Another Journey Begins
folder
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
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866
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
866
Reviews:
0
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Enter the Warrior Series
Rio laughed at another one of Colt's well-worn jokes as she and Monty dried the last of the glasses after another long night. The portly older man liked to keep them entertained, and she appreciated his efforts. Truly, as Tara, she'd never known any to go out of their way for her amusement "¦ well, just Ben did. But Colt and Monty made her feel like family. It was novel, she decided, and she could get used to it.
It had been just over five months since she started at the bar, and she'd made enough money to make regular payments on her mortgage for the house. But she still had some steep and unpaid hospital bills from when Ben died, and she wasn't sure how long it would take before the bill collectors started clamoring for what was owed. She hated to leave anything of Ben's unpaid, as he'd done so much for her. She felt it was the least she could do. Plus, they could eventually go after her other property for the money "“ namely, her house. And that wouldn't do as it was all she had left of Ben, and she intended to keep it.
At least living in Montana kept the old memories for overwhelming her. And Ben's mother had no way of contacting her now. Perverse curiosity had gotten the best of her one day and she'd tried to retrieve messages from her answering machine back in Massachusetts "¦ only to discover that Justin and Sven had disabled the thing before leaving. She'd asked them about it casually at dinner and they'd just shrugged, telling her they felt it unnecessary since she wouldn't be returning for some time. While the explanation made sense, it irked Rio to realize that the two men still had every intention of interfering in her life. When would they deem her sufficiently able to care for herself? That was a question she had not dared to bring up yet.
"Ya done witthat yet, Rio?" Colt asked, bringing her thoughts back to the present.
She looked down at the glass she was holding and realized that it had been dried more than thoroughly. Perhaps she still had much more to learn from Sven on the ability to concentrate on the present.
"Yeah, sorry," she smiled sheepishly handing the glass to Monty to put away.
"No need ta be sorry," Monty laughed. "Since ya got "˜ere, I git "˜ome much mo' quickly!"
"That a fact?" Colt asked him, trying to cover his amusement with a mock scowl.
"That it is, bossman!"
After another ten minutes of cleaning and straightening, they were able to leave for the night. Monty had offered to drive her home, but Rio declined, preferring to walk. She made her way leisurely down the deserted street, to the dirt road that would eventually lead past Justin's ranch. Just as she passed by a street lamp she noticed a hand printed signed taped to the pole. Curious about its contents she stopped to read it:
WARRIOR SERIES TRYOUTS
If you've got a mean streak and want or need a lot of cash, then come try out for one of the highest paying fight clubs in South America. Casually interested parties need not apply.
The ad gave the address of a warehouse in the next town, a date, and a phone number to schedule a time. Two weeks from then? Hmm. Could she really be interested in such a thing? But it promises high pay. Ben's bills needed to be paid. But would her trainers allow it? Rio's face suddenly set in determination. Just who the hell's life is it anyway? I think I can compete in this fight club thing. Wrestling wouldn't pay very well in the beginning and I need the money now. My house depends on it. Making her mind up, she strode home quickly.
---------------------------------------
The slamming door brought Justin and Sven's attention away from the nightly news broadcast. Rio entered the room with shoulders squared and eyes sharp, as if she were ready for a confrontation. Sven lifted a blonde eyebrow and traded wary glances with Justin.
"I have found what I need to do," she said before they could question her demeanor.
"What you need to do, sweet one?"
"Yes," she looked at Sven now. "I need to leave you."
"Like hell you do!" Justin erupted from his chair.
His normally calm exterior was abruptly dropped in favor of the forbidding guardian. Rio rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, apparently ready for a tirade. Sven looked between the two of them and noted that they wouldn't solve the current disagreement without his presence, so he resigned himself to the task of peacemaking.
"Yes," Rio said quietly. "It is time."
Justin opened his mouth to voice his contradictory opinion when Sven placed a hand on his arm and quelled him with a glance. The dark-haired man grunted but threw himself back down onto his chair heavily.
"What has prompted this decision?" Sven asked Rio.
