Six years ago
A.J. looked out over the Shinano River, sighing at the cool breeze. He enjoyed the quieter times of the day, when Wells and Frannie weren't fighting or trying to molest him. Being able to just walk around for a few alone, meant more than he realized.
Shaking his head, A.J. looked up as Shinsuke walked into the sitting room. "Hey Shin, you look exhausted."
"No more than you, if you stopped to look and see." Shinsuke gave him a quick once over, dark gaze narrowed in angry concentration. "These games they play, why do you continue knowing they would harm you?"
"We have no other sponsor's here Shin, Wells has done good so far hasn't he?" A.J. looked away from the knowing gaze, aware of the bruises on his arms and chest. Wellington had been extremely brutal last night, more so than usual and instead of letting Fran take it all, A.J. had tried to help. "I-I mean we've been moving up in rankings a-and..."
"I do not care for rankings I do care for the safety of my friend. What he is doing to you is not acceptable. You can not stay here any longer and believe you are safe, Allen." Shinsuke sat down across from A.J., a frown curving his lips down. "Tanahashi said that the WWE is looking for us again. We have the chance to leave and go home, to be as big in America as we are here. If we meet Shane or Hunter again..."
"They weren't to impressed by me last time Shin, well maybe McMahon but that was only because of his dad! N-not because..." A.J. broke off, he remembered the proposition Vince had offered him as well as the reaction from the other when he'd turned Vince down. "I'd have been trading one rich boy for another and who knows, he may have been worse."
"That is not possible, we saw how he treats his partners. You are just being stubborn." Shinsuke shook his head as he reached for a glass and the juice pitcher. "Andres will be here later this afternoon, I will speak with him about the opportunity."
"No, for the love of god don't tell Dre..." A.J. started but was interrupted by his friends voice.
"Don' tell Dre what?"
Whipping around in surprise, A.J. looked between Dre and Shin. Eyes narrowing in warning, he frowned at the two men. "Fuck this, what the hell is going on, you knew he was coming this early?"
"Yes, I was the one who asked him to." At A.J.'s angry glare, Shinsuke let out a tired sigh. "Tanahashi is worried about our safety. He said the rumors surrounding Wellington are not pleasant ones. Look at you Allen, there is some truth to what Hiroshi is saying." Voice soft, Shinsuke gave A.J. a slow once over. "This is no longer a benefit to either you or I."
Looking down at his plate, A.J. knew his friends could see the bruising under his shirt, knew they were worried about him and what was going on. "I-it's not as if..."
"He means it ti frè,(little brother) if he didn't then he wouldn't put his hands on you in such a rough way."
A.J. knew all of this, had heard it more than once and still he'd stayed with Wells and Frannie. "Where would we go guys, I mean seriously? There's no one here that wouldn't help Wells find us if we left."
"Then we make sure they know as much as he does."
A.J. looked up at the soft, accented voice. "Sadie?"
"I heard that there were two future WWE stars having breakfast with my baby brother. So I decided to get up, get dressed, and bring my son to see if you could use some help along the way."
A.J. stared at the red head in front of him, eyes wide in surprise as she sat down next to Dre. "What are you doing here Sadie? I-I mean Clay and Dre I understand but you?"
"Clayton is in some trouble at school, a friend has offered to help me with this if I can help them get you and Shinsuke back to America. However I understand there is an issue?" She glanced over at her brother then Shinsuke before turning her gray green gaze back to A.J. "You are being held here with false promises. Beaureaguard Wellington III is not well liked among his colleagues. His father has started pulling out of his own son's businesses which means his only cash flow..."
"Comes from Shin and me." A.J. said softly.
"When was the last time you or Shin were paid and I mean with cash not a check that you are to busy to cash."
A.J. studied Sadie's expression, could see the strain she was under and wondered who had sent her. Shaking his head, he sighed, face heating at her knowing look. "Ok so I've been exchanging favors to make sure we eat and have a place to stay. It's not so bad, really! Shin is safe and so am I, you guys know where we are at all times and..."
