Disclaimer: Not mine, no infringement/libel intended.
Rating: PG to R - m/f and m/m sexual content, coarse language
Continuity: TNA, 3PW, BCW, ROH - various. See endnotes for details.
Characters: (alphabetical) AJ Styles, Allison Danger, Chris Sabin, Christopher Daniels, Johnny Devine, Johnny Swinger, Petey Williams, Scott D'Amore, Simon Diamond, Trinity, Vince Russo
A Slice of Now
I. [TNA: October 29, 2003 - Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles]
AJ Styles is like gold. Pure gold. Radiant. Luminous. A precious commodity, sought by all. He doesn't know the power that he has over men. Such wondrous potential he contains. He is worth a king's ransom and doesn't even know it.
But like pure gold, he is too soft, too yielding. Malleability, however, is not something he will consider a fault.
AJ Styles merely requires strengthening.
He will be the steel to temper him.
*
II. [TNA: August 20, 2003 - Vince Russo, AJ Styles]
Life was fan-fucking-tastic.
Russo lounged back on the king-sized with his arms behind his head and thought: damn, Vince, you're fan-fucking-tastic. It was brilliance on his part, of course. Pure genius, if he said so himself. No one had seen it coming. No one could have ever guessed. Until WHAM BAM, it crashed through them all like that guitar over Jarrett's head.
Damn, he was going to treasure that moment for a lifetime.
The video had been filmed and sent off. He could only imagine how livid it would make Jarrett. The thought only made Russo grin harder.
The bathroom door slid open, and Russo turned his head.
Actually, wait, no. There was something better than slamming a guitar over Jarrett's head.
AJ Styles stood in the doorway of the bathroom, naked as the day he was born, a towel in hand, drying his privates in true jock fashion. There was a grin on his face, gleeful and happy, and it only made him appear all the more boyish.
Yes, Russo thought as the towel dropped to the floor. Much better.
*
III. [TNA: February 18, 2004 - Simon Diamond, Johnny Swinger]
Their first kiss had happened at the worst possible moment.
It wasn't backstage at the last ECW show, when adrenaline rushed as much as disappointment, when emotions ran high and people did stupid things because drama had taken hold and oh we'd all never see each other again.
No. It wasn't quite as momentous as that.
It happened in the parking lot of a closed Wendy's at three in the morning, when they'd looked at each other and thought the same thing at the same time: where the hell are we gonna go from here? A moment when Simon thought of his bank account, the mileage on his car, the rent he was behind on for an apartment he rarely slept in, and then the offer of a steady job from a friend he knew from college, and maybe, just maybe, as much as he loved wrestling, he should settle down, take it like a man.
And he could see that Swinger thought the exact same thing.
Then, suddenly, Swinger's mouth was on his, and he thought: well, maybe he could duke it out one more month.
It was their first and only kiss. Not passion, not need, just pure desperation, a clawing attempt to hang onto something that had been so very good. Partnership, camaraderie. Just someone there. Simon had been ready to let go, but he held on instead. Held on tight.
Simon stared at the clipboard, retrieved after the show's end.
They said friends made the best lovers, but also made the worst enemies. Well, they weren't ever lovers, but Simon knew he'd make Swinger pay.
*
IV. [TNA/BCW: June 2005 - Johnny Devine, Petey Williams]
Truth be told, he doesn't like Petey's apartment very much.
The place is small and cramped, the architecture somehow deliberately angled to make a tiny space even more claustrophobic. He knows Petey is small, but it's no excuse to live in a place meant for a munchkin. Good thing he held that opinion to himself, however, even if Petey's not particularly sensitive to comments about his size and height. Probably used to them by now, Johnny figures.
And then there's the clutter. It's not exactly messy, just... there is so much stuff. Magazines and video tapes and DVD boxes and CD cases and video game cartridges. It's always an obstacle course when he has to move about the place, and of course, he isn't allowed to rearrange anything to make life easier for himself, because if he touched Petey's things then Petey can't find them and then Petey will get annoyed with him.
But Johnny isn't going to complain. It was nice of Petey to have offered his place for him to stay while in Windsor. Granted, Johnny could have stayed with D'Amore, or even taken a room at Can-Am, but when Petey dangled his keys in front of him, Johnny had snatched them before Petey could laugh it off as a joke.
Maybe it was desperate of him, but he didn't care.
Johnny kind of cares now.
Because Petey is home for the next three days for a BCW show, and Johnny had imagined plenty of what it'd be like to share a roof with Petey Williams.
He just hadn't taken snoring into account.
*
V. [3PW: February 19, 2005 - Simon Diamond, AJ Styles]
The last time you saw him was at the Friday's after Turning Point.
The last time you talked to him was after a fan had wanted a picture of the two of you together.
You had smiled and indulged, and afterwards, you stood there and looked at him and wondered why you ever thought you could be anywhere else, anywhere but here, next to him, breathing the same air as him.
