I zippered my jacket up a little higher as I stood in line. I made sure to wear my hood up so as to not be noticed. It was late, too late for me to be out in the chill of the November air. I had to have my fix though. Kingdom Come be damned, Fallout 4 was coming out and I had been waiting on this since I was a teenager.
Luckily the line was moving quickly, I didn't want to be outside long. The longer I was outside, the increased likely hood I would be noticed. I wasn't against fan interaction, but I had done so many media appearances leading up to our big event, that I was starting to feel drained.
One would think that after so many years with the company that I would finally get used to the endless cycle of media and personal appearances that came with territory, but every year around Kingdom Come season, it would begin to wear on me.
Finally the line moved enough that I was standing inside the store, just a few feet from the counter. I lowered my hood, but made sure to keep my headphones in, so to give off the appearance that I didn't want to be bothered. It didn't work completely to plan, as I could still hear whispers and see the occasional finger pointed in my direction.
The line moved to the point where it was time for me to pick up my copy. I thanked the man behind the counter and left, but I was stopped in the parking lot by a couple of fans who wanted autographs. It was cold, and I was tired, as it was well after midnight at this point. I didn't want to be a dick however, so I signed their copies of the game.
"
I better not see these on eBay."
I joked and laughed at the group.
"
Seriously though, have a good night and enjoy your game guys. Make sure to order the show, we appreciate the support."
"
Mikey, before you go, do you hate Matt Tastic?"
I stopped and turned around, a little unsure how to respond.
"
I hope he gets a paper cut on his tongue from a paper cup. I hope every soda he ever drinks is already shaken up. I want his dream to dry up like raisins in the baking sun. I hope he wins the lottery and loses his ticket. I hope the zipper on his jacket gets stuck, and his headphones short. I hope his charger don't work and he spills shit on his shirt. I don't hate him, I just hope he ruined this team for a reason."
I shrugged my shoulders as I walked off to my car. Did Matt really ruin the team? I was jealous, there was no denying that. How could someone not be jealous of a two time World Champion?
The drive home was uneventful. My mind was so focused on exploring the vast Wasteland and killing some feral ghouls that I don't even remember the songs that came on the radio. I got home and placed my game in the console and waited for it to install. While I waited I grabbed a soda from the fridge and poured some chips into a bowl. Soon the game was ready, and so was I.
"
Let's see here, character creator. Awesome beard, check. Stylish hair to impress the ladies, check. Huge dong to further impress said ladies, you know it."
I finished creating the virtual Mikey that would explore the Boston Wasteland, but I kept finding myself getting killed.
"
Fucking Deathclaw."
"
Fucking super mutant."
"
Fucking raiders."
"
Fucking rad roaches."
I was clearly distracted. I was dying to rad roaches for Christ sake, the easiest enemy in the game. Maybe I was just tired. After all I had stood in the cold to pick up the game on a midnight release, had been doing numerous appearances, as well as training my ass off. Maybe I would feel better in the morning. I went to my bedroom and undressed and crawled into bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
"
He doesn't respect you."
A voice called out in the darkness.
"
He thinks you are weak."
The voice continued to come from an unknown source. I stood and stumbled through the darkness, trying to find the voice.
"
Who are you? Where are you?"
"
You are nothing compared to him."
"
I'm a three time tag team champion. No one but me can say that. I'm a former EurAsian champion."
"
He is more than you could ever dream to be."
I stumbled forward until I hit a wall. I felt around and found a torch and it magically lit. Suddenly a large figure appeared before me. I started to back peddle, waving the torch in front of me. The figure spoke.
"
You will never reach his level."
The figure lunged toward me, coming into focus. It was a ghastly monstrosity. His face constantly changed from that of Matt Tastic, to Ty Burna, to Grand Mystique, to all the other wrestlers who I had failed to best over the years. The figure charged me, forcing me to retreat. I ran, and dodged at every opportunity.
"
What are you?"
My question fell on deaf ears, as the monster continued to charge me.
"
You are going to choke again. Matt has carried you for the better part of two years."
I eventually ran into a dead end, but managed to leap out of the way at the last moment, causing the monster to run face first into the wall, temporarily stunning him.
"
Matt was nothing before I came along. He was doing his best to rid the fed of S.H.I.T. and other goofy characters. He was nothing more than a Mayhem star until he and I became friends."
Suddenly I saw a glimmer of light coming from where the monster crashed into the wall. I quickly ran to it, seeing it was a sword I picked it up. I quickly plunged it into the beast. It let out a blood curdling scream and recoiled. I pulled my sword back and allowed the beast to come at me again.
"
You are nothing but a footnote on the career of better wrestlers."
The monster took a swipe at me and managed to catch me in the side, knocking me to the ground. I did my best to get to my feet, but the monster put its foot on me and tried to crush me.
"
You will perish."
I struggled and did barely managed to squirm free enough to swing at the beast's foot. It was a glancing blow, but enough to cause it to let me free.
"
I will fight!"
I did a wicked flip onto the back of the beast and plunged my sword deep into its neck, causing the beast to fall. As I vaulted off my foe, it morphed into an image of myself, except this me was thin and in shape. Clean shaven and neatly trimmed, with no glasses and when this one spoke it came out blue.
"
Who are you?"
"
I'm you. I'm just the idealized version of you."
"
You look way better. I bet you could beat Matt Tastic and Ty Burna and The Sacrificial Altar. I bet you aren't a loser."
"
Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."
"
Are you saying I should embrace my reputation as a choker?"
"
No, but you can't allow the opinions of others weigh you down. You know what you are. From day one in this company, you have never let anyone sway you. You have it within yourself to win this match. You just have to be yourself."
"
But Matt is a Grand Slam Champion. Not Titus, not Ty Burna, not even Everest can say that. I am fighting my best friend, on the biggest stage there is. He knows my every weakness, my every flaw. Hell he has seen me naked more than I care to remember. He literally knows every inch of me. How am I supposed to beat him?"
"
Just Live Mas."
Suddenly the other Mikey disappeared and I awoke. I knew it would be a tough battle. No one expected me to win. My record wasn't in my favor. The odds were against me. Matt Tastic had the accolades, I had the reputation of a loser. I had to embrace that reputation though. Use it to pull out something that no one would expect. Something to defy the odds.
I sat and thought back to my very first Kingdom Come. When I overcame my fear of heights to win my first set of tag team titles.
Stormrage swallows, summons his courage, takes the last few steps to the very top...he wobbles at the top!...but hangs on, he's clutching the titles, and he's pulled them down! The match is over!
I've been to the top of the mountain at Kingdom Come before, I could do it once more. It may kill me, but I refuse to lose again. I'm sorry Matt, but its Game Over for you.
