Post by Dave on Sept 17, 2012 9:46:07 GMT -5
They just stood there, looking in each other's eyes. Nobody said anything, but the staredown was worth a million words for each of them. After few seconds, Stryker extended his hand.
"It's been a long time, old friend," Adam said, almost whispered, with his typical wicked smile, finally breaking the silence. "It's been a long time since the Echoes last built their kingdom from ashes--"
"--of everything that stood in their way, I remember the phrase," said Blaze, interupting Stryker and wearing a smile of his own, perhaps more sentimental. "But I think that after more than a year that we've walked our own specific ways, Echoes are in ashes too," he added. Then he shooked Stryker's hand.
"You know how good we used to be in building from those ashes... and when I take a look at our careers, after solving our problems we've gotten even better, Raiden, I'm sure with that."
Blaze wasn't that sure.
"I am my own man, Adam, just as you are. We are similar in lots of ways, we've had similar problems, but each of us is now walking his own path. You chose to make people cover their eyes in fear, I chose to make them gaze with those eyes at the things I can do in the ring. And only one of us chose right..."
Stryker shook his head. In his face you could see the mix of incomprehension and rejection. He got angry.
"Yeah, Rai, only one of us and that very guy happens to be me... I thought that we both got our shit together, but you seem a lot more messed up to me now. Look at yourself, trying to be a poster boy, face of something, a hero... you're no hero for these people, Raiden! People never did anything good for you and you don't owe them anything! It's not a fucking popularity contest, Blaze, there are no judges and juries when it comes to wrestling. And if you want to be succesful, there also have to be no limits. Remember this, brother. You'll always be my very best friend in this lonely life of mine, and when you'll need me, I'll always have your back. But don't you try to stand in my way, 'cause when I'm in the ring, I don't see friends, just people I need to destroy, so if I'll ever need to go through you, no matter if I have to break your leg, snap your neck... friendship will go aside. I'll do that. You can learn to live with this... or embrace our old ways again."
Then Stryker left, just like that. Giving his old friend really something to think about.
"It's been a long time, old friend," Adam said, almost whispered, with his typical wicked smile, finally breaking the silence. "It's been a long time since the Echoes last built their kingdom from ashes--"
"--of everything that stood in their way, I remember the phrase," said Blaze, interupting Stryker and wearing a smile of his own, perhaps more sentimental. "But I think that after more than a year that we've walked our own specific ways, Echoes are in ashes too," he added. Then he shooked Stryker's hand.
"You know how good we used to be in building from those ashes... and when I take a look at our careers, after solving our problems we've gotten even better, Raiden, I'm sure with that."
Blaze wasn't that sure.
"I am my own man, Adam, just as you are. We are similar in lots of ways, we've had similar problems, but each of us is now walking his own path. You chose to make people cover their eyes in fear, I chose to make them gaze with those eyes at the things I can do in the ring. And only one of us chose right..."
Stryker shook his head. In his face you could see the mix of incomprehension and rejection. He got angry.
"Yeah, Rai, only one of us and that very guy happens to be me... I thought that we both got our shit together, but you seem a lot more messed up to me now. Look at yourself, trying to be a poster boy, face of something, a hero... you're no hero for these people, Raiden! People never did anything good for you and you don't owe them anything! It's not a fucking popularity contest, Blaze, there are no judges and juries when it comes to wrestling. And if you want to be succesful, there also have to be no limits. Remember this, brother. You'll always be my very best friend in this lonely life of mine, and when you'll need me, I'll always have your back. But don't you try to stand in my way, 'cause when I'm in the ring, I don't see friends, just people I need to destroy, so if I'll ever need to go through you, no matter if I have to break your leg, snap your neck... friendship will go aside. I'll do that. You can learn to live with this... or embrace our old ways again."
Then Stryker left, just like that. Giving his old friend really something to think about.