Post by Metrodamus on Oct 26, 2012 21:16:02 GMT -4
Four Hours After Overdrive
Kurt Noble’s Hotel Room
“You could’ve let me know what was going to happen?”
Kurt Noble stares across at Chris Hart, his eyes mired in a mixture of consternation and pleasure. Chris however is undisturbed by the emotions of Noble, instead leaning back against the wall as Kurt Noble turns the handle of the door to the hotel room. “I had to know Kurt” Chris responds rather callously as he steps through the open door, following Noble in and flicking the switch to turn on the light before tossing his over coat onto the lounge chair.
“I would’ve thought after three years I’d be given a little lee-way, that you’d have some faith in me” Kurt responds, a modicum of sadness in his tone and a far cry from the cocky, vindictive aura usually surrounding him. Chris shrugs his shoulders as he throws himself onto the sofa and stares up at the ceiling.
“It’s not you that I don’t trust Kurt, it’s her. I know what she is Kurt. I’ve told you over and over that she’s manipulating you” Chris states before continuing “That’s what she does Kurt. At the end of the day she doesn’t care about you or I; in her twisted fantasy we’re all pawns that she’s manoeuvring around the chess board. She’ll do anything to get her way Kurt. I know that first hand. She … Chris is cut off as he’s interrupted by Noble.
“Her … manipulation has gotten me further than I’ve ever imagined Chris. Look at me right now, Extreme Tournament Finalist for the second year in a row. No one else can say they’ve accomplished that. Former Action Packed Wrestling Undisputed Champion. Every single person in the elimination chamber match has been focused on me. They all know that I’m the best Chris, that I’m the person going into this match that they need to be worried about. Not Terry Marvin, not Level-One, me!”
Chris rolls his eyes at Kurt Noble. “And why is that Kurt? I know you’ve beaten each and everyone of them in the ring at some point in your career but that doesn’t seem like the thing that would really bother them.”
“They know what I can do Chris. They know what I’m willing to do to make sure that they don’t walk out with the Undisputed Championship” Noble says callously, malicious inflection on his final words.
“And why do you need to do that? Chris asks genuinely.
“Because I need to save Action Packed Wrestling. I can’t do that without the Undisputed Championship over my shoulder. Terry Marvin’s already got the fans cheering him, thinking that he’s doing the right thing. Level-One has his Sindicate buddies and you know what they’re plotting to do once they’ve got the championship belt in their possession. CJ Gates already had his chance and he did nothing; he’s proven that all he cares about is the Undisputed Championship and to hell with Action Packed Wrestling. He’d gladly let everyone else run the show as long as he has the belt around his waist. And Biggs, what sort of role model is he Chris? His wife leaves him on national television, he’s one kick to the head away from his brains being spaghetti sauce, and quite frankly the last time he was champion President Jeff felt it necessary to bring someone in to stop him. That person was me Chris … and it’s time for me to once again save Action Packed Wrestling.”
Chris straightens himself up against the arm of the sofa as he stares down Kurt Noble, before reaching into the front pocket of his blue jeans. “But at what cost?” he asks as he produces a playing card from his pocket, a picture of a smiling Amy Noble on the front, and tosses it towards Kurt.
Kurt looks at it for a moment as it flutters through the air before landing face up in front of him. Bending over he picks it up and stares at it for a moment, his muscles tensing, before looking up at an emotionless Chris Hart. “I never meant for any of that to happen. Everything I’ve ever done has been for her Chris and you know that as well as I do” Kurt says passionately as Chris shrugs his shoulders.
“I know Kurt but at what point do you look in the mirror and realize that you saving Action Packed Wrestling isn’t worth everything you’ll have to throw away to do it” Chris says, again rather listlessly.
Kurt stares at Chris for a second before his eyes narrow as he takes a closer look at his tag team partner. The silent air hangs heavy before it’s finally torn apart by the sound of Noble’s voice attempting to break the cold front. “Is everything okay?”
Chris pauses for a moment before he shakes his head in the negative. “I’ve stood alongside you through everything Kurt but I don’t know if I can do this anymore. What you’re trying to accomplish is valiant but that’s the thing, it’s what you’re trying to accomplish. Not Noble-Hart, but Kurt Noble.”
“You know I can’t do this without you Chris” Noble says emphatically. “I know you didn’t magically return from the grave earlier tonight. I know you’ve seen what’s happened over the past three weeks when you were gone. I’m good Chris but I can’t take four of the best wrestlers ever down by myself; look at tonight!”
“You don’t understand Kurt” Chris deadpans.
“Then help me” pleads Kurt, sincerity awash on his face.
Chris twitches slightly on the seat before he emits a heavy sigh. “I can’t do what you’re going to ask me to do.”
Kurt eyes Chris for a moment before he looks beyond him at one of the posters for One Night in Hell featuring the six men in the Overdrive Main Event standing in front of the elimination chamber hanging on the wall of the hotel room. Five with a serious look on their face, all focused on the Undisputed Championship, while Chris Hart on the far right hand side looks straight ahead with a beaming smile on his face. “I’m not going to take this opportunity away from you Chris if that’s what you’re thinking” Noble says with the same serious look on his face. “You deserve to be in this match as much as anyone else. You pushed Terry Marvin to the brink. You pushed Level-One beyond the brink.
