Post by Damage on May 10, 2024 4:37:14 GMT -5
How often have we done this? And more important, how many more times can we? he wasn’t 18 anymore and neither was his body. The life of an athlete was exciting but took a few years here and there.
"That’s not what ruined your body, Big man."
That was a fact. Long before Damage became a wrestler -- he lived a rough life. Ever seen barfly? Replace the booze with illegal substances and the bard with the villa of an Japanese underworld Don. It would have been a lie to say he regretted that time, but sometimes he had those ‘What if’ moments. Of course every human being had that -- but things were slightly different when you had live and in colour nightmares. But not one time had he woken up crying or feeling sorry for himself. Life wasn’t always kind and often enough forced you to make tough decisions. And he did. Every single time.
It was no shame to need someone in your life, but neither was it wrong to stand on your own too. Being that independent and strong man that was meant to lead instead of following. Maybe he was too cold at points. Too rough around the edges. Even too reckless. People always found a reason to judge, so why give a fuck?
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.
“What you gotten yourself into, Big guy?” he mumbled to himself while looking through his contract. “So very clever. Lose the inferno match against a walking big bully pig and then immediently do an one on one match against the Rebel Champion Mr. John Blaze. Bravo.”
He was sitting inside the Steel Bones Wrestling ring where the last students had just left. Some of them crawled on all four -- which was a rather satisfying view. Damage was leaning against the middle turnbuckle, scanning over the words.
Rebel Championship Match contract.
It was hard to deny that he was somewhat proud. No one before ever scored a deal like that -- at least not in EPW history. They wanted him to sign badly, therefor they were read to step out of their comfort zone. The small grin on his face grew a little further when reading on, not paying attention to the steps behind him. That was till someone did an oscar worth cough behind her.
“Now it's too late. You already sold your soul.
Damage didn’t have to turn around to recognise the talker. He had heard this voice so often that even in high age when he went deaf, he would still hear it. And to a degree it would always make him shiver.
KEI HIDESHIMA. Shateigashira of the Ishida Yakuza Syndicate. Second lieutenant. Family information unknown, but the rumor is that he murdered his own family by setting the family home on fire, burning his face in the process. Controls activities in areas of New York (Newburgh area), Seattle and Norfolk. Official job description? Former World Champion and owner of Combat Syndicate, a training academy for wrestlers looking for a more violent style of wrestling.
“I would believe it is still with Shawna, right?” Damage let out a dry laughter. “Unless someone offered a shit load of money.”
Kei would quietly slide into the ring, finally coming into his view. Although Damage should have known better Kei still managed to surprise him. The way he moved -- like one of those huge wildcats. Without a noise. Always ready for the next jump, beautiful and deadly. He gracefully sunk down on the mat, stretching his legs out. But not without the tip of his shoe pointing against his contract.
“Are you sure about this? I don’t mean wrestling itself but you could do so much better, Big man. And we both know you don’t need the money. So what is your motivation, Kawaī? It can’t possibly be for the thrill of it, because apart from two or three people on that roster -- you will eat them alive and that includes the Rebel Champion Mr. John Blaze”
The sheer arrogance in his voice reminded him of the old times. Kei wasn’t dangerous because he was a skilled fighter or because he could probably use every weapon on this planet. It was his confidence that made most people shit their pants. The way he looked at his opposite without ever taking a visible breath.
“I could make up the fancy story that you probably wanna hear. About honour and destiny -- but let's be honest, not even I would believe that shit. I have been sitting at home for the past two years. Forming and torturing talent down at Steel Bones Wrestling and to a degree that was satisfying.” he put the papers on the ground. “But no matter how good they are -- it always leads back to the same thing. Am I better? Do I still have the desire for blood and violence… .”
“And, do you?”
Damage lifted both his hands, showing him his swollen and bruised knuckles. Half a smile appeared on Kei face while he observed them.
“I have seen worse on you. So I ask again, do you still feel that burning sensation? That hunger that no meal can every satisfy -- that disease that no pill can cure. You seem a little soft as of late.”
“I know exactly what you are doing, Kei. You try to piss me off and you know it usually works pretty well. The right words will make me jump and turn my sight to red.” Damage winked at him. “We know it still works on the right people.”
Kei didn’t have to spell it out for him to catch it. Once more Damage was greeted by this half smile which reminded him of a horror show. Kei looked back at the papers before his focus found Damage’s face.
“It is part of the game, isn’t it? Testing the limits. Pushing as hard as possible -- just to see someone break. But back to business, Damage. You do realise this guy Mr. John Blaze is huge man and hits like a thunder.” He cracked his neck.
