A/C Unit (Cid Turner & Asher Hayes) vs. Selena Frost & Syren

[SnowQueenSCW]

Project: Black Ice

”Voice of Reason”

Frost Family ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
September 12th, 2021
2:31am

Selena’s head rested against the back of the chair, heavy as her eyes fluttered open. She could feel a sense of drowsiness within her, having just overtaken her and causing her to nod off for a mere moment – or was it longer? A quick glance up at the digital clock on her desk told her otherwise. She had only nodded off for a minute, but she was certainly going to fall asleep entirely at this rate… which wasn’t so bad.

The World Champion released a soft sigh. It was another night where sleep had evaded her. Rather than fall asleep with her wife in her arms, Selena’s mind, which she cursed in silence, had kept her awake with random thoughts. Some terrifying: the existence of Killjoy largely responsible for that, while others were more annoying than anything: her current dealings with Cid and Asher, while others still were pleasant, such as her thoughts drifting to her wife whenever the redhead had moved in her embrace or made a sound of sleep that had filled Selena’s ears.

Regardless, the mental activity had prevented any kind of sleep, and after two hours of lying-in bed, the Snow Queen had felt no other choice but to quietly remove herself from her wife’s side and make her way down the stairs and rooms of their home in Manhattan until she had found herself sitting inside her “office space” where she often would film/record her “Royal Letters” segments (when she was not on location), deciding to let her thoughts just run their course through her mind until she was too tired to think clearly. Releasing another yawn, Selena felt that such a goal was within her reach and the platinum-blonde was looking forward to cuddling back in bed with her beloved.

She had appreciated the few hours of thoughts – though, in truth, she was no closer to figuring out how to deal with Killjoy than when she had first came into this room. But she had worked through her thoughts on Cid and Asher rather quickly. She had learned from her past experiences with the A/C Unit that Cid was beyond reasoning and Asher would simply continue his delusional rants until the bastard finally actually won the World title. The answer for both was a simple won:

She needed to beat Cid in the ring and keep him from becoming World Champion again.

She had re-watched Cid’s match with Ravyn as she had the night it had happened. This time, however, the Snow Queen had paid particular attention to the expressions of shock and disbelief on both faces of the A/C Unit. They were both so arrogant, believing that nothing could stop them provided they were together at ringside. Selena had shook her head at that. Defeating Cid, denying his farce of a championship reign and Asher’s delusional, fake one to be given any credence was certainly the best way to deal with them, Selena had concluded over the last two-plus hours… but it brought little satisfaction to her.

Asher had put her hand on Deanna.

The demented bastard had grabbed Deanna, simply because he could, and then brushed it off as it being Selena’s fault that it happened – the Frost woman’s jaw clenched at that memory. Was it true? Partially, yes. Both Selena and Deanna had embraced the notions of risks with Deanna returning as Selena’s manager – it stood to reason that those with no respect for the company or those desperate enough would target Deanna to get to Selena… but how did that absolve Hayes?

It doesn’t! Selena’s mind had shouted for the first hour until she had admitted (mentally) to the conclusion before her. She wanted to punish Asher especially. She was fine with simply beating Cid again and retaining the World Championship at Apocalypse. But Asher? Gods, how long had it been since she had felt such hatred for someone? Vixen? Xander? Despite her growing hatred for the man, however, she had settled on the reality that she, truthfully, had no idea how to deal with him. Could she just blindly attack him next Breakdown? Backstage, perhaps? It was an option, but it didn’t feel enough. Plan after plan – calling him out, beating him up, none of them fit and the Snow Queen had, eventually, given up on thinking of a plan tonight allowing her thoughts to, finally, drift to the last issue in her mind – one that had confused her almost as much as Killjoy and frustrated her almost as much as Asher…

Zoe Sperling… the woman known as Syren.