"I saw a sign," she shrugged.
"A sign?"
"An advertisement."
"I see. What did this advertisement say exactly?"
Rio sighed dramatically and shook her head. She should have known there would be trouble with these two. But she wouldn't waiver. This was her decision to make, not theirs.
"There is a South American "¦ club looking for competitors. Tryouts will be held in two weeks in the next town."
"You are not "¦!" Justin was cut off by another quelling glance from Sven.
The blonde man knew Rio was getting antsy about the medical bills she owed, yet she refused to discuss these with him and Justin. He also knew that she was determined to pay the debts back and preserve her house in Chelsea. Though Justin couldn't understand why she refused to ask for their help, Sven knew. Rio had spent her whole life at the mercy of others and was unwilling to do so anymore. She would pay the debts back and gain a measure of satisfaction that she relied on no one but herself to do it.
But this fight club "¦ and Sven wasn't naïve, he knew that was exactly what it was "¦ was a very risky way for her to go. Could she survive in such a world? He knew they'd trained her well. So well, in fact, that she nearly rivaled their own abilities both in fighting and sensing danger. There really wasn't anything else they could teach her. But in a fight club, Rio would have to learn to injure her opponents without a second thought "¦ or risk permanent injury herself. She was still an innocent to that kind of world.
"I do not think you can handle working in a fight club," Justin finally said, speaking Sven's thoughts exactly.
"I never said "¦"
"You did not have to," Sven pointed out. "We are aware of the kind of company that would post such an advertisement."
"Look," she seethed. "This is not a debate. I am the one making this decision. I need to do this."
"Why?"
Rio glared at him hotly. He knew she wouldn't answer, at least not with the truth. Yet he also knew she was right in that it was her decision to make. They had passed the point where they fretted about her doing harm to herself and were now actively worried that she would do harm to someone else she perceived as a threat. There was no way for them to help her ease her rage if she couldn't fight. And yet Justin's concern was valid. Rio, or Tara, as that was really who she was deep inside, did not condone unnecessary violence ... to the point where she'd made Justin promise her he would never kill another man in her defense again.
It had been a stark revelation for Sven, that day, a couple of months after they'd started training her to fight. He'd assumed that she'd buried the memories of what had happened in that cabin deep in her mind. But when Justin had grabbed a cowboy visiting for a local rodeo and threatened to beat the life out of him for daring to touch Rio, she intervened. When the hapless youth scurried away, she explained that she'd already witnessed him kill two men in her defense and refused to allow it to escalate. That Justin was too good of a man to go down that path. Little did she know that Justin had only recently given up a career in such a field. But he had reluctantly agreed when she adamantly demanded the promise.
"Sweet, it is a place where violence is the only way of life," the blonde man said solemnly. "You hate that way."
"I hate killing," she clarified in a cold voice brought to chill in her Russian accent. "But I have no trouble doling out violence to those who only understand such."
The two men traded a long calculating glance before turning back to her.
"Two weeks is not much time to prepare," Sven offered.
"What is to prepare?"
"You need a look," Justin sighed. "You cannot go in as yourself. If you do not sell them on a look it will not matter how well you fight."
Rio nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, then. I will work on that tonight." Without another word she bounded up the stairs to her room.
---------------------------------------
"She cannot do this!" Justin groused pacing the floor for the millionth time since Rio arrived home with her news.
"We cannot stop her."
"But!"
"Justin," Sven said, stepping into his lover's path to stop him. "We cannot stop her. We knew she would go into some sort of competition when she was done training."
"Who says that she is done?"
Sven raised his blonde eyebrow again.
"Okay," Justin sighed. "I suppose that we have taught her all that she can learn. But that does not mean she is prepared for this fight club."
"Her debts have no doubt played a part in this decision. She worries her house will be taken from her if she falls further behind in the medical payments."
"We can pay them for her!"
"But she will never accept that," Sven said softly. "You know as well as I do that she needs to pay them off on her own."
"I do not like the idea of her out there by herself!"
"Ah, but who said she will be?" Sven smirked.