And then you remembered why you asked for your release when he shrugged his shoulders, excused himself, and went to talk to Jerry Lynn.
It's like some cosmic irony, then, that two months later, you get booked to have a singles match with him at 3PW. Your very first one with him, even though you've both been in the same company for over two years and it never happened there once.
You see him before the match, just to talk it out. He isn't a planner and neither are you, so the conversation is short. He doesn't ask how you're doing, so neither do you, but he seems fidgetty, though you pretend as if you hadn't noticed.
After the show, you're ready to go home and you're halfway to your rental when he crosses your path.
He wants to talk. There's something in his voice that gives you pause. The kind of something that hints at second chances and apologies, a reunion at Denny's and a I've-missed-you-so-goddamn-much blowjob and fuck at the nearest Motel 6.
And a part of you wants to go along, because you remember what you thought when you saw AJ for the first time with the eyes of a man in love: there is only one AJ Styles in this world and you better hang onto him, Simon Diamond, because you'll never find another one like him ever again.
You look at him now, and you can feel an echo of that thought inside you, something soft and tender, like a bruise that won't seem to heal, and all the temptations in the world is right there in AJ's eyes, yours for the taking. And then you remember the way he brushed past you at the Friday's and laughed with his friends, and AJ never means to be cruel, not then, not now, not ever, but he knows how to hurt you, and sometimes that's enough.
That's enough.
There may be only one of AJ Styles in this whole wide world, but even AJ Styles gets only one chance at breaking your heart.
*
VI. [ROH: February 2005 - Allison Danger]
You'll make them see.
You'll make them all see.
They think I'm crazy. They think I've gone mad, because you've been gone, and yes, it's been lonely without your guidance, but I know you'll come back to me soon.
You'll come back and make them all see the light.
Like you've made me see the light.
I've kept faith, Chris. I kept believing. They say the Prophecy is dead, but it lives on in my heart. I've kept it alive, for you, for your glorious return.
Soon, so soon, these fools will yield under your power, obey your gospel, and there is nothing they can do.
Except say their prayers.
*
VII. [TNA: September 2003 - AJ Styles, Trinity]
She has a laugh that's like sandpaper over rusted metal. Abrasive, harsh, but the laugh suits the woman, so brash, so confident, so filled with sass.
The other guys say she's too butch. Too rough. Doesn't know how to be a girl, doesn't know how to be soft. She doesn't know how to be like Desire, who's tough, who can tumble, but knows when to coo and coddle and whisper to her man. She doesn't coo, and she doesn't coddle. She hits and kicks and waggles her pierced tongue, grabs her crotch and flips you the bird.
Girls aren't like that where he comes from.
He's a smalltown boy, and she's a slice of the big city, and he desperately wants a taste.
He would do anything for a taste.
She eyes him with amusement as he lies there on the bed, and he knows that he's not worthy. It's only the belt, and Vince's persuasion, that could make a woman like her notice a boy like him. He doesn't mind. Just anything to make her see him is good enough for him.
Her smile is devious, and the look in her eyes makes him gulp. He remembers her voice in his ear earlier, and not even speaking at a whisper can make her voice dulcet. A taste, she would grant him. On one condition.
He stares at the condition between her legs right now. A strap-on with a thick dildo, slick and ready to go. She grins at him.
"You ready?"
He answers by spreading his legs.
*
VIII. [Can-Am: sometime 2001 - Petey Williams, Chris Sabin]
By second week in, Petey had gotten fairly good at ignoring the aches so he could sleep, though there were the occasional nights when other problems hindered his sleep, such as the light snoring of his roommate on the bunk below his. Tonight, however, much to his annoyance, it wasn't snoring that was keeping him awake.
Soft noises. Soft pleasured noises.
Sighing softly, Petey buried his face into the pillow and folded it over his ears, hoping to drown out the noise of Sabin jerking off just a few feet below him. It wasn't embarrassing so much as it was irritating. At least he had the decency to be quiet when he whacked off under the covers.
Soft, soft noises. Mmmm. Mmmmm. Mmmmm.
Jesus Christ. Enough was enough.
Petey leaned over the edge of the bunk, ready to tell Sabin to knock it off already, and then he found that Sabin wasn't jerking off after all.
*
IX. [TNA: March 2005 - Johnny Devine, AJ Styles]
His crutch went soaring past the end of the bed and nearly smashed into the TV. It should have cracked the screen; at least then he would have taken some vicious enjoyment in the destruction.
"Are ya sure that's a good idea?"
He looked up and found AJ Styles of all people standing in the doorway of his bedroom.
"What're you doing here?"
"Front door was open."
Johnny sighed, a rough push of air through his mouth, an expression of his annoyance. "No, what're you doing here?"
AJ walked in. Strolled in, not with the brash arrogance of one who expected things to give way to him, but with a sort of humble lightness that asked for permission even as he entered your space.
