Partners?

[Ameronth]

***AKIRA, ALYSSA and REBEL WYLD are backstage at the PWA Arena in the trainer’s room after the close of PWA Battery. The three are in causal conversation, preparing to head to their hotel across town. Akira opens the door and freezes. Akira grits his teeth and makes a fist.***

AKIRA: “What the Hell do YOU want?”

VOICE: “Relax. I’m not here for you. I just want to talk to my tag team partner.”

***AKIRA is briskly shouldered aside…. as PWA Owner DAMION BLACK enters the room, dressed resplendently in a black Armani suit. He gives a dismissive glance to AKIRA, then locks eyes with ALYSSA and walks towards her, removing his sunglasses and tucking them into a breast pocket as he slowly walks towards her. REBEL WYLD steps forward and folds his arms, blocking BLACK’S path. ALYSSA raises an eyebrow and sizes BLACK up. DAMION stops a few feet from her and looks over REBEL’S shoulder at his KoD tag-team partner.***

DAMION: “Can we have some privacy?”

REBEL: “No.”

ALYSSA: “Rebel, it’s okay. I can handle myself.”

***REBEL gives BLACK a cautionary glance and steps aside, joining his brother by the door. Damion looks over at the looming WYLDS and sighs theatrically.***

ALYSSA: “Why don’t you two head down to the parking garage. I’ll be right there.”

***The brothers look at each other uneasily.***

AKIRA: “I don’t think so. We don’t know what that jerk Black is going...”

DAMION: “Oh get over yourself Wyld. You won at Undaunted. That means our tab is settled. Now if you don’t mind, I have *relevant* business matters to discuss with your sister. Matters that frankly don’t concern you.”

***AKIRA grits his teeth and advances at BLACK… but REBEL puts a hand on his shoulder. AKIRA looks at his brother, who gestures toward the door. AKIRA sighs and reluctantly leaves the trainer’s room, loudly closing the door behind him. DAMION’S eyes never leave ALYSSA’S. After a tense moment, DAMION breaks the silence.***

DAMION: “Now… care to talk about Battery last week?”

ALYSSA: “What’s there to talk about?”

DAMION: “First, I want you to know that I get it, and I’m not mad. I have been at odds with your twin brother since PWA opened its doors, and at odds with your whole family recently. I fired your husband from my employ. I tried to physically remove your brother from professional wrestling permanently. I’ve harried and harassed you, Rebel, Aldo, even people who are connected to the Wyld family. You have every right to feel bitter and I don’t blame you.”

***Alyssa folds her arms across her chest.***

DAMION: “You also know that whatever contest I’m in, be it a wrestling match, a board room deal, a Hollywood negotiation, or a power play, I will do whatever it takes to win. I proved that when I met your brother in the ring, and in the Wyld’s own gym. I prove that every time the ratings for Assault come in and continuously confirm the success of my wrestling organization. I will do everything to win. I’ll even hire Akira, Alyssa, and Rebel Wyld to my roster. I’ll even hire Aldo Wyld, a veteran of decades, whose prime had long past him, and Nikki Wyld, an unproven athlete, site unseen. I did those things, too.”

ALYSSA: “What a magnanimous individual you are.”

***BLACK pauses a beat and glances down to the floor before returning his gaze to Alyssa's eyes.***

DAMION: “And last week at Battery… I proved my willingness to win when I fought off two men in one match without the help of my partner. It was a dirty win, true. Not exactly glorious, but I won a hard-fought edge in our upcoming tournament match, which I will remind you is a tag team tornado match with no disqualifications. It’s going to be a lot harder for us to win and advance in the tournament if you hold on to your grievances, however justified, and it becomes a two-on-one match. My question to you is what will you gain by letting me get beaten up and both of us eliminated from King of Deathmatch? You want to hurt me, to see me pay for my crimes physically? My wounds will heal and I will still be in control of PWA.”

***ALYSSA puts her hands on her hips, turns and takes a step away from BLACK.”

DAMION: “I’m being up front with you here Alyssa. What do you want out of your career? Let’s take a hard look at who Alyssa Wyld is. Not a daughter of the Wyld family, but you, personally. How has your career been going in PWA, hm? You’ve tried your hand at tag team wrestling and at singles, and you’ve had minimal success. Meanwhile, your twin has captured the NWC World title twice and is pursuing the Heavyweight title, and your older brother very nearly became Heavyweight Champion and established himself as a major player. How long are you going to stay in their shadow? This tournament is your opportunity to make Alyssa Wyld a household name and leap closer to gaining your own accolades. Like it or not, we are together in this tournament. Nothing will change that. You know I will do anything to win, even if it means letting go of my own vendettas and working with a Wyld, Hell, even training with you if that’s what you want. What about you? What are you willing to do for your own sake? Are you going to be content to sit in the shadows while your career comes to an end, or are you going to ensure the world remembers the name of Alyssa Wyld? Don’t give me an answer, just think about it, hm?”

**With that, DAMION replaces his sunglasses over his eyes, smiles charmingly at Alyssa, turns and leaves the locker room. ALYSSA watches him go without saying anything. After a moment, the door closes and she stands alone in the trainer’s room. She sighs, runs a hand through her long hair, and thinks hard.***