Post by Dean Harper on Aug 24, 2018 12:50:53 GMT
A stuffed bunny in the ambulance on the dashboard. He didn’t have to wonder who had left it. He was pretty certain he knew. He wondered if he should be expecting packages from Cross and Verona as well. It was certainly meant to put him on notice. He had considered tossing it on the ground. The garbage. The side of the highway. Maybe strap it to the front of the ambulance.
He sat in the driver’s seat, idling while waiting for Brooklyn staring at the rabbit.
“Brave little fucker, aren’t you?” Dean pulled his phone out keeping eye contact with the rabbit.
The phone rang twice, “H…Hello?”
“Penny!” Dean put on his best tone to sound so much like who he used to be. “Don’t know if you remember me, Dean?”
“Dean! hi, ohmigawd! Scared me with that unknown number.” He could hear the sound of the smile in her voice. “Didn’t you just have a match Dean-o?”
“Was just thinking of you. How is the family?”
“You know that bum of my ex-husband finally started paying child support? Almost a week after our last talk…” There was a loud laugh. “Wonder how that happened, huh?”
“Funny that.” Dean picked up the rabbit toy.
“Uh-huh.” He could hear her chewing her gum. “Whose address do you need, Dean-o?”
“You wound me. Can’t a guy just call an old co-worker?” Dean asked hoping to sound innocent.
“I saw what Frank’s face looked like. Buy me a nice coffee and we’ll call it even. Whose?”
“Redcap. He’s got to have something you can give me, right?”
“Don’t ask the easy questions do ya? Let me look into it. I’ll get back to ya.”
“You’re the best, Penny.”
“You know it.”
Dean tucked the phone back in his pocket as he looked down at the toy. “I used to want something like this when I was a kid.”
Toys were for a Good boy who didn’t consort with demons, Dean. Leviathan replied in his head.
“…I think I’ll keep it anyway.” Dean looked it over, any markings of who made it or where it had come from. “It’s kind of cute.”
Least it’s some kind of gentlemanly attention. What’s it been? The night before we killed Michael’s vessel? This dry spell is boring me.
“Don’t start,” Dean said quietly.
“Dean, we ready to go yet?” Brooklyn asked jumping into the passenger door.
Dean tucked the rabbit next to his door. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
The camera comes on to Dean sitting on a bench outside an abandoned movie theater with the poster for Legacy 2018 behind him and a large popcorn bucket in his lap.
“And here we are.”
Dean throws a piece of popcorn in the air and catches it in his mouth.
“Legacy. The first Pay Per view I was ever on. This time last year I was at the bottom, barely qualified for the Heir to the Throne. Fought my way all the way to second place to Ryan fucking Shane. Where is he now? Oh right, fucked off when he couldn’t rip the belt from AJ’s tight grip.”
Dean laughs.
“And do I get to defend my hard-won belt at Legacy? No. No, I have a tag match. I assume management is saving my first defense for whoever wins this year’s Heir. We have Redcap, Cross, and Verona. That should be fun to watch unfold.”
Dean leans forward.
“We also have Warren fighting Trent Helms going through some troll related identity crisis. I don’t know what point this is meant to serve. It’s only been a few days and the joke is as old. I’m sure he’ll come up with some new way to whine to get attention soon enough. Warren should be able to crush his throat under his boot without much effort.”
Dean rolls his eyes.
“Then we have Maxine going after Hope. Taking back the Open Weight belt that is so rightfully hers. Brooklyn defending against the little cupcake. I have no doubt Brooklyn will break her without much effort. We also get to have Jayson fight three other men for his chance to get his hands on God one more time.”
Dean smirks at the camera.
“And the best part of this entire show that even if I’m not defending my belt I get to be in a tag match with Caleb. He is my brother. I would trust him with my life and we get to go on a hunt together once more. This time against what is left of the Age of Gods. We beat them last time when they had Jayson and Spike to help. I doubt facing God and his new sidekick will be any different.”
Can we kidnap someone? Maybe grab a thrall. Get some of the edge off? Maybe throw Warren against the wall and just fuck him until you both feel better?
