Arnold, Scorpion - No Matter What
Nov 25, 2017 20:15:35 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Rage (aka NoMercyMaster2001), and 2 more like this
Post by Robbie A on Nov 25, 2017 20:15:35 GMT -5
3 Hours Before Xtraction Match
The FWA Coliseum, all prepared and ready for the evenings events. Most importantly, the bragging rights between the FWA and AXW. In the canteen however it could be any other event night. There’s a general hustle and bustle, the sound of trays banging together, plates and cutlery being bashed together make up a typical busy eatery. Collecting his food is Rob Arnold, tray in hands, he slides along the counter and politely smiles at the older Russian cook.
“Ah yes, hi, may I have the chicken please?”
The lady doesn’t appear to speak much English, that or she’s been told not to feed AXW competitors. She stares blankly back at Rob, who tries once more.
“Chicken? Please?” He points at the picture of the roast chicken on the menu behind her. The lady, dressed all in white, a tight hair net covering her greying hair which seemingly was once jet black, just stares blankly some more. Determined not to make a scene, Arnold once again tries another approach without losing his temper. He quickly grabs his phone and types rapidly before looking back up to the lady with another smile.
“Er, koo-ri-tsa?” He forces the Russian pronunciation through rather bluntly, however it seems to have the desired effect, the woman goes from a state of total idleness to a beaming smile.
“Ohhhh, Да, куриц [yes, chicken]” Is her immediate response, and she shuffles to a metal lid, and produces a very unattractive piece of chicken, which is placed very ungracefully on a plate, with equally unappealing vegetables added next to it. She then hands the plate to Rob, who carefully takes it, and again choose the high road and nods, smiles and walks away. As he turns he looks down at the plate of what could barley be classed as food and simply mouths the words “what the hell is this?” before taking table in the corner.
Rob looks down at the plate in front of him, very aware that other than a small nutritional gain, there was very little to enjoy about consuming this food. Other than get upset, he smiles.
“2006 all over again. Don’t think I’ll be getting into this kitchen though.” He chuckles.
August 2006
The CWA was no more, nor had it been for some time now. There had been a mini revival in the TXA however as always, the relationship between Arnold and Dan Keeling had lasted all of five minutes. This brought Arnold back to the XHF, looking for a job. He found himself sat in Mongo the Destroyer’s office, a modest room, especially for such a giant of a man. Rob sat back in the chair without much care in the world, he’d never found getting work an issue in previous years, and he’d already had a run with the XHF, so this should have been much of a formality.
“Well, I have to tell you Mr Arnold, we just don’t have a space on our roster for you right now.” Mongo states, looking up from some paperwork. This causes Arnold to sit bolt upright in a mix of confusion and borderline distress.
“Wait, what? You’re not employing me?” Is the eventual response.
“I am not. If I’m honest we just don’t have enough resources to have you on board right now, you’re too experienced for developmental, so I just can’t do anything for you.” Mongo states once more, looking back down at his paperwork.
“But I’m an ex-Hardcore Champion, that should count for something, right?” Rob pleads.
“Mr Arnold,” Mongo begins, this time not even looking up, “Firstly, Joey Hawke could probably win the XHF Hardcore Title, secondly, I have no record of that due to a cyber attack wiping out huge chunks of our records, and we’d just stopped keeping paper records, and finally, I just don’t care. If something comes up, we’ll have you straight in, you can trust me on that.” Mongo waves a hand as if to shoo Rob away, then presses his intercom, "Bonnie, where the hell is Bongo? I've got some crazy expense claims sat here and he needs to explain himself.". Slightly flabbergasted, he obliges to leave, and leaves the office and heads down the hall.
“Ugh, now what?” Arnold quietly says under his breath. He looks up, and ahead he sees the canteen, he decides that it would be the right time to grab a bite to eat before moving on to another promotion. However, as he walks through the entrance, he realises everything is dimly lit, and on approach to the counter there is a sign that says ‘Catering Closed – Staff Shortage’.
