Post by Avery Miles III on Mar 14, 2018 1:53:28 GMT -5
FLASHBACK
Feb 15, 2018
Avery and Serenity had just found out that they were expecting twins. As excited as he was, there was something more on his mind. He wanted to take a trip up to Seattle to visit an old friend. Knowing that Valentine's Day might be a hard time for him, Avery wanted to make a visit to reach out and see how he was doing. Avery finds himself a spot in the driveway as he heads to the door.
Avery: This guy... he has to always go out.
Avery shakes his head to himself as he knocks on the door.
The door opens a few moments later to a familiar but disheveled face of Dead Eye. He looks like he hasn't slept in months and has what can only be described as an 8:00 shadow on his face. He nods as he sees Avery at his door.
Dead Eye: Hey, what up, man? Come on in.
Dead Eye reaches a hand out to either dap or shake Avery's hand.
Avery laughs and pulls Charles in for a hug.
Avery: It is so good to see you man. You holding up?
Knowing CJ was not a huge hugger, Avery releases it and stands in the doorway.
Avery: Going to invite me into Casa de Deadeye?
Dead Eye offers a slight chuckle as he waves his left arm out to give a more official invite into his Seattle home. He sighs rather loudly.
Dead Eye: Well, I've seen better days. That's for sure. It honestly just depends on what day it is, bruh. As you can see, I'm not really looking much like me right now. I'll say what you GOT to be thinking. You look like you're seeing a ghost.
Avery: I remember watching that match like it was yesterday. It's like I lost a brother when I heard you had to be put up in a hospital. I cannot believe that you are up and walking.
Avery follows him into the living room.
Dead Eye rolls his neck to show the mobility he's regained in his formerly-broken neck. He sits in a Lazy Boy and point offers Avery his choice of two black, leather couches that are set in the middle of a borderline middle-class style living room. The contrast between this house and the house NGW fans became accustomed to seeing him in are easily noticeable.
Dead Eye: She ain't much, but it suffices. You know, I've actually watched that match just once, and that wasn't until...
Dead Eye catches himself about to say something that would be quite painful to finish. An odd, uneasy look comes over his face before he continues.
Dead Eye: Ah, it was a minute. I can't quite remember when. Regardless, it was rough watching that. Feeling it wasn't much better, to be quite plain with ya. But...I'm good now. How's things in your world?
Avery knew that a lot had changed in two years. He knew the absence of Karin was a big thing and it was not his place to ask. If they were meant to be, they could reconnect. And if not, we all learn from our experiences.
Avery: Well. Serenity and I just found out we are having twins. Maybe next time you can come out to Georgia to visit us?Z
Avery had not visited Dead Eye as much as he would have liked.
Dead Eye: No joke?! Congrats, bruh.
Dead Eye is truly happy for Avery and Serenity, but he can't help that "what could have been feeling" deep in the pit of his stomach. However, he won't allow those thoughts to ruin a life-changing moment for one of his closest friends.
Dead Eye: That's absolutely amazing, man. I'm so happy for you two. Please share my joy with Serenity for me. Wow, so, how does it feel, bro?
Avery: I have no clue. Four months and I will be a dad. Put me inside of a cage with a madman and I am good. Two little babies? Scared shitless.
He laughs.
Avery: What about you? What are you up to? Seattle and all... You know I still have hopes for my bud to return.
Dead Eye smirks. It's crazy to think that two of his closest friends in this business started as fierce opponents of his, especially Avery. While the two have almost always held a mutual respect for each other, they were involved in several, hard-fought matches that led them in different directions to start their NGW careers.
Dead Eye: Work in progress, my dude. Everything has been. Professional life, personal life...so many changes. Doc Andrews is actually gonna see me in a couple weeks to let me know if I have a full release or nah. Matter-fact, that's around your way, so I'll stop by, for sure. How'd we get here, dude?
Avery smirks.
Avery: I have no clue. Plus, you better get better because I owe you an ass kicking.
Avery has a good laugh at that.
