.{{Screen shot of Arkin running down a busy, bustling street during, mid-afternoon.}}


My name is Arkin Blackwater and even though you might not know me, personally... you may know of me. See, I am the son of Donovan Blackwater and Abigail Monroe (R.I.P Momma - there isn't a moment, I don't miss you), both wrestlers from a company called: XWF. I also happen to be the grandson of Azrael Erebus.... a straight up, legend in XWF. So it's safe to say, I have big shoulders to live up to the expectations towards. Now, this may not seem like much to you; individually, given your stance on my relatives but to me, it sure darn feels that way. But I'm not like them, I'm not cool, confident or self assured. In fact, I feel pretty much the opposite... like all of the time. To make matters worse, my entire family and their friends, are just like badass and awesome.


Where the heck does that leave me?


I tell you where it doesn't, not getting chased by bullies. Which is literally what happens - everyday, after I go to my tutor's house. Yeah, I don't go to school, I have to have a special tutor that understands, I will age 2 years, every three months. Imagine that. Go to sleep and wake up with the knowledge and understanding of two years, advanced your previous age. Till your twenty three. For some reason, no one explained; how or why it happens, it just does. On top of being an awkward teen, that's a lot of pressure. Also, I may or may not have superpowers, I don't know... mine sure haven't manifested and I'm the son of a water elemental and a guy that has force powers, whatever that entails. Still, here I am getting chased, day after day, by the same frickin' bullies. You think something would change but it doesn't. Unless...


{{Arkin veers down an alley.}}


Oh crap! Dead end! Yikes! Help!


{{Arkin looks behind him and sees a gaggle of goonies. He continues to back up, until he hits a chain link fence.}}


"Leave me alone."


I tried to sound demanding but a mouse can attempt to sound, courageous but it's still a mouse. Still scared and when under attack, squeaks. I didn't virtually squeak, but you get my concept, right?


{{A batch of gangly looking grody teens, advance toward Arkin. Slowly.}}


I'm trapped and frightened... and I want my dad!


What would my dad do?


Definitely, not cry. Going to just wipe those tears away. Okay... think like my dad, he's cocky and arrogant... and dresses in suits that are way too expensive.


No, that's not helping.


What about my grandpa?


An alien that used to be super powerful and lost it all and yet, still remains a warrior. Strong and proud.


Well, that's outstandingly, too hard to live up to those expectations.


What about my mother?


She was strong and relentless and didn't take crap from anyone. Most of all she had a good heart and loved with every part of it. I wish I could have known her better. Yeah, I'll use her for strength. I love you, Momma.


{{Arkin holds his hands out and suddenly the wind starts to pick up.


He steps forward and things really begin to ensue.


Then out of no where, a wind cyclone wraps around the bullies and tosses them away into the street. Five blocks away! Very dramatic. Hope these kids are okay. Yikes.


Arkin's eyes widen and he looks bewildered, stares down at his hands and then switches his attention, from one side to the other, before rushing off home.}}

---

{{Hours later. Arkin approaches Donovan's study and softly knocks on the door. Since the door is glass, Donovan sees him, instantly and smiles. So Arkin, opens the door and advances. Promptly closing the door behind him.}}


"Dad, can we talk?"


{{Arkin journeys towards Donovan's desk, very slowly.}}


"Of course. Always. What's up? Take a seat. You look like you're going to say something troubling, are you okay?"


He could always tell when I was upset.


{{Arkin drops into a chair in front of Donovan's desk and crumbles into it.}}


"I did something...well I did, two... somethings"


Speaking very calmly, my father closes his laptop and nods.


"Okay. Let's start with the first. What was that thing?"


"Some stupid jerks... well, they were chasing me and I sent them away."


My dad arches a brow and tilts his head.


"Sent them away? How?"


His words are drenched in concern. I was unsure if I should continue but I did anyway...


"With a tornado. It was small but effective, nonetheless."


"A tornado?"


His eyes open really, wide and it appears, he's attempting to process the scenario.


"Wow. Are these people okay?"


"I don't know."


