● "you're better than that." [flobros vs. king ging & stain]

[Thadd 2 Badd]

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March 13th, 2018 ● Summit, New Jersey ● Equinox

Last night had been rough for Thadd. His brat of a little sister had known exactly what to do to get under his skin and for once, the laid-back bro just couldn't let it go. It was one thing for her to get suspended from school, but it was another thing entirely for Emi to be horrible to their grandmother and get kicked out. All over a fucking boy.

Logan Carter.

Thadd still couldn’t wrap his head around how things had escalated at the FloBro’s apartment the previous night.

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“Why would who Logan sticks his dick in be any concern to you?”

Crosby snorted. He couldn’t help it.

Emilia shot him the dirtiest look ever. “Because he’s my best friend and I don’t want his reputation ruined, duh.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m staying here whether you like it or not. You’re fucking two hoes so you can't fucking lecture me.”

“Emilia…” Thadd’s voice had an edge too it. Clearly she’d struck a nerve.

“Not to mention,” she continued on, in full blown brat mode. “I did something for you I could go to jail for. So like you owe me your whole fucking life.” She stuck her tongue out at Thadd and stormed off down the hall. Thadd clenched his jaw as he heard his bedroom door slam.

“What'd she mean by that? What the fuck kind of crime could Em J possibly commit?” Crosby asked, curiosity piqued.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Thadd turned and stormed out the front door, slamming it shut behind him.

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“Thaddeus!”

The impatient voice of Thadd’s favorite client, the old but filthy rich Agnes Pettyfer-Dubrielle completely snapped the bro out of his zone. Thadd had been a million miles away, replaying the fight with Emilia in his head. After electing not to return home the previous night, the bro knew that he'd have to suck it up and have a conversation with his sister at some point today.

“Yo!” Thadd flashed his charming smile at Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle. “Sorry.”

His client sat down the light weights she had been working with and shook her bleached blond head. “It always amazes me how much you remind me of my late son.”

Thadd had heard every single story it seemed about Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle’s beloved son First Lieutenant Scott Dubrielle. He really hoped she wasn’t about to tell him about how the good son had died in Iraq again and got a Purple Heart Award. Today was not the day he could pretend to be interested.

“He was handsome, just like you, but always a million miles away. I can’t begin to fathom what he went through overseas but he was always distracted. Do you have a lot on your mind, Thadd?”

She really had no clue. Thadd’s life was a mess. Despite being happy with Athena, the bro missed Azalea. She was his first love and despite her bitchy way of expressing herself, Az just wanted him to get the most out of his talent. She was under his skin and Thadd loved her. Thadd also loved his Gram and his little sis, and whatever drama they had between them left him torn in two. Thadd appreciated and respected his grandmother more than he was capable of expressing, but Emilia Jane was like his own child. Thadd was very weak when it came to Emi, unable to say 'no' to anything she asked him for. Their bond was super tight, and Emi was the one Thadd had gone to when he needed help finalizing his deal for The Factory. Carysn wouldn’t have helped him. She would have just told him to be patient and to wait for his body to completely heal. And she would told Crosby what was really going on. Emi was young and easy to manipulate, and had done what was asked of her.

Which brought Thadd's drama to The Factory.

Thadd’s opportunity at an actual wrestling gig and now some fuck wanted to screw with it. Dirk Oswald’s words kept echoing in Thadd’s head and the 23-year old just couldn’t wrap his mind around any of it. What did Oswald possibly think Thadd could do for him?! He certainly couldn't help him get to the top. After Warzone I, Thadd had barely been able to walk the next day. All the painkillers in the world hadn't helped him get out of bed that next morning.

“I do have a lot going on right now,” Thadd agreed. “But that’s no excuse for neglecting my favorite girl.”

Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle rolled her eyes. “Now you know I’m immune to your BS. Is there anything you want to talk about?”

About his screwed up life? Thadd wasn’t going there.

"Not particularly," Thadd carefully replied and swiped a hand through his sweaty, yet somehow still perfect hair. Unlike some people, Thadd didn't need a hairbrush to keep his locks looking perfect (duh, Dirk). #Blessed. “Just thinkin' about work next week and how my bro and I are gunna pick up our second win."

Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle tsked. “I watched that mess last week. How in the world did your friend get his head busted open and continue on with the wrestling contest? How did the girl and the beefcake not capitalize on that?"

An actual grin finally touched Thadd's face. “Cros is indestructible, which is one of the biggest advantages we have going for us. He can take a sick amount of punishment and somehow still end up a winner in the end. Did you really watch the show?"

"I did my best to sit through it, but honestly, it was a little much. I had to turn if off once Sebastian Fournette started getting whipped with that ridiculous chain. I always wondered what happened to those two; Sebastian and his beautiful partner Aurora. Like everyone else, I was horrified to watch what happened to those poor kids in Sochi. Never in my wildest dreams did I think they would end up here. My heart just broke for them all over again." Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle sighed so sadly. "Do you think you could get them to sign a poster for me?"

