“Are you sure it’s a wise move?”
It’s the only move I’ve got left. I have no other choice but to take it after you went and decided to play hero. After you went off and left me... no, Justin didn’t leave me. He’s my friend and we’re challenging for the World Championship. The table between them was covered with a white tablecloth, silver cutlery neatly organised and three large purple wax candles burned brightly in the middle of the room. The heat from the candles danced on Mark’s fingers as he brushed the top of the flame while walking to his seat.
“What other option do I have, Justin? I got calls from guys who have been retired for years, probably pissing and shitting themselves at night from too many headshots with chairs, unable to walk at this point or even remember their own name. Those guys were really keen to be my partner but other than that nobody was coming forward. Vance has given me until Meltdown to announce my partner and time is running out.”
The first dish brought to the table was a collection of breads lathered in butter, olive oil served in a small cup for dipping was placed on either end of the table for both men. Mark took a piece of bread, snapped it with a loud crunch as the bread broke and dipped half into the oil before taking a bite.
“Did you expect me to just roll over and hand my tag titles over to Vance? Please, you know I’m not about to just give up. I fought back from an injury that nobody thought I would ever recover from and now look at me. Hell, I’m likely going to be Rookie of the Year, who would have believed that a year ago?”
Crumbs gathered on the side of Mark’s mouth as he finished both pieces of bread. He wiped with the back of his hand and then called over the server. A tall thin man with an average face, thick eyebrows and a nose near as long as any Mark had ever seen. He was likely to take an eye out with that thing in bed.
“Drink. A nice wine will do.”
“As you say, Mr. Keaton.”
A few moments later the server was back with two options. One was red while the other was white. Keaton decided on the red. He always liked the taste of the red wine better, it reminded him of his days as a youth running around Detroit with the crew and finding anything to get a buzz. The server poured Mark a drink and then did the same for Justin on the other end of the table. His pursed lips cracked, clearly under moisturised and the flakes of the skin peeled back a little from where he’d been biting at it.
“I must say you’ve down a great job with the new house.”
Keaton took a sip of the wine, splashing it around in his mouth before swallowing.
“I told you Canada was the place to be. A nice house like this can only be found in the Great White North and I got it, oh baby! The party life will be in full effect after our Kingdom Come victories.”
On the other end of the table Justin cut a piece of bread with a knife, splitting it down the middle into told long pieces. He dipped it into the oil, sniffed and then took a bite.
“So you’re confident in this new team then?” Justin asked, chewing on the piece of bread.
“Of course. You once teamed with John Constantine. He must have some value as a partner if you were willing to join him.”
“Ah, I’ve done a lot of things in my career I wish you wouldn’t emulate.”
The server made to enter the room, he was carrying the next dish and placed it onto the table. A fresh collection of fruits and mix berries. Keaton grabbed a blood orange, he cut it open and juice oozed out onto his hands dripping on the plate below. He sucked at his fingers and continued cutting away.
“Would this be one of them?” Keaton replied, plopping a piece of orange into his mouth.
“I’m not sure yet. Be careful. John isn’t someone who just does things out of the kindness of his heart. He’ll want something from you and you’ll be lucky if he asks for it when the time comes for him to claim what he believes is owed to him.”
Justin took a handful of grapes and began plucking them from the cluster and sliding one by one into his mouth. “Just watch out. You’re surrounded by wolves now and I’m not always going to be there to make sure everything is alright.”
“I can handle this myself. He wants to be a champion again and I have an extra title in need of being held. You can’t hold it... unless you gave up the spot in---“
“No. We’ve already talked about this and the answer is still no. I will not give up my spot as the number one contender to the World Championship. Six years I’ve worked for this shot, Mark. I’m sorry, you know I truly am about this entire situation but I can’t give up this chance. It may be the only chance I ever get at this title.”
I know. You’ve done so much for me but I almost lost everything while you got to become the hot new thing. What about me? Mark finished his orange, throwing the skins to the side as the server entered with yet another dish. This time it was a seafood platter; crabs, oysters, prawns, lobster, fish and lemons to drizzle over the food.
“I need you by my side. Without you, well I becoming World Champion is simply a distant dream and that’s all it will remain. When I make the walk down to the ring at Kingdom Come you’ll be with me, right?”
“No doubt. I’ll be with you.”
“Good. Mikey Stormrage doesn’t stand a chance against the power of Cooper and Keaton!”
They both let out a laugh. Justin took a sip of his wine and Mark began peeling a prawn, ripping off the head and skin before throwing it into his mouth.
“I shouldn’t have asked you to give the title shot up. That was unfair of me. I haven’t been in this business as long as you and in the past year I’ve achieved so much. This is your dream and I support that. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you walk out as World Champion. I promise.”
“Hard work, determination and support is all I need. You give me the support we’ve given each other through the battles with Phantoms of Chaos and Vis Imperium, and the gold will be around my waist in no time.”
No. He wants something more. I can see it in his eyes, in his voice and the way he talks about being World Champion. If he were to lose at Kingdom Come it would break him. Another sip of wine cleared Mark’s thoughts as he sat across from his tag partner.
“Excuse me for a minute, Justin.” Mark said as he stood up from the table and made for the door.
“Better be quick about it. I’m enjoying this crab and don’t know if any will be left in a few minutes. Ha!” Justin laughed and took a sip of his wine, clearing the cup. The server hurried over and filled the glass again. “A little more, good man! There you go.”
“I won’t be gone long. Just have a make a quick phone call. Enjoy the crab... hands off those prawns though.”
The echo of Justin’s laughter followed Mark down the hallway of his newly purchased home in Canada. The walls were thick solid oak and the ceiling was carved with the image of a warrior engaged in a battle with a wild boar. He had liked that. Mark had liked that image a lot. It reminded him of the warrior inside himself. Soon Mark found a slim doorway, it was his own personal office. He hadn’t thought of needing one until Justin came to visit the house and said it would be the perfect room to store his work documents and the mountains of paperwork that went along with moving to another country.
Mark found his phone on the desk to the left of the room. It stood before a massive mirror with a golden frame, just like his hair, and was covered with jewels up both sides; rubies, diamonds and the rare sapphire mixed in. He had paid a handsome fee for this mirror to be shipped all the way from England. He began making a phone call, his reflection in the mirror looked as nervous as the man himself felt inside. Was his stomach turning out of nervousness or was it a bad prawn?
“Yes, hello? It’s Mark. Sorry for interrupting your evening but an urgent matter has arisen to my attention.”
The person on the other end of the phone spoke. Mark tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him to theme of his entrance music.
“I would believe so. We will need the... monster, to do this properly but I don’t think we need to worry about anybody else. I highly doubt they’ll see it coming.” Mark replied.
Once again the individual on the other end spoke. This is what he wants me to do. He will not say it but I know him. Justin can’t lose. I will not let him lose. I must do whatever it takes to help him. He was with him while I sat in hospital. It’s time to repay that debt. I must make sure he walks out of Kingdom Come as WZCW World Heavyweight Champion.
“We can go over the details later but if you want in with me, you’ll need to do this to prove yourself and the rest of your friends. If you want me to join you than I need to trust you. I need to know that I can trust that you’ll have my back. He’s family to me and when family need help you help them."
The person on the other end spoke. If he doesn't win then our team was broken up for nothing. I will not let all this turmoil be for nothing! It wasn’t long as Mark replied a few seconds later.
“If you do this for me, I’ll hand you one half of the WZCW Tag Team Championships myself.”
