Epilogue.
Stu.
God, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do... But I feel I have to do it.
First I need you to know that I love you since the weekend we met down in Clearwater, and I realise that this is entirely unfair to you. Please know that I wouldn't change anything about the five years we've shared, even the fights and long nights alone that were broken by blissful reunions... there's not a damn thing I'd change out of all of it. I love you, but I find that I am no longer in love with you. For that I am sorry, but with everything that has happened over the recent months I have been forced to admit that I can't do this any more.
With everything that has happened – the initial bad start with Barbie, the constant rumours concerning Phil and myself, and of course Shane and everything... attached to that- I find I'm in need of space, more-so than anyone here is willing to give me. This is why I'm leaving, to figure out just who and what I need to become to move forward as a person and where my life will go from there. While I have some confidence in the measures taken to conceal my identity during this whole harrowing ordeal as I have no doubt that the media will be like a feeding frenzy over McMahon's conviction, I don't entirely trust it to stay that way. So for my own peace of mind I'm leaving the country all together. Somewhere where wrestling isn't a huge spectacle like it is here and I can simply blend in without anyone recognising who I am.
I feel like such a selfish coward for ending it this way and you have every right to be angry with me for it, I accept that. I hope that someday you will find it within yourself to forgive me for this and find that certain someone that will make you as truly happy as you deserve to be.
Stu couldn't bring himself to reread the rest of the crumpled note in his hand as he sat on the back porch with an open bottle of Jack Daniels of an all to quiet house as the chilled evening breeze coming off the ocean made him shiver. Closing his eyes he felt the anger welling up inside, making his chest hurt and felt like he was going to choke on it. After absolutely everything else this was just to much. With the trial being held out of town coupled with the restraining order Shane had as well as the sentencing for his own charges against him it had been easy for Imogen to pack her things and disappear. Not even James' complete and utter irate tirade at Phil and Scott had been enough for either man to give up the location of where she had gone, partly because they didn't know the final destination themselves. It was what Phil had promised, this was her decision and he wasn't going to fight her on it. It had taken all he had not to punch out the scruffy Chicagoite right there.
In light of everything Vince had offered him a renewal on his contract when his own slap on the wrist verdict had been handed down – an allotted time doing community service while also attending anger management classes until approval from the overseeing doctor said otherwise. The Chairman, already having lost his now disowned son and one of his employees, didn't feel like losing a third from the whole spectacle. He had taken it, if nothing more than to keep himself busy enough to keep his mind thoroughly distracted once he got back out on the road, his only stipulation being not to work with Phil for as long as possible.
Retreating back inside from the cold air he abandoned the alcohol on the kitchen table along the way to the gas stove top, igniting one of the burners he held the paper over the blue flame and watched as it greedily ate away at it. He had tried his best but it hadn't been enough, instead she had turned and ran from everyone. He had tried to be open and understanding, realised that as much as he would gleefully do it again that beating the absolute crap out of McMahon was the wrong impulse to follow. But no matter what he had done Imogen had slowly began to withdraw from him the moment she had gotten home, only to turn around and pour everything out to that prick from Chicago. He was angry and confused; at himself, at Punk for hiding what Stu felt he should've been told and even at Imogen.
As the ash crumbled away in his hand he again retrieved the bourbon and wandered down the hall to fall into a heap on the couch. Taking a mouthful he relished in the slow burn as it snaked its way down his throat and into his stomach. He knew he'd pay for it in the morning but right now he just didn't care, figuring right now it was worth the trade off. Flicking the TV on and finding an old repeat of a rugby game he leaned back into the soft embrace of the couch cushions, absently knocking over a digital photo frame that had been perched on one of the end tables. He concluded that Rosa must have missed it on her sweep to get whatever her daughter had left behind, Stu not wanting to have any reminders left. He didn't turn it on, he knew damn well what was on it, so with his lip curling it flew across the room with a quick flick of his wrist and hit the wall.
He was done.