Chris stares at Noble for a second and begins to speak before he’s cut off by Noble beginning. “Do you want to know something Chris?” questions Kurt rhetorically. “There’s only one person in this match that I’m afraid of and it was the man who’s eyes I looked into in that ring at the very end. I’m not going to ask you to lay down for me, on the contrary I want us to work together, eliminate everyone else, and then settle it between the two of us.”
“And how are we going to settle it?” Chris asks with a hint of derision in his voice. Noble stares at him for a moment, not understanding the condescension in his voice before Chris continues. “Because the way you’ve been settling things lately isn’t going to work out very well Kurt. I’ve seen what you’ve been willing to do to people standing in your way as of late. Biggs, Level-One, CJ Gates … would you do that to me Kurt?”
Noble fixates on Chris Hart who stares him down, not blinking, waiting for an answer from the Noble-One. “If I can’t get this done Chris, I know you can. I know that you’ll be capable of doing what’s right for Action Packed Wrestling. If it’s not me as Undisputed Champion … it has to be you.”
“I’m not walking out of that chamber with the Undisputed Championship Kurt” Chris says, surprisingly without a hint of resignation in his voice.
“Why? You …
Chris shrugs gestures towards the tag team title sitting on top of Kurt Noble’s duffle bag before interrupting Kurt in mid sentence. “Can I see that for a second?” Noble raises his eyebrows for a moment in confusion but reaches down and grabs the championship belt before tossing it across the room. Chris stares at it for a moment before he looks up at Kurt. “This is the only title I care about Kurt.”
Chris pauses for a second before tossing the belt back to Kurt who drops it back onto the duffel bag as Chris continues. “I don’t need the Undisputed Championship to validate my career Kurt. If it came down to the two of us and you asked me to lay down for you I wouldn’t have a problem doing that because that’s putting the team first. I may have pushed those guys to the brink Kurt but I didn’t beat them … I can’t beat them.”
“Sure you can.” Kurt interjects but Chris immediately jerks his head in the negative.
“We’ve all got a ceiling Kurt and I know what mine is.”
“It’s different when the titles on the line Chris.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. You’ve worked so hard for so long to accomplish something and when you’ve got that opportunity to finally get rewarded for it, you’re able to push that extra mile. When you’ve gotten used to the extra weight on your shoulder and the sense of recognition that comes with it, there’s just that little extra in the tank.”
“That doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with the title Kurt” Chris states in a calm, collected tone that catches Noble off guard. “It has everything to do with what you’re willing to fight for. That title means something to you. It’s power. It’s respect. It’s the ability to save Action Packed Wrestling from the people that you feel are going to bring it down. To me, it’s a fancy paperweight.”
Kurt stares at Chris aghast, his mouth agape at the words coming from Chris’ mouth, his expression one of total misunderstanding. “I … You’ve spent you’re entire career for a chance like this. Why …”
“Inside that chamber Kurt we’re all fighting for what’s important to us. You just have to decide what that is. For me, it’s not the title belt, but everything else that’s important to me” Chris says as finally Kurt nods his head, understanding Chris’ earlier comment and immediately he turns icy cold.
“Kylie said this day would come” states Kurt abruptly.
“I don’t give a damn about what Kylie says Kurt. ” Chris says, somewhat pleadingly.
“Well I do” Kurt emphatically responds. “I don’t want to believe her Chris but from the sounds of it she’s right again. I didn’t think that you, of all people, would turn your back on me. The fans – I could care less about them but you …”
“Are you even listening to what you’re saying Kurt?” Chris exclaims as he gets to his feet. “What happened to the Kurt Noble I first met who drove himself into addiction for the fans? What happened to the Kurt Noble who would walk through the concourse and be followed by a thousand people who simply wanted to hear him speak? What happened to the Kurt Noble that everyone could believe in!”
“You don’t understand Chris!”
“Ya think!” Chris yells, visibly frustrated at Noble. “Don’t forget what I’ve been through Kurt.”
“Enough about Amy Chris. You’re guilt trip …”
“This isn’t about Amy Kurt” Chris screams as he turns his left wrist over and thrusts it towards Kurt Noble, his right hand pointing at a series of fading scars on in. “I’ve been where you’re heading Kurt and it’s not a pretty place. You remember, don’t you!”
Kurt and Chris lock eyes for a moment before Kurt turns away as Chris pulls his arms back and crosses them in front of his chest. “I never had you pegged for a Judas” he murmurs as Chris shakes his head.
“I’m no Judas Kurt. The Undisputed Championship isn’t going to be my thirty pieces of silver. You’re worried I’m going to betray you Kurt? The only way that happens is if you betray yourself first.”
The air is heavy as Kurt turns his back on Chris, refusing to look him in the eye as he continues. “You know what you need to do Kurt; we both know that. Don’t turn your back on me, don’t turn your back on Amy … and more importantly don’t turn your back on yourself. If you keep this clean and stay true to your word nothing’s going to happen.”
