I REALLY WANTED TO COME UP WITH A STORY TITLE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS, BUT I HAD ENOUGH OF A HARD TIME JUST DECIDING WHAT I WANTED TO WRITE THIS WEEK,

Feeling Greipeful

Warning: Some content in this section may be uncomfortable to read.

She sat there on the couch, a throw pillow clutched against her chest as she heard his voice whisper in her ear.

“They'll never love you.”

“I'm the only one that cares about you.”

Olivia Henderson squeezed her eyes shut tightly and breathed in deeply, as thoughts of the trauma she had gone through with Eddie Cruz pushed the thoughts of happiness she had felt the last couple of months aside. It didn't take much for all the good in her life to cower into the back room of the home and shut the door, closed off from the memories of dismay that continued to torment her; feet up on the recliner with an ice cold drink and a bag of chips.

She traced the area on her thigh where the scars are with her index finger. The battle that waged within her was one she struggled to survive on a constant basis. She wrestled with herself to drown out the siren’s song that beckoned her to press the blade's edge against her skin, but the voice that tempted her was too loud to ignore at times.

That was prior to his support, before he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her tightly against his chest. The hand that snatched the blade from her fingers belonged to Travis Greipe. He was not aware of the physical harm that she had inflicted on herself, the blemishes she currently covered with faded black jeans hidden from the World…much like the agony that caused them in the first place.

How do you tell someone that you found pleasure in the pain caused by a paper thin cut across your skin, that you felt a release so euphoric you danced upon the thin line between desire and relief like a ballerina in an open jewelry box. How could she admit that the insidious whisper still tempted and cajoled her weakened will, despite the reason for its existence being eliminated.

A hand brushed against her thigh and rested on her knee. His touch brought calm to the uneasiness in her chest, and wrestled her attention away from the thoughts of self harm that lived rent free in her mind. Her lips curled into a smile, briefly, like a butterfly resting on a flower for a moment. It brought a soft light that chased away the shadows that had settled in her eyes, and etched faint, delicate lines at their corners, like tiny sun rays that fought their way through the clouds.

“What's on your mind,” he asked softly as he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face.

She struggled to answer, as the vice around her throat slowly tightened. She could feel her leg start to bounce again, as her gaze focused on a family photo on the mantle not far from her instead of him.

“My dad,” her voice cracked. It was the first thing that popped in her mind that wasn't about self harm.

“Your dad?”

It wasn't exactly a lie. Ever since her father had told her about his condition, she couldn't help but think about all the time she had missed with him. Not only the time she had lost before she even knew who he was, but what she lost because of the physical and mental distress that Eddie had put her through.

It wasn't exactly the truth either. That's why she starts to tap her fingers in a rhythmic pattern on the back of his hand, as the storm in the pit of her stomach began to toss around that afternoon's lunch. This wasn't something she could talk about to anyone, so she had no clue what she would say if he asked for more information.

“He's got that tag team match coming up at UltraViolence, right?” Travis' smile was felt more than it was seen, a discernible warmth that emanated outwards, it instantly thawed the chill of the room and eased the tension in her shoulders.

“Yeah, he really wants to win.”

She wanted to thank him.

She wanted to pull back the curtains and reveal her truth, lay bare the effects of the trauma she had endured.

But she didn't.

Instead, she discussed her father's desire to secure a victory for the Bandits, and eventually hoist one of the tag team titles above his head.

Not really a lie, but far from her truth.

=-=-=-=-=

Ultra Victory

It had taken everything in me to dive through the ropes, tackling Hugo Vale in an effort to keep him from breaking up the pin. A few hand slaps on the mat later, and I heard the sweet sound of angels singing our praise.

Everyone else heard a bell ringing, but for me it was different.

All I could think about was the opportunity we had just secured, the shot we had just guaranteed by beating the Green Vale Gang. Pretty soon we will be able to face off against the Glue Boyz, and leave everyone standing around with eGG on their faces when we walk away as tag team champions.

