Though it hadn’t been
entirely intentional, Caiden Everett hadn’t spoken to a single coworker during the Los Angeles show. He’d hidden in his private locker room, and watched the show. As soon as the main event aired, he was gone. Now, it was later in the night, the sun was setting behind his back, and he was relaxing in the hot tub, listening to
music, playing from the bluetooth speaker nearby.
The song he was listening to was important to him. When he’d first started wrestling,
More Human Than Human had been his original entrance theme, all those years ago. Back where he’d started wrestling, back in Quebec, things had been different than in the AWE. When you wrestled in high school gyms, and the backyard of the owner of the promotion… nobody cared if you used licensed music.
In the AWE, in front of thousands of people in attendance, and millions watching at home… well, things were slightly different. Even in Japan, he’d had to use other songs. He’d used the original track three times: his debut, his entrance to the climax of the yearly tournament (which he’d won), and then at the closing scene of the Japanese company’s biggest show of the year, as Caiden Winters held the title high above his head.
Nowadays, he came out to the song that had been prepared for him personally by the AWE in house group. Once upon a time, Caiden had dreamed that after a few years of proving that he could be the best here, just like he was the best everywhere else, they might buy the damn rights to the fucking song so he could use it again.
Now?
Now, that was a dream that was crushed under the simple realization that nobody in this stupid company saw anything in him, other than Wade Palmer. If it wasn’t for Wade, Caiden would probably still be the face of gaijins in Japanese wrestling, and one of the most booked international indie wrestlers in the world. But no, instead, he was treading water in the biggest company of the world — admittedly for the biggest paycheck he’d ever received in his life, but…
For Caiden, the direct deposit wasn’t all that mattered. The money was great, but he didn’t care about money. Honestly, he just wanted to be one of the greats, he wanted to be brought up in every debate about the greatest wrestlers of all time. But… that wasn’t going to be the case working here. He had to go, somewhere else. Anywhere else, really, just a place that appreciated him and let him be the best goddamn wrestler he could be — and he knew damn well that given the chance, he’d be the best in the world.
“More human, than human,” the man bobbed his head slowly to the music as it played. Closing his eyes and adjusting slightly, Caiden felt the water jets hit a muscle he hadn’t even known was sore. He let out a long breath, and sunk deeper into the water, until it covered his head. Solidarity, it was all he wanted. He was honestly amazed no one else was at the pool area, but hey. He’d take it.
Unfortunately for Caiden’s privacy, solitude, and peace, the moment he would rise back out of the water, there would be the sight of none other than Joy Ryder, his best friend’s sister, stripping. Sorta. The brunette, whose hair was wild and free, having undid her updo once AFTERSHOCK was over, was taking off her brother’s giant wrestling shirt from Japan, revealing her delicate, fair skin adorned with a simple
floral bathing suit. She smiled to herself as she listened to the metal song play throughout the pool area. Joy didn’t have a sexy bod like her sister but she didn’t have a terrible physique either. She was happy with her size, actually. Her eyes, legs, and smile were her best features and as long as she liked what her mama gave her, who cares what anybody else thought!
Slowly but surely, Joy’s quarry came up out of the water. When he saw her, briefly his expression soured, before it went… blank, as he stared at her, wordlessly. Again? Why did she always do this? The last time, had been intentional, that much he knew for sure — but this time… maybe it was a coincidence? Either way, Caiden was going to attempt something new: stare at her in hopes that she walks away.
It was unfortunate… perhaps fortunate? That Joy was no liar. Even if she attempted to lie, she would fail horribly. Her poker face game was weak. So, once she was indeed done getting herself to the point where she was ready for the water, she turned to her bag and took out a fairly large bottle of White Zinfandel, a medium sweet wine, with a romantic, pink tint to it. Her favorite! She then proceeded to take out not one but two glasses out, that were wrapped in hand towels so they didn’t break… what? She had a LONG day. She needed it.
After having rested both glasses on the short table by the lounge chair, she turned around, her hair flying in the air with her quick movements, to meet her blue gaze with the wrestler’s stare,
“Hi, Caiden. Mind if I join you? You know what, you won’t mind at all. I bought wine. Want some?” By the dead set expression on her face, Joy was not going to take no for an answer. Even if she was using more… aggressive tactics to spend time with him, she actually wanted to relax and go in the jacuzzi as well. She was planning on going here all day, it just so happens that Caiden was here too, which was a plus. Thank you, Trinity. Joy wouldn’t have known he was here, relaxing, in the jacuzzi, if it weren’t for her. Sister’s got her back (and Wade too, who probably found out the information for Trinity).
“You aren’t supposed to drink here, I’m pretty sure the sign says so.” Please go away. Would Caiden never get his chance to brood in peace? This was the second night in a row that she’d interrupted him, and he had a feeling it wouldn’t be her last time bothering him. There was no solidarity to be found in his lifestyle, was there? Someone, somewhere, would always bother him.