“I’m giving him time. Space. Being a respectful boyfriend.” Dean replied walking up the stairs.
Fine. What do you want to do since we’re not sleeping again tonight?
“I could call Dev…”
Right. Call your personal moral compass. Ask how retirement is. Ask why he doesn’t return your texts. Sound just a little more like a desperate ex.
Dean stopped on the stairs. “Shut up.”
Bet Max would be down to fuck your angst out. Come on. You’ve put yourself in the sex penalty box over nothing.
“And I’m giving her space to decide too.” Dean finished going up the stairs. The lights barely worked up here so no one ever spent much time here. He knew where to go. Counted the steps in his head until he came to the seventh door.
He didn’t turn the light on but walked into the room. Fifteen steps to the object. He set the bunny on top of it next to a picture of his mother. A monument to things he wasn’t sure what to do with.
The piano was both the altar and the centerpiece of his complicated feelings. It had been his mother’s but he’d taken a liking to it young. The way he did with things that made his grandmother upset. He traced a finger over the wood, old, battered, likely out of tune but there was something comforting about having it shoved away in the compound. He could move it to the side project house. But that would imply it mattered. That he wanted it out of Her reach. No this was fine. It was fine here. Close at hand when he couldn’t sleep. When he body was too full of energy.
He’d been going to it more and more lately. It didn’t mean anything. Just an urge. It had sat unused for almost a year. A year since he had finished his Becoming. A year of work to make Her happy.
He moved the covering and sat on the bench, the light still wasn’t on but a few touches on the keys informed him where he was, pressing down, the melody followed fairly simple. He’d played the song enough when he was younger his fingers practically fell into place without even missing a beat. A little slow, a little out of tune but good enough.
You know… I’ve figured something out.
“And what’s that?" Dean asked out loud in the empty room.
Cooking, baking, piano. All those lovely little skills you’re good at? What they all have in common. Want to hear it?
“Do tell.”
They are all about following instructions, aren’t they? Like a dog, always following instructions. Sit. Beg. Roll over. Good boy.
Dean ignored the demon’s comment, moving through the strokes, the music growing.
Not that you are that good at it, are you? No, always disappointing those who you so urgently want approval from. She had to break you into nothing before you were even useful to her.
Dean could feel the bruises on his back at the words but kept his fingers going over the keys.
At some point, you are going to have to give up on this little thing that makes you long for their love and approval. If you just moved past this one little flaw we could do so much more. We don’t need anyone’s approval. We’ve never needed it. We could be much better if you weren’t begging for it like a child. Do you know where we would be if you listened to me more?
“Bleeding on the floor while Abaddon rips you out of me more than likely.”
There was silence from the demon as Dean moved into the second movement. He was able to just enjoy the feeling of not really thinking.
So you are just going to keep doing what she says until the world turns to ash, huh?
“It’s not my will to question.”
And all it took was letting her torture you whenever she gets antsy about your loyalty.
Dean moved his fingers over the keys, something peaceful in the dark by just allowing himself to barely exist. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been at the leys when the door opened letting in a stream of light. Dean didn’t stop playing but he glanced over.
“Dean, it’s three AM.” Max stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. “I thought you were going to bed hours ago.”
“I did.” Dean shrugged.
He felt Max sat next to him on the bench. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“What’s there to say?” Dean asked.
“She took you to the dark room again.” Max leaned her head on his shoulder and he forced himself not to flinch at the fresh pain.
“…How’d you figure that out?” Dean looked over at her.
“I pay attention. What happened?” Max asked.
“…It’s complicated.”
“Tell me.”
“Oh you know, the usual. I worried because I didn’t feel as guilty as I should have. I worried that with one small selfish act I had destroyed our family. That Warren was going to leave with Jayson. That Caleb was going to pack his shit and exit. That Brooklyn was going to withdraw. That you were going to walk. That I had crossed a line that there was no coming back from.” Dean played a few keys. "Could have been doubt, I guess. I'm better now."
“You thought I’d leave you?”
