Chapter two: Return to the game. Part Five.
Jun 28, 2021 14:29:01 GMT -5
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Roy "The Sorrow" Harlowe (NJC), Oh-Oh, and 1 more like this
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 14:29:01 GMT -5
Opting to spend the night, ’D’ found himself sleeping on the floor atop a couple blankets despite Alyssa’s protests that they were adults and could be trusted to share a bed.
The truth was, as he looked up at the stucco ceiling of the apartment he kept for himself, he didn’t trust himself. Having her thrust back into his life had forced him to explore his feelings…and they had betrayed him.
Not only did he still have feelings for Alyssa. He still very much enjoyed her company, missed her when she was gone. He still loved her. And that was what made things so difficult.
In fact, the exact situation they now found themselves in was all the proof he needed. Happiness was not a fish he could catch. Just the little bit he had told her had led to this mess, and it was entirely his fault.
All he had to do, was not talk to her and none of this ever would have happened.
Had he left their relationship at a professional level she would have remained that naïve girl that kept getting used by whatever upstart single match wonder was hot at the moment. She would have remained the pretty interviewer, and nothing more.
Now, she had blossomed like a beautiful and delicate flower under his care. She had ditched the insecurities that had led her from failed whirlwind romance to failed whirlwind romance. She was, stronger, more confident, more aware of the world around her. It were those very same qualities that had been keeping her sane throughout this whole ordeal. Had he been preparing her for this this whole time?
In some ways, he was forced to admit that, yes he had. Of course, but that had been in preparation for a life together that never came to be, and that was another matter entirely.
Now, the future of Bankhead was in jeopardy. Innocents were being harmed and he was helpless. Getting involved meant risking the one person he couldn’t stand to lose. Love was a cruel game.
Some four more months would need to pass before he commitment was fulfilled and he wasn’t sure he’d make it. The frustration alone mixed with the anger and hatred he carried for Esmeralda Von Krauss made him pity Tony Rios to a degree.
After the match, he’d shake Rios’ hand and properly welcome him to the roster, but until then. He’d be a savage, an animal. Or worse, a Judge.
This was intended to be an exhibition, a welcome to NPW for Rios…yet he couldn’t escape the feeling that it had become an execution, with him set to play the role of executioner.
Rolling over he pounded out a quick thirty push ups, his mind on fire.
Soon he was standing, shadow boxing with the skill of an expert pugilist, punches flowed like water as he stepped and swayed from the hip feigning an attack before cutting an angle and throwing a pair of high hooks.
Carrying on for some minutes, he fails to notice he had attracted an audience from the next room. Draped in an old signature t-shirt from his days in Genesis, beyond the red base of the shirt and the faded gold lettering, he could sense from the way she looked at him, she wasn’t wearing anything else.
”Can’t sleep?” She asked leaning against the wall, her left leg bending to rest her foot on the wall. Seductress.
He stopped immediately, partly embarrassed that he had kept her awake. He tried not to look her in the eyes. ”Sorry…” He was cursing himself in his head. ”…not used to having company I guess. I’ll keep it down; promise.”
”It’s fine. I guess I never thought about how you were doing through all this.” She shrugged, thinking aloud. ”The years of mental manipulation and sheer amount of death you’ve seen. You were out, free. Now you’re back to being under their thumb… I don’t know what to say except thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
She ran to him throwing her body against his; it was impossible to resist. His arms went around her almost instantaneously, as much as he tried to deny it; sometimes people fit together.
He could feel the heat of her skin, smell the sweet aroma of her hair and then she kissed him. Deeply and passionately as though they might never see each other again…and he pulled away.
”No…” He whispered. ”…we can’t. This is a bad idea…” His words broken up by her mouth, his willpower fading fast.
And finally he let go, they went stumbling into the wall and he felt her smile as they kissed. Hugging the wall they bounded off the wall sporadically as she tore at his clothes and the old red shirt hit the floor. They’d talk about how right he was in the morning.
The truth was, as he looked up at the stucco ceiling of the apartment he kept for himself, he didn’t trust himself. Having her thrust back into his life had forced him to explore his feelings…and they had betrayed him.
Not only did he still have feelings for Alyssa. He still very much enjoyed her company, missed her when she was gone. He still loved her. And that was what made things so difficult.
In fact, the exact situation they now found themselves in was all the proof he needed. Happiness was not a fish he could catch. Just the little bit he had told her had led to this mess, and it was entirely his fault.
All he had to do, was not talk to her and none of this ever would have happened.
Had he left their relationship at a professional level she would have remained that naïve girl that kept getting used by whatever upstart single match wonder was hot at the moment. She would have remained the pretty interviewer, and nothing more.
Now, she had blossomed like a beautiful and delicate flower under his care. She had ditched the insecurities that had led her from failed whirlwind romance to failed whirlwind romance. She was, stronger, more confident, more aware of the world around her. It were those very same qualities that had been keeping her sane throughout this whole ordeal. Had he been preparing her for this this whole time?
In some ways, he was forced to admit that, yes he had. Of course, but that had been in preparation for a life together that never came to be, and that was another matter entirely.
Now, the future of Bankhead was in jeopardy. Innocents were being harmed and he was helpless. Getting involved meant risking the one person he couldn’t stand to lose. Love was a cruel game.
Some four more months would need to pass before he commitment was fulfilled and he wasn’t sure he’d make it. The frustration alone mixed with the anger and hatred he carried for Esmeralda Von Krauss made him pity Tony Rios to a degree.
After the match, he’d shake Rios’ hand and properly welcome him to the roster, but until then. He’d be a savage, an animal. Or worse, a Judge.
This was intended to be an exhibition, a welcome to NPW for Rios…yet he couldn’t escape the feeling that it had become an execution, with him set to play the role of executioner.
Rolling over he pounded out a quick thirty push ups, his mind on fire.
Soon he was standing, shadow boxing with the skill of an expert pugilist, punches flowed like water as he stepped and swayed from the hip feigning an attack before cutting an angle and throwing a pair of high hooks.
Carrying on for some minutes, he fails to notice he had attracted an audience from the next room. Draped in an old signature t-shirt from his days in Genesis, beyond the red base of the shirt and the faded gold lettering, he could sense from the way she looked at him, she wasn’t wearing anything else.
”Can’t sleep?” She asked leaning against the wall, her left leg bending to rest her foot on the wall. Seductress.
He stopped immediately, partly embarrassed that he had kept her awake. He tried not to look her in the eyes. ”Sorry…” He was cursing himself in his head. ”…not used to having company I guess. I’ll keep it down; promise.”
”It’s fine. I guess I never thought about how you were doing through all this.” She shrugged, thinking aloud. ”The years of mental manipulation and sheer amount of death you’ve seen. You were out, free. Now you’re back to being under their thumb… I don’t know what to say except thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
She ran to him throwing her body against his; it was impossible to resist. His arms went around her almost instantaneously, as much as he tried to deny it; sometimes people fit together.
He could feel the heat of her skin, smell the sweet aroma of her hair and then she kissed him. Deeply and passionately as though they might never see each other again…and he pulled away.
”No…” He whispered. ”…we can’t. This is a bad idea…” His words broken up by her mouth, his willpower fading fast.
And finally he let go, they went stumbling into the wall and he felt her smile as they kissed. Hugging the wall they bounded off the wall sporadically as she tore at his clothes and the old red shirt hit the floor. They’d talk about how right he was in the morning.