I felt the barrel-like arms of Hessian wrap around my waist, before picking me up from the crumpled heap Hugo and I had become and tossing me over his shoulder. The smile that woke children up in a cold sweat widened as my partner carried me up the ramp, my fingers still wrapped around the pair of brass knuckles I had used earlier – now a trophy of the evening's victory.

I love it when a plan comes together.

=-=-=-=-=

The Yellow Pages

Steve Harrison.

The Banditsbane.

A name well deserved, considering the history you have against my stablemates.

It would be understandable for me to tell you that this time will be different, that your little run is going to end at ReVival 71.

Thing is, this match against you was not part of the plan.

Joe and Flambo are the plan.

The tag team titles are the prize.

You, Stevie, are the side quest I usually skip.

Thing is, Cancer thinks this is a good opportunity to break the cycle…to avenge the Bandits and redeem our good name.

Okay, that's actually bullshit.

His actual response was “who?”.

Ha.

Truth is, Harrison, no one thinks about you at all. Your name doesn't linger in the back of our minds, dreading the thought of one of us having to face you.

You're just another name on the roster, trying desperately to get a foothold in the company like everyone else. The only difference is you believe you still belong, that if you fight hard enough and beat enough of us, Cancer will welcome you back with open arms.

The Universal title shot for winning the Almasy is the only enticing thing about our match, so you'll have to forgive me if I don't look at this as some sort of battle for redemption. This is just another match, and you're just another opponent.

Nothing special.

Much like myself, which I have no problem admitting, because I have come to realize that I'm never winning that Universal title. I had two opportunities during the ReVolution era and came up short. I am not the man that I used to be, and everyone in PRIME knows it, so why pretend that getting past you is the gateway to another opportunity I'll just fail at accomplishing in the next round when I face off against Bobby's Baby Girl or the Pineapple Bruh.

Regardless of when it happens, the outcome will be the same. See, I've been in the ring with Universal champions like Cecilworth, Stanislav, and even Madame Blueberry in last year's Almasy…You can only hear “You almost had him” or “That's your best in-ring work in years” so many times, and I've heard it way too often.

I'll probably hear it again after our match, and I still won't pay it any mind.

I've had my time in the spotlight, gone up against some of the best in this business – and even some of the worst. Hell, I've even won this tournament before, so I know what it means and how great it makes you feel.

I just don't have it in me to compete like that anymore.

=-=-=-=-=

Change of Plans

“You think that's going to work again?”

“Don't know,” Tony Gamble’s eyes glinted with derision as he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly while the left half of his lips curled tightly in the corner. “I'm actually hoping he'll be overconfident because he doesn't know any better.”

“So you do want to win,” Victoria Henderson's brows arched, as her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly.

“Of course,” he chuckled softly, eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “I honestly doubt it's going to happen though. Harrison tends to step his game up a bit when he's up against a Bandit, but there's no doubt he's talented regardless of his opponent.”

Tony shifted in his seat, the fact that this match was not going to be easy would normally weigh heavily on his mind. For some reason though, he was at peace with the possibility that he could lose. It wasn't the first time, and he doubted it would be the last.

Unlike his tag team partner, the Universal title was no longer something he wanted to chase. His focus has shifted to the tag team titles because he had come to terms with what his body was still capable of, and a run at the Universal title wasn't in the cards.

Being the only singles title he had never held, it was a decision he had gone back and forth on for quite a while. He flirted with the idea a bit when the tag league tournament was going on. He and Bobby teamed up and did well, but things happened and when it came time to challenge for the titles Tony had a new partner. Despite the outcome, he and the Murder Show worked well together.

“Was that even an answer?”

Tony laughed, because he really wasn't sure. He had made himself a promise to focus on the tag team titles, but if he managed to beat Harrison – if he managed to pull a rabbit out of his ass, turn back time, and actually win the newly named Jewel in the Crown for the second time in his career – could he really just walk away from a shot at the Universal title?

“If it happens, then it happens.” Tony sits up in his chair and shrugs his shoulders. “Sometimes plans have to be changed.”