"Tying Loose Ends."

Lights Out! Eighteen has passed and, once again, it didn’t end quite the way Noah and Rumble had planned. In another controversial finish, the Outliers defended their Battalion championships against the Firing Squad. One day removed from the event, Noah boarded the next available flight from Tokyo, Japan to San Diego, California. After nearly 10 hours in the air, the plane finally touched down in San Diego, and Noah’s first stop was his apartment. He arrived and slept for a few hours before leaving again. His next destination would be Brooklyn Kanojvic’s apartment. He didn’t go up, though. He remained in his car, parked in the parking lot and phoned up. The phone wasn’t to his ear for more than two seconds before she answered, “Hello?”. “Hey.. it’s Noah.” He didn’t give her anytime to reply with the one hundred questions she has, he quickly followed up. “Can you come out? I’m outside of your apartment.” She would agree and Noah promptly hung up the phone. With a sigh, he reluctantly exited the car and walked around to the front, where he leaned against the hood and waited. A few moments later, Brooklyn came down the stairs that led up to her apartment. She eyed Noah and smiled a big smile as she approached. “Hey babe!” she exclaimed. “Where have you been and why haven't you come to see me - or answer any of my calls? I was told you were out of the Asylum months ago..” Her smile never faded, even though he never made eye contact with her yet.

His head was lowered slightly. His hair hung loosely in his eyes that never left the pavement. He allowed a few moments of silence before tilting his head up, his eyes lifting as well. Peering at her through strands of hair. “That’s what I need to talk to you about.” Her smile now began to fade. “I came here immediately after I left Hartland. I was going to surprise you, but then I saw something.,” - “What are you talking about, No?” she asked. Noah brought a hand up and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I came here and I saw you with someone else, Brooklyn. And honestly, that’s why I’ve ghosted you for the last month. I don’t want to talk about it, nor do I care for excuses.” He said bluntly. Her jaw hung ajar, and her eyes wide. She tried to get something out, but was immediately stopped by Noah. “You did what you did, and nothing you can say is going to change it Brooklyn. I don’t know how long it’s been going on and I don’t want to. I just know that what we had is over. After what I did for you. After everything, you threw it away for - presumably - one night.”

Brooklyn’s eyes began to tear up, and she opened her mouth to say something again - but was cut off by Noah again. “I took time to think about everything, and this is the only ending that I saw for us. If I can’t trust you when I was falsely put in an Asylum for you - how can I when I’m on the other side of the world?” Noah turned and walked back to the drivers side door of his car. Opening the door, he looked back at her. “Take care of yourself.” He said. He could have handled this completely different - he could have been the biggest asshole in the world. But instead, he entered his car and started it. Backing away, he left Brooklyn there - tears streaming down her face. Noah pulled out of the parking lot, eyes on the rearview - watching Brooklyn lean against the nearby mailbox - breaking down. His eyes narrowed, then left the rearview. Leaving her in the past.

--------

His next stop would be the Plant training facility. His mentor Andrew Wolfe was still injured, thanks to Sabina Sainte and Oceane Jordaine. Riley Calix stood outside of the ring set up in the middle of the facility, watching Tenleigh Frost and Tyler Wolfe running drills. Turning when he heard the door open, he watched Noah walk inside and quickly turned to cut him off. Riley and Noah have had a troubled history in So Cal Ultraviolent, and Riley wasn’t as quick to forgive and forget the things that Noah, probably, already forgot about. “What are you doing here, Reigner?” Riley’s voice kind of caught Noah off guard. Noah stopped and looked at him questionably. “What’s it to you, Calix?” - “This is actually my job here now. One of the trainers, so I think I get a say in who comes in and who doesn’t.” Riley’s voice indicated he was a little on edge. Noah shook his head at the attitude he was getting, a little dumbfounded. “Well, mister big bad protector of the Plant. If you must know, I’m here to check on Andrew.”

Riley’s breathing became labored, his blood beginning to boil. He was angry that one of his best friends was mercilessly attacked by two girls he didn’t even know. Somehow, Riley traced this back to Noah. It was Noah’s fault Andrew was there in the first place. It was Noah’s fault that his opponents decided to attack Andrew to try and get under his skin. In the ring, Tenleigh and Tyler both stopped doing what they were doing and now leaned against the top rope, looking down at the two former co-workers who stood almost face to face. “Way to really show ‘em at Lights Out - champ.” Tenleigh called out, mockingly and then laughed a little. Noah’s attention turned to the girls, and his eyes narrowed. Tyler smiled as well, “Yeah, you looked real good out there.” She winked and threw up the “o.k.” hand gesture, which garnered more laughter from Tenleigh as well. Noah shook his head, no sense in getting into it with these two. “Andrew’s in his office.” Riley snapped Noah’s attention back to him. And without saying another word, Noah pushed past Riley and walked into Andrew’s office.

