The first day of the cruise had been a blur of boarding lines, luggage, room keys and wrestlers wandering around the ship like they had been dropped into a floating luxury hotel. There were plenty of jokes about who would spend all week at the buffet, who would get lost first, and which of them were going to somehow turn a relaxing vacation into a backstage argument. But by the second day, the Princess Cruise had begun to settle around the SCW roster and the ship was well out into open water.

Zayvion stood at the railing of one of the upper decks wearing a sleeveless shirt,  athletic shorts, and a pair of sunglasses he had bought at one of the gift shops on board after realizing he had packed at least five pairs of wrestling boots but only one decent pair of sunglasses. He took a ship from a bottle of water and watch the waves roll away beneath the ship. It was all just so peaceful.

Cleo Phillips emerged behind him wearing a loose white cover up over a dark swimsuit and carrying two plates of food from the buffet, she held one plate out to him.

“Don't say I didn't bring you anything.” she said.

Zayvion looked at the plate. There was some fruit, a couple small sandwiches, some grilled chicken and an unnecessarily large slice of chocolate cake.

“You brought me cake?” said Zayvion

“I got me cake.” Cleo corrected him “You can have the fruit.”

“That's cold.” Zayvion replied.

“Well you have a match.” she said “You need to eat healthy, to keep your body healthy.

“Is that right?” said Zayvion with a grin.

“Just being a good coach and trainer.” Cleo grinned back at him.

The two laughed together as Zavion popped a piece of pineapple into his mouth. It was delicious.

“That's got to be some of the freshest pineapple I've ever tasted.” Zayvion said.

“Still not cake.” Cleo smirked.

The two laughed as Cleo stepped up beside him at the railing. The pool deck below them was busy, families were lounging in chairs with their kids racing from one side of the pool to the other as soft music played from the speakers. He could spot a few of his SCW colleagues milling about enjoying the ship in their own way.

“I still can't get over how big this ship is.” Zayvion said “It's like a giant floating city.”

“It basically is.” Cleo agreed.

“And somehow everyone in the city is either a tourist, a crew member, or a wrestler trying not to get recognized while wearing flip flops.” Zayvion said.

They shared another laugh together and things went quiet for a moment, Zayvion enjoying more pineapple, Cleo enjoying bites of her cake. Zayvion’s eyes shifted around between all the activity of the ship around him.

It was the little things Zayvion was really starting to notice, an elderly couple sitting side by side enjoying the ocean view together, a group of teenagers taking what seemed to be the same selfie over and over, crew members moving efficiently through all the crowds somehow making the whole operation look effortless.

Zayvion said his forearms on the railing and looked out at the ocean.

“You have the thinking face on.” Cleo said.

“Just taking it all in.” Zayvion replied.

His eyes went back to the elderly couple, a how they simply sat beside each other, close enough that shoulders touched. They sat looking out at the waters if they had seen a thousand oceans together. He wondered how long they had known each other,  and how many trips they had taken. All the hard days they must have survived and the good ones as well.

His thoughts drifted back home. Big Momma would be lounging poolside judging everybody that walked by. Kaelani would have been taking selfies all over the deck like a typical teenager.  Saphira would try stealing desserts from the buffet,  Baby J would be fixated on all the seagulls and Malik? Malik would be running from one deck to the other looking for pirates.

Zayvion smiled, Cleo caught it straight away.

“What?” he said.

“That's twice now.” she said.

“Just thinking about home.” he said “I wish they could all see this.”

“You could consider bringing them next year." Cleo suggested.

“Yeah..” he said “I just might.”

As his eyes shifted around someone in particular caught his attention.

“No way.” he said.

“What is it?” Cleo asked.

Zayvion pointed to an older man across the deck from them moving past a row of lounge chairs with a towel slung over his shoulder.  He held a book under one arm, but most importantly, he had an eye patch.

“Pirate.” he said.

Cleo raised an eyebrow.

“You know that man is not a pirate.” she said “This is a cruise ship, not a cartoon.”

“I know..” he said “But Malik had this whole thing about me keeping an eye out for pirates, and what sort of big brother would I be if I didn't entertain him a little bit? I need to get a picture.”

“You can't just go taking pictures of random people." Cleo said “It's weird.”

“So just stand over there real quick.” he said "If I take a picture of you, and happen to catch him in the background then it's not weird.”

Cleo shook her head and laughed.

“You're lucky I love the little guy too.” she said.

Cleo got into position and gave a quick pose as Zayvion snapped a photo successfully,  cleverly capturing the potential secret pirate in the background.

He wasted no time sending the picture to Malik, along with a message.

Took a picture of Miss Cleo, and look who I caught sneaking around in the background.

Moments later, the familiar ding of the notification bell went off on his phone.

I KNEW IT!! THat is defanetley a secrut pirate. He might be looking for tresure. DO NOT LET HIM STEEL THE CHAMPONSHIP

Zayvion laughed, and show the response to Cleo who laughed as well.

He responded back.

I'll keep an eye on him. Big Brother Zay is officially on pirate watch.

Ding.

Be carefuul Zay.

Zayvion smiled.

“We really got to work on that kid's spelling.” he said to Cleo.

“Well he doesn't lack imagination, that's for sure.”  said Cleo.

“You can say that again.” Zayvion replied.

“He's going to tell everyone for weeks that his brother fought off a pirate on a cruise ship.” Cleo said

“I didn't say I fought him off.” Zayvion replied.

“You're going to let Malik believe you did.” Cleo replied.

“Depends how dangerous the situation gets.” Zayvion grinned.

“You're such a bad influence.” Cleo laughed

"I'm a supportive big brother." said Zayvion.

“You can be both.” said Cleo

They both laughed together. The message from Malik helped ground him. He imagined his little brother back home thinking about treasure maps, pirate swords and some eyepatched villain plotting to steal the roulette championship.

He was going to do everything in his power to make sure he was the one we left with the roulette championship not Ryan Keys, not Ciaran O'Doyle and certainly not any secret pirates.

__________

The cameras catch Zayvion Lyons poolside lounging in one of the chairs with his headphones on as we hear the familiar sound of music that accompanies the beginning of a Zayvion Lyons promo. This week it’s “Will” by Joyner Lucas

##I'm feelin' like Will##
##I think I'm a prince.##
## I'm feeling myself##
##I'm loaded with bills##
##'cause I wasn't blessed with no Uncle Phil##

He looks to the camera as he lowers the headphones and the music fades.

“So it's respect then.” he said “That's what the three of us are building this match on."

He nods.

“Aight, bet.” he said “I can fuck with that. But don't either of you mistake respect for complacency. When that bell rings I'm coming for both of you and I'm coming to take back the Roulette Championship.”

Zayvion glanced for a moment before looking back at the camera.

“I like that this match isn't going to be personal.” he said "Ryan Keys you were the better man at King for a Day, and Ciaran O'Doyle, I see the hunger in your eyes and I know exactly how tough that hunger can make somebody.”

Another nod.

“That makes it simple.” he said “This ain't no blood feud  and there ain't no hatred or personal vendetta. It's just three men that want the exact same thing. The SCW roulette championship and honestly I like it that way.”

A smile grows across his face.

“I like going out there competing and knowing there ain't going to be no excuses.” he said “If I win, then I earned it. If one of you win, then you earned it.”

A small pause.

“That's the thing about respect.” he said in a calm but firm voice “Respect is cool, and respect means that we all understand what the match is supposed to be. It means I know neither of you are a joke, and it means you know I'm not just here to float through the cruise happy to be here. But at the end of the day we all know that respect doesn't win championships.”

Another pause.

“So while I respect the both of you, and everything you both can do.” he said “When that bell rings all that respect gets left on the deck with the rest of the vacation plans. Because I'm not coming out there to share a nice moment with either of y'all.  I'm not coming to clap for having a good match and smile while somebody else walks out with that championship."

He shakes his head.

“I already did the hard part.” he said “I won the championship once so I know what it feels like to have that gold on my shoulder and hear the crowd say my name.  This isn't about proving I belong, that part's over. This is just about taking back what was mine.”

He pauses for a moment the ocean basking in the sunlight behind him.

“Some people look at redemption like it's some soft thing.” he said “A bunch of tears and speeches with everybody clapping because someone had a bad night and decided to try again. But to me, redemption is ugly. Redemption is sweaty. Redemption is somebody getting dropped on their head and getting back out because they decided they're not leaving without what they came for, and here on this cruise that person is me.”

He points to himself.

“All I've been doing is working since I lost that championship.” he said “I've been in the gym, I've been in the ring and I've been studying and listening. Not just the two of you, but myself as well. I need to look at the mistakes in my game so I don't slip up and take the L this time. I've been grinding myself into the ground so I can get back up one more time better than I was before.”

He lets his words hang for a moment as this ship moves steadily on carrying them with it.

“That's what people are missing.” he said “I'm not out here hoping for a lucky break or asking the universe to hand me something because I've been patient. I know patience.  Patience get you watched and studied but it also gets you left behind if you get too comfortable. So I ain't waiting on the right moment, or the ideal little storybook ending where everybody gets a nice handshake and a round of applause. I'm coming to make my own ending."

A smile creeps across his face.

“Ryan Keys,  I know you're not coming to that ring thinking it's going to be some easy night at sea.” he said “You've already beaten me once and that gives you confidence as it should confidence is useful and it keeps you moving, just be careful not to slip into overconfidence because because overconfidence will get you hurt."

He pauses.

“Ciaran O'Doyle..” he said “You're looking at this match like the opportunity of a lifetime, and in some ways it is because you know you don't get endless chances at this. You know you don't get to sleep walk through anything and assume the belt is going to wait around for you. So while I respect your hunger,  and I respect your drive and the fact that both of you are stepping in there for a reason. But don't forget that I've got one too and it's simple. I lost something I earned and I don't like how that feels.”

He shrugs.

“That's it.” he said “No complicated story, just  a man who doesn't like losing and doesn't intend on staying in that position.”

He pauses.

