They didn’t fail. The Russows failed. Dan and Audrey were the losers of that match. Still Conquer and Destroy were unable to call themselves the winners, unable to take home more gold to ANTITHESIS. Most recently, they were again upstaged by The Canadian Hero himself, Devon Ryder. The United Championship #1 contender scored a big win over Tyson Sykes to secure his championship opportunity. This week it’s the other half of Conquer and Destroy that Devon must face, and the ever lingering question is…
Will Lightning Strike Twice?
The standing bag didn’t ask for this abuse, it wasn’t the one who pissed Alexander off. Truthfully that anger developed years ago, and had just been allowed to stew and fester in the mind of The Exiled Prince. Even still, the poor standing bag was the one seemingly being punished by Alexanders strikes and kicks, which hit the bag over and over with pure intensity.
After a few moments of intense striking, he stops with his back to the camera, a couple heavy breaths, he faces the camera with dark angry eyes, and an equally dark scowl on his face.
“What can I say about a man who talks and talks, but nobody listens?” Alexander says, keeping an uncomfortable stare on the camera, “I of course mean you Devon Ryder. Now, I’m not a political man, so I’m not going to argue U.S. politics with you, as much as that would delight you. But the fact of the matter is. I don’t fucking care. Liberals are fucking idiots, Conservatives are fucking idiots, but you Devon are even more of an idiot than any sissy boy left winger or right wing nutjob.”
Alexander keeps his intense stare at the camera, his overall aura only reinforcing that this is a man who has no time for politics.
“I can’t even listen to the drabble that spews from your mouth. Because it’s all the same shit every time. AMERICA BAD. CANADA GOOD.” he tone shifts momentarily to a mocking one, before shifting back to his usual demeanor, “Nobody cares Devon. Your act has been done time and time again. Yeah. America kinda fucking sucks but I’m not going to sit around and cry about it, and I sure as hell aint gonna run off to Canada like a coward. I’m simply going to do as I please, and if someone doesn’t like that, well...too bad for them now isn’t it? I’m sure you’ll come up with some fancy lesson in morality to tell us, but words is all they will be.. You got lucky against Tyson, you won’t be so lucky against me. ”
Alexander pauses for a moment, and cracks his neck, flipping his hair from his face before continuing.
“The person who should really be thanking me is Cleo Phillips, because I have every intention of making sure you don’t even make it to Crusade.” Alexander says, “It’s not all your fault, I’m just in a bad mood. There SHOULD be a championship on my shoulder, and there isn’t, because it lies with The Commonwealth. I have to unleash my frustration onto somebody, and unfortunately you drew the short straw.”
Alexander smiles, and licks his lips like a lion over its prey, ready to rip the carcass to shreds.
“Face the facts, your average at best. A few respectable wins to your name, yet somehow you remain one of the more forgettable members of the PWS roster. People may not like myself or my ANTITHESIS brothers, but they talk about us. ANTITHESIS has value to this company. Nobody would miss Devon Ryder if he randomly disappeared tomorrow, most wouldn’t even notice. People care about the squid and the potato farmer more than you.” Alexander continues to spew words from his mouth, “So go ahead, give us one of your boring lessons in morality, tell us how much America sucks, tell us how great Canada is, because those words are all you have. You’re no man Devon, and I have no respect for you. I’m a fighter. It’s what I do, it’s all I’ve known. When you grow up in a single mother household like I did, you learn to become a man quick. It’s time someone made a man out of you, and I would be honored to be the one to do so. I have no problem sending your ass back to your little magical Canadian utopia so you can reside back in your safe space.”
Another smirk, as he raises one hand, and places another over his heart as if being sworn in.
“I, Alexander Lyons do solemnly swear..” he begins, “that I will faithfully execute The Canadian Hero called Devon Ryder, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the sanctity of ANTITHESIS. That I will bear truth that I take this obligation freely and that I will well and faithfully adhere to my promise on the battle in which I am about to enter, so help me god.”
As he lowers his hands, we cut a closeup his his face, his eyes almost piercing into the soul.
