Post by thrashmetaldan on Jul 17, 2012 16:23:10 GMT -6
We see Damien back at his gym, The Gauntlet, furiously attacking the heavy bag. The lights are off, it’s after hours, and he seems to be the only one in sight. He seems to have been doing this for quite some time. Some blood trickles from his knuckles. He recites combination after combination in sequence.
“1, 3, 5, 4...2, 3, 6...”
This continues for some time until the sound of a door opening disturbs him.
“Who in the hell comes into a bloody wrestling gym at 1 in the mor...”
He stops as he gets a good look at the figure standing in a doorway.
“Eh, Vinny. How’re the states treatin ya?”
The young man who walks into the gym is about thirty years old, clean shaven, with black hair. He’s approximately Damien’s height and build.
“Allen Thompson?!? You...what have you come for? Have you arrived here for some chance at vengeance against me?”
“Fraid’ not, Vin. Damage you did to my leg’s kept me out of the ring since ya left London. In my case, retired means retired. I’m done. Anyway, seems like ya got enough on ya plate without old friends comin to cash in on battle wounds from the old days.”
Damien eyes Allen up and down. He doesn’t seem to know what to make of the man’s presence.
“Then what, may I ask, do you hope to gain by interrupting my final workout before Friday’s match? On second thought, let me ask a more pertinent question. What are you doing on this continent?!? Our business came to it’s conclusion back in Britain.”
“Oh, bugger off. Is that any way to speak to your old tag-mate?”
Damien begins pummeling the heavy bag again as he continues speaking.
“You were a means to an end, Allen. We were never, nor shall we ever be, ‘mates’. Anthony said I required another talented wrestler to watch my back. I found one. You changed. We fought. I won. And thus, you taught me who the one human being I can rely on in this world was. You provided me with a valuable service. Thank you. Now leave...”
“Psh! I recollect it a bit different! If I remember that one night at the pub correct, ya told me I was your ‘only true ally’.”
“That was before your metamorphosis into a sniveling, crowd-pleasing, sycophant. You know how I would react when you demanded I cease my assault on The Mantis.”
Allen looks at him with disappointment clear in his eyes.
“I’d hoped you’d moved on past that, Vin. I told ya then, and I’ll tell ya again: you broke his bloody arm. He was done.”
Damien whips his body around and storms up to the other man.
“BUT, I WASN’T DONE! When did you find the time to grow a heart, Allen?!? I wouldn’t have thought you had any when that wench of yours was occupying you so thoroughly that you had to miss all of our training! The moment she entered your life, you were forever altered!”
“That wench is the reason I’m stateside right now. We got hitched, Vin. She wanted to move back here, closer to her family. I ain’t got one, so I agreed.”
Damien’s twitch returns to his left cheek.
“How damned beautiful for you, Allen. And yet, you still haven’t answered my original question. Why have you come here? Not to America, but right here. To me.”
Allen chuckles a bit.
“Came to thank ya, Vinny.”
Damien seems utterly shocked for a moment, then begins to laugh, wickedly.
“Thank ME??? And what in the name of heaven have I done to warrant your appreciation? Unless you realized that you positively adore complete ACL tears.”
“Back in the day, I was plain obsessed. We both were. It’s why we got along so well. We cared about the gold more’n anythin. I don’t expect ya to get it, but I was a bloody animal. Then, when I met Gina, it woke me up a bit. But she still couldn’t be my number one, ya know? That was the ring. Then, after you get all pissed and started challengin me left and right, it was like somethin broke. After, when ya took wrestlin from me, I had a whole new lease on life. Everything had a new meanin. The fight ain’t everythin, Vin. There’s love, real jobs, all that jazz we used to bitch about. You could be a better wrestler if you realized that.”
“Ha! Well, perhaps that has become enough for you, but I’m still at my peak! And how dare you come waltzing into my gym as I prepare myself for a match and try to shake my resolve? You’ve become no better than the fools that fill the stands, screaming for mercy for their favorite flavor-of-the-week talent! You’re correct about one thing, Allen. You’re. Broken.”
Allen looks disappointed.
“Well, I guess I wasn’t expectin some crazy epiphany or nothin. You can call me for drinks sometime if you want. Me and Gina are gettin an apartment here in town.”
Damien begins hitting the bag again.
“Don’t hold your breath.”
“How about you, Vin? Why are you here? I heard there were other organizations offering more cash.”
“No other organization offers the chance for vengeance. That’s the only explanation you’ll get, Allen. Now, leave.”
As he exits, confused, Allen turns back to face Damien one last time.
“Keep up the attacks on those legs. He’s a bit older, and it’ll slow him down quite a bit. And if he tries to lock up with you, slip to your left. With the missin finger, his grip won’t be as strong on that side.”