“And I think you are aware of the why.You are a threat to him."
“Funny enough I have seen like this guys try so many times to take me down. Take those Goddards for example. A bunch of people with the intellect of stones. Although I feel as if I have to apologise to the stones for that comparison.”
“Don’t underestimate the dumb. Often enough he act out on sheer instinct.”
“If he can find his instincts -- it seems like his egos are big enough to blind the sun. The core of my words is a total different one though. I have seen it. I have been in the middle of it -- yet I am not very impressed. The lowest ranks in the yakuza have better skills than those whiny bitches.”
Much to Damage’s surprise he laughed. It wasn’t a warm and welcoming laughter. More the kind that the Joker would burst out before pushing the button. Boom.
“You know the cure for big egos though, Kawaī. It is as simple as effective. They will bring a knife to a gunfight. Playing the ‘catch if you can’ game, no matter if it is in the ring or on social media. That is how the world rolls. And as much as I hate to tell you -- but there is no one you can count on.” He rubbed his fingers together. “Not your protege nor our pale friend. At the end of the day you are in this alone.”
“Is that supposed to make me sweat? Look back at where I have been the past two years. The companies. The places. When did I ever count on anyone, darl? I have had enough snakes crawl up my smooth legs, trying to whisper in my ear. At points I fell for it. Maybe I was lonely. But you know me well enough. If there is a ship to wreck -- I am the man to do it.”
The tone of Damage voice had changed -- The look on his face underlined every word spoken. The anger boiling on the inside was hard to hide and he knew it. The mask covered the expression on his face -- but Kei didn’t even have to look. Knowing that he was satisfied. Once more he brought out something Damage so badly wanted to forget.
“There is no way of half - assing that. That Mr. John Blaze is hungry but Mr. John Blaze haven’t seen half the shit you have. So I wanna give you a reminder of who Damage is. An Untamed Demon. A variety of what most competitors would love to be. But if you wanna run this place -- you gotta be willing to let that Demon out. Lose your chains.”
In this very moment there was no answer -- or at least none Damage would have found fitting. Instead Damage lifted himself from the mat, looking down at Kei. Without giving him another verbal response Damage rolled out of the ring. He grabbed his papers but not without looking at Kei for one last time.
Kei stared after Damage walking towards the exit with his head held high. Marching on like the hungry Untamed Demon. In grace and fury.
“And there he is -- MY Untamed Demon.”
"That’s not what ruined your body, Big man."
That was a fact. Long before Damage became a wrestler -- he lived a rough life. Ever seen barfly? Replace the booze with illegal substances and the bard with the villa of an Japanese underworld Don. It would have been a lie to say he regretted that time, but sometimes he had those ‘What if’ moments. Of course every human being had that -- but things were slightly different when you had live and in colour nightmares. But not one time had he woken up crying or feeling sorry for himself. Life wasn’t always kind and often enough forced you to make tough decisions. And he did. Every single time.
It was no shame to need someone in your life, but neither was it wrong to stand on your own too. Being that independent and strong man that was meant to lead instead of following. Maybe he was too cold at points. Too rough around the edges. Even too reckless. People always found a reason to judge, so why give a fuck?
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.
“What you gotten yourself into, Big guy?” he mumbled to himself while looking through his contract. “So very clever. Lose the inferno match against a walking big bully pig and then immediently do an one on one match against the Rebel Champion Mr. John Blaze. Bravo.”
He was sitting inside the Steel Bones Wrestling ring where the last students had just left. Some of them crawled on all four -- which was a rather satisfying view. Damage was leaning against the middle turnbuckle, scanning over the words.
Rebel Championship Match contract.
It was hard to deny that he was somewhat proud. No one before ever scored a deal like that -- at least not in EPW history. They wanted him to sign badly, therefor they were read to step out of their comfort zone. The small grin on his face grew a little further when reading on, not paying attention to the steps behind him. That was till someone did an oscar worth cough behind her.
“Now it's too late. You already sold your soul.
Damage didn’t have to turn around to recognise the talker. He had heard this voice so often that even in high age when he went deaf, he would still hear it. And to a degree it would always make him shiver.
KEI HIDESHIMA. Shateigashira of the Ishida Yakuza Syndicate. Second lieutenant. Family information unknown, but the rumor is that he murdered his own family by setting the family home on fire, burning his face in the process. Controls activities in areas of New York (Newburgh area), Seattle and Norfolk. Official job description? Former World Champion and owner of Combat Syndicate, a training academy for wrestlers looking for a more violent style of wrestling.
