~*~Sometimes You Just Gotta~*~
New York City – Rooftop After the Fashion Show

The city glowed below them like a living constellation, heat rising in soft waves from the streets even though the night had settled. The rooftop bar was warm with laughter and clinking glassware, a curated kind of chaos where artists and models mingled in little orbits of their own self-importance. The kind of place where the drinks cost too much, but no one asked the price.

Bella blended into it effortlessly, though “blended” was the wrong word. She belonged here. Black sheer two-piece, the fabric whisper-thin in the right places, opaque where it needed to be. The soft golden lighting played along the curves of her shoulders and caught on the edges of her tattoos, turning her into something half sculpture, half wildfire.

Mattie Comier stood beside her, triumphant after another show that everyone in that room would pretend to understand more than they did. Her blazer was architectural, sharp in all the places fashion students sketched in their notebooks and never quite executed. She held a champagne flute like she’d been born with it in her hand.

Alanah Russow leaned against the railing nearby, wearing something flowing, tailored, and unmistakably Mattie, elegance with teeth. Her laughter floated effortlessly, her presence grounding in a way that felt like home.

Malachi was the contrast, black shirt, sleeves rolled, collar open, his one tattoo dark against his skin on the inside of his wrist, whiskey glass in hand. He watched Bella with that quiet, steady awareness he always had. He didn’t need to take up space to be seen. He was the space she gravitated toward without thinking.

Mattie tipped her glass toward him, smirking, "God, I miss making gear for you, Mal. You were my favorite mannequin.”

Mal didn’t miss a beat, "Yeah, well, one of us got smart enough to stop getting thrown into steel steps every week.”

Bella snorted into her drink.

Mattie flicked her hand dramatically, "You say that like I’m not still traumatized by Miles’ gear requests. The man dresses like a glitter bomb with abandonment issues.”

Alanah wheezed.

Mal lifted a brow, "Man looks like a peacock hit by the Aurora Borealis."

Bella laughed so hard she had to set her drink down, "He wakes up and chooses sequins.”

The group dissolved into that easy, familiar laughter that comes only from years of shared history, scars, inside jokes, late nights, and the kind of heartbreak you only survive together.

For a moment, just a moment, Bella felt weightless.

Then she heard it.

A High-pitched...piercing screech. The kind of voice that expected the world to rearrange itself around it. At the bar, a girl, early twenties, maybe, in designer everything, was nearly in tears. Not from sadness but from outrage.

“I said I requested the VIP Skyview lounge. This...” she waved a manicured hand at her perfectly fine surroundings, “....is not what I was told. Do you have any idea who my father is?”

The bartender looked like he had survived wars. Like real ones, especially evident by the tattoo on his bicep that Bella recognized as her grandfather has one.

A lot of people were staring, even some rolling their eyes. Some even pretended not to listen. Everyone silently agreeing to just let entitlement run its course.

Bella didn’t move at first but something inside her... shifted. A subtle tightening beneath the ribs and a spark catching on old fuel.

Alanah saw it happen, "Bella,” she warned, soft, almost pleading.

But it was already too late. Bella had already begun to step forward.

She didn’t storm. She didn’t rush. She just walked, the way a storm front rolls in.

The girl noticed her when the room’s attention tilted toward Bella, as if gravitational pull had changed.

The girl blinked at her, defensive by instinct, "Um...can I help you?”

Bella’s voice was calm. Calm in the way a blade lying flat is calm, "Yeah. You need to stop.”

The girl recoiled slightly, confusion flickering, "Excuse me—?”

Bella didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t have to, "Right now, you are losing your mind over a table. A piece of furniture. A seating arrangement in a bar on a Thursday night.”

The girl opened her mouth, indignant, but Bella didn’t let her speak, "There are people in the world right now deciding whether they can afford groceries. People rationing medication to make it through the month. People working three jobs and sleeping four hours because they don’t get to complain about where they sit.”

The girl’s face began to crack, not in anger, but confusion, as though no one had spoken to her like this in her entire life.

Bella stepped closer, not threatening, just unavoidable, "And you’re here... throwing a tantrum over not being perceived with the exact level of importance you think the world owes you.”

The silence that followed was full and sharp. Bella breathed out once, slowly, "Your privilege isn’t the problem. What you choose to do with it is.”

The girl looked down, embarrassment blooming where indignation had been. She nodded quietly, shrinking even smaller and stepped away.

No scene. No argument. Just understanding. And deep inside Bella had really wished for a moment that there would have been a scene, then maybe she could let out 2 weeks worth of pent up aggression.

But for now it was a lesson learned, sharp, but honest. Bella turned back.

Mattie had her brows raised to her hairline. Alanah’s eyes were soft, proud, but worried. Mal didn’t say anything, but his hand found Bella’s, fingers slipping into hers like he was anchoring her back into her own body.

She exhaled, long, tired, but steadier.

Mal’s thumb brushed her knuckles, "You needed to say it.”

Bella didn’t answer with words, just leaned her shoulder into his. The city glowed, the music picked up and most importantly their laughter returned.

Bella didn’t explode.

She simply reminded the world that she is fire with direction.

After the party, it was time for the long drive home. The city had settled into that hour where everything felt slower, softer, a little unreal. Streetlights washed the pavement in amber, and occasional headlights cut through the dark like passing ghosts. The laughter and neon and rooftop glow were behind them now, replaced by the hush of the night highway.

Mal drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting palm-up on the center console. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t have to. Bella’s hand found his automatically, fingers slipping into familiar spaces, fitting like the universe had designed them that way.

The radio hummed quietly, something low and bluesy, the kind of music that knew how to sit with silence without swallowing it.

Bella leaned her head against the window, watching the city blur past. She wasn’t tense. Not exactly. Just... full. Like she hadn’t realized how close to boiling she’d been until the lid finally clattered loose a little.

Mal glanced at her, voice low, "You alright?”

Bella huffed a short, humorless breath, "Define alright.”

Mal didn’t push. He just waited as Bella let the silence stretch before she actually answered.

“She was just... so clueless,” Bella murmured, "Like the world had never told her no and I don’t know why but it just....it pissed me off. Like something in me snapped.”

Mal nodded once, "Yeah. I saw.”

Bella turned to look at him, "You think I overreacted.”

He shook his head, "No. I think you reacted because you care too much.”

Bella blinked, unprepared for that answer.

Mal continued, eyes still on the road, “You carry everything on your back, Bells. You see someone drowning, even if it’s in a puddle they made themselves, you want to pull them out.”

Bella scoffed, "She didn’t look like she was drowning. She looked like she needed someone to knock her ego down three flights of stairs.”

Mal cracked the smallest smile, "Christ I love you but.... Yeah maybe. But you didn’t do it to humiliate her. You did it because you want people to wake up. You always have.”

Bella didn’t respond at first. Her throat was tight. Too tight for how calm she looked on the outside.

Mal squeezed her hand, grounding, "You feel everything at full volume, mo gra. You always have from the day I met you and beyond. That’s your strength. It’s also why you get burned.”

Bella exhaled slowly, voice quieter, "Feels like I’m always burning lately.”

“I know.” His answer was soft and certain.

Bella stared out the window again. The city lights gave way to quieter streets.

“I should be focused on Bea and Cassie at High Stakes. The match. Everything. That’s what’s next. That’s what I need to care about.” Her jaw tightened, "But instead I’m yelling at some rich brat in a designer dress like that’s the war I needed to fight tonight.”

Mal shook his head, "No. That was just the moment that tipped the glass. The match? The pressure? Cassie yapping online? Victoria before that. The whole damn tournament. It all piles up.” He paused, long enough that Bella looked back at him, "You break before you bend. Always have.”

Bella felt the words like a hand pressed against her ribs. Not harsh. Not judgment. Just truth. And love.

Mal continued, voice low, “But you didn’t break tonight. You let some of that fire out instead of letting it eat you from the inside.”

Bella swallowed. Hard. Her voice cracked just a little, “Feels like I’m still burning.”

Mal brought her hand to his lips, kissed her knuckles without breaking eye contact with the road, "Then burn.” The word was quiet but fierce, "Just don’t burn alone.”

Bella’s breath hitched. The highway exit passed under them and home was close now.

She leaned across the console and rested her forehead against his shoulder. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just let her be there.

No fixing or explaining. Just his presence that was her anchor from completely flying off the handle and torching everything.

The kind of love that didn’t demand anything.

The kind that held steady through fire.


~*~Rules of Engagement: FAFO~*~

The camera found Bella where she liked it best, close enough to see the small crescent scar at the base of her thumb, far enough away that the rest remained private. The lights in the room were low, a single lamp throwing a hard strip of amber across her jaw. She sat on a battered leather chair, one booted foot braced against the rung, knuckles still rimmed with yesterday’s tape. There was no music, no fanfare. Just the quiet before the storm.

She didn’t smile. She let the words come out slow, deliberate, like a blade sliding from its sheath.

“Bea,” she started, voice flat and dangerous, "You get to the microphone and you ask if we’ve calmed down yet. You ask if my pain sensors have been triggered. You come at us like you’re the volume knob on the whole damn room.”

She laughed once, soft, contemptuous, "Here’s what I don’t need from you. Snark. Sarcasm. That little tinny laugh you think is an edge. You can’t intimidate me with condescension, and you definitely can’t scare me with a smug sentence wrapped in a question mark. Because here’s the real truth: I don’t care what you think I am. I care about what I do.”

Bella leaned forward until her elbows were on her knees, eyes hard enough to cut.

“You say we’re whining. You say we’re moaning. Cute. Real cute. You want to gaslight two hungry women who are coming for a match that actually matters. You want to call us fragile because you can’t see how ferocious we’re being. You want to reduce our fire to a flicker with a snotty tweet and a sip of something cold. That’s you at your best, small, cheap, theatrical.”

She spat the next words like they burned her tongue, "But you? You’re the one who’s got a problem. You’re convinced you’re a measuring stick, a yardline, the bar everyone else needs to clear. Newsflash, you’re more like a rusted fence. You look pretty until someone leans on you. And at High Stakes on November 2, I’m going to lean.”

Her voice dropped lower. The room felt smaller.

“Cassie,” she said, and the name came out like a strike, "You had the audacity to bring my family into this like you were quoting a footnote. You said Christian took my backbone, nah sweetness, my backbone is about to make your whiny bitch ass your worst fucking nightmare. BUT before we talk about that....You dragged my mother's name through your half-baked grievance like it’s a prop in your pity play. Let me be perfectly fucking clear.”

Bella’s hand cracked against her thigh, a hard punctuation.

“Leave Laura Phoenix out of your fucking mouths.”

She didn’t whisper it. She nailed it like a verdict, "My mother is not a weapon your lazy, entitled words get to pick up when you don’t like the outcome. You want to fight me? Fine. Drag my name through the mud if that’s the cheap costume you want to throw on. But drag the family through the gutter and I’ll burn the whole thing to the ground.”

She paused only long enough to let the warning settle, then smiled without warmth.

“Cassie, you want to posture about busted asses and missed anniversaries? You want to claim you earned a spot because the world is cruel to you? Sweetheart, hunger doesn’t look like you. Hunger looks like me. Hunger looks like the woman who’s been punched into the dirt more times than you’ve had outfits. I don’t need sympathy. I don’t need leverage. I don’t need a fucking pity parade and go bitching to the entire world the shortcomings. I need a target and you volunteered when you decided to be an absolute raging CUNT to anyone who would actually give you the time of fucking day.”

Bella’s voice shifted into a clinical whisper, razor-thin: “You made this about your ego. I made this about your education.”

She stood then, like a coiled thing, and the angle of the light changed and the room filled with a kind of predatory motion. She slid her hands into her hoodie pockets and studied the lens like it was a person she could measure.

“Bea, you talk about triggering pain sensors. Here’s one you didn’t foresee: I like it when it hurts, sweetness. I like the way pain sharpens me. I like the way it forces the rest of the world to pay attention. And Barnhart, you’ve had your time. You’ve had some sort of sniff at the throne. You’ve rubbed your damn fingers raw polishing it with every insincere smile. That throne? It’s filthy. It’s heavy and I’m not politely asking for a turn. I’m taking it.”

Her mouth went hard, "You two think we’re playing a game of lost-and-found. I don’t plan to look for anything. I plan to take what’s mine.”

Bella moved closer to the camera as if she could step through it into the faces that had been smirking at her online. Her voice dropped into a low, intimate growl.

“On Sunday, November 9th, at High Stakes, and in that Triple Threat where no fucking rules apply? That’s where the scoreboard gets honest. That’s where your histories stop being cute anecdotes and start being maps of how I’m going to beat the BOTH of you. Cassie, Bea, bring your bravado, your angles, your best little lines and the 2 brain cells combined that are in the running for third place. Bring your ‘I deserve this’ memes, your entourage of keyboards and clapping seals. Bring whatever you’ve got. Bring your husband if you want Bea. And whatever the fuck you have Cassie. Bring your legacies. Bring your ‘yes’ men. Hell, bring the whole circus.”

She let the sentence hang, then finished it clean.

“Because when the bell rings, there’s only one thing that counts. I’m not here to make a point. I’m not here to lecture you two about humility. I’m here to make you hurt and I’m here to leave you with nothing but the memory of my hands on your throat and the knowledge that you lost to the better woman. I’m here to make everyone who thought I was done swallow that pride right back down and shit themselves because now...I’m done being the stepping stone.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed, "And one final thing, you will keep my family out of your mouths. You will keep your petty accusations, your desperate tweets, and your stage-managed victimhood between you and your mirrors. You will look me in the eye, and you will earn every single line on your damn resume. Or you will be erased.”

She let out a breath that sounded almost like laughter. Not light. Not joking.

“You want to know how this ends? You’ll both learn it the hard way. You’ll both learn because I won’t stop until I’m standing where I’ve always been meant to be. I’ll see you twats in the ring. Bring everything. I’ll bring the wreckage.”

She stepped back. The camera trembled for a beat, then cut to black.

Turnberry Towers – Annual Halloween Party
Las Vegas, Nevada

The lobby of Turnberry Towers had been transformed, again, into something that walked the line between whimsical and ridiculous. An enormous chandelier glittered above carved pumpkins and tables draped in shimmering black cloth. The DJ was spinning a mix of nostalgic Halloween hits and modern remixes; fog curled lazily at ankle-height from cleverly hidden machines. The party always went hard here. It was one of the perks of living in a building full of retirees with money and opinions.

Miles stood near the dessert table, hips angled like he was posing for a magazine cover, because honestly, when you are dressed head-to-toe as David Bowie, you commit. The glittered lightning bolt stretched sharp and red across his eye. The white boots were borderline illegal. The silver jumpsuit glinted each time he moved.

Next to him, Carter, metallic silver suit, the jacket covered with rhinestones and sequins with those oversized white-framed glasses with lenses tinted rose-pink, was the picture of Elton John, if Elton were celebrating Halloween in Vegas rather than playing piano to sold-out arenas. He had leaned full tilt into glam. Sequins. Gloves. The whole nine yards. Every light in the place found him and refused to let go.

And then there was Kevin, sixteen and determined to be Billy Maximoff down to the boots. Scarlet cape. Blue-green tunic, fingerless gloves and he looked proud of it too, head high for once, confident. He’d vanished into the crowd for snacks and soda the moment they got back inside from the poolside area from his entrance along with one of the tower's favorite residents.

Right now, Miles and Carter were chatting with Anne, the HOA president, one of the sweetest ladies to ever rule a building with the power of an army. Anne had dressed as Agatha Harkness, complete with gray-purple robes and a brooch so shiny it could’ve been real silver. Her wig had streaks of white like lightning, and she even carried a fake spell book under her arm.

“It’s just, absolutely delightful, the three of you,” Anne was saying with a bright smile. She adored them, "You always come in theme. Last year was… what was that one again?”

“Abba,” Carter reminded her, touching a hand over his heart, "A truly spiritual moment. I have never seen Miles commit to a pair of bell bottoms like that.”

Miles smirked, "I was beautiful.”

“You always are,” Carter shot back, affectionate, without a second of hesitation.

Anne chuckled and touched Miles’ arm, "You boys bring life to this place. You know that?” She meant it. She always meant what she said.

Miles’ gaze drifted, then stopped. There stood Kevin, he was laughing. ...with his head slightly ducked. With a boy.

The kid was standing near the drink dispenser at the refreshment table, broad-shouldered, nearly six feet tall, strawberry-blonde hair shining under the soft gold overhead lighting. He wore a Captain America costume that actually fit him, looking like someone had convinced him he could be a hero and he’d believed it. Not the cheap jumpsuit kind either, this was some carefully assembled fandom-level stuff. And Kevin was smiling. Nervous, unsure, but smiling.

It was the first time in a long time he looked like a kid who wasn’t bracing for something.

Miles caught Carter looking at the same thing.

“Well, looks like Kev used the ‘plus one’ on the invite.” Carter murmured, low enough not to be overheard, "I told you about him last week, remember? Saw him at the carpool pickup last Wednesday. They came out of school just talking up a storm, he actually had him laughing at one point and then they said their farewells before he got on one of the buses and Kev got to the car. Kevin shut down when I asked.”

Miles nodded once, reading the body language between the two boys, “He likes him.”

“Oh for sure...” Carter said quietly, eyes softening just slightly. The two watched as the young man was motioning and touching the fabric of Kevin's costume, “And that is… definitely mutual.”

Miles inhaled with pride, worry, protectiveness, hope and something a complicated knot of all of it, but his expression when he exhaled was warm.

“Anne, would you excuse us for a moment?” he asked politely.

“Of course, dear. Go be parents.” She winked knowingly.

Miles and Carter crossed the room together, never looming, never pushing. Just there.

Kevin noticed them too late. His smile flickered, nerves snapping up like a shield, but Miles didn’t let the panic bloom.

He simply smiled.

“Evening lads,” Miles said, friendly, casual, every bit the rockstar glittering under lights, "I don’t think we’ve met.”

The boy straightened instantly. Eyes widened. Recognition happened in real time.

“Oh—uh—I— Hi—” The kid swallowed, flushed deep pink, "I’m... My name is Connor. Connor Wayley. I—uh— I know who you are. Both of you. I mean— sorry—Hi.”

Carter laughed softly, not unkindly, "It’s okay. Happens a lot, especially around Miles.”

Kevin’s ears were red. He wouldn’t look at either of them.

Miles extended a hand, "Well, Connor, it’s nice to officially meet you.”

Evan shook it, firm handshake, though his palm was a little sweaty. And the nervousness showed all over him but at least he was sincere.

Carter offered his hand next, "Well I know you said you already knew who we were but, I’m Carter, this is Miles. And based on the costume, I’m guessing Avengers fan?”

Connor brightened, shoulders relaxing, "Yeah! I, um...Captain America’s kind of my favorite. Has been for... since I was little.”

Miles grinned, "Strong choice and the costume looks great. That custom work?”

The young man nodded, "Pieces. Some from online, some... uh... 3D-printed. The school has a makerspace.”

Kevin finally found his voice. Quiet, but steady, "He made the shield himself.”

Connor flushed again, ducking his head, "It’s not... I mean.... it’s just foam and paint—”

Miles’ smile softened. To him, this wasn’t small. Not at all.

“Well,” Miles said, voice warm enough to melt chocolate fountains, “Looks to me like you put your heart into it. And that’s what makes it impressive.”

Connor blinked. The compliment landed. Hard, "Thanks, sir.”

Kevin looked at Miles, grateful in ways only spoken through silence, "Hey, why don’t I go introduce you to Anne, she looks EXACTLY like Agatha and it’s amazing.”

Carter glanced at the two kids who were now walking away, Kevin’s shoulder brushing Connor’s...not constantly, but enough. Natural, Easy and the most important of it...Comfortable. He leaned slightly into Miles and whispered, “They’re adorable. And I think we might be in trouble.”

