[[ GDW RP #2: Love and Death. ]]

[[ Record 01-00-00 | Other Stars Mentioned: Presley Hylton; Noah ]]

"Mouth is alive with juices like wine; And I'm hungry like the wolf." -- Duran Duran

[ Beyond the pale Moonlight ]:

I spent over an hour reading up on my opponent. I'm hoping that gives me the edge but I doubt it. I noticed we have similar writing styles. Not to mention our characters are similar. This will be a good match up. This has turned out to be a harder challenge than I thought as it's almost deadline and I have no idea what to write.. Links still are not working either. Hopefully the flashback inside the flashback isn't confusing.

[ Stalking the Prey ]:

Drake and Logan won their debut match. A match that was to determine the number one contenders for the GDW Tag Team Championship.  Now they each have a singles match. Logan's is against one of the two men who currently hold the Tag titles.

[ The Kill ]:

"It's called skill, Jack." Jason Talbot's arm began to wrap around Logan's head. A position that, as the younger brother, Logan has been in numerous times. He knew just what to do to worm his way out. He saw the attack coming and jerked his head back while simultaneously kicking his opponent right in the stomach. Bent over it was now Logan's turn to wrap his arm around his opponents neck. He twists his opponent around and nails one of his finishing maneuvers.

"It's called skill, Jack." Janelle's words echoed in Logan's head. It was all he could think about. It was all coming together now. It may only be a year and a half in the making, but a dream was coming true. Drake and Logan where on their way to becoming a true tag team; they where on their way to becoming champions.

Sweat pours from his face and every inch of his body is full of perspiration. Logan runs sideways alternating his left leg from in front of his right to behind. The white lines underneath him help him to count how far he has gone. After the fourth line he starts running in the other direction another four more lines. He stops and puts his arms behind his head. His breathing is heavy and short. It all indicates that he has been at this for a while. He walks over to a bench on the side of the football field and pulls out a water bottle and pours it all over his face, managing to get some into his mouth. He then pulls out a towel and dries off a much as possible.

Even after a year and a half Logan still trains just as he did when he was in High School. Running around cones, high knees, even simple workouts like jump rope. It was enough to get him and his team one of the highest ranked High Schools of his time, so why change now? It's hard work, but it pays off. Logan collects his gear and travels back to his hotel room. The thoughts of the last even still swarm into the backside of Logan's brain.

The referee danced to the proper position of the mat to make sure the shoulders wouldn't come up and pounds his hand to the canvas not once but three times. Three times which means a successful pin fall victory. Three strikes to the canvas means Logan won his first match. A feat in which new talent is never expected to do. The referee would grab Logan and his brothers arms in victory as select members of  the crowd cheered not out of fame, but for respect of the win. Logan's eyes welled ever so slightly as he knew this meant that now he was on his way for greatness.

"It's called skill, Jack." Skill, one thing that Team Wolfe always had going for them. It never mattered what the situation was, if it was a sport the Wolfe's where good at it. It was a natural talent that is a rarity among humans. Back in his high school days Logan would joke that he was farther along the evolutionary scale that others. A tale mostly to rile the other team. That's not to say that he never had to work for his positions in the game. Logan trained and Logan trained hard. His father taught him that hard work always pays off.

Logan finally makes it back to his hotel room and heads straight for the shower. He throws his bag in the middle of the floor and strips down throwing his clothes wherever they land as he walks to the shower. After an hour of intensive workout the barely warm water that sprays from the hotels showerhead feels incredible. It's not too long before he hears a familiar voice.

"How was your workout?" They say behind every great man is a great woman. In this case the "great woman" is Logan's girlfriend, Ashley. A woman that has stood by Logan through every choice and decision he has made. They have known each other since they where very young. The keep nothing from each other and they have a very strong and healthy relationship. They have had there downfalls just as every couple have, but they always bounce right back.

"It was wonderful! Sorry about the clothes, I'll pick them up when I get out of the shower."

Ashley walks over to the shower and leans against the edge, "Don't worry, I did it already."

Logan pops his head out and leans in to give his girlfriend a kiss. Shampoo is in his hair, he spiked it to give himself a Mohawk. Ashley giggles and combs through his hair with her fingers.

"You might be due for a haircut."

