Post by Gerard Angelo on Dec 11, 2022 14:58:24 GMT -5
It was a chill day in Milan, grey clouds blocking the Mediterranean sun, creating an overcast. Gerard had opted for sweats and a hoodie as he made his way through the city. He looked around, admiring the classic architecture of the old city as his Jordans pounded the sidewalk. He was also trying to find anything to distract him from the tight grip of the anxiety in his chest. It had been nearly two years since he’s had any contact with her let alone seen her. The last time they talked she told him she needed her space.
Gerard came to a stop in front of an apartment complex in Greater Milan. He double-checked his phone to make sure it was the correct address. He looked over the names on the intercom and pressed the button next to a name. The speaker crackles to life.
“Ciao?” came from the speaker. The voice was slightly robotic and distorted but there was no mistaking who it was to him.
“It’s Gerard,” he managed to croak out. The buzzer sounded as the door opened to him. Gerry pushed it open as he entered the building, heading towards the elevator. Each step to the lift made his chest tighter. What would he say when he saw her? Would he be able to play it cool? Or would he be overwhelmed with emotion? He stepped into the elevator car and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
This whole year was an eventful one for Gerard. He had joined a new wrestling company, and won the World title in near record time, rocketing to the top of the company. He had discovered his mother’s death was a murder and she was assassinated for being an investigative journalist. He had faced things that people couldn’t bring themselves to imagine and here he was, nervous about talking to a girl. Though there were few women he shared this much history with.
Gerard stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway. He stopped in front of a door and stared at it for a moment, his heart pounding. Gerry lifts an arm and raps his knuckles on the aluminum door. He hears the unlocking and the door swings in. A short girl answers the door and peers up at him with bright blue eyes. Her naturally blonde hair was dyed a reddish brunette. Even though she was dressed in sweats and a hoodie herself, she was still the most breathtaking woman he ever laid eyes on.
“Hey Kara,” he said, breaking the silence that hung in the air. She smiled at him.
“Hey, Gerard. Come in, please,” she said, stepping out of the doorway to let him in. Gerard looked around at the modest apartment. She noticed him looking around.
“What?” she asked, gesturing for him to sit on the couch. Gerard took a seat at the end, leaning an elbow on the arm of the couch.
“Nothing. I just thought it’d be bigger with your high-paying job and such.”
“I don’t need a big home,” she said with a laugh as she sat down opposite of him, “It’s just me here.”
For some reason, a feeling of relief washed over him when she mentioned it was just her living here. He knew it was selfish of him to feel that way but he didn’t want her to move on. She was his first love. He met her for the first time in his first training class. She hated him at first but over the years they grew closer and eventually, she ended up as his wife. That ended because of his own actions though, being young, stupid, and unfaithful. Despite her being hurt, they split amicably, Kara wanting to sever ties completely. Over the years they managed to become friends again (or as best as you could with someone you were married to) though after the last time they were together it was some of the worst times in both their lives.
“You still do that daydreaming thing, huh?” Kara asks, snapping him out of it. He just gave her a smirk.
“Old habits die hard I guess,” Gerry says, looking over at Kara. They both sat in an uncomfortable science for a moment.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked, breaking the silence again. Gerry shook his head, knowing that she wouldn’t be one to offer him scotch at 11 AM.
“I’m fine.”
“So what was so important that you needed Jon and Maria to reach out to me?” She asked, curling one leg up under her.
“Well I need your advice on something because you’re the only one who’s going to believe me,” he puts a hand up, cutting her off as she went to interject, “And I know you wouldn’t answer me if I contacted you so I played a little dirty and asked them.”
She just stared at him and shook her head with a half smile on her face.
“I tell you I need space and you come up with a way to get in touch with me. You’re persistent,” she says. Gerry just holds up his hands.”
“I really do just need your advice.”
“Mmhmm. So tell me.”
Gerard goes into detail, explaining to her everything that had happened and what he had found out. Kara sat there listening, not saying anything as Gerry let everything unload. He told her everything from the strange man at the graveyard to the kidnapping. He omitted the threat the bored man made about her. He figured the last thing she needed was another worry because of him. He felt better as he finished the story, it was cathartic for him. He hadn’t realized how much of an effect keeping that all to himself was having. As if she could tell, Kara reached out and put a hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that alone,” she said genuinely. He put a hand over hers and forced a small smile. She pulled her hand away after a moment.