Chicago, Illinois. Eighteen months later.
Punk was doing one final check of his luggage before hitting the road once again, making sure he wasn't missing anything for when he caught his flight tomorrow morning. Answering the intercom to his apartment when it buzzed a few minutes later Scott was at his door. "Hey man, you almost done?" He asked after their initial greeting, "I ordered the pizza before I got here, so it shouldn't be long before it gets here."
"Just about." He replied as Scott handed him his mail that he had grabbed on the way up. Flicking through the usual mix of bills and assorted junk mail he stopped when familiar handwriting caught his eye. Casually casting aside the rest on a nearby table he joined Cabana who had made himself at home on one end of the couch, flicking through random stations until finding something worthwhile. Turning it over he couldn't find a return address, but the air mail, postal markings and stamps claimed it had come all the way from Japan. Tearing it open his eyes skimmed the unfolded sheet with a few photos that accompanied it sat on the arm of the couch, a slow smile coming to his face as he read before handing it over to Colt when he was done.
Punkster,
Greetings from Tokyo! I've been here in Japan a few months now and things are going well. My Japanese is even passably fluent now! Or at least the locals appreciate the effort I'm putting into learning it anyway, it's nice to surprise people by not living up to the 'clueless American tourist' stereotype. Last week I finally went and hiked Mount Fuji during a night trek for something called Goraikō which means 'honourable arrival of light'. I have to say as far as sunrises go, it's going to be a hard one to beat. After that I spent the weekend exploring Aokigahara. The quiet of the forest is a little unsettling at first, but I found I rather enjoyed it after a while. Though with the reputation that the 'Sea of Trees' has for suicide, I'm damn glad I didn't run into some poor bastard's body.
Something surprising happened the other day as well. I was over in Shibuya doing some window shopping and general nosing around when someone came up to me, he actually recognised who I was. Here's the kicker though, he works for Dragon Gate Wrestling and invited me to call by their offices. Long story short is I'm back in the wrestling business again, though I haven't decided if I want to compete yet. At least it's a step forward at any rate.
Speaking of moving forward, I'm still upholding what you had me promise when I told you I was leaving. The therapy is helping a lot more than I thought it would to be perfectly honest. There are days that worse than others, but they are slowly becoming less frequent than they used to be. As much as the progress is so far, some part of me just isn't ready to head back home just yet. Besides, there's a lot to see and things to do! I'm pretty sure all the pics I sent you while over in Europe told you that.
Well that's about it for now, early start in the morning and I get to have fun feeling like a sardine during the morning work rush on the train tomorrow. Can't wait to see how your WWE title match against John goes, I know you two are gonna tear it up!
Cal.
PS- Hi Cabana Boy, I knowyou're reading this to!
Scott handed the letter back as Phil looked at the snap she had taken of the sunrise Imogen had written of. While he himself wasn't much into the old school letter writing, preferring to stick to emails and such, he was glad that she was just that little bit retro. As the intercom buzzed announcing the arrival of their pizza Scott went to answer it while he took the latest letter and put it in a box with the others. He had to admit, the random snail mail was a nice break from getting bills and the recent editions of photos over the past few months made it even better.
Truth be told he hadn't liked the idea of her simply taking off to parts unknown in a foreign land, it seemed like a bad idea. But as much as he wanted to voice his objection that day he didn't, it had been a test of trust and he had passed. All he did was plead that wherever Imogen went she wouldn't take on the burden alone and seek professional help. At first he wasn't entirely sure that she would actually listen and simply agree as some form of lip service. But to his surprise about a month or so after reaching Sweden, Punk had received the first in what would be regular letters as she began to slowly travel around. At first he thought the travel was more about her keeping on the run, and maybe a part of it still was, but with each piece of correspondence that arrived he could see embers of confidence trying to reignite in the elegant and meticulous handwriting.