A sigh


"Right, I'll have to look into that... it's fine, don't worry, you have powers and we all anticipated them. They make sense cause a son of a water vixen and me... would probably make such an occurrence, a reality. Water and force waves. Mixed together. Make a tornado. It's nothing to fret about and it'll be taken care of... we'll just get you set up at the Citadel, in order to learn to control your powers. You're uncles Ezra and Griffin will be there and Wylie, Milo and Kelvin too. So training should be easy."


"That's the thing pops."


"Did you just call me, pops?"


"Yeah, I thought you'd find it funny."


"I do not, please.... never, do that again."


"Fine. Dad. This brings me to the second thing that I did."


[{Pause.}}


"I joined the XWF."


"You did what???"


[[Donovan surged forward in his seat, eyes wide.}}


"I joined the XWF."


{{Arkin sinks lower in his chair and Donovan settles back, clearly trying to understand the circumstances.}}


"I joined the XWF. It wasn't hard. I found a website and sent an application in. Next thing you know, June from the administrative office calls me to verify, if I want the job..."


"And you said? What?"


"Yes."


"Why? Why would you do this? For money? What? I literally provide you, with anything and everything that you need, you want for nothing. Are you mad at me... is this a rebellion thing? Please, explain cause I don't get it."


"I just wanted to do it for me."


I whisper this sentence. Although, it comes out so silently, I scarcely think my dad could hear it. He does.


"Why?"


I scrunch up my brows and speak very honestly.


"Because I needed it. I'm not a very brave person and I needed to do this for me."


My dad sighs and stares down; for only a moment, then looks up with the reassuring smile he always has given me, since I was very small. Whenever I was scared or sad. This is the side the XWF... they don't see much of when he's around. He might seem like an asshole to most, when he's talking shit but he's never faltered or failed to be kind and understanding, regarding my problems when they arise. He's actually, never even.... once, raised his voice to me, let alone said something mean tempered or sarcastic. And I still sleep with a night light. You would think that would bring forth a joke or two, in my direction. Nothing. Not even the slightest smirk or chuckle at my expense.


"Alright. Training will have to start right away. Powers and fitness, primarily. That means reporting at your uncle Raph's gym, every other day and showing up at the Citadel too. Your studies will not be interfered. No question about it. You will graduate and go to college, no compromises or allowances, otherwise. Understood?"


My father speaks straightforward and meets my eye contact, directly.


"Yes."


"And I'm signing up for the show, that your first event will air on. I'll be there with your uncles, Raphael and Ezra. In fact, I'll make sure Griffin is there too."


"Dad. You don't need to take all these precautions."


"I do and when you grow up and have a kid someday, if that happens... you will know the same feeling. Your kid is your world. I hope that makes sense. Cause to me, it does."


"It does. So how do I tell grandpa?"


"I'll handle that but be prepared.... cause there's no doubt about it, he's going to be sitting by ringside, for sure. He may have zero powers but he is astronomically, devoted to protecting you. Almost makes me a tad jealous, but it's good. I love that he cares about you, that much."


My father fires up a cigarette. He seriously smokes way too much.


"So..."


He exhales smoke that distracts me for a second... I think I might have ADD.


"Feel like playing 'Sea of Thieves' cause I think this calls for some video game action and... pizza. Yeah, most assuredly, pizza."


"You're just going to order your gross pizza, with spinach and mushrooms."


I joke.


"Nah. We can get you're boring plain.... cheese, pizza too."


He drags out the description of my favorite food and flashes a quick grin, to allow me to know he was teasing and not being judgmental.


"Cool."


And that's my relationship with my dad, it's more like we're friends, than father and son. I don't think I could have been raised by a better being and I'm fortunate that he is my father.

---

"Hi Corey, I remember you. You and my dad teamed for some big match that you guys won and you and my grandpa went on a mission to purgatory. Whatever that means. You and Azrael, tried to win the tag titles but lost. I am certain, he hates that and regrets it but the thing about my grandpa is that he's too proud, to admit defeat. Either that or he's too arrogant. My own father showcases the same trait. Like father, like son. Right? That leaves me, completely at a standstill cause I feel like neither of them. At all. Ever. I am walking into my first fight, trembling. Not out of fear but expectation. I am glad you are my first opponent, Corey. I love your in - ring work and I know you won't be a jerk about stuff. Being a family friend. So I get to fight a mentor and learn. Thank you for that."


