Victoria didn't want to be here in the halls of this mental health facility she had an important match to get ready for. A Champion versus Champion versus Alicia Lukas, but here she was having to deal with her brother's disobedience once again. She thought she had been rid of him but since her name was signing all the documents she was the one they called when he was being particularly uncooperative. An oversight she hadn't considered on her part when she signed the damn things
“What did he do?” Victoria asked a nurse behind a desk with a clipboard.
“Thank you for coming on short notice Miss Lyons.” the nurse replied “Your brother has been refusing medication, he's being verbally and physically abusive to staff, and the other day he bit another resident during recreation time.”
“Where did he bite them?” Victoria asked
“On the butt.” the nurse replied
“You've got to be kidding me..” said Victoria
“The doctor recommends upping his dosage and placing him on 24 hours solitary confinement.” the nurse explained
There was no hesitation, the pen glided across the paper as soon as it was put into Victoria's hands. It was so easy for her. Her name at the bottom of those papers meant she had all the control. Not Vincent, not their mother, it was her they called when they needed the approvals for Vincent's care.
Control. She liked that.
Would you like to see him the nurse asked
Victoria paused for a moment, thinking it over.
“He doesn't get many visitors, it might help to see a familiar face.” the nurse continued
“Fiiiiiine.” Victoria said, rolling her eyes.
“Right this way Miss Lyons.” the nurse said
She followed the nurse down the hallways looking at the same mundane beige walls along the way. The same smell of disinfectant continued to linger in the air. She hated this place, every second here was a second she wasn't preparing for Alicia Lukas.
“Always wasting my time…” she muttered under her breath, “Even here.”
“I'm sorry?” the nurse said, glancing back.
“Oh nothing.” Victoria said.
That was the talent Vincent always had. Even locked away in a place like this, he still managed to waste her time and try to pull her backwards.
Victoria continued to follow the nurse to a heavier security door and after a swipe of a card the door clicked open.
“We already had to restrain him twice today. the nurse explained “If he becomes violent, our team will step in and subdue him immediately.”
Victoria nodded.
“I'm not worried.” she told the nurse.
If anything the idea amused her. She stepped through the door and there was Vincent on the edge of his bed, restrained, controlled, and powerless. His hair was longer and his facial hair remained unkempt. He shifted his eyes so as to not look directly at her.
“You look terrible.” she said to him.
Silence.
“They tell me you're refusing your meds.” she said “And that you bit somebody, on the ass. You really ought to behave yourself.”
More silence.
“You know, I was supposed to train today.” she said taking a step closer to him “I have a big champion versus champion match with Alicia Lukas coming up, real stakes at hand. Instead I'm here because you decided to bite somebody like some sort of feral animal.”
“You put me here.” said Vincent, his lip quivering, “You chose him over me.
“Who? Eddie?” said Victoria raising an eyebrow “Is that what you think this is really about me choosing Eddie over you?”
She laughed.
“It's so much more than that.” she said “It's about all your behavior these past few months, but it's really about when you betrayed me and said you had no sister. The moment those words left your lips I let time go by and compiled all the evidence I needed. Oh, and you made it so easy. The attempted murder of Logan Hunter, multiple assaults against the Kasey family, just to name a few. Then you laid your hands on your actual family and that just sealed the deal.”
“Like you're so much better.” Vincent replied “Multiple attacks on Harper Mason ring a bell? What about when we broke our cousin Alexander's arm just so you could send a message to Alexandra Calaway?”
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“Harper Mason was a calculated business decision against someone I was involved in a blood feud with.” Victoria replied “And that calculated business decision led me to the Internet Championship. As for Alexander he chose his side when he went against the family and chose Alexandra Calaway over us.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself so you can sleep at night.” replied Vincent.
“Don't try to spin this on me.” Victoria said “You're in here as a result of your own actions. Don't forget you try to attack me from behind as well. If it wasn't for my sweet Dare Bear, who knows what you would have done. Darian had to get six stitches above his eye, you know, what were you even thinking?”
Vincent said nothing, back to the silence.
“That's what I thought. Victoria said “Your main mistake was you thought you could be in control, but you can't because I'm always one step ahead of you. Ever since day one when I came into this world before you did. I beat you to life itself, so no matter how hard you try little brother, your big sister will always be ahead of you.”
She stood up, and smirked at him giving him a mock kiss on the forehead before whispering into his ear.
