Breakdown 4-7-22 #2
March 18
Santa Barbara
Ante Up
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A few days passed since both Tommy and I had been confronted with our so-called secret keeping. The engagement news made it's way through Ante Up, and students kept coming up to me with congrats. Tish was over the moon, which caught me off guard. I always had a feeling she had her eye on Tommy, especially knowing our deal. It was nice and weird at the same time. I still hadn't had a chance to talk to or go see Gail in person. I wasn't sure if Coral had heard yet, Ashley told me he made it a point to NOT mention it around her and asked Bella to do the same, he knew my relationship with her was testy.
Yet, somehow Coral heard about it anyway.
I was in the locker room at Ante Up, getting ready for my own training, I didn't have any class today but me and Tommy had a sparring session scheduled. We had to keep on top of things while SCW was on a short break. I had just finished putting my hair up in a braided knot, when Coral walked in and right up to me.
"Hey sis." Her demeanor seemed perfectly civil, but my guard was always up around her.
"Hey. Didn't know you were coming in today, there's no classes that you're in."
"Yeah, I just wanted to do some lifting. I've been told my strength isn't great."
"It's better than when you started." Figured I'd be nice. Besides, it was true. Coral smiled.
"You guys don't play around here." She hesitated a moment, seeming nervous. "So, um... I heard something, and I wanted to ask you if it's true."
“Okay...” I knew what was coming, but I wanted her to say it.
“Rumor is.... you and Tommy got engaged.”
“That's right.” Coral blinked, and took a step backwards.
“Oh... I thought some of the other students were just talking shit.”
“Nope. Totally true. It happened right before Retribution, we just didn't tell anyone until recently. Had to focus, you know?”
Coral nodded. “Right. And with all the internet shit recently I can see why you'd want to keep it low key.”
“That's a thing too. I'm sure sometime soon we'll make it known.”
Coral gestured to my left hand. “Is that why you're not sporting the bling?” She eyed me skeptically, as if the lack of a ring on my hand meant we weren't really engaged and I was lying.
“Actually... there is no bling. Not yet anyway.”
Coral scoffed, shocked. “What kind of guy proposes without a ring?!”
“The kind of guy who knows his girlfriend likes to make her own choices. He wants me to pick it out myself.” It was one of the things we talked about while we were keeping things to ourselves.
“Oh. Right. That's actually really cool.”
“I thought so.”
Coral hesitated a few moments again, then let out a sharp breath, the kind of sigh you make when you've talked yourself into doing or saying something. “Well, first of all, congratulations. I mean that. I know the shit I pulled at that party caused some trouble, and I know I said this already over everything, but I'm sorry.” I just nodded. The party trouble was, she tricked Tommy into thinking she was me when he was drunk, and got him to fuck her. It was close to a year ago now though, Coral had admitted everything, and gave me a huge apology a month ago, and as much as I hated to admit it, it was getting harder and harder to stay mad at her. “I'm glad that my bullshit didn't cause any lasting damage and that you guys made it to this point.” I gave her a skeptical look, crossing my arms. “I'm serious, Kandis. I know I fucked up, I'm just glad I didn't fuck everything up.”
I just stared at Coral, more than a few seconds, probably long enough to start to get awkward. She stood her ground though. “You're actually serious.”
“I was serious a month ago, and I still am. I don't think you understand how much my argument with Mom opened my eyes. I should have been welcoming you instead of trying to fuck up your life or drive you away.”
Fucking dammit. “I can't believe this....” Coral clearly took me the wrong way, as she jumped in before I could finish my thought.
“And this, you and Tommy getting married? It's just proof I didn't actually ruin anything. I mean, other than your ability to trust me. And I deserve that, but-”
“Coral.”
“.... What?”
“You didn't let me finish. I was going to say, I can't believe this... but I believe you.”
“You do?” I'd never seen her look so hopeful. It was almost child-like.
“Yeah... I mean, look. You've been coming here four times a week getting your ass kicked, just to prove yourself, because Mom wanted you to make things right, wanted us to get along. How can-”
“Oh fuck. Kandis!” I shook my head at her, the gesture asking 'what?' “You just called her Mom.”
What? No... wait... “Shit... I did....”
Coral smiled. I felt myself cringe. “Are you gonna let me hug you now?”
“Might as well, right?” I managed a weak smile before Coral was on me. She hugged me tight, and I put my arms around her, not as tight, but still an embrace. The longer we stood there though, the tighter I felt myself gripping her. Never before had I accepted someone back into my life, taken the guard down, after some kind of betrayal. Maybe no one else was sincere, maybe no one else had really tried... or maybe part of me deep down just really wanted to have my sister.
ON CAMERA
What a fucking mess Retribution turned out to be, am I right? And y'all wonder why integrity means jack shit to me.
Let's break this down, okay? Double Jeopardy. This bitch Holly Adams, who already had two chances at the World Championship, stole herself another one thanks to triple threat rules where she only had to pin one person to move on. Just like the Thunderdome, I was denied what I want, what I deserve...
But no one pinned me!
On the other side, Selena only retained and went to the finals because Autumn got screwed by Holly, Selena didn't take down and pin Autumn on her own. Yet Selena seems to have zero problem with this, as she came out at Breakdown looking for a fight, talking about a successful defense like she actually accomplished something. Nah, this bitch was gifted the finals because Holly wanted to pin her, and then Holly failed. Again. It seems like Selena only gives a fuck about integrity when it applies to her, but if the fuckery works to her advantage? Well then... that's perfectly fine!
Why do you think Tommy and me jumped at the chance to fill the space left by Marie and Kim? Those two bitches turned tail and honestly should be fired over their walking out. But... it left me and Tommy an opportunity. Go out there, answer the challenge, and prove a few things at once. Firstly... that no matter how much Selena wants to take all the spotlight for herself, I'm just not gonna let that happen. Being World Champion isn't enough for Selena. No, she dragged her poor little wife into the ring, trying to recreate her glory days as Tag Champion, so they can walk back into our division and try to edge in on the Tag Titles that belong to me and Tommy! That shit just isn't gonna happen, and we proved that last week.
Secondly, Selena needs to realize that I am in no way done with her. Not a damn thing got settled at Retribution, because she and I didn't fight. We almost did. We faced off, and even I could feel how much the crowd wanted it to happen, and I usually don't give a fuck about that. I'm sure most of them who Selena has brainwashed into 'believers' wanted to see her kick my ass, but I promise you that wasn't going to happen. Everyone saw Breakdown, right? I had that bitch dead to rights and under me, waiting for a three count that never came because time ran out.
You were one second away from being shown up, Selena. One. Second. I want you to remember that when you're training, when you're hanging out with your wife, playing with your kids. When you carry that title around, the one you only still have because someone else gave you a pinfall.
One. Second.
I promise you, the next time you and I meet? You aren't going to be so lucky.
While Tommy and I were out there reminding the world just how good we actually are, reminding SCW just who the greatest tag team to ever exist is... it seems that we made an impression, because this week? We find ourselves facing the new Tag Champions... if that's what you want to call them.
Fuck the fact I had Selena pinned, right? Instead of booking the damn World Championship match, nooo, let's put The Connection in a non-title tag match! But I get it. I really do. Ever since we were left out of the decision in the Thunderdome and not given a one on one shot to get our babies back, the Tag Division has become nothing but a joke! First we had a mental patient with the mind of a six year old teaming with Gavin fucking Taylor, of all people, somehow get the titles off Christy and Lucas. Lucas fucked off, just like I said he would, proving once again that no one cares about the Tag Titles more than me and Tommy do. Then... oh then, the whole thing became a fucking circus act! Ravyn Taylor got involved, some bullshit triple threat happened at Retribution that made zero fucking sense. All it looked like to me was making the Tag Team Titles look like party favors instead of the prestigious championship that The Connection made them look like. End result? A pair of FURRIES took advantage of the sideshow bullshit and walked out with the titles!
These guys dressed up as zoo animals, who became part of Lexy's Cunts as a distraction, as Lexy's attempt to pad the numbers around her and Autumn and Ace, somehow... somehow... are carrying our titles.
So here we are, The Connection to the rescue again. Just like I said would happen once the Tag Division went to shit after we were shut out of it.
I know the titles aren't on the line, but they might as well be. Their reputation sure the fuck is! So, Tommy and I are coming to Breakdown to do what we do best, what we do better than any other team in this entire business. We're going to show the world what Tag Team wrestling is supposed to look like, and who the uncrowned Champions really are, when we destroy those two idiots. They might have been able to take advantage of the circus act that was going on at Retribution, to steal the titles from one and a half teams who were really just fighting over the loyalty of a schizo. The whole thing made the Tag Team Titles look like an afterthought... and that just doesn't sit right with me and Tommy. Make no mistake... there will be no taking advantage of us. There will only be The Connection showing the furries what happens when they face up to a real team.
Then, Shaun will have no choice but to admit that trying to give other scrubs and thrown together teams a chance was a mistake, and that there is only one team in this company who should be carrying the Tag Team Championships, and that's The Connection. Not those circus freak furries. Not Nicole and whatever personality she's presenting as on any given day. Not Ravyn Taylor and a partner of her choice, as it's well documented her tendency to play games with the Tag Team Titles rather than actually represent them. And do not even get me started on Gavin fucking Taylor....
I'm just gonna have to save the reputation of this entire company, singles competition and tag, all on my own, aren't I? It's fine, I can do it. The Connection have been carrying the Tag Division around here so long that my back is strong enough to handle anything.
First I'm gonna finish what I started with Selena, and spare her the burden of trying to restore some bullshit idea of integrity, when it doesn't seem to bother her in the slightest that she's only still champion due to someone getting screwed. Not that I give a fuck about Autumn getting screwed, but I do give a fuck about Selena being a massive hypocrite. If only she admitted she only cares when it suits her, or... didn't care about integrity at all, like me... she wouldn't be making herself look like a fool.
After that, when I'm walking around as World Champion... Tommy and me will be more than happy to rescue the Tag Team Championships, too. Again. It's what we do. And the next time we do it... it'll make history. Stop delaying the inevitable. We'll prove at Breakdown that no one does this better than us, no one takes this more seriously than us, and that running this match back but with the Titles on the line next time is the right call to make.
It's the only call, if you want the reputation of the Tag Team Championships to be salvaged.