first intended, Fenris made a slight detour to his stateroom in order for a change of clothes. Ordinarily he had little to zero shame and would have walked right into the bar wearing just this, but after what just happened with Alastair and not wanting a repeat performance and risk throwing the man overboard…?
He was just about to slip out of the speedo and jump into the shower, when there was a hesitant knock at his door. At first he wondered if O’Malley’s brother had tracked him down, but shook that notion off. It was probably Aron, so he grabbed a button up shirt with an exotic, white and blue print, and slipped it on before opening the door…
And finding himself face-to-face with David Shepherd!
David seemed almost to shrink back, as if second guessing whatever reasons had brought him to the door, but Fenris just shook his head. “I don’t have time for this shit!” And he made to shut the door but David quickly put a hand against it, propping it open. Fenris stared at his hand and turned to face the audacious rival, but there was something in the man’s face and eyes that gave Fenris pause.
David swallowed hard, then asked, “Can we talk?”
“Talk?” Fenris’s eyebrows rose almost to his hairline. He looked into the hall, left and right, before scoffing with a laugh. “What exactly do you and I have to talk about-?” But before he could further question David’s reason or motives, David walked right up to him and grabbed him by the face, pressing his lips to Fenris’s own! Fenris was so caught off guard that he staggered back, and David took that edge and moved forward into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. But before David could go any further, Fenris pushed him away and stared at him, one part anger, two parts surprise.
David, breathless, said, “That - actually.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” Fenris demanded. “Do you always just go into someone’s room and kiss them!?”
David took a step back, rubbing a hand down his face. He closed his eyes and shook his head, muttering, “Not the reaction I was hoping for.” He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Fenris spoke which was enough to keep him from leaving.
“And what reaction were you expecting - exactly?” Fenris had turned away from him and walked over to the small liquor cabinet which, true to form, had been converted from wines to a more hard variety of liquors. David watched as Fenris took a glass and poured a generous amount of a bottle’s contents into it, but his eyes strayed as before, taking in the sight before him. How the shirt Fenris had thrown on at the last moment was hanging off of one shoulder. The swimsuit, how his hair hung straight past his broad, tanned shoulders… David quickly averted his lingering gaze as Fenris turned around with the glass in hand.
Fenris continued, “The last time this happened was -- six weeks ago? And right after, you acted as if it had been the most vile, disgusting sin! An exchange or two on Twitter and you acted as if I ghosted you, and then all hell breaks loose! So say whatever it is that you came to say…” But before he could finish his bold statement, David swiped the drink from his hand and downed it in a single gulp, impressing even Fenris who was a known, hardcore drinker.
David paused in wait, eyes closed as he felt the warmth of the liquid courage burn down the back of his throat. He then extended the glass to Fenris, who took the hint and reached for the bottle and gave him a refill. Fenris then set the bottle back and sat on the edge of the room’s table, allowing David to pace back and forth in front of him.
“I-I don't know what I want to say, that’s just the problem!” David said. “I mean, I know what I want to say, but not how. Or… damn it! I… can’t get you out of my head and it’s driving me crazy! Even before what happened after our match … until just … now. I keep trying to get my mind off of you… to distract myself! But every time I think I do, I just get drawn right back in … especially when you’re wearing that!” he pointed with the glass in hand, obviously at the swimsuit that left little to the imagination. Fenris glanced down to where he was pointing, then back up to David’s eyes and admittedly, he smiled.
He said, “Yes, I saw you stealing a look earlier.”
“Well, it's kind of hard not to notice.” David shrugged, trying to play it cool and act nonchalant.
Febris looked down, nodding. He admitted, “I suppose it’s only fair, considering how many times you caught me watching you work out at the Saxon gym.” He then looked up and his face seemed almost cold. He added, “I made my interests known then, not that it got me anywhere.”
David took a drink, saying, “I wasn’t exactly in a good place. Still under my father’s thumb.”
“And now?”
“I only talk to my sister. My pain in the ass, interfering but with good intentions, sister.” David couldn’t help but smile at how Esther had went to such lengths, albeit with a little help from Fenris’s own brother. He then said, “I haven’t spoken much to my parents since…” He shared a look with Fenris, and it was obvious what he was referring to. “They … how did your family react? When you came out?”
“You mean when I was outed? Against my will?” Fenris countered. David nodded, and Fenris found himself saying, “They didn’t care. They were more concerned about the circumstances surrounding my outing, not that I prefer men. When I was with Ty, they treated him like family.”
David nodded, muttering as he finished the contents of his glass, “You’re lucky.” To which Fenris could only acknowledge as fact with a silent nod. Fenris watched as David set the glass carefully on the table, taking a stumbling step. He probably should have warned him that this was Icelandic brandy and stronger than the American brands.
Probably should have.
David returned his attention to him and Fenris shook his head. “You don’t want to get involved with me, David.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m toxic as fuck!” Fenris declared. “I’ve only allowed myself to get close to three men in my life. Three. And each time, something about me, something I did caused me to lose them. I let one walk away. I drove another one away, which is probably for the best. And…” he paused, not willing, not ready, to tell him about Jokull. Not yet. He continued, “Face facts; I may be an insanely incredible fuck, but I am a lousy boyfriend.”
David glanced down and huffed a suppressed laugh. He looked up again and said, “I come from a toxic family whose father abused me physically and manipulated me mentally. We all have our crosses to bear.”
“Pun intended?” Fenris smirked at his own wit, causing David to forget himself for a moment and laugh. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “No. Happy coincidence. But… as for the rest of what you just said?”
