03-27-2026, 10:18 PM
The dim lights of the Tablao de Carmen restaurant set the mood. XXXVI and CIX, masked as always, but dressed up, in a suit and flamenco dress respectively, take their seats at a table, draped in a red tablecloth.
“X, this is so nice! Doesn’t it feel good to do something a little touristy for once?” Cierra asks.
“I don’t know if I can answer that honestly. One, I haven’t seen this flamenco performance nor tasted the cuisine and two, it’s been so long since I’ve done normal human things that I kind of can’t remember what it’s like.” XXXVI says.
She laughs. “Ok, well at least you clean up nicely.”
“Yes, I shaved and everything,” he says. “Can’t you tell? You’re not so bad yourself.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re so not funny. You know me, I like to get all dolled up from time to time. How are you holding up?”
She is referring to the attack by the Director’s goons. The Director came to the compound and challenged him to a match with the fate of the compound on the line. Though XXXVI won, the Director sent his masked men on the attack afterward, leaving XXXVI beaten and bruised.
“Everything hurts. Pain killers only do so much and I’m afraid to take more than the recommended dose.”
“Because of your history?” She asks.
“Yes,” he says. “I’m in a better place now, more centered, but I was an addict. That potential is in me.”
“Well, if it helps, I can not drink tonight out of solidarity,” she offers.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Cierra.” He said. “I’ll be fine.”
A pause. They both know it’s a lie.
“So, how are you feeling about your match at March Madness? We had quite the adventure with Betsy heading into last Anarchy.”
“Understatement of the century. She’s tough. One of my biggest challenges yet for this title. Perhaps the biggest.”
“And? That’s it? All you have to say?”
“Hola! Señor y Señora.” The waiter appears at their table. “Welcome to Tablao de Carmen. May I offer you any hors d'oeuvres? Perhaps a soup or salad? I must say your masks are simply magnificent! Are you here to perform in some festival? I hadn’t heard of anything going on this weekend.”
“Of sorts.” Answers XXXVI.
“Right, what he means is professional wrestling! Yes, we’re here for March Madness!” Adds CIX.
The waiter looks confused. “The American college basketball tournament is here?”
XXXVI shakes his head. “Nevermind that. I’ll have the gazpacho and she’ll have the salad. Bring us some croquettes too, please.”
The waiter nods. “Right away, señor!”
XXXVI catches Cierra staring a little too long at him. “What?”
“You ordered for me. It was…nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yeah, I mean, after all we’ve been through lately, it’s nice to have something just for us. We should be celebrating after all. You’ve had that title for months now and we never did anything. We just stayed cooped up, planning, following orders. For once we should do something just for us.”
XXXVI smiles as the guitarist starts to pluck the strings. Flamenco dancers take the stage before them and the night feels alive. He thinks about that word and what she meant by it. Us?
“Well here we are, Miss Granger. The title opportunity you earned at Snow Pain Snow Gain is finally here. It was an honor to team up with you on Anarchy and I dare say we made a hell of a unit. Perhaps one day we can run it back, but this weekend is all about us. No gimmicks. No special stipulations, just a simple wrestling match. Kind of refreshing, if I’m being frank.”
“I hear congratulations are in order. You recently joined the Coalition and got a big victory against Yelena Gorgo. You have certainly proven over the years that you can secure big wins, but here we are not pals. We are not friends. I used our tag match to study your movements. That slight hesitation before lifting for a suplex. The seconds you take before extending your legs on a dropkick. Every second counts. If I can be quick enough, I find an opening. When you rush, I wait, time my strikes just right. This is how I operate. Every match, no matter the opponent. Precision. No wasted movements. I do the calculations in my head. I see it from every angle. I’m basically Doctor Strange.”
“There’s a thrill in the chase. I pursued this title once. I walked in your shoes. I was considered the underdog, given no chance to win, but I did. I found that second gear. I locked in. I dethroned the great Thunder Knuckles. I silenced the noise. I even beat him a second time to win the Anarchy tag titles. Again I find myself facing criticism. I hear the whispers; that I can’t beat the Impossible Traveler. They say that March Madness will be the end of my reign. Perhaps. I didn’t come here with a chip on my shoulder. Life chipped away at any possibility of an ego ages ago. I still won matches early on. With each win, my confidence grew. I became comfortable with the knowledge that I’d made it. I belonged. What was a second chance for me, in life as much as a career, is a success. Even if that dream was over tomorrow. I have cemented my place in the XWF. Star of the month, longest reigning current champion and I earned every bit. So if you want this Betsy, you’re going to have to take it from me. Forget the thrill of it. Forget the chase. Arrive. Stay a while. Don’t run like you’re wont to. Bring all the knowledge from your travels. Bring your years of experience. You’re going to need all of it and it still won’t be enough. I won’t bend. I won’t break easily. I may be bruised, but I won’t misstep. I won’t let anyone take what I’ve built. Not yet.”
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