PARADIGM SHIFT XXXI // DSM-V
ALL MY SINS DRAGGING ME BACK AGAIN. ALL THE REGRETS, DRAGGIN ME DOWN. THERE’S NO ONE TO SAVE YOU AND EVERYONE SCARED. DO UNTO OTHERS WHAT THEY DID TO YOU.
HEALTH .
••••••
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is the penultimate manual that psychologists and psychiatrists use to diagnose humans with personality or other mental deficits in order to put a name to the methods and manipulatives they use. You’ll see things like “Borderline Personality Disorder” or “Major Depressive” come from it, and somehow, that’s supposed to absolve people of the negative interactions they may have. In this moment, in this story, however, it’s not about depressive disorders or even having a personality issue. No. It’s narcissism.
People like to say the Wolves of Gheimhridh are narcissists. In a way, perhaps they are. After alL, the DSM-V states that narcissistic personality disorder is a pattern of grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. But really, isn’t that all wrestlers? Isn’t that every single one of them? Everyone thinks they’re better than another person, and if you’re sitting on the wrong side of the crowd, it’s likely because you have a lack of empathy. There is a need for admiration, certainly. But everyone feels that at one point or another, and certainly, everyone acts like that eventually.
But that’s also not the point right here. The point is that there is always someone that’s going to be more of a narcissist than even Kayla Richards herself.
There was a burst of cold weather that infected the Colorado Front Range, sending people back into their homes and keeping them off the streets. Those that were stupid enough to drive ended up in ditches or stuck on the shoulders. Colorado was known for a variety of reasons, and one of them was the intense weather that could strike up in the next five minutes – and that’s exactly what happened with this storm. The forecast said a little bit of snow, but it was a damn blizzard.
Finn slammed the door to their backyard, pulling his gloves off and the beanie off his head. If he didn’t keep up with the snow, then it would turn to ice, and that would be a bigger problem. Inside, however, there was a roaring fire, a book to read, and a girlfriend to cuddle up with provided that she was in the mood.
He smirked. Kayla hadn’t liked the snow one bit, but that hadn’t stopped her from stomping down into the living room with a large fleece blanket, burying herself beneath it and resting her head on her best friend’s shoulder to watch movies during the worst bits of weather. Now, he had no idea where she was at, but eventually they would end up with one another at some point during the day.
He brushed a hand through his hair as he made it past the kitchen and into the homey, cabin-like interior of their living room with a continuous smirk on his face. But that smirk ended when he saw who was perched on their leather sectional, feet bare of her Louboutins and her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, looking perfectly pleasant in her spot.
“The fuck are you doing here?” He swore.
Aaron pulled at the strand of yarn that she had coming out of a bag on the floor next to her again. “Um. What does it look like?” She set her hazel-brown eyes on him as she looked up, furrowing her perfectly-arched brow slightly. “Crocheting, obvi.”
Finn inhaled slowly to himself, and had to count backwards from ten before he responded again. “Crocheting.”
“Yeah. This is square…uh…twelve I think. It kind of matches the decor, don’t you think?” She held her work up against the back of the couch. “And this sofa…it’s comfy. I’ll definitely get used to it soon.”
“Will you now?”
“Mmhm.” She nodded, setting the work down and sitting up, criss crossing her legs. She smiled up at him, patting the cushion in front of her and looking actually quite smug as she did so. “Don’t you miss it? The calm that you had in your life, knowing that I always had your back? Knowing that I could handle myself if something happened with your little Yakuza friends? Never had a problem, really. Kei liked me, knew I would always be your best resource if he wasn’t there.”
Finn didn’t bother sitting down. He didn’t bother moving. Somehow, he knew that this wasn’t going to be the knock-down, drag-out argument that he’d gotten used to having. Aaron braved the weather because she had a purpose today, and this wasn’t going to be a repeat of the Christmas party. How she even got into the house, he would never know.
If Dickie let her in…
“Hey,” she grinned widely, but he knew that expression. The grin wasn’t pleasure, it was sadism. “Do you remember that time that you and your shitty sister went and infiltrated that one dude’s house because they kidnapped Kei’s girlfriend? Remember when the two of you got rid of that man’s son?”” Aaron leaned forward, scrunching her nose up. “Remember when that man rammed my car off the road and killed our twins?”
Finn exhaled again through his nose. Yep. She was definitely here with a purpose.
“You know, we were never the same again after that.” She brought her knees up to her chest and feigned sadness. “After all, you started pulling away from me. You weren’t home, you never stayed around for very long when you were. You blamed your job, and then popped around to different companies for a time…I figured it would be okay with the fact that you were working, but then you just stopped working. I was keeping us afloat. And then you went off for one more job and I…”
“You hated it when I was home.”
“Mmm,” she shook her head, pressing her cheek to her knee. “No. I wanted you to be home.”