Rob straightens up and places his hands on his hips, unimpressed and looking around for ideas. As he does, his ears pick up on a noise from the kitchen. Perhaps its a lingering chef, perhaps he could convince whoever it is to sort himself out some food? Perhaps-
“Booooorn in the USA, I was, boooooorn in the USA.”
Perhaps they really like to howl Bruce Sprinsteen as well! Rob smirks at his own choice of thought, and tentatively walks around the counter and towards the kitchen.
“Oh Wormy, you’re such a great friend, the greatest friend a fisherman could have.” The voice from the kitchen then says, which confuses Rob, though at this point he’s willing to keep going. He steps into the doorway of the kitchen and sees the back of a man, listening to Springsteen, and possibly placing an item into a lunch box.
“Uh, hello?” Arnold enquires, causing the man to turn around. The man is actually XHF Legend, Scorpion.
“Oh, hello there sir! What can I do for you?”
“I’m just hoping I could get something to eat, is there any chefs around, any staff?” Rob stares Scorpion up and down.
“Oh no, the big boss, he just keeps me down here nowadays, he keeps saying something about cutbacks and making the place seem busy for longer so he could hive off the money, or something like that anyway, I don’t think he realised I was listening.” Scorpion smiles, but clearly has a very vacant look in his eyes.
“I see, so if I wanted to make something myself...”
“Oh yes, there’s plenty of food down here Mister...”
“Rob.”
“Mister Rob, pleased to meet you, I’m-”
“Scorpion, I know who you are, you’re quite a big deal around here.” Rob folds his arms and tilts his head in genuine perplexion, this man was once one of the best, yet he seems so off.
“So people tell me, I don’t remember much about that, all I know is I like to spend time fishing with my pal wormy. And listening to the great music of Bruce Springsteen.”
Rob pauses, somewhat stunned that a former XHF Champion could be reduced to such a mess. However, his face changes to that one of an idea.
“Say, Scorpion, do you think if anybody would notice if I started doing some of the cooking around here? You could help me if you like?” Arnold had quickly considered that if he spent enough time around an XHF legend, no matter how mentally unbalanced, that an opportunity would perhaps arise quicker than what Mongo was offering earlier.
“Oh really? I’d love to help, I don’t have too many friends, other than wormy of course.”
“Of...course.” Is Rob’s bleated, laboured reply. “Wait, you consider me a friend?”
“Well you’re a pleasant man, who wants me to help him, that’s what friends do, right?”
“I...I guess they do.” Rob nods his head slowly. “Yeah, sure, why not.”
1 Hour Until Xtraction Match
Rob walks through the backstage area, dressed in mainly wrestling gear but has some street clothes on his upper body. He stops and looks up at the guerilla position, currently empty, and then down the corridor that heads to the locker room. In the distance he sees Scorpion’s locker room. He sighs and shakes his head.
“Dammit, I’ve got to make it right.” He sighs again, and looks at his watch, before heading on to his own locker room.
30 March 2008
“I can’t do this.”
“Yes you can Scorpion, this is what we’ve been working towards, this is what we’ve been training for. This is going to be our moment, not mine, not Joey Hawke’s, not Congo’s, this is going to be our, mine, and just as importantly, yours.”
It’s minutes away from their European Championship match at Night of Champions. There are tens of thousands and even more watching worldwide to see the conclusion of the XHF, the final broadcast that is XHF Night of Champions VII. Stood in the guerilla position is Rob Arnold and Scorpion, the latter of whom is pacing up and down, looking stressed and frantic.
“I’m just not a wrestler, I’m not you Rob, I’m going to let you down!” Scorpion’s arms are waving about rather frantically, he’s actually starting to panic. He hasn’t wrestled in years, and the implication to this match could result in his friend losing his European Championship, and whilst there has been an argument in the past that there isn’t many thoughts in that brian of his, this thought is certainly weighing heavy.
“You’re not a wrestler? Do you honestly believe that?” Rob walks over to him and places both hands on Scorpion’s shoulders.
“I do.” Scorpion says meekly.
