The Road Back.

It was Arizona, so winter weather was at a ‘chilly’ Seventy degree (fahrenheit). It was enough to have Mikey Svarro wear a sweater, though, as he stood outside of the Hartland Asylum. His hands shoved into the pockets of his designer jeans, and he leaned against the Lincoln town car he had rented. All black, blacked out windows and windshield as well. All style for Mister Svarro. The gates of the Asylum were opened by a guard that stood by, and out walked Noah Reigner. He had been given the street clothes he wore upon his arrival, and that’s what he wore as he exited. His narrowed eyes found Mikey, who just smiled. “You’re sprung.” Mikey said, a joking tone in his voice. Noah approached the car and stopped, dropping his bag down between himself and Mikey. “How did you manage that?” Noah asked at the exact moment that he stuck out a hand to shake Mikey’s. Mikey reciprocated the handshake, while answering “Wasn’t me, kid. Turns out that trainer of your’s from back in California, knows quite a few people and pulled some strings.” Noah looked at Mikey inquisitively, but shrugged it off just as fast. He’ll talk to Andrew about it another time.

“So what’s next? I ran through that place like it was a joke.” Noah said, referring to the Asylum and it’s inmates. He was one of, if not the, most dangerous and impressive fighter on the ‘roster’, if you want to call it that. Mikey chuckled under his breath. “Maybe they should have called you up to the main roster of WWH, huh? No, my man, Union Battleground’s opened again for another season and you have been one of the guys they want to see back. You, myself and Rumble.” Noah’s emotions were mixed. He seethed when he heard Union, only due to the fault of the referee at Coupe de Grace. On the other hand, he enjoyed his run in Union with Rumble. “So you boys are coming back with me?” Noah asked as he bent down, lifting his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. “Well, Rumble’s back home taking care of some business and me? Well I’m keeping my options open for the moment. The place has to be right, you know what I mean?” Noah doesn’t verbally respond, instead he nods his head and begins to circle around to the other side of the car.

“But, good news for you is - you get a couple of days off before you have to leave for the next Union show. Hear you’re fighting Adrian Bruiser - and a guy you’ll remember from the U.K. - Alex Kincade.” Noah looked over the top of the car to Mikey, who shrugged his shoulder. Noah was familiar with Kincade, sure, but the two of them never crossed paths. There was once an idea, but it burned out before it actually happened. “Where am I off to?” - “Well now? I assumed you would go back to San Diego. But then? You’re expected to be in Sydney, Australia for January Fourteenth. You’ve come a long way from wrestling in a warehouse in some industrial section of San Diego.” Miley said with a chuckle at the end. He wasn’t wrong, though. Noah paused, thinking about that with a nod. It lasted a moment before he entered the car too.

He was off to San Diego.

Noah arrived in San Diego just a few hours ago. The time was now One A.M. in the morning. He went to his apartment not too far from where we’re at now, showered and changed. He had to look good for the first time he’s seen Brooklyn in months, amirite? Now he’s outside of her apartment. Roses in one hand, and his other hand fumbling through a ring of keys. Brooklyn had given him a key before he was relocated to the Hartland Asylum. Finding the appropriate key, he slips it into the lock and turns. Pushing open the door, he remains silent. It’s after one in the morning, calling out would be rude. As he enters, though, he notices a few lights still on. Nothing was thought of it. She must have forgotten to turn them off. On the table were stacks of papers and books, the subject of which being law. She must have been studying to try to help Noah to get out the Asylum. He reached out closing one of the books that was opened, and laid the roses ontop of it. He smiled to himself before removing his jacket, placing it on the back of the chair in front of him. He then turned to make his way to the hallway.

But something was wrong. He noticed her door was open slightly, and the light was on in there as well. As he walked down the hallway, he stepped by and over a few articles of clothing. More than the normal amount for one person. Again, he didn’t think anything of it, if he even noticed it. His eyes were fixated on the door that was left open. He crept closer, hearing muffled noises. Curiosity peaking, he had to figure out what it was. The smile that he wore proudly before was long gone. His heart began to beat faster as he was just steps away from the door. He took one step further and stopped, not to be completely at the door frame. Looking through the opening, what he saw made his heart drop. His breathing was sharp, and every inhale felt like he was being stabbed. He didn’t waste anytime, he turned and walked briskly down the hallway to the living room again. Grabbing his jacket, he left the apartment as quietly as he entered.