Miles whispered back, “Oh, we’re doomed. Completely doomed.”

But his smile never faded.

-------

The elevator ride back up to the condo was quiet, the faint hum of the floor numbers blinking past filling in the silence where conversation hadn’t landed yet. The Halloween party downstairs was still going strong; laughter and thumping bass vibrated faintly up the walls. Kevin had stayed behind with Anne...and with the kid in the Captain America costume, under the watchful eye of half the HOA, which somehow made Miles feel both more and less relaxed at the same time.

Carter leaned back against the wall of the elevator, Elton John sequins glittering under the low lighting, the silver frames of his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. Miles still looked like David Bowie had stepped out of a vinyl sleeve, hair sprayed into artful chaos, jumpsuit half unzipped at the chest, glitter along his cheekbones. They were a ridiculous, fabulous pair. And yet the silence between them was low, thoughtful. Not tense. Just full.

The doors slid open with a soft ding.

After a small jaunt down the hall, they stepped into their home. The sound-proofed quiet enveloped them.

Miles exhaled first, rolling his shoulders, "Feet are killing me,” he murmured.

Carter didn’t answer at first but made a small joke after kicking off his platforms about “His feet?” but Carter was watching him.

Miles paused.

“…Hey.” That single word had weight. Carter crossed the space between them and rested both hands on Miles’ waist, thumbs smoothing over the fabric, "You did good tonight,” he said quietly, "You always do.”

“Kevin looked happy,” Carter said softly.

“Yeah,” Miles replied, offering a small, warm smile, "He did.”

There was a hint of something else there, something neither of them pushed yet. Not tonight.

Miles’ expression softened, but only briefly. He moved to the kitchen counter, resting his hands on the granite, shoulders bowing forward, "We’re gonna have to have a conversation with him,” he said, meaning Kevin, meaning the boy, meaning the look in Kevin’s eyes that was new and unmissable.

Carter nodded, leaning beside him, "We will. But not tonight.”

“…No,” Miles agreed, "Not tonight.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Carter’s eyes drifted, not to Miles, but to the championship belt resting on the display shelf near the TV. The SCW Internet Championship caught the soft light, gold reflecting like something living and it had rested right by Carter’s World Championship that had been disinfected thoroughly since it was finally retrieved from Alexander Raven.

“So.” Carter folded his arms lightly, "Ryan Keys.”

Miles didn’t shy away. In fact, he lit up, even through his exhaustion at the moment, “Yeah.”

And it wasn’t bravado. It wasn't a forced confidence. It was anticipation.

“It’s just nice to have a bit of fresh air coming my way,” Miles continued, "Keys is something different, for me at least. Since he showed back up...I don’t know. We know he’s been hungry, you can tell just watching him and I want that. I want someone who’s coming in like they’ve got something to prove.”

Carter watched the way Miles spoke, hands moving, eyes bright, adrenaline under the skin. Like this wasn’t a defense, it was an invitation.

“So you’re not nervous,” Carter said not accusing, just confirming.

Miles shook his head, easy, solid and sure, “Nah. I mean....” He shrugged, "Of course there’s pressure. I’ve got something to lose now. That’s real and it’s not like I’m not used to that because it’s sure as hell not my first time around the block. But this? This is the kind of match I like. Fresh opponent. Fresh challenge. No history weighing it down. Just me and him seeing who’s better when it rings.”

Carter’s lips curled, not into a smirk, but something proud, "Good,” he murmured.

Miles stepped closer, shoulder brushing his, their reflections faint in the glass of the balcony door, "You thought I was worried.”

Carter didn’t deny it, "I’ve seen what pressure can do to people who finally get everything they were reaching for.”

Miles reached up, lightly taking Carter’s chin between his fingers, soft, grounding. Not dramatic. Just real.

“Hey.” His voice was warm, "I didn’t luck into this. I didn’t stumble into it. I worked my ass off. I earned it. And now I get to defend it, not because I have to, but because I want to. I’m not out to hand pick opponents like others that just ran away. That is the part that matters.”

Carter breathed in slowly, tension easing, shoulders loosening, "Okay,” he said, "Then I’m with you.”

“You were always with me,” Miles answered, voice low and certain.

Carter smiled, the small, private one meant only for him, "Yeah. I was.”

Carter walked behind him and rested his chin between Miles’ shoulder blades, "And I know that’s who you are. It’s one of the things I love most about you.” His arms wrapped around Miles’ torso, slow and grounding, "But just because you won’t say it… doesn’t mean I can’t worry.”

Miles’ fingers closed around Carter’s wrists, holding them there.

“Do you think it was too impulsive?" he asked, gently, but direct.

Carter didn’t answer right away. He stepped around, moving to face him fully. Their eyes met, no walls, no character work, no ring bravado. Just the truth, "I think you finally got everything you worked for,” Carter said, voice steady, "You know that means people are going to come for you harder than they ever have and I’m scared of what that could do to you. Not your career. You. We saw what happened when you lost it and then you proceeded to drive Vaughn through the windshield of a helicopter.”

Miles blinked. And it hit him, the fear wasn’t about the title. It was about the man wearing it. He reached up and cupped Carter’s jaw, "Yeah, I kinda did try to brutally maim him and failed to get the title back but ....I’m not going anywhere, love. I could say the about you Mr. World Champ.”

“Hey, ok...fair.” Carter leaned into the touch, breathing out, "You better not. I’m too old to break in another husband.”

Miles barked a soft laugh, the tension cracked just enough to breathe. Then Carter’s expression shifted, softer, almost teasing, but the emotion behind it was clear.

“Let me ask you something though,” Carter murmured, "When you walk out there at High Stakes, are you doing it as the Internet Champion?” His thumb brushed along Miles’ lips, "Or are you doing it as Miles Freaking Kasey, the man who clawed his way into being undeniable?”

Miles didn’t smile. He just stepped forward, pressed his forehead to Carter’s. And answered in a whisper,
“Both.”

The lights outside flickered from the ongoing Halloween festivities, casting their shadows long across the apartment wall, two figures standing together.

And neither moved.

...Until.., "Shower?”

-------

The camera came up clean and steady. White backdrop. No theatrics. No smoke. No chair thrown across the room. Just Miles Kasey-McKinney standing center frame, SCW Internet Championship slung over his shoulder like it belonged there.

Because it did.

He hooked one thumb under the strap, casual, comfortable.

“The biggest show of the year is neigh. High Stakes is around the corner,” Miles began, tone level but sure, "And yeah, I decided to open the door. Even with the tournament going on to determine who was going to face Carter at High Stakes, I didn’t wait for a challenger to be assigned. I didn’t wait for my name to be pulled out of a hat. And I sure as hell wasn’t gonna sit in the back and not defend this title like it's a treasure I need to hide.”

He tapped the faceplate lightly, not reverent, just acknowledging.

“This championship isn’t something I covet. I don’t clutch it like Gollum and whisper ‘my precious.’” Miles gave a small smile. Dry. Honest. He also knew the minute that Carter heard that, he would have to do it again.

“This right here means I get to be the one out there every week, setting pace, raising standard, giving this division something to rally behind. I’m not guarding the championship. I’m carrying it. Like a flag.”

His posture stayed relaxed, but his voice sharpened, focus, not aggression.

“And that’s why the open challenge made sense. Because this division is full of people hungry to prove something and if I’m gonna represent it, then I have to be willing to face whoever steps up, no conditions, no warnings, no safety net. Sounds exactly like my entire career, but I digress.”

He let the belt shift, hand steady on the leather.

“So, Ryan Keys.” The smile turned thoughtful, measured and respectful.

“You didn’t waste time. You didn’t cut some long speech. You didn’t try to sell yourself. You just stepped forward and said, ‘I’m here.’ And honestly? I respect that more than anything else you could’ve said.”

He nodded once, genuine.

“You’ve been away. You came back. And the first thing you aimed for was this. That tells me where your head is at. That tells me you’re not just filling space, you want the moment.”

Miles’ tone deepened, confident, not condescending.

“And now you’ve got it. You walk into High Stakes with the opportunity to do something massive for your return. You got the shot. You earned the match simply by moving first.”

He leaned in slightly, more presence, not more volume.

“But here’s where we’re honest with each other.”

“You’re not walking into the same Internet Championship scene you left. I’m not here to hold this belt. I’m here to push this division forward, with every match, every defense, every challenger who has the guts to step up.”

The belt shifted once more, but he never once posed with it.

“And if you’re the one standing across from me at High Stakes? Good.”

He nodded, once, decisive.

“Because I want the guys who want the moment. I want the ones who aren’t afraid to take their shot first.”

Miles’ eyes locked directly on the camera, calm, grounded, sure.

“Ryan Keys, you were the first man to step up, and that means something. You wanted the shot, so now you’ve got it.”

A small, confident exhale.

“So bring that momentum. Bring that hunger. Bring the version of yourself that walked back into this company and said I’m not done.”

He nodded once.

“Because I’m walking into Tucson as the SCW Internet Champion, and I am walking out the same way.”

Miles didn’t smirk. Didn’t wink. Didn’t posture.

He just meant it.

“I’ll see you in Tucson, Ryan.”

And he stepped off camera, ending it clean.

Bring Him Home
Las Vegas, NV

The air inside the Clark County Family Court building felt different than anywhere else in Las Vegas. The casinos carried noise, neon, and life. The Strip never slept. But here, everything was subdued, muffled, the carpet was thick enough to swallow footsteps, and the wood paneling along the walls seemed designed to keep voices from rising too high.

Miles sat at the long oak table, Carter at his side. Both wore suits, Carter’s sharp navy one made him look polished and calm, while Miles tugged at his tie like it had been knotted too tight. Between them sat Alastair O’Malley, sleeves neat, posture perfect, eyes already locked on the judge’s bench with the same kind of steady patience he’d once used to protect Carter years ago.

Across the aisle sat a representative from Child Protective Services, a woman with a file thick enough to be a brick, full of Kevin’s entire history, schools, hospital records, the string of issues from his family’s issues to what happened recently. Miles tried not to look at it. Tried not to think about how every page was another reminder that Kevin had been shuffled around like cargo by his own family, rather than allow him to just be a kid.

At the far end of the bench, Detective LaSalle stood near the rail, in uniform but off-duty, hands folded behind his back. His presence wasn’t procedural, he was there because he wanted to be. Because he’d seen Miles and Carter step up when no one else had.

The bailiff called the room to order. Everyone rose as Judge Ramirez entered, a woman with sharp eyes that missed nothing. She sat, looked over the docket, and then gestured for everyone else to sit as well.

“Alright,” Judge Ramirez began, her tone brisk but not unkind, "We are here today to discuss the matter of minor Kevin Chapman, soon to be released from University Medical Center. The court must decide appropriate placement and long-term guardianship.”

Miles swallowed hard. His hands pressed flat against the polished wood of the table. He felt Carter’s fingers brush against his under the surface, grounding him.

Alastair stood, buttoning his jacket, his voice carrying smooth and clear, "Your Honor, I represent Miles Kasey-McKinney and Carter McKinney-Kasey. My clients are here today not out of obligation or convenience, but out of genuine concern for the welfare of Kevin Chapman. They are seeking full guardianship of Kevin, with the intent of providing a permanent, stable home for him.”

The CPS representative shifted, readying her notes. But before she could speak, Judge Ramirez lifted a hand, "And you have documentation of financial stability, living arrangements, and background checks?”

“Filed in advance with the court,” Alastair replied, sliding a packet across to the clerk, "Additionally, there is testimony from Detective LaSalle, who has firsthand knowledge of my clients’ history with Kevin and their demonstrated commitment to his well-being.”

Miles’ throat felt dry, but he kept his gaze steady. He wasn’t here to prove he could win a wrestling match. He was here to prove he could keep a promise, to a kid who’d never had anyone keep one before.

Judge Ramirez turned her eyes toward LaSalle, "Detective?”

LaSalle stepped forward, voice carrying the weight of a man who’d spent too many years testifying, "Your Honor, I’ve seen these two gentlemen in difficult circumstances. I’ve watched them advocate for this boy when others might’ve walked away, especially his own father. They didn’t have to get involved, but they did. Mr. Kasey-McKinney especially went to extra lengths to make sure of Kevin’s wellbeing. And from everything I’ve seen, they’re the only ones looking at Kevin as more than a case number. They see him as family.”

For the first time since the hearing began, the corners of Judge Ramirez’s mouth softened. She glanced toward Miles and Carter, then back down at her papers. Miles leaned back in his chair, letting out a slow breath. Carter’s hand stayed on his, and for a brief second, despite the weight of the courtroom, the stiff suits, the looming uncertainty, it felt like maybe, just maybe, they were on the right path.

The CPS representative rose, smoothing the lapel of her blazer as she addressed the bench, "Your Honor, while I do not question the sincerity of Mr. and Mr. Kasey-McKinney, I must raise concerns. Kevin Chapman has endured repeated instability, from his mother landing herself in prison to his own father seemingly kicking him out of his house. Kevin has spent a lot of time back and forth and unsure where to go. And while these gentlemen have a relationship with him, they are not blood relatives, nor have they any prior legal responsibility. The Department recommends placement in a certified foster home while his situation is reassessed in a more formal capacity.”

Alastair stood almost immediately, his tone calm but sharp, "With respect, Your Honor, Kevin has been through more than enough cold transitions. Another foster placement only continues the cycle. What my clients offer is not just a roof or a paycheck, it’s consistency. Kevin knows them. He trusts them. He already has a bond within their household, and removing him from that would do more harm than good.”

Judge Ramirez tapped her pen against her notes, eyes flicking between the parties, "And what of their occupations? From what I see, both Mr. Kasey-McKinney and Mr. McKinney-Kasey have demanding careers that require travel.”

That was the question Miles had been bracing for. His pulse kicked up, but before Alastair could answer, he cleared his throat and stood. Carter’s hand brushed his sleeve in a silent ‘you sure?’ but Miles nodded.

“Your Honor,” Miles began, voice steady, though he could feel his heart hammering against his ribs, "It’s true, I wrestle. I travel. So does Carter, and together we’ve built our life around handling it. We’re not blind to what that means, and we’re not taking this lightly. But the difference is, Kevin wouldn’t just be another stop on our way. He’d be part of us. An actual part of our family.”

He took a breath, locking eyes with the judge, "Kevin’s had people promise him stability before, and then rip it away. I won’t do that to him. WE won’t do that to him. Not now, not ever. We haven’t gone into the idea of any of this lightly. This isn’t about checking a box or looking good on paper. It’s about giving a kid who’s had every reason not to trust adults a reason to finally believe one of them. If that means rearranging our life? I’ll do it. No hesitation.”

The room went still. Alastair didn’t add anything. He didn’t need to. Even the CPS rep shifted uncomfortably, as if she knew there wasn’t much to argue against the raw conviction in Miles’ voice.

Judge Ramirez studied him for a long moment, the silence heavy but not hostile. Finally, she leaned back in her chair, folding her hands, "I appreciate your candor, Mr. Kasey-McKinney. This court will take everything under advisement before making a ruling. For now, the matter is recessed until this afternoon.”

The gavel struck once, and just like that, the tension loosened enough for Miles to breathe again. Carter squeezed his hand under the table, whispering, “You killed it, babe.”

The wait between sessions was torture. Miles and Carter walked the courthouse halls with Alastair, sipping burnt coffee from paper cups that did nothing to settle the nerves. Even Ms. Thang at home crossed Miles’ mind, how easy it was to worry about a cat, when the fate of a kid was hanging in the balance.

By the time the bailiff’s voice called them back into the courtroom, Miles’ tie felt like a noose again. Carter smoothed it down for him before they reentered, his small smile steady enough to lend courage.

When Judge Ramirez took her seat again, the silence fell heavy. Papers shuffled. A long pause. Then she spoke.

“This court has reviewed all submitted documents, as well as testimony from both counsel and Detective LaSalle, as well as a stellar letter of reference by a Dr. Gail Delacore. The decision before me is not one I take lightly. Kevin Chapman has experienced significant instability. His mother did attempt a contestment of this act but she has lost her parental rights after her criminal history. His father has, after contact, gave a differing opinion and has agreed that Kevin deserves a better life. The Department’s concerns regarding his placement are valid. However...”

Miles’ stomach flipped at the word.

“...It is also clear that Kevin has found stability, consistency, and genuine care with Mr. and Mr. Kasey-McKinney. Foster care may provide shelter, but it cannot replicate established trust and existing bonds. Removing him would likely do more harm than good and considering the disturbing circumstances that led to this very moment, I feel like right now the child in question deserves more than just a roof over their head.”

The CPS representative shifted, lips pressing together, but she didn’t interrupt.

Judge Ramirez continued, her eyes settling on Miles, then Carter, "Therefore, it is the ruling of this court that guardianship of Kevin Chapman be granted to Miles Kasey-McKinney and Carter McKinney-Kasey, effective immediately. Conditions will include regular welfare check-ins for the first six months, and continued demonstration of stability in employment and home life. Furthermore, seeing as your careers take you above and beyond this state, I am also granting you both permission to travel with him, but he must be enrolled in school and live a normal lifestyle. But as of today, Kevin Chapman is officially under your guardianship. Gentlemen, I wish you the best.”

The gavel struck.

For a moment, Miles couldn’t breathe. His lungs forgot how to work, his ears rang with the echo of the gavel. It was Carter’s hand again, warm, squeezing and grounding, that made the weight of the moment crash over him. It was a relief and triumph. The sudden realization that everything they’d been fighting for had just changed their lives.

Alastair allowed himself the smallest smile as he gathered his papers. LaSalle clapped a firm hand on Miles’ shoulder as they stood, his voice low but certain, "You did right by him.”

Miles swallowed hard, nodding. He glanced at Carter, who was already grinning through eyes that shimmered with unshed tears, "We did,” Carter said softly.

----

A Few Days Later
Turnberry Towers

The elevator ride up felt longer than it should have. Kevin’s backpack was slung over one shoulder, the strap digging into his collarbone, though he barely noticed. He stared at the mirrored wall of the cab, watching his own reflection the way someone might eye a stranger.

Miles stood at his side, keys in hand, Carter just behind them carrying one of the duffel bags stuffed with Kevin’s things from the hospital. They hadn’t said much on the way up. It wasn’t the kind of silence that pressed, it was the kind that waited.

When the doors slid open, Kevin followed them down the hall, sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. He didn’t know what he expected when Miles unlocked the condo door and pushed it open. He remembered being here once before, except in his memory the edges blurred, the colors were wrong, and everything smelled like panic and hunger. Miles’ arm had been around him then, holding him upright, half-carrying him out of the motel and into this place that barely registered before he was ushered off to the hospital.

Now, walking into the condo, it was different.

“Welcome home,” Carter said. His voice was easy, but Kevin caught the way he watched him closely, like he was waiting to see if the words landed.

The condo smelled faintly of coffee and something citrus, Carter’s doing, no doubt, given the dish towel slung over the back of a chair, that was the first thing he noticed. The second was the quiet hum of normal life, music faint from a speaker. Kevin stepped inside carefully, like the floor might vanish beneath him if he wasn’t cautious enough.

“This is...wow,” he said, eyes sweeping across the open living room. The wide windows poured early-afternoon light across the space, catching on the framed photos lining the shelves, Miles and Carter with friends, snapshots from shows, even a couple of goofy selfies in front of landmarks Kevin only half-recognized. It felt alive in a way most places he’d stayed never had, including the home that he had shared with his parents, one floor up.

Miles nudged the door shut behind them with his heel and slung the keys onto the counter, "Alright,” he said, clapping his hands together once, “Ten-cent tour. The living room here, TV’s way too big, that’s mostly my fault according to Carter.”

