Post by Xavier Cross on Aug 15, 2013 23:27:46 GMT
“Maybe it was just the head injury...maybe this isn’t real...it can’t be. Alternate Dimensions...right?”
The quiet calm of the house, the kids are away, Cross is laying in his bed. A few days from now, he will enter a battle with his most hated rival, Xander. For the right to use the letter X in their name. Or the Heavyweight Belt. Whatever. Over the last two weeks, Xavier has found himself teamed with the Imperial Champion, Joe Everyman. It was nice having someone watch your back, knowing that they’re a stand up guy. Matter of fact, it was pretty wonderful seeing a fire in Joe’s eyes, something that had been empty for the longest time.
It was wonderful seeing the guy on top of the business for the first time, and even the slight bit of doubt Xavier had, that Joe would be able to maintain, was wiped away. EveryCross was legit, and he was enjoying it. But the faux-confidence instilled from this didn’t diminish the fact that when Xavier charged into the ring to help InFamous, he wasn’t alone.
When he charged to the ring, his fear was triumphed due to the simple fact, he couldn’t let Joe go out there, and take a beating. Xavier was going to go down swinging. Bravery, or stupidity, it didn’t matter. Joe was his friend, Spike and Rob were guys he looked up to in the business. This isn’t NCW, this isn’t Adam Knite’s sandbox. Xander and Lex, and their two masked testicles weren’t going to run around free.
“There comes a time in a man’s life, where fear isn’t an option. I said it once, and I didn’t mean it....”
Cross lifts himself out of the bed. Insomnia, it was a bitch. Making his way to the bathroom, he flips the light switch, Turning on the faucet, Cross leans down splashing water on his face. His mind floated around, full of thoughts, from how Doug was doing in charge of CrossRoads temporarily, if the Senator was hatching some diabolical scheme, how the kids were sleeping, what Xander was going to do to him...
“Fuck, c’mon man. If you let him into your head, then you’ve already lost....”
Xavier looks up into the mirror, the same old reflection starring back at him.
“He destroyed me once, he’ll probably destroy me again...”
A soft sigh escaped his lips, as he looks down into the water draining, before swinging his head downward. With a loud thump, his forehead pouncing off the counter. Cross stumbles back, falling into the wall sliding down to the floor. Laughing hysterically.
“Well then, I need to stop thinking...”
“Or you need to stop being a pussy.”
Cross is still hazy from his self-inflicted attack, looking around, the room spinning, he sees a dark shadow slowly creeping towards him. His immediately reaction his panic, as he tries to scramble to his feet, he falls.
“You’re such a pussy, it’s almost hilarious.”
Cross tries to move his arm, but the shadow has it wrapped, as it slowly materializes in front him. Like a reflection, the shadow turns into an exact image of Xavier Cross, but twisted, more...brutalized.
“I mean seriously. You disgust me, and you are me! You’re so afraid of the big bad wolf, you know how you kill a wolf, slit it’s throat, shove a rebar down it’s fucking eye, scramble it’s brains like a bad Denny’s breakfast...”
“Whoa...who...what are you!”
“I’m you, you fucking moron, so sit down and listen up. I’m tired of this whole doubting, pussy footing business. You need to straighten up, and do it now. I’m tired of this good guy act, get down and dirty, get blood on your hands.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“What I’m talking about, is right when the bell rings, you get yourself a baseball bat and break Xander’s knee cap. Even that dumb fuck is incapable of fighting without a knee cap. Then you bang his wife, simple as that.”
“...That’s not how I do things. I’ll never do that.”
“Why not? You hit and ran Zelda... You drifted away from Natalie....Jesus Christ, your wife wasn’t even dead a year when you were making google eyes at that Tyson-slut. You are a scum bag Xavier Cross...why not embrace it? Not giving a shit about these people is what makes you strong. Not caring, just inflicting pain...hurt...”
“I won’t...”
“What are you afraid of? Remember GWC, who did you idolize?”
“Brad...”
“Incorrect. Reckless Jack. The no fear maniac, only caring about one thing. Himself, with a close second being inflicting pain, on anything, or anyone that came into his path. Think about it, you could be Reckless Zack...”
“Fuck you. That’s not me, that’s never me. I’m not that person anymore...”
