A much needed talk
Mile High Stadium...
Steed (bundled up): *looks around*-So far things are looking good here. How ya doing at your post Red?
Ash (bundled up as well) chuckled at the nickname from her spot, looking over the screen. Both had been in patrolling the area, recently hearing the word that Tua (another friend) had join their ranks as a Guardian.
Ash: All is good on my end...*shivers* Yeesh, freezing here.
Steed: Yeah, heading into a cold snap here in the state...*thinks* Think we are good here. How about we head in and warm up, last thing i want is you getting sick.
Ash: *Smiles* That's a good idea. Know a good spot?
.
.
Steed: *opens door* Watch your step.
Ash walked in , in awe seeing the large furnished space.
Ash: *awe* Whoa, whose place is this?
Steed: *chuckles* Mine. All us have an office in the stadiums, gotta have someplace to work and stay on the busy days.
Ash smiled as Steed turned.
Steed: I'll let RZ and the others know we got the all clear, check on the team too. BRB.
With that Steed left Ash alone as she looked around.
Ash: Gotta say, this is a nice place..*spots something*, hmm?
She went over, seeing frames on the wall. Looking them over, she saw what she was looking for...it was an article.
Ash: That's a bit after Peyton Manning joined the team..*reads* Mentions his surgery, his blitzing...
SHE COULD FEEL HER HEART SINK.
Ash:..."Hasn't been himself since 2007 when we lost Darrent Williams and Damien Nash". H-He wasn't himself?
Ash mulled over what she read in her head.
...
STEED; he did look gloomy even when he smiled whenever she came in, before the whole Sudden Death ordeal. Sometimes she would over hear conversations, one of them being that Steed had been "out training again" or "worried he's running himself ragged".
Then, he got blitzed. Was hit from behind and the rest is history right...NO. He did not get better, in fact he got worse emotional wise.
Did he feel he couldn't protect everyone, not even himself? Did he feel he was the problem? Did he feel that he-he was powerless?
...Of course he did. How could he, he lost two players from a tragic situation. He put his all training to get stronger, to make sure he didn't lose anyone again, to not let history repeat...Only to be force into the one thing he wanted to stop. HE WAS USED. SUDDEN DEATH USED HIM.
And when he was freed with the others, he felt worse. That avalanche attack happened months later and he was then faced with Blitzbots again, only that time he had the module from the destoried Blitzbot attacking him from the inside.
..Why did she have a horrible feeling something else happened before the surgery, after Steed and the others got back? Why did she have the feeling Steed felt horrible on all that happened?
...WHY DID SHE HAVE THE FEELING HE WAS READY TO GIVE UP?
..
Steed: *walks back in* Alrighty! All is good now, so how ab-
Steed smile fell fast as soon as he saw Ash kneeling and holding a frame, tears falling down her face.
Steed: *speeds over;Concern* ASH! ASH?! ARE YOU OKAY!?
Ash looked up fast seeing the Bronco Rusher, wiping her eyes fast. Steed looked down at the frame, seeing it was a new article..he immediately put two-n-two together fast.
Steed: *sorrow;ears fall* Ash...
Ash: -raspy breath- Sorry just...Ish told me about your surgery and, well, thought about the last events you gone t-
Steed: I'm sorry.
Ash eyes widen, seeing Steed shuffle in place.
Steed: Yo-You probably have alot to ask and Ish and Tua got things handle in New York so, mind if we talk.
.
Ash: I had no idea you were badly affected from what happened in 2007.
Steed nodded, both sitting on the coach as the games played on the screens.
Steed: Yeah, didn't blame myself but apart of me wanted to make sure i..just did something. I thought i had it under control, AND THEN THAT HAPPENED.
Ash saw Steed flinched mentioning that fateful day.
Steed: Just...as soon as i was freed and saw where I was, not to mention the snippet on those words; I just shut down. I felt that no matter what, there was nothing I could do. Wasn't dull eyed during that so-
Ash: *fear* DULL EYES?