“Yes, but I’ve learned to live with it because it’s amazing for movies,” Carter interjected smoothly, dropping Kevin’s duffel bag by the couch.

“Kitchen’s through there, laundry’s tucked away behind those doors, bedrooms down the hall. The bathroom’s yours but is also a guest bathroom. Try not to let Carter convince you that kale smoothies are food, and you’ll survive just fine.”

Kevin’s mouth quirked at the corner, though he ducked his head quickly to hide it. The ease between them was something he wasn’t used to yet. Especially when he heard Carter shoot back something about Krispy Kreme Donuts being one of Miles’ basic 4 food groups.

They rounded into the kitchen, and before Kevin could take in the stainless appliances or the ridiculous lineup of coffee mugs hanging by hooks, a sharp, imperious ‘mrrrow!’ cut through the air. Perched on the kitchen peninsula, tail curled neatly around her paws, was a black-and-white tuxedo cat. Her whiskers twitched, her bright eyes narrowed as though appraising the newcomer.

“And this,” Carter announced, “Is Ms. Thang. Official ruler of the condo.”

“She lets us stay here out of pity, we just pay the mortgage and give her treats.” Miles added, leaning casually against the counter.

Kevin froze for half a second under the cat’s piercing stare, then watched in surprise as Ms. Thang leapt gracefully down to the stool, then to the floor. She approached him with slow, deliberate steps, sniffed his sneakers, and finally brushed herself against his shin like she’d known him forever. Kevin crouched instinctively, reaching a tentative hand down. Ms. Thang leaned into the touch immediately, purring so loudly it vibrated against his palm.

Kevin blinked, the corner of his mouth tugging upward again, "Guess I pass inspection.”

Miles grinned, "That’s the toughest one in the house, right there. If she’s cool with you, the rest is a done deal. But let’s not tell LJ about this, or I will never hear the end of it.”

Carter leaned an elbow on the counter, watching the two with a softer expression, "Oh I am so telling your brother.”

Kevin didn’t say anything, just kept stroking the cat, his shoulders easing for the first time since they’d left the hospital.

----

Come Crashing Down
Miami, FL

Miles leaned forward on the steel chair, elbows resting on his knees, the faint glint of the ladder looming behind him. The air smelled faintly of dust and canvas, the quiet of the empty arena pressing in around him. For once, he didn’t fidget, he didn’t pace. He just spoke with the same focus he’d wrestled his own doubts into submission with.

“Four men. One championship. One night in Miami.

And me? I’ve been waiting for this. Waiting to stand in the center of chaos...tables, ladders, chairs....and prove I don’t just belong here, I own it.”

His gaze flicked upward to the rafters, where in a few days the Internet Championship would hang.

“Let’s start our little Ted Talk where we will begin discussing the one and only ‘Bulldog’ Bill Barnhart.

The man I already beat to earn my way into this match. The man I left behind when I punched my ticket to Violent Conduct. And yet, here you are, Billy. You’re in this match, not because you earned it, not because you fought your way in, but because I made it happen.”

Miles let the words linger, a sharp smirk cutting across his face.

“Yeah, everyone was shocked when I went to SCW General Manager Evelyn Hall. Everyone thought, ‘Why in the world would Miles do that? Why give Bill another chance?’ And the truth is simple, because I’m not afraid of you. Because I wanted you in this match. Because Violent Conduct seems incomplete without you in it, Billy Boy.

You see, Alex Jones and Eddie Lyons were just handed their spots, and rightfully so because they fucking deserved it...well maybe Eddie more than Alex but we’ll cross and burn that particular bridge when we get to it. Me? I had to fight. And you, Bill, you were supposed to be finished. Out of the picture. But I couldn’t stomach the idea of people whispering that Miles only got through because he had it easy. So I made it fair. I made sure you got in, too.”

He leaned forward, resting his hands on the barricade, eyes narrowing.

“But here’s the thing, Bill. You should be thanking me. You should be on your knees, grateful that I even spoke up for you to give you this shot. Because deep down, you know the truth, without me, you’d be at home, holding Bea’s purse while shopping, watching this on TV with your dog.

And come Violent Conduct? That’s exactly where you’ll end up again. Because the same way I put you down once, I’ll do it again, only this time, there won’t be any appeals. There won’t be any second chances. Just tables breaking under your weight and me climbing the ladder while you wonder why you thought you could still hang with the future of this division.”

Miles pushed back from the barricade, that sharp grin returning.

“I gave you this spot, Bill. But I’ll be damned if I’m giving you the championship.”

Miles smirked faintly, his jaw setting.

Miles exhaled slowly, slowly making his way to the six sided ring, resting his forearms on the canvas, his gaze somewhere far off, as though he could already see the chaos of ladders and tables waiting in Miami. When he spoke, his tone was steady, not mocking, not cruel, but deliberate.

“Eddie Lyons. Now here’s the part where I have to tell some hard truths to a man I actually respect.

You’re a fighter, Eddie. You’re the kind of guy who doesn’t break no matter how many times the world tries to bend you. And believe me, I see that. I respect it. You’ve been waiting for that moment — that crack in the glass ceiling where you finally get to smash through and say, ‘I made it. This is my time.’

And trust me, man, I get it. I know what it’s like to be thirsty for that shot, to want it so bad that it keeps you awake at night. That feeling of being on the cusp, always right there, and the universe pulling it back out of reach. Hell, you’re a new dad now, and I know that adds fire to everything you do. You want to hold that championship up high, not just for you, but for your family. You want to be able to tell your kid that you fought, you bled, and you won.”

Miles shook his head slowly, almost regretfully, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“But here’s the thing, Eddie, I’ve been waiting too, I’ve been waiting since I lost the fucking thing. And the truth is, the world doesn’t care how long you’ve waited. The Internet Championship isn’t a charity. It isn’t a prize you get for enduring the most disappointment. It’s a fight, and when the dust settles, only one of us is walking away with that belt.

And as much as I admire your fight, as much as I respect that you don’t crack under pressure, in fact you are probably the most level headed guy in the entire SCW lockerroom and that is amazing in of itself considering that most of us belong locked up in a rubber room with nothing but the jackets that help you hug yourself, hand puppets and pingpong tables. BUT...I’m here to tell you it won’t be you. Not in Miami. Not at Violent Conduct. You’ve been waiting, Eddie. You have been waiting for so long, but so have I. And I’m done waiting.

So when you look up from that mat, with the wreckage of ladders and tables all around you, and you see me standing at the top with the Internet Championship in my hands, don’t take it as disrespect. Take it as the reality. Because I know you’ll keep fighting. You always do. But this time, it’s my ceiling that’s shattering. Not yours.”

Miles tapped the rope with his palm and let a small, sympathetic smirk cross his face.

“Somebody’s gotta be the bearer of bad news. Guess it’s me.”

The name that came next pulled a different weight into his voice.

Miles’ jaw tightened as he straightened, no longer leaning against the canvas, his voice carrying more bite now.

“Alex Jones. Now this one’s different.

See, Bill’s a relic, Eddie’s a fighter I can respect...but you, Alex? You were supposed to be a mentor. One of the guys who was there when I came into Wolfslair. You ARE Wolfslair....you were Wolfslair. One of the ones who told me to dig deeper, push harder, keep going when I felt like I had nothing left. I listened. I did the work. I bled for this business, and I carried those lessons with me everywhere I went.

And now here we are, years later, and I get to look across the ring at you...and realize how far you’ve fallen.

Because let’s be real, Alex, you’ve been coasting on reputation for a long time. Especially since Carter defeated you and kicked your ass back down the ladder. You still strut around like you’re untouchable, like the name alone carries weight. Picking the pettiest of fucking fights because you know damn well there isn’t a damn soul that fears the figure you have become. But here’s the truth: Wolfslair built monsters, killers, champions, and you? You became the guy clinging to past glories while everyone else kept moving forward. You taught us to never settle and yet here you are, settled. And you blew up your entire family for absolutely no fucking reason.

You want to look at me like I’m still that kid, green and wide-eyed, hoping one day to earn your nod of approval? You want to pretend you’re still that towering figure above me? Nah, not anymore. That dynamic died the moment I realized I didn’t need your approval to stand on my own two feet. That I didn’t need you, period.

So here’s the reality check: in Miami, when that bell rings, I’m not your student. I’m not your underling. I’m the guy who’s about to run straight through you.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real lesson. That no matter how many kids you try to preach to, no matter how much you want to puff your chest out like you’re still the big bad wolf of this place, sooner or later one of those students grows up, sharpens his teeth, and comes back to take a bite out of you.

That’s what’s waiting for you in Miami, Alex. Not respect. Not gratitude. Just reality. And the reality is, you’re not standing at the top of the mountain anymore. You’re standing in my way. And I don’t plan on asking permission to move you.”

Miles smirked, though there was no warmth behind it, it was just steel.

“You taught me well enough, Alex, hell I would say maybe too well. Now you get to see what happens when the student finally surpasses the teacher.

The measuring stick. The name people whisper when they talk about what this company once was, what it still can be. A man who’s seen it all, done it all, and can still back it up. Do NOT misunderstand me...I don’t take that lightly, Alex. I don’t dismiss it. Hell, part of me has been waiting for this fight, because if I want to prove I’m ready to carry this championship, standing across from you is the test.

But here’s the truth: legends fade, their shine dulls and their aura cracks when the new blood refuses to bow. And you should know as well as anyone, I’m not one to knee to anyonel. I’m not here to shake your hand and say, ‘thank you for paving the way.’ I’m here to show you the way forward doesn’t belong to you anymore, it belongs to me.”

Miles stood then, dragging the chair back with a scrape against the floor. His eyes went back up, locking on the invisible belt waiting in the air.

“TLC matches aren’t about luck and they’re sure as fuck not about nostalgia. They’re about who’s willing to put their body through hell, climb that ladder, and grab their destiny.

Barnhart, Eddie, Alex, you’re all obstacles that stand in my way to get back to what I should have never lost. You are the tough ones, the dangerous ones. But at Violent Conduct X, I’m not walking into Miami haunted, or hesitant, or second-guessing myself anymore. I promised I was done living in fear.

And when that championship comes down into my hands, you’ll all know it wasn't a chance, it wasn’t luck.

It was inevitable.”

He stepped back from the canvas and let the silence hang for a heartbeat, letting everything he'd said settle in the stale arena air. The ladder behind him glittered like a promise; the empty seats felt like the lungs of a city waiting to exhale. He fixed his gaze on that imaginary belt dangling over the ring in Miami and then looked up, not at the ceiling, but at the future.

“Listen,” he said, calm and certain now, “This isn’t personal theater. It’s not about settling scores with old ghosts or collecting trophies for the highlight reel. It’s about one simple thing: who’s willing to hurt the most to hold what’s theirs.”

He paced slowly, each step measured, "Barnhart, thanks for the convenience of your stubbornness. Eddie, respect, always, but respect doesn’t hand you a belt. And Alex...you were a teacher once. You helped make me. Funny how the lesson comes full circle.” A short laugh escaped him, "All three of you taught me something. You taught me how to beat you.”

Miles stopped in the center of the ring, palms flat against the cool canvas. The words that followed were quieter, but they landed like iron.

“I promised myself, on my birthday, that I was done letting the past tell me who I could be. No more ghosts and no more excuses. I’m not climbing because I want the belt for the picture or the retweets. I’m climbing because I earned the right to be the one who gets to decide what comes next for me. For my life. For the people I love.”

He drew in a breath, let it out like a bell toll, "Tables break, ladders bend, chairs shatter. Bodies will be bruised and clever plans will fail. But when the scrap metal sings and the dust hangs in the Miami air, one hand will close around that championship. One name will be shouted into a thousand phones and a thousand timelines. One man will walk out of Violent Conduct X different from the way he walked in.”

Miles looked at them all with the flat, certain smile of someone who’d already rehearsed victory a thousand times in his head, "That man is me. It’s inevitable.”

“Wild Cards”
Centennial Medical Center
Las Vegas

The dull beige walls of the recovery center hadn’t changed, but Kevin had.

The kid had color in his cheeks again. His shoulders weren’t as slumped. The hoodie he wore didn’t swallow him up the way it used to. Miles noticed all of it as he walked into the room with a paper bag in hand, the logo of some hole-in-the-wall burger place already leaving a greasy stain on the side.

Kevin looked up from where he was sitting cross-legged on the bed, earbuds half in. His face lit up like a pinball machine, "Took you long enough, old man.”

Miles raised an eyebrow, "Excuse you, this ‘old man’ just brought you a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. Show some damn respect.”

“Respect is earned,” Kevin said with a grin, already stretching his hands out for the bag, "Hospital food was this close to killing me. This is a life-saving measure.”

Miles dropped the bag in his lap with a dramatic sigh, then pulled out a second fry container for himself, "You will take this to your grave.”

“What?”

He pointed a fry at him.

“Carter. The man has the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to junk food.”

Kevin laughed through a mouthful of burger, "Dude, he’s like...healthy judgment personified.”

“Exactly. If he finds out I broke my post-cruise detox with the best fries ever and not getting him some? ...I’ll be doing morning pilates until 2090 and I already get my ass kicked enough by Fenris on a daily basis.”

Kevin tossed him a pack of Uno cards, "Then we play. And if I win, I get to rat you out.”

Miles snorted, "You just got healthy. You wanna end up in traction again?”

They dealt the cards, the ease between them returning instantly. No cameras. No spotlight. Just greasy fingers, bad trash talk, and the shuffle of cards between rounds.

A few hands in, Kevin looked up, face more serious, "Just to let you know, they gave me a release date.”

Miles glanced over the top of his cards, "Yeah?”

“Mid-September. That’s practically next month.”

The words lingered. Neither of them played a card.

“That’s good news, Kev. It means you’re healing.”

“Yeah. But then what?”

Miles lowered his cards, resting his arms on his thighs looking at the kid that he had saved, who was thin, pale and knocking on death’s doorstep just a few weeks ago, turning back into a strong willed kid with meat on his bones again, "What do you mean, mate?”

Kevin picked at a corner of the table, "My dad...he’s still him. Same mess. Same bullshit excuses. The guy couldn’t show up for a Zoom visit without being drunk out of his mind. And my mom’s...you know, in prison.”

“I know.” Miles sat back, he had yet to even tell Kevin how well that meeting went with his dad but it was like the kid already had a clue and more than likely it was his drunk old man that had even said something.

Kevin didn’t look up when he said it, "They’re not gonna just let me out without a place to go, but they’re talking about group homes or temporary foster placements or whatever. It’s not exactly ‘happily ever after.’”

Miles took a breath. Deep. Thoughtful. Then he laid his cards down face-up, "Draw four.”

“Dude!”

“Also,” Miles said calmly, grabbing a fry, “You’re not going back out into the wild alone. I don’t care what the state says.”

Kevin looked up at him, brows tight, "Are you serious?”

Miles nodded, "Dead serious, mate. Carter and I have already been talking about it in a way. Whether that means staying with us for a while, or us getting the legal guardianship train moving again, we’re not leaving you behind.”

Kevin was silent for a moment, his hands frozen around his cards, "You’d do that?”

Miles nodded again, “Look mate, after the talk I had with your old man....I knew damn well I needed to do something and we’re already working on it.”

“Even after everything?”

“You got sick, Kevin. You didn’t get bad. Don’t confuse the two.”

Kevin’s throat bobbed, "You really think I could do something after this? Like actually get somewhere?”

Miles looked him straight in the eye, "Yeah. I do. You’re tough, and you’re smart. And more than that? You give a damn. That already puts you ahead of half the people I’ve met in this business.”

Kevin smiled, small but real, "So… what, you think I could be a wrestler someday?”

Miles leaned back, crossed his arms, and smirked, "Well, you already eat like one. Might as well learn how to throw a punch like one too.”

Kevin laughed, "Okay, but if I ever pin you in a match, I’m making a T-shirt that says ‘I beat Miles Kasey and all I got was this stupid shirt.’”

“Rude,” Miles said, flicking a fry at him, "But marketable.”

They went back to playing, but the air was different now, lighter, with a thread of hope sewn into it. The future wasn’t so murky anymore. It wasn’t just a calendar counting down days until an uncertain release.

It was real and they were going to face it together.

Even if Carter was definitely going to find out about the fries.


“The Nose Knows”
Turnberry Towers, Las Vegas
Evening

The sound of the door unlocking echoed into the sleek, open-layout condo just as golden sunset bled in through the windows. Turnberry Towers gave them that perfect view of the Strip, all lights and promises, but inside, it was peaceful.

Miles stepped in quietly, keys jangling in one hand and a mostly-empty paper bag clutched in the other. He was in his usual post-hospital-visit mode: hoodie sleeves pushed up, hair a little messy, a warm glow on his face that only came from time spent with Kevin. He closed the door with his foot and turned around just in time to see Carter appear from the kitchen.

Silk pajama pants. Oversized tee that was definitely Miles’ at one point. Barefoot. Domestic as hell.

“Hey,” Carter said, walking over with that small, sleepy smile that made Miles feel like he’d actually come home instead of just entering a condo, "How’s our favorite teenager?”

“He’s looking good. A lot better achtually,” Miles replied, leaning in for a quick kiss, "He’s got color again. Got jokes again. He’s eating well…”

He trailed off.

Carter’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t let go yet — his hands still loosely looped behind Miles’ neck.

“...Well?”

Miles cleared his throat and smiled, but it was too innocent. Way too innocent.

“We might have split some fries.”

The moment he said it, Carter’s expression went full shift: from soft domestic glow to dramatic betrayal, "You smell like grease and sodium.”

Miles took a step back, already laughing and pointing at his husband, "Don’t you dare start sniffing me like some kind of bloodhound.”

“You think I wouldn’t? You think I don’t know the scent of betrayal?”

“C’mon love, he’s been stuck eating plastic-wrapped pudding cups and mystery meat. I was being a good influence for him.”

Carter crossed his arms, "So naturally, you got yourself a personal order too.”

“Gotta build trust,” Miles said, lips twitching, "Can’t let him think I’m above the fry line.”

Carter blinked, "The fry line?”

Miles wiggled his brows, "It’s a delicate balance. You gotta stay relatable and well, I can’t not enjoy a nice fry now and again.”

Carter sighed dramatically, turning away toward the kitchen, "You are so lucky I made dinner.”

Miles perked up, "Wait, you cooked and the fire department didn’t show?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I was hungry.” Carter glanced back with a smirk, "But since you had the gall to cheat on me with fast food, I’m keeping the good leftovers for myself.”

“My darling love, as much as I love spaghetti as the next man, I wouldn’t exactly call your cooking healthy.”

“I also made garlic bread.”

Miles followed him, wrapping his arms around Carter’s waist from behind and resting his chin on his shoulder, "You are the best part of coming home, you know that?”

Carter leaned his head back against him with a soft noise, Miles loved to lay that accent on thick when he was up to no good and knew exactly the effect it had on him, "Uh-huh. Don’t think you’re getting out of salad duty tomorrow.”

Miles kissed the side of his neck, "Fine. But I’m sneaking croutons when you’re not looking.”

Carter just hummed, "One crouton. Per hour. That’s the deal.”

“Fine, this diet is gonna kill me, you know that?”

“Hey, it’s either this or I let K the vegetarian have at you...and we’ve seen that man’s diet.”

They stood there for a beat, swaying slightly in the glow of the Strip lights blinking through the windows. Peaceful. Warm. The kind of evening they never used to get, the kind they now tried to hold onto whenever they could.

Miles was first to break the silence, “Six or so weeks by the way, he was told mid-September.”

Finally, Carter asked, more gently, “You think he’s ready?”

Miles nodded against his shoulder, "I think he’s scared. But I also think he’s got a fight in him that is down right recognizable in myself. Maybe it’s why this is getting to me. I just...I don’t want him going back into that system, y’know?”

