CHAPTER ONE
"Damn, what a building." The WWE Performance center was finally open in Orlando, Florida. It was alive and buzzing with rookies, trainers, and a few other main roster wrestlers eager to see the new training center.
Most of the rookies were in their wrestling gear, likely getting ready for a tryout, and there were far too many of them for Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk, to even begin to process. It was all really surreal, he couldn't imagine having this kind of an opportunity when he first got started. A blur of emotions whirled through him. Pride to work here, jealousy of not having this in his times, but mainly happiness. Everything seemed to be going right these days. He was officially the longest reigning WWE Champion of the last ten years, which was more than he could have ever asked for.
"Isn't it?" Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H in the ring, walked over to Punk, shaking his hand. "Come on, let me give you the grand tour."
They walked down the wide halls that wove through the Performance Center, the walls adorned with posters of various WWE Superstars and Pay Per Views. Tall and built like a rock, Paul towered over a majority of the rookies here today. Even Punk was taller than many of them, and he was considered one of the smaller guys in the locker room. Paul's skin was very tanned and his dirty blonde hair shaved close to his head. A much more professional look than his old ponytail. They certainly didn't always see eye to eye, but over the past year they've learned to put aside their differences.
"Got a lot of tryouts scheduled today?" Punk asked.
"Oh yeah. I'm sure it'd mean the world to a lot of them if you could give them some advice this week. Plus, there's someone who'll be here the next few days I'm sure you'd love to meet. He's got a smart mouth on him just like you."
Punk laughed at the annoyance in his tone. He was sure not even Paul would be able to put up with another mouth as snarky as his.
They walked a little ways further down one of the many hallways, walking into the room where tryouts were being held. For a few hours they sat and watched the tryouts. Compared to the rest of the performance center, this room had a very serious atmosphere, and Punk was sure their presence was adding to it.
After the first round, Punk and Paul got some waters and snacks from the catering table before sitting on the edge of one of the rings. After so many years of wrestling all over the world, Punk had come to notice no two rings ever felt the same.
He traced lines on his bottle cap, wondering how he'd made it this far. Over the years, there were several, several times he'd been ready to walk out the door and leave for good. He would groan and complain about the company and the people there, but he could never bring himself to leave. He had to keep pushing himself and get to this level.
Punk told himself over the years that the journey was better as a struggle, compared to the guys he's seen getting their careers handed to them on a silver platter. They never made it far, the fans wouldn't let them until they earned it. If Punk had the choice, he'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.
"Something on your mind?" Paul asked, breaking Punk from his thoughts.
"I just can't believe I'm here," He said quietly.
Paul clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You earned it. All of it."
No one knew Punk's struggle quite like Paul. He had a front row seat to all of it, all of the bittersweet memories.
Punk avoided his eyes, unwilling to let himself succumb to the bitterness that tended to come out whenever he thought about the old days. He wouldn't be mad today. Today was a good day. This year was certainly one he'd never forget.
Paul released his hand and held up his water bottle. Punk smiled and raised his bottle as well, letting any bad emotions leave him for the moment.
"Cheers," He tapped his water to Paul's. Punk took a long swallow of water, and let out a deep sigh.
"So what's next for you, champ?" Paul asked.
Punk took a few seconds to think about it, reeling his thoughts back into the present. "Well, I haven't won the Rumble yet."
"I'm sure you will, someday."
"I guess you're in charge of that now, right?"
"Not completely yet, but I've got some weight to throw around."
"Well, I fully expect special treatment from you now." Punk had to admit, he'd noticed a change in how people were treating him now that he was a fully established main event superstar. He spent the past year soaking it in, because he knew it could all be over in an instant. Although, he was really starting to miss yelling at people to get his way.
"I'll do what I can. Are you going to be here the rest of the week?"
"Yeah. Might as well, I need to get some training in anyway." Though he wouldn't admit it, Punk also saw quite a few good looking rookies around he wouldn't mind training with. He wasn't looking for a relationship right now or even any one night stands, but flirting was always fun. Over time, he'd become known as bisexual rather notoriously. But for right now, he just wanted to focus on his career.
"You've been out of Chicago for a while right? Ever going to move back there?"
"No." Punk opened up his bag of chips silently for a moment, dreading the thought of going back and seeing AJ. "There's nothing left for me there anymore. AJ's got someone else down there now. She loves it there⦠I'm happy in Cali for the time being."
When AJ Lee and Punk broke up a few months ago, both burnt out from wrestling and arguing, she decided to stay in Chicago. She fell in love with the city, and got an apartment there a few blocks down. Punk couldn't take it and moved out to Los Angeles as soon as he could, not bothering to tell her.
Hunter gave him a sympathetic look. "You ever talk with her?"
"Not really. Only brief "Hello's" if we see each other at work."
AJ was the love of Punk's life. He'd wanted to marry her, maybe even have kids someday. But no more than after a year of dating, their relationship crumbled, and Punk would admit he was a jerk about it.
"You miss her," said Hunter quietly, like he was reading Punk's mind.
"Yeah," Punk admitted. "I wanted a family with her." He remembered how lost he got in being CM Punk, how he pushed her away. He'd had quite the habit of doing that to people.
"It's not too late, you know."
