4 Stars, One must outshine the Rest

[The Cobra Viper]

‘When I die what will happen?
Will my fans still cheer
Will my peers even notice
Will I be remember
When I’m gone

Will my efforts stand out
Will my name mean something
Will the world remember
A snake out to make its name
When I’m gone

What will be believed?
The words of the masses
Trying to explain a dead man
Or the faith of few
Who understand what my business does

Will one act define me
Will my record matter
Will I be remembered
Or will I wash away like everyday clatter’

“Aye Roy, get your ass out of the clouds and get down here you silly prick we have a plan to catch. Might want to dry off first” Shamus’ voice snaps me back to life as the cold water of the shower continues to beat down on me.


‘Deep thoughts for an early morning shower down you think Roy?’ Tai pipes up as I shake my head clear and think of the words that had been ringing in my head since Titan had rammed it into the mat at the last Sunday Night Vengeance.


I had been wondering if all anyone would remember was what they saw and not what was true. Here in Shamus’ house with the rest of the Seven Sin’s I was free from the constant glares and over asked questions. Everywhere I went no one cared to ask what I thought of the new champ or if I thought any of the up and comings would show progress. No I was hounded over why I hit Kirk, why I did it. Nothing else about EUW related to me in their minds just the one chair shot and it was driving me mad. Yet here, here amongst my oldest friends and newest partners that question was never asked of me for they understood that what they saw at Retribution was not all there was to it. Here amongst the Asylum’s newest members I was allowed to escape and here is where I prepared for Jace and Danny. Two men I would rather not fight and held no ill will against but two men that were on the wrong side of Mark and until my plan can come to its end that’s all that matter.


‘Yea it kinda is Tai, but what do you expect? I lost in a title match and still all that people want to hear about is Retribution. But thank you time to get my head in the game right? We fly to Miami today and the group is excited.’ I answer finally as I step out of the shower after turning it off and grabbing the nearest towel to pat myself down.


“Thinking about it again aren’t you?” I hear the silk voice of Morgan from behind me. Her remark caused me to smile while I wrapped the towel around me waist to block her view of something she had seen before. “Now why cover the show?” She added to keep the mood light before placing her hands on my shoulders.


“Morgan you know me the questions get to me, and just because Sara and I aren’t together anymore doesn’t mean I’m yours yet.” I respond and turn around to push her away and against the wall gently. “We have a flight, I have a match, and you really want to flirt with me? Come on Morgan no games just the files I know you have.” I say with a smile causing her to blush.


“Jace Ambrose, Danny Tenfold, and Warrior’s medical and professional profiles.” She says as her tongue slides between her teeth and her hand reaches behind her pulling six files from the waist band of her jeans. “Like I promised. And yet doesn’t mean never.” With the last phrase she slipped under my arms and left me alone in the bathroom to prepare for the plane ride.


Shaking my head I turn back to the sink and spread out the files Morgan had somehow managed to get me. Each contained an up-to-date record of any injuries, alliances, contract obligations, family, and anything else you can find out about a person. I had a whole two days before SNV and these would become my best friends when I wasn’t beating up on Peter, John, or Leo in order to prep for my next match as Mark’s puppet.


‘Puppet? If only Mark knew he was doing as I had hoped.’ I think to myself while looking through my bag for a decent set of clothes to wear seeing as the files could wait for me to get dressed at least.


‘What do you mean Roy? How has asking you to lose a match and putting you in a tag match with all your favorite coworkers what you hoped for?’ Tai asks me as I pick up a pair or green and black tripp pants and shrug. When all you have is tripp and tee shirts your options are kinda limited.


‘It’s not so much the matches but the power, freedom, and new group that are what I wanted. Kirk would have hired six people without first researching them, testing them out, and then haggling over a contract. With Mark I say “I know and trust these guys and they will do whatever I say” and bing bang boom they have contracts. With all of them in EUW I know that when the time is right Mark will feel a bigger sting that Kirk; because unlike Kirk Mark doesn’t and never will have my respect and trust. He’s the GM until the Venom is Injected into his veins so that the true owner can return.’ I explain to Tai as I pull the pants up and into place. And glance at the file on top, Danny Tenfold.