“I just don’t know what to do now,” Gerry said honestly. He had no idea of what to do next. It was like anytime he got a lead it seemed to be a dead end with more questions than answers. He needed a fresh viewpoint and he hoped Kara could give him one.
“I don’t think you should just give up,” She said, turning slightly to face him on the couch, “You’ve come this far already.”
“I don’t want to but there’s nothing I can do now.”
“Well, this might sound crazy, but why don’t you try and get in contact with these Ronin guys themselves?”
“What?”
“Yeah. Instead of looking for who hired them, just ask them yourself.”
Gerard just stared at his ex, wondering not for the first time if she wanted to see him dead in a ditch. She just continued.
“You said they’re assassins for hire right? You’re very well off and you have a multi-billion dollar fortune to inherit. Hire them for the information.”
“You’re serious?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Kara just nodded.
“Why not? You said nothing else has worked so far. You might as well think outside the box.”
Gerry scratched the side of his face as he listened to her crazy idea again wondering if she was finally fed up with him. Though it could work he mused as he thought about it. He was fresh out of ideas himself. What was the worst that could happen? The agonizing deaths of everyone he has ever known or loved?
“I got nothing else so I guess that’s the plan,” he said with a sigh. Kara gave him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry. You’ll get to the bottom of it and you’ll bring whoever had your mom killed to justice.”
“Now you’re just making me sound like Batman.”
“Nah, he looks much better in tights than you do.”
“Ouch,” he said, mockingly putting a hand over his chest. She giggled. Gerry had a flashback to the first time he spoke to her and she didn’t scowl at him. He told a dumb joke and got that same giggle. That’s when he knew she was the one. But not every movie has a happy ending and this one sure didn’t. In the past Gerry would’ve said something to Kara about rekindling their relationship but she had made it a point to make space between them. Gerard would respect that though the irony of him flying half a world away to see her wasn’t lost on him either.
“Well I should get going,” Gerard said, slapping his thighs as he stood up. Kara stood up with him.
“You just got here.”
“I know but you went out of your way to not see me for about two years. I’m going to try and respect that.” Kara doesn’t say anything but moved in, wrapping her arms around his midsection in a hug. Gerry was taken aback but slide his arms around her, reciprocating it.
“Thank you,” she whispered, “Now get out of here, I know you have a big match to prepare for.”
“Still watching me, I see.”
“It’s a bad habit,” she said. Kara smiled up at him and broke the hug, walking him to the door. Gerard turned the knob and swung it open.
“Wait, Gerard.”
Gerry stopped turning back around to her. Kara chewed on her bottom lip.
“I’m going to be back in the States for Christmas. I’m going to Jon and Maria’s. I hope you come.”
Gerard smiled.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
The man with a god’s name versus the god with a man’s name.
That’s how I would’ve marketed this match between myself and Dionysus. Thought that’s because I have a mind for this kind of stuff. With the end of the year looming I do what most people do and look back on the year that was. And, man, what a year it was for yours truly. I could list everything I’ve done this year but you can go watch my old promos to see me wax poetic about myself.
I sit here your Action Wrestling World Champion for a good portion of this year. That should be enough to show you that I’ve had one of the best years of anybody in this business because for nearly one hundred and forty days I’ve been the top guy in this industry. Vastly different from my opponent this week.
Dion, buddy. Welcome to the main event, pal. I don’t know how long you’re gonna be here so you should enjoy this little taste of paradise that I’ve built a home in. What’s funny is you could’ve easily occupied this spot. We were both in that number-one contenders match all those months ago. But the fates had other plans for us, Dion. I won that match and went on to beat Dandy to become the World Champion. I raised my game to another level and took my rightful place as the face of the industry. You went back to being the guy with so much potential and being unable to harness it.
That is until you started taking this seriously, right Dion? Are you fucking kidding me? Just recently you figured out that you need to apply yourself to wrestling? You treat this shit like a teenager working a mall job. Doing the bare minimum won’t get you to the top. This isn’t gym class, not everyone gets a turn.
