Today, Now, New York City

Seb and Lucy sat facing one another, arms crossed, both with faces resembling a bulldog chewing on a wasp. Seb had a large lump on his forehead, and Lucy had a cut lip and an eye which was heavily bloodshot. Rogan and Sloane, however, were merrily chatting away as if this had been one of the greatest nights of their lives.

“OhMyGodYouHaveToTellMeMoreAboutYourTravels!” Sloane said almost bursting. Seb blinked at Lucy who blinked back.

“Sure, lass.” Said Rogan with a half-smile. “But only when you tell me about what’s going on with your mother and her new boyfriend.”

“What is happening here?” Seb asked Lucy.

“Fucked if I know.” She replied with her arms crossed. “Ever felt like a third wheel?”

“Let me stop you right there – I’ve just got through one existential crisis about a friend of mine and my girlfriend, I don’t need another.” Said Seb.

“We’re right here you know.” Said Sloane with a furrowed brow. Seb held up a hand of apology.

“Yeah well, I’d be less concerned about anything like that, but I do wonder if I’m going to wake up one day to find we have a bedroom with a Sloane sign on the door.” Said Lucy with a smirk.

“Why not? Sloane and Sebastian are free to visit anytime they like.” Said Rogan with a smirk.

“I was jok…” Lucy paused and rolled her eyes.

“Uh oh.” Said Sloane, looking from Lucy to Seb and back to Lucy again. “I think we have a couple of sore losers in our midst…”

“You know something…” Said Rogan, turning in his seat slightly. “I think you’re right.”

“For the record, we didn’t lose. Technically the two of you were disqualified.” Said Seb.

“For what?!” Asked Sloane.

“Yeah, for what?” Asked Lucy looking confused. Seb gave her a piercing look that said ‘OhMyGodWillYouJustBackMeUp?!’. But instead, Lucy just blinked at him.

“Oh for goodness…” Seb began, before turning back to Sloane. “You and Rogan left before we’d finished. You basically forfeit the game.”

“What!?” Said Sloane. “You guys were taking forever! Sorry, Lucy… But it’s true!”

“She has a fair point, fella. We’d finished the first round of drinks by the time you two stopped squabbling.”

“We were NOT squabbling.” Said Lucy, defensively. “That was sound strategy.”

“Yeah… Sounded like it.” Said Rogan. Sloane began to giggle, and Seb gave her dirty look.

“Besides, I’m not entirely convinced you didn’t have some weird Rogan magic going on.” Said Seb.

“That’s not how it works, Seb.” Said Lucy.

“Could we at least get on the same page for one… single… moment… PLEASE?!” Seb asked with wide pleading eyes.

This time it was Lucy’s turn to hold up her hands up apologetically.

“You know what? I give up.” Seb said getting up from the table and limping noticeably off towards the bar.

“Oof.” Said Sloane.

“Yeah.” Said Rogan. “Oof.”

“Oh my god.” Said Lucy, rolling her eyes.

 

Several hours earlier…

“I assumed you’d be better at this.” Said Lucy, tapping her foot in frustration.

“I’m sorry, what is it about me that made you think I’d even be the least bit skilled in this particular activity?” Asked Seb.

“I don’t know. You’re British. Aren’t you taught golf from birth or something?” Lucy asked, watching as Rogan lined up his next impossible and yet inevitable putt directly into the hole despite the clown that was opening and closing it’s mouth. They watched as he took his shot and it popped between the gnashing teeth and disappeared. A moment later, Sloane let out a squeal and dashed towards Rogan and jumped into a high five. “See? Like him.”

“There are so many things wrong with what you’ve just said.” Said Seb.

“Like what?” Asked Lucy.

“For one thing, Rogan’s Irish! That’s not the same thing! Secondly, golf is an international sport. It’s not on our national curriculum! Thirdly, and most importantly, despite my years on the golf course and my ability to land a draw onto the green with a seven iron every single time, I have never been prepared for an eventuality that included a fucking CLOWN being in the way of the hole!” Said Seb.