Steed eyes shrank a bit, but he gulped nodding.
Steed: Don't hide from Ish not gonna hide from you...Yeah. See, there's this..thing we Rusherz have. Whenever we get beyond the anger limit our eyes turned red and we go ballistic. But...w-when our eyes go dull, it's a sign of hopelessness...*Shaking* A-And if it's completely lifeless...
Steed trailed off at that, Ash seeing he was pale despite the white fur...it clicked in fast as she gasped.
Ash: *horror* Oh my gosh. T-That's-
Steed: *nods* WHEN A RUSHER GIVES UP. Can succumb to injures and/or illnesses fast like that; Scavs, -sighs- Shards Scavenger, he was there thank goodness for Pick-Ax. I was..heading there when-when Cyclops stepped in. He felt extremely bad at what he said, but he was in a panic with all that was going on...will say that was a wake up call for me with me and Cyclops talk before i was put under the knife.
Ash heart broke hearing this new information...but, she also felt relieved knowing that the others stepped in and saved them.
Steed: Manage to recover as you heard, but this time I had a new view with everything that happened. *Small smile* Everyone told be they noticed I was getting back to my old self, I had no idea that was noticeable. No idea I was acting off till I was told. Healed up, Peyton came and Stallion was beaming that I got a good player on the team...*ears fall* Sorry for bringing down the mood Ash. N-Not something easy to talk ab-
Ash: *fast* No no! I-I'm glad you told me, it was something you needed to talk about to someone I-*calms herself* I was, really worried when Ish told me what happened...besides, I know exactly how you felt during all that.
Steed looked up, his small smile warming.
Steed: I-I had a feeling you would. I-I know during your first training, you lost your mother from that fire.
Ash: Yeah, I acted rash and ended up in a roller coaster of events. I'm doing better now, and I'm lucky that I have my dad and my friends.
Steed's smile grew, Ash placing a hand on his shoulder as she smiled.
Ash: You got the team and your friends by your side too, me included. *Steed's eyes widen a bit* You ever need someone on lend a ear too when the others aren't available, you just call me okay. I might not be able to solve everything, but I'm ready to listen to anything you need to get off your chest. Don't be afraid to talk about it with me, I'm your friend and I'll do whatever I can to help.
...Steed's eyes filled with tears, blinking as his smile fully grew and his tears fell. He hugged Ash, surprising her, but she hugged back with a smile.
Steed: Thanks Ash I-I needed this.
Ash: Any time.
Later; New York City, Metlife Stadium...
Soar: So, all good on your locations you two.
Ash and Troy nodded, the two having reunited with Ish and happy to see Tua had join them.
Troy: Oh yeah, all is calm in Detroit.
Ish: Good.
Tua: *to Ash* And what about your location?
Ash: Was in Denver, everything went well. Me and Steed just chill in his office and just talked.
All: Talks?
Soar: What'cha talked about?
Ash gave a warm smile at that.
Ash: Let's just say..it was a much needed conversation.
Meanwhile HOK...
Cyclops sighed as he stepped out of the portal, shaking the remains of the light snowfall that Tennessee was getting. He smirked as he took off his coat.
Cyclops: Hope the Jaguars and Spot like the fact it's going to be sun-shining next game there.
He walked to the coat hanger placing his coat on before heading further in whistling. He soon felt the warmth of the quarters as he walked in, smiling seeing Steed watching the fireplace.
Cyclops: Hey Steed, patrol went well?
Steed looked over seeing the Titian Rusher...he slowly smiled as he went over and hugged him.
Steed: Yeah, Ash and I had a much needed talk and...thank you.
Cyclops was surprised at first, but his smile warmed in realization as he hugged back. Cyclops took a raspy breath as a tear fell.
Cyclops: Just...happy your feeling better.
Steed: Happy to be feeling better.
Steed had to thank Ash again when she got back, but for now...he needed this.
THE
END