Brunch.

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SCENE.

Kidsgrove and Zooey are sitting in a cafe, waiting for Serenity Holmes to show up so they can go over tactics for the match this Monday Night on Clash. Kidsgrove looks at his watch again as Zooey sips on her latte.

“She’s late.” He observes, a little testily. Zooey isn’t phased.

“Yeah, she was two minutes ago when you said it last time as well.” She replies, with a smirk.

“Smartass.”

“You just don’t want a partner again.” She observes, correctly, before shrugging.

“Pfft, I learned long ago I can’t trust anyone in this business.” He says, resulting in a raised eyebrow or two from Zooey.

“Not you, I didn’t mean you. You’re the only one I can trust, but you already know that.”

“I know, just love to push your buttons though.”

“I learned that the hard way by the way, ironically enough via one of our opponents this week. Last time I trusted anyone to back me up in that ring other than you what happened? Well, he turned on my ass and joined fuckin’ Nightingale, that’s what. Everything I said about him has come true by the way. Without Dion backing him up, he turned to nothin’. Adrift in a sea of apathy and “no one cares” - and now he’s all about needing to find himself.

He doesn’t need to find himself, I know what he’s all about, I have for a long time. He’s all about him, no one else. He’s all about doing what it takes for him to get ahead, regardless of the people he has to stand on the way there. Hell, he got to be the World champion by standing on the shoulders of someone more talented than he was. What happened as soon as he got what he wanted? Done, gone. Finished. Caput.

Needless to say, the little bit of respect I ever had for Downfall isn’t even there. He once asked why I didn’t know his name. No, he tried to make out I was stupid for not knowing his real name. Completely went over his head. I did it intentionally because I had zero respect for him. I didn’t then and damn well don’t know. I mean respect after all is a two-way street. He didn’t respect me enough to give me a fair effort back then, he didn’t respect me enough to do anything other than turn his back on me and join Nightingale, after all, I showed him friendship and tried to help him grow his brand.

So why should I respect him? Even without that sudden and inevitable betrayal, why should I respect him? I mean, how the fuck can a man who doesn’t even respect his best friend expect respect from the rest of us?

Why should we give respect to a manipulative asshole who has spent a large portion of the past couple of years holding back his more talented and likable friends so they can take their own time in the spotlight?

Right Teo?

Yeah, holding back your friends to get ahead isn’t just a Downfall trait. It’s both of them.

Don’t let his mask of friendliness or his veneer of happy joy feelings that the two gents espouse daily to an almost preposterous degree fool ya, Teo is just the same. He doesn’t respect Jenson, the poor, naive sweet soul that Jenson can’t even see right now. He uses Jenson to get and keep his Cruiserweight title.

You saw it when Jenson dared to go and beat him for that title when Jenson went and got his reward. Teo instantly changed, he did anything to win that title back, including attacking his own best friend. Jenson had the spotlight for a brief moment, like a candle in the darkness until the green eye under Teo’s mask lit up.

What’s happened since? Jenson has been quietly nudged away so he can’t take the spotlight again and is busy fighting Teo’s dirty work for him so people like Blaze can’t come back and take the title from Teo, while he feathers his nest and builds his defenses - keeping everyone out apart from his useful lackey Jenson, who he lets in but keeps him at the doorway, just in case he tries to get above his station again and challenge Teo for the spotlight.

So again, how can you respect someone who doesn’t respect his so-called best friend? It’s particularly sad in this case because we all know Jenson is like a little puppy and would do anything for Teo - he doesn't deserve being treated like a little bitch by someone he trusts implicitly, unlike Dion who knew full well what Downfall was all about. Under his alcohol-riddled brain, there is the mind of someone who knows what’s what, so he should have known better than to get in step with Downfall.

I’m not saying what Downfall or Teo is doing is acceptable, you’d never see me act in such a way that I’d step on friends to get what I want. I’m getting what I want by burning down people I don’t respect. I’m getting what I want by being the best competitor I can be. I’m getting what I want with good old honest hard work. I’m getting what I want despite all the times I’ve been held back by someone.

I’ve been held back by Dandy, I’ve been held back by management, I’ve been held back by tag stable mates, friends, and enemies. You name it I’ve been held back by them.

The main person that’s been holding me back though is myself. You see I was once naive like Jenson, I was once in a position where I’d look at someone like Teo or Downfall and think “you know what, they’d be a good person to team up with, it’ll help my career.”

