Post by Gavin Grimes on Nov 22, 2024 18:02:52 GMT -6
The world was a dark haze of blurred noise and distant pain. Gavin blinked himself awake, his heart pounding as the sharp sting in his ribs forced him to reality. The last thing he remembered was Lukas, his best friend, standing there, fists clenched, before everything went black.
Now, his vision swam as he tried to sit up, but the dull ache in his body demanded otherwise. He was on the cold, hard floor backstage, his breaths uneven. Gavin’s fingers curled against the concrete, grounding himself in the present, but the moment he closed his eyes, memories swirled into something more distant. A figure. A scream. Sophie.
“Mr. Grimes, stay still!” A medic’s voice came from beside him, followed by the firm but gentle grip of hands checking his injuries. Gavin flinched, jerking his shoulder away, his mind too disoriented to process their words.
“Sophie…” His voice cracked, low and desperate. “I-I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean…” His words were a frantic gasp as if he couldn’t pull enough air into his lungs. “Where’s Sophie? Is she okay?”
The medics tried to steady him again, but Gavin shoved their hands away, his panic rising. “I’m fine!” he snapped, his voice trembling as much as his hands. “Where is she? Is she hurt?”
His eyes darted wildly around, the panic consuming him. He knew the truth, even as the memory twisted in his mind. He’d hurt Sophie and even though it was accidentally, of course, but that knowledge didn’t stop the crushing weight of guilt. It didn’t stop the flash of her face in his mind, her voice calling out in pain.
“I hurt her…” he rasped, guilt dripping from every word. His hands clawed at his chest like he could physically tear the feeling free. “I didn’t mean it. I swear I didn’t mean it.”
Ashleigh's face faded into focus, the haze clearing a bit as she placed her hands against his chest, applying slight pressure.
“Gavin.” Her voice rang out reassuringly. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be all right.”
She waited for his eyes to focus before she smiled slightly.
“I’m here. Sophie’s being tended to. She’s not that wet behind the ears little girl she used to be. She’s tough. She’s been around the sport for a minute. She married a wrestler. She understands the game. So just take a breath. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Gavin’s chest rose and fell as he stared at her, his eyes still clouded with doubt and guilt, but her words started cutting through the fog. He swallowed hard, his hands twitching like they wanted to hold onto something solid, something real.
“So I did it?” His voice was barely above a whisper, raw and hoarse. “I really hurt her?” He blinked rapidly, his gaze darting away from Ashleigh’s, but he couldn’t keep it there for long. Her presence dragged his attention back like gravity.
“You’re saying she gets it, that she’s fine, but Ash…” His voice cracked, the tremble betraying how deeply it rattled him. “She was there cheering cuz of me. Because I came back to team with Lukas. She got caught up in this fucking shit because of me.” His hand squeezed hers as he tried to anchor himself down into reality.
“I’m trying to breathe, I swear I am, but…” He exhaled shakily. “You’re telling me she’s tough, but I can’t stop seeing it, fam, the look on her face when it happened. I can’t stop hearing it. How do I just… let that go?” His voice dipped low, like he was scared to even ask the question. “And then Lukas…”
He glanced at her, searching her face for an answer he didn’t know how to find on his own but it was clear he was hurt, more hurt than she’s seen him in years.
Ash frowned at the mention of his name.
“Well Lukas is a separate issue. You know and I know and even Sophie knows that you’d never mean to hurt her... but Lukas?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know what’s goin’ on in that motherfucker’s head.”
She scowled before catching herself and reaching down to grasp Gavin’s hand.
“Yes, you hurt her. No, you didn’t mean it. The rest though? The being there and getting in the way? That’s on her too. There isn’t just you to blame here. There’s a whole bunch of blame pie to go around. Right now we need to make sure you’re okay and then we’ll sort it all out with Lukas and Sophie.”
The mention of Lukas brought a flicker of fire back to Gavin’s eyes, pushing through the pain he was currently in.
“No, Lukas isn’t a ‘later’ thing. He’s a right now thing.” He pushed against the floor, wobbling as he forced himself upright, his legs trembling under him. His hand found hers as she reached down, and for a moment, he thought he had it.
But then the world spun, and his knees buckled.
“Shit!” He said, barely catching himself before he collapsed completely. Ashleigh’s hands were already there, steadying him before he could hit the ground.
“You need to sit. Lukas is long gone by now. Off to the hospital with Sophie. As for the why? I don’t have a clue. Rage? Anger? Stupidity? It doesn’t make sense. He was thinking rationally. Of course you’d never hurt Sophie on purpose. But I think everything needs a minute to simmer down before you’ll be able to piece it together and try to fix it.”
Gavin leaned forward in the chair, his elbows resting on his knees as he dragged a hand down his face in frustration.