“Joy, I’m kind of having a bad night. I don’t know if you want to be around for this.” Having poured him a glass anyways, though it might be too sweet for him, she stepped into the jacuzzi with him, nice and slow, since her body had to get use to the change in temperature. Placing his glass beside him on the edge, she sat arm’s length apart from Caiden and gave him a sincere look, that displayed care, kindness, and worry,
“Want to talk about it?” Her voice was soft and warm.
“As for the sign, fuck it. I will drink because I deserve it.” A rare occasion where Joy actually cursed. Usually it only happened during casual cases once in a blue moon, never on screen.
Did Caiden want to talk about it? Not particularly. He didn’t much care for talking, he was a bit of a man of action, he liked to think. But, for now… he would talk. Maybe it’d make her leave him alone in the future.
“I feel misused here, in the AWE. Wasted. Left to tread water. There’s no reason that I’m not in the center of everything that company does. Front and goddamn center where I belong. I’m the best this world has to offer, and it’s disrespectful and infuriating that they treat me like garbage. And why? Because I didn’t start in this company? Because Roddy Quinn didn’t handpick me? I’ve made up my mind, and I’m leaving this company as soon as my contract expires, and I’m never looking back. They don’t want me, but they need me — they won’t realize it until I’m gone. And they sure as hell don’t deserve me. I’ll work for a quarter of my pay for a company that’ll actually let me be what I already know I can be: a superstar.” Joy was stunned for an instant. With her glass in hand, she never looked away from his irises. The hardened exterior that is Caiden Winters was broken down in front of her, just with the emotion in his eyes. Oh, and she had come to a realization that he too had blue eyes like her. Deeper though, and sharp like a dart, always hitting the target where it hurts. And yet… there was still passion. Pain. Anger. In this moment, she was starting to see Caiden beyond her ‘brother’s best friend’ and her ‘favorite wrestler’. For the first time, she was seeing the man behind the face, even if it was only a glimpse of who he was. Along with the pain, there was something solemn swimming in his eyes. Stunning and real.
Realizing she was quiet for longer than anticipated, Joy shook her head subtly to snap out of her daze and took a large gulp, or two, or three, of her wine. Habit. People say she’s a lightweight and shouldn’t drink like that, but she can’t help herself! It tasted like juice and was absolutely delicious.
“You’re leaving…” She quietly whispered. Her attention dropped from his face to the water. It was nice and heated, but hearing all this made it hard for her to enjoy it. Caiden wasn’t happy and Joy, who usually was quick on her feet and full of ideas, had no idea how to fix this. Well, first thing to do was, stop looking sad.
Smiling once more, she inched closer,
“They’re idiots for not taking you seriously. And in the end, it’s their loss. You ARE a superstar and I have 100 percent faith that you’ll make it wherever you go.” Because she believed in him, more than she realized.
“You’re right, I will make it wherever I go. When I was in the indies, the only reason I’m even with the AWE, is because Wade Palmer convinced me that I was a big fish in a small pond, and in the AWE, I’d be able to shatter the glass ceiling that I had reached… well, the next time I’m in a small pond… I’m going to rebuild it with my bare hands until it’s the size of the ocean.” Caiden let out a long breath and shook his head. It wasn’t Wade’s fault — Wade support him in every way, and built him up as much as he could with the management, but the past booking team hadn’t saw anything in Caiden Winters, despite Wade telling them again and again that Caiden oozed the elusive ‘it’ factor. Caiden had hoped that the new booking team would help with that, but… he got one shot at the title, then eliminated round one from the tournament. It didn’t make sense to him.
Joy stood attentive to him while placing her glass down and grabbing the glass she made for him for herself; choosing to drink it because he didn’t seem like he was in the mood for wine (that's okay, more for her). Even with the underlining sadness to his expression and tone, she couldn’t help but smile. He was confidant and so sure of himself. She couldn’t agree more. One day he’ll be the biggest star out there and maybe, just maybe, she could share in that experience… with him. W-what? No, she didn’t like him! He was attractive, yes, but she
didn’t like him. Her internal thoughts caused her cheeks to get one shade darker in red, having already been pink from the heat. After taking yet another gulp of wine, she nodded in accord,
“I’m sure the writers have something planned for you! Give it time.” Her voice came to a halt, as she sighed to herself, thinking of the inevitable results if they didn’t have anything planned for him… Caiden leaving.
“Yeah, maybe we’ll see. You probably shouldn’t drink so much, y’know. You’re blushing for no apparent reason, which is a side effect of drinking.” Caiden explained, reaching a hand back and stopping the music from playing after the next song rolled on.
“Thanks for listening, Joy, but my life here kinda isn’t what I thought it would be.” He said bluntly, shrugging his shoulders and looking down at the water.
However, the water was only in view for a short-while because Joy had brought her head under him so that he could see her and meet her gaze. Her gorgeous, blue eyes looking up at him, batting ever so playfully. She no longer had her wine glass in hand, her hands daringly rested on his chest, and in this moment, it was evident that Miss Joy was indeed a lightweight,
“Your life here now has me.” She leaned in closer, her loving smile never wavering,
“Let me make it better.” Caiden could only think one thing:
The fuck?