Carter turned in his arms, facing him fully, "We will figured something out for him, I swear. Even if it’s here.”

Miles smiled, "I mean we do have that room that has been empty for what...2.5 years now. And, I may have already put a call in to a lawyer to ask a few questions, legality speaking of course. I’ll be damned if he goes back to that family after what I saw.”

Carter gave him a look that said everything, pride, love, and a little of course you did.

He kissed him again, "You’re a good man, Miles Kasey, no matter what anyone thinks.”

Miles grinned, "I know. Even with fry breath.”

Carter groaned, "Okay, go brush your teeth before we even think about cuddling on that couch.”

Miles backed away with a wink, "Yes, Chef.”

“Also?” Carter added, loud enough as Miles disappeared into the bathroom.

“Yeah?” Miles said, poking his head out as Carter crossed his arms.

“That was a full order of fries, wasn’t it?”

The sheepist of smiles slides on Miles face, “...I will neither confirm nor deny.”

“You’re going to be IMPOSSIBLE on this tour, aren’t you? Miles? Miles!”


“You’re The Example I’ve Been Waiting For”
Ibiza, Spain

The view from the balcony was downright picturesque from almost a postcard, the sunlight bouncing off the sea, thumping music from a nearby beach club echoing off the cobbled streets of Ibiza because the party apparently never stopped. But none of that mattered to Miles Kasey right now. Maybe later but for now....

He stood barefoot, leaning on the railing in gym shorts and a tank top, the scene was perfectly capturing the fire behind those usually playful blue eyes. There was no cheeky smirk today. No flirty wink. Just a clenched jaw and the kind of intensity that didn’t simmer, it scorched.

He ran a hand through his ocean-blown hair, letting the silence speak for a moment before turning to the camera.

"You ever get the feeling that you're floating between moments? Like... something just ended, but whatever's next hasn’t quite started yet?"

He chuckles dryly, running his hand through his windswept hair.

"Yeah. That’s where I’m at right now. Last one tossed in the Overboard Battle Royal... Summer Xxxtreme in the rearview… and now we’re here in Ibiza. New tour. New city. New match. And it should feel like a reset, right?"

A long pause. His jaw tightens.

"But instead, it feels like a reckoning."

“Logan. Bloody. Hunter. You’ve been clawing at attention like a starving mutt, and for what? You think dragging Carter's name through the mud is your shortcut to relevance? You think rehashing your GO Gym days gives you legacy? You act like Carter owes you something, like you were left behind while the world moved on without you. And maybe it did. But that’s not his fault. That’s yours."

He steps toward the camera, a hint of fire igniting behind his ocean-blue eyes.

"You see, I’ve watched you do this. To others. To my brother. Now to my husband. You can’t build anything of your own so you tear down people who’ve made it. But you made one critical mistake, mate… you made it personal with me. You talked about Carter like he’s just a stepping stone, like his success somehow diminishes yours. And that’s where you crossed the line."

Miles pauses, lips pressed tight. You can see the battle behind his eyes—righteous fury held at bay by sheer willpower.

"You thought you were punching up, Logan. But you’re about to learn the difference between ‘punching up’... and being put down."

His voice lowers, dead serious.

"I didn’t come to Ibiza to wrestle you. I came to hurt you. To make you feel every word you’ve said. To show you what happens when you mouth off about people who’ve fought, bled, and earned what you never could. This isn’t about who went to what school or who trained with who. This is about respect. And you’ve shown none."

He leans into the camera slightly, his tone shifting. Still angry—but now, there’s something else. Something quieter.

"And maybe I’m fighting this hard because I don’t know what’s next. Maybe part of me is scared that if I don’t make this count—if I don’t shut your mouth now—I’ll keep floating like I have been since I got back. One second I’m managing LJ. The next I’m in title talks. Then I’m fighting for family. Then I’m… here. On a balcony. Wondering if any of it’s really going somewhere, or if I’m just holding on to something that already passed me by."

Miles looks away for a moment. The wind picks up, tugging at his shirt. When he looks back, there’s no more uncertainty in his face. Just resolution.

"But whatever’s coming—whatever I’m headed toward—I know one thing with absolute clarity: you don’t belong in that future. You’re a relic, Logan. You’re stuck in the past, clinging to Carter because he made it out and you didn’t. You’re bitter. You’re loud. But you’re not built to last."

He lifts the half-empty box of fries, grabs one, and takes a bite. Chews. Swallows. Then grins, just a flash of the old Miles, but this one’s got bite.

"Also, Carter’s definitely gonna smell this and give me hell. But I figure I’ll be in more trouble for what I do to you in that ring."”

Miles tosses the rest of the box into the trash behind him and leans into the camera for the final words.

“You’ve run your mouth from the second your entire career kicked off. First was your bullshit with my lil bro and now you’ve gone and started digging up your days at the GO Gym, dragging Carter’s name into every promo, every cheap shot, every whisper of your damn shadow. Like that makes you somebody. Like that makes you relevant. What’s amazing about it is you aren’t even on Carter’s level, let alone mine.”

Miles paced, energy rising with every step.

“But here’s the part where your fantasy ends and reality comes crashing through like a goddamn freight train, because you forgot one very important detail, Logan. Carter isn’t alone. He’s got someone in his corner. Me. I have sat aside as promised and had to dig my heels in every time I’ve had to hear someone attempt to one up my husband, but it JUST so happens that we both have the time.”

He jabbed a finger at his chest, that anger boiling just beneath the surface.

“You don’t get to talk about him and you don’t get to pretend he didn’t surpass you in every way. You sure as hell don’t get to twist history to make yourself look like the victim when everything that has happened to you has been of your own doing.”

Miles’ voice trembled, not with fear, but with rage barely contained.

“You just cannot stand watching Carter become something you know you  never could. And now? After you got a taste of championship gold, the Roulette Championship that you got embarrassed out of...You’re trying to claw your way into the spotlight by attaching yourself to the man you could never beat, in the ring or in life.”

A pause. A deep breath.

“Well, congratulations. You finally got the attention you’ve been begging for. But it’s not Carter who’s stepping through those ropes. It’s me. You know one of the many joys I had during Summer Xxxtreme was being apart of tossing you and Grandma Brooke overboard. I enjoyed as I heard you scream for your mommy and splash to that cold water below. And yeah I had a taste of that too and part of me is still bitter about it but now that I’m presented with a chance such as this, I’m feeling...I’m feeling spicy. And I come baring you tidings and horrible fortune because Logan....I’m not coming to wrestle. I’m coming to make sure that every single insult, every little jab, every disrespectful comment you’ve made comes back to haunt you.”

“You thought you were going to bully Carter from the sidelines? Nah, mate. Now you’ve got me to deal with.”

Miles leaned forward into the lens, voice cold and steady.

“This isn’t just about school pride. This isn’t about the GO Gym. GO has been kind in its invites to me since I moved to Las Vegas. Logan, this is about respect. Simple, plain respect. And it’s about what happens when you cross a line you can’t uncross.”

“I don’t care if you trained with Carter. I don’t care what history you think you had. I care about what you said. About how you said it. And about making damn sure you never say it again.”

He stood back, arms crossed over his chest, and the cold breeze of the coast tugged at the edge of his shirt.

“You’re not just facing the high-flying heartthrob this week, Logan. You’re facing a husband. A man fueled by something a hell of a lot stronger than ego, love. And that? That’s gonna hurt a lot more than whatever legacy you think you supposedly had left.”

Miles took one last breath, jaw tightening.

"You’ve had your say, Logan. Now it’s my turn. I’m gonna beat your ass in Ibiza and after that? Maybe I will figure out what comes next. But first, I bury you and your delusions. And I promise you, once I’m done, even you won’t be able to rewrite history anymore."

“Get ready, Logan. You’re not walking out of Ibiza the same way you walked in. I’m gonna drag your sorry arse all over that ring and when I toss your broken pride out to sea just like we did at Summer Xxxtreme, just remember one thing…”

“You brought this on yourself.”

He turned and walked back into the room, the door shutting behind him with a hard click as the screen faded to black.

Las Vegas – Centennial Medical Center

The smell of antiseptic hit Miles Kasey the moment he stepped off the elevator. That sterile, metallic tang that clung to the walls and the floors and the inside of his throat. He adjusted the straps of the baseball cap pulled low over his brow and gave a polite nod to the nurse at the station, who waved him toward Room 312.

It’s been two weeks. Two weeks since he pulled Kevin out of hell and into this place of humming fluorescent lights and soft-voiced nurses. Two weeks of tests, clean-up and therapy and a massive amount of cautious recovery.

And one week since Kevin had refused to see him.

Miles hesitated outside the door, hand hovering over the handle. He exhaled sharply, steeling himself, then pushed inside. Kevin sat on the edge of the bed, a tray table in front of him with a half-eaten bowl of soup and some crackers. His hair was freshly washed, falling in lank brown strands around his face. The shadows under his eyes were still there, but he looked… lighter, somehow.

Kevin glanced up—and for a moment, he looked like he might tense up again. But then his expression shifted, and he let out a breath, “Hey, Miles.”

“Hey, kid.” Miles kept his voice gentle, eyes scanning Kevin’s face for any sign of distress. He approached the bed, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, "You’re looking a bit better. Is the soup any good?”

Kevin shrugged, poking at the crackers, "A lot better than the stuff they tried to give me the first week. Some weird ass shakes because they weren’t sure if I was being fully truthful about the last time I really ate. That shit tasted like wet cardboard in can form. Actually threw one of them at someone.”

Miles cracked a small grin, "I’ll have to sneak you in something better next time. Maybe some In-N-Out, make sure you tell me your favs before I leave.”

A flicker of a smile crossed Kevin’s face, but then his eyes dropped. He picked at a loose thread on his blanket, “Look about last week...” Kevin’s voice was low, almost swallowed up by the steady beep of the machines, "I’m sorry I told you and your brother...what was his name again? LJ! That’s it. I’m sorry I told LJ to fuck off. I was having a really bad day, not even sure what or who I was that day.”

Miles leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, "Kev, you don’t gotta apologize for that, not to me. And not to LJ. We both know that you’ve been through enough to earn a few bad days.”

“Still Miles, just do me a fav,” Kevin swallowed, his voice tight, "Tell him I’m sorry, yeah? LJ, I mean.”

“I will.” Miles nodded firmly, "He gets it. We both do, trust me.”

Kevin fell silent for a while, tracing patterns on the sheet with his fingertip. Miles waited, patient, not pushing. Finally, Kevin let out a shaky sigh, “So, now that I seem to be under a bit of control, let me guess why you are here. You wanna know why I couldn’t stay with my dad..when I went back to LA.” It wasn’t a question.

Miles didn’t move, "Only if you’re ready, mate.”

Kevin stared down at the blanket, words tumbling out soft and uneven, "He...he didn’t hit me or anything. He didn’t have to. I think....I think I’d almost prefer it if he did. Then at least I’d know what to expect. But he’d look at me like...like I was a stain. Like I’d fucked everything up just by existing. Like he wanted me gone but didn’t have the balls to say it. I got back from my first time leaving, and he’d come home and...I don’t know, he’d just pretend that I wasn’t there. Or he’d scream at me for leaving, that’d usually come after he came home from drinking. He would call me a liar, a thief, a disappointment. It got really bad when my little brother said it was my fault mom is in prison. He wouldn’t say it but dad never denied it when he said it, he looked at me like it was my fault he lost everything. After a while, I started to believe him.”

His voice cracked on that last sentence, eyes blinking furiously to keep tears at bay. Miles felt something splinter in his chest.

“Kevin, none of what happened to your mom, that’s not on you.” Miles’s voice was rough, "Not one fuckin’ bit of it. You hear me?”

Kevin gave a tiny nod but didn’t look up, "Well, it didn’t help any that what really set the whole thing off was my little brother was really on me one day. Screaming at me, just because he needed someone to scream at. Then he started going off about how he heard things about what I did when I took off the first time. He used the same word that mom used when she was screeching about you and Carter. Next thing I know, I punched him, right in the nose. Blood gushed everywhere, dad had to drive him to the hospital, CPS got called because dad still smelled like alcohol and when they pointed the finger at me...well they saw me as a threat to both of my brother and sister. After that, I went back home, grabbed what I could and just took off.”

He glanced over to Miles who sat there, soaking every piece of it in, “I fell right into it. They wanted to get rid of me because I was close with you and they just wanted someone to blame...and I let them. I’m just apparently meant to ruin everyone’s life.”

Miles reached across the tray and gently nudged Kevin’s hand.

“Listen to me, kid. I don’t give a shit what your da said. You didn’t ruin anyone’s life and you deserve better than all of this. And I know you think I can’t do anything, but I’m gonna try anyway. I’m stubborn like that.”

Kevin finally lifted his gaze, eyes bloodshot but fierce, "Even if there’s nothing left to fix?”

Miles stared at him dead-on, unwavering, "Then I’ll find you something new. A new start. A new home. A new chance. Whatever it takes.”

Kevin huffed a shaky breath that might’ve been a laugh, "You sound like a bloody superhero.”

Miles smirked, "Nah, superheroes wear tights. I’ve just got a big mouth and a hard head.”

Kevin wiped at his eyes, looking away toward the window, "I dunno, man. Part of me thinks it’d be easier to just disappear and not have to deal with any of it.”

Miles sat back, folding his arms, "Yeah, well. I’m not gonna let you disappear again, because you deserve a life, Kev. And I’m gonna help you find it, whether you like it or not. I did want to let you know though, that on Sunday we’re going to be gone for about a week or so on the Summer Xxxtreme cruise, but I will make sure that the nurses and doctors have mine and Carter’s numbers, if at anytime you just wanna call and bullshit, as long as we’re not working, we’ll be there. A’ight?”

Kevin went quiet again, the weight of everything still pressing down but somehow a little lighter, “A’ight...mate”

Miles laughed and then glanced at the soup, "Eat some more, yeah? You’re still lookin’ like a stiff breeze could knock you over.”

Kevin rolled his eyes but picked up his spoon, "Alright, alright. Just no more cardboard protein drinks.”

Miles let out a soft laugh, the sound echoing in the sterile room, and sat there while Kevin ate, determined to keep being the stubborn bastard who refused to let him go.

“By the way Miles?” Kevin said between sips.

“Yeah, mate?”

“Don’t you wear tights when you wrestle?”


Los Angeles – Late Afternoon

Hank Chapman’s house sat on a narrow street in East LA, just another sunbaked single-story with peeling paint and a lawn littered with plastic toys. Miles Kasey stood on the cracked walkway, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides as he stared at the door.

He’d driven all night from Vegas, replaying every word Kevin had told him. The way the kid’s voice had gone small and tight. The way he kept saying it’s my fault. Miles wasn’t the kind of man who let things lie. And he sure as hell wasn’t letting this one go.

He rapped his knuckles against the door—hard. A moment later it cracked open, revealing Hank Chapman. Hank looked older than his forty-some years, sun-worn and hollow-eyed, wearing a grease-stained mechanic’s shirt unbuttoned over a white tee. His expression flickered from confusion to annoyance the second he saw Miles.“…Can I help you?”

Miles offered him a grin that didn’t reach his eyes, "Yeah, Hank. Remember me? Miles Kasey. The husband of the man your now ex-wife tried to have killed? OH and the newest thing, I’m the one who pulled your 16-year-old son outta the gutter in Vegas.”

Hank’s face tightened, "I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Miles barked out a dry laugh, "Oh, don’t fuckin’ play dumb with me, mate. Kevin. Your son. Sixteen years old. Brown hair, brown eyes, weighs about as much as a wet towel because he’s been starved and trafficked for half a year.”

Hank swallowed, "I said I don’t know...”

“Cut the shit, Hank!” Miles snapped, voice sharp enough to slice skin, "Your kid nearly died. He’s been in the hospital for two fuckin’ weeks and will probably be there for another four, trying to remember what it’s like not to sleep with one eye open. And where the fuck were you, huh? Watching TV? Getting laid? Working on your piece-of-shit car? Because let me tell you something, I was the one holding a bucket while your boy threw up half his organs. I was the one sitting with him at three in the morning because he couldn’t close his eyes without screaming. So don’t stand there and act like you don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about.”

A woman’s voice floated in from the hallway behind Hank, "Baby, who is it?”

Miles leaned sideways, peering past Hank. A tall, slender woman with bleached blonde hair and a smirk plastered across her lips came into view. She wore cut-off shorts and a tank top that left absolutely nothing to the imagination and a swirling tattoo exposed on her shoulder.

“Oh,” she said, looking Miles up and down, "So you’re the guy sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Got sick and tired of blowing up his phone huh?”

Miles tilted his head, eyes narrowing, "And you must be the new Missus. Or is it just a hobby for you, wreckin’ families for sport?”

“Fuck you, asshole,” she snapped.

Miles ignored her entirely and pinned Hank with a glare, "Kevin’s sixteen, Hank. He’s still a kid. A kid who ran away twice because he’d rather sleep under neon lights in Fremont than spend five minutes in this house.”

Hank opened his mouth, shut it again. His shoulders hunched a little, "You don’t know how hard it’s been.”

“Save it,” Miles growled, stepping forward until they were chest to chest, "I know exactly how hard it’s been. And you know what? I don’t give a shit how hard it was for you. Your boy came back here. He tried to stay and what’d you do? You shoved him right back out the door. And why? Because Blondie over there couldn’t handle him bein’ around?”

Blondie scoffed, "He broke his little brother’s nose after the kid called him a...”

“I know EXACTLY what name he was called, you do not need to repeat it.” Miles snarled in her direction.

That caused yet another scoff “That kid’s a fuckin’ mess. Bringing all kinds of trouble. He’s better off...”

“He’s better off without you.” Miles rounded on her, eyes blazing, "He’s better off without a house where he gets treated like fuckin’ cancer. And don’t you ever talk about him like that again.”

Blondie bristled, but Hank held up a hand, "Look...man, Karen, Kevin’s mom, she fucked everything up for what she did to your husband. She went to prison, destroyed our family, left me with three kids and no money. I’ve been working double shifts, tryin’ to keep food on the table. Kevin, he wasn’t the same when he came back. Always angry. Always quiet. And...and he looked at me like I was the enemy.”

Miles’ voice dropped dangerously soft, "Because you are, Hank. You left him out there to die.”

Hank’s jaw tightened, "I can’t help him.”

Miles stared at him, a muscle ticking in his cheek, "No. You won’t. So let me make this simple for you, yeah? You don’t have to worry about Kevin anymore. I’m gonna make sure that boy’s got a roof over his head, food in his belly, and people around him who don’t treat him like garbage. He’s my responsibility now. And one day, you’re gonna have to look him in the eye and explain why you couldn’t be bothered to give a fuck.”

Blondie rolled her eyes, "You think you’re some big hero...”

Miles pointed a finger at her, pure steel in his voice, "Shut. The fuck. Up. I’m fairly certain I can go down the block into the corner mart and run into at least 10 guys you’ve fucked.”

He looked back at Hank, all pretense of calm gone, "Enjoy your shiny new life, mate. Kevin’s not your problem anymore. Considering you went from living in a condo to living the slums, I say that I’m probably doing you a big favour anyways. Get yourself straighten up, get your shit together, do whatever you want. But let me tell you one last thing, if you ever try to come sniffin’ around him, for a handout or some fake reconciliation so you can look good? You will find out exactly why I let the police handle that bitch of an ex-wife of yours, because I will bury you so deep the world’ll still be diggin’ you up in ten years.”

He shoved past Hank, storming down the cracked walkway to his Jeep.

Behind him, Hank just stood there on the porch, silent and small, while the new girlfriend sputtered curses into the dusty LA breeze.

Miles didn’t look back because Miles didn’t give a fuck.