“No one else is going to play that game Chris. You should appreciate that more than anyone” Noble responds as Chris shrugs his shoulders.
“I don’t care about them Kurt. I care about you and I. We’ve proven time and time again that there isn’t anyone who can stop us when we play our game. Our tag-team championships prove that. If you play it straight, if we enter that ring as Noble-Hart and play the game our way … not their’s, not Kylie’s you’ll walk out victorious. We’ve beaten Level-One together, we’ve beaten Terry Marvin, we’ve beaten CJ Gates; they can’t beat us Kurt. You want that title … I want you to have that title and if we work as a team we’ll get it done” Chris passionately pleas as Kurt refuses to look at him.
“You’ve got two choices Kurt. You can enter that ring as a member of Noble-Hart and be guaranteed to leave the Undisputed Champion … or you can enter the ring as the Kurt Noble standing here with me and I promise he leaves with nothing.”
Noble starts to pace back and forth continuing to avoid eye contact. “I have to save APW” murmurs Noble under his breath, still refusing to look Chris in the eye. “And if that means I have to go through you Chris, I will. I don’t want to Chris but if you necessitate it I won’t hesitate for a moment to end you Chris … the same way I plan on taking out Biggs, Gates, Level-One and Marvin.”
Finally Noble turns around and looks at Chris Hart, fire raging in his eyes, the tension in the air throughout the entire conversation having finally hit it’s breaking point. Chris doesn’t return the angry glare, instead his face is awash in sadness. “You can try Kurt but we both know how that story ends. Three years ago you tried and look what it got you” Chris says as he cocks his head towards the bum knee of Kurt Noble, permanently damaged at the hands of Chris Hart. “And nothing’s changed since then Kurt; just ask Level-One about trying to kill me.”
Chris pauses for a moment as he grabs his overcoat off the lounge chair again before turning to Kurt. “I’m not going to betray you Kurt. I’m going to save you. I made a promise to Amy that I’d make sure you didn’t self-destruct and I intend to keep it … no matter the cost. You’ve got a choice to make Kurt …”
“I’ve already made it” Kurt bitterly responds.
“Well then you’ve got two weeks to change your mind Kurt and I really hope you do Kurt because I don’t want to have to take you out but I promise, if you make that choice, I will. Not for me … but for you. I will end Kurt Noble in order to save Curtis Parker.”
Noble’s rage is further exacerbated, his last ounces of self-restraint nearly exhausted as he steps in front of Chris as he tries to exit the room. “No, I promise you Chris … if you get in my way I’ll end you. Marvin, Level-One, they can wait. This will be personal.”
Chris stares at Noble for a moment before brushing past him. Turning the handle to the door Chris walks out of the room and slams it shut behind him, rattling the art work on the walls in between hotel rooms. Throwing his over coat over his shoulder he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his I-Phone, the front screen altering him to a new text message. Opening it up, Chris glances at the screen and the text message from Amy Noble.
Bowing his head, Chris slides the phone back into his pocket and walks down the corridor as the scene fades to black.
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Five Hours After Overdrive
Chris Hart’s Hotel Room
“So we’re sure of this?”
Chris Hart sits on the edge of his bed, the small hotel room afforded him paling in contrast to the suite of Kurt Noble. He takes a swig directly from the bottle in his hands, about two-thirds full before extending it towards Amy Noble, sitting in the lone lounge chair in the room next to the window over looking the Yokohama skyline. She stares at it for a moment before she takes it from Chris and takes a drink herself, her eyes burning for a moment before the searing liquid flows down her throat.
Passing the bottle back to Chris she turns and stares out the window at the darkness surrounding them, the dim glow of the streetlights the only thing preventing it from encapsulating the entirety of Yokohama. “I don’t think we’ve got another choice” says Amy, continuing to peer at the sleeping city of Yokohama.
“And what about going forward?” Chris asks.
Amy turns and looks at Chris, carefully studying him as he takes another sip from the bottle, before she emits a heavy sigh. “I don’t know Chris” she responds. “I took him back two years ago. I thought he’d changed but this … it’s the same thing every time. I gave him the choice; wrestling or his wife and it’s pretty evident what his decision was.”
Chris takes a smaller sip from the bottle, hiding a very slight smile across his face before he passes the bottle back to Amy, the smile gone and replaced by a concerning glance. “But …” implores Chris as Amy takes a swig from the bottle.
“What do you mean?” Amy asks. Chris immediately stares at her with a bemused glance, silently acknowledging her attempt to avoiding the question. Once again Amy sighs before continuing. “I just … I don’t know if I made a mistake somewhere along the line.”
“You didn’t” Chris instantly states, immediately rendering her questioning moot. “Kurt Noble made the choices he did. He allowed that bitch Kylie to take over his life. He had a chance to do the right thing long ago Amy, long before the time necessary for ultimatums. There’s no reason he couldn’t protect Action Packed Wrestling at the same time as being a family man. This business doesn’t need to be your entire life.”
