The soles of Rebel Star's shiny, black vinyl, knee high, stacked boots echoed loudly on the cement floor inside Griffin's auto shop, with every step. Rebel's undertaking, was to share information with The Mechanic regarding his girlfriend, Lila and the reason why she all of a sudden, snapped at him, out of the total blue and kicked him out of the apartment. Then she proceeded to throw most of his belongings, out of the window. Griffin was beyond bewildered when Rebel came into contact with him. He couldn't fathom why Lila very aggressively, insisted that he left the apartment.


They weren't in the middle of a fight. He didn't do anything to piss Lila off, not that he was aware of anyway. He was merely sitting on the sofa, working on a carburetor. He brought some of his work home with him and when she seen this sight, she flipped out and started screaming and then, ordered him to get out. He complied with her request and she progressed, to chucking his stuff from the window of their apartment. A great majority of his belongings met with the fate of landing on the cement. It didn't make any sense. So Rebel offered to talk to Lila and find out what made her upset, for the price of a favor and Griffin, agreed to those terms.


It was a silly method of communication but also the only way to be granted the gift of knowledge on the matter. He loved Lila and if there was any way to fix things, he would do it. He did have a life with her, he was helping to raise her kids, Grey and Silas and heck, Grey wasn't even his child. Grey was the product of Lila, cheating on him with Nathaniel Idenhaus. That showcased the measures he was willing to go to for her and how much, she meant to him.


He forgave her act of infidelity and went on to sire Silas, after the affair. He wasn't going to throw in the towel now, even if her behavior was peculiar and erratic, he was going to fight for this relationship and do everything in his power to bring forth a peaceful resolution. Even if it meant using a third party, in order to gain the information that he required to obtain the opportunity, to possibly amend things with Lila. An unnamed favor for Rebel was well worth the cost of repairing whatever damage was done, no matter how outlandish or crazy the measures, he had to abide to do that.


Rebel made the effort and spoke with Lila and now, she was at Griffin's shop to share, what she learned. However, as she approached Griffin's location; leaned over and underneath the hood of a car where he was working on the engine, she began having doubts. Was revealing what Lila told her, going behind Lila's back and breaking her trust? Was this an act of betrayal? Revealing information that Griffin wasn't privy to without Rebel's aid, otherwise he wouldn't know anything and remain in the dark. Rebel wasn't certain but she was starting to have her reluctance.


Still she made a commitment and she was determined to live up to it, even if she had to give a disappointing delivery to Griffin, and say she couldn't reveal what she knew and he was on his own. She had been quick and impulsive, she didn't think things through and factor in, the whole double crossing aspect and she was gradually feeling increasingly guilty about it. Walking up to Griffin, she cleared her throat and drew the Mechanic's attention and he rose from under the hood, into a standing position.


"What's up Rebel?"


"I talked to Lila."


Griffin gave a quick nod in affirmation and motioned with his hand, indicating that Rebel should hang on for a second. Then he looked over his shoulder and hollered out.


"Decker, I'm going to step out for a minute and talk to Rebel, you're in charge while I'm gone. You're cool with that, right?"


From somewhere towards the back of the establishment came the voice of Decker Hollis, yelling back in response.


"Alright, boss!"


After which, Griffin turned back to Rebel, gave another nod and retrieved a cigarette. Placing it between his lips, he nodded and gestured forward with his hand, before he started strolling onward. Once outside of his auto store, he fired up his cigarette and took a drag.


"So what did you find out?"


Exhaled cloud of smoke.


"Right, here's the thing, I'm not sure if I can bestow that lowdown onto you?"


An expression of uncertainty adorning her face, Rebel bit her lip briefly.


"What???"


He chuckled.


"Why not?!?!"


"Well, you see... I'm not completely positive, revealing that confidential intel, isn't an act of double-dealing, treachery and I don't incline toward being disloyal to my friend."


