Post by Slayne on May 12, 2022 22:55:37 GMT -5
Despite the cuts, bruises, and burns spread across his body as a result of his death match against his half-brother, Kurtis Slayne was in high spirits. He had lost the match but managed to secure a moral victory, an impressive feat for someone who claimed to have a shallow moral code.
“Your services are no longer required. I thought I had made that clear during our last meeting.”
He swirled the glass in his hand, watching the ice cubes ricochet off each other, as Senator Margaret Carmichael addressed him. The bar was nearly empty at this time of the day, but she was still doing her best to hide her identity underneath a hat and dark glasses.
“That’s always been your problem, Senator. You assumed I was making your son’s life a living hell for the money. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate your contributions in that regard, but that was never it at all.”
Kurtis didn’t bother showing her respect by looking at her as he spoke, and it amused him to imagine the insult she must have been feeling.
“I don’t care to understand what twisted motivations run through your head, Kurtis. You weren’t able to force Nathaniel out of the wrestling business through physical means, so I’ve made other arrangements that no longer involve you.”
“You mean the loan you gave Indy so that he could buy a piece of Project: Honor?”
He could feel her questioning gaze on him, but he still didn’t bother to look away from his drink.
“Don’t feign surprise with me, Senator. I’m not an idiot. Indy didn’t have that kind of money but you certainly do. If you want to hold that over his head and try to pull his strings, be my guest.”
“It would be much easier to do that if your presence was no longer a concern…”
Kurtis swallowed down the remainder of his drink and then carelessly slid the glass across the bar.
“It won’t be. I got what I wanted. There’s just one final piece of business to take care of and then you won’t have to worry about seeing me in your son’s wrestling company ever again.”
The aches and pains in his body became apparent as he stood up from the barstool.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Senator. Good luck turning your son into the kind of puppet that’s more appropriate for someone in your position…”
“What would someone like you know about it? Since hiring you, I’ve been following your matches and interviews. I know all about your whore of a mother and your upbringing. Someone like you could never understand the complexities between a real mother and her son.”
Kurtis paused for a moment but still didn’t bother to look back at Indy’s mother or even bother to argue with her. A slight smile crossed his face as he considered her words before finally making his way out of the bar and onto the street.
“Kurtis…is that you, baby? Oh my sweet angel…it is you, isn’t it?”
His mother couldn’t have weighed more than seventy-five pounds. He had grown used to seeing her without hair, but it seemed as if she grew thinner with every visit. The cancer continued to take its toll, and deep down, he knew that her fight was nearing its end. He gave her a kind smile as the tears welled up in her eyes, just like they did every time he stepped into her hospice room.
“Yeah, mom, it’s me. How are you doing today?”
“Oh, baby. You don’t want to hear about how I’m doing. I’m more interested in hearing about you. How are things going between you and Nate?”
He took his mother’s hand between his own and gently squeezed.
“They’re going really well, mom. I think he’s finally accepted the fact that he has a brother he never knew about before now. It’s been hard for him to accept that his dad had flaws, but he’s finally started to see things my way.”
She reached over with her free hand to rest her palm on the side of the face, just like she had done when raising him on her own, to comfort him when he was sad, lonely, or confused. As he smiled at his mother, Kurtis thought about all the lies he’d shared throughout his Project: Underground journey. He thought about the mistruths he willingly spread about his mother, partly in an effort to keep the real woman behind his made-up stories protected, but also to paint the man who had abandoned her in a worse light. She was the polar opposite of the woman he’d spent months describing, a strong woman who sometimes worked three jobs to provide for her son.
He couldn’t remember her ever taking a moment for herself, to make friends or even find companionship. Since the day he was born, he had become her life, and her efforts to support his academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors became more than just a full-time job. If only they had received some kind of support from Clive Darling, even if not financial but an occasional day of his precious time, her life would have been so much easier.
“I’m so happy to hear that, baby. I hate to think of leaving you without any family to depend on. Every man needs a family…”
Kurtis appreciated the sentiment, but he knew better. All he had ever needed was the support and love of his mother. When the opportunity to pay for her medical bills arose and gave him the chance to mentally and physically torment his half-brother, to inflict hardship on him the way their father had inflicted on Kurtis and his mother by abandoning them, it was simply too good to pass up.
It kept him away from her more than he would have liked, but at the same time it was providing her the most comfort and care possible during her final days. Everything he’d put his body through had been worth it. His hatred for the business that made her a single parent and for the father that refused to acknowledge her had driven him beyond what he previously imagined himself capable of. He had found joy in hurting people who claimed to love that business, who were likely ignoring their own families and real-life responsibilities. Most of all, he loved bringing the selfish bastard out of Nate.