Amy stares at Chris for a second before she sets the bottle down beside her. “I’m not necessarily talking about Kurt Chris” she states, Chris brow furrowing while his heart rate begins to soar. “I just don’t get it. It’s not like I asked him to choose one or the other – as long as he was Kurt Noble in the ring, and Curtis Parker at home. It’s like you said, all I wanted was for this business to not be all consuming … I wanted him to be like you.”
Chris leans back against the headboard, placing his hands behind his head as he stares at the ceiling for a moment, silently debating his course of action. “That’s the difference between us though” Chris says as Amy slightly cocks her head to the side, puzzled by Chris’ statement. “No matter whether I’m in the ring or here with you, I’m Chris Hart. I’m the same person inside of the ring that I am outside and it works for me, it also limits just how far I can go.”
“I’ve told you before that the only thing limiting you is yourself Chris”
“Let me finish” replies Chris. “I’m not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be the best where as Curtis Parker is. Curtis Parker could never be the Undisputed Champion, he couldn’t do the things necessary to reach the apex but Kurt Noble can. The problem with that is Kurt Noble isn’t the same person as Curtis Parker.”
“You make it sound like he’s some deluded schizophrenic” comments Amy as Chris can’t help but chuckle to himself.
“You could say that he is. Kurt Noble is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, whether it’s becoming the Undisputed Champion or saving Action Packed Wrestling, no matter the cost. I can’t do that Amy …”
“… not anymore” she finishes for him as she passes the bottle back to him as he takes a long, contemplative, drink from it and nods his head before setting it on the night stand beside him.
“There’s a reason Noble-Hart works Amy. There’s no doubt that Level-One and Johnny Rebel were better talents, that Delikado and Terry Marvin have more skill than us but we succeeded and it’s not just because of teamwork Amy. At the end of the day we’re the same person, fighting the same battle.”
“Do you think you could do it?”
Chris takes hold of the bottle off the night stand next to him but doesn’t drink from it, instead rolling it between his hands as he looks at the ceiling and the artwork on the walls. The silence remains for a moment before Chris sets it back on the nightstand and cracks his knuckles. “I joined this company because he was starting to pull away from you. I wanted to save him from himself Amy. I wouldn’t have promised you something I didn’t intend to keep. I promise you, I will beat Kurt Noble” he says before Amy turns around.
“That wasn’t what I was asking Chris” replies Amy as Chris stares at her in somewhat confusion, though the semblance of an idea begins to fester in his brain. “You talked about sacrifice and being able to give up anything to do what was necessary …”
Immediately Chris’ face turns a shade of crimson, not in embarrassment but fear, knowing full well what Amy’s next words would be. “You were the best in the world Chris … can still be the best in the world but you only did that when you were willing to sacrifice everything. You said you can’t do it, at least not anymore, but do you have the capability to do it if absolutely necessary.”
The air in the room goes heavy as Chris’ changes from the crimson hue to ghostly white, his eyes slamming shut as memories instantly flooding back that had been suppressed for years. Damp, dark tunnels in Italy, the old western style prisons with heavy wooden doors barred shut by a steel beam, chained to the wall by his wrists, a gaunt face, emaciated by madness. “… my jacket” Chris states as he begins to shake uncontrollably, almost as if having a seizure.
Amy stares at him for a moment before the shaking starts as he slides down in his bed. Getting up from the chair she crawls in next to him and grabs hold, pulling him tight against her body, his face still ghastly. “It’s okay Chris … I’ve got you” she says as Chris doesn’t moved, now paralyzed by the images running through his mind. A crown of thorns on his head, the fear in the eyes of the man across from him, a man being carted into an ambulance unable to move his legs, blood pouring from his wrists, the scars since faded on … “Amy … It’s ok Chris, it’s me …
Immediately Chris eyes burst open as he stares into the concerned face of Amy Noble. “Amy” he whispers hoarsely as he closes his eyes momentarily, the color finally returning to his face as they slowly open again.
“I’m sorry” she says as she gently brushes the hair out of Chris’ eyes.
Chris turns and looks at her, still somewhat locked in her tender embrace. “I …”
“I didn’t know you still …”
“There’s a reason Level-One couldn’t kill me. He’s a part of me Amy, the same way Kurt Noble will be a part of Curtis Parker” Chris interjects as Amy nods her head, letting go of Chris.
“Chris …”
“I had to maintain that single thread of hope, that one last ounce of my humanity against Level-One or he’d come back. He’s always there Amy. If I need him, he’s there …” Chris sighs.
“And that’s why you don’t want to be champion?”
“Exactly. I know that when push comes to shove, if it’s only about me that I’ll give in. That I’ll let myself lose control and he’ll come back. We’re all like that Amy, look at Level-One, look at Terry Marvin … look at Kurt” pointedly states Chris as Amy nods her head. “I can beat Kurt Noble in the ring Amy, but to end him …
To end him I need to do it.”
Amy stares at Chris, choking back tears as she stares at Chris … the same look on his face as the first time the two met. As Chris nods his head, Amy closes her eyes and softly gives Chris a quick kiss, catching him off guard. Breaking apart, Amy opens her eyes and looks at Chris. “Thank you” she says as she rolls off the bed
“For everything.”
