MD 96: Steven Kurtesy vs. Triple X

[Harthan]

Deadline is Tuesday, November 19th at 11:59PM Central time. Extensions by request.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Although the birds were chirping cheerfully and the clouds had vacated the skies, the dawning of this day was more surreal than anything Steven Kurtesy expected. It felt like a lifetime ago that he was in the presence of his beloved mother who gave Steven inspiration to follow the path he chose in helping others. If someone who had her past and regretted decisions could turn into a kind and caring parent to Steven, then why couldn't others follow in her footsteps? Kurtesy made sure that he'd keep in contact with her, whether that be through visiting her or sending her letters... but no matter what, he made sure, even after she passed from terminal illness.

Kurtesy (who is currently kneeling) looks up at her tombstone, trying to keep his sadness hidden as he reads what had been engraved:

"Jasmine T. Fitzgibbons"
1954 - 2013
The Heart of Life

Rest in Peace​

A wave of emotion hits Steven like a freight train, letting off a smile as he wipes away the water filling up his eyes. He promised he wouldn't do this but he couldn't control himself. Kurtesy uses his thumb and index finger to put pressure on his tear glands, physically fighting these feelings. No matter how excellent one was with controlling their emotions, losing someone important was tough to swallow.

As Steven was beginning to reset his emotions, a bouquet of flowers is gently placed on Steven's lap by another pair of hands. Steven looks up and sees his half-sister, Sandy Deserts, standing and reading the tombstone. He turns back to looking at the bouquet; a beautiful mixture of dandelions and roses.

"I thought it would be better if you gave her the flowers. Seemed appropriate."

Steven lays the bouquet gently in front of his mothers tombstone before putting his hand on it. He gave a quick grin before slowly letting go, standing to his feet. Sandy puts a hand on his back, rubbing it as Steven says his final goodbyes (mentally). The two siblings turn away and slowly head towards the main track of the graveyard, walking in silence for a moment.

"Sandra & Étienne Fitzgibbons... it has a nice ring to it. Well, assuming she had that same surname when I was born. But to be honest, I don't care. I've finally found out who I really am: I have an identity that I didn't create. I'm your sister and that's all that matters to me.

The two smile at each other before continuing to proceed up the main track at a slow pace.

"I mean, Sandy Deserts... what was I thinking?"

Sandy lets out a small, quiet chuckle as Steven smiles, acknowledging her statement. Eventually, they reach the gates and exit, heading towards the edge of the parking lot where a taxi was was standing by. Sandy offered Steven a lift to share a taxi so could easily make it to the airport to jet off to France for his appearance on Meltdown, to which he accepted. However, before either could get into the car, Sandy turned to Steven.

"Thank you for inviting me here, Steven. She might not have been the mother she was to me as she was to you but its nice to know; to have closure. Normally, I'd be angry and a lot of deep emotions would have arisen to the surface but that hatred is gone. I don't know what it is - transferred over to Zeus, possibly - I've reached acceptance."

She walks over to Steven and they share a hug, a long hug that two siblings who care for each other would share.

"Thank you, brother."

They realise the hug and smile before Sandy heads over to her side of the taxi and both enter the vehicle. Sandy gives the directions to the driver and begin fastening their seatbelts.

"Now, we can't have you miss your flight! On yonder, driver! "

***********************************

After a fairly average cab ride, Steven & Sandy make it to the airport safely. To Stevens' surprise, as he exits the vehicle and sees that Sandy has also chosen to exit, paying off the driver. They close their respective doors and the taxi drives off. Sandy turns to Steven, who is quite bemused. It takes her a couple of seconds to click and she quickly responds.

"I'm meeting someone here. An old friend contacted me and we're catching up. Unless... you want me to come along to France with you just like I did with Germany? But you'd have to pay for my ticket, accommodation and food since I'm no longer with WZCW as of last week according to my contract.

The two head over to the airport entrance and make their way inside

"Speaking of, I hear Triple X is back. Boy, the talent you keep receiving just keeps getting more youthful. It's like they're trying to run you away from WZCW! As if Zeus' general craziness wasn't enough, right? Well, either way, good luck with your match and watch out for Zeus. I saw him on Aftershock and man, he's really gunning for you but don't worry too much. The time he decides to target "everything you love" was the time WZCW goes on an international tour. I'm safe down under."

Steven gives Sandy a blank look.

"My spiel just got you worried, didn't it?"

He shrugs with Sandy giving Steven a slight nudge.

"Can't do everything perfect, huh? Anyway, you'll miss your flight. Hurry up and go kick some reanimated ass!"