“I would believe it is still with Shawna, right?” Damage let out a dry laughter. “Unless someone offered a shit load of money.”
Kei would quietly slide into the ring, finally coming into his view. Although Damage should have known better Kei still managed to surprise him. The way he moved -- like one of those huge wildcats. Without a noise. Always ready for the next jump, beautiful and deadly. He gracefully sunk down on the mat, stretching his legs out. But not without the tip of his shoe pointing against his contract.
“Are you sure about this? I don’t mean wrestling itself but you could do so much better, Big man. And we both know you don’t need the money. So what is your motivation, Kawaī? It can’t possibly be for the thrill of it, because apart from two or three people on that roster -- you will eat them alive and that includes the Rebel Champion Mr. John Blaze”
The sheer arrogance in his voice reminded him of the old times. Kei wasn’t dangerous because he was a skilled fighter or because he could probably use every weapon on this planet. It was his confidence that made most people shit their pants. The way he looked at his opposite without ever taking a visible breath.
“I could make up the fancy story that you probably wanna hear. About honour and destiny -- but let's be honest, not even I would believe that shit. I have been sitting at home for the past two years. Forming and torturing talent down at Steel Bones Wrestling and to a degree that was satisfying.” he put the papers on the ground. “But no matter how good they are -- it always leads back to the same thing. Am I better? Do I still have the desire for blood and violence… .”
“And, do you?”
Damage lifted both his hands, showing him his swollen and bruised knuckles. Half a smile appeared on Kei face while he observed them.
“I have seen worse on you. So I ask again, do you still feel that burning sensation? That hunger that no meal can every satisfy -- that disease that no pill can cure. You seem a little soft as of late.”
“I know exactly what you are doing, Kei. You try to piss me off and you know it usually works pretty well. The right words will make me jump and turn my sight to red.” Damage winked at him. “We know it still works on the right people.”
Kei didn’t have to spell it out for him to catch it. Once more Damage was greeted by this half smile which reminded him of a horror show. Kei looked back at the papers before his focus found Damage’s face.
“It is part of the game, isn’t it? Testing the limits. Pushing as hard as possible -- just to see someone break. But back to business, Damage. You do realise this guy Mr. John Blaze is huge man and hits like a thunder.” He cracked his neck.
“And I think you are aware of the why.You are a threat to him."
“Funny enough I have seen like this guys try so many times to take me down. Take those Goddards for example. A bunch of people with the intellect of stones. Although I feel as if I have to apologise to the stones for that comparison.”
“Don’t underestimate the dumb. Often enough he act out on sheer instinct.”
“If he can find his instincts -- it seems like his egos are big enough to blind the sun. The core of my words is a total different one though. I have seen it. I have been in the middle of it -- yet I am not very impressed. The lowest ranks in the yakuza have better skills than those whiny bitches.”
Much to Damage’s surprise he laughed. It wasn’t a warm and welcoming laughter. More the kind that the Joker would burst out before pushing the button. Boom.
“You know the cure for big egos though, Kawaī. It is as simple as effective. They will bring a knife to a gunfight. Playing the ‘catch if you can’ game, no matter if it is in the ring or on social media. That is how the world rolls. And as much as I hate to tell you -- but there is no one you can count on.” He rubbed his fingers together. “Not your protege nor our pale friend. At the end of the day you are in this alone.”
“Is that supposed to make me sweat? Look back at where I have been the past two years. The companies. The places. When did I ever count on anyone, darl? I have had enough snakes crawl up my smooth legs, trying to whisper in my ear. At points I fell for it. Maybe I was lonely. But you know me well enough. If there is a ship to wreck -- I am the man to do it.”
The tone of Damage voice had changed -- The look on his face underlined every word spoken. The anger boiling on the inside was hard to hide and he knew it. The mask covered the expression on his face -- but Kei didn’t even have to look. Knowing that he was satisfied. Once more he brought out something Damage so badly wanted to forget.
“There is no way of half - assing that. That Mr. John Blaze is hungry but Mr. John Blaze haven’t seen half the shit you have. So I wanna give you a reminder of who Damage is. An Untamed Demon. A variety of what most competitors would love to be. But if you wanna run this place -- you gotta be willing to let that Demon out. Lose your chains.”
In this very moment there was no answer -- or at least none Damage would have found fitting. Instead Damage lifted himself from the mat, looking down at Kei. Without giving him another verbal response Damage rolled out of the ring. He grabbed his papers but not without looking at Kei for one last time.
Kei stared after Damage walking towards the exit with his head held high. Marching on like the hungry Untamed Demon. In grace and fury.
“And there he is -- MY Untamed Demon.”
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