MW: Corwin vs. Jessie Prologue One kon_el_superboy

This is a REPOST of message 1519 by jimsub81. jimsub81 has asked me to write the one-on-one match. It will be posted early next week.

However, in the week between challenge and match, Corwin and Jessie have another run-in.

***** MESSAGE 1519 *****

Following the match and the encounter afterward the crowd was settling down and back in the locker room Corwin had recovered and was furious. "I can't believe this. We lost and we didn't just lose we got hammered. You see what happens when you don't focus?" Drew nodded in silent agreement. "We should have mopped up on those guys and instead we end up looking like Jobbie and Joke." Ordinarily Corwin would not use derogatory terms like that but now he was filled with emotion and didn't think before speaking.

Jessie was in the next aisle over and heard the comment and turned to corner and let go of what he had been holding in for a long time, "So at last it comes out, doesn't it Corwin?"

Corwin was still rattled and just looked at him and said, "Huh?"

Jessie continued, "I know you never liked me too much but I always though you at least respected us. I guess that's not true. Yeah, me and Jack may not be the best tag team around but we did beat the team YOU TWO just lost to!"

Corwin was incredulous. Was this kid trying to say that he and his inept brother were on the same plain as he and Drew? Drew grabbed Corwin to keep him from making a lunge at Jessie and said, "Take it easy Cor. and YOU!", pointing at Jessie, "Back off!"

Corwin strained to get at Jessie but Drew held him tight. Corwin said, "Anytime you and your brother want a match we'll be happy to give you one. What's another loss for you two at this point!?"

Drew just said, "Come on Corwin don't be like this." Corwin heard what Drew as saying and relaxed a little.

But Jessie thought about what he had heard and just seen in the ring and said, "Hey Corwin how about this? You and me one on one?"

Corwin looked up at him and said, "You're on!"

*****

When HB and Kane entered the locker room, Corwin and Jessie were facing off. HB and Kane started eavesdropping as Corwin asked Jessie for a favor. HB smiled as Jessie showed no interest in helping Corwin. The mild dislike between the boys was now a full-blown grudge.

HB and Kane knew that Jessie and Corwin had a singles match coming up on Saturday's card. It was nice timing, since they wanted the tag champs kept as busy as possible. A week of training for Corwin in singles competition was another week they did very little tag work. Their rustiness was already showing, as they had lost convincingly in a non-title match to Keith and Rich.

Jessie replied to Corwin's question, "No, Drew can't be at ringside."

Corwin put his hands on his hips. He was irritated by Jessie's obstinacy, knowing that Jessie was just being petty. He said, "Why not? You know full well that Drew would never interfere. Besides, you can have Jack. I hear his arm has healed.""Look, Corwin, I know anyone saying no to you or your cool friends is probably a big shock, but get used to it. I trust Drew about as much as I trust you. If he isn't going to interfere then he can watch from the crowd. As for Jack, you heard wrong. Jack's still injured. He won't be at 100% for another week. It's not fair, not that you care about fair. Drew is barred from ringside and that's that."Corwin let out an exasperated sigh. He really wanted Drew with him during the match, just for support. He did not want Drew in the crowd. "Be reasonable. Bring someone else."

Jessie stewed. He could ask Jeff or Sean, he guessed, but why should he? Again he refused. The boys continued to argue as HB and Kane came over. HB said, "We'll stand with you, Jessie."

Jessie smiled. He said, "Thanks, guys. Okay Corwin. If you want Drew you can have him. HB and Kane will join me and Jack."

"Get real. No way am I going to be outnumbered. Nice friends you've got Jessie. Figures you would hook up with these two. But if this is what it takes for you to let Drew be at ringside then I'll bring another two guys."

It was that moment when HB got a wicked idea. He stepped in and decided to take over negotiations. HB pushed in front of Jessie and moved in nose to nose with Corwin. Jessie stepped back, unsure what HB was doing. They weren't really friends at all; in fact, Jessie had never even spoken with HB or Kane. He only knew that they had praised him and Jack to Carter and Rick.