Things at home had been rocky in her absence, James had been more than irate and Rosa had gone beyond worried. His steadfast commitment to his promise came very close to ruining the relationship with them both before he had gotten the idea to show them the first letter, then they to had started receiving their own shortly after that. While still tenuous he had managed to keep the relationship with her parents intact.
Work had been a different story, at one point he had seriously considered ending his contract with the company. He had been surprised when one night during a rare call Imogen had actually talked him out of it, telling him what she had said to Levesque- You can't blame an entire company for the actions of one person. When Stu had finally returned he had once more been placed back on Smackdown since during his absence Punk had been transferred to Raw. The only time the two men even saw each other was at Pay Per Views and even then they made a point to stay out of each other's way whenever possible. As far as Stu had been concerned he wanted nothing more to do with either of them. Phil merely accepted this as the now running standard and wasn't inclined to do anything about it. Phil had made his choice of keeping his promises and nothing anyone could say, react or do would ever make him think to regret it.
He made his way back into the lounge where Colt was already helping himself to a hot slice from the box resting on the coffee table and grabbed one for himself. The two best friends talked, their conversation a laid back and free flowing rapport as all good friends have, each wondering just what the absent third of their number would do in her new mystery role at Dragon Gate.
Mexico City, Mexico.
The crowd packed into the arena roared as the masked luchadora Nova stood with the championship belt held high much to the delight of the masses after a thirty five minute match for the coveted AAA strap. When she made her way back stage and headed towards the locker room various words of congratulations and a few handshakes were passed long from her fellows. After showering dressing there was a knock on the door, quickly she scrambled for something to cover her identity as her mask was already packed in her bag, the closest thing being a towel. Wrapping it around enough for it to obscure her face Nova finally answered.
It was a big name talent scout for the WWE with one of the promoters, who was also playing a roll as a translator. The promoter explained to the man that Nova had, up until six months a go, been a part of Japan's Dragon Gate promotion.
Jim Ross was in all honesty only half listening to the man beside him, there was something about the champion that was familiar to him but he couldn't quite place it. It was something about her eyes and the small scar above her right eye tickled his memory but refused to give him the answer he sought. Shifting uncomfortably under the former commentator's gaze the luchadora pulled the thick dark cotton down some more, bring the small part of her exposed face into shadow. Keeping one's identity secret was a big thing amongst the masked Mexican wrestlers, Nova being no different. In fact she seemed even more intent than most about no-one seeing her face at all. It was a little strange in a Gringo the promoter first thought, along with her refusal to speak in her native English to any potential scouts, but in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter much. If Nova didn't want to speak English and therefore make it harder for the competition to steal his workers away, he wasn't going to complain about it.
But tonight something was different as the conversation continued, until she finally turned to him and politely asked for a moment alone with señor Ross. He complied and when the door was closed behind him the two American's stood face to face for a moment before Nova reached up and slowly pulled away the fabric that shielded her identity.
"My god!" JR exclaimed in surprise, "It's you!"
Holy. Crap.
I've done it. After being a member and poster on this site since 2005 I've FINALLY managed to finish a story! I deserve a parade...
BIG shout out once again to BearKat (AKA Harmony1111. Took me a little to work out the name change), without you this idea never would have existed in the first place and a huge part in the motivation to see it through until the end. I hope that this offering is something you in particular have enjoyed reading, because I certainly have enjoyed writing it.
Also a big thanks to the people who favourited/alerted the fic and especially to my regular reviewers who took the time out to leave a few lines- KityKat-1, CapriSunGirl, SpiceGirl, Kennedy2006, Bethany-Q, Marrymebrandon, Lil'-AngelwWings, and the anonymous WWECenaFan.
While this is the end of this particular tale it is not the end of the story. I knew about half way through that I would want to do a follow up, set roughly 2-3 years down the track, and have been jotting down random ideas along the way. While I can't give you guys an actual time for its posting I can give you the name- 'Battle Scars'. So in the mean time feel free to read/review whatever else I have up if you're so inclined, or even drop a line and challenge me with an idea yourself and I'll see if I can run with it!
Peace!