Kurt Noble’s Hotel Room
“You could’ve let me know what was going to happen?”
Kurt Noble stares across at Chris Hart, his eyes mired in a mixture of consternation and pleasure. Chris however is undisturbed by the emotions of Noble, instead leaning back against the wall as Kurt Noble turns the handle of the door to the hotel room. “I had to know Kurt” Chris responds rather callously as he steps through the open door, following Noble in and flicking the switch to turn on the light before tossing his over coat onto the lounge chair.
“I would’ve thought after three years I’d be given a little lee-way, that you’d have some faith in me” Kurt responds, a modicum of sadness in his tone and a far cry from the cocky, vindictive aura usually surrounding him. Chris shrugs his shoulders as he throws himself onto the sofa and stares up at the ceiling.
“It’s not you that I don’t trust Kurt, it’s her. I know what she is Kurt. I’ve told you over and over that she’s manipulating you” Chris states before continuing “That’s what she does Kurt. At the end of the day she doesn’t care about you or I; in her twisted fantasy we’re all pawns that she’s manoeuvring around the chess board. She’ll do anything to get her way Kurt. I know that first hand. She … Chris is cut off as he’s interrupted by Noble.
“Her … manipulation has gotten me further than I’ve ever imagined Chris. Look at me right now, Extreme Tournament Finalist for the second year in a row. No one else can say they’ve accomplished that. Former Action Packed Wrestling Undisputed Champion. Every single person in the elimination chamber match has been focused on me. They all know that I’m the best Chris, that I’m the person going into this match that they need to be worried about. Not Terry Marvin, not Level-One, me!”
Chris rolls his eyes at Kurt Noble. “And why is that Kurt? I know you’ve beaten each and everyone of them in the ring at some point in your career but that doesn’t seem like the thing that would really bother them.”
“They know what I can do Chris. They know what I’m willing to do to make sure that they don’t walk out with the Undisputed Championship” Noble says callously, malicious inflection on his final words.
“And why do you need to do that? Chris asks genuinely.
“Because I need to save Action Packed Wrestling. I can’t do that without the Undisputed Championship over my shoulder. Terry Marvin’s already got the fans cheering him, thinking that he’s doing the right thing. Level-One has his Sindicate buddies and you know what they’re plotting to do once they’ve got the championship belt in their possession. CJ Gates already had his chance and he did nothing; he’s proven that all he cares about is the Undisputed Championship and to hell with Action Packed Wrestling. He’d gladly let everyone else run the show as long as he has the belt around his waist. And Biggs, what sort of role model is he Chris? His wife leaves him on national television, he’s one kick to the head away from his brains being spaghetti sauce, and quite frankly the last time he was champion President Jeff felt it necessary to bring someone in to stop him. That person was me Chris … and it’s time for me to once again save Action Packed Wrestling.”
Chris straightens himself up against the arm of the sofa as he stares down Kurt Noble, before reaching into the front pocket of his blue jeans. “But at what cost?” he asks as he produces a playing card from his pocket, a picture of a smiling Amy Noble on the front, and tosses it towards Kurt.
Kurt looks at it for a moment as it flutters through the air before landing face up in front of him. Bending over he picks it up and stares at it for a moment, his muscles tensing, before looking up at an emotionless Chris Hart. “I never meant for any of that to happen. Everything I’ve ever done has been for her Chris and you know that as well as I do” Kurt says passionately as Chris shrugs his shoulders.
“I know Kurt but at what point do you look in the mirror and realize that you saving Action Packed Wrestling isn’t worth everything you’ll have to throw away to do it” Chris says, again rather listlessly.
Kurt stares at Chris for a second before his eyes narrow as he takes a closer look at his tag team partner. The silent air hangs heavy before it’s finally torn apart by the sound of Noble’s voice attempting to break the cold front. “Is everything okay?”
Chris pauses for a moment before he shakes his head in the negative. “I’ve stood alongside you through everything Kurt but I don’t know if I can do this anymore. What you’re trying to accomplish is valiant but that’s the thing, it’s what you’re trying to accomplish. Not Noble-Hart, but Kurt Noble.”
“You know I can’t do this without you Chris” Noble says emphatically. “I know you didn’t magically return from the grave earlier tonight. I know you’ve seen what’s happened over the past three weeks when you were gone. I’m good Chris but I can’t take four of the best wrestlers ever down by myself; look at tonight!”
“You don’t understand Kurt” Chris deadpans.
“Then help me” pleads Kurt, sincerity awash on his face.
Chris twitches slightly on the seat before he emits a heavy sigh. “I can’t do what you’re going to ask me to do.”
Kurt eyes Chris for a moment before he looks beyond him at one of the posters for One Night in Hell featuring the six men in the Overdrive Main Event standing in front of the elimination chamber hanging on the wall of the hotel room. Five with a serious look on their face, all focused on the Undisputed Championship, while Chris Hart on the far right hand side looks straight ahead with a beaming smile on his face. “I’m not going to take this opportunity away from you Chris if that’s what you’re thinking” Noble says with the same serious look on his face. “You deserve to be in this match as much as anyone else. You pushed Terry Marvin to the brink. You pushed Level-One beyond the brink.