"I was thinking about growing it out actually. At least for a little while."

"Sexy!" They both smile and Logan can't help but pull his girlfriend into the shower even with her clothes on. She shrieks at first but it quickly turns into laughter.

After the shower Ashley walks over to the kitchen and pulls out some lunch meat and bread from the refrigerator. She makes a couple sandwiches and a shirtless Logan walks over to the bed as Ashley hands him one of them.

"So who are these people that you are facing now?" Ashley asks while tearing a small piece of her sandwich.

"It's these guys named Presley and Noah.."

"And?"

"Well it's weird. These guys are similar to Drake and I in many ways. Our stories are a lot alike. Its a good thing that I am such a competitive athlete or I might be worried about this match."

"Why are you training so hard then?"

"Oh come on babe, you know that I like to train hard regardless of the situation. You don't have abs like mine by sitting at a bar drinking beer."

"So you're not worried at all?"

"Well there is this rumor going around that Presley might be gay." Logan laughs. Ashley just shoots a confused look at her boyfriend. "Never mind. Look babe, you know I am a natural talent. But, I always have to worry about the consequences of a match."

Ashley sets down her plate and sits behind Logan and begins to message his shoulders, "Darling, you're going to be great. You have always been great at everything you do. And I do mean everything."

Logan chuckles at the innuendo, "I know but, I always have to think about the future and right now my future lies in the tag titles. If I can't beat Presley in a singles match, what makes you think I can do it in a tag match where there will be a second person?"

"Well first of all you will beat him but regardless you will have a second person too. You and your brother have been a tag team your entire life. No one knows each other better than you two do. You trained each other in the arts of wrestling. You guys have a sixth or maybe even a seventh sense about each other. It's like you guys have ESP or something. You will do great and you know it."

"Well thanks babe, but that still doesn't help me with this week.."

"How has he done in this fed so far?"

"He and his partner lost only one match. He's relatively new and is something like five and one."

"So he underestimated his opponents - and lost?"

"Yeah, but now they are the champions."

"Yes, but just stay with me. They where so over confident that they didn't think that their opponent was going to be a challenge."

"Yeah those opponents were a team of girls, too." Ashley punches Logan in the shoulder and strikes a mean pose on her face as if she's angry. Though she knows Logan didn't mean anything negative about his last statement. "A normal guy would underestimate a team of girls. But thanks to that right hook I never will again." He jokingly mocks as he rubs is arm.

Ashley sits back down next to Logan and reaches for her sandwich. Logan notices and begins to look the other way and whistles as if he's pretending to act nonchalant. She punches him again and Logan begins to laugh.

"You weren't eating it!" He laughs. 

Ashley just stares at her boyfriend for a while and grabs his plate and puts them by the sink. She dusts off her hands and turns around, "So listen, you have an advantage because you know darn well that there is a chance you could lose. You have never been arrogant and that is your strength. You go in hoping for the best. Sometimes you're in over your head, but you never let it get the best of you."

Logan stands up and reaches his arms to his girlfriends hips.  "Why do you love me so much?"

Ashley just shrugs pretending she doesn't know but does it with a smile. Logan pulls her in towards him and kisses her, "Thanks. I think I'll be okay."

Logan glared at CD collection. He had a lot to choose from but often stuck to the same few. Growing up in Seattle it was only obvious that Logan would be into the new wave of alternative music labeled 'grunge'. Nirvana, Soundgarden and even the Melvins where among his favorites. His overall favorite? Stone Temple Pilots fourth studio album which was ably named "No. 4". The album was released on his birthday, October twenty-sixth. Today though he reached for their first CD. He placed the CD into his Discman and skipped to track seven. He stared at the case cover wondering what exactly was going on. Was that a man or a woman? What where they holding. Why was it all red? What's the significance of the tree? He did this often. Just imagined what the artist was thinking when they came up with their art. Especially when he was in a bad mood.

Logan is nine years old and it was just recently that his father died. His father - a man that in Logan's eyes was the greatest person in the world. A man that could do no wrong. Logan learned everything that he knew from his father. He whole live the only thing he could remember was racing home from school to run into his fathers arms so they could play catch or kick a ball around. Of course Drake, Logan's older brother was there too and the neighbor girl Ashley tagged along every now and then.