Selena sighed, a spurt of energy filling her and granting her a bit more focus. She still couldn’t believe it. She had agreed to working with Syren. Syren! The head of Infamous! The person that had spent the first few months ambushing Selena. The person responsible for… oh, for the love of Odin… there wasn’t a promo long enough or enough time in the day to recount the number of things that woman had done in SCW. The people she had hurt, the careers she had shortened and even ended…

And it wasn’t like it was all on Zoe, either! Selena had beaten Syren to become number one contender for the World title, which had lead to… well, everything! The Snow Queen had, effectively, stolen Syren’s dream of being ‘chosen by Mr. D.’ as the number one contender AND main-event Rise to Greatness…

So, why in the cold hells of Nome had Selena said ‘yes’ to working with her? Why had she agreed?!

Despite these thoughts, however, an answer continued to come right to her of its own volition, as if to silence Selena’s arguments or mock them. That answer was the image of a pair of eyes – Zoe’s eyes – staring straight into Selena’s as the world champion had stood in the ring.

She couldn’t shake the memory. Those eyes burning into hers. There was no desperation. No begging for forgiveness. Plenty of anger, for sure. But devoid was anything Selena expected from, easily, one of the most accomplished people in SCW. Instead, all Selena could see, along with that anger was a simple thought.

This is wrong and it needs to stop – it needs to end.

It had, Selena had to admit, taken the breath out of the Snow Queen’s lungs. She had never expected such conviction from Syren, the former world champion often opting for cowardice and assisted victories over truly dominating as she had several times throughout her career. It had almost been hypnotizing to Selena, filling her with a compulsion to do the unthinkable… believe Syren’s words.

And she had shook Syren’s hand… she had agreed to team with her!

With an aggravated sigh, Selena’s head dropped onto the desk slowly, the young woman even lifting to to softly drop it back onto the wooden top a few more times, as if to try and knock some sense into her head.

“What the hell am I thinking?” she asked the question out loud, though she knew she was asking no one. Every logical part of her brain had, since that night, mocked her decision with the same string of arguments.

She’s using you to get the world title!
She couldn’t beat you OR Cid for the title shot so this the next plan!
Soon as she has the chance… she’s going to unleash all of Infamous on you!
Didn’t your matches with her or Christy or Ravyn teach you ANYTHING?!
It’s all for her to become World Champion!

And for every thought that was made, those eyes kept popping up in Selena’s mind. For every warning she was telling herself, those eyes appeared, telling the Snow Queen that this…unholy alliance… had to happen…

But was she a traitor for that? After everything?

The sound of the phone ringing filled her ears before Selena even realized that she had pulled out her cellphone and dialed a number. She wasn’t even sure which number she had called, but as she moved her hand to try and check on the screen, the voice on the other hand stopped her.

“Hey.”

It was only one word, but she recognized it right away.

“Hey, sis…” Selena sighed. “Sorry to be calling so late, Regan.”
“Are you in Manhattan?”
“Yeah.” Selena nodded instinctively. There was a pause on the line, perhaps so that Regan could process the information.
“Can’t sleep?” she finally asked.

The Snow Queen didn’t give a verbal answer, merely shaking her head despite talking to a non-video phone call. Despite these facts, the Hellcat responded as if she had seen it – perhaps knowing her sister so well. “What’s up?”

For a brief second, Selena’s eyes flew to the nearby clock, an sudden need to check the time and compare time zones – it being near midnight in California where her sister was – and apologize profusely for possibly waking Regan up. Instead, she felt the words come out of her of their own.

“Did you…watch Breakdown?” the question shook a little in Selena’s throat, as if the woman was afraid to ask it.
“I did.” The answer held no negative emotion and yet still filled Selena with a sense of unease.
“All of it?” she hesitated to ask.
“Mmhmm.”

Despite herself, the next set of words would not come to the platinum-blonde. Her mouth opened to speak but no words came out. Was she meant to try and explain to Regan what she saw in Syren’s eyes? Was she meant to flat-out apologize? The hatred Regan bore for not only Syren but most, if not all, the members of Infamous far exceeded Selena’s. Hell, at the beginning of the year, they had assaulted her husband – and now her sister was teaming with her!