Chris stares at Noble for a second and begins to speak before he’s cut off by Noble beginning. “Do you want to know something Chris?” questions Kurt rhetorically. “There’s only one person in this match that I’m afraid of and it was the man who’s eyes I looked into in that ring at the very end. I’m not going to ask you to lay down for me, on the contrary I want us to work together, eliminate everyone else, and then settle it between the two of us.”
“And how are we going to settle it?” Chris asks with a hint of derision in his voice. Noble stares at him for a moment, not understanding the condescension in his voice before Chris continues. “Because the way you’ve been settling things lately isn’t going to work out very well Kurt. I’ve seen what you’ve been willing to do to people standing in your way as of late. Biggs, Level-One, CJ Gates … would you do that to me Kurt?”
Noble fixates on Chris Hart who stares him down, not blinking, waiting for an answer from the Noble-One. “If I can’t get this done Chris, I know you can. I know that you’ll be capable of doing what’s right for Action Packed Wrestling. If it’s not me as Undisputed Champion … it has to be you.”
“I’m not walking out of that chamber with the Undisputed Championship Kurt” Chris says, surprisingly without a hint of resignation in his voice.
“Why? You …
Chris shrugs gestures towards the tag team title sitting on top of Kurt Noble’s duffle bag before interrupting Kurt in mid sentence. “Can I see that for a second?” Noble raises his eyebrows for a moment in confusion but reaches down and grabs the championship belt before tossing it across the room. Chris stares at it for a moment before he looks up at Kurt. “This is the only title I care about Kurt.”
Chris pauses for a second before tossing the belt back to Kurt who drops it back onto the duffel bag as Chris continues. “I don’t need the Undisputed Championship to validate my career Kurt. If it came down to the two of us and you asked me to lay down for you I wouldn’t have a problem doing that because that’s putting the team first. I may have pushed those guys to the brink Kurt but I didn’t beat them … I can’t beat them.”
“Sure you can.” Kurt interjects but Chris immediately jerks his head in the negative.
“We’ve all got a ceiling Kurt and I know what mine is.”
“It’s different when the titles on the line Chris.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. You’ve worked so hard for so long to accomplish something and when you’ve got that opportunity to finally get rewarded for it, you’re able to push that extra mile. When you’ve gotten used to the extra weight on your shoulder and the sense of recognition that comes with it, there’s just that little extra in the tank.”
“That doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with the title Kurt” Chris states in a calm, collected tone that catches Noble off guard. “It has everything to do with what you’re willing to fight for. That title means something to you. It’s power. It’s respect. It’s the ability to save Action Packed Wrestling from the people that you feel are going to bring it down. To me, it’s a fancy paperweight.”
Kurt stares at Chris aghast, his mouth agape at the words coming from Chris’ mouth, his expression one of total misunderstanding. “I … You’ve spent you’re entire career for a chance like this. Why …”
“Inside that chamber Kurt we’re all fighting for what’s important to us. You just have to decide what that is. For me, it’s not the title belt, but everything else that’s important to me” Chris says as finally Kurt nods his head, understanding Chris’ earlier comment and immediately he turns icy cold.
“Kylie said this day would come” states Kurt abruptly.
“I don’t give a damn about what Kylie says Kurt. ” Chris says, somewhat pleadingly.
“Well I do” Kurt emphatically responds. “I don’t want to believe her Chris but from the sounds of it she’s right again. I didn’t think that you, of all people, would turn your back on me. The fans – I could care less about them but you …”
“Are you even listening to what you’re saying Kurt?” Chris exclaims as he gets to his feet. “What happened to the Kurt Noble I first met who drove himself into addiction for the fans? What happened to the Kurt Noble who would walk through the concourse and be followed by a thousand people who simply wanted to hear him speak? What happened to the Kurt Noble that everyone could believe in!”
“You don’t understand Chris!”
“Ya think!” Chris yells, visibly frustrated at Noble. “Don’t forget what I’ve been through Kurt.”
“Enough about Amy Chris. You’re guilt trip …”
“This isn’t about Amy Kurt” Chris screams as he turns his left wrist over and thrusts it towards Kurt Noble, his right hand pointing at a series of fading scars on in. “I’ve been where you’re heading Kurt and it’s not a pretty place. You remember, don’t you!”
Kurt and Chris lock eyes for a moment before Kurt turns away as Chris pulls his arms back and crosses them in front of his chest. “I never had you pegged for a Judas” he murmurs as Chris shakes his head.
“I’m no Judas Kurt. The Undisputed Championship isn’t going to be my thirty pieces of silver. You’re worried I’m going to betray you Kurt? The only way that happens is if you betray yourself first.”
The air is heavy as Kurt turns his back on Chris, refusing to look him in the eye as he continues. “You know what you need to do Kurt; we both know that. Don’t turn your back on me, don’t turn your back on Amy … and more importantly don’t turn your back on yourself. If you keep this clean and stay true to your word nothing’s going to happen.”