Danny. What a great kid, a star and role model. The guy started when I did and always showed me respect. I have nothing against Danny he’s a great person but his personality will always make him a mid carder and that’s where he and I differ. He is all about the ideals a fan loves but it gets you nowhere and makes it so you’re forgotten a few years after you retire. Danny the High Flier and former EUW Pure Champion he has shown that he is talented and can hang with anyone put in front of him but that is only good for the arena, and that is only half of the business. Danny, a performer with more skill than most the roaster but doesn’t have the silver tongue or the mind set to use the office to his advantage. Danny, I would have you babysit my kids if I had them so I know when this is all over you’ll listen and forgive me, but Sunday we’re on opposite ends of the ring and I’m sorry but I won’t hand you anything. Prepare for a war Danny Tenfold but know I carry no bad feelings towards you and probably never will.


‘So you mean this was part of a grand scheme of yours?’ Tai asks after my mind had gathered it’s thoughts on Danny. Tai was a great comfort at times like this. I would focus and zone out yet he would wait until I had thought all I needed to at the time before bombarding me with mindless chatter. Better a train reach the station than get derailed mid trip.


‘Not really mine. But yes. Everything I do has its reason’s Tai, you’ve known that.’ I respond to my mental sensei before gathering up the files, dumping them in my suitcase, and dragging it behind me into the main room of the house. The young ones were throwing punches and grabs all over the couch as Mary and Morgan started to scold them, letting them know that they needed to grow up and get ready. ‘Ah, a house of superstars.’ I sigh to myself as I continued to scan the room. Shamus was unplugging and cleaning everything in sight, his way of making sure nothing got stolen and knowing what was if there was a break in. before I could move on from him our eyes locked and his held more than a passing glance.


Roy ‘The Cobra’ Viper, savior of the ISFA, champion of the people not only provided this rage tag group jobs but also was more talented than he knew. The guy wasn’t built big but had power, he wasn’t small but he had speed, yet his most deadly skill was his mind. The guy was always looking at multiple angles and when he was on the ball if you hit him it was because he let you. Yet, know this brilliant competitor was brought to average level because his head was still not his own. He hadn’t found his grove and that’s why he helped his old friends. They knew what it took to bring the best out of the Cobra, and he knew this. Roy was admitting defeat but evolving quickly. This tag match was a stepping stone to what he truly was and wanted. God help all the men involved in his match.


Shamus’ eyes shifted once I had read them and nodded. His faith in me and understanding is why I had brought him in as my second. Sure I need another big guy but it’s his fatherliness that made him beyond great. He might not be the youngest or best guy to fight in the Asylum with but I’d rather have him couching me and the rest of the group than face his next pupil.


My eyes continued to look over the house to make sure I had everything; that is until a shirt smacked me in the face. “Hey, put a shirt on so that we’re not stopped every few seconds on the way to the airport Bro.” Mary yelled at me, obviously the boys had settled down or she had left them to Morgan. Slowly my sister crossed the room and took my suitcase out of my hands so I could pull on the shirt she had thrown at me. “You ready?” She asked softly as I pulled the shirt over my head and slid me arms through the sleeves.


Her tone was that of concern as if she didn’t have faith in me. Looking at her I inquired as to why she would ask such a thing with my face so as to save breath and reduce the risk of the others over hearing. “You’re facing Jace and have Warrior as your partner; neither of them have the best feeling towards you, due to the chair shot. Jace probably feels betrayed and Warrior is always out for himself you know that. I’m just worried the bad blood will make this a bad match for you. Granted I think Danny will be a stand up guy but that’s one out of three that aren’t you.” She explained quickly causing me to smile and wink at her.