“Noah, what are you doing here?” Andrew asked, a mix of curiosity and a hint of excitement in his voice as Noah entered his office. He sat behind a desk, his injured leg elevated onto another chair as he typed away on his computer. Likely typing up workout routines and schedules for his students. Noah’s eyes surveyed the scene in front of him. Andrew’s knee wrapped and braced as it healed. None of this was hidden by the gym shorts he wore in the facility. Noah slightly winced, before turning to Andrew again. “Just came to check on you.” Noah said before sliding down on the couch that sat adjacent to the desk. Andrew looked passed the screen, rolling the chair in which he sat, from behind the monitor. He wore a hint of a smirk on his face, eyeing Noah and shaking his head. “Are you sure that’s all? You came all the way here from Japan just to check on me.. I think a phone call would have sufficed, Noah.” Andrew called him out, and Noah remained silent. He knew his student, and knew something else was going on.

“It’s not about your match at Lights Out, is it?” Noah’s eyes lifted to Andrew. “Yeah, I saw what happened. It’s tough luck. The Outliers know how to play the game and cut every corner in order to come out looking better than others. Unfortunately for you, it’s happened to you twice. I hate to say it, but that’s why they’re the champions. They showed their experience over you guys. If you get a third try, you’re going to have to change your strategy.” Noah sat in silence, listening to his mentor and, perhaps, his closest friend. Even though it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear, he valued Andrew’s opinion. He’s learned a lot from the former So Cal Ultraviolent Trans-Pacific champion, but obviously not quite enough when you take in his recent failures against the Outliers.

Andrew took a moment before he continued. “It’s her, isn’t it?” He said in reference to Brooklyn. Noah snapped out of remembering the events of Lights Out when he heard him say that. “Yeah. I broke it off, finally.” - “Good. No offense, Noah, but you have shitty taste in women.” Andrew chuckled, which Noah didn’t find so funny. “Now you might be able to focus on wrestling, no?” Point. Noah nodded his head, knowing Andrew was right. “You need to take time off from that anyway. Get focused and train harder. You never know what’s right around the corner, Noah.” - “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. It’s for the better, anyway. If I have to worry about what’s happening when I’m away - then there’s no point of being in a relationship.” And by the nod of his head, Noah could tell that Andrew agreed.

“So you’ve come here to tie up loose ends with her, now that it’s over with - what are you planning on doing?” Andrew asked as Noah relaxed back in his chair. You could sense a heavy weight was off of his shoulders now having relieved himself of the situation Brooklyn put him into. “Well, honestly thought I would relax for a little while. I’m not booked for the next Lights Out event…” - “Relax? Kid. There’s no relaxing. We agreed that you need to refocus, yeah? So do it.” Noah looked back at Andrew, but had no time to reply before Andrew continued, “As you can tell, I’m a little busted up here so I can’t further my job training new students. You saw Riley out there, it’s not his job to train them, and Laine Pierce has taken time off recently. So, I need you to fill in.” Noah was a little taken back, but didn’t say a word.

“Tenleigh and Tyler out there; you remember them I assume?” - “Yeah.” - “Good. I want you to work very closely with them both. They have a lot of potential, and I’m not just saying that because Tyler is my sister. I want you to help round out their training, to help them get ready to reach out to companies and continue their careers. You’re more experienced now than Riley when it comes to world travel and understanding of different styles. Your insight will benefit them.” Andrew said, and Noah processed his idea. He had time, and he was going to be in San Diego for a little while. So why not? He shrugged his shoulders, “Alright. Let’s do it.” he replied, to which Andrew smiled. “Great, let’s go tell the girls.”

Andrew rolled his office chair back and, through the pain of moving his leg and putting a little weight on it, he stood up. Reaching behind him, he grabbed a crutch that leaned against the wall and placed it underneath his arm. He hobbled his way to the office door with Noah following. After opening the door and walking into the main area of the training facility, Andrew and Noah stopped in front of the ring, immediately grabbing the attention of Tenleigh, Tyler and Riley who was now in the ring, instructing them closer. “Ladies. For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to have Noah here work with you both. Riley has to attend to family issues, so Noah will be taking over. He’s wrestled in big companies and has traveled to many places, learning styles from those regions. You guys may learn a thing or two from him.”