“They are, indeed, valid points.” Said Lucy. “However, that doesn’t explain how bad you are at just… You know… Hitting the ball straight.”

“… Putting was never my forté.” Said Seb rolling his eyes. “Just… Take your shot.”

“Fine.” Said Lucy, stepping forward with a distinctive lack of enthusiasm. She stood next to her ball, and placed the putter behind it.

“Now, you just need to keep your legs straight, and you feet together. Bend from your waist, and don’t grip too tightly.” Said Seb. He did his best to ignore Sloane’s giggling. “That’s it, now take it nice and slow.”

“I bet you say that to all the ladies.” Said Rogan. Sloane’s giggling intensified.

“Would you mind? I’m trying to help my team mate…” Said Seb.

“Could you not? I mean, your advice hasn’t exactly been helping your own score.” Said Lucy.

“I’m merely teaching you the basics.” Replied Seb.

“Sloane didn’t do any of that and she’s got three hole in ones.” Said Lucy. “The last one she had her eyes shut when she hit the ball!”

“I don’t like clowns!” Said Sloane.

“My point is less about the clown and more about you getting a hole in one without doing anything Seb just said!”

“Yes, but if we’re trying to explain the mystery of how Sloane works, we’re going to need a white board and a team of scientists.” Said Seb.

“Hey!” Said Sloane, her brow furrowed.

“Take it as a compliment, lass. The best of us do things differently.” Said Rogan.

“Awwww thanks, Rogan. You hear that Seb? The best of us do things differently.” Said Sloane.

“If you define differently as inexplicably without reason and incapable of explanation, then sure.” Said Seb.

“That’s exactly how I define it.” Said Rogan.

“Oh my god, will the three of you just shut the fuck up and let me take my damn shot?!” Said Lucy.

“Sorry, Lucy.” Said Sloane.

“Sorry, love.” Said Rogan. Lucy glanced at Seb.

“I’ve got nothing to be sorry about, I was trying to help.” Said Seb with a petulant shrug of the shoulders.

“Fuck sake…” Said Lucy, turning back to her ball and taking her shot. It ricocheted back off the teeth of the clown and stopped just short of the mouth. “Son of a bitch!”

“It’s okay, just take your t…” Seb began.

“I swear to god, Seb, if you tell me to take my time the next ball I hit will be attached to you.” Said Lucy. Seb lifted his index finger to the corner of his lips, he ran them along to simulate the zipping of said lips, before twisting to indicate his mouth was locked shut. He looked at Sloane and mimed throwing her something. Dutifully, she mimed catching said key and tucking it inside her shirt.

“He can find it later.” She said to Rogan. She also attempted to wink, but because she can’t she just blinked at him.

To Rogan’s credit, he just smiled through the awkwardness.

Lucy stepped up to the ball, and took her next shot. This time, it passed through the clowns mouth and dropped into the hole.

“Thank fuck for that.” Lucy said, shaking her head, before turning her head and holding out the putter to Seb. “Alright, maestro. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Alright.” Said Seb.

“Thought your mouth was zipped.” Said Sloane, looking pouty.

“As if I wouldn’t have a spare key.” Said Seb, before turning to Lucy “I’ll just lock it back up again so I get to hunt for the original key later.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. Sloane giggled. Rogan looked awkward. Lucy looked nauseous. It was all going so very well.

“Anyway… As I was saying. All you have to do is keep your feet together, bend at the waist, relax your grip and…” He swung the club and connected with the ball with such ferocity that as it hit the clowns closing mouth and cannoned back at Seb. His eyes opened as everything happened in slow motion. The ball collided with his forehead knocking him backwards and his flailing elbow caught Lucy flush in the mouth.

“Son of a bitch!” They both said together, both on the ground. Seb’s head was immediately growing into an egg with a trickle of blood running from a cut on her lip.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Asked Rogan.

“I’ll be fine.” Said Seb.

“I was talking to Lucy, Seb.” Said Rogan.