Oh, but you beat Jill Park. Hey, that’s a hell of a feather to put in your cap, Dionysus. Would be better if you didn’t need Dandy to do everything but serve her up on a silver platter for you. Fuck I would be embarrassed as hell if everyone toted such a tainted victory as my milestone win.
That’s just the thing though. Wins like that need to be championed for you. You need Billy to lose his goddamn mind when those victories happen for you because they are few and far between. Because despite you being here since the beginning that was talked about ad nauseam when you were going against Spenny, you haven’t done much. While you might be one-half of the longest-reigning tag champions of all time, when you stand on your own two feet, you fail. No singles titles in Action Wrestling to your name. Not a CBS title, not a TV title. And you think you’re going to walk into my house and take the World Heavyweight Championship away from me? There’s a better chance of Regan eating her pig.
In my reign, I’ve beaten competitors with better resumes than yours, Dion. Lissie, Kidsgrove, even Wayne Austin. Are you gonna be like Downfall and tell me I haven’t faced anybody, like an SEC coach screaming about strength of schedule? I’m sure you’ve been talking to your buddy this week, trying to get some advice. Get the secret sauce to a victory over me.
Come real close to the screen because I wanna tell you, you ain’t beating me, Dion. I don’t give a fuck how many gauntlets you throw down or if this time you’re actually serious about wrestling, or if it’s the year of chardonnay and charcuterie. There’s levels to the shit Dion and we couldn’t be more different.
We’re held to different standards, Dionysus. I’m United States Basketball, your United States Soccer. When you win, it’s a big deal. When I lose, it’s a big deal. We are not the same. The things I deal with on a daily basis as the face of this company would shatter you. You couldn’t handle the weight of this responsibility, Dion. It would turn your fire crotch white.
You’re another one of these guys that moonlight’s in the indies because you like being a big fish in a small pond. Because when it comes to swimming in the ocean full of apex predators in ADub, you’ve already proved you can’t hack it. And I will be damned if I see this title show up on some silly little indie show just because the champion wants people to like him so badly on Twitter that he’ll do anything for validation.
The differences between us aren’t subtle, Dionysus. I’m different. Hell, I’m different from half the roster. I was built for this. I’m the guy a company builds it’s entire future around. You’re the guy who stays because you need the paycheck. This isn’t one of those underdog stories, where the plucky contender upsets the dominant champion. I already read ahead in the script.
It ends just how most things have ended for me this year.
A Hollywood Ending.
Gerard came to a stop in front of an apartment complex in Greater Milan. He double-checked his phone to make sure it was the correct address. He looked over the names on the intercom and pressed the button next to a name. The speaker crackles to life.
“Ciao?” came from the speaker. The voice was slightly robotic and distorted but there was no mistaking who it was to him.
“It’s Gerard,” he managed to croak out. The buzzer sounded as the door opened to him. Gerry pushed it open as he entered the building, heading towards the elevator. Each step to the lift made his chest tighter. What would he say when he saw her? Would he be able to play it cool? Or would he be overwhelmed with emotion? He stepped into the elevator car and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
This whole year was an eventful one for Gerard. He had joined a new wrestling company, and won the World title in near record time, rocketing to the top of the company. He had discovered his mother’s death was a murder and she was assassinated for being an investigative journalist. He had faced things that people couldn’t bring themselves to imagine and here he was, nervous about talking to a girl. Though there were few women he shared this much history with.
Gerard stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway. He stopped in front of a door and stared at it for a moment, his heart pounding. Gerry lifts an arm and raps his knuckles on the aluminum door. He hears the unlocking and the door swings in. A short girl answers the door and peers up at him with bright blue eyes. Her naturally blonde hair was dyed a reddish brunette. Even though she was dressed in sweats and a hoodie herself, she was still the most breathtaking woman he ever laid eyes on.
“Hey Kara,” he said, breaking the silence that hung in the air. She smiled at him.
“Hey, Gerard. Come in, please,” she said, stepping out of the doorway to let him in. Gerard looked around at the modest apartment. She noticed him looking around.
“What?” she asked, gesturing for him to sit on the couch. Gerard took a seat at the end, leaning an elbow on the arm of the couch.
“Nothing. I just thought it’d be bigger with your high-paying job and such.”
“I don’t need a big home,” she said with a laugh as she sat down opposite of him, “It’s just me here.”
