Attrition: Dominic Reynolds vs. Xavier Oden

[Dominic Reynolds]

Dominic Reynolds vs. Xavier Oden

The talking stops, the insults stop, it's finally time to put up or shut up. For the past several weeks, we have seen Oden relentlessly antagonize and mock the impressive Dominic Reynolds. Reynolds has tried to take the high ground, but a man can only take so much before he must take matters into his own hands. Nobody can really for sure say what is going to happen, but I believe that when Reynolds finally gets his hands on Oden, there is going to be hell to pay.

[Xavier Oden]

The scene opens with Xavier, wearing his aviators checking out what can only be taken as a military site. Outdoors, green grass, men in brown and green camo rushing through a rather large wooden obstacle course. He seems far from thrilled to be there as the camera continues to follow him. He stops in front of guarding troops.

XKO:Xavier Oden

The two nod and let him pass into the building. Bright, white tile the usual for any marine unit. He walks down the hall seeing only one door at the very end of the hallway. Bunks next to him on both sides, all the same, neatly made. Xavier sneers looking around finally entering the room. There was just a table and chair, room was barely lit. The killer walked in and sat down, the camera still focused on him and his almost bored demeanor. Sitting back in the chair giving a light sigh, leaning his head back until the knock was heard at the door he just entered. Another member of the military was shown, stepping into the room and taking a seat across the killer.

??:Xavier..long time no see. How's the business?

XKO:It's good. I'm headlining the next pay per view. Not sure if you get television being in this shit hole though.

??:Hey! Watch it. Had to pull a few strings to even get you allowed on base to see me and you have the nerve to call it a shit hole? Your pops must be really proud. Here you taking shots at an american marine corps base.

XKO: Have you not been in with the family? Oh that's right i forgot some of us havn't paid any attention to the family business. Some of us decide we're better then the great Oden tradition of pure pro wrestling and run off to be a..what are you now Billy a lieutenant Oden?

Bill: It's Colonel Oden, pay some respect. I'm one of the highest branchs in the Marines and you will talk to me as such. Regardless of blood-

XKO:Blood never meant anything to you. Don't you bring up our family name like it means something now.

The blond rampager's cousin silences himself for a moment inhaling deeply then looking back up to the cocky star.

XKO:Eh it's fine. Never really cared about the Oden name, or atleast not after what happened with dad.

Bill:I've been at my duty to protect our country. I have been busting my ass, Xavier. to make sure that you can hop in a ring and do your little circus act. I'm risking my life, pushing my body to the edge so you can play fight on T.V. Your not coming into my home area and telling me that what i'm doing is wrong because it keeps me away from the family.

XKO:Your right your right, i'm not.

Xavier says trying to cool the angered military man. As his speech went on his voice rose with anger until Xavier managed to chime in to calm it.

XKO:Family issues are really not anywhere near the topic of discussion for today. I just might have an opportunity to show my true colors if you will.

Bill:you say that like it's a good thing.

XKO:IT IS! It..is a good thing. The fact that I get to put down that sorry dog named Domonic Reynolds. You all learn MMA here right? you all do some boxing around here for your physical training?

Bill: Yeah, were also fans of Reynolds. The guys simple and has class.

XKO:He doesn't belong..but that's not the point. The point is i'm guaranteeing to be the most talked about star at the company that night. The night the pay-per-view begins I will have made my impact known to everyone so violently and so clear. Unlike here in your little career, I control my destiny better then anyone. You have a system a casual way the government can push all of you through the system when your on that field and when one of you die they can stick another one of you right into that exact spot.

Bill: We are all brothers here, we are a single unit with a single mind. We are Unit. Corps. God. Country.

XKO:Yeah, I saw a Few Good Men. I remember the movie but the point is that. Your not one, you don't seek to surpass everyone else even though the motto is to be the best that you can be. right? The solid point is to be the best you can be for America which is to be the best you can be in a group. Now a nasty Oden trait is that we do not work well with others. Never have and probably never will which surprises me about why your doing so well here.

Bill: you came here to be little my job? Belittle my life?

XKO:No,no,no..your not getting it yet. See this is about me. This is so far from about you it's not even funny. See it's people like you and THY that forget who is amazing. It's me. Dad noticed that and put me in the spotlight, uncle rick sent you off to military school cause you couldn't cut it.