He knew there was nothing more he could do. He’d pushed Indy as far as he could, and now all that was left was for Kurtis to sit back and watch. It was only a matter of time until Indy would ruin the shining reputation of Clive Darling that he’d spent years trying to fabricate. Despite the deep pain he felt over his mother’s condition, that small bit of satisfaction gave him solace.
“I wish I was leaving you with something more…that I could have done more for you…”
He shook his head and allowed his smile to widen, gripping his mother’s hand tighter.
“You gave me more than enough, mom. You gave me the world. Everything I’ve been able to do, everything that I will still do, is a testament to your love and strength. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother…I don’t think such a thing can even exist.”
It was enough to make her smile, and knowing the pain that was wracking her body, being able to make his mother smile meant the world to Kurtis.
“When the doctors told you I had Albinism, you didn’t break. You worked your ass off and then came home to give me the greatest education I could ever ask for. When I wanted to learn how to defend myself, you supported me. When I wanted to take up acting, you were my biggest fan. So please, don’t ever think that you could have done more. You did everything you possibly could and then some.”
He could see the effect the pain was having on her, but she still forced herself to smile. She had always been that way. She had always been the strongest woman he’d ever known. Someday, he would tell the world the truth about her. Someday, he would show her how much her investment in him had paid off. Someday, he would give her everything she’d ever wanted….
Her smile slowly faded as her eyelids closed to press tears down her cheeks. The frail hand he held was no longer squeezing back, and the hand that gently caressed his check fell limp to her side, until it hung lifeless off the edge of her bed.
As he understood that there would be no more ‘someday’, Kurtis lowered his head until it came to rest on his mother’s still abdomen. His own tears began to fall, and this man who had put on the facade of being void of emotion, openly wept for what he had lost.
There would be no promo cut against Meatball, Virgil Barrick, or Joseph Blaze. He wasn’t even sure why he was going through with the match at all. He didn’t care about Project: Underground or proving himself to be the best. He had never cared about either of those things.
Yet with his mother’s light no longer in his life, he had to fill the void she’d left behind with something…anything.
And so, he would commemorate his loss, he would pay homage to her memory, in the only way he knew how. He would paint the blank canvas of the ring with his own blood and with the blood of his opponents. He would drown his hidden emotional pain under a blanket of physical trauma.
For one final time, he would be the Kurtis Slayne that he had made them believe was real. He would play his part to perfection, as the monster for someone else to vanquish. Then again…maybe…just maybe…he’d show them all how real the monster could be.
“Your services are no longer required. I thought I had made that clear during our last meeting.”
He swirled the glass in his hand, watching the ice cubes ricochet off each other, as Senator Margaret Carmichael addressed him. The bar was nearly empty at this time of the day, but she was still doing her best to hide her identity underneath a hat and dark glasses.
“That’s always been your problem, Senator. You assumed I was making your son’s life a living hell for the money. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate your contributions in that regard, but that was never it at all.”
Kurtis didn’t bother showing her respect by looking at her as he spoke, and it amused him to imagine the insult she must have been feeling.
“I don’t care to understand what twisted motivations run through your head, Kurtis. You weren’t able to force Nathaniel out of the wrestling business through physical means, so I’ve made other arrangements that no longer involve you.”
“You mean the loan you gave Indy so that he could buy a piece of Project: Honor?”
He could feel her questioning gaze on him, but he still didn’t bother to look away from his drink.
“Don’t feign surprise with me, Senator. I’m not an idiot. Indy didn’t have that kind of money but you certainly do. If you want to hold that over his head and try to pull his strings, be my guest.”
“It would be much easier to do that if your presence was no longer a concern…”
Kurtis swallowed down the remainder of his drink and then carelessly slid the glass across the bar.
“It won’t be. I got what I wanted. There’s just one final piece of business to take care of and then you won’t have to worry about seeing me in your son’s wrestling company ever again.”
The aches and pains in his body became apparent as he stood up from the barstool.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Senator. Good luck turning your son into the kind of puppet that’s more appropriate for someone in your position…”
“What would someone like you know about it? Since hiring you, I’ve been following your matches and interviews. I know all about your whore of a mother and your upbringing. Someone like you could never understand the complexities between a real mother and her son.”
Kurtis paused for a moment but still didn’t bother to look back at Indy’s mother or even bother to argue with her. A slight smile crossed his face as he considered her words before finally making his way out of the bar and onto the street.
********************************
“Kurtis…is that you, baby? Oh my sweet angel…it is you, isn’t it?”
His mother couldn’t have weighed more than seventy-five pounds. He had grown used to seeing her without hair, but it seemed as if she grew thinner with every visit. The cancer continued to take its toll, and deep down, he knew that her fight was nearing its end. He gave her a kind smile as the tears welled up in her eyes, just like they did every time he stepped into her hospice room.