For some reason, a feeling of relief washed over him when she mentioned it was just her living here. He knew it was selfish of him to feel that way but he didn’t want her to move on. She was his first love. He met her for the first time in his first training class. She hated him at first but over the years they grew closer and eventually, she ended up as his wife. That ended because of his own actions though, being young, stupid, and unfaithful. Despite her being hurt, they split amicably, Kara wanting to sever ties completely. Over the years they managed to become friends again (or as best as you could with someone you were married to) though after the last time they were together it was some of the worst times in both their lives.
“You still do that daydreaming thing, huh?” Kara asks, snapping him out of it. He just gave her a smirk.
“Old habits die hard I guess,” Gerry says, looking over at Kara. They both sat in an uncomfortable science for a moment.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked, breaking the silence again. Gerry shook his head, knowing that she wouldn’t be one to offer him scotch at 11 AM.
“I’m fine.”
“So what was so important that you needed Jon and Maria to reach out to me?” She asked, curling one leg up under her.
“Well I need your advice on something because you’re the only one who’s going to believe me,” he puts a hand up, cutting her off as she went to interject, “And I know you wouldn’t answer me if I contacted you so I played a little dirty and asked them.”
She just stared at him and shook her head with a half smile on her face.
“I tell you I need space and you come up with a way to get in touch with me. You’re persistent,” she says. Gerry just holds up his hands.”
“I really do just need your advice.”
“Mmhmm. So tell me.”
Gerard goes into detail, explaining to her everything that had happened and what he had found out. Kara sat there listening, not saying anything as Gerry let everything unload. He told her everything from the strange man at the graveyard to the kidnapping. He omitted the threat the bored man made about her. He figured the last thing she needed was another worry because of him. He felt better as he finished the story, it was cathartic for him. He hadn’t realized how much of an effect keeping that all to himself was having. As if she could tell, Kara reached out and put a hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that alone,” she said genuinely. He put a hand over hers and forced a small smile. She pulled her hand away after a moment.
“I just don’t know what to do now,” Gerry said honestly. He had no idea of what to do next. It was like anytime he got a lead it seemed to be a dead end with more questions than answers. He needed a fresh viewpoint and he hoped Kara could give him one.
“I don’t think you should just give up,” She said, turning slightly to face him on the couch, “You’ve come this far already.”
“I don’t want to but there’s nothing I can do now.”
“Well, this might sound crazy, but why don’t you try and get in contact with these Ronin guys themselves?”
“What?”
“Yeah. Instead of looking for who hired them, just ask them yourself.”
Gerard just stared at his ex, wondering not for the first time if she wanted to see him dead in a ditch. She just continued.
“You said they’re assassins for hire right? You’re very well off and you have a multi-billion dollar fortune to inherit. Hire them for the information.”
“You’re serious?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Kara just nodded.
“Why not? You said nothing else has worked so far. You might as well think outside the box.”
Gerry scratched the side of his face as he listened to her crazy idea again wondering if she was finally fed up with him. Though it could work he mused as he thought about it. He was fresh out of ideas himself. What was the worst that could happen? The agonizing deaths of everyone he has ever known or loved?
“I got nothing else so I guess that’s the plan,” he said with a sigh. Kara gave him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry. You’ll get to the bottom of it and you’ll bring whoever had your mom killed to justice.”
“Now you’re just making me sound like Batman.”
“Nah, he looks much better in tights than you do.”
“Ouch,” he said, mockingly putting a hand over his chest. She giggled. Gerry had a flashback to the first time he spoke to her and she didn’t scowl at him. He told a dumb joke and got that same giggle. That’s when he knew she was the one. But not every movie has a happy ending and this one sure didn’t. In the past Gerry would’ve said something to Kara about rekindling their relationship but she had made it a point to make space between them. Gerard would respect that though the irony of him flying half a world away to see her wasn’t lost on him either.
“Well I should get going,” Gerard said, slapping his thighs as he stood up. Kara stood up with him.
“You just got here.”
“I know but you went out of your way to not see me for about two years. I’m going to try and respect that.” Kara doesn’t say anything but moved in, wrapping her arms around his midsection in a hug. Gerry was taken aback but slide his arms around her, reciprocating it.