“I approved them to up your dosage and put you in 24-hour solitary confinement. They're going to watch you eat, piss, shit, and play with your tiny little pecker if you choose to.” She said “Now, You're going to listen to them and behave yourself. You're going to take your medication, or else I make this worse for you. Do not waste my time by having them call me here again.”
She straightened up her posture and smiled down at Vincent who remained silent.
“Take care of yourself little brother.” she said with a mocking grin “I love you.”
She nodded to the nurse in the corner.
“That will be all thank you.” She said.
The nurse and her team open the door and led Victoria out before she left the facility she made one last request of the nurse.
“Since he's going to be in there alone…” Victoria said “Maybe every so often you could play him some music, he really likes Taylor Swift. He acts like he doesn't because of the whole male macho thing but my little brother is secretly a total Swiftie.
“Yeah that can be arranged.” said the nurse “We can probably find an hour or two a day to play him some Taylor Swift music. If you think it will help.”
“I do. Thank you so much.” Victoria smiled
“Of course you have a nice day Miss Lyons.” said the nurse
Vincent hated Taylor Swift and Victoria knew it. It was going to be hell for him, and that only helped the smile on her face grow as she exited the facility.
_________
Victoria genuinely enjoyed the coziness of Eddie's home. There was a genuine warmth that came over her when she entered, that she didn't feel anywhere else. Her and Eddie's relationship wasn't perfect but they got along well enough mostly they just had different ideologies but she liked that Eddie didn't try to judge her or change her. He may not agree with her ideology but Eddie always let Victoria be Victoria without any judgment.
Of course there really was only one reason she even came to Eddie's house.
“Okay, where is she? Where's my absolutely adorable little princess?” said Victoria as Eddie let her and Darian into the house.
“Hello to you too.” said Eddie
“Yes, hi.” said Victoria, "Now come on, baby, where is she?”
Eddie laughed to himself and shook his head
“She's in the living room.” he said “Right this way.”
When they got to the living room Victoria's on Jordan sitting there on the floor propped up against a pillow playing with a plastic giraffe toy.
There's my little angel Victoria said scooping Jordan up without hesitation Jordan reacted with some happy baby babble, playfully grabbed at Victoria's hair.
“Ow.” said Victoria “Careful with the hair sweetie.”
In some ways she found this whole thing humorous. Here she was, a woman who could dismantle half the locker room without blinking and now she was now letting a little baby play with her hair.
“So how are things at SCW?” ask Eddie
Oh not much has changed since Victoria I've got my big match with Alicia Lukas coming up, Champion versus champion.
“Yeah. They like booking those.” said Eddie, "I'm surprised you stopped by and aren't focusing on your training.”
“Well you have to take a day off training sometimes.” said Victoria “And visiting this little bundle is totally worth it and not a waste of my time.
“Not a waste of your time?” said Eddie curiously “What do you mean?”
“It's not important.” said Victoria “But any chance I get to come see this little bundle is worth it, just know that.”
“All right then…” said Eddie raising an eyebrow curiously.
Victoria didn't elaborate she didn't want to keep talking and accidentally say too much instead she continued playing with Jordan who continued playfully grabbing at her hair, for and back she was greeted with a tiny hand slapping her harder in the mouth at any of her opponents ever had.
“Ow! That wasn't very nice Jordan.” She said
Jordan giggled.
“Well you're definitely a Lyons.” Victoria said, "You have some power behind that smack of yours.”
“Tell me about it.” Eddie muttered
“Oh don't you worry Jordan.” she said “Your big cousin Victoria is going to teach you how to be a proper lioness like her.”
“And that's what I'm afraid of..” Eddie muttered to himself.
“Hmmm.” said Victoria
“Nothing.” Eddie replied.
Victoria and Darian continued to play with Jordan, a side of them not many got to see a true human side that only seemed to come out when baby Jordan was near. It made her think about having her own little bundle of joy but she couldn't do that now she couldn't take the time off work for a pregnancy, unfortunately it just didn't come as easy for the ladies as it did the boys. But she really did love this tiny human, and when she threw the toy giraffe on the floor Victoria instinctively went for it.
“....Don't.” Eddie said, as if warning her.
“It's not a big deal..” said Victoria “I can pick it up for her. It's right there.”