Bill: Xavier i'm getting sick of these shots I don'-

XKO:Again this is not about you, this is about me. This video is for me to use. It's purpose is to let Dominic understand how I am. This is to let him know my state of mind. I'm praying he gets that I out of anyone is more then ready for him. I've tormented this guy for..the last month..two months. He's finally noticed me. I feel recognized but I had to go somewhere he wouldn't think I would go. To family Bill, I'm coming to family. For Dominic and the world i'm showing my true colors here.

Bill: Really? What that your a dick to the only people willing to be related to you?

Xavier lets go of his normal anger instead now being over taken by sadness. A look of depression fills his expression. Bill seems only confused.

XKO:Okay, you see through me I guess. I just, I need family right now man.

Bill:Why Xavier?What's wrong?

XKO:He's going to get me.

Bill: What?

XKO:Reynolds, i'm going to step in that ring and he's going to try and fucking kill me. I don't know what to do. I messed up dad a long time ago, mom's dead...

Xavier covers his eyes with his right hand as if to block out the light. A small whimper can be heard.

XKO:Everytime I try to lean on someone, they hurt me or leave and I have to hurt them. Now I've gone too far with Reynolds. He's going to fucking kill me. So I don't know what to do Bill. I'm just scared. I havn't been this terrified of a human being before. I need someone who can help me and trust me if a marine can't I don't know what will.

Xavier places his hand down showing his slightly red eyes where tears were being hidden.

XKO:Bill, please. I'm a very proud man and yet here we are. You just have to come to the arena with me tonight and at the pay per view. Make sure Reynolds stays in control and doesn't try to snap my ankle.

Bill: How under his skin could you have gotten?

XKO:I've messed with him costing him match after match, He has seen me heckle him on national television on more then one occasion. He just didn't deserve the spotlight..I did. I'm asking you as an Oden. Help me?

Xavier was never one for asking for help, yet here he was pleading for it.

Bill:Fine, i'll join you for your two appearances. However, your going to give the military a plug at your show.

Xho:Wha-deal.

He agreed as the two men of the same blood joined hand to forearm,hand to forearm for a shake. The scene shifts. Now the two cousins are walking into the ring at a THYWWE house show.

XKO:Greetings everyone.

Xavier rolls into the ring a large smile on his face.

XKO:I'm here to send Dominic a very important message.

Xavier looks back at Bill as the two nod smiling. Xavier goes to speak in the mic when he instead brings into the air and hits an XKO on his very own military cousin. The crowd goes silent. Xavier glares down his fallen relative. Looking at him with pure disgust.

XKO:Reynolds. I'm here to tell you at Attrition, your not going to win. I'm not afraid of you. Most importantly I don't need anyone to help me take care of you. Not someone from the back, not a bodyguard,not a bounty hunter, not one of your old rivals and sure as hell not some piece of trash relative of mine that lasses up his boots to fight a war he can't win.

Xavier glares down at him again seeing his cousin crawling to get to his feet, barely off a knee.

XKO:YOU WANT A WAR ON TERROR?

Oden bounces off the ropes nailing his own blood in the skull.

XKO:I am the only terror around here. He now knows that and at attrition so will you Reynolds.

Xavier goes to leave the ring then stops.

XKO:Oh yeah..FUCK THE MARINES!

Xavier spits on his cousins face, showing no respect for his own family much less his opponent at the pay per view.

[Dominic Reynolds]

“Dom you need to get your head in the game”

“Dom, you deserve much better than this”

“Dom, pull your head out of your ass and focus for a minute”

ENOUGH!

Why is it that every person in my life thinks that they are entitled to tell me how to live? Why do they think they are entitled to tell me how to think? Why do they think they have any right to tell me what is, or isn’t good for my family? It’s bad enough that I’ve got the IRS breathing down my neck, threatening to seize my house and put my family out on the street, but now this on top of all else. A lesser man would have been pushed to the point of a nervous breakdown by now. But I don’t get to take that easy route; I don’t get the same luxuries that others do. What was it that you told me pops? “A man isn’t a man unless he gets himself out of the same positions that he puts himself in”.

Did I do all of this to myself? I thought that I was doing good, I really did. Going into boxing, winning fight after fight….winning the title and having those wars with Leary, signing with Thy after learning of Pops condition

But maybe I was mistaken….

Maybe it really is my fault…

---

I would always feel better after a workout at the gym, there’s an exhilaration that happens after pushing my body past its absolute breaking point. Tonight was no exception, sitting down in the dimly lit locker room at our gym, despite having a towel on my head, I was sitting down on a bench, panting heavily and opening my eyes just enough to see the pool of sweat forming at my feet. In a few short hours I would have to get on a plane and head to the arena for the pay-per-view, where I would finally get my hands on Xavier Oden. But those six hours from now, seemed almost like a lifetime, while right now, my mind was still in a euphoric state. Hearing the door to the locker room open, I heard heavy steps approach me and felt a stern hand be placed on my shoulder. The hand felt so familiar, could it be?