“I know what I saw, Andrew.” Noah said. He sat on the bleachers against the wall inside of the training facility that was linked to the So Cal Ultraviolent company. San Diego shut the company down for ‘promoting violence’, which Gage Landon and Colton Carter are currently in the process of fighting. It could have had something to do with Julian Cortez using the company as a drug front, too. Anyway. The training facility, independently owned, was able to stay open. Andrew, dressed in loose fitting workout clothes, had a towel around his neck that he dabbed at his brow. An early morning session with two girls unfamiliar to Noah. He stood in front of Noah, who held his lowered head in his hands. “It’s a shitty situation, Noah. Sorry to hear that. I guess months of you being away drove her to do it.” He said, very slightly shrugging his shoulders there at the end. Noah looked up. Bags developed under his eyes. He was tired now, it’s been more than twenty-four hours since he last slept. His bloodshot eyes lifted, finding Andrew. “I thought finding someone outside of the business would end up better than Aryanna. Guess I was wrong, it was worse.”

Andrew couldn’t help but to shake his head. His feelings toward Aryanna and her family, especially her father Julian, were well documented. “That relationship was doomed from the start. But kid, you had two bad relationships. Big deal. Sure, it sucks, but at the end of the day - it doesn’t define you. It’s life, it happens.” Andrew wasn’t really all that sympathetic. He was right, things happen and relationships end. It sucked the way it happened, and what Noah saw was all kinds of fucked up, but.. It’s life. “I know it’s tough to hear, but you gotta’ shake it. You have a big match in Australia in a few weeks. A chance to show Union Battleground that you’re more than a tag team wrestler.” Noah nodded his head, knowing Andrew was right. It was easier said than done, but it was what needed to happen. “You’re right, Andrew. I just gotta’ get my mind off of it and focus.” Andrew finally turned standing with his back to Noah, his eyes in front of him and a smile creeping to his face. “I know a way you can do that.” Andrew said, lifting his arm and motioning to the ring that had been erected in the facility. Inside of the ring, Andrew’s two students were practicing rolling and flipping into bumps. “Get in there and train with them.”

Noah’s eyes glanced into the ring. Andrew began to walk toward and the ring, and Noah reluctantly stood up, walked down the bleachers and followed his mentor. “Ladies; I’d like to introduce you to my first student - Noah Reigner.” By now the girls had stopped, and both sat on their knees, looking down to Andrew - and Noah who approached as Andrew said his name. “Noah. This is Tenleigh Frost - daughter of former professional wrestler and legend in his own right, Tyler Frost.” Andrew said, directing Noah’s eyes to the brunette in the ring. Tenleigh looked up at Andrew and rolled her chocolate brown eyes. "I literally told you to NEVER introduce me like that to anyone, EVER. I am more than just some deadbeat's daughter, duh. Like how many times do we have to go through this?!" Noah’s eyes widen, surprised by her outburst. Andrew chuckled to himself and turned to face the other woman in the ring.

“Do you remember when I met you down in the Asylum and told you I was training my sister? Well, this is her. Tyler Wolfe.” He smiled proudly to his sister. His sister folded her arms across her chest, unimpressed. “And I’m more than your little sister. Honestly, what have you even done except for train some loser who got his ass beat repeatedly in some drug cartel’s company and then ended up in an insane asylum. Like gold fucking star bro.” Noah looked a little shocked, and Andrew looked over to Noah. “She’s a firecracker, that one.” - “So you’ve done research, good for you.” Noah replied, climbing into the ring. He removed the shirt and jacket he wore, then kicked off his shoes. “But I’ve done more than lose a few matches in So Cal, and that Asylum you speak of - I never lost one match. I’ll show ya’ how I did it..” Noah replied with a sly grin. Tyler and Tenleigh, now standing and shaking their heads. “There ya’ go kid, get your mind back into wrestling.” Andrew said, turning and walking back to the bleachers.