"Some would say Zay, you're on a cruise you should enjoy the vacation, relax and not put so much pressure on yourself.” he said “But the problem is if you've been through enough you know how to carry pressure, and you know how to breathe under it and keep moving when everybody else thinks you should buckle. I've been doing it my whole life carrying the weight of expectations, be it family, failure, recovery, wrestling, all of it. If I can carry all that, I can carry the weight of one championship match on a cruise ship in front of the whole world.”

He grins.

“Especially if the prize is my championship belt.” he said. “This week is supposed to be about enjoying the ride and I get it. I mean the sun, the ocean, the food. It's all beautiful  but I didn't come here for beautiful I came here for business. The business of taking back what's mine,  and I'm ready for all of it. When I step into that ring I'm not going to think about the buffet or the pool or all the amenities this cruise ship has to offer. I'm thinking about the roulette championship and hearing my name announced as the winner after I knock you both into the drink.”

He motions toward the pool.

“Maybe that's where it ends for one of you.” he said “Maybe that's where it ends for both of you if you ain't careful. You take a nice little splash, and I walk out with the championship.  Some people talk about pressure like it's a curse like it's the thing that's going to break you, but it doesn't break everybody oftentimes pressure makes diamonds and sometimes pressure makes men.”

He pauses again.


"I'm not asking to be validated." he said "I'm just telling you who I am a man who got knocked down and got back up a man who lost something and refuse to let that be the end of the story I'm a man who understands what he's stepping into and knows exactly what he's willing to do is leave for he came for."

His eyes narrow.

“So enjoy the cruise boys.” he said "Enjoy the sun, the water, the food. Enjoy the chance to say you are part of the Summer Xxxtreme aboard the Princess Cruise because once that bell rings, it's just me, the two of you and the championship. And I'm not leaving till I get mine back.”

He exhales.

“I've been through too much to treat this like a one-night story.” he said “I've come too far to get all the way here to be satisfied with looking respectable. I'm not here for respect alone, I'm here for the championship. So we can start with respect, but we're going to end with my hand raised as the new SCW roulette championship.”

He nods confidently to the headphones back on his head and leans back into his lounge chair.

“So enjoy the cruise fellas, because when Summer Xxxtreme actually gets here then the work begins.” he said

He eases more comfortably in his chair relaxing as the camera steadys on him for a moment before fading to black.

Most people deal with a major loss in two different ways. Some people begin to question themselves and beat themselves up over it, and others use it as a learning opportunity to bounce back stronger. Zayvion Lyons is one who prides himself on being the latter,  and even though he took the L against Ryan Keys, he's focused on the bounce back and regaining the Roulette Championship.
[/i]
__________

Zayvion sat in his family's Inglewood home and sweatpants in a faded hoodie watching his younger brother Malik pace the room and frustration. The kid had taken Zayvion's loss of the Roulette Championship harder than Zayvion himself.

Zayvion understood, His little brother looked at him like a hero, and nobody wants to see their heroes lose.

“They cheated.” Malik said “The referee counted too fast!”

“No, little man.” said Zayvion “Ryan Keys you got me plain and simple.”

“But you just won that championship!” Malik pouted.

“Sometimes it happens like that.” said Zayvion "You can't win them all,  I just got to try harder next time.”

“Doesn't it bother you?” Malik asked

“Of course it bothers me.” said Zayvion.

“Then why aren't you mad?” Malik's questioning continued.

“I am mad.” said Zayvion "I worked hard to get that championship,  and I wanted to keep it. It sucks that I lost it about as soon as I got it.”

“Then why are you acting so calm?” Malik asked.

“Because being mad doesn't change what happened.” Zayvion told him. “It's no use getting mad every time you take an L.”

Malik finally stopped pacing and sat on the couch next to Zayvion.

“Let me ask you something little bro.” Zayvion said.

“What?” piqued Malik.

"Who usually wins when we play Mario Kart?" Zayvion asked him

"Me!." Malik replied A smirk immediately appearing on his face.

"Most of the time." Zayvion agreed

“All of the time.” Malik said matter-of-factly

“Okay first of all… that's not true.” Zayvion grinned.

“Okay fine, but I still win nine point nineninenineninenine percent of the time” Malik replied

“Do I get mad when I lose?” said Zayvion “Do I throw the controller, call the game stupid and refuse to play anymore?”

“No.” Malik replied “You always just want to race again.”

“Exactly.” Zayvion continued “When I lose I just have to figure out why. Maybe I did a bad turn, or used the wrong item at the wrong time or maybe you were just better.”

“It's the last one.” said Malik with a grin.

“Don't push it.” said Zavion playfully punching his brother in the shoulder.

Malik's grin widened.

"And what happened a few times I beat you?" Zayvion continued "Did you get mad?”

“No.” Malik replied “I just raced you again.”

“Exactly.” Zayvion said “You got better and you won next time.”

“So you're saying this is just another loss?” said Malik looking up at Zayvion.

“It's a loss.” Zayvion explained “And losses are part of life.”

“I still don't like it.” said Malik.

“You don't have to.” said Zayvion.

“I don't?” Malik said raising an eyebrow.

“You don't have to like losing.” Zayvion explained “Nobody does. Anyone who says they do is cappin’. But there's a difference between hating a loss and letting a loss control you.”

“What do you mean?” asked Malik.

“When people let losses control them,  they start making excuses for it.“ said Zayvion.

“Like saying the game cheated?” said Malik

“Exactly.” said Zayvion “And that sort of attitude is never going to help you get better. If I lost it's because Ryan Keys was the better man that night,  and I need to find the mistakes I made and fix those mistakes. I need to put in work,  So that I can do better next time.”

“So then next time, you can become a two-time champion!” said Malik

“That's the spirit.” said Zayvion playfully rubbing his brother's head. “One loss doesn't erase everything that came before it. I still worked my way up and know what I'm capable of so losing that Championship doesn't make me a loser, it just means I lost. If I let the loss consume me, then that is what would make me a loser.”

“So what's next?” Malik asked.

“What's next is training hard with your Auntie Cleo so I can bring that Championship home again.” said Zayvion “But right now I think there's only one thing to focus on…”

“What's that?” Malik asked.

“Getting my dub back from you…” Zayvion grinned.

“Oh you want to lose in Mario Kart again.” said Malik.

“If I do..” said Zayvion “I'll just run it back and try harder in the next one.”

“You never learn do you?" said Malik shaking his head.

“Just go get the sticks and let's do this.” said Zayvion.

Malik happily ran off to get everything ready for the game, and for Zayvion, the loss still hurt,  but life kept moving and so would he.

__________

It was supposed to be a day of just kicking back with the boys. Zayvion wanted to just chilling get his mine up SCW for a little while after the loss of his championship.

So of course it was just his luck that has he passed an empty basketball court, and he was confronted with a familiar voice.

Terrell Booker. Once again being the neighborhood problem.

“Well if it isn't the former champ..” Terrell taunted “You talked all that game about being a champion and you choked in your first offense.”

“That's one way of looking at it.” said Zayvion.

“Honestly I'd be embarrassed to show my face around here after that if I were you.” said Terrell

“Well, I guess it's a good thing you're not me.” Zayvion replied.

Terrell took a step closer to Zayvion.

“You ain't got your boys with you now.” said Terrell “Your little fan club ain't here this time.”

Zayvion looked around dramatically.

“Nope.” he said.

“Don't get smart with me.” said Terrell

The two stood there and locked eyes for a moment. Zayvion wasn't looking for a fight, but he could tell Terrell was. That left him with two options, fight, or pass a charisma check.

“Can I ask you something?” said Zayvion.

“What?” said Terrell.

“Why do you care so much?” Zayvion asked. “You always got something to say about me, and everybody else.”

“I just don't think you're as special as everybody thinks.” said Terrell.

“Okay.” shrugged Zayvion.

“Okay?!” Terrell seemed confused.

“Okay.” Zayvion restated.

“What you playin’ at?” Terrell said, annoyed.

“I mean you're allowed to have whatever opinion you want of me.” said Zayvion “But maybe you shouldn't spend so much time worrying about what everybody else is doing.”

“Somebody's got to keep everybody on the block humble.” said Terrell.

“Why?” said Zayvion “And why would that be your job?”

Zayvion motioned around him.

“Look around.” he said “People here don't need you humbling them because life already has. Everybody here has something they're fighting. We all got enough obstacles, but instead of helping somebody overcome those obstacles you're out here trying to become another one.”

Terrell scoffed.

“We should be lifting each other up.  Not bringing each other down.” said Zayvion.

“That all sounds soft to me.” said Terrell

“What's soft is needing everybody around you to feel smaller so you can feel bigger.” said Zayvion.

Terrell's eyes narrowed. Zayvion wasn't intimated.

“You always going around trying to start a fight.“ said Zayvion "You have to have everybody thinking you're tough, and I'm not saying you're not, but you spend so much time trying to prove it, that you made it your whole personality. But you know what I see?”

“What?” said Terrell.

“I see a guy spending his afternoon worrying about the championship somebody else lost.” said Zayvion.

“Because you LOST.” said Terrell

“Yeah.. I lost” Zayvion shrugged “And somehow you're more upset about it than I am. You keep talking about my loss but what are you building and working toward.?”

“Huh?” said Terrell

“What are your goals?" said Zayvion “What are you trying to accomplish? Because every time I come around and see you, you're talking about somebody else. But I never hear you talk about yourself.”

Terrell didn't answer.

“I think you're scared.” said Zayvion.

“Man I'm a real one, I ain't afraid of nobody." said Terrell.

“I didn't say scared of somebody.” Zayvion replied “I think you're scared of being nobody. Because if you're not the toughest guy around, nobody asks what else you got going on.“

“I don't need your pity.” said Terrell

“I'm not trying to pity you.” said Zayvion “I just think you're capable of more than this.”

“I don't need to listen to you.” said Terrell.

“No you don't.“ said Zayvion. “You can do whatever you want. But I'm just trying to tell you, you keep acting like you do ain't nothing ever going to change. Sure I got knocked down and lost my championship, but it happens. Everybody who ever accomplished something experienced failure along the way. Every successful person takes losses and it's about what you learn from them.”

Terell remained quiet.