“Thank you,” she whispered, “Now get out of here, I know you have a big match to prepare for.”
“Still watching me, I see.”
“It’s a bad habit,” she said. Kara smiled up at him and broke the hug, walking him to the door. Gerard turned the knob and swung it open.
“Wait, Gerard.”
Gerry stopped turning back around to her. Kara chewed on her bottom lip.
“I’m going to be back in the States for Christmas. I’m going to Jon and Maria’s. I hope you come.”
Gerard smiled.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
The man with a god’s name versus the god with a man’s name.
That’s how I would’ve marketed this match between myself and Dionysus. Thought that’s because I have a mind for this kind of stuff. With the end of the year looming I do what most people do and look back on the year that was. And, man, what a year it was for yours truly. I could list everything I’ve done this year but you can go watch my old promos to see me wax poetic about myself.
I sit here your Action Wrestling World Champion for a good portion of this year. That should be enough to show you that I’ve had one of the best years of anybody in this business because for nearly one hundred and forty days I’ve been the top guy in this industry. Vastly different from my opponent this week.
Dion, buddy. Welcome to the main event, pal. I don’t know how long you’re gonna be here so you should enjoy this little taste of paradise that I’ve built a home in. What’s funny is you could’ve easily occupied this spot. We were both in that number-one contenders match all those months ago. But the fates had other plans for us, Dion. I won that match and went on to beat Dandy to become the World Champion. I raised my game to another level and took my rightful place as the face of the industry. You went back to being the guy with so much potential and being unable to harness it.
That is until you started taking this seriously, right Dion? Are you fucking kidding me? Just recently you figured out that you need to apply yourself to wrestling? You treat this shit like a teenager working a mall job. Doing the bare minimum won’t get you to the top. This isn’t gym class, not everyone gets a turn.
Oh, but you beat Jill Park. Hey, that’s a hell of a feather to put in your cap, Dionysus. Would be better if you didn’t need Dandy to do everything but serve her up on a silver platter for you. Fuck I would be embarrassed as hell if everyone toted such a tainted victory as my milestone win.
That’s just the thing though. Wins like that need to be championed for you. You need Billy to lose his goddamn mind when those victories happen for you because they are few and far between. Because despite you being here since the beginning that was talked about ad nauseam when you were going against Spenny, you haven’t done much. While you might be one-half of the longest-reigning tag champions of all time, when you stand on your own two feet, you fail. No singles titles in Action Wrestling to your name. Not a CBS title, not a TV title. And you think you’re going to walk into my house and take the World Heavyweight Championship away from me? There’s a better chance of Regan eating her pig.
In my reign, I’ve beaten competitors with better resumes than yours, Dion. Lissie, Kidsgrove, even Wayne Austin. Are you gonna be like Downfall and tell me I haven’t faced anybody, like an SEC coach screaming about strength of schedule? I’m sure you’ve been talking to your buddy this week, trying to get some advice. Get the secret sauce to a victory over me.
Come real close to the screen because I wanna tell you, you ain’t beating me, Dion. I don’t give a fuck how many gauntlets you throw down or if this time you’re actually serious about wrestling, or if it’s the year of chardonnay and charcuterie. There’s levels to the shit Dion and we couldn’t be more different.
We’re held to different standards, Dionysus. I’m United States Basketball, your United States Soccer. When you win, it’s a big deal. When I lose, it’s a big deal. We are not the same. The things I deal with on a daily basis as the face of this company would shatter you. You couldn’t handle the weight of this responsibility, Dion. It would turn your fire crotch white.
You’re another one of these guys that moonlight’s in the indies because you like being a big fish in a small pond. Because when it comes to swimming in the ocean full of apex predators in ADub, you’ve already proved you can’t hack it. And I will be damned if I see this title show up on some silly little indie show just because the champion wants people to like him so badly on Twitter that he’ll do anything for validation.
The differences between us aren’t subtle, Dionysus. I’m different. Hell, I’m different from half the roster. I was built for this. I’m the guy a company builds it’s entire future around. You’re the guy who stays because you need the paycheck. This isn’t one of those underdog stories, where the plucky contender upsets the dominant champion. I already read ahead in the script.
It ends just how most things have ended for me this year.
A Hollywood Ending.
