The cameras open up outside of the Carnage Arena off in the background. In the parking lot sits an old, black 1989 Pantiac Grand Am with Massachusetts plates that read “GODLY”. Casually sitting on the back of the car are the number one contenders to the Carnage Wrestling Tag Team Championships are Kyra Johnson and Ken Davison. They are wearing matching outfits consisting of black jeans and black t-shirts with the Carnage Wrestling skull logo emblazoned upon them. Their hands sit on the car between them, fingers interlocked. As the sun sets behind them, the fluorescent lights overhead flicker and buzz as they gain power.

“It seems the powers that be have decided that Kyra and I need to have a tune up match before we face Team Deadbeat Club…”

“Rock Lobster.”

“I knew it was a B-52’s song. You have to give me that.”

“I guess.”

“That’s a win. I’ll take it. But, getting back to what I was saying, we’ve got ourselves a match against Zephyr Quinn and our old friend, Trent Steel.”

Ken gives Kyra’s hand a gentle squeeze before sliding off the back of the car.

“Now, we all know what happened the last time Trent and Kyra stepped in the ring. We all know that when Trent and I step into the ring, it’s pretty much a coin flip as who is going to win or not. Then we have Zephyr, who seems to be the wild card in all of this. I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to show why Kyra and I are the single strongest pairing here in Carnage Wrestling. We aren’t tag team partners in the ring,we’re tag team partners in life. Yeah, that might be a cliché when most people say it, but in our case, it’s the Gospel truth.”

Kyra shakes her head and chuckles.

“You’re a cheesy motherfucker, you know that? But seriously, this is a great opportunity for us to go into Underground and our match with Ax and Jon with our heads held high. You two are some of the most talented people on this roster, but that goes without saying.”

Ken nods his head.

“The other thing that goes without saying is that we’re also two of the most talented people on this roster. Just because we no longer hold championship gold does not lessen what we’ve done, and more importantly, what we are capable of.”

“But you both are well aware of that now, aren’t you?”

Kyra tilts her head to the side as she finishes her sentence while Ken turns his head towards her, watching her for a few moments before turning back to the lens.

“If they aren’t, they will be, The thing about us is we’ve both got this issue with taking a beating. When Amber Ryan beat me, I came back and took her championship. Hell, when I beat Kyra she beat my ass when we had our rematch. We’re like Chumbawamba, when we get knocked down, we get up again. You’re never gonna keep us down.”

Ken pauses a moment while Kyra gives him a ‘really?’ look.

“Damn. That was cheesy even for me.”

“Oh, yeah. But somewhere in between, there was a decent point.”

She smirks.

“We both know you two are hard as hell to keep down. I mean come on, there’s a reason you two have held title belts in Carnage as well. Trent, you’re a former world champ, you’re a former tag team champ… And Zephyr, even if it was in another life, you were probably one of the best Baltimore City champs that Carnage has ever seen – Not to mention that you’re a God damned shoe in for the Ultraviolent title. But… what do you guys have to really prove out there on Monday night? Everyone and their brother knows that you guys have aspirations that don’t involve each other.”

Kyra shrugs her shoulders.

“Sure, you two can come out there and beat our asses and take us down a few pegs, but it’s still not gonna be you out there on Memorial Day fighting for the tag titles. What I’m saying is, you two are tough as hell and we know that we’re in for one hell of a fight – But we’re even harder to keep down.”

“We all know that I could go on and on about Trent Steel. He is a thorn in everyone’s side. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why we have to deal with him again. But, that’s the beauty of it, we don’t really need a reason to beat the ever living piss out of one another. We’re both wired so that we would do it for fun. After all, when no one else was there for you Trent, wasn’t it Kyra and I who came to check on you. Yet, you still treat us like we are the enemy. I assure you, Trent, I made a career out of being a bitter bastard, and dare I said, I did it far better than you. I get how this works and I get how you work. I have always said that I want to be the best, so what I’m going to do now could be considered unwise, but I want you at your best. I want you at your angriest. So when you get done playing “Where’s Waldo?” with your kids and give up because you can’t find them, come find me in the ring.”

Kyra’s eyes widen and she shoots Ken a look before she turns towards the camera and subtly shakes her head.

“I.. Well, Trent.. You’ve been through a lot. I couldn’t imagine going through what you’re going through right now – And I think the fact that you’re still coming out here show after show and taking care of business, I think that’s something to respect. I don’t think you’ve been at your very best, sure. I think I saw that pretty clearly when you and I faced off a month or so ago. But that doesn’t change the fact that here we are… Again. You’re a good guy, Trent. But we gotta go out there and beat you and I hope you believe me when I say it’s nothing personal.”

Ken leans in to Kyra.

“So… too much?”

Kyra gives him another look.

“Ya think?”

“Think they can edit that out?”

“You should probably hope for that.”

“Probably… yeah.”

Ken shrugs, knowing there is nothing he can really do.

“Now, Zephyr, you and I have a bit of history. Thing is, I don’t even know if you remember it or not. At one point, you relieved me of my Baltimore City Championship. Normally, I am the type of person who doesn’t take losing well. You were fortunate, I was put into a tournament that could have put me in line for a shot at the Carnage World Championship. Your reign was the very fortunate side effect of ‘bigger and better things.’ Fun fact: I beat your partner in the first round of that tournament. But, I digress. The fact of the matter is, I never did get my chance to challenge you. I never felt the need to. Still, if the opportunity presents itself, who am I to argue?”

Kyra nods.

“The fact that you’re the one to have taken the Baltimore City title from Ken just reaffirms to me how talented you are, Zephyr. But that’s not even the thing I think about when your name is brought up. I mean, look at you. Look at what you were… And what you are right now. You’ve turned it around, and you never lost a damn step. There’s a reason I’ve always looked forward to facing you…And that’s it, right there.”