“Well let me tell you that you’re wrong, categorically wrong. No matter what happens tonight, I want you to know that you are a legend in so many people’s minds, and that includes me. You may not remember what you’ve achieved, but you’ve achieved more in this company than I have, that means when all the dust settles, no matter what happens, you will always be remembered for more in the XHF than Rob Arnold. You need to own that, be proud of that, and hold your head up high.
It’s more than that though, it’s about shutting up those people that think it’s right to abuse people like you, Joey Hawke, Congo, they don’t respect you, and that’s wrong. You need to show them that you should be respected.”
“D- do you respect me?” Stutters Scorpion.
“Of course I do, if it wasn’t for you I’d have been back home months ago, and where would the fun in that be? And hey, if I hadn’t bumped into you in that kitchen a few years ago then I’d never have stuck around then, and then I’d never have been XHF Heavyweight Champion, and that’s all because of you.”
Scorpion stares blankly back at Rob, still not completely appreciating what he has to say.
“The point is, you are going to be fine, I completely believe that. Besides, I have your back, no matter what.” Arnold smiles and puts out a fist, Scorpion looks down at the fist, confused.
“...”
“You do the same, and you knock it against my fist, its a sign of respect, and in some cases, in our case, that we have each others support.”
Scorpions eyes narrow, trying to work it out, slowly, he closes his fist and moves it within an inch of Rob’s fist.
“Like this?”
“Like that, and then...” Rob fist bumps Scorps, who jumps slightly at the contact. “...Just like that. Now, do you feel better, are you ready?”
“More ready than before.”
‘Are you listening? Woah!’ The opening line from Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World begins to hit the speakers in the area. Rob’s head tilts in that direction and shakes his head with a smile.
“Well, we’re about to find out just how ready you really are because this is us. Remember, we have each others backs, no matter what.”
“No matter what!” Beams Scorpion.
3 Minutes Before Xtraction Match
The guerilla position once more. This time there are bodies everywhere, the show in full swing. Team AXW are dotted around but are by no means together. Price, Sung-Hyun Lee and Storm Crow are doing their own things in various parts, and Rob Arnold approaches the area last, he spots Scorpion, who has also hung way back out of all the others, and slowly strides up to him. Scorpion spots him pretty early on and folds his arms, expecting and awaiting further hostility. Rob however holds both hands up, almost apologetically as he approaches him.
“I’m not here to aggravate, or abuse, I’m here just to talk.” He opts to open with.
“And why do you think I’d want to talk to you?”
“Because we both know that I’ve been on over-reactive ball of Rob Arnold since this all began. I’m here to draw a line underneath it, because that’s what I should have done weeks ago. It’s what I should have done when you came to the cafe to see me. I’ll be honest, I’ve been pretty out of order. Not to those idiots, I don’t owe them a damn thing, but to you I’ve been well out of place and for that I’m sorry.”
Scorpion looks pretty surprised, the words ‘I’m sorry’ scarcely leave Arnold’s lips so he’s aware that it’s a collectors item, however it was a still a veiled comment to Arnold’s sheer disrespect to Price, Lee and Crow.
“Why now?” Is Scorpion’s straight response.
“Just a few things tonight, they got me strolling down memory lane, reminded myself a few things that I’ve said, we’ve said, and that I once stood in a place really similar to this and I told you that I always had your back. I told you that we always had each others back. Despite what I think about recent events, despite things I’ve said and done, I still believe that. I have your back tonight, and always will do. Isn’t that what friends do?”
Scorpion’s eyes widen slightly, like something twigged in his brain, he quickly shakes his head and returns to his weary stare of Arnold.
“Friend? I’m back to being your friend now?” He retorts.
“Okay, I never said a good friend, I’ve been pretty lacking in that department. I’m big enough to admit it.” Arnold holds his hands up once more, and there’s a short pause, before he breaks the silence once more. “So I want to ask you, you can tell me to go to hell or whatever, but I’ve been wondering what you actually do and don’t remember now?”
There’s an awkward pause, Rob’s aware he may be crossing a line here. Scorpion does answer however.
“I have good days and bad days. The only real memories I have of my old accomplishments are through the videos people show me, I’m a lot better with things that have happened recently.”
Rob nods in understanding, then slowly holds out his fist.