"She would not allow us to accompany her!"
"Who ways she has to know?"
Justin stared at Sven for a long moment before his own lips kicked up into a smirk and he pulled his lover to him.
"You," he said to the smiling blonde, "are a very devious man."
"I know."
It had been just over five months since she started at the bar, and she'd made enough money to make regular payments on her mortgage for the house. But she still had some steep and unpaid hospital bills from when Ben died, and she wasn't sure how long it would take before the bill collectors started clamoring for what was owed. She hated to leave anything of Ben's unpaid, as he'd done so much for her. She felt it was the least she could do. Plus, they could eventually go after her other property for the money "“ namely, her house. And that wouldn't do as it was all she had left of Ben, and she intended to keep it.
At least living in Montana kept the old memories for overwhelming her. And Ben's mother had no way of contacting her now. Perverse curiosity had gotten the best of her one day and she'd tried to retrieve messages from her answering machine back in Massachusetts "¦ only to discover that Justin and Sven had disabled the thing before leaving. She'd asked them about it casually at dinner and they'd just shrugged, telling her they felt it unnecessary since she wouldn't be returning for some time. While the explanation made sense, it irked Rio to realize that the two men still had every intention of interfering in her life. When would they deem her sufficiently able to care for herself? That was a question she had not dared to bring up yet.
"Ya done witthat yet, Rio?" Colt asked, bringing her thoughts back to the present.
She looked down at the glass she was holding and realized that it had been dried more than thoroughly. Perhaps she still had much more to learn from Sven on the ability to concentrate on the present.
"Yeah, sorry," she smiled sheepishly handing the glass to Monty to put away.
"No need ta be sorry," Monty laughed. "Since ya got "˜ere, I git "˜ome much mo' quickly!"
"That a fact?" Colt asked him, trying to cover his amusement with a mock scowl.
"That it is, bossman!"
After another ten minutes of cleaning and straightening, they were able to leave for the night. Monty had offered to drive her home, but Rio declined, preferring to walk. She made her way leisurely down the deserted street, to the dirt road that would eventually lead past Justin's ranch. Just as she passed by a street lamp she noticed a hand printed signed taped to the pole. Curious about its contents she stopped to read it:
WARRIOR SERIES TRYOUTS
If you've got a mean streak and want or need a lot of cash, then come try out for one of the highest paying fight clubs in South America. Casually interested parties need not apply.
The ad gave the address of a warehouse in the next town, a date, and a phone number to schedule a time. Two weeks from then? Hmm. Could she really be interested in such a thing? But it promises high pay. Ben's bills needed to be paid. But would her trainers allow it? Rio's face suddenly set in determination. Just who the hell's life is it anyway? I think I can compete in this fight club thing. Wrestling wouldn't pay very well in the beginning and I need the money now. My house depends on it. Making her mind up, she strode home quickly.
---------------------------------------
The slamming door brought Justin and Sven's attention away from the nightly news broadcast. Rio entered the room with shoulders squared and eyes sharp, as if she were ready for a confrontation. Sven lifted a blonde eyebrow and traded wary glances with Justin.
"I have found what I need to do," she said before they could question her demeanor.
"What you need to do, sweet one?"
"Yes," she looked at Sven now. "I need to leave you."
"Like hell you do!" Justin erupted from his chair.
His normally calm exterior was abruptly dropped in favor of the forbidding guardian. Rio rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, apparently ready for a tirade. Sven looked between the two of them and noted that they wouldn't solve the current disagreement without his presence, so he resigned himself to the task of peacemaking.
"Yes," Rio said quietly. "It is time."
Justin opened his mouth to voice his contradictory opinion when Sven placed a hand on his arm and quelled him with a glance. The dark-haired man grunted but threw himself back down onto his chair heavily.
"What has prompted this decision?" Sven asked Rio.
"I saw a sign," she shrugged.
"A sign?"
"An advertisement."
"I see. What did this advertisement say exactly?"
Rio sighed dramatically and shook her head. She should have known there would be trouble with these two. But she wouldn't waiver. This was her decision to make, not theirs.
