Loveletting (Wraith and Dean)

[Dean Harper]

The connection between the Blake and Docherty bloodlines had become a pinnacle to professional wrestling. Angel Blake, having shaped his own legacy with his own blood, and the blood of those that stood against him, had indeed created a legacy that would preserve beyond his own time. A legacy that would continue with Dean Harper, and with Hayleigh… It seemed fate that he would fall for someone of equal stature in Tara Docherty; a woman who, like Angel, shaped her own legacy and preserved it with her own bloodline… the likes of Chris, better known to the industry as “Doc”; the likes of Jennie, and then finally in the next generation with Sabin, and then the merging of the bloodlines with Edward, and with Lilith, when the time comes. Even in the forging of their legacies, blood is what brought them together.

The Blake-Docherty Estate.

Damien sits in front of the television, watching the screen intently…meanwhile, Eddie sits on a gaming chair in front of the television, with a Series X controller locked in his hands while playing the STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor game, keeping himself and Damien occupied. Nearby, Dean Harper sits and watches Eddie. Dean fumbles with a mug momentarily, taking his attention from the screen to watch the liquid sway back and forth, until the familiar voice of Sabin disturbs the otherwise silence.

“Brother…” Sabin says with his voice in almost a whisper. As if he did not want neither Eddie nor Damien to hear their conversation, as he shoots a glance over at the screen before turning his attention back to Dean and sits across from him. “I’m surprised to see you still visiting.”

“Damien wanted to see Eddie.” Dean said carefully. “Just because of things that are happening at work currently doesn’t mean I’m cutting ties entirely. Figured as long as I didn’t give into some old habits no one would mind.”

“Like kidnapping?”

“I was mostly thinking throwing you through a window but sure, kidnapping was my option two.” Dean cracked a smile.

“Does-”

“Tara know I’m here? Yes. Does Dad? …Who knows?” Dean looked back at the boys as Damien clapped at Eddie killing some kind of giant dinosaur looking monster.

“You don’t have to do this. We’re family. We shouldn’t be fighting.”

“And being family means that I should put aside my ambitions to keep the crown on Daddy’s head forever? Fuck that.” Dean looked back at Sabin, “Listen, you’re my brother and I love you but I don’t bend the knee like that anymore.”

“JC is just using you! He doesn’t give a shit about you. Not like we do.”

Dean learned back in his chair, looking inside his mug, “I get that. I get it. I mean without family who the fuck are we? There was a time I would do anything for a family, I mean the first time I ever let the monster out was for ‘Family’. Not enough for Her. Always more. Always ways to be more loyal. Always Us versus Them. I ate, drank and drowned in that shit, little brother. And no offense? But you don’t have Her smile.”

“...I’m not Rowan. I’m not trying to control you. I’m worried about you. And…this.”

“I’m not burning any bridges. It’s just business.”

“It doesn’t feel like business.”

“The first couple years of my career I was a fluke. Before people knew who my father was. This isn’t about you, or Dad or JC.” Dean sighed, finishing his drink. “We should head back. Warren’s making dinner.”

“Talk to me.” Sabin stood in between Dean and Damien.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just his little brother wanting to force the conversation. But there was something in the eyes… something that made the dark part of Dean wants to reconsider the truce he promised Tara for her home. A monster that reflected his own? No. No, it was in his head. Sabin was not threatening anything.

“This is about me. About my career. About what I have a claim to. I am not where I am today because of who my father ended up being. I ended up where I am because I went further than anyone else was willing to go and I had no problem leaving the broken and the damned in my wake. I wanted to face Dad at the main event of the biggest show of the year. I wanted the tag team belts again. I wanted the world title. I get you did too. I’d say I’m sorry but we both know I wouldn’t mean it. I’m seeing this through to the end.” Dean touched Sabin’s shoulder with his fist. “Even if that means I have to bloody your pretty little face to do it.”