“All we did was fight, Aaron–”
“At least when we were fighting, you still cared.” Aaron swung her legs down to the ground and stood up. She was only four-foot-eleven, but she was feisty. “But you didn’t care, Finn. You stopped caring about everything. So, really, who was to blame for us falling apart? Because it certainly wasn’t me.”
She took a few steps forward, reaching up and clenching her manicured fingers into his shirt. “But we can fix it.”
“I don’t want to fix it.” Finn snarled. “I’m happy. I don’t want anything to do with you, and I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to say this to you, but I don’t need you. I haven’t needed you in years.”
“Hm, that may be.” She smiled, unphased by his anger. She’d gotten used to him in their years together, and was probably one of the only people in the world that wasn’t afraid of him when he was mad. “But something tells me that in the next few days, you’re going to find yourself scrambling because while I know you have all this bullshit with the Romani, and that you’re trying to protect your poor little woman who keeps trying to run off…yes, Finn, I know about it…this is going to affect you more than you think.”
“Aaron, there is nothing you could possibly do to–”
Aaron giggled, cutting him off, and placed her shoes on the ground and grabbed her bag as she stepped into them. How she wore them in the cold, she would never know. “You should really check your paperwork after you walk out of meetings.”
“The fuck does that mean?”
She smiled, turning her head. “Oh, you know…make sure there’s signatures on everything. Keep an eye on it, will you?”
And then she was gone, heading towards the front door with the definitive click-clicks of her heels on the floor. Finn frowned, watching her as she left, having no clue as to what she was talking about.
••••••
Eddie Lyons was probably the one who was the closest to ending my streak. But…you know what? I’m not the type of person or Champion to sit there and put someone down for doing their best. I meant what I said on the social media machine: if you want training like you’ve never had before, come find me. Wolfslair would place you in their arms and push you more than you know. There’s a nice little new set up in Denver run by yours truly – all you have to do is ask.
You know, I’ve realized recently that I haven’t been hearing the snide comments about Wolfslair as frequently. Wolfslair, which held a Mixed Tag Team Record, who has had countless champions within the hallowed halls of SCW. Wolfslair, who holds three of the championships in this company, four by association. Hell, Alicia Lukas has held the Bombshells title for three hundred and eighty days, two hundred and eighty in one go. And you guys know how much I enjoy Alicia Lukas.
Wolfslair is no longer a running joke because we have become some of the most dominant champions in this company to the point where monoliths were crushed and refuse to rise again. I see it – hell, everyone sees it. And it’s pathetic, because we all sit here and say we want to face the best of the best…but in reality, those monoliths that talk behind a screen used to say it all the time…that they were the best of the best, but the second someone rose higher? Gone.
Poof.
Kind of disappointing.
A new year has come and still I stand as World Champion. I know most of you are disappointed that I’m standing here. Three hundred and twenty-four days. If I recall, there’s only one other person in that three hundred club.
Hm.
Just a point to put out there.
We’ve done this song and dance before, Aiden. The last time we fought was back in September. You fought hard, I remember that. I remember that you stated that I was one of the best, that I live in the lap of luxury…and that even through everything that I had, I was miserable. Basically, I wasn’t essentially grateful for the life that I had.
You know, you should still be grateful for the life that I have, because you still live in my house. And I don’t begrudge that. I expected it. Because of all the things in the world, I care about people – even when they look at me and stab me in the back. I care until they give me no reason to care. And yes, perhaps I am a little bit grumpy, but you know exactly what’s going on in my life. I think I have an absolute reason to do so. But here? In this ring?
This is the place I’m most happy. Because I get to kick in teeth. And I very much enjoy kicking in teeth.
Aiden, as much of a competitor as you are, you have a track record here that goes up and down. Right now, you’re the Roulette Champion. But what happens if you have an off day the next time it’s contended for? I don’t think you really have a lot to fear, but you’re going to need more than a few jokes and props given to your opponent to get you ahead of the game. I’ve told you time and time again you need to be more aggressive not only in the ring, but in your statements.
I’ve watched you go time and time again at opponents that might be a little bit higher than you on the totem pole – you always treat them with a level of respect that they don’t necessarily deserve. How is it in all your years in this business that you haven’t learned that you go for the throat, no matter who it is? Telling me I’m a miserable bastard isn’t necessarily going for the throat, but you know…what do I know?
It’s not like I haven’t held onto a championship for nearly a year or anything.
Look, Aiden. Like I said last time – we’re friends. But friendship only goes so far in the ring. I appreciate the lack of a stab in the back in order to get here, but at the same time, when that bell rings, I’m looking to win. I’m always going to want to win. I’m going to always do my best to win, and there is very little that you can do in order to stop me from succeeding.
This is twenty-twenty-five now, and it is yet another year in which I will push for the stars. Because that’s what I do. I push, constantly, no matter the person in front of me. No matter the consequence, no matter the ending. I’m looking to make this my year again. And again and again.
Congratulations on the Roulette Championship.
I hope you keep it for longer than the last time.