Steven looks at Sandy with a bit of confusion.

"Because Triple X has returned, almost as if he has come back from the... bloody hell, invest in some zombie flicks! Now go."

They share one last quick hug.

"Go, go, go."

Steven smiles before turning his head forward, going double time to the queue as Sandy watches him for a moment before walking outside, sitting on the benches waiting for her "old contact."

 

[BK Styles]

10th November 2013​

‘Triple X! Triple X!!’

I hear the confused cries of Becky Serra as I walk through the WZCW backstage area. Her voice echoes through the corridor, piercing my ears with a feeling close to guilt. Becky has always understood me; well, more so than most backstage interviewers anyway. But she’s offered great advice in the past, and to hear her voice in the tone that it is…

‘Xander, why??’

I stop, and slowly turn. Becky is standing there, microphone in hand and camera man trailing close behind. It isn’t the fact she wants an interview that bothers me, nor is it the impertinence of the question. It’s the look on her face. Because no matter how much her confused cries cut through me, that one stare felt like a door slammed in my face. I stare for a moment, before slowly continuing on my way, leaving her stood in the dark, cold corridor with that very expression etched on her face.

The look of someone who doesn’t understand.

24th July, 2013

Wrestlezone Weekend​

I manage to pull myself from the stretcher and sit up. My shoulder is in absolute agony, but even so, I force myself to my feet. WZCW doctors and medical personnel are attempting to force me back down, but I resist, going as far as pushing one of them to the ground. Anger is clouding my thoughts. Not the anger of losing, not at all. The anger of being an afterthought.

I walk back into the locker room to grab my bag, ignoring the eyes of other WZCW stars who are clearly watching me, concerned. I make my way back out and gingerly put a hoodie on, before climbing into my car. The pain in my shoulder, while still present, is buried by adrenaline as I put the key into the ignition. My thoughts gloss back over the match, and the knee to my shoulder that Blade was responsible for. I heard one of the doctors mention the word ‘fractured’, meaning it wasn’t a career ender. But that wasn’t the point. Nor was it my main issue. I’d heard the boos for Isabel Stone, the superstar who had pinned me. I’d heard the sympathetic cheers for Blade, the man who came close to winning. But for me? For Triple X? The allegedly most popular superstar in the company?

Nothing.

I drive away from the venue, and keep driving till I reach the airport. People turn and stare as I walk through the door, where I quickly change in the nearest bathroom, before heading to the main desk. I have no idea where I want to go, but two things have become abundantly clear to me. First off, I'm done with WZCW. My desire to wrestle is now non-existant.

Secondly, I’m done with being a hero.

10th November 2013

Later that evening…..​

I walk through the hotel room door and throw my jacket to the floor. The hotel room is dark, with a faint slither of light coming from the bathroom. For the first time in what seems like forever, the face staring back is one of peace. Not complete peace, though; the task has all but begun. But finally, begun it has.

I walk to the unmade bed and perch on the end of it, rubbing my face in a sense of disbelief. A smile grew across my face at the thought of my evenings work. Seeing Blade crumpled on the mat in a broken heap, with a steel chair in my hands. A mere taste of his own personal hell.

‘Xander?’

I turn to the bathroom, and see Talia, a towel firmly wrapped around her damp body, standing in the doorway with a smile etched on her face. For the last two of the four months I’ve been away from WZCW, to say she had saved my life is an understatement.

I fall backwards onto the bed as she approaches, climbing on top and laying with her head to my chest. I smell her wet, red hair, catching the scent of strawberries. We lay still for a few moments before she moves up and kisses me, with a playful bite of the lip at the end. She smiles that slightly evil smile that only she can pull off.

‘What did I do to deserve that?’

‘Who said you needed to do anything?’

I smile, and run my hand up her spine.

‘You looked like you enjoyed it.’

‘You’re damn right I did. Still, strangely, I guess I do owe Blade a little.’

‘In what way?’

‘Well…without him I wouldn’t have met you for one thing, would I?’

‘True……’ she stops to deliver another lingering kiss.

‘And for another, it was because of him that I opened my eyes. Saw what no-one else saw. Realised how I had become a puppet in my desire to entertain the WZCW fans. Assuming that they’d care about me in return.’

‘And now you get to repay the favour. Show them how they should have valued you. And show Blade your little ‘surprise’ as a thank you.’

‘You think he’ll like it?’

‘Oh, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.’

I smile again, and spin Talia round onto the bed. I lean in and plant another kiss on her soft lips, before slowly getting up.

