Post by Dean Harper on Aug 8, 2024 3:00:03 GMT
The camera comes on to Dean sitting on a hotel room bed.
“Yeah, maybe my appearance on the show last week was a little more troll than people expected. But I don’t give a shit. I do what I want because I want to. I’m done trying to win people’s love. I’m done cutting off pieces of myself to make it easier for you to chew. And you don’t like who I am? Then fucking choke on it.” Dean winks, “Simple and easy. I’m done chasing. I’m done fighting for you. Accept me as I am or fuck off.”
“By the way? I filed the paperwork this week. Divorced. Your world champion is single just like he wanted.” Dean did a little Jazz hand gesture.
“And yeah, sure, maybe people wanted me to cry a river or over-explain myself about attacking Vivienne or go over attacking Rowan and her newest cult again. But no. I’ve said what I had to say about that. No one gave a shit when the bitches attacked me. Only when I hit back. Hypocrites the lot of you. It doesn’t deserve any more air time. Mad about it? Step the fuck up.”
“There, was that good? Did I do a good job? I aired my dirty laundry just like everyone wanted. Does it make you feel better? Feel justified? Good.” Dean took a beat, “Then I can actually talk about what I want to talk about now.”
It had been a few days since the papers had been officially filed. It would be leaking to the dirt sheets sooner rather than later. At least it hadn’t come the week of a pay per view, he’d managed to dodge that dramatic irony that had cursed the Kane’s forever. Dean should have told Damien right away.
But Dean wanted to be prepared. Wanted to do it right. So he’d spent the last week spoiling the fuck out of Damien every day. Ghibli Museum, Sanrio, Tokyo Disney again. Anything and everything to make things okay. Today was lowkey, just seeing the dog statue that everyone kept saying was a heartwarming story. Damien just wanted to see the dog. So here they were. Seeing the fucking dog.
Dean missed when Damien's special interest was sharks or his grandfather. But dogs were the flavor and Dean was gonna support the fuck out of it.
“How’s the taiyaki?”
“The fish donut?” Damien clarified.
“Yeah, is it good?” Dean asked as they walked.
“It’s yummy.” Damien smiled.
“Good. Maybe we can grab sushi on the way back to the hotel, would you like that?” Dean asked.
“Mm-hm.” Damien nodded happily.
There was a crowd of tourists all waiting to get photos and take selfies. They had a little time, Dean knew Damien hated random crowds of loud people. “So… want to know why the dog is special?”
“Yeah!” Damien bounced.
“So this dog used to meet his owner every day at the train stop and they would walk home together. One day, the owner didn’t get off the train because he died. But the dog kept coming anyway. And he kept coming every day until he passed away. Because he loved-” Dean swallowed past the sudden break in his voice. “Because he loved his owner very much. So they made a statue of him to honor his dedication.”
“Daddy? Are you okay?”
fuck.
Dean got down on Damien's level, “Listen…there’s…there’s something I have to…shit, okay. It’s going to be hard. We are both going to have big feelings about it. But we got to be brave, okay?”
“...Okay.”
“Warren and I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. What we decided has nothing to do with you or how much we love you-”
“No.” Damien covered his ears.
Dean swallowed, sitting on the ground, likely ruining the jeans he was wearing but fuck it, “Damien…”
Damien shook his head.
“Come on, buddy. Even if I don’t say it, it won't stop it from happening.”
“Why don’t I get a say?!” Damien demanded, stomping his feet.
“...I’m sorry.” Dean offered Damien his hands to hold. Damien stomped his feet a couple more times before reluctantly uncovering his ears and holding Dean’s hands. “There we go. You are being very brave right now Thank you.”
“I don’t like it.” Damien pouted.
“I know. But Warren and I have figured out that we aren't happy together and don't love each other anymore. And that is making everyone very sad. You can still see him as much as you want. He loves you so much, okay? He just won't be your Dad anymore.”
“It’s not fair.” Damien had tears welling up in his eyes.
“I know.” Dean kissed Damien on the forehead.
“Couldn’t you just pretend to love him?”
Dean laughed, picking Damien up in his arms to hug him, “It’s not that easy, buddy.”
“Not even for me?” Damien asked as Dean got back to his feet.
“I love you with my whole heart, Damien. But no, I couldn’t do that.” Dean walked Damien closer to the dog statue.
“Couldn’t he pretend?”
“Listen, I know right now love seems super easy and makes a lot of sense. But love between adults is complicated. Both Warren and I did things that made it hard to love one another anymore. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just the way things are.”
“Will I get another Dad?”
“Maybe I’ll really spoil you and get you seventeen dads.” Dean teased.