Las Vegas – Turnberry Towers – Late Night

The city glowed outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, streaks of the neon electric blue and pink washing across the living room walls. Inside, the condo was quiet except for the distant hum of the refrigerator and the occasional honk from traffic far below.

Miles stood at the kitchen island, gripping the edge so hard his knuckles were white. A half-empty glass of water sat ignored beside him. His hair was damp from a shower, the dark curls that Carter loves so much, hanging in his eyes. He stared down at the countertop, chest rising and falling in short, frustrated breaths.

Carter entered the room in sweatpants and a loose tank, fresh from the bedroom. He paused in the doorway, reading the tension in every line of Miles’ body.

“Alright, Milo talk to me,” Carter said softly, "You’ve been pacing the floors like a tiger all night.”

Miles swallowed hard, jaw working. For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything. Then, he sucked in a sharp breath and let it all pour out, "You haven’t called me that in, I don’t know how long. I’m sorry love, I- I feel like my brain’s runnin’ at fuckin’ Mach Jesus,” he burst out, "Everything’s just spinning.”

He lifted his hands, fingers splayed, like he might tear his hair out.

“I keep thinkin’ about Kevin, about the look on his face when he said he couldn’t go back to his dad’s. I keep hearin’ how small his voice sounded when he apologized to me. He’s sixteen, Carter. Sixteen. And he’s already talkin’ like the world’s too heavy for him.”

Carter stepped closer but stayed silent, letting him vent.

Miles dropped his gaze to the countertop. His voice wavered, “And it’s messin’ with me, babe. Because I keep thinkin’...fuck...” Miles' breath actually stuttered as he processed it all, “That was me, wasn’t it? Me and Bri and Mum when my old man just up and left. We were just kids and suddenly there was this giant hole in the world and we had to pretend we were fine, except we really weren’t. Kevin’s sittin’ there, starin’ at me with those eyes, and all I see is my own past starin’ back.”

Carter reached out, fingers brushing Miles’ forearm. Miles leaned into it, like a man drowning.

“And now...now I’ve got the fuckin’ Overboard Battle Royal comin’ up,” Miles said, voice growing sharper, “And all I keep thinkin’ is what if I win? What if this actually leads me to a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship? Because that’s the dream, right? That’s what we kill ourselves for.”

He let out a bitter laugh, "But what if it puts me right in your way?”

Carter’s brow furrowed, "Miles...”

“I know it’s wrestling. I know it’s business. But we both know how real that ring gets,” Miles said, his voice trembling, "And the idea of steppin’ into that ring and lookin’ across at you like that again. Fuck, love, it makes me sick. Because I’d want that title with every bit of me, but I’d never want to hurt you to get it. I’d never want to be the reason you lost somethin’ you fought so hard for. I did that once with Finn and I have lived to regret that every day since, ”

Carter sighed and pulled him closer, pressing his forehead to Miles’.

Miles kept going, voice raw, "And on top of it all, I’ve got this wild feeling that somethin’s about to go wrong. I can’t fuckin’ place it. But it’s like...there’s this storm comin’, and I can’t figure out where it’s gonna hit. And I’m just...so goddamn tired of feelin’ like I’m not enough to stop it.”

He blinked hard, fighting the sting behind his eyes, "I’m tired of feelin’ like I’m always fixin’ broken things, but never fixin’ myself.”

Carter held him tighter, "Miles...you’re not broken and you’re certainly not alone. You hear me? We’ll figure this out. Whatever comes, we’ll figure it out.”

Miles gave a shaky nod, burying his face briefly against Carter’s shoulder before straightening again, eyes red but fierce.

“Yeah,” he said, voice steadier, "We will. I just gotta get there first, don’t I?”

Carter cracked a grin through the worry, brushing Miles’ cheek with his thumb, "And I’d expect nothin’ less from my stubborn ass of a husband.”

Miles exhaled a rough laugh. He sagged a little against the counter, feeling like the weight on his shoulders had eased, just a fraction. And when Carter wrapped himself around him, he was able to release and wrap himself around Carter and just let time be.

-------

Las Vegas, NV — Miles Kasey’s Condo — Late Night

The condo was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional Vegas sirens wailing somewhere far below. Miles stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, arms folded, staring out at the neon-soaked city like it might hand him answers. His reflection in the glass looked older somehow, shadows under his eyes, his jaw working as if chewing over a thousand thoughts at once.

On the coffee table behind him, the SCW Summer Xxxtreme promotional poster sat half-rolled, six names scrawled in black Sharpie around his own. He turned away from the window, jaw setting, and crossed the room.

He dropped down onto the sofa, elbows on his knees, and glanced at the list one more time. Then he spoke into the silence, voice low and tight:

“You know,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder as if every man in this match was standing there with him, “I’ve been in this business long enough to know that opportunity doesn’t always knock politely. Sometimes it kicks your door in and dares you to do something about it.”

He straightened, rolling his shoulders, his gaze flinty.

“And that’s what this is, this right here, this match at Summer XXXTreme. It’s opportunity in its most brutal form. The kind that doesn’t give a toss about what you’ve been carrying or what you’ve survived to get here. It’s simple: you show up, or you get run over.”

He braced his forearms on the rail, voice low but certain.

“Eddie Lyons.”

A humorless smile flickered across his face. “Unbreakable Eddie Lyons.

I’m gonna start with you, mate, because I know the fire you’ve got inside. You and me, we’ve circled each other long enough. I’ve seen you in that ring give everything until your body’s screaming to quit—but sometimes, that’s not enough. Because fire alone doesn’t get it done. Precision gets it done. Experience. And I’ve got that in spades, Eddie. I respect you, but I’m not letting you walk out with that win. Not when I’m this close to getting back everything I’ve lost.”

He shifted forward, rolling his shoulders like loosening a pair of wings, eyes dropping to the next name.

“Mate, you were one of the first people to welcome me into SCW. You’ve been chasing validation ever since you dropped the Roulette title, and you’ve been so close—so many times—to proving you’re more than potential. You’re hungry, and I respect that, but you and I both know respect doesn’t get you shit when that bell rings. It’s about who has the will to dig deeper when everyone else is gassed out. And I promise you, Eddie, nobody is ready to dig deeper than I am right now.”

He tipped his head back, exhaling a slow, tired laugh.

“Aiden Reynolds.”

Miles’ expression darkened, the respect there—but tempered by something sharper. “Aiden Reynolds.

My own bloody teammate. My brother in Wolfslair.

And I know you’re probably sitting somewhere in your room right now thinking about how we’re going to tear each other apart on that boat. It’s what we do, yeah? We fight, we claw, we push each other to be better. And that’s what I expect from you at Summer Xxxtreme, mate. I expect the absolute best Aiden Reynolds there is. Because I’m bringing the absolute best Miles Kasey there’s ever been.

And I’m not sorry for what’s gonna happen. Because when that bell rings? It’s every man for himself. And I want that number one contendership more than I want the next breath in my chest.”

“Brother, you and I have fought side by side. We’ve trained together, bled together. But when it comes to that ring, there’s no sanctuary. You’re Wolfslair through and through, but I need you to understand something: I can’t afford to play nice. I’ve spent too long holding back to spare people’s feelings. This isn’t personal, Aiden—it’s survival. And if it comes down to you and me? I will do whatever I have to do.”

He paused, running his tongue over his teeth like tasting something bitter, before shifting his focus to the next name.

“Liam Davis.

I’ll admit, I don’t know you as well as some of the others in this match. But I’ve watched the tapes. I’ve seen you coming out swinging, trying to carve your name into the walls of SCW. I respect that hustle, mate. But you need to understand something: there’s a big difference between wanting it and knowing how to take it. And I’m not in the mood to let someone still finding their footing stand in my way. Not now. Not when everything I’m fighting for is on the line.”

Miles sighed, rubbing a palm over his mouth. He looked tired. But when he dropped his hand, the ice was back in his eyes.

“Justin Smith.

You’ve been talking a big game lately. I hear it. The bravado, the swagger, the chip on your shoulder. But here’s the thing, mate… talk only takes you so far. You can run your mouth all day long about being overlooked, about being the future—until you’re face to face with someone who’s been the present for a hell of a lot longer than you’ve even been in this business. You’re going to find out firsthand that there’s levels to this game. And I’m on a level you’re nowhere near ready for.”

Miles exhaled hard, like blowing out steam from a valve. He planted a finger on the poster right next to another name.

“I’ve had a hell of a year. Carter and I finally getting married, getting close to that 1st anniversary. Finding LJ. Watching him struggle and fight for his place. Seeing the absolute worst of humanity in some cheap motel in Vegas, and realizing that no matter how much you try to save everyone, sometimes all you can do is fight for what you can control.”

“This match is something I can control. This is a chance to remind the world—remind myself—why I’m still here. Why I’m still relevant. Because for too long, people have looked at me like I’m the guy who’s just there. The safe bet. The friendly face. The one who shakes your hand win or lose.”

Miles’ stare went flat.

“Not anymore.”

“This match is the pedestal I’ve been clawing my way back to. Because you can talk about titles, about accolades, about legacies all you want—but it starts here. It starts with proving, once and for all, that no matter how many times I get knocked off course, I will always find my way back to the fight.”

“I’m tired of feeling like I’m standing on the outside looking in. Like the moments I’ve built for myself are slipping through my fingers.

Winning this match at Summer Xxxtreme? It doesn’t just put me in line for a title shot. It puts me right where I belong—on top of this division. In the conversation. And yeah… maybe staring across the ring at my own husband if it comes to that.

I’ve worked too hard, bled too much, and given too many years of my life to be left behind.

So to every single name on this list…

I hope you’re ready.

Because I’m coming for all of you.

And I’m not leaving that cruise without my name etched as the number one contender.”

He reached out and rolled the poster closed, tying it with an elastic band. Then he sat there in the hush of the condo, the neon glow spilling across his face, the weight of it all pressing on his shoulders—and the fire in his chest burning hotter than ever.

The corridor outside the SCW booking office was unusually silent for how electric the night had been. The only sound was the low hum of the massive digital match board mounted on the wall—names flickering across it like a neon prophecy.

Miles Kasey stood beneath it, arms crossed over his chest, a chill in his spine that had nothing to do with the air conditioning. The light from the board cast harsh, flickering reflections across his face, outlining the sharp tension in his jaw as his eyes scanned the match listings.

SCW Heavyweight Championship
Helluva Bottom Carter vs. Artie.

3-Round Boxing Match
Miles Kasey vs. LJ Kasey.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stared.

Next to him, Carter let out a breath somewhere between a groan and a laugh. The newly crowned Internet Champion tilted his head as he read his own name and scoffed under his breath.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Carter said. “Artie?”

His tone was incredulous, but Miles wasn’t listening. His eyes remained locked on his own name—specifically, what was sitting across from it.

LJ.

Of all the possible outcomes... this was the one thing Miles hoped wouldn’t happen. And of course, it had.

Footsteps sounded behind them—fast, uneven. LJ came into view, still in his gear from earlier, a towel slung around his neck and bruises forming beneath his skin. He looked exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. At his side, Alexandra Callaway walked silently, her hand ghosting across LJ’s lower back as if trying to anchor him.

LJ followed the others’ gaze to the screen. And then he saw it.

His name.

Miles’.

“Are you fucking serious?” LJ growled, stepping closer to the board as if reading it again would make it disappear. “This is what Guy pulled with King for a Day?”

Miles didn’t respond. He glanced to the side, past his brother, and looked directly at Ally. His expression was unreadable, but the frustration was thick enough to cut through concrete.

“This,” Miles said slowly, “is exactly what I was talking about.”

Then he turned and started to walk away.

“Nope,” LJ snapped, reaching out and grabbing his older brother by the arm. “No. You don’t get to drop some cryptic bullshit and walk away from me. What the hell did that mean?”

Miles turned back, shaking off the grip but not violently—just enough to create distance.

“It means this whole damn thing is working,” Miles said. His voice was calm, but underneath it ran something dangerous and sharp. “Guy got exactly what he wanted. You think this match is random? It’s a setup. Chaos by design. Divide and conquer.”

LJ squared his shoulders. “Then why’d you look at Ally like it was her fault?”

Ally’s eyes widened slightly, and she tensed next to LJ. Before she could speak, Miles raised a hand.

“I wasn’t blaming her,” Miles said firmly, looking between them. “I was pointing out the pattern. This EXACT same pattern that she just pulled tonight. They’re putting targets on our backs, forcing us into corners. You think it’s a coincidence Carter’s defending his title against his friend, and I’m suddenly meant to beat the hell out of my brother in a damn boxing match?”

Carter shook his head. “I said it once and I’ll say it again—this is some straight-up soap opera bullshit.”

Ally stepped forward, voice gentle but firm. “This is what he wants—Guy. He’s stirring the pot. Trying to make the story him by tearing down what you’ve built. If you let it get between you…”

“Ally, I’m not mad at you. But this is what I was talking about earlier tonight,” Miles said, looking straight at LJ now. “But you need to be pissed, LJ. You need to understand what’s happening here. You, me, Carter—we’re getting fucking played.”

LJ stepped forward, chest rising with the kind of fire he hadn’t felt since before his injury.

“Well, then what? You want me to back out? Sit on the sidelines while they turn me into a joke?”

Miles tilted his head. “No. I want you to walk into that match like a professional. Like my brother. Not like someone with something to prove.”

The silence stretched long and thin.

“I’m not scared of you,” LJ said at last.

“I didn’t say you should be,” Miles replied. “But you should be angry. Just not at me.”

LJ clenched his jaw, staring at his brother hard. “Fine. We do this. Three rounds. No bullshit.”

Miles gave a small nod, the tension easing from his shoulders but not disappearing. “Right. No bullshit.”

They stood there, brothers caught between pride and principle, the looming match pressing down on both of them like a weight. There was no love lost between them—just the burden of respect, of legacy, of everything they’d fought to build now twisted into a spectacle.

And somewhere, Guy—King for a Day—was probably laughing.

Carter huffed, dragging his palm down his face. “And I thought I had a bad night.”

As the board flickered again and the hallway dimmed slightly, none of them moved.

Because this time... the fight wasn’t about gold.

It was about blood.

----

"The Present Problem"

The door creaked open with a quiet groan, the kind that only old hinges and desert heat could conjure. The air inside the house was somehow thicker than the sun-blasted sidewalk outside. Miles stepped in, a sheen of sweat clinging to the back of his neck, his gym bag slung lazily over one shoulder. He wiped his brow with the bottom hem of his shirt, squinting into the dim hallway.

"Why does it feel like Satan’s armpit in here?"

No answer.

He kicked the door shut with his foot and dropped his bag at the base of the stairs. The only sound was the distant hum of a fan whirring somewhere in the living room. That and—wait.

Thud.

Scrape.

A muffled curse.

Miles’s brows drew together. He turned the corner and froze halfway into the kitchen.

Carter was on all fours, halfway under the couch, ass in the air and glittered sneakers kicked off beside him. The couch cushions were scattered across the room like confetti at a rave. A trail of what looked like gift wrap remnants, scotch tape, and a pair of scissors led from the coffee table to the hallway closet—which now stood wide open and very empty.

Miles leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “Should I even ask?”

Carter jerked his head up and smacked it against the underside of the couch.

"Ow!—shit, damn it—"

Miles raised a brow. “Was that the couch fighting back or your conscience?”

Carter wiggled backward out from under the couch, cheeks slightly flushed from both effort and embarrassment. He brushed dust bunnies off his t-shirt—the one that said ‘This Body Ain’t Built for Manual Labor’ in glitter letters.

He grinned sheepishly. “Hey, babe.”

Miles didn’t return the smile. He was too busy trying not to laugh.

“You wanna tell me why it looks like a raccoon had a meltdown in here?”

Carter sat cross-legged on the floor like a kid caught raiding the cookie jar.

“I’m looking for something.”

Miles feigned surprise. “Noooo, really?”

Carter pouted. “It’s hot, I’m bored, and someone has been being very sneaky lately.”

Miles walked over, nudging a couch cushion aside with his foot before collapsing onto the armrest. He eyed Carter with an amused smirk.

“Let me guess... you're looking for your birthday present.”

Carter lit up like he'd just been told he won Miss Congeniality. “Yes! Thank you! See, you admit it exists! You’ve been hiding something! I knew it!”

Miles groaned, tilting his head back. “It’s not even the 13th yet, you absolute goblin.”

Carter dramatically clutched his chest. “I’m a Gemini, Miles. I literally don’t have the patience to wait. My other half is already plotting to stage a heist.”

Miles raised an eyebrow. “Your other half better chill before both halves get grounded.”

Carter smirked. “You’re just mad that I’m clever and pretty.”

Miles snorted. “Nah, I’m mad because you turned the living room into a crime scene. You thrive on chaos, more like.”

“Tomato, chaos.”

Miles dropped his head back down to look at him again. Carter’s curls were a little damp from sweat, his cheeks pink from crawling around like a lunatic in 105-degree heat.

“You know,” Miles said slowly, “if you’d just wait, you’d find out.”

Carter narrowed his eyes. “Where’s the fun in waiting?”

Miles chuckled. “That’s what you said on our wedding night.”

Carter gave him a look, then leaned forward on his knees.

“Come on, just give me one hint.”

“No.”

“Half a hint.”

“No.”

“A riddle? A poem? A vague haiku?”

Miles shook his head, amused and exasperated. “It’s hidden somewhere you definitely won’t find it. So stop tearing the house apart like a spoiled golden retriever.”

Carter huffed, flopping dramatically onto the floor like he’d just lost a title match.

“I’m dying of anticipation,” he moaned.

“You’re dying of being dramatic.”

“Same thing!”

Miles slid off the armrest and crouched beside him, brushing a strand of hair from Carter’s forehead.

“Look, I promise, it’s worth the wait,” he said softly. “And no, it’s not in the couch, the freezer, the coat closet, buried in the bottom of my underwear drawer because I KNOW that is the first place you’d look OR taped to the bottom of the coffee table.”

Carter narrowed his eyes. “So it is taped somewhere.”

Miles blinked. “I said no such thing.”

“You said it in your tone! That was a clue!”

“I swear on all things holy, if you dismantle this house trying to find it, I’ll wrap you in bubble wrap and lock you in the basement of the building where NO ONE would find you but me.”

“You love me too much for that.”

Miles paused. “...Okay, fair.”

Carter leaned up, brushing a kiss against his cheek. “Just remember. You’re dating someone who’s made of glitter and spite. I will find it.”

Miles rose to his feet with a sigh. “You better not, Carter. I actually like this house intact.”

He started walking off toward the bedroom, mumbling to himself.

Carter flopped back onto the floor, arms sprawled out.

“You’re lucky you’re hot and emotionally available,” he called after him.

“And you’re lucky I hide things better than you box,” Miles shot back.

Carter gasped. “Rude!”

The tone from the phone gave him a clue that the gift was ready.

Miles smirked.

-----

"Hands Like Lead, Heart Like Stone"

The gym was quiet after hours.

All the lights were off, save for a single overhead bulb swaying gently above the ring. It flickered now and then, casting shadows across the ropes like ghosts pacing back and forth. Miles Kasey stood just inside the ropes, taping his hands in silence, the sound of the adhesive stretching the only noise in the room.

Boxing gloves lay on the canvas beside him, mocking him.

He hated this.

Not the fight—never the fight.

But this fight.

A boxing match against his own damn brother. Set up by a lunatic with a god complex and a shiny briefcase. It wasn’t wrestling. It wasn’t competition.

It was manipulation.

It was a game. One he didn’t want to play.

Miles sat on the edge of the ring apron, looking down at his hands. The knuckles were already starting to redden, sore from hitting bags and pads all afternoon. He flexed his fingers, wincing as memories bled through the cracks.


