Jacoby: Damage Control kon_el_superboy

Jacoby was suspended for two weeks. Everyone was talking about him being a liar and a cheat. Jacoby doubted anyone would want to fight him fairly now. The last thing Jacoby wanted was a bunch of matches where the rules went out the window. Already there were rumors of challenges coming from Roby, Daryl, Stephen and Bryan. Jacoby could refuse them but he knew they could just get some lightweight to take up their cause. It was a complete mess. At least he had not been stupid enough to admit anything to the commissioner. That meant damage control was still a possibility. He had to fix this before it went any further.

*****

The blond heavyweight's jaw dropped as he saw Jacoby standing at his front door. Gerritt scowled at the young lightweight and spat out, "What the hell do you want?"

Jacoby said, "Gerritt, I came over because I want to apologize for what I did."

Gerritt laughed and said, "I should pound the snot out of you! I don't see Lucien here to save your sorry ass so what are you gonna do?"

Jacoby quickly said, "I'm sorry. Please, Lucien used me. I didn't know the gear was rigged. I swear it. Lucien gave them to me. Yes, I did challenge you at Lucien's urging. And yes, I did train with him but why is that so wrong? Don't you train to fight big matches?" Gerritt reluctantly nodded. Jacoby kept talking, "I don't want an answer now. But here. Take this. It's the least I can do."

Gerritt took the box and looked inside. Jacoby said, "Wrestling tapes. I stayed up all night copying matches from my collection. There's a lot of earlier stuff, too. Maybe you'll see some stuff that you can use against me. You know, see lots of ways to really torture me for what I did."

Gerritt couldn't help but smile. But he immediately turned serious. "Look, I don't forgive you. I can't right now and probably not ever. I don't even know if I believe you. You could be playing me just like before. After all, if not for Lucien's big mouth, I'd be out of the TWF and you'd be the giant killer." Jacoby let a tear well up in his eye. Gerritt sighed and continued, "But look, Lucien is the bigger problem. Other guys have made mistakes and come back from it. Know this - I could wipe you out but I don't plan to. Not now, at least. But if you ever betray anyone in the TWF again, I'll get you. And stay away from Lucien. For your own good. He's a doublecrossing bastard. After all, he turned you in pretty quickly."

Jacoby nodded and said, "Trust me, Lucien and I are through. I was an idiot to trust him. Look, I'm a lightweight; you're a heavyweight. We won't run into each other anyway. And I know it's not your style to ambush guys. I promise I will stay out of your way. I swear it on a stack of Bibles."

Gerritt and Jacoby just stared for another minute. Finally Jacoby broke the uncomfortable silence, "Well, thanks for listening. And thanks for not taking your anger out on my hide. I'll see you around but you won't see me unless you want to."

Jacoby walked down the front walk and got on his bike. He pedaled away. Gerritt had confirmed his suspicion. It was Lucien who had turned him in. Jacoby smiled and thought, "Lucien, you shouldn't have shown me how much fun it is to be bad. I'm no one to mess with. Not any longer, thanks to you. I hope Gerritt is crushes you. And I hope he asks me to help him."

Up the street, Gerritt looked at the tapes. They had a very common theme. They featured all the "big men" of wrestling losing.

Gerritt had to laugh. Jacoby was a smart boy. Too smart, actually. He had been a little too slick in making this collection. Gerritt knew Jacoby was just trying to use him to get at Lucien. Still, Gerritt would watch the tapes and maybe be inspired. But he would also watch young Jacoby … if he pulled any shit on any wrestler in the TWF, Gerritt would find a way to destroy him.