Sunday, May 29, 2022

John Henry's Mettle - Part 4

"No, no, completely wrong!"

Colt's long, sweat-soaked hair fell over his handsome face. He leaned against the corner rope, panting heavily, perspiration dripping down his pectorals and abs, on to the floor. He spit angrily, wiped his mouth, and gave John Henry a wicked look.

"You're supposed to whip him into me so I can turn on the juice!" Colt said, circling his reluctant tag partner.

John Henry, in his signature overall singlet, folded his arms across his chest. He would not be dissuaded. The humid warehouse in which they trained, a rusty shack the locals so boldly called a 'professional spellbreaking gym' was an insult to them both. The heat wasn't helping either John Henry or Colt's mood either, of course. They'd been running drills and training for an hour and a half by now, trying to mold each other's move sets together, get a feel for how the other guy used their body and magick. 

So far, results were not looking great. 

As expected, Colt wasn't keen on feedback. John Henry provided it nonetheless. "And I say you're better using your bulk for most of the match, then using your powers at the end. You are a big boy, Colt, and you hit like a damn steam engine. But when it comes to magick, you're a glass cannon."

Colt reared back and looked at him like he was the most boring soul on Earth. "So, I wait until the end to turn on the lightning? Where's the spectacle in that, John?"

"It's not all about spectacle, cowboy! Hell, this match is gonna more about survival." John walked over to his partner--satisfied that he still had few inches of height (and more than a few pounds of muscle) on top of Colt. He clamped his hands down on Colt's traps-, with a half a mind to nerve claw him into compliance. Instead, he went for the gentle approach.

"Do you want your brains eaten?"

Colt looked into John's face before he removed his tag partner's grip. "Do you want that prize money?"

Damn fool has answer for everything! I should let those zombies eat him alive. "Colt," John Henry began with a prolonged sigh, "You're a good guy. I really love your spark. But have you ever taken a well-intended piece of suggestion from anybody in your whole damn life?"

The 'iron titan' expected another sassy remark. Instead, Colt leaned back against the ropes and looked towards the fanned window, at the bayou's hazy light. "...I just gotta make something of myself."

This was an odd, abrupt, introspective turn, Iron thought. This guy wasn't lying when he said he was like the storm--the climate inside his mind changed at least every two minutes. Still, John sensed he'd lowered his armor. Maybe the last few rounds knocking his skull around had actually worked, in a way.

"Why?" John Henry asked, taking a sip from a water jug tucked under the turnbuckle. 

"Lots of reasons," Colt whimpered. He wasn't making eye contact. 

"Goddess, Colton, I'm not here to be your therapist--I'm your tag partner."  John had met many other spellbreakers during his run, and if there's one thing he knew about them is that none of them were in anyway sane. Fame and adoration drove Colt. That much was certain. It was almost like the man was hungry for it. John Henry could only speculate what void inside his heart all of that glory filled.

"I think you got a lot of talent, cowboy. But you need to work with me here." Then, a lightbulb went off inside John Henry's head. "Hey, I have an idea. Let's nail these moves and then maybe you can...I dunno, teach me a thing or two about showmanship. Deal?"

The hamster on the wheel inside Colt's brain got to work. The handsome cowboy's face transformed from cold indignation to warm agreement. "Deal." And he shook on it too.

He'd be more likable if he was always this agreeable.

Training continued at a brisk pace, and Colt and John Henry both went through offenses and defenses with relatively little friction. After some civil arguing back and forth, and a longwinded dissertation from Colt on the importance and artistry of muscle flexing ("pec bounce to intimidate, bicep flex to get the crowd goin'"), the two men, soaked in their own sweat, sat on the bleachers.

Mr. Iron, for one, was glad they'd rented the place out for a few hours. Dealing with Colt was like talking to a whole party. Still, the fella had warmed to his spirit, despite the fact that he was a constant chatterbox. At least he wasn't arguing back anymore.

 "So," Colt began, "is that magi some kinda witch doctor guy?"

In his own head, maybe, John thought. "Look, you know this industry as well as I do. Managers love spellbreakers with gimmicks, even insulting ones. Clancy doesn't know a lick about voodoo, and a 'rougarou' is actually kind of like a type of werewolf, so I think he's just confused in his messaging."

Colt nodded, though John Henry wasn't sure if his words were going in one ear and out the other. "For me, the cowboy gimmick was easy. Hell, it was a part of my upbringing." Colt splashed his face with water, letting it run down his thick neck. John Henry hated to admit it, but he understood why Colt had so many female--and presumably male--fans. He was one damn fine specimen. 

"So what're you...y'know...supposed to be anyway?" Colt ask, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Oh he thinks he can tease me now, does he? John smiled. "The best gimmick in the whole, wide world. Myself. No, Colt, I could tell you all sorts of crazy shit managers have suggested. I get recommended the 'Tarzan' character a lot--not that I don't look good in animal print, mind--and that's probably the least insulting of the bunch. But one of the reasons I can tell you for a fact that I'm not getting ahead in this career is that...I refuse to play a character."

"Really? But you'd be great! I mean, maybe even as good as I am."

"Heh. I have a lot of pride. Let's just say, this line of work is friendlier to guys like you than it is to me. Besides, I have other aspirations."

"Such as?"

"Well, I'd like to find someone and settle down someday. Maybe start a business for myself. Don't get me wrong, spellbreaking is a hell of a lot of fun." John looked to the ring, the warehouse, and pictured a million different ways he'd make it better, cleaner, modern, and more comfortable for younger spellbreakers. "I'd probably be better teaching it than doing it."

"You sound like you know what you want." Colt nodded and gave his knew buddy a gentle cuff on his enormous arm. "Hey, let's throw a few back tonight. Whaddya say?"

The thought of Colt mixed with alcohol set off John Henry's fight or flight instincts. But he also recognized that they'd trained enough, and any more would just drain them for tomorrow night's match. There was only so much they could do in one afternoon.

"Okay, Colt. You got it. But not Sandra's bar, and no more brawls! Hey, don't look so disappointed..."

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Chapter 2: Welcome to the GSA - PART 2

“Well, so much for food…”

The sign hanging on the cafeteria doorway was certain enough. “CLOSED” , with no indication when it would open again. This left Spike and Rosa standing outside, looking forlornly through the windows at two big rows of tables and seats that wouldn’t be occupied again til sundown.

Rosa’s stomach rumbled, but she tried to play it off with a pretend cough. “Lucinda is our main chef and she well…sort of just serves food when she feels like it.”

Spike’s stomach mimicked his companion’s—he had been so anxious on the drive over that he hadn’t had a bite to eat all day. Now that he was more relaxed, his stomach was enacting vengeance. “I really could go for something fried. Or something sweet. Or both.”

“Yeah…her churros are legendary. Everyone fights each other to get them. She used to sell them outside a lot of spellbreaking events before she caught Colt’s eye. She was so proud of her work, and her food speaks for itself, that he offered her employment on the spot.”

The spellbreaker pressed her back against the glass door and looked out into the prairies. “Colt has a real eye for talent. He picks good people. I mean, not just people who are good at what they do, but kind people. Well, kind and…I guess, sort of broken? I think he likes taking in strays.”

“I understand,” Spike said, mirroring her. He still hadn’t fully accepted that his childhood hero had chosen him to train and work for this federation. “Wow, what a guy. Hey, not to be random, but are you the only lady spellbreaker here?”