“I if you don't learn from your loss then you're going to stay exactly where you are.“ said Zayvion “I'm not trying to wake up ten years from now the exact same place I'm trying to get my bag I'm trying to wise up and ain't nobody like you going to hold me back. So go ahead Terrell. Keep hating because I'm going to rise back up, and when I get my championship again you're still going to be stuck in the same place. So until then, have a good day Terrell."

Zayvion patted Terrell on the shoulder, smiled and simply walked away.

“Hey get back here!” Terrell called back at him “I'm not done with you! This ain't over Zayvion!”

Zayvion ignored Terrell shouts. The guy could try to run the neighborhood and act as tough as he wanted.  One thing he wasn't going to do was distract Zayvion from the main focus of becoming a champion again, because unlike Terrell, Zayvion was building something bigger than himself.

__________

The cameras open for Zayvion Lyons sitting on the hood of his car in a quiet parking lot wearing his usual Urban attire, hoodie, baggy pants, Air Force Ones. He's wearing his headphones and letting some music play to start the promo this time, it's Big Sean’s “Bounce Back”

##Last night took a L, but tonight I bounce back##
##Boy, I been broke as hell, cashed a check and bounced back##
##D town LAX, every week I bounce back##
##If you a real one, then you know how to bounce back##

Zayvion lowers the headphones, and locks eyes with the camera.

“You know everybody's got an opinion about what happened.” he said "I lost the Roulette Championship, and that's okay. Not because I wanted it to happen, I worked my ass off to get that championship.”

He shrugs.

“Losses happen.” he said “Some people will see a loss and treat it like it's the end of a story, but that ain't me. I see it as one chapter and what matters now is what I do in the next one.

He pauses.

“That brings me to Ciaran Doyle…” he continued. “I ain't got no issues with Ciaran. No bad blood or nothing. That man walks into that ring every time and does his thing. That's something I can respect, but it's also why I can't afford to overlook him. Because right now what I need is a challenge. I need somebody that's going to force me to bring my best so I can remind everybody, including myself, who Zayvion Lyons is.”

He slowly stands up from the hood of the car.

“I may not have held that championship for a long time.” he said “But champions aren't defined by how long they hold a title, they're defined by how they respond when they lose it. I'm not going to make any excuses. Ryan Keys was the better man that night and I had to take the L.”

He shrugs.

“It is what it is.” he said “But now I have to bounce back, and what that means for you Ciaran is that you're going to get a version of me that's more determined than ever.”

He nods once.

“That's the thing about setbacks.” he said “A lot of people think a setback means you're moving backward, but for me a setback means the road just got a little longer. If anybody thinks me losing that championship changes where I'm headed, then they're just fooling themselves.”

He begins pacing in front of the car.

“Ciaran, you didn't wrong me, or disrespect me.” Zayvion continued “But you are the man that stands across from me as I try to climb right back to the top of the mountain, and that's a tough place to be.”

He exhales quickly.

“The version of me standing in here now is going to come a little different.” he said “Because this version knows what it feels like to work hard for something and have it taken away. This version is going to hit harder and move faster. I'm not going to stop believing in myself because I lost my championship. It just makes me work harder, and that's bad news not just for you, but for the rest of the locker room as well.”

He lets those words hang for a moment.

“I've bounced back from losses before.” he said “Every single time I got knocked out, I got back up because that's who I am. tlthat championship didn't make Zayvion Lyons,  I made Zayvion Lyons. And that's something nobody's going to be able to take away from me.”

He pauses.

“Ciaran, this match isn't about proving who's tougher.” he said “We've already both proven that we're tough and that we belong here. It's about two men trying to move forward and only one gets to leave with momentum, and right now I need it. I need to get back on track.”

A determined look crosses his face.

“I'm going to remind everyone, and myself that I'm the guy that keeps pushing and I'm the guy that gets back up.” he said “I will fight my way back to the top and you Ciaran are the one that's in my way of doing that next.”

He exhales.

“When we step in that ring I'm not carrying the weight of a loss.” he said “I'm carrying the lesson. The difference is that anybody can let a loss break them and look for excuses. But that's never been me, it ain't me now, and it ain't never going to be me. Losing that championship told me that nothing is guaranteed, so that means every chance you get matters and this chance matters to me this is my chance to get on my bounce back.”

He speaks not with arrogance but determination and confidence.

“That's why I have to give you everything I got.” he said "Because you're standing between me and that next step. I can't overlook you or take you lightly, because that's how people lose and I had enough of that last time.”

He grins.

“I don't look backwards.” said Zayvion “What happened, happened. It's in the past but what happens next is about to be even more exciting.”

He pauses.

“Don't believe me just watch.” he said.

He gives s one final confident look to the camera before putting the headphones back on, sits back on the hood of the car and lets everything fade to black to one final lyric.

##Last night I took an L, but tonight I bounce back…##

Universal Studios glows in the warm Osaka sun. Music drifts in the air as rides move in the distance. Zayvion and Cleo make their way through the crowd at an easy pace with no pressure in either of their postures.

Cleo watches Zayvion for a moment.

“You walkin’ like your head somewhere else.” she said.

“Just taking it all in.” he said looking over at her

“Good.“ she said. 

Zayvion sensed some sort of intention behind it but let it go.

They continue to move deeper into the park. Zayvion's gaze shifted, catching all the different signs and colors before settling somewhere more specific. Cleo caught it instantly.

Super Nintendo World.

“I know you tryin’ to play it cool..” she said "But you ain't slick.”

“I didn't say nuthin’..” Zayvion said with a half smile.

“You ain't have to” Cleo said not in towards the big dream pipe “Let's go.”

“It's….LETSA GO!” Zayvion grinned doing his best Mario impression.

Cleo just rolled her eyes as she followed him into the green pipe, leading into Super Nintendo World.

The colors hit Zayvion first, gold coins spun overhead. Zayvion really felt like he had arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom.

“Man this is crazy..” he said with a smile “Malik would lose his mind in here.”

“Malik or you?” said Cleo with a grin.

“Hey.. I'm easing into it.” Zayvion smirked.

“Mmhmm.” said Cleo, shaking her head.

They drift deeper in and slip into one of the nearby shops Zayvion's eyes scanning the shelves filled with all the familiar characters from the series, his eyes finally setting on a remote control Mario Kart Toy.

“Yeah this is the one.” he said “It's Yoshi too, he's going to love it that's his favorite character.”

“Malik?” said Cleo.

“Yeah.” he said “That's our game. We always try to get in some Mario Kart when I'm home.”

“He always beats you too.” Cleo grinned.

“Only because I let him." said Zayvion “That's just being a good big brother, it helps him build confidence.”

“Is that what you tell yourself?” said Cleo with a grin.

“That's my story and I'm sticking to it.” Zayvion grinned cheekily.

Cleo just shook her head with a smile as Zayvion set the toy into his hand basket.

“He talks crazy after too.” Zayvion continued, "I tell you that boy is going to be a promo machine one day, his trash talk is second to none.”

He grabbed a baby chew toy off the shelf, a red Mario mushroom that said -this will help me get big-.

“For Baby J.” he noted.

Cleo nodded.

He looked around a little bit more and shrugged.

“I got to look somewhere else for the girls.” he said “This place ain't really their speed.”

“Well we got a whole park.” she said “I'm sure you'll find something in one of the other sections.”

“Yeah..” he said “Saphira really likes the Minion movies, “So we should probably check the Minion World out. And we could probably find some nice jewelry or something for Kaelani and Big Mama.”

After making this purchase he and Cleo moved out of the Nintendo section back into the main park area, falling along with the movement of the crowd.

“You know, your energy is different now.” Cleo said.

“What do you mean?” he asked

“You're more….loose."  she said “Like your mind is just at ease.”

“I guess.” he said “It's not hard to do in a place like this,  but if I didn't know better I'd say you planned it this way."

“Maybe I did.” Cleo said “At least a little.”

Zayvion shot her a curious look.

“You've been working hard.” Cleo said “Keeping your focus on Logan Hunter and your championship match and I needed to make sure you weren't thinking about it too much because overthinking things can get you in trouble.”

Zayvion nodded.

“Sort of a free your mind type of deal.” he said.

‘Exactly.“ she said.

“Feels kind of weird though..” he said “Not sitting there thinking about the match every two seconds.”

“That's the point.” Cleo said “You ain't supposed to be carrying it with you everywhere you go.”

“Feels like I gotta though.” Zayvion admitted.

“Nah.” Cleo said “You just think you do.”

Zayvion let that sink in for a moment as they continued through the park, eventually finding their way to Minion Park.

“Now this is where Saphira would lose it..” he said. “Let's go see what we can find.”

“Lead the way youngblood.” said Cleo.

As they stepped into the bright chaos of Minion Park, Zayvion exhaled softly ,letting the thoughts of family take over letting his mind relax. He would be sure to find something here for each and every one of them and then when Into The Void came around he would defeat Logan Hunter and take home the Roulette Championship for himself.

_______

The cameras open on a city street where is Zayvion Lyons can be seen headphones on posted up on the side of a wall Cleo Phillips stands nearby also posted on a nearby streetlight, we get a close up of
Zayvion's face as a snippet of “I Can” by Nas is heard.

//I know I can
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)\\

He lowers the headphones as the music fades out and looks up into the camera.

“You know Logan…” he said "You did say something that was true.  You mentioned Victoria, Vincent and Eddie have had an iron grip on things for far too long. That much I agree with because those three have had an iron grip on the family for far too long.”

He pauses.

“The golden trio as they're called sometimes around The Lyons Den." He said “All because they're the ones that grew up living in it. Because my father wanted to be a playboy and not accept responsibility for his children. I've got brothers and sisters that carry the name but never got the benefits. But guess what? We here now, and we finna take what we deserve, that's the Roulette Championship.”

He gives a confident nod to the camera.

“My hard work got me here.” [/color]he said “I stayed on my grind, and got here without being handed a key to the kingdom. So if you finna keep comparing me to my cousins, then you going to find out how different I am. Eddie's a great guy, Victoria's tenacious as hell, and Vincent can put fear in even the coldest of hearts, but without due respect they ain't built like me,  they ain't struggle through, what I struggled through.”