One setback after another and a Downfall betrayal stopped me from thinking like that though. Now? If I’m put in a random tag match then I can’t blindly trust my partner. That’s not possible, we always have to keep our guard, especially when I’m partnered with someone equally as ambitious and equally as ruthless as anyone on this roster. So sure, we can plan with her, but we’re gonna have to keep her at an arm’s length because simple facts are that we just can’t trust her not to take us out from behind. After all, Uprising is coming. 10 of the most hungry, talented, and downright tenacious people are going to get in that ring next week and fight tooth and claw, shattering bodies and psyches to be the one who holds that all-in briefcase. We’re gonna fight until 9 of us have absolutely nothing to give and then we’ll fight some more, so, logically, someone as cunning as Holmes will try and take one of the big shots out before the event, after all, 9 people in a match is better odds than 10 right?

And even if she doesn’t take me out, softening me up, injuring me, and making me less than 100% will probably have the same effect. Now I’m not saying she’s gonna do this, but we have to watch our back, just in case right? That’s the sensible thing to do. After everything in the past few years, hell that’s the only thing we can do.

Always hope for the best and prepare for the worst after all.

After all, this is our first, and possibly only all-in - after all we’ve not heard anything more about a contract extension, so we’re gonna have to go in there and I’ll have to give it every single thing I have to survive. But you know what, I’m a survivor - I, no we can do this, it’ll take everything.

But first, we gotta make a statement on Monday night. Whether I am the last man standing or whether I and Holmes are the last people standing it’s up to her, but I can guarantee you that if she tries ANYTHING I’ll be ready. Hell if the other 6 come down and cause havoc to try and make a statement then I’ll be ready.

It’s simple, firstly I’m going to win this tag team match, I’m going to at least get some respect from these two jerks who don’t respect their friends by beating the crap out of them, and then I’m going to make sure whatever happens afterward I dominate. I’m going to show every single person in the All-in match they’re on notice.

This is our time and we’re not being held back any further. I’m not allowing it, I can’t allow it. This begins on Monday.”

Zooey, who is listening with rapt attention, gives him a half grin.

“I believe you, let’s do this.”

She kisses him and they are interrupted by a cough. They look up to see Holmes standing over them. Her immediate presence causes the two to cease their romance paying respect to an awkward silence. Serenity removes the obnoxiously large shades from her eyes and hangs them on top of her head before taking a seat before the two. Her angsty behavior of kicking her feet on the table gives a bad impression to Zooey but Sam doesn't pay mind.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had a couple of things that held me up but I'm glad we're all here to discuss strategy."

"We've already done so. If you were here earlier, this would have been much more productive." Serenity rolled her eyes but Sam kept a stern tone in his response. "I'm sure you have something to offer?"

"Honey." Zooey placed her hand on top of his and Serenity let her feet down to sit upright. She sighed and looked at the two with a smile on her face.

"I do. I couldn't help but hear what you said about Teo and Downfall. Quite frankly, you're right. We're dealing with two men who have betrayed their best friends by using them to get where they are and now we're seeing their true colors. The question is, why are we finally realizing who they are when they can't do the same?"

Sam and Zooey looked confused for the moment but Serenity chuckled.

"Teo Blaze has been described as the greatest cruiserweight wrestler of all time. I don't blame them for giving him such glory. He's accomplished nearly everything in my brand but the one thing I don't appreciate is his sudden ignorance. I've been challenging him for a long time even when I was Womens Champion and yet he ignored me."

She scoffed.

"He ignored me knowing the history that has taunted him for a long time. Teo is someone who doesn't know himself. He has been the one to reinvent himself on multiple occasions to keep himself relevant and focused. I've watched him from the days he was People's Champion all to where he is now. He keeps switching personalities more than I do buy new clothes."

Both girls share a moment of laughter while Sam remains vigilant.

"Teo isn't a man I respect as a person. He's a volatile individual who will confuse the audience using old-school poetry and big words he probably pulls from an online dictionary. The Teo that we're seeing is the boiling point of when you don't know who you are. That's why I want to challenge him for the cruiserweight championship. I'm sick and tired of seeing him represent my brand when he's been the most transitional champion from the get-go and the fact he dares to write me off as some common contender?"

Serenity slammed her right fist on the table causing everyone in the restaurant to turn their attention onto the three. Sam gestured for her to relax and she took a deep breath.