“No,” Rosa said with a laugh. “A lot of the other girls are on the road right now, actually. You’ll meet Calypso at training since she’s a rookie like us. Us girls keep ourselves busy. But I…still have a lot to learn.”

“And the size of all these hunks doesn’t intimidate you?” Spike hoped he wasn’t prying too much.

Rosa laughed, letting him know he hadn’t crossed a line. “Are you kidding? They’re all big puppy dogs. Besides, my spellcrafting can put them in their place easily.” Her eyes flickered with wicked intent. “I love beating up big, strong, men and making them feel utterly helpless.”

Spike blinked, noting the unusual sensation in his pants. Did…did my sexuality just expand?

“Let’s get your room key,” Rosa suggested—perhaps a ploy to distract them both from their increasing hunger. “Kengo should have calmed down by the time we’re back.”

The last building on their tour, besides Colt’s farmhouse (off-limits, of course) was a converted barn at the back of the property. It was a fair distance away. Spike had no issues with walking, but the heat combined with hunger was proving a very difficult tag team. He hoped the tour would be over soon and he could get some alone time (preferably with a burrito).

Spike approached the office door, flanked with two GSA show banners from previous exhibitions. He admired the design work ad detail—there was something explosive and dynamic about the GSA logo art, the color and bold lines.

“This where Colt works?” Spike asked his tour guide.

“Yeah. He keeps a pretty low profile, always running the show from behind the scenes.” She shrugged. “Still, I wouldn’t be afraid to ask him anything. He’s really invested in people’s comfort. I know he looks really intimidating, but he’s the biggest puppy dog of them—”

Her words were cut off by a sudden and loud peel of thunder. Spike and Rose nearly jumped out of their socks. Spike looked up at the sky, thinking he’d just misheard the clash of distant farming equipment (they were near an active ranch after all), but indeed, the sky had turned from hazy blue to rapid gray, with storm clouds blossoming where it had been clear only seconds ago. Even the atmospheric pressure shifted.

Spike held out his hand, anticipating the kiss of raindrops. “Um…the weather report didn’t call for rain, did it?”

“Oh no,” Rosa winced. “Maybe we should—”

Again, she was cut off mid-sentence by an intrusive, loud sound—this one more human. Spike and Rosa whipped their heads to the door, mistaking oncoming footsteps for thunder. Colt, 270 pounds of tempestuous fury, emerged from his offices in a rage.

“GODDESS DAMN IT!” he shouted, in time with another thunder clap. Lighting flashed behind his eyes. “That cheap bastard Grigorivich wants to charge me a damn booking fee for--” He stopped himself, noticing his two proteges staring slack jawed right at him. “Oh,” he started, remorsefully removing his cowboy hat and running a hand through his long, messy hair. “It’s you two.”

Spike’s eyes went to Colt’s button up shirt—even his business casual attire couldn’t conceal so much muscle. It wasn’t that Spike was deliberately staing at his chest either, but it was very hard for the fledgling spellbreaker to meet his master’s eyes.

“Um…hi, Mr. Tamberly.”

The big boss looked down at his charge, and then up at the sky, frowning at the byproduct of his runaway emotions. He sucked his teeth, snapped his fingers, and the clouds dissipated, as if afraid of angering their own conjurer. Blue skies resumed.

“Colt is just fine,” the boss man said affably. He ran his hand through his hair again, to pat down the static that had teased a few strands away from their proper place. “Looks like I got a bit hot under the collar there. It’s nice to officially welcome you to our ranch, son.”

Son. Spike’s thoughts went to a much more private place as he took Colt’s handshake. “It’s ok,” he said. A not-entirely-unpleasant sensation, the gentle numbing from a tapering electrical current, danced across Spike’s hand. “Wow, my hand is really prickly.”

“Sorry about that,” Colt laughed. Spike could see what Rosa meant about him being nothing but a big puppy. And lucky for Spike, he liked big dogs. “Ah, you’re with Rosa, so you must be in good hands. I’d trust her with anything. Only spellbreaker with half a damn brain here.”

Now it was her turn to blush. “Oh, Colt, you sweet talker.”

There was a constant excitement and energy in Colt’s voice, like a carnival barker or rodeo announcer on their day off. To Spike, this was the epitome of masculinity—strong, secure, kind, fatherly, and respectful to just about everyone. Spike had chosen the right hero.

Colt kicked the dirt with his cowboy boot, looking somewhat impatient. “I’d stay and chew the fat, Spike, but I’m a busy man and I gotta…” he sighed. Everything he did was just a bit exaggerated and cartoonish, not at all like the steely-eyed warrior he was in the ring. “I gotta go sort some ornery bastards out. One way or the other. Goddess wept, this better not put me on the sauce again. Rosa?”

She stood at attention, a wilful soldier. “Yes, sir?”

“Spike’s keys just arrived and should be on my desk. At least, I think I put them there, I don’t know—I’m seeing red and can’t think straight right now. Anyway, just have him sign some paperwork—mostly it’s so you can’t sue us if I break your back, that sort of thing.” He winked, but Spike wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. “You settle in,” he said, slapping his back and nearly breaking his spine in the process. “Training starts tomorrow, and I am not going to go easy on you.”

His back smarting, Spike couldn’t help but venture with a slightly flirtatious, “I would have it no other way.” He was mortified as soon as he said it. Hitting on his childhood hero! Was this not a cardinal sin of spellbreaking?

Fortunately, Colt was amused. “Well, we’ll see about that.” With that, he proceeded down the dirt path with all his cowboy swagger in tow.

Perhaps Spike’s thoughts at watching the hunky, older spellbreaker saunter off into the sunset were more transparent than they appeared. Rosa knocked him on the back, right where Colt had playfully hit him—but the pain was not as well-received. “Should I get a bucket for your drool?”

Spike wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Not just my drool.”

“Gross!” Thankfully, she couldn’t help but crack a wry smile. She nodded for him to get his ass into the converted barn. “Let’s get this over with it and get you fed, Romeo.”

The open office space was partitioned into a few different cubicles. Despite its modern overhaul, the smell of old wood was welcoming and nice. Spike felt at peace here. Or maybe the electric current Colt had inadvertently run through him was doing its work on his brain.

“I’ll go grab your papers,” Rosa said, pointing to one of the cubicles. “Stay here. Don’t wander off.”

Naturally, Spike did nothing of the sort. He might as well have been one of Colt’s inadvertently conjured clouds, high in the sky and electrified. With a spring in his step, and mischief on the mind, Spike waited for Rosa to vanish from view before he decided to get a peak behind the scenes of the GSA.

He poked his around a cubicle, hoping to catch sight of the merch room, or some other pile of shiny things, when he accidentally locked eyes with a young man stationed at a drawing desk only several feet away. He wore glasses, had a day’s worth of scruff on his face, and was somewhat built. Granted, he didn’t cut the same figure as the other giants roaming the ranch, and by Spike’s estimate, wasn’t as muscular as he was—but still…not at all bad to look at.

It was too late for Spike to duck out and pretend he hadn’t been wandering where he shouldn’t, so he flashed the guy an innocent grin. He looked a few years older than him, but not by much. “Oh, sorry.”

“You’re fine,” the man said, sounding both gentle and somewhat annoyed. “Can…I help you?”