Seemingly caught off guard, Griffin shook his head and released a laugh, while taking a pull off his cigarette.


"It was your idea!"


A puff of smoke, siphoned through his nose as he continued to laugh, in utter disbelief.


"I know, but I felt that if Lila wanted you to know, she would have told you and she didn't do that."


"Come on, Rebel."


Now he was pleading.


"How can I fix what's broken, if I don't know what broke it? Ya got to help me out here. Please. I'm a desperate man, that should be evident, by me agreeing to your condition and I was fully prepared to go through with my end of the deal too. Fine, lets discuss that portion, what is it that you want? You obviously had something in mind. What is it? Whatever you require or need to have happen, I'm down with trading off for anything you request. Lay it on me and the favor is yours. Sky's the limit. Ask and I'll do my best to make it occur. My word is my bond and I swear, I'll uphold the arrangement. This I promise you."


"I don't know. I feel bad about doing it this way now."


"You don't have to feel bad, you're doing me a favor, I'm happy to help in any way I can and I don't have a single issue with it. Please, Rebel do me this solid and I won't say a word about how I figured out... mums, the word. I'll tell Lila, I worked it out, all on my own. Lila will be none the wiser, she won't know any interaction or deal went down between us."


"I don't know. It might seem suspicious, based on what I want."


"What do you want?"


Swift sigh, Rebel considered Griffin's words for several seconds, before she answered his inquiry.


"A job."


"What?"


Instantaneous laughter.


"You have ambition to work at my shop? Do you even know anything about fixin' vehicles?"


"I know how to drive a car and I'm strong enough to lift an automobile, even if it's a giant monster truck and you could teach me the fine art of being a mechanic, I am a quick learner. I would give it a hundred and ten percent and make it my life goal, to learn all the internal workings of vehicles. I've been searching for a job and every position that I've tried to apply for has been taken. Trust me, I've been pounding the pavement for days, to no avail."


"Hmmm... as fun as that sounds, I don't really relish the idea of teaching you the ropes, what with how busy it's been at the shop."


Sigh in disappointment.


"I understand."


"Hey, I didn't say no, to giving you a job, I just can't devote my time to teachin' you shit... yet. Maybe I can put together something else, hammer out an option that satisfies us both. Work has been piling up and my store has been busier than ever, that's part of my doing. If you could handle the phones and take appointments, maybe manage the care of customers and their payments, that would leave me more time to carry out repairing stuff. It would help me out, staggeringly. What do you think, does that sound like the position would suit you? And later on, sometime down the line, when it's less busy, I can see about showing you how to repair vehicles. Whaddya say?"


"That seems perfect. How are you going to explain it to Lila? I mean, doesn't it appear questionable that you would, all of a sudden be blessed with knowledge that wasn't revealed to you previously, right when I start working for you and I recently happened to have a discussion with her, where she told me everything?"


"Nah. It's a simple coincidence or that's how I'll explain it, if and only if she asks. Look, you said you've been applying to a bunch of places, you merely walked in and asked for a job and I hired you. You filled a spot that needed to be filled. That's all. This can be our secret and if you spill the beans, that literally saves my relationship and will be a plus for both, Lila and me. She can't be in a pleasant mood right now, so you would be helping her out, in the long run. You want her to be happy, right? Also you're my friend too and I know that I will be overjoyed... over the moon, because I gotta be truthful with you, I'm losing my fuckin' mind over here. I can't sleep, I'm staying at Axle, Wylie and Alister's place and I keep racking my brain, trying to determine what I did. I have to work and it's becoming impossible. I'm tired and my mind is reeling. Please. Do this for me. I'm over here begging... pleading, for assistance with the problem. We've known each other for a while now, when have you ever heard me plead for something from someone?"


"Never."


"Then that should tell you how dire the situation is for me."


There was a moment of silent deliberation for Rebel, as she reflected upon Griffin's words, yet again. Finally, with a firm nod of confirmation to herself, she stated.