Dominic Reynolds: Pops?

Voice: Snap out of it Dom.

What?

Pulling the towel off of my head, I see Austin standing above me.

Dominic Reynolds: Austin, what are you doing here man?

Austin Starr: We have matters to discuss Dominic.

[/i]

Wondering what my friend is talking about, I stand up and motion for Austin to follow me as I navigate back towards the offices. Sitting down in one of the swivel chairs, I see Austin help himself to a bottle of water in the refrigerator before sitting down himself.

Austin Starr: I am going to be brief Dominic, I came to find you personally because I am concerned. The moment I convinced you to sign with us, I knew firsthand what you were capable of. I knew firsthand the things you could do, how quickly you could rise up the ladder. But lately, you have not been applying yourself Dom. The raw aggression and passion that I first seen in your eyes when I seen you fight in Vegas, it seems to have been replaced with a complacent laziness. What is the matter with you man?[/i]

Austin’s words cut deep, but he was spot on accurate. Lately, with everything that has been going on, I haven’t been applying myself as much as I could be…or should be for that matter. I find myself only able to stare back meekly at Austin as he continues to verbally chastise me.

Austin Starr: Do you realize what is being said? Do you realize what you are getting yourself into? For the past several weeks, Oden has done anything and everything he can to get under your skin…and you’ve let him Dom. You have let him dissect everything you are and everything you stand for, without saying much of anything back to him. Other then the brawl the two of you got into, you’ve done nothing. Are you afraid of this match Dominic? Was I wrong to give you the opportunity that I gave you? Have you gone soft?

Literally the moment the words escaped from Austin’s mouth, I felt myself pushing out of my chair, grabbing Austin, pulling up and pushing him back against the wall so hard that a picture of me and Ronnie when we were kids fell to the floor. Breathing heavily, I see Austin show no signs of intimidation. Instead, I see a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face.

Austin Starr: Look at how angry you are Dom, look at how fired up you are. Where has all this been? Where has all of this passion been Dominic? This is what I wanted to see, this is what I knew you had in you. The question I wanna know is, where has it been?[/i]

What would Austin know about dealing with torment? What would Austin know about the struggles that have been hounding me non-stop for what seems like an eternity? Letting him go, I step back as he adjusts himself.

Dominic Reynolds: Austin, I told you from day one that I appreciate the opportunity you gave me when you convinced me to sign here. But don’t come into my gym, and try to talk to me like you know what is going on. Don’t try and talk to me like you have any idea what it is like to struggle, to have your decisions be consistently mocked and ridiculed. Don’t try and act like you hav-

Austin Starr: Listen to me Dominic, I didn’t just persuade you to sign with Thy because of your impressive boxing background. I see a lot of myself in you Dominic, the same emotional baggage that drove me to the brink of insanity…I see you lugging it around Dom and it is doing nothing for you except limiting your true potential. For years Dominic, I continuously obsessed over decisions I had made and actions I regretted. It nearly tore me up inside Dominic, I wasn’t able to let go until my final match here had concluded. It wasn’t until I was being carted out of the arena on a damn stretcher that I realized that it really was okay for me to let go.

I believe him, the near tears in his eyes, the heart in his voice. Maybe he does know what it’s like, maybe I can open up to him.

Dominic Reynolds: I apologize man, it’s just tha-

Austin Starr: Spare me the apologies, spare me the self-loathing martyr bit Dominic. I’ve seen it and I’ve heard it too many times to count. Just fix it, that’s the only thing I’m going to say to you. Just as quick as I gave you this opportunity, I can also make it go away just as quick. [/b]

Dominic Reynolds: Are you threatening me Austin?

Austin Starr: Take it how you will Dom, but in the end, it’s just business.

Watching Austin brush by me and excuse himself from the office, I step back for a moment and feel the same anger from before coming over me. Looking at a full body mirror, I punch the mirror with all of my might and as the glass shatters and I watch the hot blood come from where I just cut my hand, I close my eyes for a moment and feel my mind begin to wander to a different time.

