She told him.

She fucking told him that what he was trying to do was stupid. It was stupid, it was short-sighted and it was selfish. Trying to cut weight in such a short time was risky in itself but what in the FUCK was he thinking?! She couldn’t possibly fathom his thought process as she watched him slip further into delirium as he sat in that sauna, talking to someone who hadn’t been around in months.

She’d been more worried than angry when she’d ran off and grabbed that barstool and shattered the glass that kept her from getting to him. She’d been more anxious than angry as she pulled him out of the sauna, hoping that she wasn’t too late. She’d been more relieved than angry when he took a drink of the water she offered him and thanked her…

But once the relief wore off, she couldn’t hold back the anger. The betrayal of the man she was set to marry. How could he risk his life like that, knowing who would be affected if the worst were to happen? How could he throw everything away just to make himself a little more graceful on his feet for a title match?

Isn’t his life more important than that?

Isn’t Amber, Adina or even she herself more important than a few lost pounds?

The more she thought about it, the more she questioned it. The more she questioned it, the more she wondered if she’d ever feel the same way in the face of a title match. The more she wondered, the more she realized that she could never put anything like that above her family… No matter how much she loves what she does. No matter how much she loves fighting, wrestling…

If she and TJ can’t beat Jonny Riggs and Sebastian Steel just the way they are then they don’t deserve to remain Carnage Wrestling Tag Team Champions.

That’s just the way it is.

 

Date April 7th 2019 / Time7:49PM / Status Not Recording
Location The Michaels Residence – Las Vegas, Nevada

After making certain Jack was coming around, and that he was going to be okay.. Kyra found herself in the foyer of the house, shoving her arms into her jacket. She couldn’t be here right now, she needed to get out and go somewhere… anywhere. She needed to clear her mind and calm her heart.

She can’t help but to feel like she nearly lost the man she loves. What if she wasn’t hanging around, keeping an eye on him? He’d still be in there and who knows what state he’d be in when someone found him. It made her want to cry and it made her want to put her fist through something all at the same time.

Kyra clearly couldn’t handle all the stress and she was doing what she did best – running. Walling herself off from the pain and the pressure.

“Hey, Kyra.. Where you going?”

Kyra stops and whips around to see Jack’s daughter Amber standing in the doorway of the living room, her eyebrows raised in question.

“I just.. Uh.”

She wasn’t quite sure how to respond as she finished buttoning her jacket and grabbed a set of car keys from the wall.

“I just needed to get some air. Do you mind watching Adina for a few, she won’t be long out of bed.”

Amber nodded her head.

“Sure, no problem. Where’s dad?”

Kyra opened her mouth to tell Amber that her father was most likely still on the ground in the room that she left him in, that maybe she should go check on him – but before she could say anything, Jack’s voice came from beside her.

“Right here, baby doll.”

Jack says, walking into the foyer – still looking a little worse for wear. Amber, instantly noticing that her father doesn’t look too good, immediately moves towards him, her face covered in concern.

“Dad! What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Jack closed his eyes and nodded his head as Kyra silently seethed.

“I’m okay, thanks to Kyra.”

Kyra rolled her eyes and looked down at the car keys in her hands, jingling them before clearing her throat and shrugging her shoulders – obviously uninterested in the credit that Jack wants to give her for busting the door to that sauna and pulling him out. The only thing she can think of is how stupid he was for putting himself in that position to begin with.. For putting her in the position he’d put her into. For risking everything he held dear… and for what?

“I’ll be back. Don’t wait up.”

Kyra turned away, and opened the door as Jack stepped forward.

“Kyra, Please don’t–”

Jack started to speak and Kyra immediately lost her cool. She put her hand up between she and Jack and shook her head. She didn’t want him near her right now.

“Jack.. Just fucking don’t. Alright?”

“I’m–”

“You almost fucking DIED!”

Kyra shouts, her face reddened with anger as Amber and her father stand there, their eyes widened as Kyra turned and put her fist through the wall beside the door.

“There are just somethings that a half hearted ‘sorry’ won’t fix, Jack.”

She said breathy as she pulled her fist from the drywall, staring at her hand for a few moments – watching it shake before she sighs and moves back towards the door, her chest tightening as if the entire room was closing in on her.

“I gotta get outta here. I can’t do this right now.”

Before either Jack or Amber could say a word, Kyra was gone, the door having been slammed in her wake. Jack sighed and put his head down, his daughter staring at him intently.

“Dad, what did you do?”

Jack doesn’t say anything right away, silently listening to the car peeling wheels out of the driveway.

“I pushed myself a bit too hard and.. Kyra had to save me.”

Amber steps away from her father, towards the door.

“..Oh.. Dad. Is she going to be alright?”

Jack steps up beside Amber and sighs again, reaching out and grabbing another set of keys from a hook.

“Guess I’m going to find out.”

 

Date April 7th 2019 / Time8:57PM / Status Not Recording
Location Highway 95 – Las Vegas, Nevada

The road was dark. The only light came from the headlights of Jack’s 2017 Dodge Challenger SXT as it sped down the highway, an angry Kyra at the wheel. Her eyes focused solely on the road ahead but her mind… her mind was racing even faster than the wheels of the car on the pavement.