“Hear Me Roar.”
----
He hadn’t given up his search to find his father, he had questions and they needed answers. As it turned out, an assault on his fathers top trainer was what was needed to get the meeting he had been after for the past twenty years. He was going to get his answers, but as these things tend to go, the answers may not be what Alexander wanted or expected.
The coffee shop was nice enough, the usual fair of soccer moms flitting in and out, college kids on their laptops, a soft song filling the air.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, dad? I don't know when
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then
Alexander’s eyes scanned the cafe, and then he saw him, a long dark haired man. The mans eyes met Alex’s and he waved him over.
“Here goes nothing” Alexander mumbled to himself, as he walked over to take a seat across from the man who was his father.
“Hello Alex." his father said, friendly and welcoming.
“Zachary.” Alex nodded, taking a seat. This man hadn’t earned the right to be called dad. He was lucky that Alex even showed up. The awkward silence was broken by a young attractive barista.
“Did you gentlemen want to order?” she asked
“Dirty chai.” replied Zachary Lyons, Alex’s father.
“Coffee. Black.” replied Alexander
“Okay, I’ll go put those in for you, it’ll be a few minutes. Let me know if you need anything else.” the barista said with a smile before leaving the table.
“So...I suppose you want answers.” Zack began
“You’re damn right. You abandoned me, left me and my mother alone.” interrupted Alexander, “All I wanted was to know my father, but my mother told me everything. You wanted nothing to do with is.”
“I bet she did tell you that.” nodded Zack, “But the thing is, she didn’t tell you everything. She didn’t tell you the full truth.
“Oh, and what’s that?” asked Alex.
“Well, all the stuff about my womanizing, my drinking, and my general lack of respect for people around me is true, I was a troubled youth, a lot of it stemmed from being the youngest of three brothers.” started Zack. “I missed your birth because I was at the bar getting drunk and looking to pick up whatever girl was the drunkest.”
“You should have been there.” Alex replied, fighting through his anger.
“I know, and it will always be one of my biggest regrets. I just wasn’t ready, I didn’t want a kid, I just wanted to party and have fun. I was a wrestling superstar and I let all of it go to my head.” said Zachary, “It’s no excuse, I did what I did.”
“Get to the point.” muttered Alex
Before his father could reply, the barista returned with a drink, she set them on the table with a smile.
“Enjoy, let someone know if you need anything.” she said before turning to help other customers.
“”Did your mother tell you how we met?” asked Zack, sipping his drink.
“She said it was at a wrestling show.” replied Alex.
“Yes, I was booked against a guy called Jason, your mother was in attendance as a fan that night, and her and a group of her girlfriends were hanging about after the show, looking to meet up with some of the wrestlers, we called them rats in my day, but I don’t think that’s a term that would sit well with todays world.” said Zachary
“Don’t call my mom a rat.” Alex replied, annoyed.
“I know it’s hard to hear, but your mom was no angel either. There came a point where I did try to contact you. But your mom kept you away, she wouldn’t allow me to see you. She never was able to forgive me for not being there early on, perhaps I deserved it. But YOU didn’t deserve it. You deserved your father.” Zachary said.
“Liar.” said Alex.
“It’s the truth Alex. Look, you are my son and you are more than welcome in my home. I have a wife now, you have sisters. You should come for the holidays.” Zachary said.
“So we’re supposed to just has it up and be one big happy family? It doesn’t work like that.” said Alex.
“We have to try..” said Zack, “or would you prefer attacking my trainers again?
“Screw you.” spat Alex
”The choice is yours, I’m going to let that assault on my trainer slide, I have enough to deal with after your sister brutally attacked someone at a seminar. But the door of the Lyons Den are always open to you.” said Zack.
“You know what..screw this. I don’t need your lies and I don’t need The Lyons Den. I can make my own way, I have a new family now and my brothers in arms will ever abandon me like you.” Alex gave hid dad a huge middle finger, threw some bills on the table, and walked straight out in an angry huff.
“In time my son.” Zack said quietly to himself, “You’ll come around.”
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, son? I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then
------