Spike’s eyes darted about the room. Some posters and banners on the wall. And behind the man’s desk, a whole shelf meticulously lined with different kinds of house plants, positioned, and angled towards the sunlight streaming through the barn window. A fluffy Maine coon cat, a miniature lion, slept lazily on the edge of the shelf.

“Me?” Spike shrugged. “Nah, I’m just looking around.” He allowed himself into the room. “Were you…busy?”

“Yes,” the man said, pencil in hand, looking down at his work. “Very.” He said this with a smile, and Spike took that—and the tone of his voice—as a playful invitation.

What a cutie! Dark hair. Right amount of stubble. Beautiful eyes. Not a beefcake at first glance, but handsome in a familiar way that Spike had not yet put his finger. He wore a plaid flannel over a plain blue shirt, a cross between urban and country. Though seated, Spike gauged his height—tall enough.

Spike looked down at the sketch—it was a line-up for an upcoming GSA show, with all the spellbreakers illustrated in dynamic poses. Spike recognized a few faces.

“Wow, those are amazing!”

“Thanks.” The young man said, smiling shyly. He moved his head. A brushed-over lock of his hair, a charming ‘swoop’ across of his brow, moved with him. “I’m sorta in charge of all the fliers, media, copy, that sort of thing.” He gestured to the poster behind him. Colt, surrounding by electricity, against a dragon-masked spellbreaker wrapped in flame. Spike could almost feel the heat and intensity radiating off the advert—no, work of art.

You did this?” Spike marvelled. He would have gladly purchased the poster for his room. “Wow! It looks like a movie poster.”

“Aw, shucks, you’re too kind.” The man spoke with a subtle twang, so Spike took him for a local boy. Though he was strong enough, he didn’t stand out as a spell breaker. “You really like that one?” He pointed, specifically, to Colt. “He said I made him look too much like a super hero.”

“Oh, but isn’t he just?” Spike said, glowing with admiration. “The Cowboy King is a super hero as far as I’m concerned. I can’t believe I get to train under him.”

The man smiled, but his eyes narrowed—either in mild embarrassment or profound disbelief “You’re really a Colt fan, eh?”

“Yeah, he’s an absolute stud, don’t you think?” Spike frowned. He was getting ahead of himself. “Ah, too bad he’s not gay.”

“Well—”

“I mean, he’s like a god on Earth! That long hair. Cold, green eyes. Those…muscles.”

And, as if he had somehow summoned the god into being, Colt re-appeared at the doorway with only a brief knock to announcer himself. Spike froze to the spot and hoped he hadn’t overheard.

“Did I leave the damn contract in here?” Colt asked, putting Spike’s fears to rest at once—this man was entirely too distracted to have heard anything. “I swear if my head weren’t attached to my damn neck…”

In real time, Spike watched Colt’s attention span shift yet again as he bounded over to the illustrator’s desk “Oh, let me see that, Buck.”

The young man nodded, but Spike—who wasn’t the best at paying attention himself—noticed his back straightened up. “What do you think?” he said.

The gentleman placed his fingers to his chin and examined the draft in the same way a jeweller would inspect a diamond for flaws. “Hm. Well, it’s fine, I guess. Maybe a bit bolder line there. It definitely needs some work still.” He sounded business-like and unimpressed.

Spike saw the dark-haired man’s mouth twitch. “Er…thanks.”

Once again, Colt’s mind jumped the track. He pulled his Stetson off his head and scratched his hair in befuddlement, making for the exit. “Damn it, where’s the damn contract? Hey, Rosa, darlin’, could you give a big, stupid man a little help—”

They say you should never meet your heroes, Spike thought, but now he liked Colt for different reasons. He was still a god of thunder, just a god of thunder with attention span issues, and apparently not one to sugar-coat their critiques when it came to art.

Suddenly invested in getting this man on his side, Spike spoke candidly. “I will say, he is kinda cold for someone so damn hot, eh?”

“Yep. Pa can be like that.”

“Pa? No, I mean Colt.”

“He’s…my daddy.”

“Oh honey, same.”

“No, he’s actually my father.” The man laughed and extended his hand. “Buck Tamberly. Not an ounce of magick to my name, but when it comes to art, I’m your guy.”

Spike blinked, beyond embarrassed. “Oh…I’m…” I’m about to faint or throw up.

Lucky for him, he didn’t need to live with his faux pas. Rosa burst through the open door. “Spike, when I said don’t wander off I meant it. Stop bothering Buck!”

Suddenly, the artist’s whole demeanour shifted, from nonchalant to a certain look that Spike knew all too well—the posture and tone of the flirt. “Well, now, this is a blessing. Two beautiful strangers came to visit me at my work.”

But, ‘like father like son’, Buck’s expression shifted rapidly as he lurched down in his chair with a sulk (one that Spike still found quite charming). “And you’re lucky you’re both cute, or I’d be pissed. Pa is playing critic again and it’s made me sore.”

Rosa sucked her teeth, nodding empathetically. “Yeah. Just do your best, Bucky. He likes your work. We all do.”

“Well, he certainly shows it in a funny way, now, don’t he?”

Rosa sighed. Spike sensed they’d been down this road before. The was an invisible energy between them, something understated. A mutual attraction, perhaps? His head was spinning so quickly, that he failed to realize that he himself had been included in Buck’s ‘cute strangers’ lines.

“Hey,” Rosa called out, snapping him out of his thoughts with the metallic jingle of a pair of keys. “Let’s leave the tortured artist alone. See you around, Buck.”

“See ya.” Buck nodded. “Nice meeting you, Spike. And don’t worry, your face really does look cute when it’s all red like that.” He winked, and Spike felt his heart melt. Right then and there, he knew that of all the spellbreakers in the joint, it was the one who wasn’t a spellbreaker that was going to be the best sort of problem for him.

Spike said nothing til they were outside, well out of ear shot. And, after Spike had looked both ways just to make sure, he blurted out, “COLT HAS A SON!?”

Rosa stared at him, blankly, before she forced his keys and the waiver into his trembling, sweaty hands. “Oh, sweetie, where to begin? Colt—bless his muscular heart—has a lot in common with the Greek god, Zeus. They’re both in charge of a pantheon of heroes. They like to throw lightning bolts. And they are both notorious cads.”

That didn’t surprise Spike in the slightest. Seems we have more in common than I thought. But it had never once occurred to Spike that his idol had born a son. The Son of Colt! An heir to a whole legacy of spellbreaking excellence, and not once had Spike ever heard of him before! Of course, nature being cruel and fickle, the boy didn’t have a glyph. How crazy to think that while Spike was watching Colt on TV growing up, his boy was probably watching his dad kick some ass. And to think, Buck had chosen to help his dad’s business out instead of becoming an athlete himself. It was almost too adorable to bear.

Spike sighed. “I’ve never had so many crushes in one day, Rosa. What do I do?”

The girl indulged him. “I don’t blame you. This place is a beefcake buffet. But take it from me—don’t shit where you eat.”

“Yeah, my friend John Henry said the same thing actually.”

Rosa’s eyes widened. “Mr. Iron? Oh, he’s the best teacher! I hope he comes back soon. Anyways, it’s not worth it getting tangled up with these guys. The life of a spellbreaker is far from stable. I should know.”

With much weighing on his mind, Spike followed Rosa back to the dorms. The sun was lower in the sky now, and no doubt the dining hall would open soon. Maybe Kengo could be convinced to get a meal, and they could finally break the ice (thankfully, clothed).