"And still, you are not happy."
A.J. turned to Shinsuke and realized just what he'd been putting his friend through. They had met back in America, the Japanese group on a visit to the States at the time. A.J. and Shinsuke had hit it off instantly and were billed as rivals then friends when both groups merged. They had been out celebrating one night when they'd met Wells. "What does Tanahashi have to say about this?"
"He is for anything that would free us from the debt we no longer owe."
A.J. frowned, aware that Shinsuke was right. They'd paid off the money they owed Wells a long time ago. Looking between Sadie and Dre, he frowned. "Wait, what's going on with Clay, I thought he was at school?"
"There is a situation between him and a fellow classmate. They are threatening to expel him for defending his partner and himself."
A.J. bit back a laugh of surprise as he looked over at Dre. He could see his friend trying not to preen in pride about his nephew, while struggling to hide it from his sister. "Jesus, well ok, is he going to be alright?"
"Yes and we will worry about it later. Right now I have been asked to help get you home."
A.J. watched as Sadie looked around the room, knew she'd seen them in better places and sighed. "Yeah, well, ok I guess we can talk to them. See what they're wanting to offer us?" At his friends nods, he sighed. How was he going to tell Wells and Frannie about his plans? Would they be excited or would Wells throw one of his many spectacular fits?
"Do not worry over this right now. Come, we will take you and Shinsuke to breakfast. I find that I have a desire to speak with Tanahashi as well."
A.J. glanced up at the pair standing over him. Nodding, he stood up and followed the trio out of the room. Glancing back, he frowned as a shadow moved past the window. "Fran?" When he received no response, A.J. shook his head for being so paranoid and closed the door. He hadn't seen the worried expression on Fran's face nor did he see the angry one on Wells' either. His only concern at the time was figuring out how to get him and his friend out of the mess they were currently in.
They went to breakfast at one of his favorite places then went to visit his nephew. Looking around the at the trees surrounding the hotel, A.J. grinned. "You know, I really love these trees."
"Sakura's are meant as symbols of hope and humility. They were admired by samurai's due to their short life span."
Chuckling softly, A.J. turned to see a tall, sandy haired young man walking towards them. He grinned at the smile he was given, shaking his head at his nephew as he jogged over to greet them.
"Uncle Allen!"
"Hey Clay!" A.J. hugged him, relieved to see is only nephew. "Jesus look at you, what are you eighteen, nineteen now?" He grinned at the offended look that crossed the smooth, caramel face.
"No, I am sixteen Uncle Allen, if you remembered my birthday you would know all of this!"
A.J. laughed, along with Dre and Shin who were standing behind him. Turning to Sadie, A.J. frowned. "What's on your mind Sai?"
"It is nothing, just a trivial matter that needs a certain type to handle."
A.J.'s brow furrowed in confusion as he looked between mother and son. Frown deepening, A.J. studied Clay closer. "Trouble in school I hear?"
"These frat guys tried to attack Alex, I stepped in to show them how wrong it would be to do so."
A.J. tried to hold in his laughter at the angry look on Clay's face and the exasperated one on Sadie's. "What, uh, wh-what did Juls have to say? I'm sure she wasn't to happy." At Clay's flush and Sadie's drawn out sigh, he knew the answer. "Ok, well, damn Clay you can't go around beating asshole's up just because you feel like it. Even if you feel like they deserve it you can't just..."
"They were going to hurt Alex! I had to make sure they couldn't! Even Al got suspended for protecting his own brother and he's already in the frat!"
A.J. frowned as he looked from Clay to Sadie then back. "Then I understand but still, you know there's way's to handle that shit and that wasn't the way, right then." At the belligerent look on his nephews face, A.J. Grinned. "Did you at least win?"
"Broke his nose and two ribs!"