“Something, something, childhood trauma and abandonment issues.” Dean smiled.
Max kissed the side of his throat. “You are worthy of love, Dean.”
“Debatable,” Dean smirked. “When you’re not fed love on a silver spoon you learn to lick it off knives after all.”
“Tease.”
“I live to please.”
"You're going to be careful out there, right? Against God?"
"I'm always careful."
"I mean it."
"Yes. Cross my heart."
“That Bunny… it’s new?”
“Yeah.”
“Flirting with someone new again?” Max traced a finger down his spine. “You should at least make them buy you dinner before letting them give you presents.”
“You make me sound easy.”
“So how long have you been good at the piano?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m good. Passable.” Dean laughed. “Good enough for Wednesday services anyways.”
“Wednesday service?” Max repeated with a laugh.
“I used to be a good little church boy, remember?”
Max bit his ear. “I don’t think you were ever good.”
“Keep that up and we’re going to break something.” Dean closed his eyes, stopping his fingers on the keys.
“Then come to bed.” Max got up from the bench, motioning him to follow.
“Tease.” Dean got up from the bench and following her out.
“So we face The Oracle and God.”
Dean sets the popcorn aside.
“I can assume the reason management booked this match. The same reason they booked Caleb against Oracle last week. Keep the apocalypse contained as much as possible. Warren is wasting time with Trent so might as well have Caleb release some aggression. It makes sense. Caleb has a lot of aggression to release.”
Dean leans back.
“I’ll admit I don’t know much about you, Oracle. Caleb called you Metatron last week.”
Dean shakes his head.
“No, Honey, I think that’s too high a title for you. But let’s assume Oracle has something to do with what you mean to God, hm?”
Dean crosses his legs.
“From what I recall of the text that implies you are shown visions, right? Prophet or something like that, right? Kinky.”
Dean smirks.
“You foresee what God asks of you right? You see how this whole war ends? Do we really have free will or are we all tied down to the path fate has passed to us. I’ve always wondered. Am I an irredeemable piece of shit because I was always meant to be or is it because I didn’t get any affection as a child? Is this too pop culture psych 101?”
Dean taps his chin.
“Honey, let’s assume that you only see the most likely path. That things you see are what is most likely. Enough different universe versions of me decided to go out for ice cream at 3am so that’s clearly what I’m doing right? Even if this version of me sits at home and binges bad movies? Is that how it works?”
Dean leaned forward.
“So you saw what was going to happen to Pet, right?”
Dean blinks and his eyes glow.
“Did you like it? Did you like the idea of not having to compete for God’s attention anymore? Or did you choose to do nothing?”
Dean tilts his head.
“Or are your visions too hard to understand? All ‘results cloudy ask again later’ maybe? Or are you just too stupid to know what they are? ‘There’s blood in the field Hazel. Terrible blood all around us’ as if that is useful at all.”
Dean blinks back the shine.
“I mean there are a few things about you I can like. Aesthetically, honey. Pet was God’ big bad enforcer. You’re spreading his good word, right? Like I was in the beginning to My Lady. Is Bob your Becoming, honey? As first times go I’m sure he’ll be gentle with you. Can’t say I disapprove of the target. I almost applaud it.”
Dean traces a finger on his chin.
“Which begs the question. If you have your eyes set on Pooler why you were dragged here. I assume because of what happened to Pet. I assume like me you also follow orders well. I also assume if I’m in the ring God is going to want to handle me personally. Maybe I’m wrong on that last fact. But I get the feeling if we dance in the ring it’s just until god can come in and finish what everyone keeps threatening to do to me. Since the day I entered the ring someone has threatened to end me. I don’t think he’s going to give you that pleasure of being the one to do it despite how much you want him to let you.”
Dean picked a piece of popcorn and put it in his mouth slowly.
“So even if you and I don’t get to play straight out. I’ll enjoy watching you go down. I’ll enjoy watching Caleb putting you down. Maybe later if you’re given permission we can actually play nice and free from the leash, hm?”
Dean winks.