As Spike said his goodbyes and went to test his keys, Rosa tugged his wrist.

“Wait a second, princess,” she said, rummaging around in her pocket. “I have something for you. It’s dumb, okay, but Colt said I had to be welcoming. So, I thought—hey, why not…”

She handed him a small, pink, velvet pouch—charming enough on its own. Spike stared at it dumbly, like a puppy with a new chew toy before he realized he should open it. Inside the pouch was a small bottle with a spray nozzle—like one of the samples of colognes Spike used to steal at the department stores back in the day.

He pressed his nose to the bottle. It was inviting smell that was sweet but musky and absolutely perfect for him.

“I…like to make things,” Rosa said, demuring. “I actually design most of the spellbreaking gear around here.”

“You make the gear?” Spike said, overjoyed and impressed. He rubbed the scent on his wrists.

It smelled like a guy he’d want to make out with. I am the guy I want to make out with.

Rosa nodded. “By the way, I saw your trunks from your show back in New York. Very cute nautical pattern—if not amateur stitching. Still good tase. I could probably make you an upgrade at some point.”

Spike was genuinely touched. “You’re…really giving this to me?”

Rosa nodded—and was that just a hint of bashfulness? “Yeah. Gear. Candles. Perfumes. Teas. That sort of thing. Buck and I tend to a garden around back—it’s how we destress. Plants are my hobby, mostly because of my glyph.”

“It smells amazing!”

“Well, the men around here hardly wear deodorant, so I’ve started making a point to fix that.” She laughed. “Anyways, I’m supposed to be training with Victor, so I gotta go. Maybe I’ll see you at dinner?”

“Oh.” Spike said. He looked at the door to the dorm hall. “So…what do I do now?”

“Anything you want,” Rosa said. She turned and walked back towards the fitness center. “Just don’t break anything, you little idiot. Equipment. Bones. Hearts. Yourself. Oh, and drills start at 6 AM by the way, so I suggest you hit the bed early.”

The twilight took her. Spike was left to digest the past few hours of his life.

“…Why does it always have to be 6 AM,” he grumbled. Yet still his mind kept turning back to one topic, and one topic only.

“So, Colt has a son, eh? Hmmm…”

Next Chapter!

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Mr. Iron

                                                                                                                                                                                        Character Artwork by Garo

Given Name: John Henry Iron

Age: Unknown (though appears to be in his late forties) 

Birthday: September 17th

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 278 Lbs

Country of Representation: U.S.A.

Fighting Style: Traditional Grappling, Power Moves

Glyph: Laurion (Mineral and Metal Magick)

Power Finisher: The Runaway Train

Submission Finisher: The Iron Claw

Favorite Food: His wife’s cooking

Likes: Science, metallurgy, hard work, engineering, travel, live music, whisky, his family, training rookies, activism, Spellbreaking, folklore, history, trainspotting, unions, running a business. 

Dislikes: Ignorant people, those who abuse power, being late, people who are late, laziness, those who take advantage of others, pollution, Firebird Pro Spellbreaking.


'The Iron TItan' is ready to show these young upstarts HE'S STILL the real king of the ring! There’s no avoiding this runaway train!

Mr. Iron (or just John Henry to his friends) is as a towering colossus of a man, who can bend steel beams with either brawn or magick. Renowned in the industry as one of the great veterans, he was once both rival and friend to other champs like Colt the Bolt. He is now semi-retired, preferring to spellbreak for smaller federations and local shows, as he prefers the lack of pretension. He enjoys working with younger and eager spellbreakers.

Mr. Iron was one of the bigger names on the East Coast and southern spellbreaking circuits before he settled down to start both a family and business in Brooklyn. It is long rumored that it was none other than Mr. Iron who convinced Colt the Bolt to get out of the ring while the business was still kind to him. Though the two fighters frequently clashed, they also tag teamed several times throughout their illustrious careers, and are still close friends and confidants. He is considered one of the best spellbreaking teachers in the business, but prefers to 'keep it local', only working with the promoter and manager Varla Montes. The shadow sorceress and former showgirl–famously difficult to work with–has often said that she would only trust John Henry with her business. As such, he has a sterling reputation.


Despite his good nature and storied career, Iron’s background and early beginnings are a mystery, proving something of a tantalizing legend among spellbreaking enthusiasts. Though he is open and friendly to a fault, J.H. keeps his cards close to his chest and even his closest associates are never quite sure of his next moves. The world of spellbreaking has seen many heroes from tall tales and legends pass through the ranks, and considerable debate rages as to whether or not Mr. Iron is really the folkloric John Henry from legend. He has always played candid and coy about his namesake, preferring to let the mystery serve as publicity. Some fans of his even speculate he's the son of the legend--i.e. that J.H. is, in fact, a ‘Junior’! 


Beyond this, John Henry has connections with many top-ranking magi all over the world, and keeps his ear close to the ground, listening for any meddling into the arcane. Of all the spellbreakers based in the United States, he is the most observant of Firebird’s dubious dealings–to the point that there are actually rumors he may be a spy for the US government. This, however, is not true–as J.H. has an implicit distrust of authority. Whatever his dealings may be, they are done on his own terms.


Mr. Iron is a renaissance man. In addition to spellbreaking, he has worked as an engineer and a scientist with a proficiency in metallurgy. He also has a few patents to his name, and has written a book on practical uses of metal-based magick. John Henry’s glyph, ‘Laurion’, grants him the ability to turn his body into an alloy like steel for a short time. He can even cast off the metal generated from his body and reshape it, using it as a projectile. As he is primarily a grappler when resorting to physical combat, he would use these metal missiles to bridge the gap between him and his opponents. A unique side-effect of his body undergoing repeat mineral composition shifts over the years, Mr. Iron's eyes have permanently changed color to a golden-citrine hue.


In the ring, Iron’s raw strength is unparalleled. He favors power moves and grappling, able to toss grown men around with ease. His Runaway Train clothesline–enhanced by his metal arm–has put even the most seasoned spellbreakers out of commission for weeks! His Iron Claw–a nerve claw on the head–is a deadly submission hold that has quite literally crushed his opponent’s skulls in the past! Though rarely employed, he has an alternate move called 'The Garbage Compactor', wherein he stuns his opponents with a 'most muscular' flex--and then uses his metal arms to smash his opponents into his enormous chest, completely smothering them. Allegedly, this move was Colt's idea back in the day...





An alternate color scheme for Mr. Iron. John Henry doesn't preen as much as the other guys, but he's been known to wear more revealing gear on occasion (mostly at Colt's suggestion...)


Mr. Iron rocking some alternate gear.




Mr. Iron's traditional gear is a nod to his railway background. He used the cog/gear button to give himself a bit of flair. A humble guy, he keeps it simple, which is why his tag teaming with Colt back in the day was such an amusing contrast!


Mr. Iron, an American Hero!

Battle Quotes:

“Class is in session--and teach is gonna knock you out!”


“Hard as steel!”


“Eyes up here, sailor!”


“Muscles made of metal! I caught you lookin'.”


“Tied to the tracks; no escape!”


“And that's how you spellbreak, son!




Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Quick Match: Piledriver Punishment



“Waitwaitwait–watch this!”