“I…” she managed to squeak out before silence gripped her again for a few seconds. “Are you mad at me?”

There was a moment of silence on the other hand, which did nothing to ease Selena’s nerves. Her sister had, despite still recovering from her injuries, travelled to Rise to Greatness just to see Selena retain the world championship. To be part of a moment that not only meant the world to Selena, but, in the minds of Frozen Hell, defined what SCW was supposed to mean to both of them! A concept that seemed impossible for someone like Syren to realize…

What if Regan couldn’t get past this? What if she couldn’t forgive Selena for teaming with a long-time enemy, even if it was for the best of intentions? Sharper and Knots were right. The alliance was unholy – something that rivaled Frozen Hell in terms of impossibility! How could she possibly justify it-

“No.”

The single word forced all the air out of Selena’s lungs in a rush, the Face of SCW sounding more like the Big Bad Wolf than the Alaskan Dragon then. Still, relief and disbelief racked her frame. “R-really?” she asked.

“Selena…” Regan started. “It needs to end.”

Her breath hitched in her throat, hearing those words – chosen by Regan – ring in her ears. The same expression she had seen in Syren’s eyes.

“What Xander did to me…” Regan’s voice was soft but there was no mistaking the strength the Hellcat still held. “I hate him for it but even I know that it wasn’t his intention. What Asher did to Syren? It’s not different than what Giovanni did in the past. Or I did…”

“Regan…” Selena tried, but Regan interjected.
“No, I did what I did and I can’t change it. But making that choice… there is nothing ‘accidental’ about it. And…”

There was a hesitation in her voice, almost as if she was regretting having to say her next words. “What if he does it again?”

Blindly, without really considering the inferences the question raised, Selena scoffed. “He can’t. He wouldn’t risk another suspension or worse.”
“Not even if there was nothing more to lose? Like if you beat Cid and crushed this plan of his to steal the world title?”

Selena’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought about that. Beating Cid at Apocalypse, assuming she could do it, would that effectively destroy whatever “plans” Asher, and perhaps Holly, had? It wasn’t as if Asher was winning any points with his antics and fake championship, though if he were to win his match with Xander Valentine next Breakdown, it would certainly push him further to that end. But still, there was no denying that Cid Turner was the “golden goose” for Asher – his shortcut to whatever delusion with the world title he had.

What if Selena ended that? What if she silenced Cid once more? Would Asher simply back off? She highly doubted it. This whole thing: the delusions, the lies, the attacks – it all had served one fundamental construct:

Asher had failed to become the World Champion. Whether it was the match with Suited and Booted, Taking Hold of the Flame, it didn’t matter – Asher had not managed to achieve what Selena had done. And instead of learning from it or getting better, he had decided to go the route of delusion. Pretending to be a world champion and lashing out at anyone that stood up to him.

Syren had learned that the hard way at Taking Hold of the Flame, and even though there was no love lost between Selena and Syren, the Snow Queen would not have wished what had happened on anyone…

“Selena…” Regan’s voice broke through her thoughts. “If Asher snaps again… what if he tries to do that to Deanna?”

CLANK!

The sound of Selena’s cellphone dropping down to the carpeted floor was deafening to Selena’s ears, but it was a whisper to Regan’s question as it rampaged through the platinum-blonde’s skull! The image of Asher holding Deanna back after Selena’s match with Tommy Valentine. Her beloved redhead had managed to slip away with a shove thanks, in part, to Syren appearing, but what if she hadn’t?

In Selena’s mind eye, despite her best to cast it away, she saw the scene change and morph. This time, Syren did not come out. Selena remained on the ring apron, Cid stomping away at her while Asher’s face morphed into a vicious grin as he grasped Deanna. Then, forcing Deanna’s head between his legs and shouting “King Dick!”, Asher pulled Deanna up… and spiked her on her head in a vicious piledriver!

Selena wanted to scream as she was ripped back into the present night, the vision before her eyes dying. A pale hand reached up to press on her chest over the soft fabric of her dark purple nightgown, feeling her heart racing madly. Carefully, taking slow breaths to try and calm herself, she scooped up her phone, only able to hear her sister’s voice again when she had the device against her ear.