“You keep telling yourself that, but if you weren’t that person. I wouldn’t exist. Think of all the shitty things you’ve done in your career, in your life! You think this IWF is going to be a fresh start, you really think this CrossRoads charity bullshit is going to make people forget how big of a douchebag you really are? Sure they’re living in the limelight of your shining hero bullshit. You’re a champion, but what happens when you get desperate, when Xander kicks your head in because you’re too afraid to pull the trigger on the big bastard. You become a douche, a self-satisfaction douche. That’s all fine and dandy baby, but you got to embrace the evil, embrace the carnage, enjoy the chaos you cause.”
“Get...off...me...now!”
Xavier flexes, pushing the shadow off him, it falls over and into the side of the tub, looking at him, deep red eyes.
“I am apart of you Cross, I am the evil inside you...You’ll fail without me, you’ll never be anything without me. I’ve driven your career. I am what makes you. Hide behind your false smiles, and idiotic charities all you want. We both know who the real Xavier Cross is, and the man you are, isn’t him.”
“FUCK YOU!”
Cross lunges forward swinging, but only hits smoke, laughter fills the room as Xavier hugs onto the tub now, looking down, like he’s going to be sick.
“...No...it isn’t me...it isn’t!”
You aren't the top dog. I am. You are the champion. I am. You brutalized me and made a show of it. But I never backed away. You beat the hell out of me and a referee, and had to walk away. I don't remember those last fifteen minutes, but I've seen the video. I know what happened. I know everything. And I have a simple sentence for you.
The quiet calm of the house, the kids are away, Cross is laying in his bed. A few days from now, he will enter a battle with his most hated rival, Xander. For the right to use the letter X in their name. Or the Heavyweight Belt. Whatever. Over the last two weeks, Xavier has found himself teamed with the Imperial Champion, Joe Everyman. It was nice having someone watch your back, knowing that they’re a stand up guy. Matter of fact, it was pretty wonderful seeing a fire in Joe’s eyes, something that had been empty for the longest time.
It was wonderful seeing the guy on top of the business for the first time, and even the slight bit of doubt Xavier had, that Joe would be able to maintain, was wiped away. EveryCross was legit, and he was enjoying it. But the faux-confidence instilled from this didn’t diminish the fact that when Xavier charged into the ring to help InFamous, he wasn’t alone.
When he charged to the ring, his fear was triumphed due to the simple fact, he couldn’t let Joe go out there, and take a beating. Xavier was going to go down swinging. Bravery, or stupidity, it didn’t matter. Joe was his friend, Spike and Rob were guys he looked up to in the business. This isn’t NCW, this isn’t Adam Knite’s sandbox. Xander and Lex, and their two masked testicles weren’t going to run around free.
“There comes a time in a man’s life, where fear isn’t an option. I said it once, and I didn’t mean it....”
Cross lifts himself out of the bed. Insomnia, it was a bitch. Making his way to the bathroom, he flips the light switch, Turning on the faucet, Cross leans down splashing water on his face. His mind floated around, full of thoughts, from how Doug was doing in charge of CrossRoads temporarily, if the Senator was hatching some diabolical scheme, how the kids were sleeping, what Xander was going to do to him...
“Fuck, c’mon man. If you let him into your head, then you’ve already lost....”
Xavier looks up into the mirror, the same old reflection starring back at him.
“He destroyed me once, he’ll probably destroy me again...”
A soft sigh escaped his lips, as he looks down into the water draining, before swinging his head downward. With a loud thump, his forehead pouncing off the counter. Cross stumbles back, falling into the wall sliding down to the floor. Laughing hysterically.
“Well then, I need to stop thinking...”
“Or you need to stop being a pussy.”
Cross is still hazy from his self-inflicted attack, looking around, the room spinning, he sees a dark shadow slowly creeping towards him. His immediately reaction his panic, as he tries to scramble to his feet, he falls.
“You’re such a pussy, it’s almost hilarious.”
Cross tries to move his arm, but the shadow has it wrapped, as it slowly materializes in front him. Like a reflection, the shadow turns into an exact image of Xavier Cross, but twisted, more...brutalized.
“I mean seriously. You disgust me, and you are me! You’re so afraid of the big bad wolf, you know how you kill a wolf, slit it’s throat, shove a rebar down it’s fucking eye, scramble it’s brains like a bad Denny’s breakfast...”
“Whoa...who...what are you!”
“I’m you, you fucking moron, so sit down and listen up. I’m tired of this whole doubting, pussy footing business. You need to straighten up, and do it now. I’m tired of this good guy act, get down and dirty, get blood on your hands.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“What I’m talking about, is right when the bell rings, you get yourself a baseball bat and break Xander’s knee cap. Even that dumb fuck is incapable of fighting without a knee cap. Then you bang his wife, simple as that.”