“God, sugar, it’s been a while hasn’t it?”
Dean licks his teeth.
“Missed me? I bet you have. I bet some part of you arches to get your hands around me again. I bet some part will not be satisfied unless it’s you. Has to be you right? Someone else getting that victory wouldn’t sit right, would it?”
Dean uncrosses his legs.
“Sugar, I am not hard to find. You know how to find me if you really wanted to. I’ve been to your house. In your hallowed halls. Eat at your table. Drank your wine. Does some part of you regret it? I was right there. Close enough to strangle before any of my sins went beyond your expectations. You had the option right then. I was a useful tool to getting at AJ and Pooler then but if you’d just drugged the wine, just reached your hand a little lower and took the fight out of me when My Lady was back in her prison. How easy that could have been for you.”
Dean traced a finger down his throat.
“I have become the embodiment of your pain recently, haven’t I? I took Jayson from you. My Lady told him the truth. We gave him a home. I took Pet from you. I took the belt from your group. I did that. Little old me.”
Dean smiles widely.
“You blame me for everything. I have finally become the unlovable, unforgiveable monster that is no longer worthy of your holiness, right?”
Dean grinned.
“But let’s address something. Clear the air between us before you come for me. Pet died in the ring with me. I’ll never deny that happened. I pushed him through everything I could. I hit him with a briefcase. I cashed in and made him fight me again. But he got in the ring with me. He had to know what I would do to him. You had to know what I would do to him. His ego put him in my path, not me. He put himself on my radar by being involved in ripping My Lady out of her host.”
Dean shrugs.
“I may have been the tool he used to kill himself but everything that led to his death was in his own hands.”
Dean’s eyes glow again.
“Way people talk, he was dead already. So you should be thanking us.”
Dean twitches slightly, eyes going back to normal.
“Point…being, I can be the monster you want me to be. You can’t lay a finger on My Lady. This war was always going to be fought between you and me. I told you I was going to break you physically or emotionally. Why not both?”
Dean stands up.
“Come this Sunday at Legacy we will be The Pack against The Age of Gods. Fuck me up. Give me everything you have. But I’ll get back up. She has plans for you both. Caleb and I will ensure things end with you on the mat. Her will is absolute.”
He sat in the driver’s seat, idling while waiting for Brooklyn staring at the rabbit.
“Brave little fucker, aren’t you?” Dean pulled his phone out keeping eye contact with the rabbit.
The phone rang twice, “H…Hello?”
“Penny!” Dean put on his best tone to sound so much like who he used to be. “Don’t know if you remember me, Dean?”
“Dean! hi, ohmigawd! Scared me with that unknown number.” He could hear the sound of the smile in her voice. “Didn’t you just have a match Dean-o?”
“Was just thinking of you. How is the family?”
“You know that bum of my ex-husband finally started paying child support? Almost a week after our last talk…” There was a loud laugh. “Wonder how that happened, huh?”
“Funny that.” Dean picked up the rabbit toy.
“Uh-huh.” He could hear her chewing her gum. “Whose address do you need, Dean-o?”
“You wound me. Can’t a guy just call an old co-worker?” Dean asked hoping to sound innocent.
“I saw what Frank’s face looked like. Buy me a nice coffee and we’ll call it even. Whose?”
“Redcap. He’s got to have something you can give me, right?”
“Don’t ask the easy questions do ya? Let me look into it. I’ll get back to ya.”
“You’re the best, Penny.”
“You know it.”
Dean tucked the phone back in his pocket as he looked down at the toy. “I used to want something like this when I was a kid.”
Toys were for a Good boy who didn’t consort with demons, Dean. Leviathan replied in his head.
“…I think I’ll keep it anyway.” Dean looked it over, any markings of who made it or where it had come from. “It’s kind of cute.”
Least it’s some kind of gentlemanly attention. What’s it been? The night before we killed Michael’s vessel? This dry spell is boring me.
“Don’t start,” Dean said quietly.
“Dean, we ready to go yet?” Brooklyn asked jumping into the passenger door.