“Then do you remember this?”
Scorpion looks down at Arnold’s outstretched fist, and then back up at Arnold and shakes his head in disbelief.
“So all these weeks of bile, the disinterest in the team, the self interest, all that becomes acceptable because you’re willing to say sorry to me and hold your fist out?” Is the sharp response.
“It’s not about them, forget them, forget what I’ve said about the title, forget everything apart from the actual point of me coming over to you, I’m reminding you that no matter what, I have your back. I can’t change who I am, you know that, you’ve seen that first hand, but I do have lines that I won’t cross, I have a code that I run by. Do you know what sits near the top of that code? Always look after those closest to you, and that’s you, that’s been you since 2006, eleven damn years Scorpion.
Now what I’m still doing, holding my hand out rather resolutely, is with hope that you have my back as well out there and show me that my replicating that. Those other three we will support and deal with, but they’re not us, they’re not Arnold and Scorpion, and what this teams needs is us on our best game. So...Are. You. In?”
Arnold keeps holding his fist out, face determined. Scorpion locks eyes with him and then looks back down.
“I have a question first, what happened to you, where have you been?”
Rob looks down, reluctant to divulge.
“I’ve been to my own personal hell. Perhaps not where you’ve been, but I’ve been torturing myself for about nine years now, especially the last six years. A bit like you, I’m still picking the pieces up.”
Scorpion looks back down at the outstretched fist, and then back at Arnold.
“Well, if that the case...What was it you said back then? No matter what?”
Rob smiles.
“No matter what.”
The pair bump fists, causing Arnold to smirk, no sooner than he does this, ‘St Patrick’ by PVRIS begins to play, and Rob’s head turns to the curtain, before back at Scorpion.
“I hope you’re ready for what’s about to happen, because it’s going to be a circus out there, I’m talking even crazier than that Jackson Steele bloke and his crazy strong penis that you had to deal with a few months back…and don’t even get me started on the pig.”
"Oh I hate that pig."
"Yeah, I could tell!"
Rob shakes his head.
“Anyway, let’s go have some fun at these Russians’ expense, shall we?”
He turns and heads out the curtain, ready to take on team FWA.
The FWA Coliseum, all prepared and ready for the evenings events. Most importantly, the bragging rights between the FWA and AXW. In the canteen however it could be any other event night. There’s a general hustle and bustle, the sound of trays banging together, plates and cutlery being bashed together make up a typical busy eatery. Collecting his food is Rob Arnold, tray in hands, he slides along the counter and politely smiles at the older Russian cook.
“Ah yes, hi, may I have the chicken please?”
The lady doesn’t appear to speak much English, that or she’s been told not to feed AXW competitors. She stares blankly back at Rob, who tries once more.
“Chicken? Please?” He points at the picture of the roast chicken on the menu behind her. The lady, dressed all in white, a tight hair net covering her greying hair which seemingly was once jet black, just stares blankly some more. Determined not to make a scene, Arnold once again tries another approach without losing his temper. He quickly grabs his phone and types rapidly before looking back up to the lady with another smile.
“Er, koo-ri-tsa?” He forces the Russian pronunciation through rather bluntly, however it seems to have the desired effect, the woman goes from a state of total idleness to a beaming smile.
“Ohhhh, Да, куриц [yes, chicken]” Is her immediate response, and she shuffles to a metal lid, and produces a very unattractive piece of chicken, which is placed very ungracefully on a plate, with equally unappealing vegetables added next to it. She then hands the plate to Rob, who carefully takes it, and again choose the high road and nods, smiles and walks away. As he turns he looks down at the plate of what could barley be classed as food and simply mouths the words “what the hell is this?” before taking table in the corner.
Rob looks down at the plate in front of him, very aware that other than a small nutritional gain, there was very little to enjoy about consuming this food. Other than get upset, he smiles.
“2006 all over again. Don’t think I’ll be getting into this kitchen though.” He chuckles.
