Title: The Road Less Traveled (44/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Shannon makes sure Tara stays in hiding until the fight. Todd/Fury reveals more about his past to Justin and Sven. Justin makes sure Tara understands she is part of a family.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think.
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
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Justin set his bag on the small dresser in the hotel room and turned to look at his companion.
"Seems like old times," he grimaced.
"Not so much," Sven replied tilting his head in Todd's direction, who was sitting on his bed and bouncing slightly.
"Are you testing the springs?" Justin asked the young man.
"Nah," Todd said. "I always used to do this when I checked into a room. Don't really know why. This place is nicer than I'm used to."
"I thought Henry paid his champions well," Justin frowned.
"He did," Todd answered looking down and ceasing his bouncing. "But we all got used to staying in out-of-the-way dives."
"Rio, too?" Sven asked.
"Yeah, I guess," the young fighter said. "She's alive, isn't she?"
"What does that mean?" Justin quietly demanded. "Why would you all feel it necessary to make it difficult for anyone to fine you."
"To avoid unwanted attention," Todd shrugged. "Especially from Henry's favorites. It was common to get attacked by them on down time. In fact, he rewarded it."
"She never told us," Sven whispered.
"She probably didn't want to disappoint you."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you're not exactly like typical foster parents," Todd explained. "You trained her to take care of herself and I'm sure she assumed when you left her that she wouldn't see you again unless she screwed up."
"We never intentionally said or did anything that would lead her to conclude that!" Justin nearly shouted.
"You don't know what it's like for us," Todd said sadly. "We grew up the same way. No one wanted us around, at least after they'd got what they wanted from us. She ever tell you about how it was as a foster kid?"
"We never pressed her for more than she was willing to share with us," Sven said. "We did not want her to think we were prying. I always thought she would get around to it once she trusted us enough."
"It's not that she doesn't trust you. It's that she's ashamed of where she came from. She and I grew up alone and unwanted. We talked about it a lot while we recovered."
"Will you tell us?" Justin asked uncharacteristically softly as he sat on the bed next to Todd. Sven walked over and sat on the young man's other side.
"About her?" Todd said surprised. "I don't know if she'd like that."
"Not her," Sven replied. "She will tell us when she is ready. We want to know about you."
Todd looked first at Sven then at Justin who nodded reassuringly. He wanted to know as much about these kids as they were willing to share. Family should be close knit, he decided. He held his breath as the young man mentally debated in front of them. At last Todd nodded thoughtfully and breathed deeply before beginning.
"My mother died when I was four," he said again looking down. "My father didn't stay around to marry her so I don't know what happened to him. And before you ask, I don't care either."
Neither of the older men said anything to interrupt. They did exchange pitying looks over the young fighter's head, though. Justin silently vowed to make sure Todd never felt unwanted again.
"I was in and out of foster homes until I was about eight," Todd sighed. "Everyone thought I was cute for a while but when the novelty wore off I was back in the orphanage. The older boys picked on me a lot there and I got into fights. Eventually I was labeled a 'problem child' and families stopped taking me home at all. I started lifting weights to bulk up so no one would pick on me anymore."
Sven reached a hand over to the young man's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. Justin smiled at his mate as he waited for the story to continue.
"When I turned eighteen I had to leave the place," Todd continued. "Funny how you can hate a place but desperately want to stay there, too. Weird."
"You knew no other home," Sven pointed out. "Where were you going to go?"
"I didn't know," the young man sighed. "I stayed on the streets for a month living off scraps like the other degenerates, until I saw a sign advertising work."
"Henry's sign?" Justin ventured.
"Warrior Series fighters wanted," Todd nodded. "I figured 'What the heck?' I didn't have any other skills. Just a high school diploma. That doesn't get you anything these days."
"What happened then?" Sven asked still rubbing the younger man's shoulder.
"I tried out and Henry liked me. He said I had a lot of power and could really be something if I survived the game."
"He said it just like that?" Justin frowned.
"Yeah."
"And you accepted?"
"I had nothing but an empty stomach," Todd said smiling wryly. "What else could I do? I signed and quickly learned to play to win. That was over four years ago. I never lost until Rio."
"She felt very badly for what she had done to you," Justin disclosed. "She had not felt remorse before that fight."
"Henry was trying to kill her before that match," Todd said looking up at him for the first time in a long while. "She and I never mixed it up before. Henry left her to the 'demolition crew' to be handled."
"He was not very observant of her abilities," Justin replied. "None of his fighters would have been successful even had we not trained her as well as we did."
"What do you mean?"