Between what just happened with Jack, the upcoming title matches that both she and him are facing and the doubts that she’s constantly inundated with. Not about Jack. She’s never doubted her fiance’s ability to overcome everything that he’s faced with. She’s not even doubtful of her partner. TJ’s a hell of a talent and she found herself wondering if he’d be better off if he had Eli or even Jack himself as his tag team partner.

Sure she beat Melody in the last title defense. But could that even be counted as a true victory? Calvin fucking Harris interfered and distracted Melody. Kyra simply capitalized on Melody’s lack of focus in that one particular moment. Does that make her a great champion? Does that make her worthy of the praise she’s gotten or even the ability to continue defending those belts?

Those thoughts frustrate her further when they’re combined with the images running through her head of Jack inside that sauna… Going crazy… slowly pushing himself and his body past the point of no return.

“FUCK!”

She growled, hitting the steering wheel. She hated that he felt like he had to push himself that far for one fucking title match. She hated that she already thought he was amazing yet he still felt the need to do that to himself.

Was she honestly that off base?

Did she have no grasp on reality?

If that’s what it takes to stay in the game, should she have been inside that sauna beside him, making for damn certain she could hold her own against Jonny Riggs and Sebastian Steel?

She hit the steering wheel again, causing the car to veer off into the opposing lane of traffic. She tugged the wheel back, swerving back into her own lane but the right rear wheel ended up going off the pavement and in a blink of an eye – the car lost grip on the road, the sand practically ripping the car off the road, sending Kyra and it spinning out into the sand.

Kyra screamed as the car came to a hard stop, sending her hard into the seat belt that held her in the drivers seat. She took a few moments, staring out into the pitch black around her, trying to take a few deep breaths. Off in the distance, she saw a pair of headlights heading for her and as they grew larger, she could only hope that it was someone whom could help her get out of this mess she’d gotten herself into.

God knows how Jack would feel if he found out she’d nearly wrecked his car.

And she sure as hell wasn’t going to call him. She could handle this herself. He needed to get his own shit right before he could worry about anything else. Not dying in that fucking sauna was a start.

Who gives a shit if she’s stuck out here on 95, buried in the sand on the side of this nearly abandoned highway. Somehow, she didn’t really care as much as she should have.

“Hell, maybe I’ll miss Isolation…”

She said to herself as she got out of the car to inspect the ‘damage’.

“Fuck it. Maybe ‘The Blast’ can help TJ out. God knows he nearly killed himself to defend the world title… why not grab a tag title while he’s at it.”

Kyra scoffed as she closed the drivers side door, realizing that she was indeed buried up to the fenders in sand. Just then, those headlights that were approaching – they slowed on the highway and pulled over right where she was sitting. Kyra turned around as her mystery ‘savior’ got out of the vehicle and her heart dropped in her chest.

“Shit..”

She muttered to herself as Jack walked around the front of the car, making his way down into the sand where she stood.

“Let me guess.. You’ve got a fucking tracker on the car.”

She said, motioning back to the car as Jack walked up to her.

“LoJack. Got it on all my cars, Baby Doll.”

“Right.”

She said bitterly.

“You shouldn’t even be out here right now.”

“And why is that?”

Kyra couldn’t stop the sarcastic laugh from escaping her mouth.

“You’re serious? You were literally just frying yourself inside a hotbox while talking to Amber fucking Ryan. At least that’s who I think you were talking to. You don’t think you need to take it easy?”

Jack took her comments in stride, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the car in front of Kyra.

“I’m fine. I’ll be good as new thanks to you. Besides, you should have known I’d come out here after you.. Are you okay?”

“Do I look like I’m okay?”

She spat back at him.

“I know things got a little out of hand, Kyra. I’m sorry.”

Kyra put her hands up to her temple, trying desperately to not say something she’d regret. Finally after a few moments, she looked up at her fiance.

“I know you are. But what the fuck were you thinking?! You’re not the only one with shit to deal with Jack. You fucking scared the shit out of me tonight. You’ve been scaring the shit out of me for weeks now since you’ve been prepping for Amy Jo fuckface and Cotton Ball. How the fuck am I supposed to go into Isolation and defend the tag titles when–”

She stops and looks around for something to hit – wanting to get her anger out on something. She kicks the tire of the car and lays her fist on the trunk of the car, feeling the stinging pain shoot up through her arm when she does.

“When you’re willing to fucking die just to defend the world title?”

“That’s not what I was doing, Baby Doll… this? This is something I’ve done my entire career. Something that’s never affected me like this, ever. I didn’t think I was putting anything at risk.”

“But you were! You’re not the same man you were back then, if you haven’t noticed. You can’t do the same things that you did back then..”

Jack opens his mouth as if to retort but slowly shuts it. He lets out a soft sigh and nods his head.

“You’re right. Deep down, I knew there was a risk. I pushed it to the side because a younger Jack Michaels could do it.. Because defending that belt to the best of my ability to me, is the right thing for Paragon and the right thing for my vision of this industry.”

Kyra shrugged her shoulders.

“If someone as great as you feels like that’s the right thing to do.. Then what hope does someone like me have?”