August 2006
The CWA was no more, nor had it been for some time now. There had been a mini revival in the TXA however as always, the relationship between Arnold and Dan Keeling had lasted all of five minutes. This brought Arnold back to the XHF, looking for a job. He found himself sat in Mongo the Destroyer’s office, a modest room, especially for such a giant of a man. Rob sat back in the chair without much care in the world, he’d never found getting work an issue in previous years, and he’d already had a run with the XHF, so this should have been much of a formality.
“Well, I have to tell you Mr Arnold, we just don’t have a space on our roster for you right now.” Mongo states, looking up from some paperwork. This causes Arnold to sit bolt upright in a mix of confusion and borderline distress.
“Wait, what? You’re not employing me?” Is the eventual response.
“I am not. If I’m honest we just don’t have enough resources to have you on board right now, you’re too experienced for developmental, so I just can’t do anything for you.” Mongo states once more, looking back down at his paperwork.
“But I’m an ex-Hardcore Champion, that should count for something, right?” Rob pleads.
“Mr Arnold,” Mongo begins, this time not even looking up, “Firstly, Joey Hawke could probably win the XHF Hardcore Title, secondly, I have no record of that due to a cyber attack wiping out huge chunks of our records, and we’d just stopped keeping paper records, and finally, I just don’t care. If something comes up, we’ll have you straight in, you can trust me on that.” Mongo waves a hand as if to shoo Rob away, then presses his intercom, "Bonnie, where the hell is Bongo? I've got some crazy expense claims sat here and he needs to explain himself.". Slightly flabbergasted, he obliges to leave, and leaves the office and heads down the hall.
“Ugh, now what?” Arnold quietly says under his breath. He looks up, and ahead he sees the canteen, he decides that it would be the right time to grab a bite to eat before moving on to another promotion. However, as he walks through the entrance, he realises everything is dimly lit, and on approach to the counter there is a sign that says ‘Catering Closed – Staff Shortage’.
Rob straightens up and places his hands on his hips, unimpressed and looking around for ideas. As he does, his ears pick up on a noise from the kitchen. Perhaps its a lingering chef, perhaps he could convince whoever it is to sort himself out some food? Perhaps-
“Booooorn in the USA, I was, boooooorn in the USA.”
Perhaps they really like to howl Bruce Sprinsteen as well! Rob smirks at his own choice of thought, and tentatively walks around the counter and towards the kitchen.
“Oh Wormy, you’re such a great friend, the greatest friend a fisherman could have.” The voice from the kitchen then says, which confuses Rob, though at this point he’s willing to keep going. He steps into the doorway of the kitchen and sees the back of a man, listening to Springsteen, and possibly placing an item into a lunch box.
“Uh, hello?” Arnold enquires, causing the man to turn around. The man is actually XHF Legend, Scorpion.
“Oh, hello there sir! What can I do for you?”
“I’m just hoping I could get something to eat, is there any chefs around, any staff?” Rob stares Scorpion up and down.
“Oh no, the big boss, he just keeps me down here nowadays, he keeps saying something about cutbacks and making the place seem busy for longer so he could hive off the money, or something like that anyway, I don’t think he realised I was listening.” Scorpion smiles, but clearly has a very vacant look in his eyes.
“I see, so if I wanted to make something myself...”
“Oh yes, there’s plenty of food down here Mister...”
“Rob.”
“Mister Rob, pleased to meet you, I’m-”
“Scorpion, I know who you are, you’re quite a big deal around here.” Rob folds his arms and tilts his head in genuine perplexion, this man was once one of the best, yet he seems so off.
“So people tell me, I don’t remember much about that, all I know is I like to spend time fishing with my pal wormy. And listening to the great music of Bruce Springsteen.”
Rob pauses, somewhat stunned that a former XHF Champion could be reduced to such a mess. However, his face changes to that one of an idea.
“Say, Scorpion, do you think if anybody would notice if I started doing some of the cooking around here? You could help me if you like?” Arnold had quickly considered that if he spent enough time around an XHF legend, no matter how mentally unbalanced, that an opportunity would perhaps arise quicker than what Mongo was offering earlier.
“Oh really? I’d love to help, I don’t have too many friends, other than wormy of course.”