"Yeah, okay, you're happiness is vital to me as well and if I can ensure you and Lila, from being separated from each other and save your relationship. That will be my prime directive. The predicament is that Lila believes that you... are being unfaithful."


"What?!?!"


"She thinks you're cheating on her."


"What made her derive that conclusion? When I'm not home, I'm at work. I've been having the shop stay open longer, working whenever I can, for as long as I can. Busting my ass, doing all I can to save up money."


"That's where the complication lies. You've been spending all your time at the shop and yet, you still bring work home, on top of that."


"Oh that. That's side, extra work. I told ya I'm trying to save up, so I take on subsidiary tasks that I complete at home. Between doing my part to take care of the kids and things around the apartment, running errands and such."


"What are you attempting to accumulate your funds for?"


"An engagement ring but that isn't the primary reason. After we get hitched, I thought I'd change up our living circumstances and purchase a house. I wanna bring us to the next stage of our relationship and I want to do it right. It's marriage and that's major. A huge deal. I don't aspire to come back from a honeymoon and continue living in our apartment. I would wish to give my wife, a house and one Lila deserves, it has to be perfect. She thinks I'm having an affair? Never would I do that to Lila, I love her and I have only been faithful. Fuckin' shit. Does she have anyone in mind that I'm sleeping with or is it simply some random, nameless, faceless woman?"


"Frankie Styles-Blackwater."


Besides himself with astonishment at the absurd accusation, Griffin took one last drag from his cigarette and tossed the butt down, snuffing it out with his boot afterwards.


"Her brother Donovan's wife??? What the actual fuck?!?!"


"She may have noticed that you talk to Frankie, a lot. She seen your phone, she found your brand new work habits to be unusual, decided to snoop through your cell and there were several calls, exchanged between you both."


"Yeah, I talk to Frankie, we're friends. We have things in common. Dig the same tunes, watch the identical stuff, play similar video games... when I have the time to actually play video games and I'm not spending all my time working and there's also that whole living weapon thing. I trained her and taught her about the condition because when she was transformed, it was considerably different than my experience. The procedure was done against her will, whereas I wasn't forced into it and I was displaying concern cause like I said, I think of Frankie as a friend. A kindred spirit."


"Nothing more or less. I'm not sleeping with her, I don't even find her attractive, not to mention that she's Donovan's wife and I wouldn't wrong him like that. I respect Donovan and while there was a time in the past, when I wouldn't give a guy like him the time of day except when I would talk smack at him, I've grown to like him. I think of him as family. Which even if I did have 'feelings' for Frankie, I would never do anything about them but I don't, so that's not even a portion of the equation. I speak with Zane Norrison and Axle King as much as I do, Frankie and while I didn't choose to switch teams, I've grown close to them and I get additionally chatty when I interact with them."


Pause.


"I can't believe Lila thinks I'm straying away from her like that and two-timing her. I would never do that, I love her... I yearn to marry her. Spend the rest of my life with her. She had my kid for fuck's sake. I have to do something about this. I need to fix this predicament. Now."


"What are you going to do?"


"Something big, something drastic, I need to make an impression that lasts and this sorta confusion never happens again."


With that declaration, Griffin hurried back into his auto shop and seconds later, he came back out. Climbing onto his motorcycle, he put his focus on Rebel.


"Come in tomorrow at 8am, you start then. I have to take care of this quandary, rectify this scenario and clear this up, clean up the mess before it gets even worse. I won't be back here today... hopefully, I won't be back here cause that means my plan failed and I'm single. Cross your fingers that isn't the end result. Cuz I'll be damned if Lila and I split up for something I didn't even do."


Rebel nodded and Griffin sped off on his bike, on a mission to correct the conundrum between Lila and him. If it was the last thing he did, he'd mend this unfortunate state of affairs.

