Post by Dean Harper on Sept 21, 2021 18:49:20 GMT
The camera comes on to Dean sitting on the trunk of a rusted-out sports car clearly left to rot.
“Second week in a row I get to be in a tag team match. Haven’t had this in a while. I’ll admit I prefer to be teamed with my father, but I can make this work. I love watching Warren work anyways. So it’s a nice side benefit.”
Dean licks his lips.
“So if I am taking the current booking as Warren and I being a team, I welcome that. You want to know what it makes me think of? The sacking of Troy. Achilles wished all Greeks would die, so that he and Patroclus could conquer Troy alone. It took divine intervention to bring them down. I doubt anyone on the other side of the ring could conjure that up.”
Dean leans back.
“Warren is a blessing. He is one of the few in this company who I know can carry his weight week to week. He’s driven like no one else. His little road to redemption keeps him pushing past a point other man might let up. All his issues work well with mine.”
Dean closes his eyes.
“I’ve never known myself as well as I know myself when I’m with him.”
Dean tried to enter the house quietly, silently. It wasn’t like he had a reason to sneak in and out of his father’s house. Warren was allowed through the front door now. He wasn’t ashamed he’d snuck out to watch a show, even if it was a show his ‘little brother’ had taunted him to see. Most of the lights were off still, but he knew the path in the dark. He felt confident he could get into bed before anyone really focused on the fact he’d been gone most of the evening.
He barely had a moment to register the sound before he was pounced on and pinned to the floor by the darkness. He let out a small grunt as he felt the massive paws holding him down on the floor.
“Easy, girl. It’s just me.” Dean offered softly.
A light turned on in the Livingroom and Dean could see the panther standing above him, she nuzzled his face but Dean was focused on his father, waiting.
“Hey dad. You’re up late.”
“How was the fight?” Angel’s voice was casual, the panther got off of Dean after licking his face and jumping back next to Angel and slaying her head on his lap.
“It was fun.” Dean sat up. “He’s better than he used to be. Clearly given into his rage more. So you know, more fun than last time.”
“Are you being careful?” Angel asked.
“I am constantly keeping the end goal in mind.” Dean got to his feet and moved closer to Angel.
“Does Warren?”
“He’s training with her and likes to play the peacekeeper. But it’s not an issue. Promise. I got this well in hand.” Dean smiled. “Were the boys good?”
“We read a bedtime story.” Angel reached out and touched Dean’s face. “I do not want you to be harmed. Your heart is the easy target.”
“I know Dad. I’m being careful.”
Angel smiled sadly, “You view time as before Him and After Him. I worry he does not share your motivation.”
Dean leaned forward, kissing Angel’s forehead. “I appreciate that. But we’re fine. Promise.”
“You want to know what I love? I love when they put the two current champions together. It’s honestly such a power move. On one side you have some pretty good talent and on the other the current world champions.”
Dean opens his eyes.
“It’s such an honest flex. You can’t help but admire the booking. If we beat you then clearly there is blood in the water and anyone can come and try to take it. If we can’t beat you then, well that shows how strong you are. Love to see it.”
Dean smirks.
“So we have Pax Stormcrow. Returned without wasting time pretending. Just being himself. Isn’t that nice? You went and beat JC Keeton for the TV title. Looks nice on you. It’s a pretty nice title. How long do you think you can handle the pressure of carrying it this time? It’s not like you’re going to choke and need to step away again, right?”
Dean shrugs.
“I know, I know. It was because your mom was dying or died. I get that’s a thing. I mean… Never knew my mom. But as has been pointed out, I have somewhat of a wrapped perspective on parental issues. So losing a parent the classic way? Sucks. But you came back, joined up with your boys and stopped pretending you were just the brown Andrew Jacobsen. Good.”
Dean leans forward.
“Because as much shit as I do talk. And I talk a lot of shit. I always appreciate when someone stops pretending to be someone they aren’t live your life or your truth or whatever. Because you fight so much better when you stop holding back. When you let the rage burn. When you stop pretending that their morals apply to you.”
Dean winked.