“Of...course.” Is Rob’s bleated, laboured reply. “Wait, you consider me a friend?”
“Well you’re a pleasant man, who wants me to help him, that’s what friends do, right?”
“I...I guess they do.” Rob nods his head slowly. “Yeah, sure, why not.”
1 Hour Until Xtraction Match
Rob walks through the backstage area, dressed in mainly wrestling gear but has some street clothes on his upper body. He stops and looks up at the guerilla position, currently empty, and then down the corridor that heads to the locker room. In the distance he sees Scorpion’s locker room. He sighs and shakes his head.
“Dammit, I’ve got to make it right.” He sighs again, and looks at his watch, before heading on to his own locker room.
30 March 2008
“I can’t do this.”
“Yes you can Scorpion, this is what we’ve been working towards, this is what we’ve been training for. This is going to be our moment, not mine, not Joey Hawke’s, not Congo’s, this is going to be our, mine, and just as importantly, yours.”
It’s minutes away from their European Championship match at Night of Champions. There are tens of thousands and even more watching worldwide to see the conclusion of the XHF, the final broadcast that is XHF Night of Champions VII. Stood in the guerilla position is Rob Arnold and Scorpion, the latter of whom is pacing up and down, looking stressed and frantic.
“I’m just not a wrestler, I’m not you Rob, I’m going to let you down!” Scorpion’s arms are waving about rather frantically, he’s actually starting to panic. He hasn’t wrestled in years, and the implication to this match could result in his friend losing his European Championship, and whilst there has been an argument in the past that there isn’t many thoughts in that brian of his, this thought is certainly weighing heavy.
“You’re not a wrestler? Do you honestly believe that?” Rob walks over to him and places both hands on Scorpion’s shoulders.
“I do.” Scorpion says meekly.
“Well let me tell you that you’re wrong, categorically wrong. No matter what happens tonight, I want you to know that you are a legend in so many people’s minds, and that includes me. You may not remember what you’ve achieved, but you’ve achieved more in this company than I have, that means when all the dust settles, no matter what happens, you will always be remembered for more in the XHF than Rob Arnold. You need to own that, be proud of that, and hold your head up high.
It’s more than that though, it’s about shutting up those people that think it’s right to abuse people like you, Joey Hawke, Congo, they don’t respect you, and that’s wrong. You need to show them that you should be respected.”
“D- do you respect me?” Stutters Scorpion.
“Of course I do, if it wasn’t for you I’d have been back home months ago, and where would the fun in that be? And hey, if I hadn’t bumped into you in that kitchen a few years ago then I’d never have stuck around then, and then I’d never have been XHF Heavyweight Champion, and that’s all because of you.”
Scorpion stares blankly back at Rob, still not completely appreciating what he has to say.
“The point is, you are going to be fine, I completely believe that. Besides, I have your back, no matter what.” Arnold smiles and puts out a fist, Scorpion looks down at the fist, confused.
“...”
“You do the same, and you knock it against my fist, its a sign of respect, and in some cases, in our case, that we have each others support.”
Scorpions eyes narrow, trying to work it out, slowly, he closes his fist and moves it within an inch of Rob’s fist.
“Like this?”
“Like that, and then...” Rob fist bumps Scorps, who jumps slightly at the contact. “...Just like that. Now, do you feel better, are you ready?”
“More ready than before.”
‘Are you listening? Woah!’ The opening line from Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World begins to hit the speakers in the area. Rob’s head tilts in that direction and shakes his head with a smile.
“Well, we’re about to find out just how ready you really are because this is us. Remember, we have each others backs, no matter what.”
“No matter what!” Beams Scorpion.
3 Minutes Before Xtraction Match
The guerilla position once more. This time there are bodies everywhere, the show in full swing. Team AXW are dotted around but are by no means together. Price, Sung-Hyun Lee and Storm Crow are doing their own things in various parts, and Rob Arnold approaches the area last, he spots Scorpion, who has also hung way back out of all the others, and slowly strides up to him. Scorpion spots him pretty early on and folds his arms, expecting and awaiting further hostility. Rob however holds both hands up, almost apologetically as he approaches him.