A.J. couldn't hold in the laugh that left him as he watched the grin that curved Clay's lips. Glancing over at Sadie, he could see she was truly worried about her son. "Ok, stop, wait." A.J. chuckled, struggling to get his laughter under control. At the look on Clay's face, he grinned. "No, seriously, listen Clay you've got your mother worried sick about this, ok? It's funny to us but to her, to her it's not." He saw the look that crossed Clay's face, knew he was thinking about what Sadie's been through. "Clay?"
"Yeah, ok, well I guess I wasn't thinking about it like that. I just didn't want Alex to get hurt! I wasn't trying to get suspended Uncle Allen, honestly! I was just trying to get them to leave him alone. J.D. shouldn't have rushed me or Al, the jack ass."
A.J. bit back a grin, hiding it behind a soft sigh as he thought about his situation compared to his nephew's. "Well, sometimes we have to think about everyone else in the situation, not just ourselves." He hugged Clay, shaking his head at the sad face. "You did the right thing though, don't you ever doubt that." A.J. whispered to Clay, grinning as he was hugged tighter.
"Thanks Uncle Allen, I really appreciate that."
A.J. slowly pulled away from Clay, turning to look at Sadie. "It wasn't a coincidence you and Dre just so happen to be here with Clay, is it? Who sent you here after us Sadie?"
"Juls and I have a vested interest in yours and Shin's future." Sadie sighed, gray green eyes looking from A.J. to Shin. "There is another reason I am here. There is a mutual party who wishes for you to join the rooster of WWE. I am aware of what your contracts offer, simply because I refused to come if I wasn't told."
"You and Juls have a mutual party, get the fuck out of here Sadie. Which one of the McMahons did you two threaten to..."
"Wyatt is Juls' best friend, do not think that because we frequent the same social circles that we would bow to pressure from them. Juls and I are quite capable of forming contacts without having to always do so behind the scenes. Threatening someone powerful does not always reap the same results it would a weak person."
A.J. frowned at Sadie, shaking his head before turning to Shinsuke, who looked confused by the conversation. Turning back to Sadie, A.J. studied the blank face in front of him. "Let me get this straight. Wyatt, who can't fucking stand me, has some pull with the WWE in order to get us contracts back to the States? You two didn't go to the McMahons and threaten them into giving us contracts?"
"It is not always necessary for us to assist the family. Your talent has gotten you recognized more than once by the company, it is your own stubbornness that has kept you from signing the contracts. Again, I am here because of the interest of a mutual party who is not Vincent McMahon."
A.J. sighed, relief and something else, something close to disappointment racing through him. "Yeah, well, I know you and Stephanie are friends and I've met Shane but it's been years since I've seen either of them so why would they still..."
"Vince's choice of introduction last time was a poor one. A decision that has haunted him for a long time from a number of disgruntled people in the company. Wyatt may not be one of your biggest fans but he does recognize your talent."
A.J. sank down to the grass beneath him. Glancing up at Shinsuke, he frowned as he lifted his sun glasses. "You've known for how long?"
"Tanahashi approached me about it two weeks ago. I was not aware of the information. Wellington was given the contracts three months prior."
A.J. blinked, turning to look at Dre and Sadie. "They sent you to find out why they hadn't heard from us, didn't they?" He watched as Sadie sat down next to him, Dre slowly following her. "Why didn't you just call? I could have told you..."
"You have not been answering my calls Allen. I have been trying to reach you both for the past two months. Dre had to come out to find you and Shin, why else would he be here? If someone from the family disappears I tend to worry about something bad having happened to them. This man, Wellington, he is no good for you frè. One who would alienate you from those who love you and wish to protect you is not someone I can leave in your life. Juls has understood how things are for us, you are my family, both you and Shin are two of Clayton's godfather's. It is not out of character for me to come find out and see for myself how you are doing."
A.J. couldn't look at her, knowing she was right. "Wells took my phone, said it was distracting me from my matches. You know I love you guys, seriously but things..."