Colt jabbed his finger towards the dinky television set–perched on a ringside stool in the corner of the practice room, and surrounded by a growing number of empty beer bottles. Spike and Buck, sitting eager-eyed and attentive, flanked the rambunctious cowboy. It was a quieter, rainy night at the ranch, and the boys felt like letting off some steam with some beers. Knowing Colt’s penchant for memory lane, and finding his larger-than-life commentary all the more interesting, Spike convinced Buck to join him in watching a few of Colt’s old matches. 

Buck, who had grown up watching his dad kick ass–and was content to never again having to sit through his old man reliving his glory days–agreed to the impromptu viewing…for two reasons: as much as he would never admit it, any time spent with his old man was well spent, and two, Spike was one of his two main crushes. He’d considered inviting Rosa as well, but she’d taken to a ladies night with the other spellbreaking gals, and no doubt they were all getting into much more mischief than the three men nerding out over old spellbreaking matches.

Spike and Buck leaned in to get a better view of the jumpy cassette tape, one of Colt’s past performances. Colt had been in his prime for this match, though Spike would be the first to argue that the lightning-slinger was still very much at the peak of his performances. He was always a sight to behold on screen! His opponent, a strapping, British bloke in a butcher’s singlet–with a real, throwback style strongman gimmick–took a mighty swing at the Texan, ready to knock his block off. Colt ducked under his arm and, with expertise, wrenched it behind his back. Before the strongman could react to the super fast reversal, the muscle magi delivered a mighty electric shock to the British brute, bringing him to his knees.

“These old school dudes were so lame looking,” Buck laughed, adjusting his glasses and tipping his beer bottle to the TV set for emphasis. He nodded to his father, who clearly enjoyed reliving his glory days.

Colt cocked an eyebrow at his mischievous–magickless–but artistically talented son. “You callin’ your old man lame, boy?”

Buck, around Spike’s age, laughed, and gave his dad a get-out-of-jail grin. If there was one person in the spellbreaking school who didn’t fear Colt’s wrath, it was his own blood. “I didn’t say that. But still…all those rhinestones, dad? And I turned out to be the queer one?”

Spike shushed his companions, nearly spilling beer on his navy-striped t-shirt. “Guys, shush! This is the best part!”

Colt beamed at his young pupil–who was also his biggest fan. “You see this one before, have ya?”

“Only like a million times!” Spike said, basking in the glow of his hero. Behind Colt, dark-haired Buck just laughed and rolled his eyes. It was rare seeing the two together, mostly because of their busy schedules. Though it was a pleasant sight, Spike still couldn’t believe how father and son were completely different contrasts to each other. Colt, tall and mighty, looked like Thor’s handsome, redneck cousin.

Buck was like the cross between a country hipster and the quintessential boy next store…with a dungeon in his basement. While his dad ran the family business, Buck– unable to spellbreak even if he wanted to–helped his dad out as the media guy, applying his own ‘magickal powers’ of illustration to almost every poster and flier in the Global Spellbreaking Alliance. Spike was turned on by his talent. Buck was a gentle soul…with a dash of mischievous sadism for good measure. By now, however, Spike had given up on winning Buck’s affections, mostly because he talked non-stop about Spike’s best friend, confidant, and deadly spellbreaker in her own right, Reina Rosa.

On screen, Colt clamped a vice grip down on his opponent, dragging him up the top rope to perform his finisher: the Thunderbolt Piledriver. The cowboy king tucked his opponent beneath his legs, inverted him into the air as if he weighed nothing, and struck a pose for the cheering crowd.

“T-thhis is it!” Spike said.

Colt jumped into the air and, in a flash and bolt of lightning, slammed the muscleman headfirst into the canvas. The angle on which the British brusier landed never failed to make Spike wince, despite this being a repeat viewing, but he couldn’t deny a bit of erotic enjoyment at the power move’s complete and total destruction. The bell rang. Colt–that is, the Colt on TV–stood over his defeated opponent, smoking and twitching on the mat, as the ref lifted the cowboy’s hand in triumph. On screen, a younger, pony-tail sporting Colt whooped and uttered a loud ‘yee haw’.

In real life, Colt did the same, splashing beer all over the training room floor. He did his signature “number one”. “WOOO! That’s right, cowboy! TAN HIS ASS! WOOOOOO!!!!”

Spike was living for it, but Buck looked like he would vomit from embarrassment. He put his hand in his face, and tried to hide behind his beer bottle as his dad strutted around the TV set as if he were preening for a live audience. “Dad, you’re such a ham!”

“A big meaty ham, and don’t you forget it!” Colt laughed, switching the TV set off and chugging down the rest of his beer. “It’s called showmanship, son! One day you’ll learn.”

Cool-headed Buck, flipped the dark lock of hair in front of his face. “Nah, I’m going to be cool and cunning and sinister if I get to the pro leagues!”

Don’t pop a boner now, Spike thought dreamily, picturing his crush as an absolute monster heel–though it was kind of hard to envision sweet-nature Buck breaking guy’s necks. Spike took a swing of beer, made a face, and offered it to the Tamberly men. “Blech. Texas beer is…um…heavy stuff. You guys want this?”

“Not a beer guy, Spikey?” Colt laughed, patting Spike on the shoulder.

Oh no, he’s gonna think I’m a pansy! “I-I’m fine with beer. But I prefer hard liquor. And harder men.”
 
Colt laughed. Spike always amused him, and the pretty boy New Yorker made sure to milk it for all it was worth…possibly in the hopes that Colt might someday decide to milk him instead. “How about some hard knocks, you little punk?”

“Depends who’s doing the knocking, Mr. President.”

Buck stood and popped his beer on the ringside apron–something that always pissed Colt off. “That beefy British guy was…okay, right?”

“Aw, o’course,” Colt said, dismissing any notion of bad sportsmanship. He leaned in, excited to explain his moveset while Buck braced himself for a tangent. “See, boys, the move is a real nasty, double whammy. Breaks your collar bone and spine and completely sets your system on fire with the electrocution factor. That’s why nobody–and I mean nobody–has ever kicked out of my Thunderbolt Piledriver.”

Buck smiled nervously. “Yeah, you really aren’t making a case for how that guy isn’t actually dead.”

“Us spellbreakers drink soma before the match,” Spike cheerfully explained. “It’s like…a magic potion thing that heals you. Otherwise, your dad would have probably killed that dude.”

“And I ain’t no outlaw,” Colt said, crossing his arms and looking tough. “I’m a damn hero! Who…does occasionally enjoy roughing up the occasional prettyboy here or there.”

Spike blinked, thinking Colt had–for the fraction of a second–just glanced in his direction at that statement. Would I die happy if Colt killed me with his big, shiny cowboy muscles? …Yes. Yes, I would.

Colt continued waxing nostalgic, pulling his son into a tight–but gentle–headlock. Then again, none of Colt’s headlocks were ever really gentle, and Buck’s reddening face underscored this fact. “Anyways, once I got my vict–I mean, opponent–down for the ten-”

“You mean ‘three’?” Buck gurgled, trying to muscle his way out of his dad’s tight embrace.

“Nah, I mean ten. So I get on the canvas, and after I’m done flexing over the guy and showing him how superior I am, I just apply a little bit of electric current down his spine, reversing any nerve damage. And then I give the ol’ bastard a stiff kick to the back of the neck. Right as rain! Though…the pain kinda hits you then seeing as the electruction sorta numbs you to the initial blow. I guess I can be a bit of a bastard, huh Buck. Buck? Oh, sorry, son!”