Avery: I am trying to improve myself every chance I get. Last year, dark times man. I am trying to get better. I held a world title in Guerreros of Lucha but have not help gold in a long time. It is time I fix that.
Dead Eye scratches his chin.
Dead Eye: You owe me an ass whipping? Sounds like I've heard that tune before.
He smirks.
Dead Eye: My bad. You set yourself up for that one. All seems good, though. I haven't had any big setbacks. Obviously, all this time away doesn't do a body good. That's ONE reason I came out here. If there's anything that can whip you into mental and physical shape, it's the restaurant business. Trust me, I'm bout dying to get out of my kitchen and back in a ring.
This is my baby, though. I'm proud of what we've accomplished here. I was damn proud when you got that strap. You'll get back there. I've seen that in you from day one.
Avery: The minute you get cleared, your ass better be calling me to train. I got a full, state of the art gym in Macon. Alechs' little brother trains there. His boyfriend trains there. It's like a family. On Sundays when in town, we like to get together for a family dinner. Southern style.
Dead Eye: Aw, man. Southern style. I must attend. I don't know if I ever told you, but my grandma was from the south. MAN, I miss that woman's cooking. That's something you south folk own over all. There's good food out there, but there's nothing like that southern hospitality.
Dead Eye shakes his head as he got reminiscent for a moment.
Dead Eye: I could certainly use family right now...
Damn, he tried not to go there but couldn't help it. To say that his heart was aching was as big as understatement as asking if John Blade would say "Sure, why not?" when asked for an interview by Hannah Lacey.
Avery: Come to Geogia. Come stay down there. Serenity will be not able to fly soon so she will be missing the last two European stops. I am sure the school could use an extra set of eyes. And I am sure, even if not inside of the ring, you could benefit from being in that air. Seriously. Come down. I got your back. And my family is your family.
Open mouth, insert foot. Dead Eye found himself in a moment of vulnerability. Hearing Avery's news and thinking of his many family losses in the past five years just threw him for a loop. The façade he was trying to put up was crumbling like the little pigs' house of straw right before his eyes. He puts his hands into his lap.
Dead Eye: This has just been too much for, Ave. I thought it was rough when I lost my Dad. Then, I met Karin and things were starting to look up for me. I met some friends that I consider family, and I thought I'd found the love of my life. I won the big one...and in one fell swoop, I've lost it all. I just can't deal, no matter how "hard" I portray myself. I just...
With that, the last straw blows away, and Dead Eye completely breaks down. Growing up in Compton, it's not something he would normally allow to happen in front of another man, but Avery is someone who just offered him the family he's felt he recently completely lost.
Avery reaches a hand out to the shoulder of Charles.
Avery: I understand, man. And you are going to find yourself. You are going to get cleared. Sign a contract. Work your way up. And you and I will be headlining WrestleForce together one day. Family.
After a few minutes, CJ gets himself together. He blows out a deep breath.
Dead Eye: Sorry about that. I really appreciate everything, man. I just...it's so hard. I came here to escape everything, but it's not really working. I tell you what. Let me get things settled here, and maybe it might be a good idea to be in familiar territory. Can I pick up and move again?
Dead Eye runs his hands through his hair that has grown into short dreads during his time away from the ring.
Dead Eye: Man, this sucks ass.
Avery: When you are ready, Georgia is always ready. Come on by. You know that.
Avery takes a comfortable seat on the couch.
Avery: You got a kitchen in this place, yeah?
Dead Eye laughs.
Dead Eye: This place ain't much, but would a man that co-owns a restaurant not have a kitchen? That may be the only thing I remodeled here.
He leans back in the recliner.
Dead Eye: Did you want the full tour of this place I likely won't be long?
Avery: How about you show me those cooking skills and whip me something up? We can catch up more. Talk some trash about each other. Why I am the better looking and more talented one. And why when you return, I might let you get a title shot when I am holding a title.
He smirks, knowing the competitive nature of things might perk him up.