“While that is true sis, they hate each other more and I don’t plan on getting in the way of their lovers’ quarrel. I understand you’re worried but come on, it’s me. And it’s not like I’m going in unprepared I’ve fought all of them before and I’ll have all of you at ring side. The Seven Sin’s always look out for each other and hopefully Danny and Jace will understand I didn’t do it to screw them. Granted Jace and Warrior should keep each other busy enough that I just have to make sure Warrior doesn’t get screwed and lose us the match.” I say to ease her worries before taking the suitcase outside and loading it into the car.


‘So add Bull and you’ve got the ladder match that almost broke your ribs. You sure you’re ready for Warrior, Danny, and Jace?’ Tai asked as I set the luggage in place in the back of Peter’s truck.


Jace Ambrose, the Amazing one, amazing is right. Jace started not long after me and used The Empire to climb the ranks quickly and yet he holds a grudge against me for using a chair to do the same thing. No, Jace has every right to be mad how things went down it looked like a betrayal and I’m sure I’ll have to explain myself to him eventually but right now Warrior was his focus, I was just a bystander teaming with Warrior. How to beat Jace? Let him have Warrior and just stay out of the way until the time is right. Kinda what I’m doing with Mark just different targets. Jace was flashy, cocky, and uncontrolled rage while I do respect the guy and hope to put this behind us we’re in a business where you have to fight your friends and just because our roads are similar we’re once again on opposite sides. Jace betrayal only works because you trust someone yet you have so little trust in me that is was shattered with Kirk’s head, just don’t forget what I’m capable of and don’t let rage blind you. You will lose because of it.


‘Yea, I’m sure because this time it’s a tag match and no title is on the line. I just have to not get pinned for this to be a victory in my eyes.’ I answer lightheartedly before closing the tail gate with a resounding thud.


‘Ah taking the Warrior approach?’ He asked as a joke reminding me of how Warrior justified his actions in the past.


Warrior, the human wrecking machine, was a conniving bastard. Older than the rest of us in the match and at one time commissioner of EUW however he was way past his prime time. Warrior was a great mind but he was just not having the endurance to keep up with the new guys. Sure he wins here and there but he’s not consistent and he came back to win a title but isn’t anywhere near the title picture. The guy is mad, I mean come on his own daughter off-d herself so she wouldn’t be a distraction, the guy has to be mental. But regardless he is my partner this week and will provide a great distraction for Jace. I might not like the guy on a professional level but we’re both out for ourselves and he got me my spot on the roaster. I’ll watch his back to make sure we win. But if I have to I’ll leave him in the ring to send him a message. It’s not all about him anymore.


As my thoughts finish on Warrior I hear the rest of the group walk out of the house. Chuckling at my new situation I give in to answering Tai. ‘No taking the Seven Sin’s approach. It’s about us and being remembered not about wins and losses.’ As I finish with Tai I climb into the bed of the truck with the luggage so that I can admire my home as we head to the airport.


“Dude it’s gonna be Roy pinning Jace after blind tagging Warrior.” I hear Leo tell John before I roll my eyes. Boys will be boys and boys will be punching bags since the three of them are all about Jace and Danny’s size.

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As The Seven Sin’s of Ireland piled into the truck to head to the airport Roy’s mind drifted back to the poem he had thought of in the shower. Would he be remembered or would he just fade away like some great stars? He didn’t know but he knew he would do whatever it took, beat whoever he had to, to make sure his name would go down in history. Sure he lost his last match but that was against the best the Asylum had to offer and for someone who hadn’t been around for a year yet Roy had fought with the best several times and competed for all but one belt available. He was on his way to making his dream come true and now two men stood in his way and one man dared to share his spot light. God bless Jace, Danny, and Warrior for it was the debut of the Seven Sin’s to the world and Roy was hot off a title match. Who knows what stops he’ll pull out to win and out shine the two other raising stars of the Asylum and the flickering one of, the now dead, EUW.