Logan threw a football towards his brother. It was a perfect spiral even though it was only a few short feet away. Drake then threw to the boys' father, again a perfect spiral. It was then that Ashley showed up. She was sweet, but not like most girls. She wore tattered jeans and bulky oversized t-shirts, most definitely handed down by somebody, a cousin perhaps as she had no brothers or sisters. Her hair would be in pigtails giving the only sign that she might actually know that she is female.

"Can I play?" She asked. Her voice cracked.

"No you can't play. Football is a mans sport!" Drake bellowed. Ashley just stood there not sure of what to do next.

"Now Drake you know that men and women should be treated equally if she wants to play we can let her throw a few." The girls eyes lit up and she ran over to an open spot on the grass. Incidentally is was in between Drake and his father. When the ball reached back around to him he threw ball and it went way over Ashley's head. She shot an evil look over to the older brother and ran over to get the ball. Even at only eight years old she held the oversized for her hands ball perfectly and threw it right back at Drake skipping the other two people playing. The ball went right to Drakes chest and even knocked him back a bit.

She just stood at Drake and waited for a response. He threw it normal to her and then accepted him as one of there own. Quite a little while goes bye while the four of them play catch in the front yard when their mother yells out that supper will be on the table shortly. They are all hungry, tired and dirty.

"Well I should be getting going anyway." Ashley throws the ball one last time and starts heading home.

"Wait up." Logan runs over to her. "Can I walk you home?"

"I am only two houses away, but okay." She smiles softly.

He pats off his knees and hands and begins to walk with Ashley. "Drake didn't mean to be so rude earlier."

"Yes he did, but he has good reason."

"What's that?"

"He was protecting the family."

"Our dad taught us to play hard and never let our defenses down."

"Those are good things to have. But what about you?"

"What?"

"Why are you walking a stranger home?"

"I don't know. Don't you want me to?"

"Yes."

"Well here you are then." They didn't have far to go, which means they didn't have much to say.

"Can I come over and play again tomorrow?"

"You can come over whenever you want." He blushed.

"Well thanks, see you tomorrow then."

That was the new way of things. But it was short lived. Logan took to the death pretty hard. Death wasn't something he was accustomed too. Everyone of his grandparent's are still alive and even some of his great-grandparents. Logan's door blasts open and Drake is wearing a black suit and tie with a white button up shirt. He glances over to see Logan in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Aren't you ready yet?"

"No."

"Well why not?"

"Because Drake," tears began to form in the edges of Logan's eyes. "It's just not fair!" The tears begin to rill down his cheeks.

Drake walks over to his younger brother and wraps his arms around him, "I know it's not fair, but we need to be strong for Mom now."

"But he's gone Drake. He isn't ever coming back."

"Listen buddy, death is a natural part of life. I don't get it and I don't like it either, but we have to stay strong."

"But I miss him."

"We all do, little brother. Why don't you get dressed and we'll play a little catch before we need to go?"

Logan wipes his face with his arm and begins to control his crying. After one last snort he answers, "Okay."

Drake, even at only ten years old had his life together. He had already planned his life. He always knew what to say and what to do. He was suave.  He was protective and strong. He took on the role of the bog brother quite seriously. Especially on the day of the funeral. It was then that he knew that he was the man of the house now. He was the head of the pack.

"What is this?" Drake screams as he walks in on Logan and Ashley smoking a cigarette.

"Get out of my room Drake!" He hollers back. Drake ignores the command and stomps over to the two and rips the cigarettes from there mouth and flicks them both out the window. He finds the rest of the pack and squishes them between his fingers and throws them in the garbage can. "Oh come on, why do you have to be such a buzz kill?"

"'A buzz kill'? Do you have any idea what inside of those things? Cancer. Pure cancer. Don't you have any respect for yourself? For your family?"

"I like it and you can't stop me!" He yells angrily.

"You bet your sweet ass I can, I just did."

Still yelling, "Ever sense Dad died you turned into a major douche. You try to act like you're my superior and I need to bow down to you or something. Well it isn't going to happen, so just leave me alone!" He grabs Ashley's arm and begins to walk out but is stopped by his brother.

"Look I know I am not dad --"

"Then stop acting like it!" Logan interrupts.