“You want to keep that belt, Pax? You’re going to have to stop carrying other people’s bags and get blood thirsty. Only way to be remembered is to carve your goddamned name in the ring with blood. You’d learn from that. But you got the noble stereotype you must carry. Fuck all that. Let it go. Let lose. Be free.”
Dean puts his hands behind his back.
“Not that it will help. You’ll always hold yourself back. Because you are afraid of being one of the bad ones. I stopped caring and look at everything I’ve been able to do. White devil and all. But it’s fine. You hold on to that chain of respectability. Work twice as hard and get half as much. Hell, you’ve been doing the work harder than the Puppy you’re teamed with. But it’s his name they chant, isn’t it? Imagine what you could do if you just let go and let the blood run cold for once.”
Dean crosses his legs.
“Then we have Puppy. Having fun? Working everywhere you can? How is that going? Do you even get time to see your kid or is it just work - work - work all the time? I’m sure she’ll grow up fine without any of the daddy issues. I mean she’s been kidnapped once already. Hear if she gets a second one down, she gets a free ice cream.”
Dean laughs.
“You really do buy into your own hype so much. Biggest maddest wolf in the world. No one and nothing can touch you. But I can. I have. And I will again. You can like having that belt for now. It’s a temporary arrangement. You’ll lose it soon enough. While I assume sooner, or later Caleb is going to stop sub tweeting his threats about you but honestly I want to get another shot. We’ve exchanged words but one on one. You can’t beat me.”
Dean licks his teeth.
“And with Warren not working to protect you this time? Well, it will be so much easier to put you under foot. Where you belong. Where you have always belonged. A sideshow act with some fun catch phrases and a few good merch ideas. But you’re not as big fish as you think you are.”
Dean puts his hands forward on his knees.
“Enjoy the time you have with it. Enjoy the happy moment with the baby reveal and the party. Enjoy all the accomplishments you have right now. Because it will not last. It never does. And I’ll enjoy watching it happen.”
Dean winks again.
“Because as important or strong or changed as you both think you are. Neither of you are as in tune with your nature as I am. Neither one of you has the practice and method of knowing each other as much as Warren and I do. Come Friday you will be burned to the ground.”
“Second week in a row I get to be in a tag team match. Haven’t had this in a while. I’ll admit I prefer to be teamed with my father, but I can make this work. I love watching Warren work anyways. So it’s a nice side benefit.”
Dean licks his lips.
“So if I am taking the current booking as Warren and I being a team, I welcome that. You want to know what it makes me think of? The sacking of Troy. Achilles wished all Greeks would die, so that he and Patroclus could conquer Troy alone. It took divine intervention to bring them down. I doubt anyone on the other side of the ring could conjure that up.”
Dean leans back.
“Warren is a blessing. He is one of the few in this company who I know can carry his weight week to week. He’s driven like no one else. His little road to redemption keeps him pushing past a point other man might let up. All his issues work well with mine.”
Dean closes his eyes.
“I’ve never known myself as well as I know myself when I’m with him.”
Dean tried to enter the house quietly, silently. It wasn’t like he had a reason to sneak in and out of his father’s house. Warren was allowed through the front door now. He wasn’t ashamed he’d snuck out to watch a show, even if it was a show his ‘little brother’ had taunted him to see. Most of the lights were off still, but he knew the path in the dark. He felt confident he could get into bed before anyone really focused on the fact he’d been gone most of the evening.
He barely had a moment to register the sound before he was pounced on and pinned to the floor by the darkness. He let out a small grunt as he felt the massive paws holding him down on the floor.
“Easy, girl. It’s just me.” Dean offered softly.
A light turned on in the Livingroom and Dean could see the panther standing above him, she nuzzled his face but Dean was focused on his father, waiting.
“Hey dad. You’re up late.”
“How was the fight?” Angel’s voice was casual, the panther got off of Dean after licking his face and jumping back next to Angel and slaying her head on his lap.
“It was fun.” Dean sat up. “He’s better than he used to be. Clearly given into his rage more. So you know, more fun than last time.”
“Are you being careful?” Angel asked.
“I am constantly keeping the end goal in mind.” Dean got to his feet and moved closer to Angel.