“Oh… Right…” Said Seb. “Where’s Slo…”

He looked around Rogan to find Sloane looking down at her phone and doubled over laughing. She had, apparently, taken out her phone to film Seb’s shot and captured the entire scene as it had unfolded. And now, by all accounts, she was replaying the footage over and over, much to the chagrin of Lucy and Seb who looked mutinous. Rogan did his best to maintain his air of concern, before it all became too much and he joined Sloane in rewatching the chaos as it replayed. Over and over.

“We’re dating a pair of assholes.” Said Lucy.

“Or they are.” Said Seb, as he dusted himself off and got back to his feet. He turned and offered Lucy a hand.

“You may have a point.” She said as she took his hand, and Seb lined up his next, much less enthusiastic, shot.

 

Today, Now, New York City

Seb sat at the bar, Appletini in front of him, and a look of annoyance etched upon his face. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned his head to find Rogan MacLean dropping onto the stool next to him.

“I come in peace.” Said Rogan as he turned to the bar. “Everything alright? Not sure that an errant golf ball is enough to put the longest reigning Chaos Champion of all time off his step.”

“It’s not.” Said Seb shaking his head. “It’s… Tempest. And Zane. And… Everything really.”

“Want to talk about it?” Asked Rogan.

“Not much to talk about.” Said Seb, rubbing a hand over his face and wincing as he touched his forehead. “Except that that’s a lie and there’s a lot to talk about, I’m just not sure it helps.”

“We may not have a roaring fire, but I tend to find that talking always helps. That’s the point of palaver. What’s inside multiplies until it overcomes who and what we are. But when we get it out, and look at it in the firelight, it always seems smaller and less worrisome.”

Seb chewed on the inside of his mouth for a second before turning slightly in Rogan’s direction.

“Chaos changes you – I think you know that more than most. It takes you to places you never expected you’d ever go, and it shows you a version of yourself you never knew existed and one you don’t always like.” Said Seb.

“I can relate to that.” Said Rogan.

“Okay so, take that feeling, and add in Tempest.” Said Seb, glancing around as if expecting Daedalus to be lurking and listening. “I have no love for Tempest – him and his Creeps have pulled me this way and that over the years. The Clown, The Showman, The Spider, The Architect they’ve all taken a piece of me. And mostly I’ve taken it back, but Tempest… He holds on to what he took, and I’m afraid I’ll never take that back.”

“You did things to him that you never expected to do to another person.” Said Rogan.

“I never wanted to take his eye – that was never even a consideration. When this whole thing started, he just had something I wanted. He was the Chaos Champion, and I wanted to complete my Grand Slam. But when we fought through those flames, I could feel how much he wanted my pain. And so I met him in kind. He won the match, but… He started a war that I’m not sure he ever knew would come. And now…”

“And now?” Asked Rogan. Seb paused as if mulling over his answer – he seemed to freeze when it came to him. And then he shook it out.

“And now I go into a match with Lucy against Tempest and Zane, and I’m worried that I’ll fixate on the wrong thing and I’ll leave Lucy vulnerable. I’ve never been in the ring with Zane Scott, I have no idea what to expect.” Said Seb.

“Pain.” Said Rogan, matter of factly. “You can expect him to hurt you. And there’s nothing personal about it. There’s no underlying need to fulfil some gorish fantasy about you. That’s just the way that Zane Scott is built. As a man who is capable of hurting people, and does so with ruthless efficiency.”

“Oh good. Nothing too bad then.” Said Seb with a chuckle.

“You’ve fought people who’ve wanted to hurt you before. JC. Montague. Ragdoll. Ken. Chuck. Konrad. Kyra. No-one in this world wants to hurt you more than Tempest does. Just because Zane is better at it than most, doesn’t mean that you can’t handle it. You’ve proven time and again that there’s one thing that’s for sure about Sebastian Everett-Bryce… It’s that no-one can be sure of Sebastian Everett-Bryce. You find ways to beat people in every scenario you face.”

“Yeah… I guess I have…” said Seb.

“No guess about it, friend.” Said Rogan with a smirk. “I’m so proud of Lucy for everything she’s achieved and she’s earned everything she’s getting right now. But there’s no one in this industry that has impressed me this past year more than you.”

