Promo: Within Earshot

[A Happy Medium 0]

Promo: "Within Earshot"

 

Munich strides through some musky corridors somewhere in Belize, or Honduras. It's an international house show, and Munich is walking with an extra hop in his step. He was victorious in a hard fought match with Daniel Smith in Venezuela. Not quite as importantly, he is about to about up a fresh pack of smokes and indulge himself in the parking garage. The world seems a bit brighter, his new attitude seemingly paying dividends. After stuffing the plastic wrap and paper-foil in his pockets, he produces a cigarette and smashes it between his lips. Lighter in hand, he strolls towards the designated smoking area. He can't help but hear his name ring out in a conversation from the locker room. Munich approaches and peers around the open doorway, finding the returning Longdogger Pete and Ben Hardy in conversation. He quickly takes the cigarette out of his mouth and cradles it between his fingers.

 

"Son of a bitch," Munich angrily mutters under his breath. He tunes out for a moment and focuses on the oblivious Hardy. Not noticed by the two men, Munich waits until the conversation ends. He stands back just out of view from the doorway, looking to catch Hardy at the right moment. Ben approaches and takes a turn right into Munich, bumping into the large man.

 

"Hey, Ben! Lets take a walk," Munich states, gripping Hardy by the shoulder in a semi-friendly way. He coerces and turns Hardy around, and begins to guide him towards the parking garage. Frightened, Hardy begins to walk with Munich. "Where are we going?" asks Hardy in a panic. "We are going outside for a smoke," says Munich matter-of-factly. "But … but I don't smoke," says Hardy in a panic. "I know," Munich states in a calm manner.

 

The two men finally reach the parking garage and wind up just outside of the backstage area. The thick, hot air outside causes Hardy's eyeglasses to temporarily fog up. Munich quickly lights the cigarette he had been saving. Hardy squints around the parking garage as he wipes down his cheaters with a cloth produced from his khaki pocket. "I'm not going to hurt you," says Munich, the words slightly muffled on his cancer stick. "But even with a bummed I'll run you down," he says.

 

After a slight wheeze, Hardy places his functional glasses back onto his face. "So, what's up, Munich? Did you see that LDP is back? You think you may reform XF-" Hardy trails off on his last question, his eyes locking with the slightly perturbed eyes of his kidnapper. "In Junior High, a rumor started that I killed cats, skinned them, and hanged their hides on a chain link fence at my house. I didn't like the whispers behind my back, Ben," Munich says, his eyes off into space. "What … what do you mean, Munich?" the small man asks.

 

"I don't like them now," Munich continues, taking a second for a drag. "I heard you talking to Pete, Ben. I heard you tell him that I'm not a big fan of his," Munich says, then turns his eyes towards Ben, who is petrified. "Remember. I'm not going to hurt you," he says again, keeping his calm. "But what in the world gave you the idea that I have a problem with him, Ben?!" Munich says with a bit of vinegar in his mouth, his cigarette hand waiving in the air, sending a spiral of smoke over the two men.

 

Ben stares at him blankly for a minute. "When you said that X Force Nine is … fucking dead, I thought that you were alluding to you having issues with everyone involved," says Ben. He takes a deep breath afterwards, thinking it may be his last. Munich stays calm. After scratching the back of his head with his off hand, Munich explains himself. "I was exercising a lot of demons, Ben. At no time did I point to anyone. Okay. Maybe I was pissed at Annie a little bit, and she helped place the concrete block on the accelerator," says Munich. He spins in a circle, and looks back at Hardy.

 

"To set the record straight with you, and for you to end this rumor you are spreading, there is nothing from myself to LDP but respect. We were never that close. He was wise, and I was a dumbshit. We had each other's back, though. That's what mattered most. And … while I know what I said about not wanting to be XF9's Munich anymore, it doesn't mean I would say no to LDP for some back up on occasion, which he probably doesn't need. If LDP gets jumped in the back and I know about it, I'm there," he finishes.

 

Halfway done with his cigarette, he flicks some ash down onto the ground and waits for Hardy's volley. "You sounded jealous when you spoke to the camera a couple of weeks ago. I just assumed that you were upset with Pete," Hardy says. "Of course I'm jealous of Pete. I'm jealous that he did so many great things, and this return isn't even needed for him to retain his spot in federation history. I'm breaking down and I know this is my last chance to do something epic," Munich says, looking away once more. "I haven't even done anything yet, either," says Munich, looking at his past.

 

"My apologies then, Munich," says Hardy earnestly. "Don't worry about it," says Munich, sawing his hand through the air. The two men stand quiet for a moment, both of them developing a layer of sweat on their brows. "You should probably welcome Pete back," says Hardy. "He's already welcome back, and knowing him, I'll see him in the ring in no time," Munich answers.

 

Munich snuffs out the cigarette into an ashtray, and throws the paper and plastic into a nearby trashcan.

 

"Good talk," says Munich as he heads inside, leaving an exhausted Hardy leaning up against the nearby wall.