24. National North American Heavyweight Champion – Sihn
CHAPTER 24
NATIONAL NORTH AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
SIHN
“You’re gonna do great tomorrow, Sihn,” Mar tells me.
I didn’t want her to come over and see me like this. I don’t want to bleed this anger into someone else, especially not her.
She sits on my sofa with her legs crossed as I pace the floor. She’s a distraction even though she doesn’t mean to be. “Would it be helpful to tell me about the guy you’re going against?”
“They call him Berserker. He’s a big roided-out muscle-bound guy who is likely to snap at any time, thanks to the roids. He is difficult to control during matches and is known to not follow protocol.”
“Sheesh, why did you agree to a match with him?”
“I want his title of National North American Heavyweight Champion.”
“Oh.”
“It would be great for the company for one of us to hold the title, and I’m getting a real chance at it.”
“So where did this guy get his stage name from?” She leans forward as if she genuinely wants to know.
“Berserkers are in premedieval and medieval Norse and Germanic history and folklore. They believed that Odin, the god of war, gave them superhuman powers and that they didn't need to wear battle armor for protection. They worshipped him. They would get very worked up and charge fearlessly into battle.”
“So the fans believe he has superhuman powers?”
“They do, as well as he himself believes it. He will howl like a mad wolf when he attacks me, just wait and see. He’ll put on a real show. Even better than I do as The Sihnner.”
“If I’ll be in the way, I won’t come. I know I haven’t been coming, and it seems odd for me to come tomorrow.”
I place my hands on her shoulders and look her dead in the eyes as I say, “I want you there, Mar. Win or lose. Just don’t get in any side fights because I’ll be so worked up, I might actually kill someone.”
Her eyes enlarge and her mouth opens wide.
I kiss her forehead, lean back, and look into her eyes again before telling her, “I want you there.”
She whispers, “I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll be there. I’ll see if Verdi can come as protection.”
I laugh. “How is she going to protect you? You’re bigger than her, and I don’t mean that in a mean way. You just are. In a fight, I’d put my money on you…”
“She’s feisty and not afraid to tell a bitch off. I am not confrontational. Not in public, anyway.”
“I don’t mean to cut our time short, but I have to talk with Colonel about tomorrow.”
“I understand. I’ll see you after the match tomorrow.”
I nod and give her a full-on French kiss where I slide my tongue in her mouth, swirl it around, suck her lower lip, and then dip my tongue back in again until she lets out a moan. Something we rarely get to enjoy, but I need this right now.
The Colonel wasn’t at POW! when I arrived. Nikki said he was off doing business. She doesn’t know shit. I messaged him that I wanted to talk to him, and I’m currently alone in the weight room attempting to let off some steam.
I stretched first before climbing the rope that dangles from the ceiling five times.
Next, I’m doing Zercher squats—five rounds of twenty-five.
While I’m doing deadlifts, Twink comes in. Today he’s dressed in purple biker shorts and a pink crop top that says “It’s Barbie Bitch.”
“Who are you up against tomorrow?” I ask after dropping the bar.
“Kid Vicious.”
“The young one who looks peaceful until he’s in the ring?”
“Yeah, that one.”
“You’re scheduled to win, though.”
“I am, but I’m kind of at the end of this wrestling thing.”
“What?”
“I am going to pursue a different career. I mean, I can’t be a wrestler forever. I need to do something else. I want to add something to society.”
Twink is younger than me, and for him to say he’s ready to throw in the towel, makes me wonder what in the hell I’m doing here still… “What do you think you’ll do?”
“I don’t know. I thought about going into counseling services. I already have a bachelor’s degree, but I need a master’s to do anything with it.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know Twink had even been to college.
“I want to be someone I needed growing up. I’d like to specialize in young adult counseling. Specifically the LGBTQ community.”
“You’d be great at it.” I don’t know anything about it, but I know Twink will be good at anything he seeks out.
“I wouldn’t be able to wear stuff like this, though. I’d need to straighten myself up, and start wearing dress clothes.”
“I wish I knew what I wanted to be when I grow up,” I say, but it was meant to be a thought kept in my head.
Colonel’s voice comes from behind me. “Elwood, my office.”
No one else calls me Elwood anymore aside from Harvey. I follow behind him, leaving Twink alone to do his extensive abdominal circuit.
When we’re behind closed doors, I ask, “So am I supposed to take the L or am I getting the W?”
Colonel sits behind his desk. Sitting, he isn’t much shorter than his vertical height. He says, “You can’t just look the part, you need to be the part.”
“How do I do that?”
“Politics run the show, you know this. You’re really good. You always bring it. It ain’t about abilities. Just give them a show and hang in there.”
“That still doesn’t answer my initial question. Am I going to get the belt?”
“You’re supposed to. I worked it out with his team. They are trying to phase him out because he’s such a loose cannon, but you know as well as I do that he might not listen.”
“It’ll at least be a good show, right?”
“Right, and we could use a good show to at least keep the fans entertained and coming back for more.”