“…alright? Sel-“
“Sorry…” Selena breathed. “I dropped the phone.”
“I heard.”

“I…I didn’t expect you to ask me that.” The young Frost spoke honestly. “And I never assumed he’d be that desperate or stupid.”

“He’s running around with a fake title just so he can call himself a ‘world champion’.” Regan explained. “And with Cid thinking he and Syren are soulmates-“

The whole sounded like a fucking joke to Selena. That these things – a fake world title and a demented form of stalking – were becoming parts of focus in the World title picture was infuriating. It was exactly what she was trying to fix within SCW. What she was trying to help SCW be better than. Except-

“You know you can’t do it on your own.” Came Regan’s voice.
“I…I know.” Selena sighed.

It was a conclusion she had drawn last Breakdown, when Asher and Cid had double-teamed her and taken her down by sheer numbers. One on one? She could beat either man. But this wasn’t Taking Hold of the Flame. She wouldn’t get Cid by himself again, if Asher had any say in the matter. All it would take would be Selena turning the tide. A moment of Selena seemingly set to win and Asher would act… or, as Regan predicted… if she won…

Regardless, Asher’s involvement was a disadvantage to Selena that she had not faced since Syren back at the beginning of the year….

“I get it…” Selena sighed. “It makes sense and I… I can’t describe what urged me to agree beyond logic, because it was something else, but… sister, all the things she did.”
“I know.” Sighed Regan.
“How could I just say ‘yes’? How could I agree?”

“Because you KNOW you have to.” Regan tried. Her voice pressing the issue. “This isn’t something you can just conquer or kick your way through. Trust me! I’ve been watching it! This is bigger than either you or Syren can handle by yourselves! Trust me! I hate this as much as you do, Selena! But if you don’t work together, then they’re going to either take you out, take Syren out or…” she didn’t want Selena to drop the phone again, so she left the last part unsaid…

But Selena still heard it anyways. Biting her lower lip and working it between her teeth, she slowly gave a nod. “I just didn’t want you to be upset with me.”
“Oh I’m upset.” Laughed Regan. “I’m pissed it’s had to come to this! But that isn’t your fault anymore than it’s Syren’s. You just have to…” her voice trailed off.
“Endure?” Selena guessed, earning a hum of approval from Regan.

It was a decent note to leave off on, the Snow Queen wishing her sister a pleasant sleep and thanks before hanging up her cellphone, leaving her alone to her thoughts once more. Her sleep, having patiently waited for the emotional roller-coaster the young woman had endured, returned with a vengeance, causing her to yawn loudly, covering her mouth with her hand in a vain attempt to stifle the yawn.

Slowly, her mind still heavy with thoughts, Selena pulled herself up the stairs until she reached the ground floor of her home. It was only when she saw the lightning and heard the thunder outside that she turned her head towards the closed windows on the balcony. Another hard clasp of thunder rang in her ears, drawing her out towards it until she was standing under the balcony’s cover.

Could she team with Syren? Was it possible against a trained team like the A/C Unit? All to protect the standards of SCW?

She wasn’t sure, but her thoughts were interrupted as she spotted a light coming from off the ways. Turning her head, she gazed down at the walkway leading from her house the short distance to her indoor pool and gym house. The lightning illuminated that part of the woods and property before her eyes. The building was structured the same way her house was. Bricks, stone and a bit of lumber but none of these things registered in her mind.

No, what stood out to Selena was the single light that came from one of the windows, pouring its white light into the darkness of the night, though unable to illuminate much compared to the ferocious lightning.

With a tilt of her head and a deep breath, Selena turned and headed off the balcony and towards the door. She had a pretty good idea who had left that light open…

Guess sleep will have to wait a little longer… she thought, wanting nothing more than to crawl back into bed, holding her Deanna safely. Well… if I’m right… I might still get that… she added with a tired smile as she opened the front door and stepped out into the storm.