"But, I am trying to look out for your best interest." He continues acting as if he wasn't cut off.

"My best interest? You try to shelter me from life. You don't let me do anything fun!"

"Don't act like I am the enemy here! I let you do plenty!"

"Like what? Mow the lawn and clean the dishes? Thanks bro, you're a real pal!"

"Your almost sixteen years old now, you don't think I don't know that Ashley sneaks in here every night?"

Logan blushes a bit and calms his voice, "We don't do anything. We literally just sleep together."

"I believe you baby brother, I do. But Dad wouldn't let that slide."

"Why do you do it then?"

"Ever since we first met her I knew that you two would get together."

"How could you have possibly known that?"

"Because I know my baby brother and I could see how nervously bashful you got when she asked to play catch with us."

"Is that true?" Ashley asks with a cute little smile on her face.

"That was seven years ago, I don't remember.." Both Drake and Ashley just stare at Logan for a while not satisfied with the answer, "Okay yes I did. Can we change the subject now?" Logan's face is beat red with embarrassment.

"Logan, just listen to me. We have these dreams of being professional football players when we get older, but that can't happen if you don't get your head together. You have a lot of talent and I don't want to see you waste them. I am only looking out for you brother."

"Okay, I'm sorry." It's a sincere apology but it came of a bit mockingly. Drake knew by now the difference. They hugged it out and Drake left.

"Sorry you had to see that."

"It was only a matter of time."

"You knew this would happen?"

"Logan, you complained about him all the time. It was obvious you where only complaining because you wanted to know he knew you where in pain."

"I guess it does sound a bit childish when you put it that way."

"I get it. You lost your dad. I know that you have been hurting and I think that is what strengthens our relationship."

"I love you."

"I know."

"It's called skill, Jack." The victory still cycles over and over in Logan's head. Last time there where five other people involved in a match. This time there is only one. Logan knows that he will do great. Failure is not an option for the Wolfe Family. This match is a big deal. Logan sits at the edge of the bed, dressed in his usual attire: tattered jeans, a band t-shirt, and Chuck Taylor shoes. The bed sits low, so low that Logan can rest his arms on his knees. Most of the room is dark but a light shines to illuminate Logan and his immediate surrounding. His high schools letterman jacket draped on the other side of the bed.

"We're rolling." A male voice is heard from the background.

"What am I supposed to say?"

"Just act like the camera is your opponent."

"Okay I think I can do this," He exhales sharply a few times and cracks his neck. "Presley Hylton. Hi how are you? Cut!"

"What's wrong?"

"I just am not one to trash talk. I suck at it."

"Well who says you have to trash talk? Just tell him what's on your mind. Rolling!"

"Presley you don't really know me, but In the past week or so I have done everything I can to get to know you. I listened to your promos. I've read your stories. And I watched your matches. You've got an amazing record here in the GDW only losing one match. Come Friday you will have one more loss. I can't lose. I just can't. This match is way too important. Beating you will bring me one step closer to winning the titles that you hold so close. If you love them, imagine it multiplied and that's how much I want them. You have an amazing talent and in the end I know that you and I will take ourselves to the limits in this match. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love a challenge and I love competition."

"You know," he continues, "You and I are a lot alike. I may not have a goofy accent but I have so much more. My partner is my brother. A man I have known my entire life. Yours is a friend. While you guys joke and have fun sending each other to gay commercials and dominatrix's, we train. We train hard. We do what we have to do to prove to everyone that we are not pushovers. Our debut match, even to everyone else's shock or dismay we won. Nobody thought we would. Everyone took us for granted just as you are doing. Now I am not saying that people are not allowed to have fun. We do it all the time. But there is a place and time for everything. Come Friday you will learn just who I am and what it means to be a Wolfe. See you soon."

"See I knew you could do it." The man finishes stops the tape and agrees to send it into the GDW officials right away.

"I feel weird though."

"It happens. You'll get used to it though."

"Think it  was a good promo?"

"Like I said you'll get used to it."

"Well hurry up and get that tape in. Our match is tomorrow."

"Let me give you some advise. Get plenty of sleep tonight."

"I will, thanks."

Logan sees the man out of his hotel and removes his clothes to get ready for bed. He doesn't get any sleep. He is full of anticipation.