BLAZE DARLING’S HOME
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Life had not been kind to Blaze lately, the past few months had been beyond rough. She had practically become a shell of the kind and soft woman she had once been before the business had sucked her dry. Had the business she loved so much sucked her dry? It was hard to say, but she didn’t feel dry. Not like the Sahara or a well in the midst of the hottest drought.
There was still fight left in her, there was still fire left in the Firestarter herself. There was a reason that she was labeled as The Firestarter and it wasn’t just because she had a whole theme of gear dedicated to Captain Marvel. It was because she lit up the stage wherever her feet landed. It was because those closest to her knew that she would never let the darkness win. Because she had seen what the darkness had done to those who she loved most.
The darkness had once swallowed her idol, her friend… her sister… Savannah Sunshine… The darkness had once swallowed her whole and spit back out a vicious and deadly demon in return. One that had nearly killed- No. She wouldn’t talk about that. She wouldn’t dare to bring up the past again. She knew far better than that. She knew better than to dare to allow the darkness to drag up memories she no longer wanted to talk about, let alone remember at all.
She shifted beneath her Stitch blanket/hoodie hybrid. It was far too large on her and she practically swam within it. But, that wasn’t a hard feat for someone of her smaller stature. Though, she was taller than Savannah, but that was not a hard feat either. Especially for her idol and trainer who was hardly above the size of an average eleven year old child.
As Blaze laid there in the darkness, she could spot a single sliver of light peeking from the lava lamp that Alexander had gotten her as a gift.
“Keep this with you, it’ll keep you safe and always pull you out of the dark.”
That was what he had said, that was why he had given her the gift. It may have seemed stupid to anyone else, but Blaze feared the darkness more than anything else in this world. There was so much she feared and hardly anytime to face those fears. But, one day… One day she would not be so afraid of so many things.
Fingers lightly traced against the star shapes on the base of the lava lamp, knowing better than to touch the colorful and bright glitter that bubbled inside of the warm lamp. The sound of keys unlocking the door to the home could be heard from down the hall. Yet, Blaze had only rolled over to rest upon her back as Alexander had entered through the front door. Alexander Hate, who had so much hatred within for so many others. But, such love and adoration for the small woman he loved most.
“Alright, emo girl. It’s time you get outta bed.”
Alexander pulled open the curtains, sunlight pouring into the room as he clicked the lava lamp off. Blaze groaned audibly, shielding her eyes from the sudden intrusion of blinding sunlight. It took her a few moments to get used to it, especially after having been in the dark for so long.
“Come on, up and at ‘em. We’re having a great day today, not a day in the darkness again. Come on, get up.”
He proceeded to tug at the oversized sleeve of her blanket/hoodie hybrid, spurring her up to her knees as she pouted.
“No pouting, shortcake. C’mon, we have plans. Get dressed and get in a shower because something smells like it died in here.”
He crinkled his nose playfully, stealing a kiss from her briefly.
“Chop, chop.”
He lightly patted her on the butt, causing her to shake her head as she quickly shuffled away to go shower and prepare for the day. Whatever it was that Alexander had prepared for them, she was sure it was going to put her in a much better mood and prepare her for the upcoming match she had against Issak Otto. A match that she could not fully comprehend or wrap her head around.
The day had gone by easily and fairly quick, yet had managed to cheer Blaze up a lot. They had spent the day at Disneyland, with Blaze stopping to take pictures of herself and Alexander with different characters and around different photo ops and such. There wasn’t a dull moment when it came to spending time with the love of her life and Blaze could never begin to explain how much she truly appreciated him. When she was at her lowest point, he pulled her from the darkness like a shining beacon of hope.
He was truly that ray of shining sunlight that she needed today and she was so thankful for him. The day had dwindled down and they had settled on relaxing back at Blaze’s and curling up in bed to watch Blaze’s favorite movies and unwind after a long day in the California sun. Yet, she could not bring herself to feel a single ounce of regret for spending their day together. Even in spite of the heat that had beat down upon them during their trip.
Blaze munched on cotton candy, eyes glued to the screen as they watched Captain Marvel for the millionth time it seemed. It was one of Blaze’s top comfort films, even if Alexander seemed to chuckle adoringly at his girlfriend whenever she quoted different lines of the film. As the film came to a slow end, Blaze let out a gentle yawn and shifted like a kitten against Alexander.
“Did you know that you’re a lot warmer than me? It’s usually not that cold in here, but it’s sweltering outside today. So, your warmth, while not welcome during the day, is so welcome right now.”
She giggled softly, nuzzling into him comfortably as he shifted to sit up. He kept one arm wrapped protectively around her as he stood up, legs and arms wrapped around him as he walked them to the bedroom.
“I love you.”
A kiss to the cheek.
“I love you.”
A kiss to the jaw.
“I love you.”