---

"What the heck happened on Savage? My behavior was super uncharacteristic from my normal demeanor. Everything I promised, I did the polar opposite. From my perspective, it all was done in a haze too. Like I had been drugged. I fucking cried! What was that about? I said I was going to bring my all and do my best to battle it out with Jenny and I didn't do that. Instead, I was this over emotional train wreck, getting brutalized. Utterly dismantled. Did Jenny drug me before our match? Is that what happened? Was that honestly necessary? The only way to claim victory is roofie me, that's not cool but it's the sole reason to explain my behavior."


"It was like I was a completely different woman. And now that's the last memory folks will remember cause you know, most of the viewers have the attention span of a fruit fly. That really sucks cause that wasn't me. This is way worse than losing the fight. Jenny sincerely needs to explain herself or we're going to have, some serious problems. The kind where she talks, I listen and if I don't like her words, I smack the shit out of her and create a hole in a wall with a blond, human shaped female, wrecking ball. I mean business too. This won't be a match, this is going to be a face to face confrontation, on the street. There won't be rules and a ref and things will most assuredly, be different. We're talking maximum violence. Tenfold."


"Enough on that, I have a match coming up on this forthcoming edition of Wednesday Night Warfare. I am facing a mystery opponent and Felix Jones. I don't know who the mystery opponent could be but rest assured, I am going to attack with all my might. Whoever it is... is going down. Physically broken and left in a pile of devastated ruins, in the center of the ring. Broken, bloody and staring up at the lights above, while he or she, struggles to maintain consciousness. I don't get the whole mystery adversary either. It's not really a mystery, not truly. It would only be an actual enigma, if the reveal happened at the match. Someone comes out with a mask on and removes it, right before the fight. That's a real mystery."


"I say that even though I realize full well, that my husband, Azrael competed in this very fashion. The entire thing doesn't make sense to me. Whatever. Things rarely make sense in this company. So I'll play along and be cooperative and battle my surprise opponent. No matter who this shocker of a competitor could be, I will take them on with the same vigor and aggression as anyone else. No fear and with hardcore severity. There is no question of this extremely, true fact and it's not even an X-Treme Rules match. It's a regular, old fashioned, Triple Threat. Still, I will enter the ring, with a massive amount of fury and tremendous sum of determination. I mean it too. There won't be a repeat performance akin to the one from Savage and if there is... something's really wrong with me. I'm broken in some way and need to be checked on, by a medical professional."


"My secondary opponent is Felix Jones. This man was an up and coming sensation, blazing the trail and standing tall in the spotlight. These days he's no longer a household name. Fading in the dying illumination that once shone, so bright. Now, I'm not one to talk, I haven't precisely made my career here a permanent one, I wrestle fairly infrequently but I like it that way and I'm not trying to be the next big thing. I never said I was going to be that, I come out and fight, when I want. That's what suits me best. It's what's comfortable and as I said before, I'm not trying to overshadow my husband. With that being said, that does not mean I will give an inadequate showing."


"At some point, Felix is going to square off with a woman scorned and my rage, burns with the fire of a thousand suns. Mostly at myself for putting myself in the position to get drugged and ambushed. That won't happen again. The anger that I feel about that entire situation, will be my fuel and intensify the flames that blaze in my heart. I have a burning desire to fight with every ounce of my soul and Felix Jones, will crumble and fall in my wake. The equivalent of ashes in the wind. I might take a carefree approach to my appearances but that doesn't mean I don't give it my all, when I do fight. When I participate, I'm all in and now, I have a newfound fury. To replace that awful impression and prove my worth. Even if it's once."


"Felix Jones and Mr./Ms. Mysterious, better be on guard and watch themselves because they're stepping into the ring, with a lady who's prepared to burn the house down and take them with it. No mercy. Not a single fuck given for their well being. No more Mrs. Nice Girl. I am woman hear me roar, my battle cry. For I aim for total, mass destruction and ultra violence and you two are going down. Big time."

Former...
King of the XWF