“I’m not here to aggravate, or abuse, I’m here just to talk.” He opts to open with.
“And why do you think I’d want to talk to you?”
“Because we both know that I’ve been on over-reactive ball of Rob Arnold since this all began. I’m here to draw a line underneath it, because that’s what I should have done weeks ago. It’s what I should have done when you came to the cafe to see me. I’ll be honest, I’ve been pretty out of order. Not to those idiots, I don’t owe them a damn thing, but to you I’ve been well out of place and for that I’m sorry.”
Scorpion looks pretty surprised, the words ‘I’m sorry’ scarcely leave Arnold’s lips so he’s aware that it’s a collectors item, however it was a still a veiled comment to Arnold’s sheer disrespect to Price, Lee and Crow.
“Why now?” Is Scorpion’s straight response.
“Just a few things tonight, they got me strolling down memory lane, reminded myself a few things that I’ve said, we’ve said, and that I once stood in a place really similar to this and I told you that I always had your back. I told you that we always had each others back. Despite what I think about recent events, despite things I’ve said and done, I still believe that. I have your back tonight, and always will do. Isn’t that what friends do?”
Scorpion’s eyes widen slightly, like something twigged in his brain, he quickly shakes his head and returns to his weary stare of Arnold.
“Friend? I’m back to being your friend now?” He retorts.
“Okay, I never said a good friend, I’ve been pretty lacking in that department. I’m big enough to admit it.” Arnold holds his hands up once more, and there’s a short pause, before he breaks the silence once more. “So I want to ask you, you can tell me to go to hell or whatever, but I’ve been wondering what you actually do and don’t remember now?”
There’s an awkward pause, Rob’s aware he may be crossing a line here. Scorpion does answer however.
“I have good days and bad days. The only real memories I have of my old accomplishments are through the videos people show me, I’m a lot better with things that have happened recently.”
Rob nods in understanding, then slowly holds out his fist.
“Then do you remember this?”
Scorpion looks down at Arnold’s outstretched fist, and then back up at Arnold and shakes his head in disbelief.
“So all these weeks of bile, the disinterest in the team, the self interest, all that becomes acceptable because you’re willing to say sorry to me and hold your fist out?” Is the sharp response.
“It’s not about them, forget them, forget what I’ve said about the title, forget everything apart from the actual point of me coming over to you, I’m reminding you that no matter what, I have your back. I can’t change who I am, you know that, you’ve seen that first hand, but I do have lines that I won’t cross, I have a code that I run by. Do you know what sits near the top of that code? Always look after those closest to you, and that’s you, that’s been you since 2006, eleven damn years Scorpion.
Now what I’m still doing, holding my hand out rather resolutely, is with hope that you have my back as well out there and show me that my replicating that. Those other three we will support and deal with, but they’re not us, they’re not Arnold and Scorpion, and what this teams needs is us on our best game. So...Are. You. In?”
Arnold keeps holding his fist out, face determined. Scorpion locks eyes with him and then looks back down.
“I have a question first, what happened to you, where have you been?”
Rob looks down, reluctant to divulge.
“I’ve been to my own personal hell. Perhaps not where you’ve been, but I’ve been torturing myself for about nine years now, especially the last six years. A bit like you, I’m still picking the pieces up.”
Scorpion looks back down at the outstretched fist, and then back at Arnold.
“Well, if that the case...What was it you said back then? No matter what?”
Rob smiles.
“No matter what.”
The pair bump fists, causing Arnold to smirk, no sooner than he does this, ‘St Patrick’ by PVRIS begins to play, and Rob’s head turns to the curtain, before back at Scorpion.
“I hope you’re ready for what’s about to happen, because it’s going to be a circus out there, I’m talking even crazier than that Jackson Steele bloke and his crazy strong penis that you had to deal with a few months back…and don’t even get me started on the pig.”
"Oh I hate that pig."
"Yeah, I could tell!"
Rob shakes his head.
“Anyway, let’s go have some fun at these Russians’ expense, shall we?”
He turns and heads out the curtain, ready to take on team FWA.