“Because she’s a psycho Twinkie with a rotten filling? That’s a great reason.”

Kyra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

“Apparently only one of us is looking for a good, decent match and the other is looking for a fucking street fight that ends in a murder… I’ll let you guys figure out which one. I’ll see you two on Monday night.”

With that, Kyra hops down off the back of the car and steps away.

“I think we’re done here.”

Ken immediately turns and follows Kyra off camera.

“Wait. Where are you going? What’s going on?”

Kyra stops and turns around, her face etched with frustration.

“What do you think is going on?! What the fuck was that?”

“That was me trying to make them mad. When people get mad, they make mistakes. I might have crossed the line, yeah, but you think they’re going to sit there and shower us with praise? What’s up with this whole sunshine and rainbows thing?”

Kyra scoffs.

“Well what I was doing is a hell of a lot better than needling a man who’s lost his fucking children!”

“I was over the line. I get that. But nobody questions Tony Robbins. Why are we questioning my motivational speaking techniques?”

Kyra can’t even fathom what she’s hearing as she shakes her head.

“Let me put it to you this way, Ken… How would you feel if someone came at me like that if something were to happen to Adina?””

“Shit… I didn’t…”

Forget his words. At this point, Ken is tripping over his own thoughts.

“I hadn’t thought of that. I hadn’t even… shit. You’re right. I need to stop. I guess old habits die hard. I’ll try to apologize to Trent, whether that airs or not. I’m just… nevermind. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t justify anything I said.”

Kyra sighs, running her hands through her hair as she watches Ken struggle.

“Maybe not, but.. I don’t know.“

“You’re absolutely right. I fucked up. I get it. I’ll stay in the guest room tonight.”

Kyra reaches out, grabbing his hand.

“No, you won’t. But you might wanna tell me what’s really going on here.. What’s on your mind? I can tell there’s something going on in that head of yours and it’s bugging you.”

“I’m just used to not worrying about anyone but myself. I used every possible thing I could to get ahead. I should know better, I really should. Back in the day, I was out in Pittsburgh and there was this dude there, Mr. Popular. He found out about Crystal and tormented me with it. Doing that to Trent with his kids… not cool. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than getting an edge. But… there’s more, I guess.”

Kyra nods her head and squeezes his hand.

“I know there is… Out with it.”

“It’s just me being stupid. It’s nothing.”

Kyra smacks him lightly on the arm.

“Ken..”

“I’m just worried about this all going away. Like, what happens to us when Carnage is gone? I feel like Carnage is what brought us together and I feel like Carnage is kind of the glue that holds us together. Without all that, what if I’m not enough? I’m just a guy who fucked up most of his life and never realized it. What’s going to change that?”

Kyra’s eyes widen in surprise as Ken speaks and when he’s finished, she pulls him closer – hugging him.

“I’m just a girl who’s fucked up everything she’s ever had, you know? That don’t change the way I see you lookin at me. Carnage might have brought you and me to where we are but without it? We’re still us… and I ain’t going anywhere unless you say so.”

She kisses him lightly on the cheek.

“You’re more than enough… Shit, you’re everything I could’ve ever asked for Ken. I ask myself everyday how I ever deserved to find the kind of happiness you’ve given to me.”

“I ask myself how can I avoid fucking this up today? Seems like the only other time I was truly happy I lost it and I’m scared of losing it again. I never saw myself as anything I am now. I’ve got a good woman, a great kid, matching baggage… but I live my life scared that I am going to do something, or worse, not do something that ends up causing this to go away. This is the life I’ve always dreamed of. The problem with dreams is you eventually wake up.”

Ken wipes away some tears.

“Sorry I’m such a blubbering, babbling mess. This is literally the happiest I have been in my life…”

Ken lets the word trail off, hoping that Kyra will respond so he can shut up.

“So be happy. Stop worrying about losing me… I know that’s a lot, and it’s not easy to shut your mind up when it’s telling you that this can’t be it…”

Without warning, Kyra pinches Ken’s arm.

“The hell? That hurt.”

“You’re not dreaming. I’m here… You’re here.  We’re okay. When I tell you I’m not going anywhere, I mean that shit. Unless you decide to leave for two months, manipulate me, lie to me… You know, that whole chestnut… We’re good, babe.”

“What if I get a brain tumor?”

Ken braces himself, expecting a well deserved smack upside the head.

“Oh my God… Shut up…”

She replies, doing exactly what he expected her to do – her hand making a soft smacking sound on the side of his head.

“So, the brain tumor is where we draw the line. Got it. You know, I got so distracted that I forgot why I dragged this out of the garage in the first place. I had this whole ‘not forgetting where you came from’ thing planned out. You realize this was the first thing I ever bought with my wrestling money?”

“I didn’t know that… Shit, I bought more than a few days worth of food with mine.”

Kyra replies, chuckling.

“It’s a beautiful car, though. Nice choice.”

“The advantages of living at home, I guess. Speaking of which, I know we were going to get something to eat, but why don’t we head home? I’ll cook. I’ve got this recipe for Garlic Parmesan Chicken I’ve been dying to try.”

Ken turns to Kyra shaking his keys at her.

“You wanna drive?”

She doesn’t even hesitate as she grabs the keys with a mischievous smirk on her lips.

“You sure you wanna let me drive your baby?”

“I’ve never trusted anyone else to do it. Besides, I need to learn to just be happy and I think part of that is sharing what I have with the woman I love.”

“I like the way you think. Come on, I’m hungry.”

Kyra gets into the driver’s seat while Ken just sits, looking at Carnage Arena in the background.

“Yeah, I am a lucky bastard. Aren’t I?”