“No one else is going to play that game Chris. You should appreciate that more than anyone” Noble responds as Chris shrugs his shoulders.
“I don’t care about them Kurt. I care about you and I. We’ve proven time and time again that there isn’t anyone who can stop us when we play our game. Our tag-team championships prove that. If you play it straight, if we enter that ring as Noble-Hart and play the game our way … not their’s, not Kylie’s you’ll walk out victorious. We’ve beaten Level-One together, we’ve beaten Terry Marvin, we’ve beaten CJ Gates; they can’t beat us Kurt. You want that title … I want you to have that title and if we work as a team we’ll get it done” Chris passionately pleas as Kurt refuses to look at him.
“You’ve got two choices Kurt. You can enter that ring as a member of Noble-Hart and be guaranteed to leave the Undisputed Champion … or you can enter the ring as the Kurt Noble standing here with me and I promise he leaves with nothing.”
Noble starts to pace back and forth continuing to avoid eye contact. “I have to save APW” murmurs Noble under his breath, still refusing to look Chris in the eye. “And if that means I have to go through you Chris, I will. I don’t want to Chris but if you necessitate it I won’t hesitate for a moment to end you Chris … the same way I plan on taking out Biggs, Gates, Level-One and Marvin.”
Finally Noble turns around and looks at Chris Hart, fire raging in his eyes, the tension in the air throughout the entire conversation having finally hit it’s breaking point. Chris doesn’t return the angry glare, instead his face is awash in sadness. “You can try Kurt but we both know how that story ends. Three years ago you tried and look what it got you” Chris says as he cocks his head towards the bum knee of Kurt Noble, permanently damaged at the hands of Chris Hart. “And nothing’s changed since then Kurt; just ask Level-One about trying to kill me.”
Chris pauses for a moment as he grabs his overcoat off the lounge chair again before turning to Kurt. “I’m not going to betray you Kurt. I’m going to save you. I made a promise to Amy that I’d make sure you didn’t self-destruct and I intend to keep it … no matter the cost. You’ve got a choice to make Kurt …”
“I’ve already made it” Kurt bitterly responds.
“Well then you’ve got two weeks to change your mind Kurt and I really hope you do Kurt because I don’t want to have to take you out but I promise, if you make that choice, I will. Not for me … but for you. I will end Kurt Noble in order to save Curtis Parker.”
Noble’s rage is further exacerbated, his last ounces of self-restraint nearly exhausted as he steps in front of Chris as he tries to exit the room. “No, I promise you Chris … if you get in my way I’ll end you. Marvin, Level-One, they can wait. This will be personal.”
Chris stares at Noble for a moment before brushing past him. Turning the handle to the door Chris walks out of the room and slams it shut behind him, rattling the art work on the walls in between hotel rooms. Throwing his over coat over his shoulder he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his I-Phone, the front screen altering him to a new text message. Opening it up, Chris glances at the screen and the text message from Amy Noble.
Kurt needs to be stopped.
Bowing his head, Chris slides the phone back into his pocket and walks down the corridor as the scene fades to black.
-
-
-
Five Hours After Overdrive
Chris Hart’s Hotel Room
“So we’re sure of this?”
Chris Hart sits on the edge of his bed, the small hotel room afforded him paling in contrast to the suite of Kurt Noble. He takes a swig directly from the bottle in his hands, about two-thirds full before extending it towards Amy Noble, sitting in the lone lounge chair in the room next to the window over looking the Yokohama skyline. She stares at it for a moment before she takes it from Chris and takes a drink herself, her eyes burning for a moment before the searing liquid flows down her throat.
Passing the bottle back to Chris she turns and stares out the window at the darkness surrounding them, the dim glow of the streetlights the only thing preventing it from encapsulating the entirety of Yokohama. “I don’t think we’ve got another choice” says Amy, continuing to peer at the sleeping city of Yokohama.
“And what about going forward?” Chris asks.
Amy turns and looks at Chris, carefully studying him as he takes another sip from the bottle, before she emits a heavy sigh. “I don’t know Chris” she responds. “I took him back two years ago. I thought he’d changed but this … it’s the same thing every time. I gave him the choice; wrestling or his wife and it’s pretty evident what his decision was.”
Chris takes a smaller sip from the bottle, hiding a very slight smile across his face before he passes the bottle back to Amy, the smile gone and replaced by a concerning glance. “But …” implores Chris as Amy takes a swig from the bottle.
“What do you mean?” Amy asks. Chris immediately stares at her with a bemused glance, silently acknowledging her attempt to avoiding the question. Once again Amy sighs before continuing. “I just … I don’t know if I made a mistake somewhere along the line.”
“You didn’t” Chris instantly states, immediately rendering her questioning moot. “Kurt Noble made the choices he did. He allowed that bitch Kylie to take over his life. He had a chance to do the right thing long ago Amy, long before the time necessary for ultimatums. There’s no reason he couldn’t protect Action Packed Wrestling at the same time as being a family man. This business doesn’t need to be your entire life.”