Thirteen Years Ago — Manchester, England
Shamrock Boxing Club, 10:47 PM

It stank of sweat and stale cigarettes. The walls were old brick, chipped and cracked like the kids who trained inside them. You didn’t come here if you had other options. You came here if the world had tried to forget you.

And Miles Kasey? He was well on his way to being forgotten.

Fifteen, cocky, and fueled by anger he didn’t know how to name. He was tall and damn near as thin as a rail. 182, MAYBE soakin’ wet and a chip on his shoulder. He had scrapes on his knuckles and attitude in his voice. He’d just come from some back alley yarding match with a busted lip and a few extra quid in his sock.

“Oi!”

The voice cracked through the air like a whip.

Miles turned, eyes sharp and defensive. Across the gym, an older man—built like a truck, arms covered in ink—stood beside the heavy bag, wiping his hands with a towel.

Frankie O’Connell.

Owner of the gym. Ex-pro. Scariest bastard on the block.

“You got some brass ones walkin’ in here like that, kid,” Frankie said, nodding to the blood still fresh on Miles’ shirt. “What were you doin’, brawlin’ in car parks again?”

Miles shrugged and sniffed. “Made more than I would moppin’ floors.”

Frankie approached slowly, the thud of his boots echoing through the empty space. He stopped in front of Miles, who stood his ground—barely.

“You keep that shite up, you’ll end up dead or in the back of a van, and no one’ll remember your name. And your dear ol mum and beautiful sister will wonder what the hell happened to ye.”

Miles rolled his eyes.

Frankie grabbed his chin—not hard, but firm enough to demand attention—and forced him to look up.

“You listen to me, Kasey. You’re quick. You’re angry. And you’re a bloody idiot.”

Miles jerked away, jaw tight. “I’m doin’ fine.”

“You’re doin’ nothin’. You’re wastin’ whatever talent you’ve got scrappin’ with gutter rats for pocket change. Yer no better than yer old man.”

“What the hell ever, bruv. If this is all you called me ‘ere for..I’m just gonna go home.” Miles turned to leave.

“OI! MILO!” Then Frankie threw the gloves.

They hit Miles in the chest with a dull thump. He caught them on instinct.

“You show up here tomorrow, 6 AM. We box. I’m gonna show you that there are far better ideas than you tossin yerself around a broke down ring like a fuckin’ moron. Or you can keep pissin’ your life away out there. Your choice.”

Miles looked down at the gloves in his hands. They were old. Stiff. Smelled like hell.

He hated boxing.

But something about the weight of them... felt real.


Present Day — Las Vegas

Miles jolted slightly as his mind returned to the present. His jaw clenched as he wrapped the final piece of tape around his wrist and tore it off with his teeth. He tossed the roll aside, stood up, and stared at the gloves waiting for him.

He still hated boxing.

Not because it wasn’t wrestling. Not because it was hard.

But because it forced him to slow down.

Boxing wasn’t chaos. It wasn’t wild swings and tables and jumping off ropes.

Boxing was precision. Timing. Discipline.

And discipline was something he had to earn—not something that came naturally.

He walked to the center of the ring, bent down, and slid his hands into the gloves one at a time. He tightened the straps with practiced ease, stood tall, and faced the heavy bag that hung just beyond the ropes.

Three rounds with LJ.

It wasn’t fair.

But then again… nothing in this business ever was.

He threw a jab. Clean. Snapped back.

Another.

Left hook.

Right cross.

And then he heard Frankie’s voice again—clear as day, echoing through years of sweat and bruises.

“Boxing’s not about killin’ someone, lad. It’s about outlastin’ the worst of ‘em. It’s not who hits hardest. It’s who keeps their feet when the rest fall.”

Miles exhaled hard through his nose.

No, he didn’t want to fight LJ. Not now. Not like this.

But if Guy thought he could pit brother against brother, force a fracture in something built through years of pain and persistence—then he didn’t understand what kind of men the Kaseys were.

Frankie had taught him to survive.

The ring had taught him to fight smart.

And now?

Now he had to be smarter than ever.

The silence in the locker room was deafening, broken only by the soft thwip-thwip of tape wrapping around his wrist. Miles sat on the bench, shoulders hunched, the summer heat thick in the air around him. No music. No distractions. Just him, the walls… and the growing knot in his chest.

“What the hell is this even supposed to be?”

He pulled the tape tighter, let it bite into his skin.

“I spent most of my life not knowing he existed. No birthday cards. No family photos. No late-night chats. Just silence. And then suddenly—bam—little brother. Right there, walking into my life like he belonged… and maybe he does. Maybe he always did.”

His hands paused, fingers flexing, the tape dangling from his wrist.

“We didn’t grow up tossing the ball around. We didn’t fight over the TV or sneak out to matches together. We met as strangers. We bonded in chaos. And now someone’s decided that the next great chapter in our so-called brotherhood should be me punching him in the face in a goddamn boxing ring.”

He stood up abruptly, tossing the roll of tape to the bench, pacing in front of the lockers like a lion trapped in a cage.

“This is bullshit.

It’s not like last year with Carter. That match was tangled in emotion — love, pride, pain — but Carter and I? We'd built something. We were forced with no choice and you better believe that we had fun throwing that shit directly back in Victoria’s face. But LJ?

I don’t even know everything about him yet.”

Miles rubbed his jaw, eyes drifting toward the door. The hallway beyond held the sound of distant voices—preparations, people hyped for the spectacle. For the circus.

“And we’re the main event freak show, huh? Two Kasey brothers. Punch for punch. Blood for blood. Like it’s entertainment.”

He scoffed, shaking his head.

“I’m not going to hurt him. I don’t care how mad he is, or how much fire he’s walking in with. I’m not out here to break my brother’s spirit just because someone with a crown and a contract thinks this is ratings gold.”

He sighed, leaned back against the lockers, and stared at the ceiling like it might have answers he didn’t.

“But I’m also not throwing this.

Because here’s the part no one talks about—I'm not in the prime of my career anymore. I’ve had the titles. I’ve had the moments. And now? I don’t know what comes next. Every match could be the one where I start to fade. Every opportunity could be the last.

So yeah. I hate this. But I’m not going to lie down and let it pass me by just because fate’s got a fucked up sense of humour.”

He looked at his fists. Scarred. Taped. Ready.

“If we’re doing this… then I’ll do it my way. I’ll step into that ring and I’ll give him every ounce of respect he’s earned. Not as a stranger. Not just as some wide-eyed rookie. But as a brother — a Kasey — standing across from me, ready to prove something.

I won’t go easy on him. But I’ll never stop protecting him, either. Even if protecting him… means knocking him down and making sure he knows how to stand the hell back up.”

He drew a deep breath, centered himself, and gave one final thought as the camera might fade:

“I didn’t grow up with a brother. But I’ll be damned if I don’t teach him how one fights when it really counts.”

The camera caught up with him backstage, dim hallways echoing the distant sound of a crowd still roaring from the earlier show. The buzz of Amsterdam hung in the background like static, but in this moment, all that existed was the low hum of fluorescent lights above and the fire in Miles Kasey’s eyes.

He stood with his back to the camera, hoodie tugged over his head, hands clenching the railing that overlooked the loading dock. Slowly, he turned, hood falling back, revealing a jaw locked tight and blue eyes glowing with heat just beneath the surface.

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” Miles started, voice low and cold. “Was gonna keep it professional. Be the bigger man. But that’s not who you are, is it, Kevin? And of course, I feed you the opportunity to go face to face with me...only for you to not be bothered to actually show your face. You were just out there for the main event but can’t be fucked to give a shit about Into the Void. Now usually, I would take that as an insult.”

He laughed bitterly, rubbing a hand across his face.

“But I get it, bruv. You don’t do ‘respect.’ You don’t do ‘professional.’ What you do is run your bloody hotdog sucker like it’s your greatest weapon, when really, it’s just a reflection of how deeply insecure you are. You think hiding behind ego and a spotlight somehow makes you untouchable. That throwing dirt on people like Carter makes you look strong.”

He leaned in closer to the camera, eyes narrowing.

“Newsflash, asshole: it just makes you a bleeding coward.”

The venom in his voice was real now, uncoiling like a serpent set loose.

“I remember it. I remember as you stood over a man I love, you saying the things that you said and you doing the things that you did, and you acted like it made you some kind of a fucking king. You think that’s what a champion looks like? Nah. That’s what a scared little boy looks like, someone who knows deep down they don't have what it takes to hold onto something real without resorting to cheap shots and bullshit tactics. Because that is ALL you fucking are, Kev....you are a bullshit artist.”

He paced now, barely able to contain himself, fists clenched at his sides.

“And don’t think I forgot. You remember the last time we stood across from each other, Kevin? Because I do. Clear as fucking day. Just before you went to face Carter. You weren’t the champion then. Though you were hungry for that spotlight. Focused and practically salivating. And still— I beat you. Clean. No excuses. No distractions. I pinned you to the mat and took the win you thought was guaranteed.”

He stopped pacing, head tilting as a slow, dangerous smile crept onto his face.

“And ever since then? You’ve done everything in your power to pretend that loss didn’t happen. Like if you don’t acknowledge it, it never existed. Like it was some fresh corpse in your closet. But it did. And that moment… that was a sign of things to come. Honestly, if I was the kind of dick that most of Wolfslair claims I am, I could have easily skipped over the Clusterf*ck match and demanded a shot but I did it to prove a point.”

A pause. He looked dead into the lens now — calm, cold, resolute.

“You’ve had your moment in the sun, Kev. You’ve talked the talk, stomped your enemies, and walked around with that title like it made you some untouchable shitbag. But in Paris, at Into the Void… I’m taking the mic away. I’m taking the spotlight. And I’m taking BACK the SCW Internet Championship.”

His voice dropped to a growl.

“And when I do? When I tear it out of your hands and hold it over my head for the world to see? You’ll remember exactly who the fuck I am. And you’ll remember what it’s like to lose… again.”

Miles bends down and when he stands up with a paintbrush in his hand. “So from one bullshit artist to another, here, you can have this.”

He throws it at the camera.

“I don’t want it anymore.”

He stepped back into the shadows, letting silence fall over the scene like a closing curtain.

------

South London streets, late afternoon, inside a rented car

The rental smelled like cheap leather and overcompensated air freshener. Heathrow had been a mess — loud, overcrowded, the kind of place that seemed designed specifically to suck the joy out of international travel. Miles gripped the wheel with one hand and rubbed his temple with the other as they turned onto a narrower street.

“Every bloody time, love,” he muttered. “No matter how many times I come through, that airport makes me wanna set my own passport on fire.”

Carter chuckled beside him, arms crossed as he stared out the window. “They treat carry-ons like you’re smuggling gold bricks.”

“Right? And that customs guy looked at me like I personally insulted the Queen.”

“Well, you do say ‘God Save the Spice Girls’ on your entrance jackets.”

Miles smirked. “Oi, and don’t act like that wouldn’t be a banger of a remix.”

They fell into a lull as the car rolled past the stacked brick flats and newsagents, the dull buzz of London life filtering through the windows. It wasn’t home anymore — not really — but it tugged at something familiar. Something deep.

“You good?” Miles asked after a minute, his voice quieter.

Carter shrugged. “As good as someone can be when, as they are recovering from a concussion, they’re wrestling their husband’s former mentor and the universe keeps throwing gut punches.”

Miles didn’t press. He just nodded, drumming his fingers lightly on the wheel. The road narrowed again.

“You?”

Miles snorted. “I’m about two seconds from throwing a brick through Kevin Carter’s windshield.”

“Promotional or actual brick?”

“Both.”

That pulled a laugh from Carter, a low rumble that felt a little earned after the day they’d had.

“I dunno,” Miles said after a pause. “Feels different this time. Like I’ve been clawing my way through the last year, trying to get back to something I can actually stand tall in, and now it’s here. Title match. Paris. Spotlight.”

He let out a slow breath. “And I gotta share it with him.”

Carter was quiet again. Listening.

“You remember how he talked about you?” Miles said, glancing sideways. “Like you were a mistake. Like you didn’t earn what you built. And now I’ve got him across from me and all I keep thinking is — this prick still doesn’t get it. Still thinks the Internet title is some prop for his ego.”

“He’s gonna try to push your buttons.”

Miles grumbles, “He already has....and he’s barely said two fucking words towards or about me since I won that Clusterf*ck match.”

More silence. The road opened up again, traffic thinning as they turned onto a residential stretch. Miles rolled his shoulders, letting the tension fall off in layers.

“You do know that I’m not going into Paris to play the hero, right? I’m not walking into Paris with a chip on my shoulder,” Miles said, eyes still on the road, jaw tight. “I’m walking in with a bloody purpose.”

Carter glanced over, sensing the shift in tone.

“Kevin likes to pretend that the Internet division revolves around him. That every match is just another chance for him to remind the world how great he thinks he is. But this ain’t about stroking egos.”

Miles gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

“I’m going in there to remind Kevin Carter that I’ve been forged by fire since the last time we faced off — and I beat him then. I’ve bled for every step forward since. I’m not the up-and-comer he brushed past on his way to the top. I’m the storm that’s coming straight for him.”

He paused, then added, softer, “I don’t wanna say that I’m not you. Because you are about to become the world champion. But I will be damned if I won’t whoop his ass worse than his daddy ever did. I won’t let him walk out with that title again.”

Carter didn’t answer at first. Then he glanced over, voice low.

“Good. Because I don’t want you to fight him for me, babe.”

Miles looked confused. “Then for what?”

Carter’s lips lifted in that half-smirk he always had when he meant something.

“For you.”

------

The living room was bathed in soft golden light, the last stretch of sun drifting in through the large front window. Riley sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, a superhero cape tied too loosely around his neck, one sock half off and clinging to his toes. He held a plastic T-Rex in one hand and a crayon-gripped drawing in the other — something that vaguely resembled a wrestling ring and a very heroic-looking version of Uncle Miles with rocket boots.

Miles lay sprawled on the carpet beside him, one arm folded under his head, the other stretched out as he dramatically allowed the T-Rex to defeat him for the fifth time in a row.

Riley jumped to his feet with a triumphant squeal. “Uncle Miles, you DIED again!”

“Tragic, innit?” Miles groaned, face down. “Taken out by a dino and a four-year-old tag team. Guess I better retire now.”

Riley giggled and sat on his back like it was a throne. “I’m the new champion!”

“Ruthless. Just like your mum.”

“RAWR!” Riley roared, raising the T-Rex high in victory.

Miles let out a chuckle and turned just enough to look up at him. “You know, I could use you in my corner next week. You’d scare off half the locker room just by stomping in.”

Riley beamed, proud and unbothered by the weight of the world adults carried around.

Then, the phone buzzed against the floor nearby.

Miles sat up slowly, brushing off a few crayon shavings from his arm. He glanced at the screen.

Ben Jordan.

He hesitated for a beat.

“Gimme a mo, little champ,” he said softly, ruffling Riley’s curls as he stood. He crossed to the far end of the room near the kitchen and answered the call.

“Ben?”

“Miles, mate, I’m so glad I got ahold of you. I’ve got something. It’s not much, but... he was seen.”

Miles’ heart stopped, then stumbled forward like it had forgotten how to beat right.

“Where?”

“East LA. Three days ago. Same description you gave me — same hoodie. Jaime caught a glimpse of him near a food truck across from a clinic. Said he looked thin. Scared.”

Miles swallowed hard. The warmth from earlier was already draining from his chest.

“Did she talk to him?”

“No. By the time she turned around again, he was gone.”

Silence fell between them, thick and cold.

“I’m sorry, mate,” Ben added gently. “We’re closer, but I know that ain’t what you wanted to hear.”

Miles leaned against the wall, eyes shut, jaw locked tight.

“No... it’s... I appreciate you calling.”

“You alright?”

Miles looked over at Riley, now laying on his back, cape spread like wings, humming to himself.

“I will be. It’s nice to know he’s alive at least. I need to get the tour over with. Thanks for the ring, Ben. If you hear anything...”

“I’ll be in touch, mate.”

He ended the call quietly and set the phone down.

The ache crept back in. Not loud. Not sharp. Just there — like a stone in his chest that refused to move.

He sat back down beside Riley, who climbed into his lap without a word, settling in like he somehow knew.

Miles held him close, letting the silence do what it could. Just for a moment.

------

The lights were dim, the curtains drawn. The hum of the city outside couldn’t reach him here.

Miles paced the room like a caged animal, barefoot on the carpet, fists clenched tight at his sides. The bed behind him was untouched, the clock on the nightstand reading a time he didn’t bother to acknowledge.

He stopped in front of the mirror and stared at his own reflection — jaw set, eyes dark. His voice came low, bitter, sharp.

“You ever notice how Kevin Carter never shuts the fuck up about himself?” he said to no one. “Like he walks into a room and it’s a goddamn event. Like the sun only rises ‘cause he decided to get out of bed that day.”

He laughed bitterly, shaking his head.

“Guy’s been riding that same fake gold reputation for how long now? What is even more insane about this? There are people that keep buyin’ into it too, like he’s some unbeatable legend. No. He’s not a legend. He’s a leech.”

He turned from the mirror and paced again, running a hand through his hair.

“Every locker room he steps in, he poisons. With that smug little smirk. With that overhyped, over-polished, hollow-as-fuck swagger. He ain’t special. He’s a parasite with a God complex.”

He stopped and looked toward the door like he could see Kevin on the other side.

“You ain’t a champion, Kev. You’re a coward wrapped in designer clothes and Twitter soundbites. You hide behind that bullshit smile and your carefully crafted image like the scared little fraud you’ve always been. ‘Cause deep down, you know. You know if it was just you — no smoke, no mirrors, no backup, no mind games — you wouldn’t last five minutes in the ring with someone like me.”

His tone dropped lower, colder.

“You look at me like I’m some nice guy you can talk down to, like I’m just another stepping stone in your cute little path back to relevance. Nah. I’m the last motherfucker you should’ve poked, Carter.”

He leaned forward on the dresser, both hands gripping the edge.

“You think I forgot the disrespect? Every time you looked at me like I wasn’t worth your time. Every little backstage jab. Every subtle reminder that I was just ‘Miles Kasey — the little brother, the afterthought.’ You think I forgot all the bullshit?”

He stared at his reflection again.

“I’ve been quiet too long. I’ve let people like you talk their way to the top while guys like me bleed for this business. That ends now. You’re not better than me. You’re not smarter. You’re not stronger. You’re not more deserving.”

His voice cracked slightly — not from weakness, but from the raw fire behind the words.

“You’re just louder.”

He stood up straight, breathing steady but shallow now. The kind of breathing that comes right before impact.

“And I’m gonna shut you the fuck up.”

The Next Step

Miles sat on the edge of his hotel bed, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at his phone with a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. Everything felt like it was too much to handle—Kevin’s disappearance, the madness of Blaze of Glory, and the ever-looming uncertainty that seemed to follow him like a shadow. The pieces of the puzzle didn't fit, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out where to even start.

Carter sat beside him, offering the only thing he could—silent, unwavering support. He didn’t need to say anything. His presence was enough. But Miles could feel the weight of the question in the air: What now?

Miles ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “What the hell do I even do now?” he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you for so damn long, love. Kevin’s out there. All I know is that he went back to LA. I know that his dad and the other two hellions are there. After that? No leads, no signs. We’re just—stuck.”

Carter’s gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Miles’ knee. “Ok, I keep having to explain this to you...but you don’t have to do this alone. You had LJ helping you before you even told me and that is an argument to come still BUT...we happen to know someone to help with the next step, babe.”

Miles looked up at Carter, eyes heavy with a mix of confusion and uncertainty.

“You know someone who might be able to help,” Carter continued. “Someone who’s been there. Someone who can track this down.”

Miles frowned, his brow furrowing. He didn’t immediately understand, but Carter’s expression was steady, sure. “Who?”