HB said, "Look, Cor-win, you're forgetting that Jack is not 100%. Or maybe you're not. Maybe that's your plan. Probably the only way you figure you can win against a wrestler like Jessie."

HB watched as Corwin's face went red. Corwin wanted to explode but he was alone standing in front of three boys that despised him. He stayed calm and quiet as HB continued, "Hey, I understand you are worried about losing to Jessie. You should be. But here's another idea. I think we can get more guys. Can you?"

Corwin was confused, "Sure. But why would even more guys change things? That'll just make the situation worse."

HB smiled, "Not at all, Cor-win. It'll solve everything. How about a good old fashioned Lumberjack Match? You bring eight guys and Jessie will bring eight guys."

Corwin did not respond right away so HB pushed his buttons. "It's okay, Cor-win, these matches get kind of rough. I guess it might be better if you just wrestled one-on-one and had no one at ringside."

Corwin stared at HB with hard eyes as HB, Kane and Jessie waited for his answer.

The tension was palpable as the boys faced off. It had come down to a test of wills between HB and Corwin. HB challenged Corwin to make his match with Jessie a lumberjack match. Corwin was ready to decline when HB made him sound like a chicken if he declined.

Corwin scowled. He knew what HB was doing, it was painfully obvious that he was being baited. Still, he also knew that it would not take long for word to spread that he had backed down from a challenge. He also knew that it would sound like the challenge was from Jessie. He would not let HB have the satisfaction, especially with a challenge against Jobbie. "All right. Sounds good. We'll have eight guys each." The negotiations were completed quickly.

Corwin stomped off. Jessie turned to HB and Kane and said, "Thanks guys. I've got you two. Jack obviously. I know Jeff and Sean will help. They're mad at Corwin for what he said. And Patrick might help, that's six…"

HB said, "No way. Jack isn't part of this. You need better fighters on your team. And Patrick will go on Corwin and Drew's side. If you fly out, he'll never hurt you. Means they're already down one guy. We've got guys in mind. You bring Jeff and Sean. We'll get the rest."

Jessie just nodded. He hated to tell Jack that he couldn't be a lumberjack but with Jack's arm not quite being 100%, he would use that as an excuse. Jessie knew he probably shouldn't fall in with guys like HB and Kane but then he remembered Corwin's insult. Jessie smiled. Beating Corwin was worth almost any price.

*****

When Corwin told Drew, Drew was unhappy. He did not like his partner arranging dangerous singles matches while they were tag champs. Corwin sulked, knowing Drew was right. But HB had played him and it was done. Already word had spread of the Lumberjack Match. He could not very well back down now.

Corwin and Drew quickly rounded up their training partners. Damon, Daryl, Elton, Joey and Marcus all accepted immediately. Patrick hesitated. He was unsure if he could fill the role. He liked both Jessie and Corwin. Patrick asked, "I wish you guys could work this out. Do you really have to wrestle?" Corwin looked at Patrick and nodded. Patrick nodded back.

Patrick didn't want to see either of the guys get hurt. Instead of saying anything, he walked across the gym, seemingly to get water, but he was actually just upset. Elton recognized his friend's mood and started to follow Patrick. Elton felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Joey. Joey said, "I'll talk to him."

Elton nodded. Joey and Patrick were becoming close friends. Elton was not unsure how he felt about it. Patrick was his first and best friend in TW. Part of him felt that Joey was coming between them. But the other side of him realized that Joey was closer to Patrick's age, they sparred a lot since they were the same size and experience. While Daryl and Elton, the 18-year old studs, were hanging out more, going to the same parties, scoping out the same chicks, Patrick and Joey felt left out. It was only natural that they would be friends.

Across the gym, Joey talked to Patrick for a while. Finally, Patrick agreed to be a lumberjack. That left Corwin with only one more spot to fill. He knew just the boy. He knew he could trust him no matter what. In fact, Corwin didn't trust anyone more than this boy, not even Drew.

*****

For Jessie's team, HB had no problem recruiting four more guys. He did it within minutes as all four agreed right away. HB's big problem came when he told them about the each other. He had his work cut out for him convincing them to all be at ringside together.