Amy stares at Chris for a second before she sets the bottle down beside her. “I’m not necessarily talking about Kurt Chris” she states, Chris brow furrowing while his heart rate begins to soar. “I just don’t get it. It’s not like I asked him to choose one or the other – as long as he was Kurt Noble in the ring, and Curtis Parker at home. It’s like you said, all I wanted was for this business to not be all consuming … I wanted him to be like you.”
Chris leans back against the headboard, placing his hands behind his head as he stares at the ceiling for a moment, silently debating his course of action. “That’s the difference between us though” Chris says as Amy slightly cocks her head to the side, puzzled by Chris’ statement. “No matter whether I’m in the ring or here with you, I’m Chris Hart. I’m the same person inside of the ring that I am outside and it works for me, it also limits just how far I can go.”
“I’ve told you before that the only thing limiting you is yourself Chris”
“Let me finish” replies Chris. “I’m not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be the best where as Curtis Parker is. Curtis Parker could never be the Undisputed Champion, he couldn’t do the things necessary to reach the apex but Kurt Noble can. The problem with that is Kurt Noble isn’t the same person as Curtis Parker.”
“You make it sound like he’s some deluded schizophrenic” comments Amy as Chris can’t help but chuckle to himself.
“You could say that he is. Kurt Noble is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, whether it’s becoming the Undisputed Champion or saving Action Packed Wrestling, no matter the cost. I can’t do that Amy …”
“… not anymore” she finishes for him as she passes the bottle back to him as he takes a long, contemplative, drink from it and nods his head before setting it on the night stand beside him.
“There’s a reason Noble-Hart works Amy. There’s no doubt that Level-One and Johnny Rebel were better talents, that Delikado and Terry Marvin have more skill than us but we succeeded and it’s not just because of teamwork Amy. At the end of the day we’re the same person, fighting the same battle.”
“Do you think you could do it?”
Chris takes hold of the bottle off the night stand next to him but doesn’t drink from it, instead rolling it between his hands as he looks at the ceiling and the artwork on the walls. The silence remains for a moment before Chris sets it back on the nightstand and cracks his knuckles. “I joined this company because he was starting to pull away from you. I wanted to save him from himself Amy. I wouldn’t have promised you something I didn’t intend to keep. I promise you, I will beat Kurt Noble” he says before Amy turns around.
“That wasn’t what I was asking Chris” replies Amy as Chris stares at her in somewhat confusion, though the semblance of an idea begins to fester in his brain. “You talked about sacrifice and being able to give up anything to do what was necessary …”
Immediately Chris’ face turns a shade of crimson, not in embarrassment but fear, knowing full well what Amy’s next words would be. “You were the best in the world Chris … can still be the best in the world but you only did that when you were willing to sacrifice everything. You said you can’t do it, at least not anymore, but do you have the capability to do it if absolutely necessary.”
The air in the room goes heavy as Chris’ changes from the crimson hue to ghostly white, his eyes slamming shut as memories instantly flooding back that had been suppressed for years. Damp, dark tunnels in Italy, the old western style prisons with heavy wooden doors barred shut by a steel beam, chained to the wall by his wrists, a gaunt face, emaciated by madness. “… my jacket” Chris states as he begins to shake uncontrollably, almost as if having a seizure.
Amy stares at him for a moment before the shaking starts as he slides down in his bed. Getting up from the chair she crawls in next to him and grabs hold, pulling him tight against her body, his face still ghastly. “It’s okay Chris … I’ve got you” she says as Chris doesn’t moved, now paralyzed by the images running through his mind. A crown of thorns on his head, the fear in the eyes of the man across from him, a man being carted into an ambulance unable to move his legs, blood pouring from his wrists, the scars since faded on … “Amy … It’s ok Chris, it’s me …
Immediately Chris eyes burst open as he stares into the concerned face of Amy Noble. “Amy” he whispers hoarsely as he closes his eyes momentarily, the color finally returning to his face as they slowly open again.
“I’m sorry” she says as she gently brushes the hair out of Chris’ eyes.
Chris turns and looks at her, still somewhat locked in her tender embrace. “I …”
“I didn’t know you still …”
“There’s a reason Level-One couldn’t kill me. He’s a part of me Amy, the same way Kurt Noble will be a part of Curtis Parker” Chris interjects as Amy nods her head, letting go of Chris.
“Chris …”
“I had to maintain that single thread of hope, that one last ounce of my humanity against Level-One or he’d come back. He’s always there Amy. If I need him, he’s there …” Chris sighs.
“And that’s why you don’t want to be champion?”
“Exactly. I know that when push comes to shove, if it’s only about me that I’ll give in. That I’ll let myself lose control and he’ll come back. We’re all like that Amy, look at Level-One, look at Terry Marvin … look at Kurt” pointedly states Chris as Amy nods her head. “I can beat Kurt Noble in the ring Amy, but to end him …
To end him I need to do it.”
Amy stares at Chris, choking back tears as she stares at Chris … the same look on his face as the first time the two met. As Chris nods his head, Amy closes her eyes and softly gives Chris a quick kiss, catching him off guard. Breaking apart, Amy opens her eyes and looks at Chris. “Thank you” she says as she rolls off the bed
“For everything.”