“Yeah…but” Eddie said
Victoria didn't listen and got up and grabbed the draft toy handing it back to Jordan who immediately threw it back on the ground again.
“Silly girl.” said Victoria
She probably picked the toy up again and handed it back to Jordan who of course do it right back on the floor.
Victoria looked over to Eddie who was just watching with his arms folded with an I told you so look on his face.
They went back and forth like this multiple times with Eddie just watching an amusement before finally after the 17th time Jordan seemed to finally get bored.
“17…” said Eddie “You're lucky, usually she breaks 20.”
She's doing it on purpose said Victoria
“Yep.” said Eddie.
“I don't think I've seen you get hustled by somebody that bad before.” Darian grinned
Victoria stuck her tongue at him.
“She's just lucky she's a cute little tyrant.” said Victoria sitting next to Jordan once again, setting the baby on her knee.
“You're good with her you know.” Eddie said “You should show this side of you more.”
“And risk the other Bombshells like Alicia thinking I've gone soft?” said Victoria “Sorry not going to happen. I do still have an image to maintain.”
“Of course.” said Eddie shaking his head “Well at least try being nice to Zayvion, he's been working hard, he's a good kid. Just don't be too harsh on him.”
“He needs to prove he's worthy of carrying our last name.” Victoria said
“Just give him a chance.” said Eddie.
Victoria huffed.
“We'll see.” She said.
Victorian Dairy and remain playing with the baby for the next several minutes before Victoria finally stood up holding her giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Well I guess it's about that time we should probably get going she said thanks for having us Eddie.
Think nothing of it Eddie said Jordan really likes you.
That made Victoria smile and she nodded back at Eddie and made her way to the door before he called her name once again.
“Victoria….” Eddie said.
She looked back at him.
“Baby.” He said.
“Fiiiiiine.” Victoria said, setting Jordan down next to her toys.
“Trying to steal my baby now?” said Eddie
“She shouldn't be so adorable.” Victoria shrugged.
She bid Eddie farewell once more as she and Darian left the home. The visit was nice and cleansing for her. Now she could go back to focusing on her training and prepare for her match with Alicia Lukas.
_________
The camera is open on Victoria Lyons in a choir room standing against the wall internet Championship draped over who showed her like it weighs nothing she looks up to the camera and begins speaking
“You know the funny thing about history?.” she begins “Nobody remembers second place they remember dominance, records, and the names that lasted. They remember me.”
She pauses
“You've done well as roulette champion but don't forget who reignited that division," she continued because when people think of that Championship, they still think of me. They still think of my record and what I did with that belt. They're looking to see if you can be as dominant a champion as I was.”
She smirks confidently.
“Now you face me in this ridiculous champion versus champion match.” she said “It's like you're supposed to be my equal.”
She almost laughs.
“Now you are a champion that's true you wear gold and you defend it without mercy “ she said “But I am a whole another animal. I'm the measuring stick they hold you to as champion now because of how good I was when I held it. “Now I intend to do the same with the internet championship.”
She keeps her look of confidence.
This match is nothing more than maintenance she said it's not some showcase for me like the powers that be wanted to be it's going to be a reminder that you do not belong in my league and that there are levels to this you don't get to use me as a stepping stone and gain momentum off of me. I'm not an obstacle you can overcome, I'm the ceiling you're going to slam into.
She laughs.
“I've even beaten you a few times in the past. she said “So when that bell rings I'm going to be looking at someone that's trying to measure herself against my shadow, and that shadow is bigger than you think. After I beat you they won't wonder if you can break my record, they'll be reminded why it still stands and you'll never come close to touching it.”
She pushes off the wall and steps closer to the camera.
“You see Alicia, This isn't personal for me. “ She said “We're both defending momentum and defending our place. But you're going to find out that I will always be your better because I'm going to elevate my internet championship the same way I elevated the roulette championship, and when I'm done they won't talk about who had it before me. They'll talk about the era that began when I took control,and you just get to be part of the transition.”
She smiles arrogantly
“I'll remind you who you're better is.” she said “Remind you that perhaps the name Alicia Lukas doesn't carry as much weight around here as you think. Because when I beat you the conversation ends everybody will know that Victoria lions is the true dominance of the bombshell division.
She pauses again.
“I'll see you out there Alicia.” she said “Where you will find out that while you are a champion, I will always be the standard.”
She gives one final confident nod at the camera and it fades to block.