“It doesn’t make sense! He knows me. He knows I’d never hurt Soph, at least not on purpose. So why the fuck would he do this? Rage? He’s never been that kinda guy.”
Gavin took a deep breath and sighed slowly, shaking his head.
“A part of me is hurt and confused but the other part of me wants to beat the shit out of him. Is that normal?”
He forced out a laugh.
She laughed in response.
“Considering we’ve felt that way towards each other a ton, yes I’d say it’s normal. Lukas has never struck me as a thinker, honestly. And if anyone knows about getting caught up in the rage of the moment it’s you...”
She lifted his chin.
“...isn’t it?”
Gavin let out a light laugh as his eyes met hers.
“Yeah, guess I can’t argue with that one. Least Lukas didn’t throw my ass into a cold shower like I did to you!”
He let out a sigh and shook his head slowly.
“But this feels different, Ash. I’ve lost my temper, sure but this? He’s my best friend. He knows me better than anyone. And now Sophie’s caught in the middle of it because we couldn’t keep our shit together.”
He leaned back in the chair, running a hand through his hair before letting it drop heavily to his side.
“I don’t know what to do with this. I can’t just let it go, but I don’t want to lose him either.”
Ashleigh nodded along as she listened, gently rubbing her hand over his.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself. Let’s see where things are once everyone calms down and we know Sophie is okay... which she will be. Just take a beat, okay?”
She smiled reassuringly and nodded, trying to coax him along to follow.
Gavin looked down at her hand over his, the warmth grounding him as he let out a slow breath.
“Yeah… you’re right… Getting all worked up isn’t gonna fix anything.” He forced himself to relax, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t fully leave.
He glanced up at her, catching the reassuring smile on her face, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Thanks, Ash. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Probably go find Lukas and bash his face in.”
He laughed and shrugged.
“But yeah… I’ll take a beat. For now.”
Her smile grew.
“Whoever would’ve thought that I’d be the voice of reason? Strange shit is afoot!”
Gavin chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back in the chair.
“Yeah, strange shit is right,” he said, his tone lighter but still laced with exhaustion.
“Guess the world really has turned upside down if you’re the one talking me down instead of egging me on.”
He smirked at her, the tension in his face easing just a little.
“Don’t get used to it, though. I don’t think I can handle you being the reasonable one for too long. Throws the whole balance of the universe off.”
“Don’t worry...”
She smiled reassuringly in return.
“...I’m sure I’ll do something unreasonable soon enough.”
Then she rested her forehead gently against his and kissed him softly on the lips.
Now, his vision swam as he tried to sit up, but the dull ache in his body demanded otherwise. He was on the cold, hard floor backstage, his breaths uneven. Gavin’s fingers curled against the concrete, grounding himself in the present, but the moment he closed his eyes, memories swirled into something more distant. A figure. A scream. Sophie.
“Mr. Grimes, stay still!” A medic’s voice came from beside him, followed by the firm but gentle grip of hands checking his injuries. Gavin flinched, jerking his shoulder away, his mind too disoriented to process their words.
“Sophie…” His voice cracked, low and desperate. “I-I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean…” His words were a frantic gasp as if he couldn’t pull enough air into his lungs. “Where’s Sophie? Is she okay?”
The medics tried to steady him again, but Gavin shoved their hands away, his panic rising. “I’m fine!” he snapped, his voice trembling as much as his hands. “Where is she? Is she hurt?”
His eyes darted wildly around, the panic consuming him. He knew the truth, even as the memory twisted in his mind. He’d hurt Sophie and even though it was accidentally, of course, but that knowledge didn’t stop the crushing weight of guilt. It didn’t stop the flash of her face in his mind, her voice calling out in pain.
“I hurt her…” he rasped, guilt dripping from every word. His hands clawed at his chest like he could physically tear the feeling free. “I didn’t mean it. I swear I didn’t mean it.”
Ashleigh's face faded into focus, the haze clearing a bit as she placed her hands against his chest, applying slight pressure.
“Gavin.” Her voice rang out reassuringly. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be all right.”
She waited for his eyes to focus before she smiled slightly.
“I’m here. Sophie’s being tended to. She’s not that wet behind the ears little girl she used to be. She’s tough. She’s been around the sport for a minute. She married a wrestler. She understands the game. So just take a breath. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Gavin’s chest rose and fell as he stared at her, his eyes still clouded with doubt and guilt, but her words started cutting through the fog. He swallowed hard, his hands twitching like they wanted to hold onto something solid, something real.
“So I did it?” His voice was barely above a whisper, raw and hoarse. “I really hurt her?” He blinked rapidly, his gaze darting away from Ashleigh’s, but he couldn’t keep it there for long. Her presence dragged his attention back like gravity.