“That’s too many Dads!” Damien objected with a laugh.
“Nope, seventeen dads. Just for you.” Dean swung his son around in the air, getting a louder laugh, it was likely not the last time they would go over this, but anything to make it a less less painful was worth it.
“Rob!” Dean’s entire face breaks in a wide smile, “God, have I missed you, snuggle bunny. Seriously. How are things? You look great. Yes, I do still consider banging you like a door in a hurricane. And I can say that without a guilt trip now. Does your wife still want to stab me? Guess we still have to let that go like a train passing in the night. Tragic really. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t missed you nonetheless.”
Dean beamed, “I am actually really excited about this match. Do you know how long it's been since I’ve gone into a match not having beef against the other person? Sure, we fought a lot. Somewhere along the way, we built a semi fucked up respect for one another, didn’t we? Fuck, you were the best man at my wedding! You and I both know the complicated nature of our… friendship. Casual flirting? As an aside, would your wife still say no if I offered to give her a little attention too?”
Dean laughed, "Sorry. being horny on main. I mean, I'd be willing..."
Dean waved it off, “Whatever. Not the point. We fight and we never let it hurt our feelings. Mostly. Hopefully.”
“I know we can keep this professional-ish shape. I know you are going all out and so am I. Fuck yeah!” Dean raises his arms in excitement.
“I’m loving the whole new vibe by the by. Working from the bottom back to the main event scene. Fucking aces. Really. Love seeing your work. Too excitable? Ruining the mega heel cred? Fuck em. I do what I want.” Dean leaned back on the bed.
“Course, this could be a not-so-friendly work call. What’s the phrase going around again? ‘Everyone hates Dean’? ‘Dean must die’? ‘Kill Dean’ ala that one Tarantino movie? I’m sure they have a whole panel trying to find the right graphic for it. If you are here because I’ve been a bad boy and someone needs to give me daddy’s belt? Bring it on.”
“I’ve beaten you. You’ve beaten me. Legit and underhanded. Either way, to me. This is a gift. Something I can actually enjoy. So thanks Roberto. Appreciate it. And to show I respect the boundaries of your relationship I won't straddle you this time when I pin you. Cross my heart. Pinky promise. All that Jazz.” Dean winked.
“Either way. Let’s just have fun. I think we’ll have a blast and still have drinks later. I’m getting divorced! Maybe I should throw a party?”
The camera feed ends.
“Yeah, maybe my appearance on the show last week was a little more troll than people expected. But I don’t give a shit. I do what I want because I want to. I’m done trying to win people’s love. I’m done cutting off pieces of myself to make it easier for you to chew. And you don’t like who I am? Then fucking choke on it.” Dean winks, “Simple and easy. I’m done chasing. I’m done fighting for you. Accept me as I am or fuck off.”
“By the way? I filed the paperwork this week. Divorced. Your world champion is single just like he wanted.” Dean did a little Jazz hand gesture.
“And yeah, sure, maybe people wanted me to cry a river or over-explain myself about attacking Vivienne or go over attacking Rowan and her newest cult again. But no. I’ve said what I had to say about that. No one gave a shit when the bitches attacked me. Only when I hit back. Hypocrites the lot of you. It doesn’t deserve any more air time. Mad about it? Step the fuck up.”
“There, was that good? Did I do a good job? I aired my dirty laundry just like everyone wanted. Does it make you feel better? Feel justified? Good.” Dean took a beat, “Then I can actually talk about what I want to talk about now.”
It had been a few days since the papers had been officially filed. It would be leaking to the dirt sheets sooner rather than later. At least it hadn’t come the week of a pay per view, he’d managed to dodge that dramatic irony that had cursed the Kane’s forever. Dean should have told Damien right away.
But Dean wanted to be prepared. Wanted to do it right. So he’d spent the last week spoiling the fuck out of Damien every day. Ghibli Museum, Sanrio, Tokyo Disney again. Anything and everything to make things okay. Today was lowkey, just seeing the dog statue that everyone kept saying was a heartwarming story. Damien just wanted to see the dog. So here they were. Seeing the fucking dog.
Dean missed when Damien's special interest was sharks or his grandfather. But dogs were the flavor and Dean was gonna support the fuck out of it.
“How’s the taiyaki?”
“The fish donut?” Damien clarified.
“Yeah, is it good?” Dean asked as they walked.
“It’s yummy.” Damien smiled.
“Good. Maybe we can grab sushi on the way back to the hotel, would you like that?” Dean asked.
“Mm-hm.” Damien nodded happily.
There was a crowd of tourists all waiting to get photos and take selfies. They had a little time, Dean knew Damien hated random crowds of loud people. “So… want to know why the dog is special?”