“You want to talk about me going to hell, Brooke?” said Cleo “Let me tell you something I've been to hell, and I survived it. Places I was locked up in, places you wouldn't survive. But if you want to find out what I had to do to survive hell, then involve your trick ass in this match and you'll find out that I got more than just a couple spears for your ass.”

“Which leaves you entirely in my hands Logan.” said Zayvion “And you'll find out how far comparing me to my cousins is going to get you. You need to stop worrying about Ryan Keys as well because he ain't your problem right now, but I sure as hell I am, and I bring a whole different type of party.”

“And you sure as hell ain't invited to the cookout.” Cleo chimed in.

“Oh for sure.” Zayvion agreed “Ain't no way you getting into one of our block parties. I mean Marissa seems cool, she could probably come kick it. But she's got to leave Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum at home.”

“Which one's which?” Cleo grinned.

“That's for them to figure out.” Zayvion shrugged. "All I'm focused on is taking that Roulette Championship back home to the states back home to the block so I can show everybody that there is a way out and hard work does pay off. I ain't just doing this for me Logan, I'm doing this for my people, for my family.”

He exhales heavily.

“I want to get my bag Logan.” Zayvion said “Me winning that championship means more money in that bag. Which means more money toward getting my family, my brothers and sisters into a better home. Make it so my little brother and sister Malik and Saphira can go to college. So little Baby J can have a future, so my teenage sister Kaelani can just enjoy being a teenager, and so Big Momma don't have to work no more. Things you can't understand Logan because you're selfish ass only thinks about yourself and your own needs.  I may carry the name, and have Lyons in my blood but that's not the family I'm fighting for.”

He pauses shortly.

“You need to understand that this ain't a game I'm playin.” said Zayvion “When that bell rings things are going to get real, for you very quickly. I promise you're about to lose that championship for a third time, and you can't do a damn thing about it.”

He pushes off the wall and begins a slow walk down the street with Cleo following shortly behind, like a shadow ready to jump in if needed.

“That's the thing about people like you Logan.” he continued as he walked “You're the type that always thinks they're the main character and that everything revolves around them. The funny thing is in your own story you're not even really the main character, Brooke is, you're nothing more than a player in her story.”

He shrugs.

“So keep talking about me like I'm another name on your list Logan.” he said “Like I'm just some Lyons cousin trying to step up and take a shot. Because what you don't understand is I'm not stepping up, I'm stepping through you.”

“Straight through.” Cleo ad-libbed.

“I ain't coming in there to prove nothing to nobody.” he said “I already proved everything I needed to by surviving long enough just to get here. What I'm coming for now is results,  and I'm going to get my results Into the Void.”

He exhales slightly as they round a corner.

“I don't care how tough you think you are Logan.” He said “You ain't ready for the pressure I'm about to bring. I'm built different, and I love breaking people who think they can step up to me and stop my grind.”

He laughs as if amused at the idea.

“You talk like this is just some other match for you.” he said “It's so much more than that for me this is my life because I got people depending on me, and I got to make something happen so they ain't stuck no more. You ain't never had that kind of pressure sitting on you every single day and that's why you're about to lose that championship. It has nothing to do with your talent, it's because you don't need it the way I do.”

He exhales heavily.

“People like me don't get these opportunities often.” he said calming his voice “So when they do, you don't hesitate or second guess and you sure as hell don't let somebody like you walk out holding what you need. So you can say whatever you want to help yourself sleep at night, but understand I've already made peace with what I gotta do to win and I'm not sure you have.”

He pauses, the duo continuing a casual stride.

“I'm going to come to fight like somebody that's got everything to lose.”[/color] he said “And that's not something you're ready for. You command me to kneel?”

He shakes his head and spits on the ground.

“I kneel to nobody.” he said “Certainly not you, what you have on your hands Is OPEN REBELLION, and it's a war you're completely unprepared for.”

“Bet.” said Cleo.

With one final confident nod to the camera to continue down the sidewalk the camera lingering on them until they're just out of distance and everything fades to black

___________

Everything around Zayvion Lyons keeps moving,  as it always has. But something in his rhythm has changed, nothing theatrical or forced. Something more internal, the kind of shift that doesn't announce itself but shows up in how a man shows up and performs when the pressure is on.

He carries a family name that opens doors and casts shadows at the same time.  Tied to a lineage that he didn't grow up inside of, but still finds himself measured against as if he's just another extension of something they already defined.

But the legacy has never been equally distributed and Zayvion has been one of the ones on the outside of the structure who had to force their way through the doors.

Ahead of him stands Logan Hunter and the Roulette Championship but that no longer feels like the only thing defining him, it just feels like the next key shift in his career.

This was about building something for himself and his family.  It was the type of weight that felt purposeful and that's what made it easy to carry.

Zayvion Lyons heads to Into The Void as someone who already has chosen what matters most, so when the bell finally rings Logan Hunter won't be facing a man drowning in expectation. He'll be facing a man who learned how to move without being buried by it.

[center]Music drifted across Tivoli Gardens, lanterns lighting the pathways as crowds wandered past speaking half a dozen different languages. Zayvion watched from a railing, resting his elbows on the metal, for a while he didn't say anything.

Cleo noticed, she always did.

“You're thinking hard again.” she said.

“Yeah..” he nodded in reply "It's just this whole tour is crazy, you know? I mean we started in Legoland,  California right next door to home. I took the family there, drove them back the same night and now look at this. It was just a couple shows ago, I was in my own backyard. Now I'm like ten gazillion miles away from Inglewood in a park that's older than my whole damn city.”

“Well I don't think it's quite that many miles.” Cleo chuckled. “But yeah I get it, I felt the same back in PWS when I went on my first Global tour, I realized everything was so much bigger than just New York.”

Zayvion nodded slowly.

“Yeah bigger..” he said looking back across the glowing lake resting inside Tivoli Gardens. “Back home it was just the same streets, same people, same spots. Now everything feels for the lack of a better term, foreign.”

“That's the job.” Cleo said. “I know it's a culture shock, but you'll get used to it. Just don't let it distract you from the bigger picture.”

The roulette championship in Logan Hunter not in Zayvion and I got to get through Liam Davis again this week, ironically he's the same guy I beat back when this whole tour started, but yet again it just feels different.”

“Because you're drawing closer to your championship match.” Cleo noted “This is the last stop before you get Logan.”

Zayvion nodded.

“Yeah..” he said. “Logan.”

“You know gotta whoop his ass, right?” she said “He was playin’ games with you, playin’ games with Carter. But you got to take that championship from him and show him that you ain't playin’.”

“I got this.” said Zayvion “Just please don't slap me like you did Victoria.”

Cleo laughed.

“Hey she needed some sense smacked into her, she's got a big opportunity too and whether she likes it or not it's representative of all of us.” she said.

“Well that's her fight.” he said “Logan is who I need to be concerned about.”

“You're not wrong about that.” said Cleo “And I got your back if that little trash bag hussy Brooke tries to get involved. Bet yo’ ass I got something more for her ass than just a spear this time.”

Zayvion widened his eyes that certainly didn't sound good for Brooke, but Cleo was her problem. He was going to be Logans.

“For real.” Cleo said “Don't lose focus.”

“I'm not.” he said “I guess maybe I was just hoping for more out of Logan. But I guess he's keen on letting his girl do the talking for him.”

“It be like that sometimes.” Cleo shrugged “ “You just got to show him what kind of man you are. When you get back to your family, you're going to go home a champion."

“Damn right.” said Zayvion

“Good.” Cleo replied.

“All this out here…” he said “It's just the world, “But in the ring it's about the fight, and when we get to Japan Logan will find out what the fight of me is all about and he won't be able to hide behind Brooke.”

“Don't get too ahead of yourself.” Cleo reminded him “You still got Liam to worry about.”

“I beat Liam back in Legoland.“ Zayvion said “It's not going to be any different here in Copenhagen. I'm going to get all the momentum I need by putting down Liam Davis once again “

“Bet.” nodded Cleo.

“I guess I just never thought about how weird it would be going on this world tour.” he said “The places,all the different languages. I mean I know a few Spanish words, but it's nothing like out here.”

“You only know the dirty ones.” grinned Cleo

“Still know a few.” Zayvion grinned in return.

“Well you can call Logan every dirty word in the book and get the crowd to call him whatever you want.” Cleo said “But words ain't going to win you that championship.”

“I know…” said Zayvion “You ain't gotta worry about that. I figured him out when I called him out. When he let the Brooke do the talking for him,  I knew then it was a wrap. He ain't ready.”

“Well don't get too cocky.” Cleo said “Logan is a sneaky son of a bitch.”

“No doubt.” he said “But I'll be ready, I ain't come all the way to Japan to leave home with nothing. I'm going to do exactly what you said and bring my family home a championship.”

“That's the energy.” Cleo said “But first you handle business at Climax Control.”

“I got you.” said Zayvion “Liam Davis is going to be my warm up, nothing more. I got him once I know what he brings to the table and I ain't trying to overlook him but I ain't about to lose my momentum either.”

“Then go get it done.” said Cleo.

“I will." he said “Just watch me.”

The passersby by in the park were  taken in by all the sights,  the lights, the boats and everything Tivoli Gardens had to offer. Zayvion did as well, but the number one thing on his mind was the Roulette Championship and nobody, Liam Davis, Logan Hunter, none of them were going to stand in his way.

__________

Cameras open up on the close up of saving on Lyons with his headphones as music begins to play the sounds of riding dirty by Chamillionaire.

//They see me rollin'
They hatin'
Patrollin' and tryna catch me ridin' dirty
Tryna catch me ridin' dirty
Tryna catch me ridin' dirty\\

The music fades out as Zayvion looks up into the camera lowering his headphones.

“So we meet again Liam Davis..” he began “Last time I told you I had no choice but to beat you because you were a cop, and I got people that might look at me differently if I let a cop beat me. Now some of that still remains true, but now I need to do this for me.”

He pauses.

“It's about momentum.” he said “My momentum. I'm trying to make a statement to Logan Hunter before we get to Japan. You're just the unlucky bastard who stands in my way. I ain't trying to get too ahead of myself but it feels like I'm making some waves around here, and I need to put the cap on that by bringing a championship home when we get back to the states.”