“Does Warren?”
“He’s training with her and likes to play the peacekeeper. But it’s not an issue. Promise. I got this well in hand.” Dean smiled. “Were the boys good?”
“We read a bedtime story.” Angel reached out and touched Dean’s face. “I do not want you to be harmed. Your heart is the easy target.”
“I know Dad. I’m being careful.”
Angel smiled sadly, “You view time as before Him and After Him. I worry he does not share your motivation.”
Dean leaned forward, kissing Angel’s forehead. “I appreciate that. But we’re fine. Promise.”
“You want to know what I love? I love when they put the two current champions together. It’s honestly such a power move. On one side you have some pretty good talent and on the other the current world champions.”
Dean opens his eyes.
“It’s such an honest flex. You can’t help but admire the booking. If we beat you then clearly there is blood in the water and anyone can come and try to take it. If we can’t beat you then, well that shows how strong you are. Love to see it.”
Dean smirks.
“So we have Pax Stormcrow. Returned without wasting time pretending. Just being himself. Isn’t that nice? You went and beat JC Keeton for the TV title. Looks nice on you. It’s a pretty nice title. How long do you think you can handle the pressure of carrying it this time? It’s not like you’re going to choke and need to step away again, right?”
Dean shrugs.
“I know, I know. It was because your mom was dying or died. I get that’s a thing. I mean… Never knew my mom. But as has been pointed out, I have somewhat of a wrapped perspective on parental issues. So losing a parent the classic way? Sucks. But you came back, joined up with your boys and stopped pretending you were just the brown Andrew Jacobsen. Good.”
Dean leans forward.
“Because as much shit as I do talk. And I talk a lot of shit. I always appreciate when someone stops pretending to be someone they aren’t live your life or your truth or whatever. Because you fight so much better when you stop holding back. When you let the rage burn. When you stop pretending that their morals apply to you.”
Dean winked.
“You want to keep that belt, Pax? You’re going to have to stop carrying other people’s bags and get blood thirsty. Only way to be remembered is to carve your goddamned name in the ring with blood. You’d learn from that. But you got the noble stereotype you must carry. Fuck all that. Let it go. Let lose. Be free.”
Dean puts his hands behind his back.
“Not that it will help. You’ll always hold yourself back. Because you are afraid of being one of the bad ones. I stopped caring and look at everything I’ve been able to do. White devil and all. But it’s fine. You hold on to that chain of respectability. Work twice as hard and get half as much. Hell, you’ve been doing the work harder than the Puppy you’re teamed with. But it’s his name they chant, isn’t it? Imagine what you could do if you just let go and let the blood run cold for once.”
Dean crosses his legs.
“Then we have Puppy. Having fun? Working everywhere you can? How is that going? Do you even get time to see your kid or is it just work - work - work all the time? I’m sure she’ll grow up fine without any of the daddy issues. I mean she’s been kidnapped once already. Hear if she gets a second one down, she gets a free ice cream.”
Dean laughs.
“You really do buy into your own hype so much. Biggest maddest wolf in the world. No one and nothing can touch you. But I can. I have. And I will again. You can like having that belt for now. It’s a temporary arrangement. You’ll lose it soon enough. While I assume sooner, or later Caleb is going to stop sub tweeting his threats about you but honestly I want to get another shot. We’ve exchanged words but one on one. You can’t beat me.”
Dean licks his teeth.
“And with Warren not working to protect you this time? Well, it will be so much easier to put you under foot. Where you belong. Where you have always belonged. A sideshow act with some fun catch phrases and a few good merch ideas. But you’re not as big fish as you think you are.”
Dean puts his hands forward on his knees.
“Enjoy the time you have with it. Enjoy the happy moment with the baby reveal and the party. Enjoy all the accomplishments you have right now. Because it will not last. It never does. And I’ll enjoy watching it happen.”
Dean winks again.
“Because as important or strong or changed as you both think you are. Neither of you are as in tune with your nature as I am. Neither one of you has the practice and method of knowing each other as much as Warren and I do. Come Friday you will be burned to the ground.”