Vincent stood glaring at his own reflection looking back at him in the mirror lost in his own thoughts as they played loudly in his head.
Bullies. That's what they are, the entire Kasey family and their gang mentality LJ Kasey couldn't stand to face the consequences on his own so he had to hide behind his little rat-faced girlfriend, and now his big brother looks to be taking up for him. Pretty soon Helluva Bottom Carter will probably get himself involved as well because that's how they operate. Bunch of jackals, that entire fucking family.
And what of your own family? None of them have your back. Victoria flat out rejected you to pursue her own goals, called you a distraction even. Alexander has been glaring at you all week even more than usual, he's clearly got something up his ass about you. Eddie won't let you see the baby, even Victoria got to meet the baby.
Jealousy. That’s what it is, they're just jealous because none of them are a champion like you. Eddie and Victoria have to fight in a tournament just for the opportunity at a championship and Alexander doesn't even have a job right now. You are the champion of the Lyons Den nobody else.
And the Kasey family can go fuck themselves.
Vincent pulled himself away from the mirror he knew he was right they were ganging up on him. He had to put that bounty on Alexandra Calaway because she chose to get in between them and involve herself. Now they were getting Miles involved.
Whatever. Then Miles can get dropped on his fat head too.[/i]
A heavy exhale came out of his lips as a knowing smile crept on his face when he felt a presence in the room.
“You again?” he said? “So are these visits going to be a regular occurrence?”
“That's entirely up to you.” came the voice of his father, “I'm the one that's supposed to be dead remember?”
Vincent scoffed as he looked at his father sitting there on his sofa.
“You're supposed to be a memory.” Vincent said “Not a ghost that continues to haunt me.”
“Then you should stop giving me reasons to appear.” replied his father “You always did make a rather big mess before you cleaned it up.”
“I didn't make any mess.” Vincent argued back “L.J. Kasey made the mess. I'm just getting blamed for trying to make things right.”
“Is that what you tell yourself?” asked his father “You tell yourself you're the victim cleaning up after everyone else? That sounds a lot more like justification to me. You're trying to justify continuing to attack L.J. after the match.”
Vincent punched his hand into a fist and furrowed his eyebrows.
“L.J. deserved it.” he snapped “He's the one who got himself involved in my business with Logan Hunter, like I was just going to let that slide. You taught me better than that Dad. I can't just let people walk all over me.”
“No.” said his father, shaking his head, “I taught you to finish what you started, I didn't teach you to lose control.”
“I didn't lose control, I was in control.” Vincent said as he began pacing “I needed to send a message to L.J. to mind his own business, but then that little hussy Alexandra Calaway had to get in between us and stop it. L.J. had to hide behind his girlfriend knowing I couldn't touch her without being reprimanded by management. So I made a business offer to the other Bombshells in the locker room. I tried to ask your favorite little princess but she refused me.“
“This again?” his father said shaking his head
“Yes this again.” Vincent snapped at him “You always loved Victoria more than me, you took her side on everything. She could burn the world down and you'd give her a bucket of water and tell everyone she didn't really mean it. All I was ever told was to look after her and protect her, but what about me? What about Vincent Lyons Jr.? Why did it always have to be about her?”
“You're the one that brought her up.” his father reminded him
“Yeah well your little princess doesn't want to stand by me anymore." Vincent replied. “So family loyalty is a joke. She's off doing her own thing with that fat boy. She straight up called me a distraction. But you know what? I don't need her. She's not a champion, I am. I'm better than I've ever been and it's because I'm doing it on my own.”
“You say you don't need anyone.” his father said "But I'm only here right now because of you. You do need someone, you need someone to tell you that your actions are justified and what you're doing is right.”
“I am right.” said Vincent “Everybody else is just too blind to see it.”
“Are you sure about that?” his father said "Because right now all you're doing is arguing with yourself about it. ”
“SHUT UP.” Vincent yelled, knocking a lamp off a shelf in anger. "I'm right!! Nobody else can see it, that's their problem and they can go to hell and if you want to continue to harass me like this then you can go to hell too.”