He pauses shortly.

“Still banged up after that big parking lot brawl are you?” Zayvion asked “Doesn't matter to me, that's your problem to deal with. I'm going to whoop your ass just the same as I did back in Legoland. I just hope Logan Hunter is paying attention.”

He keeps his eyes locked on the camera.

“Are you paying attention Logan?” he said “Because I'm going to do to Liam what so many of his cop friends have been doing to my friends over the years and that's make him a victim, and then I'm going to go to Japan and I'm going to do even worse to you.  I'm going to make you a victim and I'm going to take that championship from you.”

His words come through firm and confident.

“The confidence I have right now.” he said “I just know there ain't nothing that's going to stop me from getting that championship. Whatever training Cleo has to put me through I'm going to do it. I promise you don't want to step in there with me right now.  Liam Davis, perhaps your best course of action is to… stand aside, officer.”

A cheeky grin appears on his face, lingering for a moment.

“But you won't..” he said “It's not in your nature, that's your whole thing as a cop right? Stand your ground and hold the line? I know how it goes. You're going to go in there thinking you're bringing order and keeping somebody like me in check.”

He waved a finger at the camera and shook his head.

“Ain't nobody checking me, you understand?” He said “Back in Legoland, you were the first test, and here in Copenhagen you're still a test, but the stakes are bigger because Logan Hunter is going to be watching and I need to send him a message so he knows exactly what's coming for him. He needs to know that Brooke isn't going to be able to save him. Nothing will stop what that boy got coming his way.”

He exhales, as he continues.

“See to me, this match is nothing more than a step backwards.” Zayvion said “And I don't like stepping back. I certainly don't like stepping back and failing. Zayvion Lyons is about moving forward, bottom line.”

He pauses again.

“Everything I've gone through in my life.” he said “All the struggles of just trying to survive. Being harassed by your friends just for how I look or how I dress. They've all led me here and I ain't looking to slow down they couldn't break me and you can't break me Liam, and neither will you when we get to Japan Logan.”

He pauses shortly again.

“I'm going to have my big moment at Into The Void.” he said “And nothing's going to slow me down, y'all can try but it ain't finna  happen. Zayvion Lyons is ready to run through anybody and everybody. I know what my last name is and I hope you all understand I'm no man of honor but I don't got my head completely up my ass either.  But if I have to fight fire with fire, I'll fight fire with fire.”

He exhales again.

“See I didn't get to where I'm at acting how people told me to, at least not all the time.” he said “I got here by surviving every person thinking they had me figured out. Those who thought I was another kid they could push around. All that did was make me harder to stop and I'm here and I'm on the verge of calling myself a champion, making everything I've fought for mean something and prove that it was all worth it.”

He keeps his confident gaze into the camera.

“I'm not going to assume no position or slow down for you at all Liam.” said Zayvion “There's nothing at all you're going to do to stop me, because at the end of the day, one things for sure officer.

He pauses.

“Right now…you're out of your jurisdiction.”

He nods confidently and puts his headphones back on has the music picks up again

//My music's so loud
I'm swangin'
They hopin' that they gon' catch me ridin' dirty
Tryna catch me ridin' dirty\\

fade to black

Zayvion shielded his eyes from the sunlight as he looked up at the giant radio tower endlessly spearing into the sky. The structure stood in an empty field that Cleo had secured permission to use via her connections.
[/i]
“I got to go all the way up there?” he said, still looking up at the tower. “It's pretty high….”

Cleo stepped in front of him with her arms folded.

“In a ladder match you don't think about how high it is.” She said “You don't think about who's underneath you trying to tip it over. You climb.”

He followed her to the base near the metal ladder system built into the side; it looked has unforgiving as it was intimidating.

“If you freeze up there…” she said “You fall."

Zayvion felt himself swallow heavily, as he reached out and grabbed the first rung. It felt cold and weathered. A reminder that this was not some gym machine bolted to the floor,  this was steel exposed to the weather, rising to an open sky with nothing to soften a fall.

“Remember you're not climbing a tower." she said “You're climbing toward opportunity. You master climbing this, a ladder is going to be child's play.”

He looked back at her and up the ladder once more.

“Climb.” She ordered.

He took in a deep breath and with an exhale he pulled himself up. The first few rungs were easy when the ground was still close enough that he could jump, that comforting thought quickly went away the higher he went, it wasn't long before he found himself high enough that jumping was no longer an option.

He wasn't even sure how high he was, maybe about fifteen feet, he could feel the wind pressing lightly on his back like it was testing him, but he kept focus on his pattern. Left hand, right foot, right hand, left foot.

“There you go, steady pace!” he could hear Cleo yell from below.

He made the mistake of looking down when he heard her, the field was already starting to shrink and he felt his stomach dip.

“You looking down?” he heard Cleo yell out to him

“Maybe!” he managed to yell back.

“What's down here?” she yelled back.

“Ground..” He yelled back.

“And what's at the top?” she called back.

He paused for a moment.

“Opportunity.” He yelled.

“So why are you studying the ground?” came Cleo's voice again.

His jaw tightened and he forced his eyes upward again the steel looked like it stretched on forever, red and white beams cutting into the stratosphere with patience like it had all the time in the world.

“Climb!” he heard Cleo yell.

He had no other choice. He moved up another rung and then another he didn't worry about how high he was. He could feel metal vibrating faintly beneath his boots as just enough wind passed through the structure to make it hum slightly.

Eventually he was high enough where he couldn't hear Cleo anymore  which meant he had to be fifty feet or more. He wondered about the stability of this old tower. Somehow he could still hear Cleo's voice in his head as though she were right there next to him.

“You think the ladder is going to remain stable? Every single one of those guys is going to try to shake you off it.”

He had to keep going. Training Day with Cleo was no easy task but he understood she was trying to build a warrior and he wasn't about to let her down. If he fell now there would certainly be no Blaze of Glory in his future, only hospital beds and food sucked through a straw and that's if he was lucky.

But luck was for losers, and Zayvion was a winner.  His arms were burning and the wind started to feel thinner, but the top of the tower was closer than the bottom at this point.

He let that thought settle in he wasn't halfway anymore he was past it the wind picked up again pushing stronger against his ribs through the open lattice but he kept his grip. Left hand, right foot, right hand, left foot. The rhythm was slower, but still as steady.

He didn't rush, rushing it would get you sloppy and would get you thrown. He kept his footing, testing each rung before committing weight to it as he neared closer to the top platform.

Another round his biceps felt like they were tearing and his thighs were burning furiously but there was no stopping now he had to continue to climb another rung the top platform was just within reach.

This was where it mattered, this was where you either grabbed it or you didn't. He reached up high, grabbed a lip of the platform, hooked his fingers and pulled himself up, rolled onto the platform and just  laid there for a moment on his back, breathing heavily, staring up at the open sky. He had done it, and now he was just taking in how quiet it was up here.

Then he heard static and Cleo's voice.

“Zay? You there yet?”

That didn't make sense, how could he hear her from way up here.

“I'm not scraping your body off the ground, so you're either still climbing or you're up there.”

Then he saw it, the walkie-talkie.

Of course.

He grabbed it, pushed in the side button and spoke into it.

“Yo. Cleo? Yeah I made it.” he said into the speaker

“About time.” Cleo's voice came through.

“You try climbing this thing.” he said “It wasn't easy.”

“I know.” her voice came back instantly “Who do you think put the walkie-talkie up there?”

He hadn't even thought of that, and that just made his respect for Cleo grow even more.

“Damn you really climb this thing?” he said

“Yesterday.” she said “I wouldn't make you do anything I haven't done myself.”

“Respec’” he said.

“Now focus.” she shot back “You still have to get back down and bring me my walkie-talkie.”

He took a few moments to just enjoy the view, he had climbed this tower and at Blaze of Glory, he would climb the ladder, both figuratively and literally all the way to the Roulette championship and maybe one day even the World championship.

The descent forced him to face the height again, every rung reminding him how far he had come. As the ground crept closer inch by inch,  the fence line returned, then the car, and then  Cleo's silhouette looking up. Left hand, right foot, right hand, left foot. The same pattern that had worked for him on the way up when he finally dropped the last few feet and headed into grass he felt his legs slightly before he caught himself.

He looked up at the tower again all the way over the tiny platform he had stood on looked impossibly small, but it didn't feel impossible. Cleo stepped beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder pridefully. He had survived the warehouse, he had scaled the radio tower.  Now everything was in his hands, and he was going to grab it, and then prepare for whatever Cleo had ready to put him through for his championship journey.

__________

Zayvion start resting on a bench in a corner of the Lion's Den resting an ice pack on his shoulder, the heavy bag nearby slightly swayed where he left it after his last round. 

His arm still burn from the climb the other day but he didn't let that stop him from getting in his own workout while Cleo went about her social worker business, something about a meeting she couldn't miss that left him on his own, or so he thought.

He only saw her shoes, as he felt the shadow come over him. He didn't have to look, he knew who it was, he looked up at Victoria meeting her in the eyes, the Bombshell Internet Championship was slung on her shoulder.

“No babysitter today?” she said.

“Very funny."  Zayvion said, unamused. “Cleo is busy today. Is there something you needed?”

“I want to talk to you about Blaze of Glory.” she said. "Your ladder match, you do plan on winning that right?”

“Well I certainly don't plan on losing..” Zayvion replied.

“Don't get smart with me.” Victoria snapped back. “You do understand what this opportunity means?”

He stood up to meet her now.

“I know what it means for me.” he said.

“It's more than that.” she said “Another Lyons holding a championship in this company reminds everyone exactly who this family is.”

Zayvion chuckled.

“You think this is funny?” she said.

“Just interesting.” he replied

“Interesting?” she said

“You talk like the name is what carried me into that ladder match.” he said

“Without this family you wouldn't even have a contract.” she snarled

“You're probably right.” Zayvion admitted “The name got my foot in the door, but after that it hasn't done a damn thing for me. Just like it didn't before I stepped through.”

“You should watch how you speak about the family.” she hissed.

“No. You should listen,” he said, standing his ground.

“This should be good.” she said arrogantly.