Dean tucked the rabbit next to his door. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
The camera comes on to Dean sitting on a bench outside an abandoned movie theater with the poster for Legacy 2018 behind him and a large popcorn bucket in his lap.
“And here we are.”
Dean throws a piece of popcorn in the air and catches it in his mouth.
“Legacy. The first Pay Per view I was ever on. This time last year I was at the bottom, barely qualified for the Heir to the Throne. Fought my way all the way to second place to Ryan fucking Shane. Where is he now? Oh right, fucked off when he couldn’t rip the belt from AJ’s tight grip.”
Dean laughs.
“And do I get to defend my hard-won belt at Legacy? No. No, I have a tag match. I assume management is saving my first defense for whoever wins this year’s Heir. We have Redcap, Cross, and Verona. That should be fun to watch unfold.”
Dean leans forward.
“We also have Warren fighting Trent Helms going through some troll related identity crisis. I don’t know what point this is meant to serve. It’s only been a few days and the joke is as old. I’m sure he’ll come up with some new way to whine to get attention soon enough. Warren should be able to crush his throat under his boot without much effort.”
Dean rolls his eyes.
“Then we have Maxine going after Hope. Taking back the Open Weight belt that is so rightfully hers. Brooklyn defending against the little cupcake. I have no doubt Brooklyn will break her without much effort. We also get to have Jayson fight three other men for his chance to get his hands on God one more time.”
Dean smirks at the camera.
“And the best part of this entire show that even if I’m not defending my belt I get to be in a tag match with Caleb. He is my brother. I would trust him with my life and we get to go on a hunt together once more. This time against what is left of the Age of Gods. We beat them last time when they had Jayson and Spike to help. I doubt facing God and his new sidekick will be any different.”
Can we kidnap someone? Maybe grab a thrall. Get some of the edge off? Maybe throw Warren against the wall and just fuck him until you both feel better?
“I’m giving him time. Space. Being a respectful boyfriend.” Dean replied walking up the stairs.
Fine. What do you want to do since we’re not sleeping again tonight?
“I could call Dev…”
Right. Call your personal moral compass. Ask how retirement is. Ask why he doesn’t return your texts. Sound just a little more like a desperate ex.
Dean stopped on the stairs. “Shut up.”
Bet Max would be down to fuck your angst out. Come on. You’ve put yourself in the sex penalty box over nothing.
“And I’m giving her space to decide too.” Dean finished going up the stairs. The lights barely worked up here so no one ever spent much time here. He knew where to go. Counted the steps in his head until he came to the seventh door.
He didn’t turn the light on but walked into the room. Fifteen steps to the object. He set the bunny on top of it next to a picture of his mother. A monument to things he wasn’t sure what to do with.
The piano was both the altar and the centerpiece of his complicated feelings. It had been his mother’s but he’d taken a liking to it young. The way he did with things that made his grandmother upset. He traced a finger over the wood, old, battered, likely out of tune but there was something comforting about having it shoved away in the compound. He could move it to the side project house. But that would imply it mattered. That he wanted it out of Her reach. No this was fine. It was fine here. Close at hand when he couldn’t sleep. When he body was too full of energy.
He’d been going to it more and more lately. It didn’t mean anything. Just an urge. It had sat unused for almost a year. A year since he had finished his Becoming. A year of work to make Her happy.
He moved the covering and sat on the bench, the light still wasn’t on but a few touches on the keys informed him where he was, pressing down, the melody followed fairly simple. He’d played the song enough when he was younger his fingers practically fell into place without even missing a beat. A little slow, a little out of tune but good enough.
You know… I’ve figured something out.
“And what’s that?" Dean asked out loud in the empty room.
Cooking, baking, piano. All those lovely little skills you’re good at? What they all have in common. Want to hear it?
“Do tell.”
They are all about following instructions, aren’t they? Like a dog, always following instructions. Sit. Beg. Roll over. Good boy.
Dean ignored the demon’s comment, moving through the strokes, the music growing.
Not that you are that good at it, are you? No, always disappointing those who you so urgently want approval from. She had to break you into nothing before you were even useful to her.