“Thank you. I’ve done my homework. Now get the bloody hell out of my gym.”
The door closes and he continues to train in the black. Harder than before, like a bat out of hell.
“1, 3, 5, 4...2, 3, 6...”
This continues for some time until the sound of a door opening disturbs him.
“Who in the hell comes into a bloody wrestling gym at 1 in the mor...”
He stops as he gets a good look at the figure standing in a doorway.
“Eh, Vinny. How’re the states treatin ya?”
The young man who walks into the gym is about thirty years old, clean shaven, with black hair. He’s approximately Damien’s height and build.
“Allen Thompson?!? You...what have you come for? Have you arrived here for some chance at vengeance against me?”
“Fraid’ not, Vin. Damage you did to my leg’s kept me out of the ring since ya left London. In my case, retired means retired. I’m done. Anyway, seems like ya got enough on ya plate without old friends comin to cash in on battle wounds from the old days.”
Damien eyes Allen up and down. He doesn’t seem to know what to make of the man’s presence.
“Then what, may I ask, do you hope to gain by interrupting my final workout before Friday’s match? On second thought, let me ask a more pertinent question. What are you doing on this continent?!? Our business came to it’s conclusion back in Britain.”
“Oh, bugger off. Is that any way to speak to your old tag-mate?”
Damien begins pummeling the heavy bag again as he continues speaking.
“You were a means to an end, Allen. We were never, nor shall we ever be, ‘mates’. Anthony said I required another talented wrestler to watch my back. I found one. You changed. We fought. I won. And thus, you taught me who the one human being I can rely on in this world was. You provided me with a valuable service. Thank you. Now leave...”
“Psh! I recollect it a bit different! If I remember that one night at the pub correct, ya told me I was your ‘only true ally’.”
“That was before your metamorphosis into a sniveling, crowd-pleasing, sycophant. You know how I would react when you demanded I cease my assault on The Mantis.”
Allen looks at him with disappointment clear in his eyes.
“I’d hoped you’d moved on past that, Vin. I told ya then, and I’ll tell ya again: you broke his bloody arm. He was done.”
Damien whips his body around and storms up to the other man.
“BUT, I WASN’T DONE! When did you find the time to grow a heart, Allen?!? I wouldn’t have thought you had any when that wench of yours was occupying you so thoroughly that you had to miss all of our training! The moment she entered your life, you were forever altered!”
“That wench is the reason I’m stateside right now. We got hitched, Vin. She wanted to move back here, closer to her family. I ain’t got one, so I agreed.”
Damien’s twitch returns to his left cheek.
“How damned beautiful for you, Allen. And yet, you still haven’t answered my original question. Why have you come here? Not to America, but right here. To me.”
Allen chuckles a bit.
“Came to thank ya, Vinny.”
Damien seems utterly shocked for a moment, then begins to laugh, wickedly.
“Thank ME??? And what in the name of heaven have I done to warrant your appreciation? Unless you realized that you positively adore complete ACL tears.”
“Back in the day, I was plain obsessed. We both were. It’s why we got along so well. We cared about the gold more’n anythin. I don’t expect ya to get it, but I was a bloody animal. Then, when I met Gina, it woke me up a bit. But she still couldn’t be my number one, ya know? That was the ring. Then, after you get all pissed and started challengin me left and right, it was like somethin broke. After, when ya took wrestlin from me, I had a whole new lease on life. Everything had a new meanin. The fight ain’t everythin, Vin. There’s love, real jobs, all that jazz we used to bitch about. You could be a better wrestler if you realized that.”
“Ha! Well, perhaps that has become enough for you, but I’m still at my peak! And how dare you come waltzing into my gym as I prepare myself for a match and try to shake my resolve? You’ve become no better than the fools that fill the stands, screaming for mercy for their favorite flavor-of-the-week talent! You’re correct about one thing, Allen. You’re. Broken.”
Allen looks disappointed.
“Well, I guess I wasn’t expectin some crazy epiphany or nothin. You can call me for drinks sometime if you want. Me and Gina are gettin an apartment here in town.”
Damien begins hitting the bag again.
“Don’t hold your breath.”
“How about you, Vin? Why are you here? I heard there were other organizations offering more cash.”
“No other organization offers the chance for vengeance. That’s the only explanation you’ll get, Allen. Now, leave.”
As he exits, confused, Allen turns back to face Damien one last time.
“Keep up the attacks on those legs. He’s a bit older, and it’ll slow him down quite a bit. And if he tries to lock up with you, slip to your left. With the missin finger, his grip won’t be as strong on that side.”
“Thank you. I’ve done my homework. Now get the bloody hell out of my gym.”
The door closes and he continues to train in the black. Harder than before, like a bat out of hell.