Post by VCO on Aug 22, 2019 11:13:20 GMT -5
“... Maybe I should just tell Hatsu to drop the negotiation.”
“Yep. Maybe you should.”
“That should take the pressure off of him, and by the end of the year he should have enough to…”
“For sure.”
Brief silence.
“Should definitely have him murdered too.”
“Yup…” He realized what was just said and corrected himself. “Wait, what the-?”
“You aren’t even listening, asshole.”
Both men just laughed. They find themselves on top of a building, specifically, standing side by side while resting their elbows on a balcony as the beautiful landscape of Osaka, Japan flaunts before their eyes. The man on the left, Benny Stevens, is observing the movements of the crowd minding their whatever business down the streets.
“Got something on your mind?”
“Actually, I do, yeah…”
The man he was talking to is none other than his father: Anthony Stevens. An individual that, not so long ago, was sort of an enemy to Benny, after all, they never had a good father-son relationship in the past. As a matter of fact, calling it a relationship would be an understatement given the fact that Anthony wasn’t even around for the vast majority of his son’s life. Right before Alpha Wrestling Empire closed its doors, though, Anthony had made his shocking comeback… There was animosity at first, no doubt.
“I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“Let’s hear the good one first.”
“I finally got a job… A big one, I mean.”
For a short silent moment, Anthony raised his eyebrows and simply acknowledged Benny with a few slow nods, then looked at him.
“About damn time. You’ve been working hard… Where is it, anyway? Tokyo?”
“Nah.”
“Back in the States?"
“Not really.”
“Mexico?”
“Not exactly.”
“The whole mysterious Benjamin bullshit isn’t working… Just say it.”
Benny just laughed. He found out recently that his father doesn’t like being stalled, so he usually makes sure to tease the man.
“Worldwide, man. This company has been growing a lot lately. Got a show in England in about one week and half. O2 Arena. Previous show took place in Brazil, and I was there.
“... So that explains your sudden absence. I would have liked to visit Brazil, you know? Get a tan in Rio, maybe.”
“Yeah, it was in Rio, actually.”
“And you never felt like inviting your pops?”
Benny laughed and shook his head.
“Sorry… I had business.”
“Ha! I remember when I was always the one telling you that back in seventeen. Guess I’m rubbing off on you.”
Anthony smiled for a moment. He then took a cigarette off his jacket’s pockets and proceeded to light it up. He offered Benny a smoke, but was casually denied.
“So… Who’s your plug?”
Benny chuckled.
“Plug?”
“You know… Your contact?”
“I know what you mean.”
“So…?”
Benny just stood there in silence for a moment, perhaps wondering his father’s reaction.
“Zack Fantana.”
“No way.”
“Yup.”
“You said you wanted to kill that man.”
“Come on... that was two years ago.”
“He contacted you?”
“Nah… I contacted him, actually.”
“Why?”
Once again, silence. That must be starting to annoy Anthony by now.
“Business.” He smiled right away. Anthony just smoked his cigarette quietly as he gathered his thoughts.
“Interesting. What is it? Y’all fighting again?”
“Well… You could say that.”
Anthony looked at him, annoyed by the whole ‘not answering directly’ thing. Benny quickly took the hint.
“We are teaming, man. In fact, my debut is a tag team championship title match.”
“Get the fuck outta here.” Anthony replied right away.
“I know. That caught me off guard too, but I’m about to tell you a name and I bet no further explanation will be needed.”
“Go on.”
“Cuppola.”
“Who?”
“Francis Ford Cuppola.”
“Name rings a bell.”
“Remember the story about that old man that ‘borrowed’ clothes from dead people?”
It took Anthony a couple of seconds. Just like a click, the memory came up - that was when he simply shook his head.
“Shit… Say no more.”
“I have a question, be honest.”
“You know damn well I’ll always be honest with you, son.”
It might not have seemed like so, but those words sounded like heaven to Benny. Being called son alone by his father is something that fuels him.
“Do you think I’m as good as Zack?”
“Fuck no.”
He didn’t even flinch. It was a quick, blunt answer. Benny looked at him, shocked for a moment, but ended up laughing which prompted the same reaction from his father.
“Listen… You’ve improved massively since we moved here. Honestly, it’s insane. But Fantana is too many goddamn years ahead of you. And you know that more than I do, actually. So why are you even asking me?”
Benny nodded.
“I was just testing you.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
“For real.”
“Ok, listen… Here’s an advice. Watch him. I don’t know exactly what you two got planned, and it’s not my business. But that man is taking you as a partner for a reason. He believes in you. Take advantage of this moment and watch him closely. Watch how he moves in the ring - take notes.”
“That’s exactly what I’m planning to do, but It’s not about taking advantage. It’s about making amends with the past. I owe him that… I definitely owe someone else. And myself, I guess.”
Silence from both for a moment.
“Yeah, I get ya.”
He really does. After all, that was him two years ago.
“Anyway, yeah, that was the good news.”
“Now let’s hear the bad news.”
Benny took a deep breath. Anthony looked at him a bit apprehensive.
“The bad news is, I’m leaving and we probably won’t see each other as often as we do now.”
Anthony looked to the horizon while Benny stared at him, a bit worried by the look of his face - he does care about his father.
“You sure that wasn’t supposed to be the good news?”
Both men laughed.
“Just make sure you stay in contact, old fool.”
A healthy, honest father and son relationship, no doubt. They kept talking for the following hours.