Deciding - fuck it! Throwing caution to the wind, and with that liquid courage burning bright in his system, he marched right up to Fenris and backed him up hard against the wall. David pulled the button up down over his arms and whispered hoarsely into his ear, “Let me be the judge of that…”
Later…
Out in the hall, Alastair strutted up to the door of Fenris’s stateroom, a bottle of champagne in his hand. That smile fixed on his face, he rapped lightly on the door, then leaned in to speak…
“I understand we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, you and I. I thought maybe I could come in and bring you a peace offering. Perhaps we could talk, just the two of us, and if there should happen to be room for one more in that bed of yours --”
Suddenly the door swung open and a sweaty, breathless David Shepherd stood there, glaring at Alastair. His hair was sweat spanked and a complete mess, and he was clad in just a towel draped around his waist.
“There’s. Not!” David declared hotly and slammed the door!
Night had fallen. The door slid open and Fenris slipped outside and onto his private patio, wearing only his robe that reached mid-thigh. He took a moment to catch his breath, before stealing a glance back over his shoulder and into his room where David was passed out on the surface of his bed without a stitch of clothing on. Fenris turned back to look out into the night sky, smiling.
“You know, somehow I don’t think working together will be a problem any longer for David and myself. Good news for us, bad news for Vinnie and Barnhart. There’s a saying in America about putting all your eggs in one basket (never fully understood that logic), but that does seem to be the corner that our opponents have backed themselves into in regards to their strategy for facing us. If -- you can call it a strategy. The moment this match was first announced, Bulldog and Vinnie thought they were practically guaranteed for the winners pool, if for no other reason than because they have experience as a team and are close friends, whereas David and I were - not. And really, that’s it. That is all the two of you had going for you and if the last few hours are any indication -- you don’t even have that. Not any more.”
“Now Bill… ‘Bulldog,’ can I call you Bulldog? What with us being such close pals and all? While I can't speak for my partner David, I don't want you worrying about me. Yes, I watched your promo from last week, and no I did not throw anything at the screen in a fit of anger. No, I did not yell and call you a jerk or say or do anything even close to what you imagined. No, actually my feelings toward everything you said last time around was something more like…”
Fenris appeared uncharacteristically wistful, glancing up in a thoughtful contemplation while nodding in the affirmative.
“Yes, that pretty much summed up about how I felt about, well, everything that you came up with in that head of yours last week! I mean, fuck’s sake Bill -- Bulldog! Sorry! Did you run out of wacky weed so you rolled up one of Iris’s turds and smoked that shit instead!? Because I can’t understand how in hell a grown ass adult, especially one your age with a sound mind, could come up with any of that with a straight face, and expect people to understand it or be entertained! Talking about the heat and weather is the epitome of boring conversation between two parties, and here you’re doing it with thousands of people watching you! Well…”
He casually looks up and shrugs.
“Probably just a few hundred by now. The rest either turned off their computers or fell asleep. I swear, if they could market your insanity as a means to cure insomnia, you’d be set for life! Talking about shit and flies, and showing clips of Iris and you pulling the wings off of a fly - well you just keep up those demonstrations, Bill. Because that fly is the last thing you’ll be inflicting any kind of damage on! Maybe next time you decide to talk shit, pun intended, you should first earn the right by, oh I don’t know, getting a win against me first!?”
“Seriously! Do you have Promo Tourrettes or some equally stupid shit (pun intended)!? I mean, you sit there on your ass, one minute talking almost respectfully about the wins David and I've had against you, then you slip right into the talking shit (pun intended) about us and our chances against Vinnie and yourself, implying that we are about to be humiliated in the ring against you!
“Ever since you started running off at the mouth Bill, you’ve been going on about how my team doesn’t stand a chance against you and Vinnie because the two of you are established and friends, whereas David and I have no shot at being a cohesive unit or managing any semblance of teamwork. The funny thing about that is, even if we don’t have a shot at being the genuine thing, it still gives us a better chance at walking away the winners than you have.”
“Did it ever occur to you that what you see as my team's biggest weakness could, in fact, be our greatest strength? That David and I are both raging egotists who will both want to do everything in our power to one up the other, and the harder we fight to upstage each other, that just means the harder we’ll be bringing the fight to you!?”
Fenris then shook his head and exhaled, leaning against the railing.
“To think, all this time I thought it was Vinnie that I had the issues with. Don’t get me wrong Bill, I respect you, but all those years I spent thinking Vinnie was batshit crazy when really it was you all along! Now Vinnie… you and I?”
He waved his hand between the camera and himself, back and forth.
“We’ve had our shared past, inside of the ring and out. I’m not saying everything was perfect. I remember thinking Lora was too good for you and she deserved better. I don’t know why things didn’t last between you and quite frankly, I don’t give a shit. That’s your life. You live it, and I’ll live my own. No questions asked. It’s what happens inside of the ring that matters to me, and you and I? We’ve always managed to steal the show, haven’t we? I said it before and I will say it again; our match for the championship at High Stakes VIII was fucking awesome! And that was just the first time you and I have stepped inside of the ring against each other!”
“There was also the time I teamed with Ty against you and Jake Raab. That just proves; singles matches. Tag Team matches. Triple threats. Fatal Fourways. It doesn’t matter what type of match they put us in! You and I, we always find a way to work magic. But out of all of those times we’ve stepped into the ring with each other, all of those matches have had one thing in common;”
He tapped a forefinger to his chest.
“I won. I know this means that you’ll be out gunning for your first win against me, but this isn’t your time Vinnie. Not now. Not yet.”
Suddenly the patio door slid open and an arm reached out and grabbed the back of Fenris’s robe and pulled him back into the stateroom, where the lights quickly winked off.
End scene.