“Probably not." The bro shrugged his broad, muscular shoulders. “I mean Stain is one of my opponents this week. He's gunna be real pissed at me when I exploit that back of his that probably isn't healed, and go after his girl. It might not be the most ethical thing in the world, but Rora is a major weakness and neither Cros nor I want Stain focused on the match."

"You're not fighting Aurora Vaillancourt as well, are you?" Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle seemed genuinely horrified at the thought.

Thadd thought it would be better to keep the perv remark that came to mind to himself. "She's not officially in the match, no. Stain's teaming up with some ginger freak. Now Agnes, this dude has some major anger issues. He's already pissed someone royally off. A masked bro came and attacked him like it was some epic plot twist during his match with Dickie Watson. Dude will have to look over his shoulder come Monday, and how will be able to focus on FloBros if he's doing that? He's not an in-ring genius and he's teaming with someone he doesn’t like. He already posted a threat on social saying he would break Stain's arm. That's not bro-like."

Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle 'mmhmmed.' After a moment, she looked at her watch. "So can I assume that we're done for today?"

“I guess so. Smoothie's on me today."

The older woman smiled fondly at her trainer. "You will still help me pack up my son's things tomorrow, right?”

“Of course,” Thadd replied. "My last client comes in at three, so I'll be over before five."

"You're a blessing. I know I should have done it sooner, but moving Scott's things... well it's just hard. But it's been six months now. He died a hero.” Mrs. Pettyfer-Dubrielle paused for a moment. "You know, you and Scott are around the same size. If you see anything you like, feel free to take it. I will just be donating it anyway.”

Thadd was about to decline, but then remembered something else Dirk Oswald had said. "Yo, did your son have any suits? Like with a coat and tie? That sort of thing?"

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March 13th, 2018 ● Woodbridge, New Jersey ● FloBro's Shitty Apartment

"So you did stay."

Emilia looked up from her spot on the couch and rolled her eyes. “And I will literally lock myself in your room forever if you try and start shit with me today.”

Thadd knew she wasn’t joking. Emi was a fighter just like he was. He sat down beside her, his expression serious for a change. “I’m not trying to start anything with you, but I’m not going to pretend like any of this is okay. You’re one of the smartest people I know, Em. You’ve always been great at the whole school thing. Failing and fighting when you’re so close to graduating is not cool."

“Well there’s nothing we can do now,” she replied, but she wasn’t being flippant. Emilia didn’t want Thadd disappointed in her anymore than he wanted to fight with her. "Gram hates me."

“Nah, she's just pissed but your bro is here for you. You can talk to me and we can always work through shit.” Thadd paused for a second. “I know I’ve been shit to you since my injury and haven’t been there, and I’m sorry for that. But you’re a big part of what I’m doing now and I promise you, I’ll make everything up to you.”

“Just beat the ginger king and stupid figure skater, okay? Like I don’t even care about the past. It’s whatevs, Thaddy. Declan was so rude to me and Cars on social.”

Thadd playfully ruffled Emi’s hair, something he’d been doing forever. “Don’t worry kiddo. Stain and Declan aren’t even a real team. I don’t think the skater can work with anyone but his chick, and she’s not going to be much help. Carsyn is going to make sure she can’t make it to Stain. For all this great training he claims to have, dude needed Rora to help make a pin on someone who’s never had a match before. King Ginger of Soul-Less Mountain threw everything he had at Dickless and couldn’t put him away. How can he expect to beat us in our own backyard when he couldn’t finish off someone who doesn’t specialize in the extreme? We have this match in the bag. Ging has to many injuries to pick on and Stain doesn’t have enough experience. Goschgay found out the hard way last week that wrestlers can’t deal with the bros. The only thing more gay than that is a figure skater pretending to be a submission expert. Fuck Stain and fuck Declan. Flobros are gunna kick 'em and beat 'em, and turn our attention to Battle Royale. Co-Bro champs?”

Emi scrunched up her face. “Please. My money is on Cros.”

“Gee thanks.”

Emi shrugged, indifferent. “I mean, I’m still salty AF you wanted me to live on the street last night.”

Thadd sighed. “The only thing I’m going to say is this. You’re actually an adult, as fucked as that is. But you’re still my little sister. If you are fucking around with Logan, dude don't let me find out about it. And don’t let that be the reason you throw your fucking life away. You’re the only one out of us that has a chance. We made our decisions and I have no regrets about mine. But you’re better than Woodbridge. You deserve more.” He chucked her under the chin and got up, ignoring the twinge in his hip.

Emi bit down on her bottom lip. “Thaddy?”

“Yea?”

“I flushed your painkillers down the toilet last night. You’re better than that.”