"It is. She moved on and I don't blame her. She's happy now, that's what matters." Punk knew they were on different paths of life, paths that didn't cross. Maybe they'd cross again someday, but for right now he wanted to just forget about it.
"Well, enough of that, how many people have you slept with since?" Paul shot him a smirk, mischief glinting in his eyes.
Punk laughed, knowing this question would come up eventually. "No one, I've just been focusing on my career. Though I will say, some of these rookies look pretty good." His eyes scanned down the legs of one of the new girls. "How's your love life?"
Paul started talking all about his wife and kids. He'd married Stephanie McMahon, who just so happened to be the heir to the WWE. They'd been the defining power couple of the company for as long as Punk could remember. He would be willing to bet they were raising the next mega stars in their children. He'd met them a few times and they've always been pleasant.
Punk wondered if he should just get back to his short-term flings, but he couldn't imagine doing that again after having such a serious relationship. He barely had time for a social life anyway now that he was the top dog. He decided to just stick with the harmless flirting.
After sitting through the rest of the tryouts, Paul and Punk said their goodbyes before heading to their respective hotels. Punk walked towards his room for the night, feeling relieved after his talk with Paul. He felt his phone buzz and looked down to read the text message. The next thing he knew he ran smack into someone walking in the hallway.
Punk quickly caught them by the waist, and gently pulled them back up, dropping his phone in the process. He went to apologize when he locked eyes with the guy. Literally glowing, neon green eyes stared back at him, temporarily paralyzing his ability to speak. He quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat.
"Hey, I'm so sorry about that. Are you alright?"
Punk subconsciously tightened his arm, bringing the person closer. He looked young, but he was wearing a WWE training shirt so Punk assumed he had to be at least twenty. The guy had dark blue hair with neon green streaks running through it. Not to mention, good lord, did he smell good.
Out of my league a voice in Punk's head rang, but he was going to soak this in.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry."
"Don't be," said Punk lowly with a wink. He looked down at the full lips, just inches from his. Whoever this was, he looked like walking sex.
"Hey Hardy you coming?!" Punk heard someone yell. Hardy, he'd remember that.
He released his arm slowly from around the guy's waist. There was nothing like some flirting to make himself feel confident. Punk leaned down to pick up their phones, seeing the guy had dropped his as well. When he handed over his phone, Punk noticed how soft his hands were. The guy looked to be around the same height as Punk, if just half an inch shorter, but much skinnier. He had a rather tiny frame.
"Coming," he said, but barely taking his eyes off of Punk's. Punk really wanted see just how soft those lips were, but that was probably much too forward. He may have to rethink that whole no short-term flings thing. Punk wondered what room he was staying in, so he could "accidentally" run into him again. He would definitely be on the lookout at the tryouts tomorrow.
"Well come on!" The man yelled again. "We're already late."
The guy walked away and Punk watched the swing in his hips. He looked at the text he received, seeing it was his roommate for the night and fellow wrestler John Cena asking when he'd be back. He had been here for the tryouts as well, and to do some press for the company.
Boy do I owe you one thought Punk. He took one last glace at the rainbow-haired person before walking to his room.
The next morning Punk eagerly walked into the WWE Performance Center and traveled the halls to the tryout room. He briefly derailed his mission of finding the mystery man from last night to talk with his longtime friend Paul Heyman.
Paul grinned when he saw him. "Phil! There's my favorite client!"
They were working together on the show right now. He was definitely one of Punk's favorite people to work with.
"Tell me, how does being the longest reigning champion in a decade feel?"
Punk chuckled a bit, smiling at his genuine enthusiasm. Paul was one of the first people to believe in him, and to be here together now felt great.
"It's a little over-whelming. How's being the manager of the longest reigning champion in ten years feel?"
"It feels a little bit like being on top of the world. At last."
"It's been a long time coming," Punk said. He wondered how much longer his reign would last. As well as what on Earth he was going to do after. "I'm glad you're here with me."
"It's truly an honor, Phil. I'm very proud of you. You've really come a long way since I first met you all those years ago."
Paul's words hit him hard, and he gave him a warm smile. He'd never forget everything Paul did for him, he wouldn't have a career without the man. He was incredibly supportive, and his one real friend for the longest time. And now, he was the best manager Punk could ask for.
"I seriously can't thank you enough. You've given me everything."
"Getting guys like you in is what keeps me going. I'm always rooting for the underdogs." Paul gave him a crooked smile.
"How's the family?"
"Good, good. Kids are doing well in school. And of course, happy wife happy life. Anything new in your love life?"
"No, not really," said Punk, his thoughts going back to the night before.
"Really? That's a tad unlike you. I would have expected you to at least have one new prospect by now. Or at least be looking. Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine, and actually, now that you mention it, I did meet someone last night I'm kind of on the lookout for." Punk took a glace of the room, mainly scanning for blue hair. So far, no luck.
"Now that sounds like the CM Punk I know," said Paul.
Punk got a small smirk, taking another short scan of the room. Still nothing, he must be trying out later in the day.
Paul extended his arms for a hug. "I certainly won't stand in your way. Go find them" They quickly hugged before Punk walked towards the rings.
"I will." Punk took a deep breath before going to watch the rookies.
AN: I hope you guys liked this first chapter! Be sure to let me know what you thought in a review! Thanks for reading!