“Yeah, mom, it’s me. How are you doing today?”
“Oh, baby. You don’t want to hear about how I’m doing. I’m more interested in hearing about you. How are things going between you and Nate?”
He took his mother’s hand between his own and gently squeezed.
“They’re going really well, mom. I think he’s finally accepted the fact that he has a brother he never knew about before now. It’s been hard for him to accept that his dad had flaws, but he’s finally started to see things my way.”
She reached over with her free hand to rest her palm on the side of the face, just like she had done when raising him on her own, to comfort him when he was sad, lonely, or confused. As he smiled at his mother, Kurtis thought about all the lies he’d shared throughout his Project: Underground journey. He thought about the mistruths he willingly spread about his mother, partly in an effort to keep the real woman behind his made-up stories protected, but also to paint the man who had abandoned her in a worse light. She was the polar opposite of the woman he’d spent months describing, a strong woman who sometimes worked three jobs to provide for her son.
He couldn’t remember her ever taking a moment for herself, to make friends or even find companionship. Since the day he was born, he had become her life, and her efforts to support his academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors became more than just a full-time job. If only they had received some kind of support from Clive Darling, even if not financial but an occasional day of his precious time, her life would have been so much easier.
“I’m so happy to hear that, baby. I hate to think of leaving you without any family to depend on. Every man needs a family…”
Kurtis appreciated the sentiment, but he knew better. All he had ever needed was the support and love of his mother. When the opportunity to pay for her medical bills arose and gave him the chance to mentally and physically torment his half-brother, to inflict hardship on him the way their father had inflicted on Kurtis and his mother by abandoning them, it was simply too good to pass up.
It kept him away from her more than he would have liked, but at the same time it was providing her the most comfort and care possible during her final days. Everything he’d put his body through had been worth it. His hatred for the business that made her a single parent and for the father that refused to acknowledge her had driven him beyond what he previously imagined himself capable of. He had found joy in hurting people who claimed to love that business, who were likely ignoring their own families and real-life responsibilities. Most of all, he loved bringing the selfish bastard out of Nate.
He knew there was nothing more he could do. He’d pushed Indy as far as he could, and now all that was left was for Kurtis to sit back and watch. It was only a matter of time until Indy would ruin the shining reputation of Clive Darling that he’d spent years trying to fabricate. Despite the deep pain he felt over his mother’s condition, that small bit of satisfaction gave him solace.
“I wish I was leaving you with something more…that I could have done more for you…”
He shook his head and allowed his smile to widen, gripping his mother’s hand tighter.
“You gave me more than enough, mom. You gave me the world. Everything I’ve been able to do, everything that I will still do, is a testament to your love and strength. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother…I don’t think such a thing can even exist.”
It was enough to make her smile, and knowing the pain that was wracking her body, being able to make his mother smile meant the world to Kurtis.
“When the doctors told you I had Albinism, you didn’t break. You worked your ass off and then came home to give me the greatest education I could ever ask for. When I wanted to learn how to defend myself, you supported me. When I wanted to take up acting, you were my biggest fan. So please, don’t ever think that you could have done more. You did everything you possibly could and then some.”
He could see the effect the pain was having on her, but she still forced herself to smile. She had always been that way. She had always been the strongest woman he’d ever known. Someday, he would tell the world the truth about her. Someday, he would show her how much her investment in him had paid off. Someday, he would give her everything she’d ever wanted….
Her smile slowly faded as her eyelids closed to press tears down her cheeks. The frail hand he held was no longer squeezing back, and the hand that gently caressed his check fell limp to her side, until it hung lifeless off the edge of her bed.
As he understood that there would be no more ‘someday’, Kurtis lowered his head until it came to rest on his mother’s still abdomen. His own tears began to fall, and this man who had put on the facade of being void of emotion, openly wept for what he had lost.
********************************
There would be no promo cut against Meatball, Virgil Barrick, or Joseph Blaze. He wasn’t even sure why he was going through with the match at all. He didn’t care about Project: Underground or proving himself to be the best. He had never cared about either of those things.
Yet with his mother’s light no longer in his life, he had to fill the void she’d left behind with something…anything.
And so, he would commemorate his loss, he would pay homage to her memory, in the only way he knew how. He would paint the blank canvas of the ring with his own blood and with the blood of his opponents. He would drown his hidden emotional pain under a blanket of physical trauma.
For one final time, he would be the Kurtis Slayne that he had made them believe was real. He would play his part to perfection, as the monster for someone else to vanquish. Then again…maybe…just maybe…he’d show them all how real the monster could be.