Colt unleashed his suffering son, gasping for breath. He scrambled for another drink of beer.

Goddess, I wish that were me, Spike thought.

After catching his breath, Buck leaned against the ring apron, shaking his head. “I dunno, Dad. You’ve told a few tall tales in your time. That…sound made up.”

Spike leapt to his hero’s defense–he knew that Buck was the only person on the damn planet who could make Colt sulk, and he hated seeing his hero’s beautiful, green eyes go all sad-like. “It’s not made up!” Spike said, puffing out his chest–and for a second, even Buck looked afraid. He turned to the towering, veteran spellbreaker and motioned to the thing behind them. “Come on, Colt! Let’s show him.”

“You mean…you want me to do one to you?” Colt scratched his head, unsure. “Er…I dunno. I don’t wanna break ya, boy.”

“Spike…” Buck began with a sigh. “Is this a kink thing?”

“What?” Spike said, innocently, as if he’d just been accused of the most horrible crime. “No!”

It absolutely was a kink thing.

Colt scratched his beard, giving the idea some consideration. “Hmm. Well, I have been teaching Bucky here some pro moves. Now he can’t shoot lightning like I can, but I’m sure you could give a killer piledriver in your own time, Buck.” With a glint in his eyes, Colt winked at his young protege. “You want to help demonstrate, Mr. Hard Knocks?”

“Hell yeah I do!” Spike said with an enthusiastic and charming hop.

Colt laughed. “Wow, I’ve never seen someone so eager to get their spine turned into gray before, but I guess you taking hits is what makes you special, Spikey.”

It wasn’t easy being the smartest person in the room, but Buck found himself saddled with the unenviable position. “Oh my Goddess, you two.” He removed his glasses, placing them on top of the TV set. “Okay, fine. Just don’t kill him, dad.”

“I make no promises,” Colt said, already hot-footing for the locker room. “Let me get changed real quick! What kinda gear you want me in, Spikey?”

Buck knew that Spike had the hots for his dad–and he also knew that Colt wouldn’t know if a guy was hitting on him even if he was actively being stroked off.

“Something studly!” Spike said, his eyes practically turning heart-shaped. Colt vanished behind the ringside partition, and Spike promptly stripped down to his near gear, a solid navy brief cut with a white anchor.

“Don’t tell me you were already wearing those!” Buck said, incredulously.

“Of course! I’m always ready to tussle.” Since it had been exactly three seconds since one hot guy had left the room, Spike automatically turned on to the next available dude, running a hand through his feathery blonde hair, giving Buck the look. “And you know…if you ever wanted to practice some moves with me, handsome Buck, you know where to find me.” He yawned and stretched, making sure he flexed both of his biceps as he did. “I’ll even turn my magick off, giving you a fighting chance.”

“I’d still totally destroy you,” Buck said, cheekily flipping Spike the bird and making for his gym bag. “Okay, I think I have my wrestling trunks here. You better turn around while I’m changing, or no piledrivers for you!”

“Kay!” Spike said. He was honorbound of course. A slut he may be, but he was always ethical.

Within a few minutes, Spike was stretching his arms in the ring, leaning against the ropes with a winner’s confidence. Imagine if I beat Colt in front of his own son! Oh, no Spike, that’ll make you hard. I can’t disrespect Colt like that! Still…it would be hot…

Thoughts of victory were put aside at once, however, as Colt emerged from the lockers with his typical cowboy swagger, clad in the tightest cow-print briefs Spike had ever seen–not his usual gear of choice. He had even donned a cowboy hat for, presumably, a bit of ‘drama’. Spike caught the storm in his eyes. Colt–locking his gaze with his opponent, gave Spike an evil smile and drew a thumb across his neck, a real ‘lambs to the slaughter’ gesture. Even Buck had to blink and draw back from his dad in fear.

Scared and aroused at once, Spike slowly moved both of his hands in front of his crotch. “Eh…maybe I am having second thoughts.”

Colt chuckled under his breath, and pulled himself into the ring–passing through the ropes like a god going between earth and Olympus. The force of his boots on the canvas shook the ground beneath Spike’s feet. Spike gulped.

“Nice knowing you, Spike,” Buck laughed from ringside. “I’ll be sure to make a real pretty program for your funeral.” The idea suddenly intrigued him. “Oooh…yeah…nautical motif. Some navy blue, some white contrast, that’d look real sweet…”

Colt and Spike stared each other down–and Spike was just glad that his hero and teacher’s eyes didn’t wander down to his crotch, as the stretchy fabric was doing its best to contain Spike’s real pride and glory.

Colt removed his cowboy hat, flinging it to the corner of the ring with a marksman’s aim. “Okay, Spikey boy, so you wanna fight back or…?”

“No, I’m good. If you just wanna….OOFF!”

Even though he suspected Colt had held back, the knee to the gut–even with kickpads!--was like getting hammered in the abs. Spike keeled over, the wind knocked out of him, but he didn’t have time to react before he found his head wedged between Colt’s giant, muscular thighs.

“See, first you gotta take ‘em by surprise,” Colt said, instructing his son in the art of pain. “Then, get them all bent over, just like this!”

Buck shook his head…but couldn’t help turn red at the sight of Spike’s best feature. His trunks always seemed to ride up his cheeks. “I-I’m seeing, dad.”

“And then, you gotta tuck their pretty little head between your legs–and you got the Tamberly men legs too, boy, so you better use ‘em–and give him a little squeeze to really drain the life outta him.”

Spike didn’t have the opportunity to brace himself for the anaconda grip around his neck and head. It was like being crushed between two steel beams. “Ugghgghggh.” This wasn’t as fun as he’d thought it would be. He tried to pulled his head free, but it was no use. He was locked in tight…though he didn’t hate having his face full of cow print. Colt smelled like beer, sweat, and musk. Maybe this was worth it after all…

Or not, Spike decided, as he found his whole body turned upside down in a flash, and his head dangling over the canvas. “Oh no oh no oh no…”

“Then, you scoop them up like this and…” Colt reared up, getting Spike into a better position, his long grip around his stomach. ““Hang ‘em high! Now, I like to leave them up there for a bit, really drives the fear into them and makes em’ squirm.”

“Oooh.” Buck grinned, happy to watch the pinup boy’s legs flail in the air for leverage. He knew he wasn’t going anywhere. “You okay up there, Spike?”

“I’m–”

“Ooops!” Colt said, as he jumped up and brought all of his weight down, driving Spike’s head into the canvas with a sickening crack. “Boom!”

Spike’s back went stiff, and his legs fell over his head without any control. He landed with his ass up in the air, on display, and his face at an odd angle, as he drooled onto the canvas in a state of semi-consciousness. Colt, kneeling in front of his prey, patted Spike gently on the head and smiled. “Real fun, isn’t it?”

From ringside, Buck covered his mouth in shock. Dad just killed my crush. Then, he heard the low moan from Spike on the mat. Colt gave his son a thumbs up and a sheepish grin to let him know he was alive.

Which was a relief, of course, but now Buck’s sadistic streak had activated. He gave his dad an innocent smile. “Hey, but you didn’t use your lightning on him!”

Colt nodded, and helped Spike back into a sitting position, giving him a few pats to the side of the face to wake him up. He held a finger in front of Spike’s eyes. “Hey now, son. How many of these do you see?”

