Fighting the Flyer

SUNDAY: After the Show
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Chuck walks backstage, letting the tag title drag on the floor behind him. This isn’t a normal belt to Chuck. He doesn’t wear it snug around his waist like he did with the Universal Title. He doesn’t drape it proudly over his shoulder like the NLWF Championship is now. He holds the tag belt in his hand, letting the other end drag.

???: “Chuck! We did it, man!”

Chuck’s mood takes another plummet as he hears the voice. He ignores Nick behind him, and continues walking back to the locker room. Nick runs up behind Chuck and puts his hand on his shoulder. Chuck spins around, grabbing Nick by the throat and slamming him up against the wall. Chuck gets up very close to Nick’s face.

Chuck Matthews: “Listen. I don’t care that my daughter has some little infatuation with you. I don’t give a fuck if we’re the tag champions together. I am not your buddy. I am not your friend.”

Nick wrenches his hand free from Chuck’s grasp.

Nick Ridicule: “Do you not see what happened out there? Ashley and I just won you the tag titles. We beat Entourage. And all you can think about is that I needed to have your daughter by my side to do it? We reunited Salvation, Chuck!”

Chuck Matthews: “I told you to stay away from her.”

Nick Ridicule: “I don’t think it’s me you should be telling. Perhaps you need to tell her to stay away from me.”

Chuck Matthews: “You little shit.”

Chuck raises his fist, but Nick holds up his hands.

Nick Ridicule: “Easy there, Chuck. You wouldn’t want to hurt your old buddy Nick, right? Not with your lovely daughter standing right there.”

Chuck’s face contorts in fury. He stands there for a moment, hand raised. He doesn’t remember the last time he wanted to hurt someone as bad as he wants to hurt Nick right now. Chuck feels Ashley’s hand hold his arm and slowly, Chuck lowers his arm and lets Nick go. Nick smiles at Ashley, only to get a cruel glare from Chuck. Nick quickly hugs Ashley, and slaps Chuck on the back, grinning.

Nick Ridicule: “Catch you later, Chuck.”

Chuck looks at Ashley.

Ashley Matthews: “What?”

Chuck Matthews: “You know what.”

Ashley Matthews: “He’s not that bad.”

Chuck Matthews: “You don’t know him like I do.”

Ashley Matthews: “Funny, I was just gonna say the same thing.”

Chuck opens his mouth to say something, but can’t. He shakes his head.

Chuck Matthews: “Whatever.”

He resumes his walk down the hall. Ashley calls after him.

Ashley Matthews: “He bought me a car dad! And he won you the tag team titles! What more do you want?”

Chuck stops. He shakes his head again, and continues on.

Later that night...

Chuck sits in his locker room, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He seems very deep in thought. Finally he speaks, though it appears to be directed at no one in particular.

“The Notorious K.I.D. It’s funny, really. Wherever I go, people always think the same thing. I’m such a big name, I’m the huge star in NLWF. Surely a match against someone like K.I.D is an insult to me? You know what I tell those people?

‘Not in the slightest.’

Watching a Notorious K.I.D match is like watching a train wreck. There’s gonna be a lot of risk, a lot of carnage, and it’s sure as hell exciting to watch. The last time I fought him was at Resurrection of Respect. The Triple Cage match. I didn’t really get the chance to fight him, because he ended up getting knocked out by James Shark. Looking back now, I kind of regret it. Because of all the people in that match, K.I.D was one of the few that I went in thinking ‘I want to fight this kid. I want to see what he has to offer.’ I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the chance.

Looks like now I’ll finally get my chance. K.I.D, you said it yourself, we’re going to go out there and put on a great match. You’re one of the guys that gets better every week. You have no fear. And to me…Tha’s something admirable. To head out to a ring, not giving a shit if you make it out unscathed or not…It’s not something everyone can do. I expect this match will definitely give me a run for my money. I expect I’ll have to keep a constant eye on the sky, right? Ha. See you in the ring, K.I.D.”