Dead Eye returns the smirk as he stands to point out the kitchen.
Dead Eye: Right this way into Bistro James. Okay, that was lame. What type of food you craving? I may look like a madman right now, but I stay strapped in the food department.
He pauses.
Dead Eye: And you better looking and more talented? What's our record in competition again?
The smirk broadens.
Avery: You had some experience on me, punk.
He laughs as they head towards the kitchen. Avery grabs a seat on a stool as he watches Charles get into the fridge.
Avery: Whatever you want, man. I ain't that picky.
Dead Eye: You look like a man that would dig a good chicken parm.
Dead Eye opens the refrigerator door and grabs a few things he'll need.
Dead Eye: So, you know...in a few months, you're gonna look about as restless as I do, right? I may not have any kids, but my cousins have enough for me to be familiar with the process. You ready for all that?
Avery laughs.
Avery: A little late to not be ready. But I am as ready as I can be. I am excited. And it is going to take some changes but in the end, it is exactly what I wanted.
He nods to himself.
Avery: Chicken parm sounds good.
He pauses.
Avery: As far as you getting back into the ring, once you are cleared, you mentally ready for that?
Dead Eye grabs a mixing bowl and cracks a few eggs into, following it up with some milk. He continues these actions while pondering the question.
Dead Eye: That's the big question. With the Achilles, I was so nervous about re-aggrevating it because it happens so often. This...
He points to his neck.
Dead Eye: It's so much more serious. I want it. I was born to do this, but can I still be me at the level my body and mind know I can be? That's the $64 question.
He puts the milk and eggs back into the refrigerator and grabs a cutting board.
Avery: Sixty four dollars?
Avery focused on that for whatever reason.
Dead Eye: An old gameshow. I don't know. Game Show Network was on the cheap cable. All we had...I certainly wasn't watching soap operas with my grandma, heh. I sometimes wonder if fear has rubbed off of you know who and impacted my mindset. Does that make sense?
Avery: Fear? You are fearless, bruh. I mean the moves you did impressed the hell out of me. Sans that one incident, you were flawless and fearless.
Dead Eye proceeds to cutting the chicken breasts into the size pieces he wants to bread for the parm.
Dead Eye: "Were" is the key word. I'm at a loss. Being in that Tony Montana "the world is yours" position and going to the garbage heap in a blazing fury has a way of taking everything out of a man...especially when that is followed up with a year and a half of rehab and a break-up. Am I still "Dead Eye"? I've just now gotten back used to being CJ.
Dead Eye stares off into space for a moment.
Avery: Who says Dead Eye and Charles James are any different? CJ ran Indy Pro, right? CJ learned what he knew of the business from being Dead Eye. To me? They are one in the same.
Dead Eye walks over and washed his hands. He goes over to the pantry to get the items he needs for the breading.
Dead Eye: While that is true, I've had to adjust to life without wrestling, and now...for a second time, without a wife. So, forgive me if I feel like I've had to differentiate the two. How the hell did you get over your tragedy? I'm at such a loss here, and I just don't know who I am anymore.
Avery: Zoe? You never get "over" it. You have to move forward. Treasure the memories. Remember the things that you learned. I still love her. Serenity knows that. Just because you and KJ aren't together doesn't mean it is not okay to still love her. Sometimes people do not work. Situations don't work. Learn what you can. And be a better person because of it.
Dead Eye begins to bread the chicken, putting the pieces onto a baking sheet.
Dead Eye: That makes sense. Moving forward is the hard part. So much of all this...
He waves his arms around.
Dead Eye: ...has her imprint all over it. It's not easy to just pick up the pieces and start all over yet again. But...I know that I can't just wallow in my own self-pity like I have these past few weeks. Burying myself in this restaurant has been good in a way, but it's just an escape mechanism. Perhaps your offer may just be what I need. This is all too reminiscent of the pain.
He puts the chicken in the oven and washes his hands again.
Avery: Life throws you challenges. A test of a real man is how he bounces back. How will you bounce back, CJ?