Carter leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his features. “Ben Jordan. He and Jamie Dean run an LGBTQ+ kids’ shelter in LA. It’s called Oasis. They help kids who’ve nowhere to go, who’ve lost everything… maybe Kevin’s found his way there.”

Miles stared at Carter, his heart skipping a beat. He didn’t want to ask for help, didn’t want to reach out to anyone—but if there was a chance, just a chance, that Ben and Jamie could find Kevin…

He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I guess it’s worth a shot.”

Carter nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll reach out to them, get the connection started. You’ll have answers soon.”

But before Carter could dial, Miles stood up, pacing the room for a moment. He was restless—tired of the uncertainty, the waiting, the lack of control. This was bigger than him. But if there was any chance to get Kevin back, to help the kid who had come to mean so much to him, he had to at least try.

After a few seconds, Miles turned back to Carter, his resolve clear. “No, I’ll call. It’s better if I do it myself.”

Carter said nothing, simply nodding as he watched Miles dial the number.

The phone rang a few times before a familiar face appeared on the screen. Ben Jordan, the wrestling legend, looked every bit as relaxed and confident as he always had. His years away from the ring had done nothing to dull the warmth in his eyes or the strength in his presence.

“Well, if it ain’t Miles bloody Kasey,” Ben greeted with a grin, though there was a hint of concern lurking behind his easy demeanor. “Been a while, mate.”

Miles managed a smile, though it was fleeting. “Yeah, I know. I should call more often. But, uh, this time… I need a favor. A big one.”

Ben immediately picked up on the tension in Miles’ voice, his grin faltering just slightly. “Alright. What’s going on?”

Miles ran a hand through his hair, then glanced at Carter, who was sitting back, watching quietly. Then he looked back to Ben, his expression serious. “There’s a kid. His name is Kevin. Kevin Chapman. But knowing him, he’s going to go by a different name if any at all. He’s… well let’s just say I feel responsible for him, in a way. And he’s gone missing. Last we know, he made his way to LA. But with everything that’s going on, I don’t have a clue where to start looking for him and until Blaze of Glory is over, I can’t get there to even start searching.”

Ben’s brow furrowed with concern, and as if on cue, Jamie Dean’s voice called out from somewhere off-screen.

“Did I just hear you say ‘missing kid’ and ‘LA’ in the same sentence?” Jamie’s face popped into view next to Ben, and the lightness in his expression shifted to one of seriousness.

Ben looked to Jamie before returning his gaze to Miles. “Mate, sounds like we might need to step in.”

Miles exhaled, his shoulders heavy. “Carter reminded me that you two run Oasis now. I thought… if Kevin’s out there, scared, lost… maybe he found his way to you.”

Jamie shifted closer to Ben, studying the screen. “You got a picture? Anything we can use to get started?”

Miles nodded, reaching for his phone and pulling up the last photo he had of Kevin. He held it up to the camera for them to see.

“This is him,” Miles said, his voice quieter now. “It’s the last time we saw him. He’s been through a lot, so if he’s rougher now, that’s probably why.”

Ben and Jamie both studied the picture intently, their expressions serious. After a beat, Ben nodded slowly.

“Alright, here’s what we’ll do,” he said, his voice firm with resolve. “We’ll check around the shelter, see if he’s been through. If not, we know the places where kids like Kevin go when they’re lost and scared. We’ll find him, Miles. We won’t stop looking until we do.”

The weight that had been pressing on Miles’ chest seemed to lighten just a little. He let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “Thank you,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t even begin to explain how much this means.”

Ben gave a small smile, his eyes warm. “Don’t thank me yet, mate. But we’ll get on it. We’ll keep you posted.”

Jamie gave a quick two-finger salute. “We got this, Kasey. Don’t worry.”

Ben ended the call, and the screen blinked back to black. Miles stared at it for a long moment, the weight of the uncertainty still looming but not as crushing as it had been before.

Carter gave his knee a gentle squeeze. “That’s a step forward.”

Miles nodded, his throat tight. “Yeah… it is.”

He exhaled, sitting back on the bed, his mind still spinning but now anchored by a small spark of hope. The road ahead would be long, but at least now, there was a direction. And in this moment, that was enough.


This Is the Moment We Live Forever

Miles stands in the middle of the ring, his eyes intense but his body language betrays his inner turmoil. He takes a deep breath, then begins.

“You know, sometimes life throws these moments at you, where everything you’ve worked for, everything you’ve sacrificed, gets put to the test. This… this is one of those moments. Elimination Chamber. The chance to prove once and for all that I belong at the top. To become the number one contender for the SCW World Heavyweight Championship. But let’s take a good look at the road ahead, huh? I’m not just dealing with the usual suspects. No. I’ve got a few interesting names to contend with.”

He points up as we see the Elimination Chamber hanging high above him.

“The Elimination Chamber. The match that separates the men from the boys, the weak from the strong. This is the match that’s going to determine who really belongs at the top of SCW. And I’ll be damned if I’m not the one who comes out as the number one contender.”

“You know, sometimes life throws these moments at you—where everything you’ve worked for, everything you’ve sacrificed, gets put to the test.”

He lets those words linger, his voice carrying the weight of experience. His free hand rubs over his face as if trying to ground himself.

“This… this is one of those moments. Elimination Chamber. The chance to prove once and for all that I belong at the top. That I’m not just another guy passing through, not just another name on the roster. The chance to become the number one contender for the SCW World Heavyweight Championship.

He exhales sharply, rolling his shoulders back. His expression hardens.

“But let’s take a good look at the road ahead, huh?”

He raises his arm, pointing upward. The camera zooms in on the towering Elimination Chamber, hanging ominously above the ring like a death sentence waiting to be carried out.

“The Elimination Chamber. A match that separates the men from the boys, the weak from the strong. A match that doesn’t just test you—it destroys you. And at the end of the night, only one of us is walking out of there with a future shot at the World Heavyweight Title. That’s the reality we all have to face. And I’ll be damned if I’m not the one who survives.”

Miles takes a step forward, gripping the top rope for just a moment before letting go. His tone turns sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife.

“But let’s take a minute to break down the people I’m gonna have to eliminate to get there.”

A smirk tugs at the corner of Miles’ lips, but there’s no humor behind it—just disdain. He tilts his head slightly, his voice laced with venom.

“Let’s start with the so-called ‘Bulldog’ Bill Barnhart. You know, I’ve got a real problem with guys like Bill. The ones that talk a big game, throw all these accusations around, but the second you hit them with the real thing, they cry about it. They act like they never said a damn word. It’s easy to talk, Bill. It’s easy to stir the pot. But when it’s time to step up and back up that talk, that’s when you fall apart. And trust me, I’ll be the one showing you just how far you fall.”

Miles looks over to the video screen as it runs footage. Clips of Barnhart running his mouth in interviews, clips of him losing control in the ring, getting frustrated when things don’t go his way.

“Bulldog Bill Barnhart. Bill, Bill, Bill… You’re a classic case of a ‘loudmouth’ who thinks he can just walk into the ring and dominate. But let’s be real for a second—Bill doesn’t have the mental fortitude to back up that bravado. He’s got a mouth on him, and he knows how to rile up a crowd, but when it’s time to back up all that talk, Bill falls short. He’s the kind of guy who will try to bulldoze his way through, swing hard and heavy, but you’re not gonna win with pure brawn alone. This isn’t some brawler’s league. You’re gonna have to think, Bill. You’re gonna have to use that brain of yours—something I’ve noticed you seem to lack, more often than not. You’ll try to use your size and power to intimidate, but this match is about survival, not strength.”

A dry chuckle escapes Miles as he shakes his head.

“And then we’ve got Senor Vinnie, the ‘former champion.’ Look, Vinnie, I get it. You’ve had your time. You’ve had your moments. But now? You’ve lost your edge. And it’s not that you’re not good, it’s just that… you’ve lost your damn mind. I mean, seriously, the guy’s a great talent, but I’m not about to let someone who’s completely off the rails get in my way. Especially when I know what’s at stake. You can’t outlast the young and hungry. And right now, that’s me.”

The lights in the arena flicker momentarily, a symbolic representation of Vinnie’s unstable nature. A quick cut shows Vinnie rambling in interviews, his erratic behavior making headlines.

“Now, Vinnie, I’ll give you credit where it’s due—when you were on top, you were a force to be reckoned with. You had your time in the spotlight, no doubt about that. But what happens when your best days are behind you? What happens when your own arrogance catches up with you? That’s where you’re at now, Vinnie. You’re living in the past, holding on to a title you’ll never see again. And now? Now you’re just trying to hold on, trying to hang with the younger, faster generation, and it’s not working. Your time’s passed, and the only thing you’re gonna do in that Chamber is get put down by the new blood—me.”

Miles runs a hand through his hair, his expression shifting slightly. There’s a flicker of respect there.

“Then there’s Eddie Lyons. Young. Hungry. The...”Unbreakable” One. Ready to take the world by storm. Eddie, I know what you want. You want to be on top. You’ve got the potential, the raw talent to make it happen. I respect that, I really do. But this… this is my time. I’ve been clawing my way through this business for too long. You’re not just going to waltz in and take what’s mine. So yeah, Eddie, I’ll fight you. I’ll make sure you know that you’re not ready for this level. Not yet.”
He exhales, shaking his head. His eyes darken.
“Eddie’s one of those guys who’s got a lot of potential. He’s hungry. I get it, kid. You want to be a star. You want to step up to the plate and show the world you’ve got what it takes. You want to prove yourself. But you’ve gotta understand, Eddie, this isn’t some training ground. This isn’t a tryout. This is the big leagues. And you don’t have what it takes yet. You’re still green. You’re still figuring it out. And while you might get a lucky shot in here and there, when you’re up against someone like me, you’re gonna be out of your depth. You want to be at the top? Fine. But get ready for a crash course in how much pain it takes to get there. And trust me, Eddie… you’re gonna learn it the hard way.”

As the screen switches and shows J2H Miles scoffs, rolling his shoulders back. He shakes his head, pacing slightly in the ring.

“And then there’s J2H. The cocky son of a bitch who thinks every time he dusts off his boots, the world should bow down to him. Here’s the thing, J2H. You can make all the promises you want. You can talk about wanting to face Finn for the World Title again, but guess what? That ain’t gonna happen. Not while I’m breathing. Not while I’m standing in that ring. And I’m gonna be the one who puts you back on the shelf, where you belong. You’ll have to keep dreaming about the top, because that’s where I’m headed. Not you.”

A brief highlight reel plays—J2H’s legendary victories, his arrogance on full display. Miles watches the screen for a second before smirking. He leans on the ropes, staring directly into the camera.

“This man who thinks the world revolves around him. I mean, look at this guy—he’s got a reputation, and he’s done some things in his career that can’t be denied. But here’s the problem, J2H—when you’re as arrogant as you are, when you think the world owes you everything, it doesn’t matter how many championships you’ve held or how many matches you’ve won. It’s the same old song. You think you’re the star, you think you’ve got it all figured out. But here’s the truth: your time has come and gone. You’re living off past glory, and now, when it matters most, you’re a sitting duck. You can trash talk all you want, but when that door locks, and it’s just me and you? You’ll realize that I’m the one who’s evolved, the one who’s ready to take the reins. And you? You’ll just be another name on my list of eliminations.”

Miles’ demeanor changes slightly. The energy in the arena shifts as a clip rolls of Jayden’s defiant promos, his attempts to step out of his father’s shadow.

“Jayden Harris. The boy with the chip on his shoulder. You want to talk about family legacies? Well, guess what, Jayden? I know exactly what that feels like. The weight of the sins of the father hanging over you, always looking over your shoulder, always being reminded of what you could be… but what you never will be. You think you’ve got something to prove, but let me tell you something—if you take yourself too seriously, you’ll end up just like your old man. And trust me, that’s not a path you wanna walk down. So I’m gonna beat that chip right off your shoulder, Jayden.”

A pause. A slow shake of the head.

“Now, Jayden’s an interesting case. He’s the son of a legacy—a family name that he can’t shake, no matter how hard he tries. I get it, Jayden. I’ve been there. But here’s the difference between you and me: I didn’t hide behind my family’s name. I didn’t let it define me. And that’s where you’ve gone wrong, Jayden. You’ve got this chip on your shoulder, trying to prove to everyone you’re not just a second-rate version of your father, but let me tell you something—you can’t outrun that legacy. You can’t keep running from it. And in that Chamber, when the lights are brightest, that legacy will be your downfall. You’ll crumble under the pressure, and I’ll be the one to finish what you can’t. You can try to outrun it. But legacies? They always catch up to you”

Miles exhales sharply. His posture stiffens. The arena falls eerily silent.

“And finally… we come to Carter.”

Miles’ tone shifts. His blue eyes grow darker as his voice tightens with emotion, but there’s a vulnerability to it now.

“Carter… you’re the one I never wanted to face. You’re the one I’ve always trusted, the one I’ve always loved. And if this was any other time, any other situation, I would’ve walked away. I would’ve stayed out of your way. But the truth is… I want this title. I want to prove that I’m not just some shadow, some younger brother riding on your coattails. This is bigger than us, bigger than our history together. And as much as I hate the idea of having to fight you, I know there’s no other way to get there. I’ve got to take this shot, Carter. And that means stepping over you to get to the top.”

He pauses for a moment, his gaze softening for just a second before it hardens again.

Miles’ voice cracks slightly, the vulnerability creeping in. He shakes his head and looks down for a moment before continuing, his words slower, heavier.

“Carter… I never wanted it to come to this. You’ve been my everything—my partner, my rock, my love. You’ve been there through all the bullshit, through everything that’s tried to break me. And if it were up to me, I would never, ever put us in this position. But you know as well as I do, sometimes, in this business… it’s not about what you want. It’s about what you need.”

“I need this, Carter. I need to prove to myself that I’m not just living in your shadow, that I’m not just a footnote in your career. I need to prove that I deserve to stand on my own. And as much as it hurts me to say it, you’re standing in the way of that.”

Miles’ voice turns hard once more, the pain turning into resolve.

“I don’t want to fight you, Carter. But I will. I will, because if I don’t, I’ll never get to where I’m supposed to be. And the reality is, if we’re both in that Chamber, one of us isn’t walking out as the number one contender. And if that means I have to take you down, then that’s exactly what I’ll do. I don’t want to, but I will. For myself. For the title. For everything I’ve worked for.”

Miles takes a deep breath, his voice firming again as he looks dead into the camera.

“So, everyone in that Elimination Chamber? Prepare yourselves. Because I’m coming for that title, and nothing is going to stop me. Not Bill. Not Vinnie. Not Eddie. Not J2H. Not Jayden. And definitely not Carter. The countdown to the top starts now, and I’m not waiting for anyone.”

He turns and walks out of the frame, leaving the scene with that final feeling of anticipation.

Miles stepped through the heavy glass doors of the Las Vegas Police Department, the fluorescent lighting casting a harsh glow over the bustling precinct. Officers moved about, engaged in their daily work, but Miles had only one focus as he made his way toward a familiar face.

Before he could take another step, however, a voice called out to him from the holding area.

"Yo, man, you gotta tell ‘em I was just trying to impress my girl!"

Miles turned his head, finding a disheveled young guy gripping the bars of one of the holding cells. He was grinning like a fool despite his obvious predicament. "Come on, Kasey, you’re a big deal! Tell ‘em I wasn’t really stealing that car—I was just borrowing it for a quick spin!"

Miles smirked and shook his head. "Jake, you’re an idiot. If you’re trying to impress a girl, maybe don’t commit grand theft auto."

"But she loves bad boys!" Jake whined, causing a nearby officer to roll his eyes and walk off.

"Good luck with that," Miles chuckled before making his way toward Detective Wesley LaSalle’s desk.

Detective Wesley LaSalle was seated at his desk, sifting through paperwork, but he looked up as soon as he sensed someone approaching. Recognition flashed in his eyes, followed by a hint of surprise.

"Miles Kasey," LaSalle said, setting his pen down. "Wasn't expecting to see you here. Last time we talked, things were a hell of a lot different."

Miles pulled up a chair across from the detective’s desk, his expression serious. "Yeah, tell me about it. Look, Wes, I need a favor. It's about Kevin."

LaSalle’s brows furrowed. "Kevin? You mean Karen's kid?"

Miles nodded. "Yeah. Ran into him a few weeks ago. He looked... rough. I tried to talk to him, but he bolted. I need to find him."

LaSalle exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Miles, you know I’d help if I could, but that kid’s a ghost. After Karen was convicted for what she did to Carter, Kevin’s dad took him and his siblings to California. That was right after the trial. I checked the records—Kevin ran away about a month later. Since then? No real leads."

Miles leaned forward, determination etched into his face. "I get it, Wes, but that’s not good enough for me. The kid’s out there, somewhere, and I need to help him."

LaSalle studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Okay. If you’re serious about this, start with the local shelters. If he’s still in Vegas, he’s gotta be crashing somewhere."

Miles gave him a tired smirk. "Already did that. First thing, actually. Checked out some of the rougher spots in town too. Had to tell Carter I was at the gym just to keep him off my back."

LaSalle shook his head. "You always were stubborn. Look, Miles, I gotta ask—why does this mean so much to you? I mean, I know you care, but this seems personal."

Miles took a deep breath, glancing away for a moment before meeting the detective’s eyes again. "Because I know what it’s like to be that kid. When I was his age, I did some stupid—really stupid—things. If it weren’t for my sister and my mom, who knows how I would’ve turned out? But Kevin? He doesn’t have that. His mom’s in prison, and his dad’s stuck trying to keep it together for the other two kids. Kevin’s alone. And I can’t just let him slip through the cracks."

LaSalle nodded slowly, the weight of Miles' words settling in. "Alright. I’ll do some digging, see if I can turn up anything. No promises, but I’ll let you know if I find something."

Miles extended his hand, and LaSalle shook it firmly. "Thanks, Wes."

As Miles stood to leave, LaSalle called after him. "Hey, Kasey. Be careful, alright? You might find what you’re looking for, but it may not be what you expect."

As Miles turned to leave, another voice from the holding cells piped up. "Hey, Kasey! You got any pull around here? How ‘bout getting me out?"

Miles glanced back to see Jake still hanging onto the bars, looking hopeful.

"Not a chance," Miles said with a grin as he strolled out, leaving Jake groaning dramatically behind him. Whatever it took, he was going to find Kevin. Because no one deserved to be forgotten—not if he could help it.

---

The neon glow of Fremont Street flickered against Miles' face as he walked through the bustling crowds. The air was thick with the mingling scents of fried food, spilled beer, and cigarette smoke, a true representation of the city that never really slept. Tourists gawked at the street performers, gamblers shuffled between casinos, and the homeless nestled themselves into quiet corners, ignored by most.

Miles wasn’t here to be entertained. He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes scanning the sidewalks, peering into alleys, looking for any sign of Kevin. He knew it was a long shot, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the kid was still around, still surviving on these streets.

He muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Where are you, kid?" He exhaled, watching the way his breath barely formed in the warm night air. His gut told him Kevin was still in Vegas—he just had to figure out where.

As he walked past a row of shuttered storefronts, he spotted a group of teenagers huddled together near a flickering streetlamp, their eyes darting around like they expected trouble. Miles considered approaching, but before he could, they scattered like startled birds. He sighed. "Damn it."

As Miles continued walking, his mind drifted again to Climax Control. He stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and exhaled slowly. "Strange Bedfellows," he muttered, shaking his head. "Fitting name for a team that don’t know a damn thing about each other."

Teaming with Jayden Harris wasn’t a problem, at least not for Miles. The kid had talent, raw and hungry, but his last name put a target on his back before he even stepped foot in a ring. Miles understood that struggle better than most. "Pressure like that? It can either break you or make you sharper," he said to himself. "Kid’s got the tools, but does he know how to use ‘em when the lights are bright?"

