Piece of the Pie
Aug 12, 2023 15:23:27 GMT
Post by Harvey Francis on Aug 12, 2023 15:23:27 GMT
“What does it mean to hurt someone?”
Harvey’s mind continued to race with this question. He’d been a wrestler since he was seventeen, and injuries certainly happen in this industry - but never in his life had he actually *hurt* someone. Bob Regan’s words continued to eat at him. Why did he agree to follow this man into battle? Why did he agree to do harm to people who didn’t deserve it?
Because, it gave him success.
He’d never had that before.
Harvey’s right fist came careening into a large sandbag, causing a wave of pain up his arm, a sharp shiver growing throughout his entire body as he collapsed to the floor of Holepunch Davis’ garage, cursing to noone in particular. As he lay on the cold floor, he thought to himself of all the times he’d been in this situation while competing on a wrestling show. He thought of all the people in the crowd, throwing obscenities down at him, laughing at his pain. He thought of the promoters, telling him that he didn’t do well enough to get paid his booking fee. He thought of the other wrestlers, telling him he wouldn’t make it. Well - fuck them, he was on Pay-Per-View, and they were still working in jockey lots in -
“BEAUTIFUL LAS VEGAS, NEVADA!”
A large man stumbled into the garage, carrying a six pack of beers in either hand. Harvey turned his attention to the man, groaning in pain. The man let out a burp, excusing himself before pulling up a chair, settling in and retrieving a television remote from the floor beside him. He clicked the power button, and the room immediately filled with light, and the sounds of a roaring crowd. The man looked over to Harvey on the floor, and rolled him a beer.
“I can’t believe you were able to secure a gig in a place like that, kid.”
Harvey sat up, pulling the beer from the floor.
“Oh, so now you don’t believe in me, Davis?”
The man paused, shaking his head.
“I’ve always believed in you - but my point is, it took guys like me YEARS before even working dark matches for places like this. You’ve done good, man! I’m proud of you.”
Harvey nodded, cracking the beer open and sitting next to his mentor. HolePunch patted Harvey on the back, and pointed to the screen.
“These people are proud of you, too. You’re making the right decisions here. Keep being yourself, and you’ll really make a difference on this business.”
Harvey coughed, beer going down the wrong pipe. When he came back to his senses, he spoke up.
“About that … I had a ‘team meeting’ with Bob the other week. He said all this stuff about being fed up with being on the losing end of life, and … honestly? I agree with him. Before you took me in, I never knew what winning was. I never had someone to look after me, someone to take me to school in the morning, someone to tell me they cared about me. You’re the only person I’ve had in my life that’s done ANY of that, Davis - and that’s only because we’re family.”
Davis reached the remote uo, pausing the show.
“What’s your angle here, Harvey?”
“I can’t be myself if I want to win this tournament, HP. The Harvey Francis that smiles and high-fives all these kids, shakes hands with all the boys in the back and wants to be friends with everyone? He can’t survive in Razor Wrestling. I need to hurt people - REALLY fucking hurt people - be the type of guy that punches someone in the mouth for looking at him the wrong way. I’ve been a pushover my entire life. I mean - the entire reason I’m in this tournament in the first place is because I was too much of a loser to get a shot at the CRBG Championship! When Bob told me about everything he’s been through - I felt it, deeper than I’ve felt anything before. I hate to admit it, but Bob Regan and Harvey Francis are two sides of the same coin … and you’re on my side too. Life has fucked us over too much, Davis … but for the first time in my career I’m competing on Pay-Per-View. I can’t get in my own way - I can’t take this opportunity away from myself. I need to dig down deep - and kill the side of me that keeps holding on to morals.”
Davis stood, taking another sip of his beer.
“Well kid, how do you suppose you’re gonna do that?”
“I’m starting with the Shinigami Foundation. They think us helping them get past round one was a favor? It was an assurance that we’d be able to get a piece of them in round two. And you know what, Bob’s right! If those pricks we cost in the opening round wanna come and get revenge? Let em! I’ll - I’ll - I’ll beat the shit out of em! You think Harvey Francis is scared of hitting a woman!? I’LL HIT MY OWN MOTHER IF IT MEANS GETTING SUCCESS IN THIS BUSINESS, DAVIS!”
“You’ll punch your own mother even if it leads to nothing.”
“BECAUSE I HATE THAT BITCH! Look - I’m done being everyone’s bitch. I want my own piece of the pie for once, Davis. I want to be top dog for once, is that so hard to ask?”
Holepunch moved to the door, shaking his head.
“It’s not hard to ask for - but it’s hard to achieve. Good luck with that, kid.”
Davis left. Harvey sat for a minute, then a knock rang from the garage door. Harvey turned, and a business card slid under the door. Cracking his head to the side, Harvey moved to the card, picking it up from the ground.
“What the fuck?”