"Sven and I were present at each of her matches," he said. "We would have jumped in to protect her if it looked as if she could not manage it on her own."
"She knew that?"
"Not until a couple of months ago."
"She'd have died before allowing it," Todd said sadly. "She'd have felt she failed you. I'd have felt the same way if I was her."
"You will no longer feel any such thing," Justin said sternly. "I will have no more of this belief that we will be disappointed if you fail. You are our son now."
Todd's eyes widened in surprise and his cheeks blushed slightly.
"You ARE worthy," Justin answered the young man's unasked question. "As much as she. And she will also be told that she is our daughter. You two are never to feel abandoned again, do you understand?"
"That's going to take time," Todd said with gratitude written all over his face.
"We have plenty of that," Sven said with purpose.
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Tara stretched into another exercise as the classical music hummed from Shannon's stereo system. He'd moved her directly into his house and told her not to venture outside until he got back from this week's trip. She knew it would be a while before he felt comfortable leaving her alone again, no doubt fearing she'd leave him, and she resolved to be as patient as possible. Her muscles moved smoothly along and she was pleased with her training. She pulled out of her final move when her cell phone rang insistently. Assuming it was Shannon checking up on her again, she gave her shoulder a final tug before answering.
"Hey!" she said happily into the phone.
"Tar?"
"Todd?" she squealed. "How are you? I've been dying to talk to you. When are you getting a phone?"
"Slow down," he laughed. "Phone's coming soon, I'm told. We just rolled into town this morning. The 'Dads' are preparing for a fight."
"They're nothing if not prepared," she smiled.
"They're worried about you," he went on soberly.
"They've seen me fight," she said. "They should know by now I'm not a pushover."
"It's not that," he replied. "They're worried you feel like you have to win just so you don't disappoint them. Justin was especially pissed that I felt that way, too."
"What do you mean?"
"They've been asking about our pasts."
"They never wanted to know before," she said nervously.
"They said they never asked because they were afraid you'd clam up on them," he explained. "They want to know now and they're not going to take no for an answer. Something about families needing to be close."
"Are they there now?"
"Sven is," Todd whispered sheepishly. "You know how motherly he can be."
"I heard that," the Scandinavian accent reached the phone making Tara laugh.
"Justin went out a while ago," Todd went on, laughter evident in his own voice. "When you coming by?"
"When Shannon gets back tomorrow, I guess," she said. "He gave me explicit instructions not to go outside until then."
"Okay, give us a call later then."
"I will. Bye, Todd."
She clicked the 'off' button and turned to go upstairs to take a shower when a hand caught her arm. She twisted to free herself when her assailant turned her towards him.
"Small one," he said gently.
"Justin!" she shrieked. "You HAVE to stop doing that."
He grinned in response pulling her into an embrace. "I thought you liked when I surprised you."
"It's different when you do it on the phone," she said wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
"I knew that Todd might warn you," he said pulling back to look down at her. "Big brothers are always so protective."
"Big in size maybe," she glowered, "but we're the same age."
"So you are," he smiled sitting down on the couch and looking around the room. "This is nice."
"Shannon's house," she said. "He told me to stay put."
"He is a smart man," Justin said patting the cushion beside him urging her to sit, which she did. "I needed to talk to you, baby."
"Why?"
"A conversation with Todd has led me to believe you have a distorted view of your place in our family."
"What'd he say?"
"He shed some light on his past and said you had grown up under similar conditions."
"I never hid my past from you," she said timidly. "You knew I was orphaned."
"It matters not," he said. "What troubles me is your belief that you have to prove yourself worthy to be my daughter."
Tara couldn't hide the shock she felt if she tried. She'd always tried to get close to him and Sven but never dared to dream she'd succeeded.
"Yes," he said reading her thoughts. "Sven and I both feel that way. You are our daughter and Todd is our son. We took you in because we wanted you. Not something from you. Just you."
"Why is this so important to you?"
"You are important to me," he said gently. "It troubles me to think I may have made you feel this way."
"It's not you," she said taking his hand. "It's the way I was raised."
"Well, it is a mistake."
"Ben's mother would disagree," she said sadly.
"Ben's mother is an ignorant, unhappy woman," he said unflinchingly. "I do not want to hear what she would think. You are our daughter. Ours. You have a place in our family. And Shannon would tell you that you also have a place in his life. There will be a change in your belief system and I do not care how long it takes me to do it."
Tara couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. She leaned forward and hugged him tightly again. "Thank you, Justin."
"Call me 'Dad', small one."
"Okay, Dad. But what do I call Sven?"
"'Mom', of course."
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PLEASE NOTE: Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think.