“Th… Thank you, Rogan.” Said Seb.

“We should get back before they think we’re skipping out on the cheque.” Said Rogan.

“Or we could just skip out on the cheque…” Said Seb, as Rogan cast him a look. “I’m kidding!”

Rogan shook his head and turned away.

“… Mostly.” Said Seb. Before he called out to Rogan again. “Hey, can we… You know… Palaver again sometime? Properly? Fire and everything?”

“Anytime you like – my fireside is always open to you.” Said Rogan with a nod.

“Thank you. Truly.” Said Seb. “Oh, and one last thing. When we get back to the table, can we just… Pretend it’s the golf that I’m annoyed about?”

“Sure, fella.” Said Rogan with a smirk. “Your secrets safe with me.”

 

Today, Now, New York City

“You know, the golf could have been much worse.” Said Sloane.

“Are you kidding me?” Said Seb. “We look like we’ve been brawling in the street. I look like a unicorn!”

“Not really, unicorn horns are pointed and they’re in the middle.” Said Rogan.

“Not helping, dear.” Said Lucy. “Golf was a disaster. Everything has been a disaster. And honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that you two were having the time of your lives over there, I think Seb and I would have left already.”

“Together?!” Asked Rogan, holding back a smirk. Sloane was trying really hard and failing.

“I swear to god, Rogan…” Lucy said dangerously.

“Alright, alright – look, I’m sorry that golf went badly. And obviously, neither of us wanted you two getting hurt but…” Said Rogan.

“But what?” Asked Seb, flatly.

“… Well… I mean… You did kinda bring it on yourselves.” Said Sloane.

“Say that again.” Said Lucy. “Slowly.”

“I think what we’re trying to say is that neither of you really got into the spirit of the events that the two of us spent quite a lot of time organising.” Said Rogan. “If you wanted to do things that the two of you wanted to do, why didn’t you decide what the plans were?”

“A good rule of thumb is not to let the people in a relationship with the resting bitch face come up with fun plans.” Said Seb.

“Hey!” Said Lucy, before both Seb and Rogan cast her a look. “Okay fine.”

“Then you should have thrown yourselves in with enthusiasm.” Said Sloane. “I mean we didn’t even get to do the second part of the date.”

“For good reason!” Said Seb.

“Yeah!” Said Lucy. “You expected us to carry on regardless after…”

“No, but I don’t think we’d have ended up in the same place if the two of you had been more engaged with the fun at hand.” Said Rogan.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Said Seb.

“Uh oh! Looks like Seb’s fallen into a river in Egypt!” Said Sloane

“What are you talking about?” Asked Seb.

“She means you’re in denial. You know… Like de… Nile… As in the river. In Egypt.” Said Rogan. “I liked that one.”

“Of course you did.” Said Lucy, shaking her head.

“I think what we have here are a couple of… Angry Pirates…” Said Sloane. “All grumpy that things didn’t go their way.”

“You know what, Sloane? I think you’re right. I think… They arrrrrrrrrgh!” Said Rogan.

“I swear to fucking god.” Said Lucy. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Lucy got up from the table and dropped her napkin on the table, before walking off towards the bathroom. Sloane glanced at Rogan.

“I think I’m going to go after her.” Said Sloane. She pushed up from the table and followed.

“For the record…” Said Seb, checking to make sure no-one could hear. “That Angry Pirate thing was quite funny.”

“Thanks, Seb.” Said Rogan. “Though I suspect I might suffer for it later.”

 

Today, Now, New York City

Sloane pushed the door to the restroom open and quietly stepped inside. At first, she didn’t see Lucy, so she pulled out her listening ears and quickly realised how weird it was to be listening for any ‘business’ going on in the bathroom, and she put them away.

A loud sigh came from a small room, tucked just beyond the row of stalls. Sloane took that as her cue to check in on her friend, and when she rounded the corner, she found Lucy sitting on the edge of a small sofa, her arms folded up on her lap and her face down, seemingly staring at the ground at her feet.

“Lucy?”