“The Lyon's Den is supposed to be about building fighters.” he said “But not everybody here gets the same start.”

Victoria rolled her eyes and scoffed.

“It's the truth.” he said “Let's check the facts.”

“You had the name.”

He held up a finger.

“Vincent had the name.”

He held up a second finger.

“Even Eddie had the name.”

He held up a third finger.

“You all walked in with the doors already open.” he continued “And that's great for the three of you. But me? Alexander? The rest of our siblings coming through here?”

He let that hang for a moment.

“We didn't get that luxury.” he said “We had to fight harder just to prove that we deserve the same damn shot, even though we carried the same damn name. You all had your whole life preparing and training for this, we had to find our way.”

Victoria didn't respond.

“And if you want to get really real.” he continued, "The most successful talent coming out of this place in the last few years isn't even a Lyons.”

Victoria's expression soured.

“It's Cleo.” he said “And if you think I'm wrong let me ask you this, how many world championships have you won? How many halls of fame are you in? What about Vincent? Even Eddie doesn't have those accolades yet. But Cleo does, and she earned them by fighting for what she believed in and fighting for herself. She didn't need a last name to do it, and neither do I. You want me to bring a championship to this family name? Fine, I will. But understand I'm doing it for me, not the family.”

“Like it or not.” she said pointing the finger at his chest "You wear the name and that means something. Don't be a stubborn idiot like your brother.”

“Why Alexander gotta catch strays?” he said “He ain't did nuthin’, you need to stop worrying about us and worry about defending that championship of yours, because from what Zander tells me, Calaway is more dangerous than ever. You wouldn't want to end up in a position where I'm the one with the championship and you're not.”

He smirked in her face just to show how little of a fuck he really did give. This was his fight and he wasn't going to let any of Victoria's bullshit fly.

“You have some nerve.” she said "I'm going to handle Alexandra Calaway like I have every other time. Don't you worry about that. If anything you can tell that brother of yours to pay his final respects to his dear friend.”

“I suppose we'll have to see what happens.” he said.

“I suppose we will.” she said.

For a moment they both stared daggers at each other, but Zayvion didn't back down.  It wasn't until Victoria heard Darian call to her that she finally left.

Zayvion sat back down and returned the ice pack to his shoulder.

“Blaze of Glory..” he muttered to himself

Victoria wanted another Lyons champion. The family wanted its legacy and  the company wanted its highlights. But Zayvion wasn't doing it for any of them,  he was doing it because he had fought too damn hard to stop climbing now. This was his moment and he wasn't going to let anything stop him from grabbing it.

__________

The cameras open on a close up of Zayvion with his eyes closed and his headphones on.  The sounds of Rise by GWANE, Crypt and Chvse plays softly.

##People died try'na get close
Who's willin' to climb, until they let go?
One in a million, 'fore 'em to really blow
The rest of y'all, just fadin', like an echo##

As the song fades out Zayvion lowers the headphones and opens his eyes. The cameras pull back to find him posted against the wall of a warehouse with Cleo standing nearby at her own post.

“So it's almost time for the big day boys.” he begins “Only one of us can grab that briefcase and secure a future championship match for ourselves. We all have a chance to show that one of us wants to be the next up, and I ain't finna let any of you stop me from getting my bag.  I don't care how big, rich, or pretty you are. I certainly ain't none of those things, but I am going to be the one that grabs that briefcase.”

He keeps a look of confidence but not arrogance on his face.

“I really must have scrambled Ol’ Billy B's brains a few weeks back.” he continued “Because he talked about me like he was going to crush me as if I didn't whoop his big sorry ass six ways till Sunday when I walked in this company.”

“Tell em’” adlibbed Cleo.

“If you need to remind you of exactly what happened.” Zayvion continued “I'll gladly give you a repeat ass whooping. Throw your weight around all you want and brag about all your accomplishments because while you're busy bragging about what you once were, I'm going to be out there accomplishing what I'm going to be.”

“And Bea sweetheart..” Cleo stepped “I come from the streets in New York city so I may not be Straight Outta Compton but if you try anything funny I will introduce you to the strength of street knowledge, and Carleigh that goes the same for your trifling ass too. Neither of ya'll y'all want to catch me in a New York State of Mind.”

Zayvion laughed before he spoke again.

“What about that so called man of yours Carleigh?” he said “You know, at least Bill Barnhart has some accomplishments to his name. But Brayden has yet to do anything other than prove that he's just some nepo baby. He couldn't even grace us with his kind words. You know what though Brayden? Maybe the best thing for you is to just keep quiet and accept the ass whooping that's coming your way. Don't make things worse for yourself G’.”

He smirked into the camera.

“That brings me to you Ciaran.” he said with a more respectful tone. "You know you talked about respect, and how you badly you want this and you know what I fuck with it. But you have to understand you ain't the only one. I'm in this bitch too and I feel the exact same way. So if you're up there trying to grab that briefcase, I'm meeting yo’ ass up there and dragging yo’ ass down.”

He grinned, and winked at the camera

“I've seen this boy dunk….” Cleo adlibbed “He might not even need the ladder.”

“Well let's not get too carried away…” Zayvion laughed. “ I just want Ciaran to understand that there's another that wants it just as bad as he does, so all we can do is go out there and show them exactly who the future of SCW is going to be. We can show them that maybe one day Zayvion Lyons versus Ciaran O’ Doyle for the world championship can headline a live event. This is my live event debut as well, Ciaran, and I fully intend on making an impact.”

He exhales before continuing.

“I'm going to have to beat The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at Blaze of Glory to walk out as the new number one Contender for the Roulette Championship.” He continued “I'll let you figure out which is which.”

“I think I got it..” chimed in Cleo. “Bills the ugly, Brayden is the bad  and Ciaran is the good.”

“And circle gets the square.” said Zayvion “But you didn't have to go and ruin all the fun.”

“My bad.” shrugged Cleo.

“No worries.” said Zayvion “Because what really matters is what I'm going to be. You three can be The Good The Bad and The Ugly, but I'm going to be the number one contender for the Roulette Championship.”

He pauses for a beat.

“I'm damn sure you none of you have gone through what I've gone through to prepare for this. “ he said “Hours of intense training sleepless nights all because I want my moment and I refuse to let my hard work be for nothing.  I came here to make a name out of myself and get my bag, and I'm not about to waste no time doing it. This is my moment.”

He pauses again shortly.

“Only one of us will be able to climb and move our career to the next level.” said Zayvion “Bill can bring all the power he wants. I overcame that once and I'll do it again. Brayden is going to have to step up his game and really show that he's not more than just a nepo baby who doesn't really belong here. Ciaran has all the confidence and fire in the world and I know he's going to be a problem for me, but at the end of the day I will solve that problem and unfortunately with all due respect Ciaran O'Doyle is going to have to wait another day for his moment. At Blaze of Glory the Flyin’ Lyon will soar the highest.”

“Bet.” said Cleo.

The cameras stayed and focused on Zayvion keeping his look of confidence at the camera as everything slowly faded to black.

The old warehouse was cold and dark when Zayvion stepped into it. He wasn't sure why Cleo had him come here, but given some of the surroundings the dots were starting to connect.

A collection of large spare tires of various sizes, lay in a corner, a climbing rope hung from the rafters, and an empty pool took up a good quarter of the room. Zayvion still had little time to take it all in before he was nearly blinded by a giant spotlight illuminating the area.

“Hello?” he called out using his hand to shield his eyes.

“In order to build a champion.” came the voice of Cleo “One must let go of their comforts.”

“Cleo?” he called out looking around his eyes now adjusting “Is that you? What's going on? What is this?”

“One has grown too attached to the pampered training Of The Lyons Den.“ Cleo's voice echoed throughout the warehouse once more.

“Is this some sort of weird initiation?” said Zayvion “Come on, where you at? Stop playin’ with me.”

He suddenly heard her voice come from right behind him.

“Ain't nobody playing with you.” she said "It's about to get real.”

Zayvion turned around slightly startled to meet Cleo face to face.

“Sup?” he said.

Cleo remained still and serious.

“You ready?” she asked.

“I don't even know what we're doi…” Zayvion began, getting interrupted by a hard slap to the face.

“That's not what I asked.” Cleo said “I asked if you were ready.”

Zayvion rubbed his face.

“What was that?!?” he said “I just want to know what…”

Another slap, this time harder.

“It's a yes or no type of question.” Cleo said “Are you ready?”

When he looked back at Cleo again,  she had the most serious look in her eyes he had ever seen. He knew she wasn't playing around and whatever she had planned for him, he just had to go for it and learn to face the unexpected.

Learn to face the unexpected….

Maybe that was the point….

Cleo had never let him astray before and he knew she had the best intentions for him.

“Yes.” He said “I'm ready.”

He was only slightly frightened by the way Cleo smiled and laughed in response.

“Good.” she said “Go grab a tire and start flipping it. A big one.”

“For how long?” Zayvion asked

“Until I tell you to stop.“ Cleo replied

“So you want me to just keep flipping the tire over and over?” he said.

“I want you to stop asking questions.” Cleo replied sternly

Zayvion received the message loud and clear and walked over to grab a tire and started to roll it toward the center of the warehouse before Cleo yelled at him.

“No.” she said “Carry it.”

He nodded and lifted up the tire, which was a good deal heavier than it looked and carried it back to the center of the warehouse dropping it to the floor with a thud.

“Go.” said Cleo as she stood observing like some sort of urban Mr Miyagi.

Zayvion knelt down and placed his hands on the cold rubber of the tire, and with a heavy grunt he heaved it up and forward, the sound echoing through the warehouse as the tire hit the concrete.

He looked over at Cleo who said nothing, only watched him with stern eyes as he bent down and flipped over the tire once again.

again

again

again

and again.

Over and over Zayvion flipped the tire, his arms growing more and more tired each time the slam echoed throughout the warehouse. He didn't know how many times he had flipped that goddamn tired by the time he heard Cleo's Voice once again.

“Stop.” She said  “Good work, are you ready to move on?”

“You think I can get some water real quick first?” ask Davion.

Cleo nodded.

“All right, cool you got a cooler or something around here?” asked Zayvion between breaths.