“You’re saying she gets it, that she’s fine, but Ash…” His voice cracked, the tremble betraying how deeply it rattled him. “She was there cheering cuz of me. Because I came back to team with Lukas. She got caught up in this fucking shit because of me.” His hand squeezed hers as he tried to anchor himself down into reality.
“I’m trying to breathe, I swear I am, but…” He exhaled shakily. “You’re telling me she’s tough, but I can’t stop seeing it, fam, the look on her face when it happened. I can’t stop hearing it. How do I just… let that go?” His voice dipped low, like he was scared to even ask the question. “And then Lukas…”
He glanced at her, searching her face for an answer he didn’t know how to find on his own but it was clear he was hurt, more hurt than she’s seen him in years.
Ash frowned at the mention of his name.
“Well Lukas is a separate issue. You know and I know and even Sophie knows that you’d never mean to hurt her... but Lukas?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know what’s goin’ on in that motherfucker’s head.”
She scowled before catching herself and reaching down to grasp Gavin’s hand.
“Yes, you hurt her. No, you didn’t mean it. The rest though? The being there and getting in the way? That’s on her too. There isn’t just you to blame here. There’s a whole bunch of blame pie to go around. Right now we need to make sure you’re okay and then we’ll sort it all out with Lukas and Sophie.”
The mention of Lukas brought a flicker of fire back to Gavin’s eyes, pushing through the pain he was currently in.
“No, Lukas isn’t a ‘later’ thing. He’s a right now thing.” He pushed against the floor, wobbling as he forced himself upright, his legs trembling under him. His hand found hers as she reached down, and for a moment, he thought he had it.
But then the world spun, and his knees buckled.
“Shit!” He said, barely catching himself before he collapsed completely. Ashleigh’s hands were already there, steadying him before he could hit the ground.
“You need to sit. Lukas is long gone by now. Off to the hospital with Sophie. As for the why? I don’t have a clue. Rage? Anger? Stupidity? It doesn’t make sense. He was thinking rationally. Of course you’d never hurt Sophie on purpose. But I think everything needs a minute to simmer down before you’ll be able to piece it together and try to fix it.”
Gavin leaned forward in the chair, his elbows resting on his knees as he dragged a hand down his face in frustration.
“It doesn’t make sense! He knows me. He knows I’d never hurt Soph, at least not on purpose. So why the fuck would he do this? Rage? He’s never been that kinda guy.”
Gavin took a deep breath and sighed slowly, shaking his head.
“A part of me is hurt and confused but the other part of me wants to beat the shit out of him. Is that normal?”
He forced out a laugh.
She laughed in response.
“Considering we’ve felt that way towards each other a ton, yes I’d say it’s normal. Lukas has never struck me as a thinker, honestly. And if anyone knows about getting caught up in the rage of the moment it’s you...”
She lifted his chin.
“...isn’t it?”
Gavin let out a light laugh as his eyes met hers.
“Yeah, guess I can’t argue with that one. Least Lukas didn’t throw my ass into a cold shower like I did to you!”
He let out a sigh and shook his head slowly.
“But this feels different, Ash. I’ve lost my temper, sure but this? He’s my best friend. He knows me better than anyone. And now Sophie’s caught in the middle of it because we couldn’t keep our shit together.”
He leaned back in the chair, running a hand through his hair before letting it drop heavily to his side.
“I don’t know what to do with this. I can’t just let it go, but I don’t want to lose him either.”
Ashleigh nodded along as she listened, gently rubbing her hand over his.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself. Let’s see where things are once everyone calms down and we know Sophie is okay... which she will be. Just take a beat, okay?”
She smiled reassuringly and nodded, trying to coax him along to follow.
Gavin looked down at her hand over his, the warmth grounding him as he let out a slow breath.
“Yeah… you’re right… Getting all worked up isn’t gonna fix anything.” He forced himself to relax, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t fully leave.
He glanced up at her, catching the reassuring smile on her face, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Thanks, Ash. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Probably go find Lukas and bash his face in.”
He laughed and shrugged.
“But yeah… I’ll take a beat. For now.”
Her smile grew.
“Whoever would’ve thought that I’d be the voice of reason? Strange shit is afoot!”
Gavin chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back in the chair.
“Yeah, strange shit is right,” he said, his tone lighter but still laced with exhaustion.
“Guess the world really has turned upside down if you’re the one talking me down instead of egging me on.”
He smirked at her, the tension in his face easing just a little.
“Don’t get used to it, though. I don’t think I can handle you being the reasonable one for too long. Throws the whole balance of the universe off.”
“Don’t worry...”
She smiled reassuringly in return.
“...I’m sure I’ll do something unreasonable soon enough.”
Then she rested her forehead gently against his and kissed him softly on the lips.