---

Growing up with autism made learning for me quite challenging in school. I remember always seeing the teacher in the front of the classroom trying to apply the material. Her notes on the board, the things that she was saying. It was like, my mind wanted to grasp it, my mind wanted to retain it…but It was always so frustrating because I just couldn’t. It always felt so close, but yet so far at the same time. I tried talking to my dad, I tried talking to people at school and kept getting told the same thing. How I just need to try harder, how I just need to apply myself better and then I will be able to learn this stuff. At first it upset me quite deeply, but then I decided to just give it my best shot. It took weeks of me spending hours just staring at the pages, but then finally it started getting different. Finally I felt myself retaining the knowledge, it was gratifying to finally be able to learn. The day I finally stood up and class and volunteered several answers to questions that were being asked was empowering for me.

However my happiness would be short lived. Not to long after that I had gotten permission to go to the restroom. After finishing up and washing my hands, I heard the door open and looking over I seen Joey come in. For years Joey has played the role of my tormentor and bully, making school life an absolute hell for me. I am nearing my breaking point with him, but for now I haven’t found the courage to actually confront him.

Joey: Ay dummy, why you trying to show off in class dummy. Bet the dummy thinks he is all smart now, answering a couple of the teachers’ questions huh. Guess what dummy, you’re not. You’re just a big dummy, always were and always gonna be.

I never gave Joey the satisfaction of responding to his verbal harassment, there were several occurrences where I would get punched in the stomach or worse. But I still held my resolve, trying to do that today though, it looks like he isn’t going to let me go so easily.

Joey: Does the big dummy wanna go back to teacher? Huh you big dummy.

I feel the sting instantly as Joey smacks me across the face, frustration turns to anger, but all I can do is shake and stare at him as the tears well up in my eyes. He smacks me a second time, and then I reach forward to try and push him away. But as my arms extended forward, he shoved me backwards with all of his strength. Losing my balance, I remember my head smacking into a mirror, hearing a cracking sound and feeling a warm blackness come over me. The last thing that I can recall before the thud came that day was the same sound of the glass shattering as it hit the ground.

---

This wasn’t the first time that I have watched my blood get drawn from my body. This wasn’t the first time that I have been injured and it likely won’t be the last. Austin is now long gone, but the impact of his words still stung deep. My hand hurts a lot, but I can already feel the wound begin to cauterize. I’ll go to the hospital later, but now, I need to see this. Looking over at the big screen, I remember the tape that is still in there that Ronnie was trying to get me to watch. Getting the remote out the desk, I click the big screen on and watch the press conference that Oden held with Leary. I actually had a respect for Leary before this, but that is done. He really thinks that I was ducking a third fight with him to come sign with Thy.

God you have a big mouth Oden. Suddenly losing my patience, I turn the screen off and walk back over to the now shattered remains of the mirror.

Dominic Reynolds: The time is at hand Xavier. The moment that I have been waiting seven long weeks for, since I have made my debut here in Thy WWE, you have done nothing but go out of your way to make my life a living hell. You have attacked my career, you have attacked my personal life, you have done anything and everything to try and illicit some kind of reaction from me. But you have gotten none.

Until now.

Xavier you have tried so hard to ridicule my career, but let’s take a step back and look at yours for a moment. When you first showed up here Oden, you were labeled as the next big thing. You were set to be a superstar, you were going out and winning matches; really making a name for yourself. But then what happened next Xavier? Do you remember? Because I do, you turned your back on this company, you spat in the face of everyone who decided to give you a shot and you walked away. Giving some half hearted excuse Xavier, you walked away. So please tell me something, where do you come off having any right trying to question my character or my resolve switching from boxing to wrestling, when you my friend are completely devoid of character yourself?

Since returning Xavier, you have done nothing with yourself except float around in obscurity. Did you see me as a meal ticket Xavier? Did you see me as a means to jump start your already stalled career? Is that the real reason Oden that you have tried so hard to bring negative attention to me, is that the real reason why you have been trying so hard to make things miserable Xavier?

I think it is.

Oden, you’re pathetic. Rather than look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you screwed things up for yourself, you decided to try and take the easy way out. You decided to try and make me out to be the bad guy. Hate to break it to you though Xavier, but I saw right through your little charade from the beginning and that is why you never got a response from me until right now. It simply wasn’t worth it Xavier.

Let me tell you what is going to happen, I’m going to walk out to the ring at Attrition. I’m going to take personal gratification in knocking your teeth down your throat and getting my hand raised in victory. But it won’t change a damn thing, you are still going to be the same self serving, pretentious hypocrite that you always have been.

So let’s just get this over with Xavier.

I’m done with you.[/i][/center]

(Apologies for the lateness Oden, our build wasn't as good as it could have been, but this is still gonna be sweet.