Sometimes Johnny found himself envying that grace.
"I was in the area, so I thought I should drop by, see how you were," AJ said as he pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down. Unable to help himself, Johnny shook his head, eyes closing as he lifted a hand and rested his forehead against his palm. Just like AJ Styles. Johnny was no fool; he knew the nearest event that could afford AJ was at least two hours away. "In the area", his ass. Sometimes AJ was so considerate that Johnny wanted to punch him in the face.
"So how am I?" Johnny muttered, trying hard not to think about his other crutch that was within reach.
"Well," and Johnny could hear the gentle smile in AJ's voice, "I can see that you've been better."
Johnny realized that AJ couldn't see him roll his eyes since he had them closed, but he was rolling them anyway. "Yeah, no shit." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, steadfastly ignoring AJ there.
"John."
The firmness in AJ's tone made Johnny tense. Slowly, he lowered his hand and looked over at AJ.
"I know you're angry, but don't take it out on me."
Quietly chastened, Johnny reached out after a moment and took AJ's hand. Squeezed, and was rewarded with a responding squeeze.
AJ Styles was many things, but a doormat he was not. And for that, Johnny was grateful.
*
X. [TNA: April 2005 - Scott D'Amore, Petey Williams]
It hurts, doesn't it?
To see him lying there, next to you, peacefully asleep, and he's so close -- so fucking close -- but he is so far away that he may as well be on the moon.
The untouchable Petey Williams, so calm, so stoic, hardly ever breaks a smile, but he smiles with you. Something soft, barely even there, but it lights his eyes, and you take satisfaction in being one of the few who can draw that out from him.
He's belly-down now, face half-buried in the pillow, back bared, sheets just barely coming up to the upper curve of his backside, and you know he's wearing nothing underneath. You touch his hair, those soft brown curls, tousled by your own hands, and every strand feels real between your fingers. Real and vivid and solid, and you never thought it was a dream, because not even dreams could feel this amazing.
He's young and gorgeous and perfect and he can have anyone he wants, and yet he's deigned to be with you. But you don't presume to know why he does what he does, and you're ashamed to realize that you don't want to question it as long as it keeps him here, on your bed.
But it hurts just the same.
And it's ironic, because you think that it would hurt less if he was using you, if he was playing you, and maybe you're a masochist for thinking so, but this kind of soft ache in your chest is worse than the bitter broken pain that would come with betrayal. This is worse, because deep down you know perfectly well why he's doing this. Why he comes to your bed and does whatever you say, body pliant under your touch, soft moans that sound so genuine in your ear that you can almost believe that he wants you just as much as you want him.
But he doesn't.
He does what he does because he loves you.
And that hurts the worst of all.
********
I. TNA: October 29, 2003 - This is just a week after AJ lost the heavyweight title to Jarrett along with Russo as manager and therefore promptly turned face. Daniels was in the middle of his cult leader gimmick, and he talked endlessly about bringing in someone. This was going to be full fic entitled "Metamorphosis", using Daniels in full cult leader mode and AJ as the frustrated seeker of the title.
II. TNA: August 20, 2003 - AJ was champion, won the title from Jarrett after Russo swerved and whacked Jarrett in the head with a guitar. Russo was AJ's manager, and that particular PPV, they aired a "vacation video" at a hotel where AJ talked about having no worthy challengers to his title.
III. TNA: February 18, 2004 - The PPV where Simon and Swinger broke up, when Simon found out that Swinger had signed Jarrett's loyalty oath.
IV. TNA/BCW: June 2005 - Johnny's recovery post-knee surgery, when he's training at D'Amore's Can-Am wrestling school in Windsor. As far as I know, Petey still lives in Windsor as well.
V. 3PW: February 19, 2005 - the snippet itself explains the setting: this is Simon and AJ's first single match ever and most likely their first meeting after Simon left TNA in December.
VI. ROH: February 2005 - storyline-wise, Daniels was put out of commission by CM Punk during the feud between the Prophecy and the Second City Saints. The Prophecy disintegrated completely, Allison went nuts, and started talking to a picture of Daniels. This is supposed to be Allison talking to Daniels' picture.
VII. TNA: September 2003 - AJ was champion, aligned with Russo, and therefore, in a way, S.E.X (Sports Entertainment eXtreme). Trinity, as a part of S.E.X., was AJ's valet.
VIII. Can-Am: sometime 2001 - going with onscreen canon, where Petey said that he and Sabin trained and graduated together, instead of RL canon, where they possibly did train together at Can-Am, but unlikely as classmates because Sabin had a 1+ year headstart. I split the difference between their debut (Sabin in 2000 and Petey in 2002).
IX. TNA: March 2005 - relatively soon after Johnny's knee surgery.
X. TNA: April 2005 - This really could be anytime early 2005, but I stuck it at April, because that's when Petey won the ECWA Super 8. It's that tournament that inspired the pairing.
Endnotes on Continuity: