Breakdown 9-23-20
September 11th
West Hollywood
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Yes, I moved to Santa Barbara with Tommy Yes, Ante Up Academy was now Helms-free and under Tommy's control, since the staff who were loyal to David quit pretty much the minute Tommy told them the sale was done. And so far, his new business partner hadn't made any attempt to come in and start throwing his weight around. Which meant it was perfectly fine and safe for me to walk in there and make full use of the facility. And I had. I always liked working out there, but after things got heated between Tommy and David, and Regan thrown in too, I always got the feeling that David and most of the staff didn't want me there, so I stayed away to avoid bullshit. It was nice going back and catching up with the staff who did like me, and some of the students.
But I didn't want to completely abandon the place and people I had been working with at Kix for years. So, I was there the Friday before Apocalypse, getting in a good striking session with my girl Tish. She and I went back to my kickboxing days, we did comps together, trained together, and after I quit competing we stayed friends. She'd been working at Kix for the last ten years or so. Right after she stopped competing, too. She started as just floor staff, moved up to kickboxing and striking trainer, and now she does that as well as being an assistant manager. All of that was on my mind as we threw elbows and knees at each other's kickpads. I hadn't gone to Kix that day with just a good workout in my plans. After calling it a day and cooling down, Tish and I were in the locker room after showering. I was sitting on the bench putting braids in my wet hair while Tish was getting dressed. She had already thrown her hair up in a ponytail. It's thick and wavy like mine, except a little shorter and blonde.
“Damn chick, why are you so angry?”
“I am?”
“Uh, yeah. You were trying to kick through the pads.”
I shrugged as I finished one braid. “I don't know. Work, I guess. Everything else is great.”
“What's up with work?”
“Well for starters, there's a pay per view this weekend and I don't have a match, even though I won my last one.”
“Shit.”
“Then you have the fact that so many of the titles are now being carried by hypocrites and bitches...” I groaned. “I don't like complaining usually, but with all of this shit? So... sorry about being stiff?”
Tish laughed. “Nothing to be sorry for, chick. It happens. I was starting to wonder if I was hitting you too hard, too. It's been a hot mess around here.”
I was halfway through the other braid, and I stopped a second at that. “Oh yeah? What's going on?”
Tish sighed dramatically. “Welllll.... first of all Noah has been walking around acting like a fucking dictator while Jimmy has been on vacation.”
“Um, isn't he an assistant like you?”
“Exactly! But he thinks since he's been here longer than me he's suddenly in charge. No boo... that's that's nowt how it works.”
“Fucking tool. You know, I never really liked that guy.”
“I know you didn't, cause you never fucked him.”
I laughed. It's funny cause it's true. “You know, you could just leave these jackoffs and work somewhere else.”
Tish looked at me like I spoke Martian. “Oh yeah? You think it's just that easy? The fitness business is pretty cutthroat. You have to know people to get in if you don't want to start at the bottom again.”
I smirked. “Yeah well.... you know people. Or, you know someone who knows people.”
“The fuck are you talking about?”
“Come on Tish. You know Tommy. You know about Ante Up.”
“Yeah? And? Pretty sure that place is fully staffed.”
“Holy fuck, how out of the wrestling loop are you?”
Tish shrugged. “I know what you tell me. Did something happen?”
“Um, the whole thing with Tommy and his ex best friend?” Tish nodded. “Well, that guy was also the other owner of the place. Except he sold his share. Half the staff walked. So far the new co-owner hasn't shown any interest in trying to run things, so Tommy has to fill the staff positions. Trainers, managers....” I smirked again. Tish sat down next to me and looked at me with her head tilted.
“You trying to offer me a job?”
“I'm not trying. I am.”
“Can you do that? Like, you have authority?”
“Not officially. But me and Tommy talked about it. He has a few other people he's talking to. I said I'd talk to you.”
“Okay. I need details. Like... what's the job position? What's the pay? What's the-”
“Hold on, hold on. I don't know anything about pay, okay? You'd have to discuss that between you two. But the position would be like general manager. He has people to be trainers or coaches for different areas of fighting. Like a mat wrestler, a striker... that's me. Submissions, that kind of thing. Then others for general fitness. Weights and shit, like you do here. But he needs someone to keep an eye on all of it while we're on the road.”
Tish seemed to think it over a few seconds, then nodded. “Okay. I'm sure I could do that. I do that here most of the time anyway. I'm willing to go talk to him about it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Fuck yeah! He's got to be easier to work with than Jimmy and Noah, right?”
“I guess? I don't know, I only wrestle with him and fuck him, he's not my boss.”
Tish laughed. I smirked. “Good point. Like I said... I'll talk to him. Have him call me.”
“Alright.”
We bumped fists and Tish got up to finish getting dressed. I finished the braid I had been working on. I hoped this worked out, Tish was the main reason I came back to this gym despite moving and if I didn't have to drive ninety minutes to work out with her? That would be fucking perfect.
September 15th
Santa Barbara
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It had been a few days since Apocalypse happened. I didn't have a match, but I was there for Tommy's. There were literally no rules so I did my best to help when I had an opening. Tommy kicked all kinds of ass... right until the last few seconds when Xander countered a spear and basically tried to kill him off the stage. SCW had him sent to a hospital to get checked out, since they don't really have Xrays and shit at arenas. I tried to act like that meme you see with the dog surrounded by fire going “this is fine” but I was actually pretty fucking concerned. I knew Tommy had a history of matches like that and getting up relatively unharmed but I'd never seen one up close and personal, you know? Luckily, everything checked out and other than some really nasty bruises and one pretty long laceration on his back from that table at the end? He was fine.
We were at home Tuesday morning, and just like the day before, I was awake and moving around first. Typical for when Tommy is in a bad mood, he sleeps in. Normally I would find a creative way to wake him up, but I knew that his everything was still sore, so I let him sleep. Instead, I went to the kitchen, and after digging around a bit – I'm not used to where everything is yet – I made some coffee and baked a tube of biscuits I found in the fridge. I brought a large plate to the bedroom with a few biscuits on it, then went back to fix the coffee cups. When I went back into the bedroom with the coffee, Tommy was up. He grinned at me.
“This seems a little backwards, I'm supposed to do this for you.”
“Get up earlier than me next time and I won't have to show you up.” I smirked. He took the coffee cup and shook his head at me.
“Point taken. Thanks.”
He then grabbed one of the biscuits as I sat in bed next to him.
“Besides, I had to do something to get you out of this bad mood. I can only take about a day of it.”
That made him sigh. “I just hate being made to look like a fool.”
“That didn't happen. You looked like a fucking badass!”
“Until I fucked up at the end and-”
“No. Stop it. It doesn't matter, okay?”
“It doesn't matter?”
“No.”
“The man chased after me for months, when I didn't even know why for half of it, then he succeeds in kicking my ass, but it doesn't matter?”
“No. It doesn't. You kicked his ass just as hard, if not more. So what he got what he wanted? Now he'll shut up and leave us alone. We have big things to focus on babe.”
Tommy eyed me over his coffee. “We do?”
“Um, yes. Did you already forget about the Tag League? Sasha named us in her announcement. That means we're in it. And that means we are going to get all the attention again, because we're the best damn team in the company.”
“Except we're not the champions.”
“For now.” I drank the rest of my coffee and finished my biscuit, then got up. “I'm going to meet Sydney to catch up, when I get back? I don't want to hear all this negative bullshit, okay? You need to snap out of this, we have work to do.”
Tommy sighed again, and ran his hand through his hair. “Kinda hard to do when I feel like I got hit by a bus.”
“That's physical. I'm talking about up here.” I leaned over the bed and pushed his forehead with my finger.
“I'll try.”
“That's all I ask.” I grinned. He grinned back and sat up straighter, turning the grin into a grimace. From the way he moved I could tell it was his back.
“Meeting Sydney, huh?” I nodded. “You going to Hollywood?”
“Nah, she's driving up here. We're gonna get lunch. That's why I left you all the biscuits.” I smirked.
“Have fun. Maybe I'll give your friend a call about Ante Up later.”
“See? That's what I'm talking about. Focus on getting shit done. See you later, love ya babe.”
I blew him a kiss as I walked out the bedroom door.
* * * * *
About a half hour later, Sydney and I met at a small cafe about ten minutes from Tommy's house. I would have gone to meet her instead but she had a work thing to do here so she thought she'd make it a two for one trip. I smiled and waved her over when I saw her walk in. A server immediately took our order and left.
“This is a cute place. You come here a lot?”
“Tommy and I have been here a few times, I wouldn't say regularly. I like it though.”
“So his place isn't far from here?”
“Nah, just up the road there about five or ten minutes. Depends on how many red lights you catch.”
“Oh... I came from the other direction for my job.”
“What was the job? Do Hollywood estheticians usually make house calls?”
Sydney laughed. “Not usually. But when they get offered a five-K bonus, they do. There's this actress... I'm not really allowed to say who she is. But she has super terrible acne. She said my microdermabrasion was the best she'd ever had and she wants me to be the only person working on her face from now on. So that's a thing.”
“That sounds like pretty big deal. Lucky for you I don't give a rats ass about actors or actresses and I'm not gonna try to make you tell me who it is. I probably wouldn't know her anyway.”
“It is! And I don't know... you might. She's kinda unavoidable. But anyway... I'm done with the job so I'm all yours. I saw your show Sunday...” She made a cringe face. “Is the man still in one piece?”
“Yeah, he's not broken. Just dented.”
“And what about you? That huge dude had his hand on your throat!”
“Oh I'm fine. That didn't even leave a mark. I've had worse.”
“Good. I mean, good that you're fine, not that you've had worse.”
I grinned. The way she always feels the need to clarify is adorable. “Yeah, I got that.”
She grinned back. “Well, I don't want to make you talk about uncomfortable stuff, so... how's it going after moving? Miss the old place yet?”
“Ha. Not really. I mean, it's different not being by myself most of the time. But I don't miss the stairs, and I do like having actual doors.”
Sydney giggled. “I bet. But I mean like... how is it with you and him? Any different?”
“Not really. Other than the always waking up in the same bed. That's fun.” I smirked. Sydney actually blushed. Sometimes I forget how... innocent? She is.
“Yeah, I kinda... figured that. So, um... like you're really cool with things? I know you said you were nervous when I was helping you pack stuff.”
I said that? I didn't remember. Must have been the tequila. Figuring she hadn't made it up and I really did say it, since it was true, I just went with it.
“I was, but it's fine. Great.” I smiled. Sydney frowned.
“That doesn't sound very convincing.”
Our server returned with our lunch. I had just got an appetizer, chips and guac, since I'd just had biscuits earlier. Sydney had a club sandwich. I picked up the conversation when our server left.
“What do you mean?”
“Like... that sounded fake. I can tell the difference with you now.”
Fuck. I groaned a little. “It's not fake. Just... maybe not completely true? Don't get me wrong, the house is fucking fantastic, I love it there. I love him. It's just a serious adjustment, you know? I've lived by myself since I left the Williamsons.”
“I can see how that would be hard to adjust to. You're used to doing things your own way and now you have a whole other person's habits to deal with.”
“It's not even just that. It's Tommy's house, you know? It's not like we went and got a new place together. Everything is already established. Like... this morning. I got up before he did and went to the kitchen to make coffee. I had to look in practically every damn cabinet to find the fucking coffee! It was like in all the time I'd been there before I didn't pay attention to shit. You'd think I'd know where things were, you know?”
Sydney shook her head sympathetically. “That's just normal moving somewhere new though. You might have done the same thing if you got a place together. Like, you forgot where you'd put it.” I made a 'yeah right' face. “Look, I get what you're saying. It's weird and different. But you guys are solid as fuck, you'll get used to it. Maybe just ask him where the coffee is next time?”
I laughed. “Well I'm sure the fuck not gonna forget it after this morning.”
Sydney smiled. “I think you're just stressing yourself out because it's a big change. I've learned that about you, too.”
“You're right. I don't do change well, I had enough abrupt change as a kid, it must be like some PTSD shit or something.”
“Maybe! But it'll be fine. Just remember that this change wasn't forced on you, you chose it. For good reasons.”
I smiled. “I'll try to keep that in mind.”
“Good, cause this weekend I won't be around to knock sense into you.”
“You won't?”
“Nope! I'm going to Miami to visit Dad. He's been complaining about not seeing me since I moved out here. He thinks I need coddling since Tyson dumped me, you know how parents are.” I raised an eyebrow. “Oh... wait. I mean... fuck.”
I laughed. “Fuck's sake, Syd, don't be so serious. I know what you meant.”
She looked relieved. “Oh. Okay. Anyway. I'm gonna try to convince him to come here. See you, meet all your people.”
“My people?”
“Yeah! Like your family... well, you know, the foster ones. Your friends, your man. Your people!”
I laughed. Sydney has a strange way with words. “Gotcha. Well, if you can get him out here, I'm all for that. I know he said he didn't like to travel far.”
“Yeah, but I can lay the guilt trip on him, I'm pretty sure I'll convince him.”
“I'd really like that. Good luck.”
“I'll let you know how it goes.”
We finished our lunch (well, more of a snack for me) and parted ways in the parking lot with a hug. It would be cool if she could get Uncle Corey to come out here and meet people. Especially Debbie, Ray, and Nate, and his family. I think they'd all like each other. I decided not to mention it to any of them until I heard from Sydney if she was able to talk him into it. But the idea was excitng.
* * * * *
When I got back, I walked in and Tommy was sitting on the couch messing with his phone.
“Hey babe. Good game there?”
“What? No, I don't play shit. Just going through some applications in my emails.” He looked behind me at the door curiously as I closed it. “Where's Sydney?”
“Um, she went home I guess? We just had lunch.”
“Did she have something to do?”
“No. Why?”
“Just wondering why you didn't invite her over here.”
“Um... I don't know. Why would I? She was in the area for a job, and we just-”
“You just could have had her come here instead of meeting down the street.”
I shrugged, like it was no big deal. “I guess. I didn't think of it.” I started to go down the hall but he stopped me.
“Hey, come here. Sit. You're acting weird.”
“I am?”
“Yes. Sit. Talk to me.”
I sighed, and sat next to him on the couch. “Okay. Now what?”
“Now, tell me why you seem pretty uncomfortable with my asking you why you didn't just invite her here?”
Dammit. I love that he knows me so well, but I hate that he knows me so well.
“Okay, fine. I guess I just wasn't sure if that would be okay. I mean, this place has a gate for fucks sake. It's yours, you probably don't want everybody and their cousin popping up-”
“Stop.” He grabbed my hand. “Why wouldn't it be okay? You've been here over a month now, hasn't it sunk in yet that this is your house too and you can do what you want?”
“I mean, yeah. Me. Not anyone.”
“How many times and in how many ways do I need to tell you that you're not just some long-term guest in my house? It's yours, too.”
I sighed. I didn't know how to make him understand how weird this was for me. Yes I chose to do it, like Sydney told me to remind myself, but that's easier said that done.
“I know. I hear you, okay? But I don't think you get how hard this actually is. I didn't think it would be, but here we are. I lived on my own since leaving the Williamsons. It's harder than I thought it would be to wrap my head around the idea coming into someone else's house isn't just me being in the way.”
“You are never in the way.”
“I know. But me being here is different than bringing people over, I didn't want to just assume that I could-”
He grabbed my face, making me pay attention. “Listen to me. You live here. This is your home. You can have anyone over you want, do what you want, even walk around stark naked if the mood strikes!”
I laughed. “Oh I'm sure you'd love that.”
“Well, as long as it's just us here and neither one of us has company...” He smirked.
“Okay. I hear you. So, anyone, right?” Tommy nodded. “What if I wanted to see Drake?”
His smirk turned into a frown. “Okay... almost anyone.”
“Relax.” I laughed again. “Sydney is one thing, but I wouldn't bring someone here I know you don't like.”
“See, you're getting more used to things already!” He leaned in and kissed me, and finally let go of my face.
“I guess I am. I just really didn't want to do anything to like... push limits, or impose, or anything like that.”
“That's impossible. I really want for you to stop thinking of this as you now live in my house. That's not what I intended when I asked you to come here. You're not limited to the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and your art space. All of this is for you, too. We live in our house. Got that?”
I smiled. “Yeah. I think I got it.”
We kissed again, and I stood up. Tommy watched me as I slowly pulled my top off, smirking at him.
“Um... what are you doing?”
“Practicing making myself at home....” I tossed my top on the couch where I had just been sitting, then wiggled out of my jeans. He kept watching as I turned my back to him and pulled off my underwear too. I let those drop to the floor, then walked around a bit, making sure to shake my ass. When I looked at Tommy again, he was standing up, looking me up and down.
“I could definitely get used to you being this comfortable here.”
He then grabbed me and quickly spun me around and pushed me down on the couch, then was on top of me. I laughed.
“Well... with incentives like this, I'm sure I'll be.... comfortable.... as much as I possibly can.”
In reply I was kissed deeply.
* * * * *
Later that night, after showering but I was still naked, I went into the room given to me for my art. Tommy had taken to calling it my art space, but I kinda want to call it a studio. Anyway, I went in there, and turned the light on. Back at my apartment, I used to do a lot of sculpting and painting in the nude. Yeah, it sounds crazy, but something about being physically unrestricted made my creativity unrestricted, too. This would be a good test if I really felt perfectly at home here, like it really was my own space, too. I hadn't done anything creatively since moving here. So, worth a shot, right? I didn't feel like messing with clay so I got some paints and a brush out, and a small canvas. I had no idea what I was going to actually do, but some of my better pieces happened that way. I mixed some colors and made some circles on the canvas, followed by a few splashes here and there. When I stopped to look at it and decide what color to use next, I heard movement behind me. I turned and saw Tommy leaning against the doorway, watching me.
“Having fun?”
“I'm enjoying the view. Do you usually paint like that?”
“What, on canvas?”
He smirked. “I mean naked.”
I smirked back. “Yeah, actually. Usually. I know, its weird.”
“Not really. Whatever works for you.”
“Did I ever tell you about the time I made prints of my ass?”
Tommy laughed. “No... but I definitely want to hear all about that.”
“Well. I just had an idea for this piece, if you don't mind being my muse?”
Tommy walked in. I pointed to the couch, my old one, and he sat on it. “You gonna paint me?”
“Kinda. More in an abstract way, but I think anyone who knows you will guess it's meant to be you. So, just sit there like we're just talking, and I'll paint while I tell you the ass print story.”
“This should be entertaining.”
He leaned back, and without even trying his hair fell over his shoulders in a perfect way for me to capture. I grinned.
“Okay. Well, it was when I hung out with Ryan more often. And I was creating pieces for the World Hazard Art Show....”
After I finished the story, which I thought might have been a bad idea at first considering he and Ryan didn't get along but turned out okay cause he laughed... I had a sixteen by twenty canvas full of greens, blacks/grays, and a few reds that maybe didn't look exactly like Tommy, but was unmistakably inspired by him.
Who knew that all it would take was creating art for me to actually feel like this place was home?
ON CAMERA
Backstage at what can be assumed is the Chase Center in San Francisco, we find Kandis seated on top of a black equipment crate. Wearing black jeans and a bright green halter, Kandis has her hair in pigtail braids, strands of green mixed into her black hair. Her legs hanging off the side of the crate, crossed at the ankles, Kandis rests her hands on the edge as well.
I know what everyone wants me to talk about.
That's why I'm not gonna do it.
Kandis smirks.
Instead, forget the past week or so and let's look to the future. For the next few months, the spotlight in SCW is gonna be on Tag Team wrestling. Sasha finally did something right, dolls! She's realized that since Tommy and I got eyeballs on this division all year, that she had no choice but to do something giving the division more attention. The Tag League, this tournament that honestly reminds me of the Shot of Adrenaline tournament I was a fan of before I ever got into wrestling. Most of the rules are same. Round Robin style. The way the points tally. Championships always on the line. The only difference here is... we're going into the start of this thing having no idea who the other teams are, or the blocks! I mean.... are we A block or B block? Are the Champions in our block?
Leave it to Sasha to take a really fucking great idea and find a way to start it off on the wrong foot.
Kandis shakes her head.
But it's all good. Tommy and I are gonna start off by facing our old enemies Dark Fantasy. You know, the team that got pinned in that triple threat where we won the Tag Titles for the second time? Yeah, those tricks. I don't want you ladies to think you're gonna have an easier time beating us without a third team in play. I don't want you to think that just because that third team, Frozen Hell, took the titles from us at Rise to Greatness. Here's the thing. Neither one of us is the one who's double booked.
Syren, doll. I'm looking at you. Miss Television Champion, acting all badass and shit at Apocalypse waving that thing in Mason's face as if you did something special by taking it from him. I mean, I get that he can be distracted by shiny objects, and it might have even contributed to your wife's victory, but this week? All it's gonna do is drag you down. You have to defend that shiny object before getting into the ring with us. And look, I know Jay Gold might not be someone you'd think would make you break a sweat. I know, I recently fought and beat him myself. But the man can go, doll. He gave me a good fight and I'm sure he'll do the same to you. And then when you've put all of your energy into defending that title, since a gold strap seems to be what you define yourself by... what are you gonna have left to face us?
Nothing. That's what. And that's a real shame cause, I actually like my opponents to put up a good fight. A good, hard, battle that gets the blood going and adrenaline flowing is almost as good as sex. And the fact that you may not be able to.... perform... is leaving me a little bit dry. So do me a favor doll and try to save some effort for us. We'd love to kick your asses and we're gonna do everything we can to do so... but we don't want to kick a dead fish.
We're not you.
Kandis smirks.
Who and what we are, is the best goddamn team in this company! I don't care who the champions are, anyone can win a match at any given time. The true test is in stability, consistency, longevity. Sure, you two have been a team longer than me and Tommy have, but for the most part? We've kept our focus on the Tag Division. You two have both let other issues sidetrack you away from teaming. Head games, title shots, all this other shit. Me and Tommy? Tag. Tag. Tag!
I know, I know. You're gonna come at me with the fact Tommy had his issue with David, I'm pretty damn sure Syren is gonna talk everyone's ears off, glue them back on, and talk them off again about David and Tommy, since she's known them both a long time, and bore us to death with details from a million years ago no one cares about anymore. I'm also pretty sure one or both of you are going to do the same thing talking about Xander, but... that's the past, and the present is the tournament. We-
Kandis stops and looks to her left. We see a shadow, and then Tommy Valentine walks into the shot. He gestures at the camera. Kandis nods. He turns to speak to the camera, standing next to Kandis, leaning against the crate she's sitting on.
Kandis might not want to talk about Apocalypse, but I do!
Xander. I gotta give you a hand, brosef. You stomped your feet, gnashed your teeth, and bellyached your way into getting a match with me, under your supposed rules. I didn't back down like I'm sure you and Sasha wanted me to do, I stepped right up to you with no fear and I don't think you expected me to come at you as hard as I did! Come to think of it, I might have surprised myself, especially at the end there. You know, where I came this close to ending things on my terms, until you changed direction at the last moment and planted me.
Credit where it's due, Xander got me good. Had me licking my wounds and hobbling around a few days. Yet here I am, ready and able to get back in that ring and do what Kandis and I do best. Nevermind the fact I fought a tough match against Bree Lancaster just a few days before Apocalypse. Nevermind the fact Xander essentially tried to kill me at Apocalypse. I bet no one had “Tommy Valentine, SCW's Workhorse” on their list of expected things for 2020, did they?
I'm not complaining, far from it, but booking me right away after that brutal brawl? Just more of Sasha's games, more of her attempt to wear me down, stack the deck against Kandis and I! I'm standing here next to this woman to tell you... it's not gonna work. I might be still a little sore, I might have a laceration on my back still healing, but you can bet every damn dollar, quarter, and penny you have on the fact that later tonight? We're going out there and fighting Dark Fantasy with the same intensity, determination, and motivation that we always do!
We've had the Tag Division on notice all year, and that's not changing now. Tag Division. Tag League. Tag Champions? Pay the fuck attention. The Connection isn't going anywhere... except right back to the top!
Tommy smirks and Kandis puts her hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
You said it babe!
Oh and by the way? That rise back to the top? Starts tonight. Let's see if I can get this right... we hope you came to fight, and Syren still has enough in the tank to give us one... cause if not? You'll both be knee deep in stars, after we make you see them!
Tommy and Kandis look at each other, and he grins.
Nicely done!
Kandis hops down from the crate and the couple kiss as the shot fades out.