Cleo smiled and pointed upward near where the rope was tied at the top of the rafters, also sat a cooler resting on the beams.

“You've got to be kidding me..” said Zayvion “You expect me to climb the rope, and retrieve the water bottles out the cooler.?”

“You catch on quick.” said Cleo.

“Can I at least rest my arms for a second?” He asked “They're a little tired….”

“Oh are they?” said Cleo sarcastically, "Do you think Alex Jones cares if your arms are tired? You want water, go get it.”

“Man, you different for this.” said Zayvion with a heavy exhale, as he tugged on the rope. It was sturdy, not that he expected it not to be.

The ascent began has he climbed upward, pulling himself up on more willpower than actual strength. His arms were throbbing but he couldn't give up.

“Come on let's go!" he could hear Cleo yell as he got about halfway up the rope “You want that water you have to fight for it.”

That's when it dawned on him this wasn't just about him getting water bottles, they were a metaphor for the roulette championship and the climb he was going to have to go through if he was going to be able to earn the right to call himself champion.

“Legs!” Cleo called out “Use your legs!”

He adjusted wrapping his legs tighter around the road using his feet to push him upward which honestly only helped a little but it was enough to get him all the way to the top, to hook one arm around a beam for balance, grab a few water bottles and shove them into his waistband.

He had to slide most of the way back down his hands burning from the friction but his feet finally hit the concrete where he lied at a heavy exhale and immediately took a big drink of water and dumped some over his head.

For a brief moment there was peace, and he almost felt relaxed then came close voice again.

“I hope you enjoyed that..” she said “Because we're not finished.”

Zayvion looked up at her with a heavy exhale and eyes that said what next?.

Cleo pointed over to the stack of tires.

“Grab a tire and do laps around the pool.” she said.

“It's kind of narrow..” Zayvion said “What if I fall in?”

“Oh. don't fall in.” Cleo said bluntly.

That comment felt more like an order rather than a safety warning, Zayvion made his way over to the collection of tires and picked up one of the regular smaller ones,  hoisting it under his arm and onto his shoulder. It was lighter than the tire he flipped but more suited for carrying such a fashion.  Although, after what he had already gone through, a bicycle tire would have felt like an anvil.

He could already feel the weight of the tire halfway through the first lap weighing on him like a second spine that wasn't supposed to be there, but he had to push forward. Cleo was testing them and as hard as it was he damn sure was going to pass the test.

He continued pace as the first lap turned into the second he felt his foot skitter across the edge and had to wave his arms that regain his balance and continue pushing forward into lap number three

“Focus!” he could hear Cleo call to him.

As lap three turned into four he could feel himself getting a good rhythm everything still hurt but he was starting to get used to it now

And then the lights went out.

“Hey, c'mon!!” he called out “Are you trying to kill me before I even get to Blaze of Glory?

“No.” he heard the voice of Cleo reply back “I'm trying to make sure there's nothing that can.”

Of course. It made sense though. Being the roulette champion meant chaos, and if he ever hoped to hold that championship, he would have to learn to deal with the chaos and the random nature of the wheel. Who knows he might even have to wrestle somebody in the dark in the future should the wheel command it.

He continued forward through the darkness using only instinct to find his way as the third lap rounded off into a fourth and he narrowly missed the same spot he had slipped before.

“If you want to throw in the towel, just let me know.” Cleo called “And we can go back to the nice mats and air conditioning at the Lyon's Den. “

Another test. She wanted to see if he would quit.

He wouldn't.

He made his way through the darkness, lugging the tire around into lap five. By the time he came around again, the lights burst back on, nearly blinding him.

He could hear Cleo clapping.

“Good work.” she said “That's what I like to see. Now when you're in there with a champion like Alex Jones and you think you don't have enough left, you remember this day, you remember this moment.”

Truthfully she had pushed him past his limits or at least further than he thought he himself could go, and that's something Zayvion respected about Cleo, she brought things out of you even you yourself didn't know you had in you. Now, she was no longer trying to create a professional wrestler out of him, She was trying to create a champion.

“Go ahead, take a breather." she said “You've earned it, we'll get back to it in 15 minutes.”

“There's more?” said Zayvion

“Of course.” Cleo replied “That was only the first set, we've got plenty more to go. I rented this place for the day, I need to get my money's worth."

Zayvion nodded, all he could do was roll with it and honestly, somewhere deep down he actually kind of liked it. He knew it was just the beginning of the road, and at the end of it he would call himself a champion.  For now he just enjoyed the 15 minutes of rest until you heard Cleo call out again.

“ All right breaks over, let's start with flipping the tire again…” she said.
__________

The spot hadn't changed much at all, it was still the same park across the street from Rufus's liquor store, the wood picnic table even still had the “ZL” that Zayvion had carved into it almost 8 years ago.

He had a lot of memories here with his crew, Bug, 3-Ball and Lo’. The four of them were as thick as thieves growing up and had known each other forever. Bug and Lo’ were already there when he arrived.

“Zay!” Bug said as Zayvion approached “How you doing homie?”

Andre, or “Bug” was the one Zayvion had known the longest and the one he had always been closest to. He didn't remember how Bug got his nickname, but it had always been there. Even his own family called him Bug.

“I'm good.” Zayvion said, dabbing Bug up, “Just staying on my grind, you know me.”

He turned to Lo’, short for Lorenzo. Lorenzo was the one in the group known in trouble more often than not.

“Yo, Lo’! What's good?” said Zayvion.

“Just keepin’ it real.” said Lorenzo, “Nice of you to come around.”

Zavion raised an eyebrow as he dabbed Lorenzo up, something about his tone felt off.

“So where's 3-ball at?” Zayvion asked “Running casually late as usual?”

He noticed Bug shoot a look at Lorenzo.

“Three is in jail.” said Bug. “They got him for a suspended license and a DUI.”

“Damn.” said Zayvion “How long?”

“Twelve months.” said Bug.

Calvin, or 3-Ball, sometimes three for short was the fourth member of their crew. He was a good guy but didn't always make the best decisions.

“You'd have known about it had you came around more.” said Lorenzo

“Lo’...not now.” said Bug

“Just sayin, we ain't heard from you in months.” Lorenzo said “Was worried you'd forgotten about us.”

“Man y’all my crew.“ said Zayvion “You know ain't nothing changed, I'm just out there trying to get my bag is all.”

“Yeah Lo’ come on we're just here catching up.” said Bug.

“Yeah you know I ain't got nothing but love for y'all.”, said Zayvion “I've just been busy with this whole wrestling thing you know.”

“I know… I know..” Lorenzo sighed “It just feels different, you know? Things are changin’, you out there doing your wrestling, three locked up, it's just me and Bug out here now.”

Zayvion nodded, taking in his friend's words, sensing the subtle frustration in them, that feeling that life is moving forward around you and you're still standing in place

“I get it dawg.” said Zayvion “But that's life you know, things change. Don't get it twisted though, I always got love for the block. It's like that Biggie line, I'm blowing up like you thought I would call the crib, same number same hood.”

“You know, I've been thinking bout my future too…” Bug spoke up “Started taking classes at the community college.”

“Yeah?” asked Zayvion curiously “What kind of classes?"

“Some basic general education ones.” said Bug “And some culinary classes. I'd kind of like to open my own little restaurant someday,  and want to learn how to cook more than just using the grill.”

“Hey man, that's cool.” said Zayvion “You always grilled up the best burgers at the cookouts you'll do great.”

“Thanks man.“ said Bug.

“Just promise me you'll save me a spot opening night when you get that restaurant.” Zayvion said playfully punching Bug in the shoulder.

“Of course.” said Bug, returning a playful punch of his own to Zayvion's arm. “With VIP treatment.”

“Well look at y'all..” Lorenzo said “One about to be the next wrestling world champion, and the other about to be on the Food Network. “

“What about you Lo’?” Zayvion asked “You still workin’ at your uncle's shop?”

“Yeah.” Lorenzo replied “But business has been a bit slow lately, Unc can't afford to give out too many hours.”

“Well don't worry too much.” Zayvion said “You'll be all right, above it you're a survivor Lorenzo, you always find a way to survive.”

“Yeah..” said Lorenzo “I guess that's all any of us can do, survive.”

Zayvion nodded, visiting the old block was a nice getaway from the intense training he had been going through with Cleo. But like Zayvion himself the block was changing, some people were moving forward and some were staying treading water. But in this moment it was nice just reconnecting with his friends and feeling like his old self again even if just for a moment.

_________

The cameras open on the quiet corner of a park where Zayvion Lyons sits at a concrete picnic table underneath a wide tree. He sits on the table rather than the bench resting one foot on the seat decked out in a casual street fit. Cleo Phillips sits on the bench beside the table, decked in her own street fit leaning back casually on the table itself. The camera lingers on them for a moment before Zayvion speaks.

“It's spots like this that I grew up in Alex.” he began “Where you don't got anybody in your ear telling you what you're supposed to be.  It's just you and reality and the reality is I got the biggest amount of my career coming up.”

He pauses for a moment.

“I know it's easy to say that with it being my third match in this company.” he continued “But that doesn't make it any less true or make this match any less important because rest assured this match will be a major turning point in my career.”

He takes a moment to adjust his sunglasses.

“Current Internet Champion, former world champion.  Alex Jones is a main event level talent who's done everything there is to do in this company.” Zayvion continued “He is the kind of an opponent you measure yourself against. I beat Alex Jones and that's confirmation that everything I've been saying about myself ain't talk.”

“On the real tho Zay.” Cleo said “They don't put you in a position like this if they don't know what time it is already.”

Zayvion nods.

“No doubt because the truth is Alex.” continued Zayvion “I might be newer to this stage than you but I'm hungrier. You've been to the mountaintop, you've been fed. But I'm still feeding, and I know as far as my fatal four-way at Blaze of Glory is concerned this match is going to decide exactly what sort of threat I am when that comes around. I fully intend to go into that match as the guy who beat Alex Jones. I beat the Internet champion, and suddenly the conversations different.”

His words come confident and firm.