“Pretty cowboy…” Spike, loopy, said, as his eyes tried to focus themselves.

“He’ll be fine,” Colt said, tucking Spike under his bulging arms in a reverse headlock. “Now, Spikey, you ain’t going anywhere. Because I want Buck to give it a go.” He slapped Spike on the butt, like they were in the locker room. Even Colt had to admit Spike was firmer than he expected. “Damn! You could bounce a quarter off that thing, boy!”

Spike, still out of it, tried to squirm his way free. “Maybe just give me a minute, sir?”

But Buck was eager. He took a long chug of beer and slid into the ring on his knees, hopping to his feet and ‘two-stepping’ his way to the new practice dummy his dad had so graciously set up for him.

 Colt shook his head, amused–and a little proud–of his son’s ring entrance. “Better watch out, boy. You got a big Buck who’s about to kick your ass.”

“Aw, dad, don’t be lame.”

“Ugghhhh….” Spike groaned. “Wait. Buck!?” This was quite possibly the most confusing situation in his life. For one, he wanted to pass out, throw up, or both, from the knock to the head. His neck also felt like it might have been cracked. But the prospect of seeing Buck finally in his wrestling gear…well, maybe it was worth being temporarily disabled! 

Buck cracked his knuckles, looming over the fresh meat his father had just laid out for him. The veneer of the gentle artist melted away, giving way to a cold-eyed killer. “I may not have magick, Spike,” Buck said, pulling off his shirt. He wasn’t as jacked as Spike, let alone his Greek-god of a father, but he was still athletic built, with a tuft of black hair on his chest to give a bit of masculine contrast to his boyish face.
 “But I don’t need it.” He stripped off his jeans, letting them drop. His gear of choice was plain, black briefs, but man did he wear them well.

“B-b-bulge,” Spike said. “I mean, Buck!” Spike couldn’t tell if he was drooling from the blow to the head, or the sight of Buck in all his might! He definitely had his father’s legs…and other attributes.

“‘Eh? Like what you see, do you?” Buck realized his dad’s back was facing him, and Spike’s head was vulnerable, so he knelt down and thrusted his bulge right in Spike’s pretty face. “Enjoy your senses while you still have them, kid.” 

With that, he yanked Spike’s head out of his dad’s grip, transferring the sailor stud to his own legs. He clamped them down, but unlike his more gentle father, he didn’t hold back. 

Even though Spike struggled to breathe, Buck just looked up and smiled innocently at his father. “Like this dad?”

“Yeah, just like that!”

Buck let himself squeeze down just a bit harder, enjoying that Spike was totally helpless and Colt none the wiser. Then, he lifted Spike up–finding him to be especially heavy. Oh no, I’m gonna fall!

To his surprise, Spike actually helped him out, by hugging his lower back, setting him up just as if they were doing pro wrestling choreography.

The move was deliberate on Spike’s part. Even if he kills me, I want to make sure Buck looks good! Besides, his face was now being smothered by Buck’s enormous bulge–really, what was he to lose here besides a few brain cells?

Colt eyed his son, who seemed to be enjoying the set-up a little too much, Buck’s eyes staring down at Spike’s own, generously full briefs. “Ummm…son, you don’t need to drive his face into the crotch though. That’s what we call a tombstone variant.”

Buck snapped out of his reverie. “Oh, got it! Heh. I’ve wanted to do this for awhile!” He jumped up in a ‘fake out’ move, enjoying as Spike tensed up for the pain. “Hmm…I dunno. I’d hate to break such a pretty man. Then again…night, night, Spike!”

Buck hopped into the air, just as his father had shown him, only he was sure to really drive Spike’s head between his legs as he went for the hit–adding some momentum to the blow. The ring shook, and Spike bolted up, his eyes rolling back into the head, before he flopped back down–starfish style–and shivered on the mat, unconscious. 

Even Colt was stunned. And proud. “Hot damn, boy, you’re brutal! You plumb knocked him right out!”

Ecstatic at nailing the move–and his crush–Buck looked down at Spike and couldn’t help feel his cock twitch at the angelic-looking stud–washboard abs and all–twitched, his head knocking against Buck’s black wrestling boots. This was what apex predators must feel like when they sink their teeth into a fresh kill, Buck thought sadistically. This was fun!

“Awww look at him,” Buck said mockingly. The fact that he was breaking guys in front of his more heroic dad was a weirdly erotic thought…one he didn’t want to dwell on for too long. Inspired by mischief, Buck ran to the side of the ring, reached through the ropes, and pulled up Spike’s unfinished bottle of beer. 

“Looks like beer is too strong for this little boy,” Buck said mockingly, holding the bottle above his unconscious victim. “Let’s wake him up with it!”

Before he did, however, Colt shot out and ripped the bottle out of his son’s hands before Buck could so much as pour a drop. He blinked, shocked at his dad’s lightning reflexes. 

Colt gave him a dark look.  “Hey now, son! I didn’t raise no heel! You wanna clean that shit up, boy? This ring’s seen plenty of strange fluids as it is. Oh, don’t look at me like that–you don’t think I don’t know what you boys get up to in the practice ring when I’m not around. Like dogs in the heat, the whole mess of ya! And besides all that…” He put the bottle to his lips and chugged. “It would be a waste of good beer.” 

Colt knelt down over Spike, gave his son a clever look, and then poured the amber liquid down the valley of his own pecs, letting it flow through the rivelets of his abs and pour, like a waterfall, down between Spike’s parted lips. “That’ll wake you up, boy!”

“W-where did you learn that!” Buck asked, feeling his face change colors.

“Your dad had to pay for spellbreaking school somehow! You never thought to ask why I was so good at pole dancing when I got drunk at cousin Evie’s wedding?”

Beneath them, Spike coughed up beer, his eyes fluttering awake.

Buck ignored him. “Aw come on dad, isn’t it more fun being bad?”

“Geez,” Colt sighed, pectorals wet with sweat and beer. He shook his long hair out of his eyes and reached out to ‘awaken’ Spike with another few pats to the cheek. “We gotta watch out for him, Spikey! Hey boy, you ok down there?”

Fortunately, Spike had in fact activated his magick–the power to channel impacts and blows into energy. It was the only thing that had kept his neck intact up until now. “Unngngg….never better…” From his spot on the ground, he leaned up and glared at the nasty heel who’d just drove him into the mat. “You’re lucky I’m not using my glyph, Buck. Or you’d be in for a world of hurtin’!”

Impressed with his tenacity–and his hard head–-Buck shrugged off the threat, laughing to himself. “Heh. Bring it on, Spike.” He hoped someday he would. There was quite a bit he’d love to do Spike…in private, that is.

Colt pulled Spike’s arm off the mat, trying to set him straight again. “Well, if you two are done flirtin’, I can show you the Thunderbolt Piledriver.”

Spike, dizzy as shit, tried to stand on two legs. The room spun. Might as well have been standing on a merry-go-round. “W-what! I thought we were done!”

“You really thought I’d let you off easy, boy? You asked for the hurt, now you’re gonna get the hurt!” With that, Colt wrapped his left arm around Spike’s neck, kicked back like the horse he was named for, and slammed Spike’s head into the mat again with a stunning DDT. Not enough to knock him out, but enough to get him exactly where the cowboy wanted him. He pulled Spike up by his pretty, blonde hair–like picking a kitten up by the scurr of its neck–and shoved him, once again, between his thick thighs.