"You are a multiple-time cruiserweight champion, cruiserweight tag team champion, and a former CruiserHavoc winner. You've accomplished everything that the brand had to offer yet in the short time I've arrived, I've become the biggest cruiserweight star in Action Wrestling and outside of it too. Let me tell you why he's ducking me."

She leaned back on her chair and folded her arms.

"He knows that I'm the only one who is capable of leading CruiserClash. When I was Womens Champion, the cruiserweight championship was being passed around as a hot potato between Blaze, Jenson, and him. The Heritage took advantage of the main event scene and it only took me speaking on the microphone to be the main event. He's been so caught up in his little world that he ignored the real threat.

That's why I busted him up on the last CruiserClash. I wanted him to understand that no matter where he is, I'll be there to remind him that history repeats itself. He'll fall to a Holmes again like he did to my father but I want to make sure that he understands that no matter what he does, I'll always be the better wrestler. I'll be the one carrying the flag and I'll shred every mask he owns just for sport."

Zooey kept her arms wrapped around Sam who seemed impressed by the speech but he kept his composure.

"And what about Downfall?" Serenity raised her eyebrow.

"The name is an irony of its own. Who knew Downfall would cause his downfall? The definition of a one-hit wonder trying to stay on top of the charts. The downfall is just trying to find himself but at the expense of others. He's losing control and it's hurting him. Dionysus, his brother, and closest friend is starting to see him fall through the cracks of that wretched person because he can't handle the fact the audience doesn't cheer him?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders agreeing with that statement.

"But the thing about Downfall is how do you have everything others would kill to have and still be ungrateful? Former world champion and longest reigning tag team champion? The Downfall we're seeing has always been the weak-minded and frail egotistical man who couldn't hack it in the ring when it mattered most. When confronted by better opposition, does he strive to be better? No. He'll take a crowbar and beat it out of you to make himself feel better."

Before her audience can respond, she blatantly argued further.

"It's simple. The world is closing on him and he's a child not knowing where to go. It was really easy. Being tag team champion, having Dionysus at his side, and enjoying the short-lived reign of the world championship. Everything in his little world was going crazy, that's why he got comfortable. If he managed to continue with that fighting spirit, he would have still been a world champion but at the end of the day, he truly represents his name. Downfall needs to be All In because if he doesn't what else is left for him? Nothing. He'll be nothing and his future here at Action Wrestling would be bleak at best."

Serenity leaned closer putting her elbows on the table and locking her hands together to rest her chin on top of them. Sam leaned forward a little but Serenity kept smiling at him.

"You have nothing to worry about me, Sam. We're two individuals who are going to be at All In but I can promise you that nothing will be happening to you from my end. We're a team for now and we should maximize every opportunity to ensure Teo Blaze and Downfall understand exactly who they're dealing with."

Sam nodded.

"Teo and Downfall. Two men who share a similar path. Accomplished a lot, screwed their best friends, and manipulate them to be pawns in their game and now they're on the verge of losing it all. Teo knows the cruiserweight championship reign is limited. Everything he does is but Downfall is losing grip on the world. A little boos and insults, he becomes the ultimate villain because the world didn't respect him. How fickle these two men that have won it all can easily be so futile in their efforts to keep up that angelic image they try so hard to portray."

He giggled in agreement with Serenity's statement. The two were coming together on the same page temporarily, especially for their tag team match. Both competitors may be willing to work together but what was left after that? Serenity kicked her legs up again.

"Sam Kidsgrove and Zoeey Deschanel. Two celebrities I thought I would never meet in person but the future always surprises us just like it'll surprise our opposing 'team'. We're going into New York with one thing in mind and that's to embarrass our opponents. Implant a message in their head that they'll never be able to break through their glass ceiling and it's a pity that they're even in the match just for cannon fodder."

"However, Sam, after this match, we're going to be opponents. As I said before, you have my word. I'm not going to pull anything shady. I want everyone in that match at their optimal level so that when I become the briefcase winner, there will be no excuses. That's for the future but for the present, let's have some fun and show what actual professional wrestlers can do."

All three of them stood from their seats. Serenity extended her hand for a shake and Sam accepted along with Zooey. The moment Serenity exited the restaurant, she looked over her shoulder to see the two conversing as she got into her rental car and slammed the door shut.

"You trust her?" Zooey whispered.

"For now." He responded with a smile then winked to keep her comfortable. On the other hand, Serenity watched the two converse and interact with a smirk on her face.

"They look better in real life than they do on the screen. Hmm, I guess the Hollywood life isn't so bad."