Post by gvb on Dec 7, 2023 8:02:03 GMT -6
The doctor had been checking on Alex Andrews for quite some time now, running the routine exams you would expect after the brutal assault suffered at the hands of The Division, but Alice didn't seem to care how long it had been, or how longer it would take.
She had followed them here right away, at the end of the Riot main event. She didn't linger with the Hong Kong fans, even though she would have loved to spend time thanking them for their incredible support. She didn't even stop in her locker room to change her clothes, the oversized black “STAFF” hoodie that was covering her ring gear was borrowed by a particularly thoughtful stagehand who insisted that she should get it in case her wait dragged longer through the night.
“Bless his heart.” She thought to herself as she crossed her arms to her chest, her hands buried in four inches of sleeve. It wasn't cold per se here, even though anyone could feel a sensible drop in temperature from the warmth of the bright lights. Maybe it was the tension of what had been a long and emotional day, maybe the fatigue of the long battle she just or perhaps a combination of both, but even with the heavy hoodie on, her body was shaken by a particularly had caused her body to be shaken by a shiver.
Luckily for her, a couple of minutes later the door opened and the doctor, a greying, charming man with in his late forties appeared on the threshold.
“You're still here.” He spoke with a slightly surprised yet upbeat tone of voice. Alice didn't reply, barely acknowledging him with a polite nod while trying to peek past his figure and inside the room. “You can see her, although I'd suggest you keep it short. She needs rest, and by the look of it, so do you.”
“Thank you, doc.” She finally replied, hinting a smile as she walked past him and into the room. Alex Andrews was sitting on the table, wishing only to go back to her hotel room and call it a night. Not fully knowing if she could remember what happened after she got knocked out or if anyone had filled her in, the former Academy student decided to break the ice with a joke. “Well, you look way better than you did last time I saw you…”
Alex looked up drearily, she tried to smile at the attempt at humor but the smile clearly didn't reach her eyes. She runs a hand through her hair and lets out a sigh. “No concussion thankfully, but still obviously got my bell rung.”. Alex shrugged her shoulders, letting out a deep breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Alex peeked up at Alice, not sure whom looked worse, herself or Alice. “A few people came and went and I believe I've pieced together what happened after Olly nailed me with the door. You didn't have to do what you did. You know that, right?”
“It was the right thing to do.” Alice replied with an honest smile, no hesitation whatsoever in her voice. “You had the match won, that's what the ring said and that's the only outcome I can and will accept. No man or group should have the right to alter that, and I promised myself I will never give them that kind of power.”
“And to be honest with you knowing that they fear you only made my decision even simpler.” She added, surprising the former Riot champion with the statement. Alex, infact, glanced at her young opponent, raising an eyebrow. Wagner quickly continued, further explaining her thought. “I grew up at Nightfall, and for a period Julian was very close to my father which, I guess, kinda explains my dislike for them both.”
Her mind seemed to be trailing away for a passing moment at the thought of her estranged father, but she quickly pulled herself together. “But despite my feelings for him, I can't deny that he’s awfully smart, and I say that in its worst possible connotation.”
“Everything he does is for a reason. He didn't attack me, he didn't attack Seth nor Billy. He came for you because he knows you're the biggest threat to The Division. You're not as strong as Danielson, you're not as cunning as Iser but you have something they both lack.”
There was a brief pause in her speech, almost as to give Alex time to figure out what she was talking about. “As formidable as they are, they're lone wolves and can easily be singled out by The Division’s pack mentality. But you.. You are a catalyst. The people in the back respect you, the fans love you. You're the kind of leader people can get behind, you're Julian Savell's counterpart, you're what he fears the most.” Alex almost blushes at that and just shakes her head.
“I don't know about all that, I just try and do my own thing myself. But one thing I cannot stand are bullies. And that, down at the heart of the matters, is what The Division are. So, yeah, I do want to stand up against them, you aren't wrong on that front. As for others? I can't say what they'll do. But…thank you for the kind words, and,..thank you again…”
Alex doesn't finish what that final thank you is for, she just reached over to grab Alice’s hand and give it a squeeze.
“Anytime.” Alice replied, shaking hands with the former Riot champion. “It's been an honor and a pleasure to share the ring with you. Good luck in the final.” She added, eventually breaking the handshake. Her hand instantly disappeared back inside the way too long sleeve of the borrowed hoodie.
“I should get going now, I have a few things I need to think about. But I wanted to check on you and make sure you were alright first and foremost. Glad to see they can't keep you down.” Flashing one last smile at her opponent-turned-friend, Alice turned on her heels and walked out of the infirmary, leaving Andrews once again alone.