Life has a way of being funny at times. Not funny in a chuckle-inducing kind of way, at least not all the time. But rather, funny in a way that one couldn’t help but to feel like a pawn every now and again, a pawn of some greater power in some grandiose game of chess. The funny part was, once in awhile, one might feel like they were a pawn sacrificed for the greater good. They were slighted simply to make more room for victory, and then, the only thing this particular pawn could really do was wait and hope that the victory ended up coming to his king. Otherwise, the sacrifice was made in vain, and the poor sacrificial lamb had put his own inhibitions and personal feelings aside simply to have made a sacrifice for the losing army.
In this case, LoC’s Ryan Billows was the man currently pondering just how damned hilarious life could be at times. He felt like he was something of a pawn, sacrificing a very personal vendetta for the sake of bringing the victory home to his kingdom. Granted, it hadn’t really been his choice. In fact, he hadn’t really had much of a choice. He’d gone ahead and told management he’d represent the Legacy of Champions in any form he could. He just wanted to be on the forefront in the Dupree Cup scene, knowing it would be something historical. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he’d be placed in a tag-team with a man that he legitimately despised.
None the less, he’d come to grips with the harsh reality that life had chucked a few lemons his way with a fastball pitch. Now it was time to swing with all his might and send the lemons straight over the fence, splattering them into lemonade. He just hoped his partner felt similarly.
Having parked his motorcycle, Billows proceeded to pack his custom-made blue and yellow helmet away in the storage compartment beneath the seat. He made his way across the garage and opened the steel door that led from the parking garage into the Arena of Champions, and he was face-to-ugly mug with the man who would be his partner in the Dupree Cup:
TURK!
“Theeeere’s everybody’s favorite little kitty-cat.” Turk bellowed.
The Young Lion couldn’t decide whether to frown or smirk at Turk’s toying with his nickname, so Billows simply looked up at Turk and nodded, “Here I am.”
“I was just coming outside to call you and make sure you weren’t trying to wiggle your way out of things…” Turk grinned, the wickedness in his smile all too evident.
“Your perception of me is so misguided it might as well be considered lost,” Billows grinned back, “I’m in it to win it, Turk. Doesn’t matter who my partner is as long as he’s in it for the same reason.”
Turk raised an eyebrow and looked down his nose at Billows, “So, you mean to tell me that you’re practicing your forgiving and forgetting?”
A lightning-storm of memories flooded Billows’ mind, one after the other after the other. Turk turning a scripted injury into a legitimate one by actually slamming Billows’ head in a car-door, and of course, the six staples that followed. Then, not even a week later, the two had a match that saw Turk actually bite down on one of the staples and pull it from Billows’ head (although, Billows had to admit—it definitely added to the match). Hell, a couple of months ago, Turk had almost sent Billows’ career into a downward spiral by turning their match on LoC’s Underground 2 into a shoot.
Billows came back to the ‘here and now’, fervently shaking his head, “No. You’re an asshole, plain and simple, Turk. There’s no getting around that. You stink, and I don’t like being around you because you’re such a ****ing asshole…BUT…I’m willing to stomach teaming with an asshole provided that asshole gives me his word that he’s on my team in this ish.”
“HEY!” Turk got in Billows’ face, “I might be an asshole, kid, but I respect this business. I respect this business mostly because of the time I’ve spent in LoC and the time that’s been invested in me in LoC. Don’t you think for one second that I don’t know who butters my bread! The Legacy is near and dear to me, son!”
Billows rolled his eyes and nodded, “Yeah. Okay, that’ll do.” He pushed his way past Turk, entering the arena, “By the way, you’re looking a bit naked without that Underground Title.”
Turk hung his head for a moment before turning around and stalking behind Billows, “Yeah…well…at least I have a title reign to speak of.”
Billows grinned to himself, “Oh, don’t you worry captain crazy, I’ll have that Legacy Title soon enough.”
(Billows would be involved in LoC’s Main Event at their next PPV, Revelations. He’ll have a chance, along with four other men, to dethrone Derecho.)
“Not like you deserve it.” Turk stated.
Billows stopped dead in his tracks, feeling the words rip through his skin and sink into him. He turned around, giving Turk a glare, “If you want to settle things then we can settle things, hondo. Right here, right now. But I’m willing to wager that you’d give me a beating and I’d give you a beating, and then neither one of us would be much competition for these NFW boys. So, for the sake of competition, let’s watch our ****ing tongues.”
“You know what? You’re right. You don’t talk to me. I won’t talk to you. But I want you to know, Mr. Jack of all Trades, when this Dupree Cup is all said and done—you and I are right back where we started.” Turk met Billows’ glare with one of his own.
“Oh, and where exactly is that? Is that where your hypocritical delusional ass is insulting me for God knows what in your silly little column? Or is that where you’re refusing to be a professional when working with me?! Remind me where, exactly, it is that we started.” Billows pleaded.
Turk grunted, “Forget it. Why don’t you just keep walking…the camera-crew is right around the corner and they should be finished setting up. The sooner we cut a promo on these mother****ers, the sooner we can be out of one another’s faces.”
“Well, I can’t ****ing wait. Lead the way.” Billows stepped to the side, extending his arm to show Turk the open pathway.
Turk huffed and stomped past Billows, making his way to the scene for Team LoC’s Dupree Cup interviews. Billows sighed, momentarily analyzing the mutual disdain shared between Turk and himself. Then, he followed after Turk.
…
…
…
Moments later, the two men stood in front of a LoC banner with a camera pointed directly at them. The director was still busy talking with his assistant, and Turk had just now noticed Billows’ shirt. It was white and read: ‘I <3 Lesbians.’ Turk shook his head and reached into a box that was on the side of the set.