Startled, Lucy looked up to see Sloane, and let out another sigh. “I know, I know.. I’m coming back. I just needed a minute.”

Sloane shook her head and approached where Lucy sat, opting to sit down in an adjacent chair.

“Are you okay?”

To that, Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“Come on, Lucy…” Sloane pushed on, hoping for something to help her friend, and to help this night go from yuck to yum. As that thought crossed her mind, Sloane smirked, and when Lucy rose to her feet – she realised she should probably come back into this moment. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, really.” Lucy replied, taking a few steps back towards the exit. “We should probably get back ou–”

But before Lucy could finish, Sloane herself stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Now you listen here, Lucy Marie Wylde!”

“It’s Elisabe–”

Sloane stomped her foot for effect. “It doesn’t matter! I am your friend, Lucy and I can tell there’s something on your mind.. So spill!”

Lucy turned around to face Sloane, and momentarily, Sloane considered backing down. But she didn’t. And surprisingly enough, Lucy moved back towards the couch and sat back down.

“Fine, fine.” Lucy relented, raising her arms into the air for effect. “It’s just, this week.. You know? It’s all of it.”

Sloane had since brought herself back down onto the chair she’d been seated on, and when Lucy glanced at her, she tilted her head. “Is it Seb? I know he’s a bit–”

Lucy shook her head. “It’s not Seb. After being on a team with Dave and Ezra, I welcome a partner that I can actually trust. It’s Tempest… And Zane. It just feels like… I don’t know. It’s hard to describe. Tempest is Tempest, and I’m sure that he’ll want to try his luck again.. Eventually. So it’s like I’ve gotta have my head on a swivel because of him, and the creeps…”

Sloane nodded. “But the one you really need to focus on…”

“Exactly. Zane and I have a history.. And I know he’s got a pretty good idea of what he wants to do to take the world title off of me. And I’ll have to deal with that, but I don’t want to focus too hard on Zane this week and open the door for Tempest to do God only knows what in order to make things harder on Seb. He’s been on such a roll lately, and I don’t wanna be the reason that comes to an end. I wanna help him, not hinder him.”

Sloane couldn’t hide the look of surprise on her face as she took in everything that Lucy had said. Finally, Sloane cleared her throat and adjusted herself in her seat. “You’re Lucy Wylde. You’re the world champion, and I couldn’t think of anyone that’s more able to keep the both of you from going into these title matches in top form.”

“I try. But that doesn’t mean a damn thing when it comes to people like Tempest and Zane. When they want something, they’re like animals. They’re ruthless and they honestly don’t care about what they’ve gotta do in order to get it. I mean look at what Tempest tried at Horizons. Look at anything he’s done. He’s capable of anything and I know Seb knows that. But you add Zane into the mix and… Things just get a lot more uncertain in my mind.”

“But..” Sloane began, leaning forward. “They just might show their hand early. That’s the thing with being consumed with.. Whatever it is that they’re consumed by. Sometimes mistakes happen and you and Seb are good enough that you guys can capitalise on that.”

Lucy nodded. “You’re right. But that street goes both ways. I know I don’t wanna give Zane any opening that he can use, and I’m sure Seb wants to keep Tempest guessing as much as he possibly can.”

The world champ lets out another sigh.

“I really hate matches like this…” Lucy said, softer as she shook her head.

Sloane reached out and touched Lucy’s hand, in her best attempt to be reassuring. “Hey, there’s a reason you guys are where you’re at. And if there’s anyone I wanna see succeed as much as I wanna see Seb succeed… It’s you, Lucy. You have more than earned where you’re at and.. And yeah. That’s it. You’ve got this. So stop worrying about it and just enjoy yourself here tonight… A little bit of fun never hurt anyone.”

Lucy chuckled. “Says the one who didn’t get elbowed in the face.”

Sloane smirked. “Oooor the one with a golf ball shaped lump on his forehead. Come on, let’s take this night from ‘yuck’ to ‘yum’! How about it?”

All Lucy could do was stare at Sloane for a few moments in disbelief before she rose to her feet and motioned for the door. “Fine, but never… Never say that again.”

