Post by Cause and Effect on May 7, 2017 16:47:30 GMT
It was as if his heart dropped into his stomach as he heard the scream of his daughter. Moving faster than he ever had before, he rushed back inside, making a b-line for Terra’s room. As soon as he entered that room, he saw what was rolling across the screen of that television, he heard the sounds emitting from the video playing.
His eyes widened as he rushed to move towards it to turn it off. After that screen went black, he turned around only to see a look of fear and terror upon that little girl’s face unlike anything he had seen before. His head lowering in utter shame for a moment before looking Terra with a reassuring smile. Xavier took a step forward towards Terra as she took a step back, causing him to pause.
”Baby..that's..that's just a movie. I didn't really..”
He really didn't want to lie to her, he wanted to sit her down and talk about everything, about that whole entire other life inside, and sometimes outside, the ring. Honestly, he felt she was old enough to know and possibly even understand but as he stood there, taking in the expression of fear still lingering across his little girl’s face, the feeling of being absolutely gutted, he had to continue to cover this as well as he could.
”You remember when I let you watch that scary movie and how scared you got?”
Terra was silent for a few moments, obviously still unsure about the whole situation. Finally, she nodded her head slowly as she kept an intent watch on him.
”And remember how I told you that it wasn't really a monster? Just a guy in a costume. They're just playing pretend.”
It took a little less time for the child to nod her head before taking a single step forward, her movements still hesitant. With each word he spoke, Xavier retained that reassuring nature.
”That wasn't even a real arm, it was..toy, like your doll’s arms. Just plastic and paint, y’know?”
His smile brightening, almost forcefully, as he reached towards her, resting his hand on her arm, giving it a light squeeze.
”We were just..playing pretend..a game.”
Terra bridged the remaining gap between them, throwing her arms around the torso of Xavier, squeezing him rather tightly.
”Don't play that game anymore daddy, please.”
He felt droplet of water fall from Terra onto his shoulder followed by another and another. His eyes closing tightly, he moved his head to rest against hers, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.
”I..I won't baby, I swear I'll never play that again. I won't.”
She nodded her head against his, the two remaining silent, embracing one another.
_________________________________
Cameras rolling, the scene opened up to reveal none other than one half of the Fuckin Awesome Tag Team Champions, “YOUR Favorite Drug” Xavier Laroux. Inside of a local gym, focus placed on Laroux as he sat upon a white bench.
His bared torso covered in a noticeable layer of sweat, that chest rising and falling steadily. Laroux kept his attention fixated forward at nothing in particular, just staring out into space.
”No more. I'm done with the attacks. I'm done with the games. I'm done feeling like a bodyguard rather than feeling a brother, a father. I promised her I wouldn't do this anymore..and I won't.”
He shook his head before taking in a deep breath of air before sighing out. Reaching up, he ran his hand across the top of his head rather roughly.
”You want a match? Yeah, lets fuckin do it. Your terms, whenever you want, what the fuck ever. I..don't care. I'm done with this shit.”
A bit of confusion showing in those eyes, he couldn't understand the reasoning she put out there.
”For some..stupid fuckin reason, you wanna bring this side of me out..a side that legitimately wants to hurt people. No..no.”
Pressing his hands into the bench on either side of him, he pushed himself up to a standing position, shaking his head firmly.
”I'm too goddamn old for these games. Few years ago, I wouldn't back down. But things are different now. I'm not jeopardizing my life..my daughter because you wanna play some fucked up game. Children play games, Lennox. I'm a grown ass man with actual priorities. So here's the deal, like I said, you want the match, lemme know when. Otherwise, I'm done with this shit. Go play with yourself.”
Another shake of the head as Xavier turned his back to the camera, making his way to continue that prematch workout, the scene fading away.
His eyes widened as he rushed to move towards it to turn it off. After that screen went black, he turned around only to see a look of fear and terror upon that little girl’s face unlike anything he had seen before. His head lowering in utter shame for a moment before looking Terra with a reassuring smile. Xavier took a step forward towards Terra as she took a step back, causing him to pause.
”Baby..that's..that's just a movie. I didn't really..”
He really didn't want to lie to her, he wanted to sit her down and talk about everything, about that whole entire other life inside, and sometimes outside, the ring. Honestly, he felt she was old enough to know and possibly even understand but as he stood there, taking in the expression of fear still lingering across his little girl’s face, the feeling of being absolutely gutted, he had to continue to cover this as well as he could.
”You remember when I let you watch that scary movie and how scared you got?”
Terra was silent for a few moments, obviously still unsure about the whole situation. Finally, she nodded her head slowly as she kept an intent watch on him.
”And remember how I told you that it wasn't really a monster? Just a guy in a costume. They're just playing pretend.”
It took a little less time for the child to nod her head before taking a single step forward, her movements still hesitant. With each word he spoke, Xavier retained that reassuring nature.
”That wasn't even a real arm, it was..toy, like your doll’s arms. Just plastic and paint, y’know?”
His smile brightening, almost forcefully, as he reached towards her, resting his hand on her arm, giving it a light squeeze.
”We were just..playing pretend..a game.”
Terra bridged the remaining gap between them, throwing her arms around the torso of Xavier, squeezing him rather tightly.
”Don't play that game anymore daddy, please.”
He felt droplet of water fall from Terra onto his shoulder followed by another and another. His eyes closing tightly, he moved his head to rest against hers, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.
”I..I won't baby, I swear I'll never play that again. I won't.”
She nodded her head against his, the two remaining silent, embracing one another.
_________________________________
Cameras rolling, the scene opened up to reveal none other than one half of the Fuckin Awesome Tag Team Champions, “YOUR Favorite Drug” Xavier Laroux. Inside of a local gym, focus placed on Laroux as he sat upon a white bench.
His bared torso covered in a noticeable layer of sweat, that chest rising and falling steadily. Laroux kept his attention fixated forward at nothing in particular, just staring out into space.
”No more. I'm done with the attacks. I'm done with the games. I'm done feeling like a bodyguard rather than feeling a brother, a father. I promised her I wouldn't do this anymore..and I won't.”
He shook his head before taking in a deep breath of air before sighing out. Reaching up, he ran his hand across the top of his head rather roughly.
”You want a match? Yeah, lets fuckin do it. Your terms, whenever you want, what the fuck ever. I..don't care. I'm done with this shit.”
A bit of confusion showing in those eyes, he couldn't understand the reasoning she put out there.
”For some..stupid fuckin reason, you wanna bring this side of me out..a side that legitimately wants to hurt people. No..no.”
Pressing his hands into the bench on either side of him, he pushed himself up to a standing position, shaking his head firmly.
”I'm too goddamn old for these games. Few years ago, I wouldn't back down. But things are different now. I'm not jeopardizing my life..my daughter because you wanna play some fucked up game. Children play games, Lennox. I'm a grown ass man with actual priorities. So here's the deal, like I said, you want the match, lemme know when. Otherwise, I'm done with this shit. Go play with yourself.”
Another shake of the head as Xavier turned his back to the camera, making his way to continue that prematch workout, the scene fading away.