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
************************************
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Shannon makes sure Tara stays in hiding until the fight. Todd/Fury reveals more about his past to Justin and Sven. Justin makes sure Tara understands she is part of a family.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think.
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
--------------------------------------
Justin set his bag on the small dresser in the hotel room and turned to look at his companion.
"Seems like old times," he grimaced.
"Not so much," Sven replied tilting his head in Todd's direction, who was sitting on his bed and bouncing slightly.
"Are you testing the springs?" Justin asked the young man.
"Nah," Todd said. "I always used to do this when I checked into a room. Don't really know why. This place is nicer than I'm used to."
"I thought Henry paid his champions well," Justin frowned.
"He did," Todd answered looking down and ceasing his bouncing. "But we all got used to staying in out-of-the-way dives."
"Rio, too?" Sven asked.
"Yeah, I guess," the young fighter said. "She's alive, isn't she?"
"What does that mean?" Justin quietly demanded. "Why would you all feel it necessary to make it difficult for anyone to fine you."
"To avoid unwanted attention," Todd shrugged. "Especially from Henry's favorites. It was common to get attacked by them on down time. In fact, he rewarded it."
"She never told us," Sven whispered.
"She probably didn't want to disappoint you."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you're not exactly like typical foster parents," Todd explained. "You trained her to take care of herself and I'm sure she assumed when you left her that she wouldn't see you again unless she screwed up."
"We never intentionally said or did anything that would lead her to conclude that!" Justin nearly shouted.
"You don't know what it's like for us," Todd said sadly. "We grew up the same way. No one wanted us around, at least after they'd got what they wanted from us. She ever tell you about how it was as a foster kid?"
"We never pressed her for more than she was willing to share with us," Sven said. "We did not want her to think we were prying. I always thought she would get around to it once she trusted us enough."
"It's not that she doesn't trust you. It's that she's ashamed of where she came from. She and I grew up alone and unwanted. We talked about it a lot while we recovered."
"Will you tell us?" Justin asked uncharacteristically softly as he sat on the bed next to Todd. Sven walked over and sat on the young man's other side.
"About her?" Todd said surprised. "I don't know if she'd like that."
"Not her," Sven replied. "She will tell us when she is ready. We want to know about you."
Todd looked first at Sven then at Justin who nodded reassuringly. He wanted to know as much about these kids as they were willing to share. Family should be close knit, he decided. He held his breath as the young man mentally debated in front of them. At last Todd nodded thoughtfully and breathed deeply before beginning.
"My mother died when I was four," he said again looking down. "My father didn't stay around to marry her so I don't know what happened to him. And before you ask, I don't care either."
Neither of the older men said anything to interrupt. They did exchange pitying looks over the young fighter's head, though. Justin silently vowed to make sure Todd never felt unwanted again.
"I was in and out of foster homes until I was about eight," Todd sighed. "Everyone thought I was cute for a while but when the novelty wore off I was back in the orphanage. The older boys picked on me a lot there and I got into fights. Eventually I was labeled a 'problem child' and families stopped taking me home at all. I started lifting weights to bulk up so no one would pick on me anymore."
Sven reached a hand over to the young man's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. Justin smiled at his mate as he waited for the story to continue.
"When I turned eighteen I had to leave the place," Todd continued. "Funny how you can hate a place but desperately want to stay there, too. Weird."
"You knew no other home," Sven pointed out. "Where were you going to go?"
"I didn't know," the young man sighed. "I stayed on the streets for a month living off scraps like the other degenerates, until I saw a sign advertising work."
"Henry's sign?" Justin ventured.
"Warrior Series fighters wanted," Todd nodded. "I figured 'What the heck?' I didn't have any other skills. Just a high school diploma. That doesn't get you anything these days."
"What happened then?" Sven asked still rubbing the younger man's shoulder.
"I tried out and Henry liked me. He said I had a lot of power and could really be something if I survived the game."
"He said it just like that?" Justin frowned.
"Yeah."
"And you accepted?"
"I had nothing but an empty stomach," Todd said smiling wryly. "What else could I do? I signed and quickly learned to play to win. That was over four years ago. I never lost until Rio."
"She felt very badly for what she had done to you," Justin disclosed. "She had not felt remorse before that fight."
"Henry was trying to kill her before that match," Todd said looking up at him for the first time in a long while. "She and I never mixed it up before. Henry left her to the 'demolition crew' to be handled."
"He was not very observant of her abilities," Justin replied. "None of his fighters would have been successful even had we not trained her as well as we did."
"What do you mean?"
"Sven and I were present at each of her matches," he said. "We would have jumped in to protect her if it looked as if she could not manage it on her own."
