Post by Sahara on Nov 10, 2022 12:32:21 GMT -5
THE DUKE PENTHOUSE
Post Massacre
Post Massacre
There was a slight knock on the door to Thaddeus’s home office. So light he almost didn’t hear it. Then it came again, only this time, a bit louder. Without looking up from whatever it was he was reviewing, he absently remarks, “It’s open…”
Frankie, his adopted son, peeks his head in the door–
“Dad…”, there was obvious sadness in his little voice.
Turning to his son, Thaddeus gave a hint of a smile, “What’s up, kiddo? Something wrong?”
“Yeah. Something’s wrong with mom, she… won’t get out of bed and she’s been crying–”
He brushed off his son's concern, “She’s just being a sore loser, don’t worry about it… she’ll get over it. She always does this.”
But he could see it in his son's eyes, this explanation wouldn't do.
“I don’t know. I’ve–I’ve never seen her like this…”
“She’s probably just embarrassed after last night… that whole fiasco with Mason and whatnot. Like I said, she’ll get over it–”
“Dad?” Even though it was a question, it sounded like more of a statement.
Leaning his head back, Thaddeus sighed.
“Fine… I’ll go talk to her if it’ll make you feel better.”
“It will.”
Pushing himself up out of his seat, Thaddeus made his way toward the door where his son was waiting. As he walked past him, he tousled his hair. “I’ll take care of it… don’t worry.”
He was lucky to have such a loving son. As was his wife. Lauren and Frankie had grown close these past months, after countless hours of gaming and hanging out together. What was once impossible for his wife – who is incapable of conceiving – was made possible through this sweet, loving boy.
He’d given her something she never thought she’d have.
A son.
Shaking off the many thoughts that danced around in his head as he made his way through the penthouse, Thad approached their bedroom door. It was cracked open just a little. Peering inside, he saw his lovely wife laying on her side on white linen sheets, her TransAtlantic championship beside her. She was still dressed in her ring gear, which she’d never removed the night prior. That wasn’t a very good night. Especially for her. But even from this distance, he could tell she’d been crying. Frankie was right, this wasn’t like her at all. Normally she’d have been throwing a fit and pitching a bitch about what went down, but laying here, sulking? It wasn’t like her.
He gently knocked, using his knuckle to push the door open as he did.
“Lauren–” he approached the bed and slowly took a seat on the edge of it. “Wanna talk?”
She mumbled something, but he couldn’t make it out.
He turned toward his wife, “What?”
Without lifting her head, she looked up at him through bloodshot eyes, “I said I’m done…”
“You’re done?!” His voice was a pitch above incredulous.
It was moments like this that weren't necessarily his strong suit as a young husband. Thaddeus Duke was a warrior with the heart of a lion. It was part of his upbringing. Duke’s didn't feel sorry for themselves after taking a loss. They got back on their feet, dusted themselves off, and worked to better themselves… and even if by marriage, Lauren was now a Duke.
For a fleeting moment, he thought this could serve as a moment of tenderness and understanding…
Or, Thad could Thad–
“Hell, you’ve been done since the day I got you that fuckin’ job.” Her eyes widened in surprise at his unexpectedly curt tone. “And me giving you this only made it worse…” He slammed his hand on the faceplate of her OCW TransAtlantic title.
“I gave you this title because I believed in you. I gave it to you so you could show everyone else what I see in you… what Frankie sees in you… to show ‘em who you really are!”
Thaddeus heaved a sigh.
“But maybe this is who you really are.”
Her face contorted as tears rolled down her cheeks, “Why are you doing this?!” She forced the words through her ever-growing sorrow…
“Because you don’t deserve this belt.” He paused for a moment, fighting an overwhelming feeling of empathy that attempted to take over. He quickly put up walls to prevent his heart from breaking as he told his wife what she needed to hear… not what she wanted to hear.
“Honestly, Lauren? You don’t even deserve this job…”
He should have stopped right then and there. It was already enough to send the message. But he thought, why not ice the cake?
“Now I see why FIGHT fired you.”