“Yeah!” Damien bounced.
“So this dog used to meet his owner every day at the train stop and they would walk home together. One day, the owner didn’t get off the train because he died. But the dog kept coming anyway. And he kept coming every day until he passed away. Because he loved-” Dean swallowed past the sudden break in his voice. “Because he loved his owner very much. So they made a statue of him to honor his dedication.”
“Daddy? Are you okay?”
fuck.
Dean got down on Damien's level, “Listen…there’s…there’s something I have to…shit, okay. It’s going to be hard. We are both going to have big feelings about it. But we got to be brave, okay?”
“...Okay.”
“Warren and I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. What we decided has nothing to do with you or how much we love you-”
“No.” Damien covered his ears.
Dean swallowed, sitting on the ground, likely ruining the jeans he was wearing but fuck it, “Damien…”
Damien shook his head.
“Come on, buddy. Even if I don’t say it, it won't stop it from happening.”
“Why don’t I get a say?!” Damien demanded, stomping his feet.
“...I’m sorry.” Dean offered Damien his hands to hold. Damien stomped his feet a couple more times before reluctantly uncovering his ears and holding Dean’s hands. “There we go. You are being very brave right now Thank you.”
“I don’t like it.” Damien pouted.
“I know. But Warren and I have figured out that we aren't happy together and don't love each other anymore. And that is making everyone very sad. You can still see him as much as you want. He loves you so much, okay? He just won't be your Dad anymore.”
“It’s not fair.” Damien had tears welling up in his eyes.
“I know.” Dean kissed Damien on the forehead.
“Couldn’t you just pretend to love him?”
Dean laughed, picking Damien up in his arms to hug him, “It’s not that easy, buddy.”
“Not even for me?” Damien asked as Dean got back to his feet.
“I love you with my whole heart, Damien. But no, I couldn’t do that.” Dean walked Damien closer to the dog statue.
“Couldn’t he pretend?”
“Listen, I know right now love seems super easy and makes a lot of sense. But love between adults is complicated. Both Warren and I did things that made it hard to love one another anymore. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just the way things are.”
“Will I get another Dad?”
“Maybe I’ll really spoil you and get you seventeen dads.” Dean teased.
“That’s too many Dads!” Damien objected with a laugh.
“Nope, seventeen dads. Just for you.” Dean swung his son around in the air, getting a louder laugh, it was likely not the last time they would go over this, but anything to make it a less less painful was worth it.
“Rob!” Dean’s entire face breaks in a wide smile, “God, have I missed you, snuggle bunny. Seriously. How are things? You look great. Yes, I do still consider banging you like a door in a hurricane. And I can say that without a guilt trip now. Does your wife still want to stab me? Guess we still have to let that go like a train passing in the night. Tragic really. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t missed you nonetheless.”
Dean beamed, “I am actually really excited about this match. Do you know how long it's been since I’ve gone into a match not having beef against the other person? Sure, we fought a lot. Somewhere along the way, we built a semi fucked up respect for one another, didn’t we? Fuck, you were the best man at my wedding! You and I both know the complicated nature of our… friendship. Casual flirting? As an aside, would your wife still say no if I offered to give her a little attention too?”
Dean laughed, "Sorry. being horny on main. I mean, I'd be willing..."
Dean waved it off, “Whatever. Not the point. We fight and we never let it hurt our feelings. Mostly. Hopefully.”
“I know we can keep this professional-ish shape. I know you are going all out and so am I. Fuck yeah!” Dean raises his arms in excitement.
“I’m loving the whole new vibe by the by. Working from the bottom back to the main event scene. Fucking aces. Really. Love seeing your work. Too excitable? Ruining the mega heel cred? Fuck em. I do what I want.” Dean leaned back on the bed.
“Course, this could be a not-so-friendly work call. What’s the phrase going around again? ‘Everyone hates Dean’? ‘Dean must die’? ‘Kill Dean’ ala that one Tarantino movie? I’m sure they have a whole panel trying to find the right graphic for it. If you are here because I’ve been a bad boy and someone needs to give me daddy’s belt? Bring it on.”
“I’ve beaten you. You’ve beaten me. Legit and underhanded. Either way, to me. This is a gift. Something I can actually enjoy. So thanks Roberto. Appreciate it. And to show I respect the boundaries of your relationship I won't straddle you this time when I pin you. Cross my heart. Pinky promise. All that Jazz.” Dean winked.
“Either way. Let’s just have fun. I think we’ll have a blast and still have drinks later. I’m getting divorced! Maybe I should throw a party?”
The camera feed ends.
Well howdy there pardner.