“You have all your accolades for a reason Alex. You didn't just fall into them.” continued Zayvion “By hook or by crook you went out there and earned that resume. That's exactly why if I'm supposed to be the next one up, then beating you isn't optional, it's necessary.”

He grins.

“You see Alex you've had time to get comfortable.” he grinned “That's just what happens when you've been on top for so long, you get used to the spotlight and being the name on the marquee.  You get to walk into a match with people already knowing what you're capable of. I don't have that luxury, but that's exactly what makes me dangerous.”

“Because he's still proving it.” Cleo said.

“I'm still mostly unknown.” Zayvion continued “Still working my way up. You're defending a position and I'm trying to take one. I'm going into my Blaze of Glory match with a victory over a champion on my shoulders. You're going into yours having to explain to Miles Kasey why you lost the match to the new guy.”

He grins playfully.

“No disrespect.” he said “Just the reality of the situation. You're a benchmark around here, a name that built this place into what it is and I'm carving my name into it. I need this more than you do and I'm willing to go further for it.  You gain nothing by winning this match, but I have everything to gain and I'm going to do whatever it takes to capitalize on that. I had a good first couple weeks but this is the match where Zayvion Lyons arrives.”

“They ain't ready.” said Cleo.

“Win or lose I'm bringing you a fight.” said Zayvion “It's time to show the world that I'm more than just a rookie. I'm Magic Johnson in game six and I'm about to dunk on Alex Jones, ride the momentum all the way through Blaze of Glory and on to the Roulette Championship.”

“Does that make Eddie Kareem?” Cleo said

“Something like that.” laughed Zayvion “But like I said when I first arrived  I'm my own man. I'm not going to use my last name to carry me, and on Climax Control when I beat Alex Jones everybody will know exactly who I am.”

“Bet.” said Cleo.

The cameras linger on them for a moment, Cleo looking cool while Zayvion looks into the camera with a confident aura as everything fades to black.

It was a clear black night, a clear white moon when Zayvion Lyons got the call from Cleo Phillips. He was just enjoying time spent with his siblings he had been away training so hadn't seen them in at least a month, so his kid brother Malik insisted on running some Duos in fortnite.

“NO!" cried Malik “Sniper downed me!”

‘I got this, hang tight.” Zayvion replied, eyes focused.

Locked in, Zayavion stayed focused the game they only had one or two left and while he was unable to revive his brother it only took a few minutes for Zayvion to finish the round.

“Get wrecked. ” Zayvion said turning to his brother as the words VICTORY ROYALE appeared on screen. “Told you we'd win.”

“I got most of the kills.” replied Malik. “And I had to revive you like five times.”

“I know, I know.” Zayvion laughed “You did all the work, and I coasted us to victory off your hard work.”

It was at that moment his phone rang.

~...They not like us…They not like us.~

“Give me a sec little bro.” he said “I gotsta take this.”

~...They not like us…They not like us.~

He set his controller down and stepped aside to answer the call.

“ Yo Cleo!, what's good?”

‘......’

“Just hanging out with Malik.” he said “Big Momma took the girls and Baby J to the store.”

‘........’

“What do you mean a spot opened up in SCW?” he asked “I thought the den was at their contract limit with them.”

‘........’

“Whoa whoa whoa slow down…” he said, "What are you talking about? What happened to Eddie?”

‘.........’

“Holy shit..that's fucked up….” Zayvion said

‘........’

“ I don't know….I can't take Eddie's spot.” He said “I don't wanna start my career like this…”

‘...........’

“It's not fair to Eddie though…” said Zayvion

‘.........’

“I just think….”

‘........’

‘..........’

“Yeah but….”

‘............’

‘Aight….aight.” he said “You right, I get it, it's not ideal but I have to seize my opportunity when it presents itself.”

‘......’

“Yeah, I'll see you then.” he said, hanging up the phone.

A real contract was everything he wanted, it's what he had been working hard for the past year at the Lyons Den and now it was presented to him.

But at what cost? Eddie Lyons was a leader at the Lyons Den,  and Zayvion held a great deal of respect for him. Now because of Vincent Eddie had everything he worked hard for taken from him. Zayvion just wasn't sure he could fill the void left behind by Eddie and he certainly didn't want to be seen as anybody's replacement.

Even worse he felt he may have been partially to blame. He had quietly asked someone to find him a way, any way  to get a contract. He didn't know who he was asking, maybe God, but he couldn't help but feel like perhaps he put some bad mojo in the air.

He knew she was right though as unfortunate as it was what happened to Eddie  he couldn't look past this opportunity. He had to seize it and make the best of it.  Most importantly he had to prove to everybody that he is not a replacement.

__________

The energy around the Lyon's Den felt heavy when Zayvion arrived, many were still reeling from the incident with Vincent and Eddie. Coach Kaiser himself had caught some slack for it, and decided to take a leave for a few weeks. Many of the students had complained to him about the danger Vincent was becoming, now Eddie who many considered the heart and soul of the Lyons Den had suffered as a result.

He found Cleo going hard at one of the punching bags.

“Yo.” he said upon approach.

Cleo stopped her exercise and turned to greet him.

“Yo.” She said. “How we doin’?”

“I'm doing aight.” he said “Just trying to take everything in, what happened with Eddie, my contract, it's all just kind of happening so fast."

“Well, things happening fast is something you have to get used to in this business.” said Cleo “It's not going to slow down for you.”

Zayvion nodded, he knew Cleo was right he was just getting used to it all.

“So how's he doing?” Zayvion asked.

“Eddie?” Cleo replied “He's all right, already thinking bout how quickly can get to rehab. The man's a soldier he'll be all right, you don't got to worry about him you've got to worry about Zayvion.  Eddie himself would tell you the same, trust me I'm the godmother of his child.”

Again, Zayvion knew Cleo was right. He didn't know his cousin Eddie as well as she did, but he knew enough to know that Eddie would wish him the best and tell him to make the best of the opportunity presented before him.

“So this is it then..” he nodded “They're going to put me in the game, so it's time for The Flyin’ Lyon to step up to the plate."

“That's the spirit Youngblood!” said Cleo playfully punching him in the shoulder.

“Let's get to work.” then he said.

Cleo nodded in agreement and stepped aside allowing Zayvion to take his turn on the punching bag. He had a huge debut ahead of him and he needed to make sure to show the world what to expect from Zayvion Lyons.

_________

The camera picks up on a neighborhood playground at night with a single street light humming overhead, a few swings creak lightly in the breeze, and Zayvion Lyons is found sitting on one of the steps of the play structure. Cleo Phillips leans against one of the play structures metal posts nearby.

“Imma keep it real with you guys from the jump.” Zayvion began “I already know what people are going to whisper about me. That I'm only here because of what happened to Eddie, and there may be some truth to that. But I didn't plan for my big break to come like this, Nobody in their right mind would want it this way. I wasn't even sure I wanted it, but Cleo here convinced me that I need to seize the opportunity that's given to me because it might not come again.”

He shrugs.

“Now Eddie Lyons is somebody I respect.” he continued “Eddie is family, and what happened to him ain't something you celebrate. But I need to make this loud and clear that I am not a replacement, and I'm not here to fill some vacancy left behind by Eddie Lyons.”

“Preach” adlibbed Cleo

“See I realize that opportunity don't come with instructions.” he said “It just shows up and asks you what you gonna to do with it ,and I've been working hard this past year to show exactly what Zayvion Lyons is going to do with his opportunity.”

He pauses.

“So they got me up against Bill Barnhart in my debut.” he said “Seems like that's the norm around this place, but if it's Billy B I have to take out and that's exactly what I'm going to do.”

He grins.

“I can call you Billy B?” right he said “If not, well, I'm going to do it anyway.”

A playful grin creeps across his face.

“Now I know you a big boy Billy B.” he continued “But you ain't quick like me, you can't move like me, you going to have to look up because when you turn around The Flyin’ Lyon going to come straight out the sky and bust your ass.”

He pauses again.

“I'm afraid you're nothing more than a welcoming mat Billy B.” said Zayvion, “That's all you've ever been, just someone for the new guys to test their mettle against before the real challenges arrive.”

He shrugs.

“And I guess it's my turn to come knocking.” he continued “The only thing is I don't intend to knock,  I intend to kick the fucking door right in.”

“If y'all sleep on this kid..” said Cleo “Then he going to be the alarm clock that wake yo’ ass up.”

“Bet.” nodded Zayvion “See I know everyone going to be looking at my last name, but understand I ain't grow up with that family. I grew up with my family, my real family. My moms aint, with us no more, so I got to be a man and step up and help out the family.”

“Real shit.” Cleo said.

“So don't get it twisted when you see that last name." Zayvion said “That last name didn't raise me, or make sure my lights stayed on. It was my people that did that, and I had to learn early how to move and adapt because where I come from, if you weren't quick on your feet life would run you over.”

He pauses again.

“It was places like this I was raised in.” he said “Concrete, noise and pressure.  You either figured it out or you didn't, and trust me I figured it out. That's why I'm different. So when I stand in that ring, I'm not carrying some hand-me-down legacy. I'm carrying responsibility. I'm fighting because I want better. I fly because I have to, and I make jokes cuz if you don't the world might eat you alive.”

Another pause.

“But make no mistake about it when that bell ring.” he said “I'm going to be dead serious. So Billy B, do what you do big man. Try to bully me and slow me down. Just know, every second you spend reaching Imma already be gone, and when you finally are able to catch sight of me it'll be too late.”

Another grin flashes as he rises and takes a step to the camera.

“See for me Billy B.” he continued "This is survival, I've survived being counted out, folks thinkin’ I was just some punk kid who would never amount to nuthin’. This ain't just a debut for me, this is my statement.  I'm not just out here to test the waters. I'm coming to make waves so Billy B, you about to get introduced to scws newest problem.”

He grins again.

“I'll show everybody that I'm not a replacement or a fill in.” he said “I'm the next big thing in SCW and you're all welcome to come along for the ride. You can roll with me if you want to and if you don't whatever, that's cool too. But I promise it will be one hell of a ride, and if you're not riding with me then get the hell out of my way.”

“Bet.” said Cleo

The camera stays focused on Zavion for a few more moments before it all feeds to Black