‘This is about more than revenge though, Talia. This is about making a wider statement. Blade’s just a stepping stone. A personal one, but a stepping stone either way.’

I remove my shirt and stare intently at my right shoulder. No visible marks are there, yet still my eyes are drawn to it, reminding me of my moment of clarity.

‘The WZCW fans will realise soon enough they’re missing one of their disposable heroes.’

Talia, now standing, rubs her hands across my shoulders, sending my otherwise-occupied mind into a state of clarity.

‘Patience, my love. All will come in good time. For now, just enjoy yourself.’

I smile as I continue staring into the mirror, before she pulls me back round again. As we kiss once more, I hear her white towel drop to the floor. The thoughts about Blade and WZCW fade away rather quickly, with one overriding feeling being the last to vanish.

It’s time for step two.

The Day Before Meltdown 96…​

I walk into the French arena with a smile on my face for what feels like the first time in forever. I get the odd hello from random members of staff, but otherwise the majority of WZCW superstars seem to ignore me. Not that I care. I’m not here for them. I walk through into the arena itself, looking down to the ring from the left side of the stage, when a familiar voice calls.

‘Triple X!’

I turn and see Ascension GM Big Dave approach me, hand extended.

‘What’s up Dave?’ I meet his hand with mine with a warm smile. Dave’s expression is one of slight confusion, if not surprise.

‘You seem almost shocked, Dave.’

‘Let’s just say I didn’t expect a warm welcome from you.’

‘Why? It isn’t you I have the issue with. Though I do have an issue with why the guy standing across from me this week isn’t Blade.’

‘Xander, you don’t just earn yourself a match by attacking someone from behind like you did. It doesn’t work like that, though trust me, it would make my life much easier if it did. You attacked one of the King for a Day participants, and if I let you two have a match before then, there’s a definite chance it would end in a brawl. There’s every chance that you or Blade could end up on the shelf, and with him in such a high profile match, I can’t take that chance.’

‘Yet it’s okay for him to injure me. Got it.’

‘Xander…’ Dave comes in close with a hushed tone, so only he and I can hear.

‘I’ve known Blade a lot longer than you. And the Blade of old may very well have wanted to put you on the shelf to keep his spot, but that was then. Not this Blade. Not a chance. I know it was an accident-‘

‘-but it happened. And I’m the guy who lost months of his career. Who’s contract was let to expire. All while he gets close to a world title shot, and gets a place in King for a Day. Seems pretty fair. ‘

‘Shouldn’t you be focusing on Steven Kurtesy? You know, your match tonight?’

‘Don’t change the subject.’

‘I’m trying to help, believe it or not. Steven is a former World Champion.’

‘Emphasis being on the word former. Dave, I appreciate the thought, but I’ve got Kurtesy taken care of. He had a good run and admittedly beat guys like Ty Burna and Barbosa, but that was a long time ago. He’s a different man to the one that beat Ty Burna. I’m a different man, for that matter.’

‘I’ve noticed.’

I shoot Dave a glare, before looking back to the empty seats.

‘Did you ever sense it?’

‘What?’

‘The crowd. Did you ever sense they were…playing you?’

‘I don’t-‘

‘It’s simple when you think about it. The fans, the loyal, honest, trustworthy fans of WZCW only want one thing. To be entertained. But they cheer guys like me on until we carry on and do stupid things and get hurt. Then, they simply…move on.’

I slowly walk towards the ring, my eyes transfixed on the very mat, the very spot where my shoulder was fractured.

‘My last match here, Blade injured me. put me on the shelf. Yet when Stone won the contest, I didn't get the sympathetic cheer from the crowd. No...he did. the guy injuring me. This is the mentality of the WZCW fanbase; they’ll drop you once they get bored, and move on to the nest hottest meal ticket. It doesn’t matter who it is, what they do; as long as they have the person they want to cheer, they’re happy. Never mind us. Never mind their disposable heroes.'

I pause as I reach the security wall for the fans, running my hands along the cold barrier.

'Well, I’m through being one of them. I’m done being the goody two-shoes that they can rely on, only to get it thrown back in my face. Now though, I simply don’t care. I win for me, but what’s even better than that, is that I can win for me whilst rubbing it in to every single WZCW fan that not only am I a winner, but I am a winner whilst crushing their new, and fallen, disposable heroes.’

I turn back and walk right into Dave’s face.

‘Give me Kurtesy. He’ll fall in front of his adoring fans. And let it serve as a lesson to Blade; this is what happens when you cross Triple X.’

I remain in Dave’s face for a moment, before moving; a cocky smirk on my face as I head to the locker room.