Lucy turned and left the room as Sloane got up, a bit of a furrow in her brow.

“Well I thought it was clever…”

 

Several hours earlier…

“Team Wylde Empire?” Asked Lucy. “Please tell me that’s not what you’ve called us for our match this week.”

“We don’t HAVE a name for our team this week. But it would give us an edge.” Said Seb as he deleted out Wylde Empire and placed it with ‘World Chaos.’

“That’s so much worse.” Said Lucy, before looking around. “Where did they go?”

“Sloane said her shoes were too big and they were making her toes itch.” Said Seb, rolling his eyes. “So she went to change them.”

“And Rogan went with her?” Asked Lucy.

“No, he wanted to ask what the rules were on interdimensional portals as an alternative to putting the gutter guards up.” Said Seb.

“Why the hell do we need gutter guards?” Asked Lucy.

“Because Sloane gets sad for the balls that don’t knock down the pins. She says they don’t get to fulfil their bowling destiny.” Said Seb.

“Your girlfriend is weird Seb.” Said Lucy with an assured nod.

“Your boyfriend travels through dimensions in a Buick.” Said Seb.

“Not anymore he doesn’t.” Said Lucy. Seb cast her a look before she rolled her eyes. “Okay fine, fair point.”

“How’s your lip?” Asked Seb, glancing at the small cut and wincing.

“Eh. I’ve been through worse. How’s your head? The way that thing grew, I thought we were in an Elmer Fudd cartoon.”

“Jesus christ you’re old.” Said Seb shaking his head. Deleting out ‘World Chaos’ and replacing it with ‘Wylde Cele-Bryce-tion.

“What the hell?! Elmer Fudd isn’t that old!” Said Lucy. “Keep talking like that, Seb and I’ll use a bowling ball to match up with a lump on the other side.”

“Alright, alright…Christ. ” Said Seb. “Between you and me, bowling is not my favourite activity.”

“Are you at least better at it than you are crazy golf?” Asked Lucy.

“… The gutter guards help.” Said Seb.

“Oh my god, you indulge in the bowling fantasy thing so you can use the gutter guards.” Said Lucy.

“… If you ever tell anyone, I’ll deny it and no-one will believe you.” Said Seb. Lucy began to chuckle and shook her head.

“Fine, fine. But honestly, I agree. It’s not exactly my favourite thing to do in the world. Plus god knows how many people have stuck their fingers in this thing. It’s not exactly hygienic.” Said Lucy.

“You know there’s words to that effect written on the wall of the bathroom in the UGWC arena.” Said Seb. “But it’s about you.”

“What the fuck?!” Lucy said, her eyes widening angrily.

“Relax, I’m kidding.” Said Seb. “… Probably.”

“You are SUCH a dick.” Lucy said shaking her head.

“It’s part of my charm.” Said Seb, before nodding his head in the direction of the walkway. Walking back towards them were Sloane and Rogan carrying drinks and snacks.

“Heyyyyyyyyy!” Said Sloane. “We got Nachos and Nerd clusters! This place is so cool – they even have an arcade that has Ms. Pacman!”

“Did you change the shoes?” Said Seb.

“No they didn’t have a smaller size, but Rogan suggested that I put tissue paper in the front which might help with the itchiness.” Said Sloane.

“Unfortunately, it’s a no-can-do on the portal thing. Apparently interdimensional travel is frowned upon in places where kids could fall in and age twenty years in a few seconds.” Said Rogan shrugging.

“It’s a fair challenge.” Seb said.

“Wylde Cele-Bryce-tion?” Asked Sloane, before she started to giggle.

“Oh shut up,” Said Seb, deleting it out and replacing it with ‘Seb/Lucy’.

“I am NOT eating Nacho’s after handling those balls.” Said Lucy.

“That’s what she said.” Said Sloane. Rogan began to chuckle. Seb did his best to support his partner. Lucy scowled.

“It’s fine, I have hand sanitiser. Here.” Said Seb. He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Lucy, before picking up the bowling ball to take the first shot. Lucy turned it over in her and started to squeeze it, but nothing was coming out.