Dean could feel the bruises on his back at the words but kept his fingers going over the keys.
At some point, you are going to have to give up on this little thing that makes you long for their love and approval. If you just moved past this one little flaw we could do so much more. We don’t need anyone’s approval. We’ve never needed it. We could be much better if you weren’t begging for it like a child. Do you know where we would be if you listened to me more?
“Bleeding on the floor while Abaddon rips you out of me more than likely.”
There was silence from the demon as Dean moved into the second movement. He was able to just enjoy the feeling of not really thinking.
So you are just going to keep doing what she says until the world turns to ash, huh?
“It’s not my will to question.”
And all it took was letting her torture you whenever she gets antsy about your loyalty.
Dean moved his fingers over the keys, something peaceful in the dark by just allowing himself to barely exist. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been at the leys when the door opened letting in a stream of light. Dean didn’t stop playing but he glanced over.
“Dean, it’s three AM.” Max stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. “I thought you were going to bed hours ago.”
“I did.” Dean shrugged.
He felt Max sat next to him on the bench. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“What’s there to say?” Dean asked.
“She took you to the dark room again.” Max leaned her head on his shoulder and he forced himself not to flinch at the fresh pain.
“…How’d you figure that out?” Dean looked over at her.
“I pay attention. What happened?” Max asked.
“…It’s complicated.”
“Tell me.”
“Oh you know, the usual. I worried because I didn’t feel as guilty as I should have. I worried that with one small selfish act I had destroyed our family. That Warren was going to leave with Jayson. That Caleb was going to pack his shit and exit. That Brooklyn was going to withdraw. That you were going to walk. That I had crossed a line that there was no coming back from.” Dean played a few keys. "Could have been doubt, I guess. I'm better now."
“You thought I’d leave you?”
“Something, something, childhood trauma and abandonment issues.” Dean smiled.
Max kissed the side of his throat. “You are worthy of love, Dean.”
“Debatable,” Dean smirked. “When you’re not fed love on a silver spoon you learn to lick it off knives after all.”
“Tease.”
“I live to please.”
"You're going to be careful out there, right? Against God?"
"I'm always careful."
"I mean it."
"Yes. Cross my heart."
“That Bunny… it’s new?”
“Yeah.”
“Flirting with someone new again?” Max traced a finger down his spine. “You should at least make them buy you dinner before letting them give you presents.”
“You make me sound easy.”
“So how long have you been good at the piano?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m good. Passable.” Dean laughed. “Good enough for Wednesday services anyways.”
“Wednesday service?” Max repeated with a laugh.
“I used to be a good little church boy, remember?”
Max bit his ear. “I don’t think you were ever good.”
“Keep that up and we’re going to break something.” Dean closed his eyes, stopping his fingers on the keys.
“Then come to bed.” Max got up from the bench, motioning him to follow.
“Tease.” Dean got up from the bench and following her out.
“So we face The Oracle and God.”
Dean sets the popcorn aside.
“I can assume the reason management booked this match. The same reason they booked Caleb against Oracle last week. Keep the apocalypse contained as much as possible. Warren is wasting time with Trent so might as well have Caleb release some aggression. It makes sense. Caleb has a lot of aggression to release.”
Dean leans back.
“I’ll admit I don’t know much about you, Oracle. Caleb called you Metatron last week.”
Dean shakes his head.
“No, Honey, I think that’s too high a title for you. But let’s assume Oracle has something to do with what you mean to God, hm?”
Dean crosses his legs.
“From what I recall of the text that implies you are shown visions, right? Prophet or something like that, right? Kinky.”
Dean smirks.
“You foresee what God asks of you right? You see how this whole war ends? Do we really have free will or are we all tied down to the path fate has passed to us. I’ve always wondered. Am I an irredeemable piece of shit because I was always meant to be or is it because I didn’t get any affection as a child? Is this too pop culture psych 101?”
Dean taps his chin.