“Maybe I'm already there.” his father grinned, “The real question is, are you going to join me one day?”
Vincent smirked at his father's comments and looked at his reflection in the mirror again.
“Yeah maybe I will..” he said with a grin
He took a breath and turned but his father was gone, he picked up the fallen lamp, setting it back on the shelf.
He didn't need anybody, not now, not ever. He was Vincent Lyons Jr and he was the only champion in the Lyon's Den, and he was still the chosen Roulette Champion of Sin City Wrestling.
__________
As he walked through the door of his childhood home, the aroma of roast chicken and potatoes wafted across his nose bringing him back to childhood. He wasn't sure what he was even doing here all he knew was that his mother had called him and wanted him to come by for dinner and here he was. Whatever anyone thought of his actions, or even him as a person he still wasn't so vile as to reject such a request from his own mother.
“Is that you Vinnie?” his mother's voice called out, “I'm in the kitchen, dinner's almost ready.”
“Hey Mom…” Vincent said as he entered the doorway to the kitchen.
His mom finished pulling the chicken out of the oven and placed it on the countertop before embracing her son in a warm hug.
“I'm glad you came, Vinnie.” she said “I thought it'd be nice for us to talk.”
“Talk?” Vincent said defensively “Is this going to be a lecture? Because that's not what I came here for.”
“Relax.” his mother said with a warm smile “That's not what this is about. Please sit.”
He let out an unsure exhale, but took a seat in his favorite spot at the kitchen table.
“You look tense sweetheart.” she said placing a full plate of roast chicken and potatoes in front of him. “Please try to relax and enjoy your meal.”
“I'm not tense Mom.” he said “I'm just focused.”
“Are you sure there's nothing more to it?” she asked. “I know you've been going through a lot lately.”
“I thought you weren't going to lecture me..” he said with a mouthful of chicken.
“That's not what this is about.” his mother said sitting across from him “I just wanted to see you, and make sure you're doing okay.”
Vincent stabbed at his chicken, slightly frustrated
“I'm fine…” he said “Don't tell me you're gonna talk to me about how I've lost my mind as well.”
“That's not it at all.” his mother said “I know you've made choices recently in your career that I may not have made, and you have people judging you for them but you need to know that I'm on your side.”
That caught his attention and he looked up Into his mother's eyes
“You are?...” he muttered.
“Of course.” she nodded “You are my son and I will always be on your side. If you needed to hide a body, I'd go get the shovel because I'm your mother and I will always be there for you.”
Somewhere inside that awakened something in him like he needed to hear that, he just needed to hear that somebody had his back. Of course It would be her, why wouldn't it be the mama bear, or lioness.
“What about Victoria?” he asked.
“Your sister is a strong independent woman.” she replied “She can handle herself. I just need to know that you are okay.”
“Because you love me more than her?” Vincent grinned
“I didn't say that.” his mother replied.
“You don't have to Mom.” Vincent replied “I get it. Worrying about me, only inviting me for dinner, I get it.”
“The only side I'm taking is the side of my children.” she said “Both of them, But right now it's my son that needs to listen to me.”
Vincent said nothing as he stuffed a bite of potato into his mouth giving his mother a nod.
“I'm not always going to agree with your decisions.” she said “I want you to know you don't have to justify yourself to anyone. You are allowed to choose your own path, and if anybody else doesn't like it that's their problem. You are a champion, and it's up to you to show everyone why.”
“I didn't think anybody had my back.” Vincent admitted.
“I always have.” his mother said in a simple tone “Many times you make me shake my head and wish you'd think before you act, but I will always stand by your side. That's what being your mother means.”
He swallowed hard and some tension loosened off his mind. All of the drama with the Kasey's didn't matter in this little room. Here he was the most important, even more important than his sister. His mom was denying it but he could see through her. He was her favorite child, her baby boy.