“This sucks. It’s not working.” Lucy said.

“No, you have to twist it.” Said Seb.

“I am twisting it.” Lucy said.

“Not like that… Like… Here, hold this.” He said, handing Lucy the bowling ball. She held it in her left hand, and the gel in her right. Seb reached out and held the bottle neck before twisting the lid. Lucy, however, was still squeezing with all of her might. As the cap turned, a jet of hand sanitizer squirted from the bottle and hit her directly in the eye.

“Fuck!” She yelled, immediately lifting both her hands to her face. In doing so, she released not only the the sanitizer but also the bowling ball. Seb’s eyes widened, as there was a crunch, followed by a thud and then the rather hilarious sight of Seb hopping up and down and holding his foot.

“Oh my god!” Said Sloane, looking up at Rogan. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?!” 

“It’s the perfect team name!” Said Rogan. They turned to look at Lucy and Seb, both in agony and spoke at the same time.

“The Angry Pirates!” They said together, before falling back into their seats in fits of laughter.

Seb stopped hopping, Lucy pulled her hands away from her face to reveal one eye closed completely.

“Uh oh…” Said Sloane.

“Yeah I think maybe bowling is cancelled.” said Rogan.

“Me too…” Said Sloane. “Ohhhh! Wanna check out the arcade?!”

“Sure.” Said Rogan, and the two of them got to their feet and walked away from the scene leaving Seb and Lucy to collapse into seats of their own.

“What the fuck is happening?” Asked Lucy.

“Unbelievable.” Said Seb. Shaking his head and rubbing his foot which he’d pulled out of his bowling shoe. “Although…”

“We’re not calling ourselves the Angry Pirates.” Said Lucy, warningly.

“Okay fine.” Said Seb, only sulking very slightly.

 

Today, Now, New York City

Having returned to the table, and finally having managed to enjoy their actual meal, the evening had started to improve exponentially. The conversation had moved away from the earlier misdemeanours and towards more joyful matters at hand. Lucy’s run as the World Champion, Seb’s run as the Chaos Champion and the future for both Rogan and Sloane in the wrestling business. As dessert moved through to coffee, Lucy noticed Seb was getting a little quiet.

“You alright?” She asked.

“Mmhmm.” He said. “Just thinking about Monday.”

“What about it?” Lucy asked.

“We’ve not exactly been the best team mates today…” Said Seb. “Just worried I’ll let you down, that’s all.”

“You? Let me down? Come on, Seb. Things haven’t exactly been easy for me this year. You’re on a tear right now – if anyone should be worried about letting either of us down, it should be me.” Said Lucy, shaking her head.

“You beat Tempest. You beat Montague.” Said Seb with a smirk. “When it matters, you’ve nailed it Luce…”

“And you’ve beaten everyone that’s come at you this past year. Is there anyone you’ve faced you’ve not beaten?” Said Lucy.

“Alright fine.” Said Seb. “Let’s just agree that we’re both doing okay.”

“I can do that.” Said Lucy. “But don’t worry about earlier… Crazy Golf. Bowling. They’re not where our strengths are. We know where our strengths are.”

“Yeah…” Said Seb, his mouth curling into a smile. A knowing smile. A smile that signalled a plan “Yeah we do, don’t we?”

Seb abruptly stood up, Sloane, Rogan and Lucy all cast him a look.

“Seb are you alr….” Sloane began, but she paused as he stepped up on to the chair that he’d been sitting on and then up onto the table at which they’d been say.

“What the hell?!” Said Lucy, before glancing at Rogan who mouthed the word ‘Chaos’ with something that looked like pride.

“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?” Seb said loudly. There was a clattering of cutlery upon tables, and eyes turning to face the clearly deranged man that stood before them. “Thank you! Now, feel free to pull out your cellphones – I want this documented, recorded, posted, retweeted, blogged and viral by the time I wake up tomorrow morning!”

“Seb what the hell are you…” Lucy asked.