Colt turned to his wide-eyed son, watching with admiration as his dad demolished this jobber. “Watch your old man and see how it’s done, Bucky-boy. I can be a heel sometimes too!”

Buck bit his lip, watching as his muscle-mountain of a father dragged poor, limp Spike up the ropes. “Oh Goddess Dad, please don’t kill him. He’s like…cute and stuff?”

“Ha! The cute ones are always the fun ones to destroy!” Colt grinned and gave Spike’s trunks a tug, giving him a good wedgie.

Buck swallowed. Ah, so that’s where I get it from.

Spike, unable to break free–and his ass on display for his crush–tried pleading for mercy. “H-hey, Colt, I’m having second thoughts!”

“Who said you could call me, Colt, boy? That’s ‘sir’ to you!” He was, of course, just joshing the kid–but he could practically smell his fear. This was always the fun part. “Bet you regret this now, don’t ya, little ponyboy! But don’t worry, Spikey, you won’t feel much for too long!”

Colt positioned himself on the ropes, looking like a thunder god about to bring down judgment. Colt intoned ominously to Spike, the poor boy’s legs dangling freely in the air, “You know what I say at this part? Hey, kid, you hear me down there or has all the blood rushed to your head already? What do I say?”

Shit! Now, Spike was truly afraid. He thought Colt would let him off easy. Now, his life was flashing before his eyes. ““N-n-no!”

“Come on, you’re a fan right? Finish my line!”

“Please?”

“Please?” Colt hopped up and down on the ropes, getting leverage for the killing blow. “You mean, ‘piledrive my brains out, Colt?’ Nah, that’s not what I say! I say, ‘you’re about to be hoooome on the range, son! Here comes the storm!’”

“NOOO!!!!”

Spike’s frightened cry punctuated Colt’s jump up from the ropes, Spike’s little blonde head still tucked between his legs. It felt like ages in air before Colt unleashed a thousand watts of pure pain into Spike’s system, frying him like an egg as Colt transformed himself into a living bolt of lightning, striking Spike into the mat with a concussive force.

CRACK!

The ring shook. As did Spike. His system completely destroyed by the combo of pumped voltage and a deadly inverted blow, the destroyed fighter convulsed on the canvas in front of his superior. Involuntarily, Spike’s arms lifted into the air, flailing around, before trembling on the mat–poor Spike seizing all the while.

“Catching butterflies there, son?” Colt joked as he knelt down and cradled his pupil’s head with one hand, and flexed his boulder bicep with the other. “Looks like you’re all bang and no bullet, son.”

Buck went to his knees by Spike’s side. “Dad! You…just destroyed him!”

“Nah,” Colt said, looking down and admiring his work. “You okay there, Spikey?”

A trial of foaming spittle ran from Spike’s lips, and his eyes swirled around wildly in his skull. “Kkkkhhhh….””

“See,” Colt gestured to the demolished jobber. “He’s fine.” Colt leaned in. “You just hold tight now and let me pin you. Now, Buck, if you want to be a dick–and somethin’ tells me you do, Buck–you can pin him like this, make him look like he’s goin’ to his grave.” 

Colt picked up Spike’s trembling hands and crossed them over his chest, even as his pupil’s legs jerked and twitched on the canvas. He pressed down, leaning in and pinning his boy. “You want to do the honors and count him out, Buck?”

Buck was all too glad to do so, hitting the mat with his palm. “One…two…” On the last count, however, Buck picked up Spike’s neck, taking his shoulders off the mat. “Oh! Dad, he looks like he wants more.”

“No he doesn’t!” Colt, said, rolling his eyes and repositioning himself. Beneath him, Spike made small, moaning sounds. “Geez, Buck, you’re gonna be a terror when you get in the ring, aren’t ya?”

“Fiiiine. So like, what happens if you, you know…don’t reverse it?”

“Phew…” Colt thought about it. “Permanent brain damage, probably.” He laughed, looking down at his twitching student. “Not like that would do you any worse, would it, blondie?”

“Nnngnggg…” was Spike’s strained, mindless response.

“Is he like, even aware of his surroundings?” Buck asked.

“Hmmm? Nah, he’s my little plaything now.” Colt brushed Spike’s hair out of his eyes, in an almost fatherly way. “Of course, if I was a heel, I could do all sorts a things to you Spikey, and you wouldn’t be able to do shit now, would ya? I could hog-tie ya. I could even brand my name into that cute little butt of yours. You’re lucky I’m a good guy, right?” Colt nodded to Buck. “You wanna finish that count, son, so I can bring your friend back to life?”

Buck nodded, but he lowered his head next to Spike’s ear. He coldly whispered, “You’re lucky my pa is merciful, Spike. I’d have more fun with you.” He didn’t care if his father saw or not, but Buck subtly gave his twitching pal the gentlest nibble on the earlobe. “So adorable. One. Two. Three! The winner, and still undisputed champion--and also the best dad in the world–Colt ‘The Bolt’ Tamberly!” He pointed to his dad, proud to see him show a jobber how it’s done.

“Damn straight!” Colt said, the cowboy showing off his ‘guns’. He pulled Spike’s neck off the ground, his head still lolling around. “Okay, Spike, let’s get you all fixed up now.” The muscled fighter massaged Spike’s shoulders, slowly pumping him full of electricity, ‘rewiring’ his shattered nervous system–and even heartbeat–to the right setting. He would be fine. The idea was that it just looked deadly.

With the twunk all fixed up, Colt kept a heavy hand on the back of Spike’s neck, propping the unconscious fighter up. He pointed to the back of his head. “You wanna do the honors, heel? Just a quick strike will do it!”

“Fuck yeah!” Buck said, hungrily. 

“HEY! Language.”

“Oh, sorry. Heh. Wake up, jobber!” 

Buck picked up his leg and delivered a brutal curb stomp to the back of Spike’s neck and spine, properly ‘resetting’ him and lifting him out of unconsciousness. 

Spike’s eyes bugged out of their head as he rudely came to. “OOOWWW!” he moaned, trying to get his senses. Without Colt’s numbing electricity, however, the pain done to his back, neck, and spine came on in a merciless, sharp wave. He winced, his eyes welling up with tears. He rubbed the back of his neck in anguish. “Oh…Goddess….” He sniffed. 

Colt was awash with guilt, while Buck just looked plain satisfied–enjoying Spike’s whimpering. “Oh!” Colt started. “Oh no. Hey now, son, it’s okay.” He pulled Spike into his chest, holding him tight.

“Aghhh,” Spike winced. “You really got me good, cowboy.” He sniffed pathetically.

Colt bit his lip, and lifted Spike up and over his shoulder. “Hey, I better take this little guy back and give him a nice, electric massage. That’ll set him straight.” Like carrying a newborn lamb, Colt stepped through the ropes and gently lowered himself–and his patient–onto the ring floor. “There we go now. Good boy. Your teach‘ll get you all fixed up.”

Buck crossed his arms, watching his dad leave with his crush swinging over his back. As they got to the door, Spike quietly–unbeknownst to Colt–lifted his head and gave Buck a wink and a thumbs up.

Hehehe. Your dad is all mine, Buck.

“You little twerp…” Buck said through gritted teeth as he watched smug, satisfied Spike’s body vanished behind the training ring door. Looks like he’d won this match after all…