“Thanks mom.” he said between another bite of chicken. “I think I needed to hear that. I needed to hear that someone out there was still on team Vincent.”
“Always.” his mother reminded him “Now finish your meal, I made you blueberry cobbler for dessert.”
Jackpot. Favorite dinner, favorite dessert and a surprising newfound confidence inside of him. Perhaps it was the feeling that he felt he had someone to fight for someone that was rooting and believed in him. Now he had to repay her the only way he knew how.
By dropping Miles Kasey on his head just like he did to L.J.
And mother would support him all the way through.
___________
Vincent walked into the Lyons Den with his head held high, pride itself coming off the Roulette Championship on his shoulder.
“Yes, yes your champion is here.” he said to anybody who would listen. “The only champion around here may I remind you. I'm not chasing glory, I am glory."
Silent eye rolls and annoyed murmurs filled the room.
“What?” he said “Don't you all know what a real champion looks like?”
Then someone spoke up.
“Does a real champion put a hit out on a woman?” came the voice of his cousin Alexander “As a matter of fact what kind of man does something like that?”
Vincent only turned and smirked in Alexander's face.
“Oh of course.” Vincent said “You're mad about the Calaway bounty. Still holding on to that dead tag team are you?”
“This isn't about Broken Reverie.” Alexander snapped back “This about you putting out a hit on one of my best friends and trying to put her in danger.”
“Yeah well maybe your friend should mind her own business next time.” Vincent said, getting into Alexander's face.
“She was standing up for her boyfriend.” Alexander replied “Because you wanted to take a cheap shot.”
“LJ had it coming.” Vincent snarled back.
“L.J. Kasey is more of a man than you'll ever be.” said Alexander.
“Get the fuck of my face.” Vincent snapped back.
By now with the rising tension they were getting some attention from the trainees nearby.
“Make me, bitch.” Alexander said, standing his ground.
“Takes one to know one.” Vincent smirked, “Maybe that's why you like that Calaway bitch so much.”
That was all it took and the next thing been said new he fell Alexander's fist connecting with his left eye and him stumbling backward.
“You sunuvabitch.” Vincent snarled, charging Alexander and tackling him to the ground where he connected with a stiff elbow to his cousin's lip busting him open.
And then it was really on as the two of them rolled around The Lyons Den like a couple of school children fighting on the playground, each taking turns landing shots on the other.
Finally a voice came booming through and interrupted the chaos.
“ENOUGH!!!” boomed the voice of Coach Kaiser.
Before the two could even get to their feet they found themselves separated. Vincent pulled away by Coach Kaiser and Cleo Phillips keeping Alexander at bay.
“Both of you chill out.” Coach Kaiser said sternly.
“He started it!” Vincent said with accusatory tone toward Alexander “He punched me in the face first. I had to defend myself against that maniac.”
“And I'll do it again and give you another black eye.” Alexander snapped back, noting the obvious shiner on Vincent's left eye.
“I said enough.” Coach Kaiser repeated “Cleo, get him out of here please.”
Cleo nodded and led Alexander away.
“Come on Alex, time to go.” she said, “Fight’s over.”
Coach Kaiser turned and looked at Vincent.
“What the hell was that about?” he said
“That maniac cousin of mine got in my face.” said Vincent “He started yapping about Alexandra Calaway and then he sucker punched me.”
“Well you did put a hit out on one of his best friends.” said Coach Kaiser “And something tells me you likely helped to antagonize the situation. But I'm telling you here and now I won't tolerate that sort of thing in my gym.”
“Your gym?” said Vincent with a cocky smirk “Let's not forget whose name is on the doors.”
“That is your father's name.” Coach Kaiser replied “Not yours, you're not ready to hold that candle yet. You got a lot of growing up to do if you really want to carry your father's legacy, instead of just hiding behind it.”
Vincent scowled at Coach Kaiser.
“I'm not hiding behind anything.” Vincent said. “I am your champion and you should be treating me as such. But you're like all the rest of them taking everybody else's side but mine.”