“Here, put this on. Official Team LoC shirts.” Turk grumbled, tossing a shirt to Billows.
“I really don’t think it matters what I’m wearing for this, man.” Billows said, catching the shirt.
“Just put it on.” Turk demanded.
“What the ****, man? I don’t have to wear it if I don’t want to.” Billows was being difficult simply because it was Turk.
“I swear to Christ, Ryan, you’re so—”
Billows cut him off, “Fine! I’ll put this damned shirt on. Jeezy Pete…”
"Look, with all this ****, you think I wouldn't rather be wearing my "BLACK TOM is a COCKSUCKER' shirt? Or maybe the SYLO CLONE one that sold out nearly every show since it's debut?" Turk huffed; "put the damn shirt on."
Billows slipped the shirt up and over his head, and pulled it down. It read in gold text, ‘We got this on LoCk’
Billows looked down, reading it upside down, “We got this on lock. Ooooh, how cute.”
Turk looked at Billows and frowned before slamming him in the chest. Billows stumbled backwards a step.
“DUDE! What the hell was that for?!” Billows asked.
“You’ve got it on backwards, idiot!” Turk shook his head.
Billows looked over his shoulder, trying to get a good view of his back. This was easier said than done. Finally he slipped his arms inside and turned the shirt around, revealing the front which had four rows of text. Four names:
Ulysis Solian
Derecho
Turk
Billows
“Don’t hate Turk…Kriss-Kross used to wear their clothes backwards. In fact, that could be our thing! We could wear our shirts backwards!” Billows offered.
“No.” Turk shot the idea down immediately.
“We’re all set!” The director called out as Billows frowned.
Billows turned to Turk, “You want me to start in on them? Or do you have something in particular you’d like to start off with?”
“You go ahead, and I’ll jump in when the time presents itself.” Turk replied.
“Alright…just don’t cut me off if it sounds like I’m about to say something really cool.” Billows instructed.
Turk rolled his eyes before nodding at the director. Billows cleared his throat and gave the nod as well.
“AAAAAAAND ACTION!” The director called out.
Billows flipped his long mane of hair back and smiled at the camera, “Hi there. My name is Ryan Billows, more commonly known as The Young Lion. This Psycho right here to my left is none other than Turk. And anybody that knows either of us knows that we don’t like each other. Like, at all. I think this guy over here is piece of a ****, and he thinks the same of me. But I’m here today to let it be known that I’m proud to fight alongside him in the Dupree Cup. I know first-hand that a punch from Turk can make it feel like your face has been pushed through the back of your head. I know that Turk doesn’t know the word ‘quit.’ I know that Turk would much sooner END A CAREER than embrace humility and accept defeat. And I know that the core of our mutual hatred is the fact that we both care so deeply and passionately for the Legacy of Champions. So let it be known that while I can’t stand the sight of him, I’m very confident with the man who has been assigned as my partner.”
If they hadn’t been in front of a camera, Turk might have shown some of his surprise. But instead, he jumped into the mix of things.
“This”, Turk pointed to Billows; "is the Young Lion. The man that set the Legacy division on fire just a few weeks ago. The man that never forgets, the man that will stop at nothing to assure victory. His heart, and bravery, not to mention some of the best in ring tactics in professional wrestling are why he was selected to stand at my side to defend what LoC is - the Legacy of Champions." Turk breathed deep; "The Legacy that with eachother's help we're her to carry throughout professional wrestling with a win in the Dupree cup. This man is one I'll hold in even higher regard when Team LoC hoists that cup over our heads in victory in the coming weeks." Turk glanced at Ryan; "So, while I can't stand the sight of him either - there's no one else in LoC, hell, in pro wrestling, I'd choose to watch my back."
“Turk, you’re much too kind. But enough about us…let’s take a few moments to address the guys who will be in the other corner in our Team LoC vs. Team NFW match. Lone Wolf and WildStar. Looooooone Wolf and WildStar,” Billows paused, “Well, honestly, I don’t have too much to say about either of these guys. I got online and looked for them on New Frontier Wrestling’s web-page, and they were nowhere to be found! This begs the question: if NFW doesn’t worry about them, why the hell should Team LoC?!” Billows paused, letting the point sink in. “It seems to me that they’re just a couple of nobody’s who think they’re somebody’s. Inflated egos, if you will. I mean, WildStar had the nerve to say that nobody has the skills that he has. HI!!!! PRO WRESTLNG ILLUSTRATED’S 2004 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RIGHT HERE! I’ve got to say, hearing him make such a broad statement definitely got me motivated for the match…I can’t wait to go toe-to-toe with this guy, spot-for-spot, move-for-move. I can’t wait to show him just why I’m referred to as ‘This Generation’s Sensation.’”
Turk looked dumbfounded at Billows."You...you watched that whole promo?"
Ryan nodded.
Turk leaned in, astounded; "Seriously?"
Ryan nodded again; "Y-Yeah." who appeared just as shocked Turk apparently hadn't.
"Well as soon as I saw that god-damn Tonto looking piece of **** start talking like he had a load of cow patties wedged in his cock-holster I started fast-forwarding. I mean - did you see his hair? Holy **** - I'm certifiably 'skitzo but I wash, Ryan!" Turk had blown off the whole reason for the taping and was simply shooting now; "I mean my Hummer needs lubed, call in that guy for the front end. Hell, speaking of Hummers - who was that asshole that appeared second?"
Billows gave Turk a pat on the back as he leaned forward, “Okay-Okay -And if you don’t know…then now y’know. *****ES!”
"Are we done?" Turk stammered as Ryan walked away, disgusted "Hey-you really watched that?"
The camera faded to black as Turk chased Billows out of frame.