"If I lose, I still learn."


"Failure is not what I am aiming for during our match though, still this is my very first time wrestling ever and even if I am young, that doesn't mean I am naive. You're a champion, you've held several titles and in spite of having a fairly short career - thus far, you're a legend in the squared circle. You've earned respect from peers that don't easily, hand over that sort of thing. That's saying something and one day, I hope to share such an honor; yet, I am no fool either and I know the possibility for such a rarity, isn't easily obtained. Who cares? That won't stop me from striving for far-fetched, wayward, hardly achieved ideas."


"I am the grandson of Azrael Erebus. The impossible spaceman. Who stood at five foot, nine inches and conquered giants, with one arm. I am the son of Donovan Blackwater, a man that kicked ass in a designer suit, with well manicured nails and won matches without messing up his perfectly, slicked back hair. My mother, climbed into the ring and fought huge mean tempered, awful men and did it, with a smile on her face and won. Now, I know those are incredibly, large shoes to fill and chances are... I'll fail but that won't stop me from doing my best to prevail. As long as I have the power to get up, dust myself off and continue, I shall do that and nothing less."


"It doesn't matter if you believe me."


"I don't need anyone to trust my words, I simply must believe them myself."


"For this is what will give me the power to rise up and move forward, no matter the adversary or challenge."


"Which will be a feat in itself cause as I mentioned, I don't have an effortless time doing such things but I am going to try. How could I come from my heritage and not do that? I couldn't. I wouldn't. Because even if I'm uneasy and young and still get frightened without much effort by things, I have to do this and attempt the endeavor at hand. At least, I will know that I did it and that's just as important as remembering to block when a punch is thrown and to move out of the way when someone charges forward, with a spear. Except, this is more for supplying courage and emotional strength and has less to do with avoiding injury and tremendous pain."


"Anyways, tomorrow when I climb into the ring with Corey Smith and we battle it out in a Last Man Standing match, which is slightly ironic cause I'm fifteen and can't even vote yet or have even gotten to second base with a girl. In hindsight, I should not have mentioned that last part out loud but whatever, I'm just going to roll with it and if anyone makes a rash remark, I'll simply point out that a fully grown person is making fun of someone that is still in high school. That's pretty pathetic, right? Almost as sad as when general managers, shoved a tiny girl into matches with enormous, burly, highly offensive and even sexually abusive sounding, violent men and found nothing wrong with it and put her into situations that would cause someone - ten times her size, an incredible, amount of damage. And seems like it would take place illegally on the dark web but otherwise, in a normal setting, would incur multiple, lawsuits and police inquiry about child endangerment."


"Like you would imagine someone watching would say... hey, that girl is 13 and she's facing a giant man, fifty feet up on a flimsy, rickety piece of scaffolding, that shouldn't be happening. There might be an investigation and the FBI would be called in to interrogate everyone in charge. At least, I'm facing a skinny, young guy and not someone that weighs three times as me, on a thin piece of wood, that exists the same distance above as what caused Owen Hart's death. That might be a bragging moment for Dolly Waters but when you take a step back and look at the grown, fully mentally functioning, adults that decided this was the proper choice to make happen, you kind of realize there are a lot of sick minded folks, operating the company. Like the man that forced his small nephew to fight a grown man.... that kid was only eight, what the actual fuck?"


"I probably shouldn't be pointing these things out, now that I think about it because I'm more than likely going to be put in extremely, hazardous situations as well. Yet, at the same time... I know, I have a regeneration factor though. Hah! So take that!"


"Oh boy, I should definitely stop talking. I'm seriously frightened of the wrath that I brought onto myself. If these people were willingly going to risk the death of a small girl, with zero powers... what would they do to me?"


"Heh... I suddenly, know the fear of god."


"Please XWF management team, don't put me in a match, that takes place on an unstable, narrow portion of questionable, sketchy appearing, termite infested wood that results in my potential murder with someone that outweighs me and towers over me. I know I mentioned I have a regeneration factor but while I have never died before, I hear it can be terrible and traumatic and I don't want to experience it. I swear I will never say another bad thing about you ever. You have my word."


{{Camera focuses on fingers being crossed behind Arkin's back.}}