“It's not about taking sides.” Coach Kaiser said, “It's about you setting a proper example as the heir to this place.”
“You got that right, I am the heir.” Vincent said “But I'll be whatever example I want to be. You can sugar coat things all you want, but this school will learn to respect the name Vincent Lyons Jr.”
With that he shoved past Coach Kaiser, straight out the doors of The Lyon's Den and into the night.
____________
The scene opens with a close up shot of Vincent Lyons Jr.'s eye, shot from his own cell phone. The eye is purple and swollen.
“You see this?” came the voice of Vincent Lyons Jr “This is the fault of the Kasey family. This is the fault of Alexandra Calaway. I am getting so sick and tired of these miserable leeches sticking their noses in my business.”
He zooms out slightly showing his full face, full of adrenaline and anger.
“I can't even walk into my family gym without getting assaulted now.” he said, "All because one of my dumbass cousins can't handle his own irrelevancy and got a stick up his ass about the bounty I put out on Alexandra Calaway. But I bet it makes all of you happy doesn't it?”
He keeps the sky on his face as he glares into his phone lens.
“What was I supposed to do?” he said “Punch her in the face? While she may have been asking for it, she's not worth risking my job or my championship and I need to even the odds somehow. They're the ones ganging up on me.”
He exhales with visible breath amid the cool air, calming himself but keeping his tone sharp.
“Alexandra should have minded her own business and let the men handle things.” he said, "But that's just who L.J. Kasey is, he needs other people to stand up for him because he's not man enough to stand on his own. Now it's his big brother I have to deal with.”
Vincent laughs sharply, shaking his head.
“It's not worth it Miles.” Vincent said, “Defending your siblings honor or whatever it is this is supposed to be about. Take it from somebody who knows. My whole life I was told I should be looking after and making sure Victoria was safe but now that I split from her I'm a champion and she's not, in fact I'm the only champion in our family, and furthermore I was the one chosen by this company to be champion.”
He finds a spot to set the phone down, keeping it recording, revealing the roulette championship resting on his shoulder.
“What you need to do Miles is let your brother handle his own problems.” said Vincent “Involving yourself because of some sort of sibling honor system or whatever will only continue to hold you back from your true potential. It's the same thing in your relationship, that's why Carter's the world champion and you're just the internet champion. Cut yourself loose Miles free yourself from those chains. You don't need to protect them anymore.”
He adjusts the championship on his shoulder.
“Is this what your brother wants?" said Vincent “It's what all of you isn't it? You god damn greedy leeches. You want a monopoly on all of the men's championships. The Kasey's with all the gold. Well guess what? Your brother gets nothing, he gets no title shot because I beat his ass and dropped him on his fat pumpkin head. I'll do the same to you, and if Carter wants to involve himself like Calaway did, I'll drop his punk ass too.”
He begins pacing on the sidewalk back and forth in front of the camera frame.
“You don't get to play the heroic big brother this time.” said Vincent “This time you're going to be a victim, because that's what I'm going to make you. I don't care what championship you have, you're not as good of a champion as me, and you'll find out just how dangerous I am at Climax Control.”
He turns and looks directly into the camera.
“This is a match about consequences Miles.” said Vincent “You all keep making choices that force my hand, and when I'm forced to take action you all look at me like I'm the problem.”
He shakes his head.
“You want me to be the problem?” Fine I'll be the problem.” Vincent said “I don't need your approval. When I'm done with you Miles you'll understand why I am not somebody to be trifled with. I'm going to wipe that smug look off your face.”
He takes a few steps closer to the camera now, his full face in frame.
“This is your own fault Miles.” said Vincent “You should have told your brother to man up and handle his business. Now everyone's expecting big brother to save the day. But big brother will fall just like the rest. The Kasey's deserve nothing and as long as I'm the Roulette Champion none of you will ever get close to holding it. Miles Kasey, you have been warned, and now you had better be prepared.”
His finger taps the screen and the scene comes to a close with a freeze frame of his scowling face.
[/i]