“My name… Is Sebastian Everett-Bryce. I am the longest reigning UGWC Chaos Champion of all time, and as of this Sunday I will have held that Championship for longer than anyone else has ever held it. And this woman right here…” Seb glanced across and then down, realising that Lucy is still sat in her seat. He holds out his hand. “Come on… Up… Now.”

“Seb I’m not…” Lucy began, but Seb looked determined. She let out a loud sigh, and then climbed to her feet. She took his hand and helped her up onto the table.

“This woman right here, is the UGWC World Heavyweight Champion. And this week, she and I will team together to face the two men who will next challenge us for the Championships we hold. Zane Scott… And Tempest.” Said Seb with a smirk. “Lucy and I have had our rivalries throughout the years – and I have no problem admitting that she has brought out some of my greatest performances. In fact, it was Lucy who I survived to win my Chaos Championship for the first time ever. And in surviving that particular contest, we developed a mutual respect that continues to grow to this day. Today alone, I cut open her lip with an errant elbow and she almost broke my foot with a bowling ball. And still, we stand here side by side, ready to take on the world. You think she can bring out my best stood on the opposite side of the ring to me, imagine what she can bring out when we’re stood side by side.”

There was very much an awkward silence, cut only by the sounds of throats clearing and the scraping of chair legs. But most importantly, there were camera phones everywhere pointed in their direction. Seb glanced at Lucy who stood looking at the diners awkwardly. Then she caught Seb’s eye.

“Alk-Tay, ucy-Lay. Ow-Nay.” Said Seb in pig Latin.

“I’m getting there…” Lucy said through gritted teeth as she once again scanned over the crowd that was now solely looking at her. Well, at least that’s how it felt. She took a look down at Rogan, who couldn’t look happier if he tried and when she looked back up, she was smiling too. “This guy, right here… Easily one of the best in the world at this very moment. And even moreso, one of the toughest and most determined opponents I’ve ever had the pleasure of facing. Granted, he’s had my number each and every time, but that just goes to show exactly what I’m saying. And now? I get the chance to help him instead of trying to stop him. Seb was already practically unstoppable, and as for myself? I think I’ve done pretty good for myself. Tempest and Zane might think they’ve got a chance this week because Seb and I have to depend on one another to put them down.. But that’s where they’re wrong.”

Lucy stopped and took a tentative glance over at Seb.

“Imagine… Just imagine… If we’re greater than the sum of our parts. Two greats. Two unstoppable forces. Good becomes great. Great becomes elite. And then there’s Zane and Tempest… The unfortunate pairing forced to stand against us. Good. But not us. Great. But not us. And they may have their sights on the prizes that we hold, but this week, it’s the two of them that are in our sights. We’re out to make a point this week, offer a warning. Lay down a marker for things to come. Lucy and Seb… Out for blood.” Said Seb with a smirk.

“Damn, that’s good.” Lucy said, extending her arms out to look at them. “Gave me chills. But he’s right. These two, they’ve accomplished things. But where are they now? They’ll lay claim to their pasts, and they’ll say that’s the reason they’re the best men to take what is ours. The truth is the past doesn’t matter. None of it does. The only thing that matters is the here and the now. And now, Seb and I are the best the UGWC has to offer. We’re the bar that everyone has to hold themselves to… And on Monday, we aren’t only going to prove it, we’re going to make Zane and Tempest rethink everything they think they know about us.”

“And then after that, we’ll, we’re just going to keep them guessing.” Said Seb with a smirk.“Empires and legacies are built on strong shoulders. And you can be certain there are no stronger foundations… Than the UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, and the longest reigning Chaos Champion of all time. And I guarantee, without a single doubt. Monday night, the four of us will be back out on the town… And it willl be a Wylde Cele-Bryce-tion…”

Lucy closed her eyes and put her hand up to her face, but when she revealed her face again a few seconds later, she smiled and nodded her head. “You’re damn right it will be.”

Seb holds out his fist, and Lucy looks down at it.

“Yeah, we’re not doing that.” She said, before turning to step off the table.

“Alright everybody… Shows over.” Said Seb as stepped down off the table.