That was the question. And there was only one way to find out.

"Then there’s Vinnie," Miles said with a slight chuckle, shaking his head. "I swear, you never know what version of that dude you’re gonna get. One match, he’s throwing hands like a world-beater, the next, he’s too busy having a full-on conversation with a damn cactus to focus." He smirked to himself. "But I’m not stupid enough to write him off. A guy like him? He’s dangerous when you least expect it. Can’t let my guard down. Not for a second."

His expression darkened slightly as his thoughts shifted to Eddie Lyons. That was a different beast altogether.

"Eddie’s a whole different level," he admitted, rolling his shoulders as he walked. "I respect the hell out of that man. No nonsense, no games—just a guy who comes to fight, and he does it better than most." Miles stopped for a moment, staring at the flashing neon lights of a casino sign. "I know what I’m up against with him. And I know he ain’t gonna take it easy just because we got mutual respect."

He continued moving, stepping past a couple arguing near the entrance of a liquor store. "Respect only gets you so far, though. When that bell rings, I gotta be better. Faster. Smarter. I gotta prove that I’m still the guy people don’t wanna see across the ring from them."

He glanced up at the sky, the stars barely visible against the bright Vegas lights. "Jayden and I? We ain’t the favorites here. We’re the ones people expect to crumble under the pressure. But that’s the thing about expectations." He smirked. "They’re meant to be broken."

Miles kicked a discarded soda can, watching it rattle into the gutter. "This ain’t just a tag match. This is about momentum. This is about sending a message. About showing the rest of the locker room that I’m not just in the Elimination Chamber to make up the numbers. I’m in it to win."

His jaw tightened. "Sunday night, I’m walking into that ring with one goal—win. I don’t care what I gotta do. I don’t care if Jayden and I gotta scratch and claw our way through it. We’re leaving that match with our hands raised."

He let the words settle in his own mind.

"Because second place in a match like this?" He shook his head. "That’s just another name for losing. And I don’t lose."

He kicked a loose bottle cap down the sidewalk, watching it skitter into the gutter. "Gotta stay sharp," he muttered. "Can’t let distractions get me. Not now."

But he couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling that this wasn’t just about wrestling anymore. It was about proving to himself that he still had a purpose beyond the ring. That he could still make a difference.

Because the world could be distracting, but distractions could get you hurt. Or worse.

Backstage at Climax Control, Reno

The backstage area was alive with noise, but it all felt muted to Miles. His blood was still boiling, his jaw tight as he stormed down the corridor. Crew members moved out of his way, sensing the fury radiating off him like heat from a roaring fire. His fists were clenched so tight that his knuckles had turned white, and his chest rose and fell with sharp, heavy breaths.

He couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe the gall of Kevin Carter.

Miles replayed the scene over and over in his mind. The smug look on Kevin’s face. The vile words dripping from his mouth as he had the audacity to demean Carter, to call his championship reign “embarrassing.” It was bullshit. Absolute Grade A 100% bullshit.

The worst part? Kevin wasn’t just attacking Carter’s abilities as a wrestler—he was attacking who Carter was. Every jab, every sneer, every word was designed to chip away at the incredible man that Miles had fallen in love with, the man who had fought tooth and nail to prove himself, time and time again.

And then Kevin had taken it further. He had gone after him. Calling him out for his past mistakes, for attacking Finn when desperation had gotten the better of him. Kevin had thrown it in his face like he wasn’t already carrying the weight of that guilt every damn day.

“Goddammit!” Miles growled, punching a wall as he turned a corner. The impact sent a sharp jolt of pain up his arm, but it barely registered.

“Miles!”

The sound of Carter’s voice cut through the haze of anger, and Miles stopped dead in his tracks. Carter was standing a few feet away, looking equal parts concerned and annoyed. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his face—still healing from the damage Kevin had inflicted—was drawn tight with emotion.

“What the hell were you doing out there?” Carter demanded, his tone sharp but tinged with worry. “I told you not to get involved. I was the one that wanted to handle it.”

Miles turned to face him fully, his expression still heated. “I couldn’t just stand there, Carter. Not after everything he’s done to you. Not after the shit he said tonight. I couldn’t let him—”

“You couldn’t let him what? Run his mouth?” Carter interrupted, stepping closer. “He’s a blowhard, Miles! That’s what he does! You think I haven’t dealt with guys like him before?”

Miles ran a hand through his hair, his frustration bubbling over. “It’s not the same, Carter. He didn’t just run his mouth—he attacked you, not once but TWICE! He broke your goddamn nose. He’s gone out of his way to humiliate you, to tear you down, and for what? To get a shot at the Internet Championship? He’s a coward. And it’s my fault he got to you in the first place.”

Carter blinked, taken aback. “Your fault? How is any of this your fault?”

“Because I wasn’t there to stop him!” Miles shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. “I should have been there, Carter. I should have been there to protect you, to make sure that piece of shit couldn’t touch you. But I wasn’t. I was to fucking caught up in my own bullshit and my own selfishness to try and- and...I don’t fucking know, prove something to people who barely give and/or gave a fuck about me. And now you’re standing here still healing from a broken nose because of it. Because of me.”

Carter stared at him, his expression softening as he realized the depth of Miles’ guilt. He took a step closer, reaching out to touch Miles’ arm. “Miles, listen to me. This isn’t your fault. Kevin Carter attacked me because he’s an asshole, and he sees me as an easy target. It’s not and never because of anything you did or didn’t do.”

“But I could have stopped him,” Miles said, his voice quieter now, though no less intense. “I could have been there, Carter. And I wasn’t. I let you down.”

“You didn’t let me down,” Carter said firmly, his hand squeezing Miles’ arm. “You can’t be everywhere all the time, Miles. You can’t protect me from every single thing that comes my way. And I don’t need you to. I’m a grown man. I can handle myself.”

Miles shook his head, his eyes dropping to the floor. “I know you can. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to keep you safe. You’re my husband, Carter. You’re the most important person in the world to me. And when I see someone like Kevin coming after you, trying to hurt you—not just physically, but in every way he can—I can’t just sit back and do nothing. I won’t.”

Carter sighed, his frustration melting into understanding. He knew Miles. He knew the way his mind worked, the way he always took on the weight of the world when it came to the people he loved. It was one of the things that had made Carter fall in love with him in the first place, but it was also something that worried him.

“You’ve got a bit of a hero complex, you know that?” Carter said gently, a small, wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Miles let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. Mostly because Dr. Delacore just had practically the same type of conversation in their last session just before they left for Reno, “Yeah, I know. But I don’t give a shit. I’d rather get my ass kicked ten times over than see you get hurt again.”

Carter stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Miles and pulling him into a tight embrace. “I love you, Miles. But you’ve got to trust me to handle this. Kevin Carter doesn’t scare me. He’s just another guy who thinks he’s better than he is. And come Inception, I’ll put him in his place.”

Miles buried his face in Carter’s shoulder, his arms wrapping around him just as tightly. “I know you will. I just… I can’t help it, love. I can’t stand the thought of him getting away with what he’s done to you.”

“He won’t,” Carter said firmly, pulling back to look Miles in the eye. “Trust me, okay? I’ve got this.”

Miles nodded, though the fire in his chest hadn’t completely cooled. “Alright. But before Inception, I want my shot at him.”

Carter raised a brow, surprised. “What?”

Miles’ voice was resolute, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ve already done it. I challenged him to a match at Climax Control—main event. He wants to run his mouth, throw around his bullshit insults, and act like some big, untouchable force? Fine. He can back it up in the ring, against me.”

“Miles—” Carter started, but Miles cut him off.

“No. Don’t try to talk me out of this,” Miles said sharply. “You asked me to stay out of it, and I tried. But I won’t stand back anymore, Carter. You’re my husband. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I won’t let Kevin Carter tear you down while I watch from the sidelines. He hurt you, and I wasn’t there to stop it. That’s on me. But I’ll make damn sure he doesn’t walk into Inception thinking he’s got the upper hand on you.”

Carter sighed, his expression softening despite the frustration simmering in his eyes. “Miles, I don’t need you fighting my battles. I know you mean well, but Kevin wants this. He wants to bait you into playing his game. And when you give him what he wants, he’ll twist it into something else. He’ll find another way to push us. He’s not worth it.”

“I know what he’s doing,” Miles said, his jaw tightening. “And I don’t care. He attacked you when he knew I wasn’t around, broke your damn nose like a coward, and now he’s running his mouth like he’s untouchable. Someone has to shut him up before Inception, and it might as well be me.”

Carter hesitated, seeing the determination in Miles’ eyes. He knew better than to try and talk him out of it now. Miles was stubborn—always had been—and when it came to protecting the people he loved, there was no stopping him. Finally, Carter nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Fine,” he relented. “But you better be careful out there. Kevin’s not above pulling some shady shit...we all saw what he did to Mark. And the last thing I need is both of us limping into Inception.”

Miles smirked faintly, the first flicker of humor breaking through his stormy expression. “You forget who you’re talking to. If he tries anything, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

Carter shook his head, a mix of exasperation and fondness in his eyes. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Yeah,” Miles replied with a shrug. “But you love me anyway.”

Carter smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Miles’ lips. “That I do. Now come on. Let’s get out of here before you punch another wall.”

Miles chuckled, the sound low and tired but genuine. “Deal.”

As they walked down the corridor together, Miles glanced over at Carter, his resolve hardening. Kevin Carter might have started this fight, but Miles would be damned if he let him walk into Inception unscathed. This wasn’t just about payback; it was about standing up for the man he loved—and Miles wasn’t going to let anyone, least of all Kevin Carter, forget it.


Freemont Street – Las Vegas

The dazzling lights of Freemont Street painted a vivid, electric glow on the bustling crowds below. The air was alive with laughter, music from street performers, and the occasional clinking of coins from tourists trying their luck at slot machines. Miles had his arm draped casually around Carter’s shoulders, both of them immersed in the chaos of the scene but entirely at ease in each other’s company.

“It’s so tacky, but I kind of love it,” Carter admitted with a grin, glancing at a performer juggling fire while dancing to a drumbeat.

“Tacky is part of the charm,” Miles replied, leaning in closer to him. “Besides, where else can you see someone trying to breakdance in a Chewbacca costume?”

Carter chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “I’ll give you that.”

They were just about to stop by one of the food trucks when a sudden commotion behind them made them turn. A group of kids, no older than teenagers, came tearing through the crowd, their faces etched with panic. Behind them, a mix of Las Vegas PD officers and security guards yelled commands to stop.

Before either of them could react, one of the kids—maybe 16 or 17, with a wiry frame and wide, frightened eyes—slammed directly into Miles. The impact sent the kid sprawling to the ground and knocked Miles down to one knee.

“Hey, watch it!” Miles barked, startled as he steadied himself. He glanced down at the kid, his sharp tone softening when he locked eyes with him.

The boy’s eyes—brown, but tinged with something familiar—stared back at Miles for a split second, wide with recognition, before the kid scrambled to his feet and bolted again into the crowd, disappearing before Miles could say another word.

Carter was at Miles’ side immediately, helping him up. “You okay? That looked like it hurt.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Miles said distractedly, dusting himself off. “Just caught me off guard.”

Carter studied him with concern. “You sure? You’re not limping or anything?”

“I said I’m fine,” Miles assured him, but then he started patting his pockets. A frown crossed his face as he checked them all over again. “Son of a bitch.”

“What?” Carter asked, confused.

“My wallet,” Miles muttered, shaking his head. “That little shit swiped my wallet.”

Carter groaned. “Great. Do you want to call and cancel your cards or—?”

“Not yet,” Miles interrupted, already scanning the crowd. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Carter grabbed his arm, concern etched across his face. “Miles, don’t—”

“I’ll be fine,” Miles cut him off, his voice calm but firm. “Just go. I’ll meet you at the pizza place.”

Carter hesitated, clearly reluctant, but eventually nodded. “Alright. But don’t do anything stupid.”

Miles gave him a small smile. “When do I ever?”

Carter snorted. “Do you want the list alphabetized or chronological?”

With a quick peck on the cheek, Carter disappeared into the crowd, leaving Miles to weave his way in the opposite direction, determined to find the kid.

A Secluded Alleyway – Off Freemont Street

The kid’s lungs burned as he ducked into a narrow alley, clutching the stolen wallet tightly in his hands. His heart pounded in his chest as he glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one had followed him. The flashing lights of Freemont Street seemed far away now, the noise of the crowd fading into the distance.

He leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath. Opening the wallet, he quickly flipped through it, pulling out a few bills and barely glancing at the ID.

“Pretty nice haul,” he muttered to himself, shoving the cash into his pocket.

“You done?”

The voice startled him, making him whirl around. Standing at the other end of the alley, arms crossed and leaning casually against the wall, was Miles.

The kid’s eyes widened in shock. “How the hell—”

“Old habits die hard,” Miles said, pushing off the wall and taking a few slow steps toward him. “You think you’re the first little punk to try and outrun me on the streets?”

The kid backed up instinctively, his grip on the wallet tightening. “Look, man, I don’t want any trouble.”

“Too late for that,” Miles said, his tone calm but firm. “Now, how about you give that back before we both have to waste any more time?”

The boy hesitated, his eyes darting to the exit behind Miles.

“I wouldn’t,” Miles warned, as if reading his thoughts. “You’re fast, but I’m faster. Trust me, kid, you’re not getting past me.”

“Stop calling me ‘kid,’” the boy snapped, throwing the wallet back at Miles with enough force that it bounced off his chest. “There. Happy now?”

Miles caught the wallet mid-fall and tucked it into his pocket, but his eyes never left the boy. “Not really. You’ve got a hell of a chip on your shoulder.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a tough world,” the boy shot back, his voice bitter. “I’m just doing what I need to do to survive. You wouldn’t get it.”

Miles raised an eyebrow. “You think I don’t get it? You’re not the only one who had to scrape by on the streets.”

The boy scoffed, shaking his head. “Whatever. I don’t care who you are. And I don’t need your pity. I don’t need anyone.”

Miles took a step closer, his voice softening. “That so? Well, I guess that’s why you’re out here alone, stealing wallets from people who would’ve helped you if you just asked.”

The boy didn’t respond, his jaw tightening as he avoided Miles’ gaze.

For a moment, Miles just stood there, studying him. And then, as recognition dawned on him, his expression softened.

“Kevin,” he said quietly.

The boy froze, his eyes snapping to Miles in shock.

“Yeah,” Miles said, nodding as if confirming it to himself. “I remember you. Karen’s kid, right?”

Kevin’s face twisted into a mixture of anger and pain. “Don’t talk about her. You don’t know anything.”

“You’re right,” Miles said, his voice steady. “But I do know what it’s like to feel like the whole world’s against you. And I know what it’s like to push people away because you think you don’t have a choice.”

Kevin’s glare faltered for a moment, but he quickly shook it off. “Whatever. This is a waste of time.”

Miles didn’t stop him as he turned to leave. Instead, he pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and set it down on a nearby box.

“You know where to find me and Carter,” Miles said simply. “Whenever you’re ready to stop running.”

Kevin paused, glancing over his shoulder at the bill and then at Miles. For a moment, he looked like he might say something, but then he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Miles sighed, running a hand through his hair. He stared at the empty alleyway for a long moment before heading back toward Freemont Street.


It’s a Simple Complex...Really.

The scene opens on an empty gym late at night. A single overhead light casts shadows across the empty ring, illuminating Miles Kasey as he pummels a heavy punching bag with precision strikes. Each punch lands with thunderous force, reverberating through the room. His breaths are sharp, controlled, but you can see the fire burning behind his ice-blue eyes.

Miles stops suddenly, leaning his forearm against the bag. Sweat drips from his forehead, and his chest rises and falls with deep breaths. He looks up into the camera that's perched on a tripod a few feet away, waiting for him to speak. And when he does, his voice is calm… but it carries the weight of a storm.

"You know, Kevin Carter… I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Ever since the first time you decided to open that gaping maw of yours and let out the diarrhea you call words, I knew it was only a matter of time before we ended up here.

You talk big, don’t you, Kev? You puff out your chest, throw around your little insults, and think you’re untouchable. But here’s the thing about people like you: when you strip away all the bravado, all the fake tough-guy crap, all that’s left is a scared little boy desperately clinging to relevance. And that’s what you are, isn’t it, Kevin? Just another loudmouth, insecure jackass trying to convince the world that you’re bigger than you are."

Miles steps back from the bag, running a hand through his damp hair before stepping into the ring. He leans on the ropes, staring directly into the camera.

"You know what pisses me off the most about you, Kevin? It’s not the constant trash talk. It’s not even the fact that you’re a walking, talking advertisement for mediocrity. No, what pisses me off the most is that you had the audacity to question me. To accuse me—me—of being willing to hurt my own family, my own husband, for a shot at the SCW Internet Championship.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I’ve never wanted that title. Never. I had my time with it and that time has passed. My goals are much higher than that. I don’t care about shiny objects to prop up my ego. I don’t need a championship to validate my place in this company. Because when I step into that ring, I don’t just win matches—I make statements. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Kevin? Because you’re too busy clinging to a belt you barely deserve, trying to convince yourself that it makes you worth something."

Miles steps into the center of the ring, his fists clenched at his sides. His voice grows colder, more venomous.

"And let’s talk about how you’ve treated Carter, huh? You’ve gone out of your way to paint him as some kind of victim, like I would ever lay a hand on him in anything other than love and support. I’m not surprised that you took that road to try and get under my skin about how you would even THINK that I would ever hurt him to get to glory. And yeah, he asked me to let him take care of it and like a moron I jumped both feet in, when you went out in Reno last week. But I have a newsflash, Kev: Carter doesn’t need protecting. Least of all from you.

See, the difference between you and me is that I don’t need to tear people down to feel good about myself. I know it appears certain ways at times but I don’t need to play the hero, the villain, or whatever other role you’re trying to shove yourself into this week. I know who I am. I’ve faced my demons, and I’ve come out stronger. Can you say the same, Kevin? Or are you still hiding behind that flimsy mask, hoping no one sees the cracks underneath?"

Miles paces the ring now, his movements sharp and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey.

"You’re a leech, Kevin. A parasite. You latch onto people, onto opportunities, and you suck the life out of them until there’s nothing left. And then you move on to the next host. That’s what you tried to do with Carter, isn’t it? You thought you could manipulate him, use him as a pawn in whatever pathetic little game you’re playing. But you underestimated him. You underestimated us. And that’s where you made your biggest mistake."

Miles stops in the center of the ring, his eyes locked on the camera. His voice drops to a low, dangerous tone.

"You see, Kevin, this match isn’t about titles. It’s not about rankings or wins and losses. This is personal. You made it personal the moment you decided to drag my name through the mud, the moment you questioned my loyalty, my love for Carter. You opened Pandora’s box, Kev, and now you’re going to deal with the consequences.

Come Climax Control, there won’t be any fancy words to hide behind. No excuses. No running. It’ll just be you and me, one-on-one. And when that bell rings, I’m going to show you exactly why you should have kept my name out of your mouth. And I’ll leave just enough of you for Carter for Inception when the Kasey-McKinney’s put your smart mouth in its place once and for all.

You wanted my attention, Kevin? Well, congratulations. You’ve got it. But I promise you, by the time I’m done, you’re going to wish you hadn’t."

Miles picks up the punching bag from earlier, slings it over his shoulder, and throws it over the top rope with a single, powerful motion. The sound of it hitting the floor echoes through the empty gym as Miles walks toward the camera, stopping just inches away.

"Enjoy these last few days while you can, Kevin. Because at Climax Control, your little reign of mediocrity comes to an end. And me? I’ll be the one holding the shovel."

Miles smirks coldly before stepping out of frame, leaving the camera focused on the empty ring as the scene fades to black.