Jack’s eyebrows raise in question.

“Someone like you?”

“I’ve lost matches because I guess I’m not as committed as you. I don’t know, Jack. Maybe I don’t look far enough ahead. Maybe I should–”

“No, Baby Doll. No. I envy you for your ability to stay in the moment. Even if that costs you a win or two in the long run. I could learn a thing or two from you.”

Kyra looks at him incredulously.

“Oh come on…”

“I’m serious, Kyra. I let my quest for the greater good of Paragon and wrestling as a whole overshadow my own well-being. I risked a lot. My heart was in the right place, but my brain… well… I think my brain needs to listen to you a little more.”

Kyra shrugs her shoulders and looks away. Jack reaches out and grabs her arm, entwining his fingers with hers.

“I do wish it could be easier for me… For us… But I’m not perfect. I have visions of something bigger than we can imagine but I also have sight of what’s in front of me. I need someone to keep me grounded; to be my rock. You, Amber, Adina… You guys are my reality. I love you all and I can’t imagine a world where I lose any of you. Maybe I can show you how to be like me if you show me how to be like you.”

“I’m not getting in that sauna.”

Kyra says, finally looking up at Jack.

“Deal.”

 

Where do I start?

I mean I guess I could probably say something about how good it felt to finally beat that cunt Melody Lennox in a match.

It did. It felt real good. Of course though, everyone and their brother is going to say that the only reason TJ and I kept our belts is because Calvin Harris came out there and distracted Carnage Wrestling’s princess. And maybe that’s true. I guess we’ll never really know.

The point is though, TJ and I are still here and we’re still your Carnage Wrestling tag team champs. Let’s hope it stays that way for a long, long time to come.

Which I guess, brings me to Isolation and our next set of challengers.

Hi, Jonny.

Hi, Sebastian.

First off, congrats on winning that battle royal and earning this shot at us. Winning one of those things is no easy thing. But winning it with someone else with teamwork? Especially with someone you’ve never worked with before? Even harder, in my opinion.

Hell, the Monstimals couldn’t even do it and they’re supposedly a ‘real team’ with real teamwork, or whatever.

I’m sure you’ve heard it by now, but apparently TJ and I are a fake team. That should make us easy targets, am I right?

That shit is laughable, honestly. I still can’t figure out what about TJ and I is fake.. Maybe TJ’s tan is a bit on the fake side… but I don’t judge him for that. Neither should you.

Seriously though, he and I are Paragon. Paragon is the epitome of the word TEAM. Sure, he and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, but in a true team, that shit shouldn’t matter. Oh, and it doesn’t. I always have TJ’s back and he always has mine.

So what’s fake about that?

I could probably say that TJ and I are defending our titles against what could be perceived as a ‘fake’ team. Two men who have never worked together, two men who have to figure one another out before what could be one of the biggest matches of their respective careers but even I’m not that fucking naive.

I saw those two out there. I’ve watched them fight separately and I’ve watched them fight together. I know that when it comes down to it, they can get the job done. I know that I can’t be a fucking idiot and count them out before I’ve even stepped into the ring with them. That’s how you lose championships.

I’m not gonna do that to you two.

Jonny. You’re still relatively new around here but that don’t change the fact that I respect you and the way you fight. You’re a hard ass and you’re smart. It’s just… well, you’re stepping into this match with someone who’s been there and done what you’re doing. You’re gonna be fighting someone who knows your game, and can out hard-ass you even on her worst day. No, I’m not inflating my ego here, I’m just stating facts, sweetie.

You’re a great fighter, I’m just better.

There’s a reason why my name is synonymous with Carnage Wrestling.

At Isolation, you and your partner are gonna get a first hand lesson in why. I’d tell you I’m sorry but I think we both know that all’s fair in this business, especially when it comes to fighting for championships.

I worked too damn long and hard to win these belts with TJ and as much as I hate to turn you two away.. That’s what we’re gonna have to do. No hard feelings though.

As for you Sebastian… I guess I could say the same shit about you that I just said about Jonny. You might not fight often, but when you do… People always have to keep their eyes on you because you’ll do shit like you did in that battle royal. I like that about you. You surprise people. Just like your uncle.

But I see you coming a mile away, Sebastian.

I guess that’s what this is all about right? Can you and Jonny come up with something that TJ and I won’t anticipate? Can you two surprise us like you’ve surprised so many others? Maybe you can, and maybe you will. But will it be enough?

I hate to play spoiler to such a promising team.

But that’s not gonna stop us from doing it.

You two have promise. You really and honestly do. But I’m Kyra motherfucking Johnson and I’m not going down without one hell of a fight. I AM Carnage Wrestling, Fellas and I don’t show mercy.

So let’s open the show with a bang, okay?

Let’s make the rest of the roster wish they were us.

But let TJ and I show you how to defend this hardware once again, and maybe in the future you’ll get yourselves another shot. Not a doubt in my mind that we’ll be seeing you again, but rest assured that Paragon will remain on the champions side.

And that’s just the way it is.

OOC: Word Count: 3331
Jack & Amber used with Permission. Good Luck Cory and Jay!