“Honey, let’s assume that you only see the most likely path. That things you see are what is most likely. Enough different universe versions of me decided to go out for ice cream at 3am so that’s clearly what I’m doing right? Even if this version of me sits at home and binges bad movies? Is that how it works?”
Dean leaned forward.
“So you saw what was going to happen to Pet, right?”
Dean blinks and his eyes glow.
“Did you like it? Did you like the idea of not having to compete for God’s attention anymore? Or did you choose to do nothing?”
Dean tilts his head.
“Or are your visions too hard to understand? All ‘results cloudy ask again later’ maybe? Or are you just too stupid to know what they are? ‘There’s blood in the field Hazel. Terrible blood all around us’ as if that is useful at all.”
Dean blinks back the shine.
“I mean there are a few things about you I can like. Aesthetically, honey. Pet was God’ big bad enforcer. You’re spreading his good word, right? Like I was in the beginning to My Lady. Is Bob your Becoming, honey? As first times go I’m sure he’ll be gentle with you. Can’t say I disapprove of the target. I almost applaud it.”
Dean traces a finger on his chin.
“Which begs the question. If you have your eyes set on Pooler why you were dragged here. I assume because of what happened to Pet. I assume like me you also follow orders well. I also assume if I’m in the ring God is going to want to handle me personally. Maybe I’m wrong on that last fact. But I get the feeling if we dance in the ring it’s just until god can come in and finish what everyone keeps threatening to do to me. Since the day I entered the ring someone has threatened to end me. I don’t think he’s going to give you that pleasure of being the one to do it despite how much you want him to let you.”
Dean picked a piece of popcorn and put it in his mouth slowly.
“So even if you and I don’t get to play straight out. I’ll enjoy watching you go down. I’ll enjoy watching Caleb putting you down. Maybe later if you’re given permission we can actually play nice and free from the leash, hm?”
Dean winks.
“God, sugar, it’s been a while hasn’t it?”
Dean licks his teeth.
“Missed me? I bet you have. I bet some part of you arches to get your hands around me again. I bet some part will not be satisfied unless it’s you. Has to be you right? Someone else getting that victory wouldn’t sit right, would it?”
Dean uncrosses his legs.
“Sugar, I am not hard to find. You know how to find me if you really wanted to. I’ve been to your house. In your hallowed halls. Eat at your table. Drank your wine. Does some part of you regret it? I was right there. Close enough to strangle before any of my sins went beyond your expectations. You had the option right then. I was a useful tool to getting at AJ and Pooler then but if you’d just drugged the wine, just reached your hand a little lower and took the fight out of me when My Lady was back in her prison. How easy that could have been for you.”
Dean traced a finger down his throat.
“I have become the embodiment of your pain recently, haven’t I? I took Jayson from you. My Lady told him the truth. We gave him a home. I took Pet from you. I took the belt from your group. I did that. Little old me.”
Dean smiles widely.
“You blame me for everything. I have finally become the unlovable, unforgiveable monster that is no longer worthy of your holiness, right?”
Dean grinned.
“But let’s address something. Clear the air between us before you come for me. Pet died in the ring with me. I’ll never deny that happened. I pushed him through everything I could. I hit him with a briefcase. I cashed in and made him fight me again. But he got in the ring with me. He had to know what I would do to him. You had to know what I would do to him. His ego put him in my path, not me. He put himself on my radar by being involved in ripping My Lady out of her host.”
Dean shrugs.
“I may have been the tool he used to kill himself but everything that led to his death was in his own hands.”
Dean’s eyes glow again.
“Way people talk, he was dead already. So you should be thanking us.”
Dean twitches slightly, eyes going back to normal.
“Point…being, I can be the monster you want me to be. You can’t lay a finger on My Lady. This war was always going to be fought between you and me. I told you I was going to break you physically or emotionally. Why not both?”
Dean stands up.
“Come this Sunday at Legacy we will be The Pack against The Age of Gods. Fuck me up. Give me everything you have. But I’ll get back up. She has plans for you both. Caleb and I will ensure things end with you on the mat. Her will is absolute.”
Well howdy there pardner.