An angry cry escaped her lips and Thaddeus Duke turned away to hide the tears forming in his eyes. His love for his wife was unquestioned, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her… but that’s exactly what he just did. Because he felt he had to. It was a knife to her heart, and he knew it. We always know exactly how to hurt the people we love, and even though we know we shouldn’t, sometimes we can’t help but press on exposed nerves. With those comments, Thad knew he’d pressed.
What Thad didn’t see at that moment, however, was her own walls going up. Her quivering lip and those sapphire eyes darkening with an all consuming anger.
Her defense mechanism; Sahara.
Not the one you’ve seen in the ring. The one she couldn’t control. The one Thaddeus had been looking for since he stepped into that bedroom to prove his point, but–
The lamp shattering against the back of his head took him by surprise. Jumping from the bed, he turned to the woman he loved, grabbed the back of his head and looked at the blood on his fingers. With disbelief in his eyes, he looked back up at his enraged wife just in the nick of time. Another trinket from the nightstand flew past his head. He ducked. Her phone. He ducked again. Juking deftly like Neo, he dodged whatever she could throw as it went crashing into the wall behind him. He held out a hand, knocking something out of the air–
“LAUREN! WHAT THE FUCK!”
Dodging to the right, Thaddeus’s eyes widened as a miniature statue of the Virgin Mary shot past his face, scraping across his left brow. It stuck itself halfway into the drywall. Without pause, she jumped up on the bed and leapt at him. He caught her, but it sent both of them crashing into the already damaged wall. He tried to hook her, to tie her up, but she was slippery. And strong. Goddamn was she strong!
As the obscenities she screamed filled the room, Thaddeus fought to subdue her. Her anger at the world had boiled over, and she wasn’t stopping. She’d totally lost control. Grabbing him by the throat, she snarled something inaudible. He tried to pull her hand away, but she wouldn’t let go. She wouldn’t stop. Her grip tightened. He fought against every instinct he had to fight back, but knew he had to do something. Defensively, he went to grab her throat in return, but closed a white knuckled fist. He just wouldn’t allow himself to do it.
So he grabbed her in a bear hug and pulled her close, holding her tight. He spoke her name in a calm tone, despite the ensuing chaos.
“Lauren–”
She struggled.
“Lauren–”
She continued to struggle.
“Lauren–”
When he heard the sob escape her lips, he felt entire body relax. It was like all the anger and rage in the world had suddenly subsided.
Running a hand through her platinum hair, he kissed her on the forehead.
Moments passed…
“You need to learn to channel that…”
Through the sheer emotion of it all, she still got that confused look on her face, “What?”
“That anger within you, Lauren. Sahara. You need to learn to channel that part of you. To control it, and not let it control you. She can make you strong, but as you can see, she can also be your worst enemy.”
He always knew she had the heart of a lion… despite what the naysayers might say.
“That unhinged rage opened you up and had I chosen to do it, I could've hurt you. Just like your opponents have.”
He could feel the regret in her voice, “I don’t know what just happened to me… It’s like, lately I just… I’m losing myself.”
Thaddeus sighed.
“Well, this was partially my fault. I was trying to show you that wallowing in self-pity won’t fix anything and maybe I cut a bit too deep–”
She suddenly pressed her lips against his, taking him by surprise–
“What the hell is goin’ on in here?!” Frankie Duke burst into the room. “Were you guys fighting?!”
Berta, the Duke’s housekeeper caught up to Frankie. She rolled her eyes as she looked around at the absolute mess of a room. A shattered lamp on the bed, broken statues, you name it… her gaze fell to Sahara and Thad. She saw that look in their eyes…
“Idiots.” Nudging Frankie, she motioned toward the door, “C’mon, kid, we don’t wanna be here for this next part.”
Frankie looked at his parents and a disgusted look came over his face, “Eew… makeup sex!”
Thad and Sahara both attempted to not laugh as Berta lightly smacked him on the back of the head, “Get a move on!”
As the door closed behind them, Sahara looked to her husband…
“Now where were we?”