"There is a South American "¦ club looking for competitors. Tryouts will be held in two weeks in the next town."
"You are not "¦!" Justin was cut off by another quelling glance from Sven.
The blonde man knew Rio was getting antsy about the medical bills she owed, yet she refused to discuss these with him and Justin. He also knew that she was determined to pay the debts back and preserve her house in Chelsea. Though Justin couldn't understand why she refused to ask for their help, Sven knew. Rio had spent her whole life at the mercy of others and was unwilling to do so anymore. She would pay the debts back and gain a measure of satisfaction that she relied on no one but herself to do it.
But this fight club "¦ and Sven wasn't naïve, he knew that was exactly what it was "¦ was a very risky way for her to go. Could she survive in such a world? He knew they'd trained her well. So well, in fact, that she nearly rivaled their own abilities both in fighting and sensing danger. There really wasn't anything else they could teach her. But in a fight club, Rio would have to learn to injure her opponents without a second thought "¦ or risk permanent injury herself. She was still an innocent to that kind of world.
"I do not think you can handle working in a fight club," Justin finally said, speaking Sven's thoughts exactly.
"I never said "¦"
"You did not have to," Sven pointed out. "We are aware of the kind of company that would post such an advertisement."
"Look," she seethed. "This is not a debate. I am the one making this decision. I need to do this."
"Why?"
Rio glared at him hotly. He knew she wouldn't answer, at least not with the truth. Yet he also knew she was right in that it was her decision to make. They had passed the point where they fretted about her doing harm to herself and were now actively worried that she would do harm to someone else she perceived as a threat. There was no way for them to help her ease her rage if she couldn't fight. And yet Justin's concern was valid. Rio, or Tara, as that was really who she was deep inside, did not condone unnecessary violence ... to the point where she'd made Justin promise her he would never kill another man in her defense again.
It had been a stark revelation for Sven, that day, a couple of months after they'd started training her to fight. He'd assumed that she'd buried the memories of what had happened in that cabin deep in her mind. But when Justin had grabbed a cowboy visiting for a local rodeo and threatened to beat the life out of him for daring to touch Rio, she intervened. When the hapless youth scurried away, she explained that she'd already witnessed him kill two men in her defense and refused to allow it to escalate. That Justin was too good of a man to go down that path. Little did she know that Justin had only recently given up a career in such a field. But he had reluctantly agreed when she adamantly demanded the promise.
"Sweet, it is a place where violence is the only way of life," the blonde man said solemnly. "You hate that way."
"I hate killing," she clarified in a cold voice brought to chill in her Russian accent. "But I have no trouble doling out violence to those who only understand such."
The two men traded a long calculating glance before turning back to her.
"Two weeks is not much time to prepare," Sven offered.
"What is to prepare?"
"You need a look," Justin sighed. "You cannot go in as yourself. If you do not sell them on a look it will not matter how well you fight."
Rio nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, then. I will work on that tonight." Without another word she bounded up the stairs to her room.
---------------------------------------
"She cannot do this!" Justin groused pacing the floor for the millionth time since Rio arrived home with her news.
"We cannot stop her."
"But!"
"Justin," Sven said, stepping into his lover's path to stop him. "We cannot stop her. We knew she would go into some sort of competition when she was done training."
"Who says that she is done?"
Sven raised his blonde eyebrow again.
"Okay," Justin sighed. "I suppose that we have taught her all that she can learn. But that does not mean she is prepared for this fight club."
"Her debts have no doubt played a part in this decision. She worries her house will be taken from her if she falls further behind in the medical payments."
"We can pay them for her!"
"But she will never accept that," Sven said softly. "You know as well as I do that she needs to pay them off on her own."
"I do not like the idea of her out there by herself!"
"Ah, but who said she will be?" Sven smirked.
"She would not allow us to accompany her!"
"Who ways she has to know?"
Justin stared at Sven for a long moment before his own lips kicked up into a smirk and he pulled his lover to him.
"You," he said to the smiling blonde, "are a very devious man."
"I know."