"She knew that?"
"Not until a couple of months ago."
"She'd have died before allowing it," Todd said sadly. "She'd have felt she failed you. I'd have felt the same way if I was her."
"You will no longer feel any such thing," Justin said sternly. "I will have no more of this belief that we will be disappointed if you fail. You are our son now."
Todd's eyes widened in surprise and his cheeks blushed slightly.
"You ARE worthy," Justin answered the young man's unasked question. "As much as she. And she will also be told that she is our daughter. You two are never to feel abandoned again, do you understand?"
"That's going to take time," Todd said with gratitude written all over his face.
"We have plenty of that," Sven said with purpose.
--------------------------------------
Tara stretched into another exercise as the classical music hummed from Shannon's stereo system. He'd moved her directly into his house and told her not to venture outside until he got back from this week's trip. She knew it would be a while before he felt comfortable leaving her alone again, no doubt fearing she'd leave him, and she resolved to be as patient as possible. Her muscles moved smoothly along and she was pleased with her training. She pulled out of her final move when her cell phone rang insistently. Assuming it was Shannon checking up on her again, she gave her shoulder a final tug before answering.
"Hey!" she said happily into the phone.
"Tar?"
"Todd?" she squealed. "How are you? I've been dying to talk to you. When are you getting a phone?"
"Slow down," he laughed. "Phone's coming soon, I'm told. We just rolled into town this morning. The 'Dads' are preparing for a fight."
"They're nothing if not prepared," she smiled.
"They're worried about you," he went on soberly.
"They've seen me fight," she said. "They should know by now I'm not a pushover."
"It's not that," he replied. "They're worried you feel like you have to win just so you don't disappoint them. Justin was especially pissed that I felt that way, too."
"What do you mean?"
"They've been asking about our pasts."
"They never wanted to know before," she said nervously.
"They said they never asked because they were afraid you'd clam up on them," he explained. "They want to know now and they're not going to take no for an answer. Something about families needing to be close."
"Are they there now?"
"Sven is," Todd whispered sheepishly. "You know how motherly he can be."
"I heard that," the Scandinavian accent reached the phone making Tara laugh.
"Justin went out a while ago," Todd went on, laughter evident in his own voice. "When you coming by?"
"When Shannon gets back tomorrow, I guess," she said. "He gave me explicit instructions not to go outside until then."
"Okay, give us a call later then."
"I will. Bye, Todd."
She clicked the 'off' button and turned to go upstairs to take a shower when a hand caught her arm. She twisted to free herself when her assailant turned her towards him.
"Small one," he said gently.
"Justin!" she shrieked. "You HAVE to stop doing that."
He grinned in response pulling her into an embrace. "I thought you liked when I surprised you."
"It's different when you do it on the phone," she said wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
"I knew that Todd might warn you," he said pulling back to look down at her. "Big brothers are always so protective."
"Big in size maybe," she glowered, "but we're the same age."
"So you are," he smiled sitting down on the couch and looking around the room. "This is nice."
"Shannon's house," she said. "He told me to stay put."
"He is a smart man," Justin said patting the cushion beside him urging her to sit, which she did. "I needed to talk to you, baby."
"Why?"
"A conversation with Todd has led me to believe you have a distorted view of your place in our family."
"What'd he say?"
"He shed some light on his past and said you had grown up under similar conditions."
"I never hid my past from you," she said timidly. "You knew I was orphaned."
"It matters not," he said. "What troubles me is your belief that you have to prove yourself worthy to be my daughter."
Tara couldn't hide the shock she felt if she tried. She'd always tried to get close to him and Sven but never dared to dream she'd succeeded.
"Yes," he said reading her thoughts. "Sven and I both feel that way. You are our daughter and Todd is our son. We took you in because we wanted you. Not something from you. Just you."
"Why is this so important to you?"
"You are important to me," he said gently. "It troubles me to think I may have made you feel this way."
"It's not you," she said taking his hand. "It's the way I was raised."
"Well, it is a mistake."
"Ben's mother would disagree," she said sadly.
"Ben's mother is an ignorant, unhappy woman," he said unflinchingly. "I do not want to hear what she would think. You are our daughter. Ours. You have a place in our family. And Shannon would tell you that you also have a place in his life. There will be a change in your belief system and I do not care how long it takes me to do it."
Tara couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. She leaned forward and hugged him tightly again. "Thank you, Justin."
"Call me 'Dad', small one."
"Okay, Dad. But what do I call Sven?"
"'Mom', of course."
************************************
PLEASE NOTE: Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think.
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
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