A kiss to the shoulder.
“I love you.”
A kiss to the neck.
“I love you.”
A kiss to the lips that he reciprocated in response. A soft giggle from Blaze as he carefully and playfully tossed her onto the bed like a sack of potatoes.
Blaze landed with a playful and soft thud as soft squealing spilled from her lips. She flew from halfway into the room all the way until she landed on fluffy soft sheets and comforters. Colorful locks of hair splayed wildly as she brushed them from her field of vision. Alexander began to plop down in bed, laying right on top of her as she shifted beneath him in a playful manner.
“Ughhhhh. Get off of me, you big lug!”
She poked him a few times, before licking his cheek as he finally removed himself from her to wipe at his cheek with a playful look of disgust on his face.
“Oh, man. I’ve got girl cooties now. Guess I’d better give some of these cooties back to you!”
Alexander went in for the attack, loud squealing filling the air as Blaze attempted to run away. Instead, it was a battle for power before Blaze managed to pin Alexander down onto the bed. Tiny hands pinning his above his head playfully as she playfully glared down at him.
“You keep those cooties, you gross boy.”
She licked the tip of his nose, before stealing a quick kiss and rolling to lay beside him. One of his arms wrapping snug around her waist as she let out another soft yawn.
“Nap time…”
She stretched out, laying across him playfully.
“I take a nap right here.”
Alexander, however, did not bother moving as Blaze’s head lay in his lap.
Alexander had pulled her from the battle with darkness that she had been struggling with. Even the brightest of souls could suffer from the darkest things. Yet, she knew that she could not fester upon it much longer. In fear that if she had? She would turn into something… someone… that she could no longer recognize… and she was so, so, so thankful for Alexander. She only wished that she could express to him how much he meant to her.
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“So, here’s to the future ‘cause we got through the past. I finally found someone that can make me laugh. You so crazy, I think I want to have your baby.”
Blaze sang along softly to the music that was coming from her earbuds. Head bobbing and rocking as her legs swung and dangled from atop the treehouse she currently was occupying, the treehouse she had built herself the first time she had moved into this house. She grinned cheekily, popping one of her earbuds out as she began to film with her cellphone.
“Gooooood evening, PWE! Man, am I glad to be getting a proper chance to show off my skills.”
She shakes her head, not wanting to talk about what had happened the last time she had stepped foot into the ring.
“But, this time is going to be different! I just know it is, I can feel it deep within the very core of my being.”
She nods firmly, keeping that smile upon her lips.
“This time, I face off against someone I am a little bit familiar with. In the sense that I got to witness how his last match went, of course. Issak Otto is someone that is not going to be easy to put down, nor will he be easy to keep down for very long. But, I will do whatever it takes to make sure that I make a lasting impression. Win or lose, I am going out there to put on the best match and make sure eyes are on the product.”
Blaze inhales a soft breath, staring off into the setting sun ahead of her. She’s quiet for several moments, just lost in her own thoughts before she speaks again.
“I haven’t had the best time lately. Not just in the ring, but out of it as well. But, I’m pulling myself out of that rut and I’m doing whatever it takes to make sure everyone knows my name. I want to be the very best around and that means coming face to face and going toe to toe with the best that PWE has to offer and that is exactly what they have given me by placing me against Issak.”
“I know what he is capable of, I witnessed it last time around when I got to watch the matches. He’s not the same happy go lucky person that he was before, but I’ve faced plenty of people just like him before. So, this is going to be something familiar yet unfamiliar all the same.”
“I refuse to be another face in the crowd and I refuse to make this easy on Issak or anyone else they put in my path from here on out. I’m not a delicate little flower and I intend to throwdown with the very best that this place has. If I go down, I’m not making it easy for Issak either. I know there’s always a fifty fifty chance in one on one matches. It can be anyone’s ballpark win if they try hard enough, but only one of us can be the one with our hand raised in victory at the end of this all.”
“It’s nothing personal, really. I just really want to be one of the best around and there’s a reason why the fans like me. It’s not an ego or anything like that, but I hear them every single time I step onto the ramp. I hear them when I’m inside of the ring.”
“They love me and it is important to me that I don’t let them down. Even when I let them down, I know that they will still be there to lift me up with open arms. Issak seems to be a bit distracted lately. His head was there in his last match, but it wasn’t entirely there, was it?”
Blaze’s head tilts curiously and she lets out a little hum, shoulders shrugging as if brushing off the question she had just asked.
“I just hope he doesn’t pull a Troy Bolton and actually keeps his head in the game this time. ‘Cause I want him at one hundred percent when we are in that ring together because I fully intend on giving it my all out there. I wish you the best of luck, Issak… You will be needing it.”
With that, Blaze gave a little wave and a grin before cutting off the recording and putting an end to the filming. The scene slowly fading to black a moment later.
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