"We know how things are here frè, we see how the fuck this...this salo treats you and Nakamura. It does not sit well with any of us. Come home frè, to the people who are truly fanmi...moun yo renmen(family...loved ones). We can help you Jones, you know Sai and Juls will do whatever it takes and I will make sure you aren't hurt anymore. You and Shin are no longer safe with this fatra estipid nan lavi!(idiotic waste of life!)"
A.J. looked from Dre to Shin, he hadn't realized that the weight he thought he carried alone was being carried through his family as well. "If you can get us the contracts we'll sign them." He didn't think about the decision. It had already been made with Sadie and Dre's appearance. Looking up at the teen above him, A.J. realized he was doing the right thing. Wells and Frannie wouldn't see it that way but he did and that's what mattered most. "Maybe leaving wouldn't be such a bad thing."
"No, maybe leaving is the best thing we have done in a long time."
A.J. grinned at Shinsuke, shaking his head as Sadie leaned over and hugged him. He would admit to feeling better about his future. The games Wellington insisted on playing now were more sexually violent and it was beginning to scare him. Glancing over at Clay, he watched his nephew, wondering just who this other man was in his life. And if this man really cared for Clay why is he not making the effort to help him? Was the other man abusing Clay like Wells was him? Frowning in angry concentration, A.J tried to figure out how serious the situation was for his nephew.
"Ou panse byen lwen nan anpil, nou nenm ti frè."(You think far to much, little brother.)
A.J. looked up at the woman studying him. "You two knew he was bad news, tried to tell me and I wouldn't listen."
"That is not why I am here, however. We wish for you to come home, back to fanmi, back to where you are safest."
"You guys can't protect me my entire life, Sai. I mean seriously, ever since the accident, I've been taking care of myself pretty damn well." A.J. tried not to glare at her. He knew deep down that she was simply trying to help but it didn't exactly feel that way. "Don't think you can force..."
"I am not here to force you to do anything, I wish for you to come home! There is no type of manipulation or demands! I simply wish to see you and Shinsuke safe, why is that so bad to you?!"
"You know why! You know why because it's never changed, I just can't say no to you! That's why Juls let you come to Japan, isn't it? There isn't anything wrong with Clay and school, is there? Who the fuck ever wants us in the company knows you well enough to know that you're the only one..."
"Enough!"
A.J. blinked at the tone, surprise making him go silent. "Sadie..."
"I am here because the company wants you, not because I have influence over you. If I had that much power over you then you would not still be here and with that...that..."
"Salo."
A.J. glared at Dre, a grin threatening to curve his lips. "Look, ok fuck fine! I'm sorry, it's just after everything with Wells..."
"I would never interfere unless needed, you know this. Wellington is no good for you frè. Come home, you and Shinsuke are welcome until you decide what you wish to do. Stay here at the hotel, whatever you don't need, leave and bring the rest."
A.J. nodded, glancing over at Shinsuke to gauge his reaction. He could see his friend agreed with the decision, the small smile he gave him returned by his friend. Glancing up at a group of people, A.J. Stiffened at the man across the street watching them. "Wells is watching us, he'll know something's going on with you two being here."
"Then you will stay here with us and let Dre deal with him. That way you can eat and get some rest."
A.J. glanced back at the scowling man, a shiver moving down his spine at the malicious grin that curved his lips. Dre and Sadie were right, he and Shin were no longer safe with Wells and Fran anymore.
"That would be better than dealing with another night of...games."
A.J. turned at Shinsuke's soft tone. "Yeah, let's do that. We can celebrate becoming WWE Superstars."
They celebrated by going to the club, A.J., having hit it off with one of the dancers there, ended up going back to her place and was picked up the next morning by Dre. He hadn't known that the young lady he'd spent the night with had gotten pregnant, had never expected to be a father at such a young age but he'd stepped up to his responsibilities as a father. He'd explained the situation to her, set up an account for her and the baby and made sure to do his best to be there when he was needed. Despite having had to run from Wellington, he'd finally made it to the WWE and once there, he never looked back.