“...That’s not how I do things. I’ll never do that.”
“Why not? You hit and ran Zelda... You drifted away from Natalie....Jesus Christ, your wife wasn’t even dead a year when you were making google eyes at that Tyson-slut. You are a scum bag Xavier Cross...why not embrace it? Not giving a shit about these people is what makes you strong. Not caring, just inflicting pain...hurt...”
“I won’t...”
“What are you afraid of? Remember GWC, who did you idolize?”
“Brad...”
“Incorrect. Reckless Jack. The no fear maniac, only caring about one thing. Himself, with a close second being inflicting pain, on anything, or anyone that came into his path. Think about it, you could be Reckless Zack...”
“Fuck you. That’s not me, that’s never me. I’m not that person anymore...”
“You keep telling yourself that, but if you weren’t that person. I wouldn’t exist. Think of all the shitty things you’ve done in your career, in your life! You think this IWF is going to be a fresh start, you really think this CrossRoads charity bullshit is going to make people forget how big of a douchebag you really are? Sure they’re living in the limelight of your shining hero bullshit. You’re a champion, but what happens when you get desperate, when Xander kicks your head in because you’re too afraid to pull the trigger on the big bastard. You become a douche, a self-satisfaction douche. That’s all fine and dandy baby, but you got to embrace the evil, embrace the carnage, enjoy the chaos you cause.”
“Get...off...me...now!”
Xavier flexes, pushing the shadow off him, it falls over and into the side of the tub, looking at him, deep red eyes.
“I am apart of you Cross, I am the evil inside you...You’ll fail without me, you’ll never be anything without me. I’ve driven your career. I am what makes you. Hide behind your false smiles, and idiotic charities all you want. We both know who the real Xavier Cross is, and the man you are, isn’t him.”
“FUCK YOU!”
Cross lunges forward swinging, but only hits smoke, laughter fills the room as Xavier hugs onto the tub now, looking down, like he’s going to be sick.
“...No...it isn’t me...it isn’t!”
******
Xander.
This isn’t NCW.
You aren't the top dog. I am. You are the champion. I am. You brutalized me and made a show of it. But I never backed away. You beat the hell out of me and a referee, and had to walk away. I don't remember those last fifteen minutes, but I've seen the video. I know what happened. I know everything. And I have a simple sentence for you.
I’m not afraid of you.
I’m not afraid of your family, I’m not afraid of your insults, or the fact that you’ll study every word that comes out of my mouth, and only respond to me.
Never an original thought, being a neanderthal must run in the family.
I’m not afraid of your Mushroom Cloud, or that Right Hand.
I’m not afraid of your two mask flunkies.
I’m not afraid of you, or Lex.
Let me guess, I’ll go ahead and say it before you Xander.
I should be!
But what’s the fucking point? Being afraid?
I could sit here, and worry about what you may, or may not do to me.
Or I could focus on one thing...
One simple fact.
You didn’t beat me. How many times did you swing and I didn’t fall? How many times did you knock me down, for me to get back up.
You had no rules, you had every chance, and you couldn’t beat me.
Now this is a by the book match. You don’t get your weapons, you don’t get your chained wrapped fist.
I’ll take the words out of your mouth for you again Xander.
You don’t need them?
You’re a weapon alone right? Fuck you. You’re just a man. A piss poor excuse for a human being. Always looking for the father’s approval, always wanting to be a good husband, while still trying to be a vicious competitor.
I’m sorry to disappoint you Jennifer, you’ll be sleeping next to just another man, not a champion.
You see Xander, I went into our last fight afraid, knowing what you could do to me, what you would do to me. The anger, the hatred, all the bullshit with Zelda. I knew what you wanted. You wanted to hurt me, to end me, to break me.
I’m unbreakable. I AM the World Heavyweight Champion.
So sit back Xander, study your tapes, rewind my little speech over and over in your head. Go ahead and give me your best Ace impression and counter every little word I’ve said. I’ve given you enough material. Go for it. Be the man we all expect you to be, just a piss poor copy of Gib.
You wanted to burn me into ashes, and show me what rock bottom is, you wanted me to rise for a namesake.
Here I am, unbroken. The IWF World Heavyweight Champion.
I am Xavier Cross.
You wanted to burn me into ashes, and show me what rock bottom is, you wanted me to rise for a namesake.
Here I am, unbroken. The IWF World Heavyweight Champion.
I am Xavier Cross.
Well howdy there pardner.