[Rain lightly pelted against the paine of the thick weatherproofed glass skidding downwards and resting in a tiny pool on the ledge. Rain was usually an afterthought this high above the city, work in a skyscraper was usually monotonous but one thing for sure was that there was never much worry for scurrying around like all the other ants way down below did under such menacing grey skies. The benefits of being concealed inside one of these gigantic modern fortresses was that everything outside was a distant memory, nothing short of hundred mile per-hour winds would cease the happiness of the abundance of life sheltered inside.]
[The building itself was actually the center for a lot of different operations. On one floor there was a small-time stock brokerage firm dealing with lowkey investors, while on the next could be a hairstylist's school. It was an open-ended base of operations for a plethora of people and businesses. However this high up was the office of a Miss Debra Coleman M.D. F.R.C.P. (C), she, it was soon determined was capable of reaching Marcus Gaines without having to lock him up, and not draw out any of his aggression or anger. He was comfortable with her and liked the idea of not having to be kept confined for the rest of his adult life like some worthless labrat. Yes, it was true Marcus was a danger to probably all of society if the right buttons were pushed, however he couldn't exactly control it, he described it as "a feeling of intense rage and the need to break or injure something." Most people wouldn't have hesitated to lock him away in some mental institution to keep him away from society, but Doctor Coleman, armed with compassion realized that Marcus could be helped to control these "outbursts." And so from her first introduction to him when he was just a boy she grew fond of his usually kind nature and became his permanent therapist.]
[At that time she was just beginning her career as a psychiatrist, Marcus was one of her very first patients. When they first met her youthful blue eyes calmed Marcus completely, making him docile for days. Her lovely red hair made her out to be angelic... despite not really being connected to anything of religious descent. She just seemed so breathtaking, he would willingly undergo hours of psychiatric sessions just to be in the same room with this woman. Now twenty-nine, she still maintained her natural good looks, but now had experience treating people's mental disturbances, and had aided in helping Marcus get a hold on his inner demons. He had now grown into a man, but hadn't been able to suppress any "urges" he might have. It was her idea to put his fighting ability to use somewhere where he would be allowed some leeway, where injuries and the like were almost commonplace: The wrestling industry, the Gladiator Wrestling Association to be exact.]
[Hence why he had intervened in her office now for a session at an irregular time to discuss everything under the sun. It was around six o'clock PM, most of the other businesses had closed for the evening, this would be Miss Coleman's last session of the night, giving her mild relief after an excruciatingly hectic day. She oozed fatigue in fact as she finished up some paperwork from her previous patient she let her free hand massage the nape of her neck. Marcus merely sat on the leather apholstered couch turned on an angle to look out the window, over the tops of the smaller buildings, it was a majestic feeling to say the least. Marcus usally took the time to examine every small detail of a scene such as this, taking in the sound of the rain gently tapping against the window. It was in between perfect dark and absolute daytime leaving a dismal gray layer of cloud overshadowing the city and whatever could be seen in the distance.]
[In the office however, it was quite the contrary, doctor Coleman always kept fresh plants in her office to give it a more serene feeling, the lighting in the room was almost at the point of being too bright, every corner of the office was swallowed up by the light, At this moment only the faint sound of processed air from the air conditioner blowing out of vents unseen could be heard, giving the whole office that dentist office feel so many people dreaded. Marcus, however loved the feeling of being in this office, he felt sheltered, as if any time he spent with this woman was time he'd cherish the most when he looked back as an old man. He grew bored of looking out the window and turned back around on the couch, he took to examining the fine calf muscles on his doctor just as she looked over to him. He glanced up abruptly to meet her gaze, she seemed unaffected by it. The office was arranged so that Marcus sat on a couch with its back to the window, facing the sideways positioned desk of Miss Coleman, she usually swiveled on her chair to face Marcus which she was now in the process of doing.]
Doctor Coleman: Okay then lets get started. How are you today, Marcus?
[She leaned back in her chair immediately after speaking allowing him a slight look up her short skirt. He crossed his arms feeling the gaberdine fabric tighten under the pressure of hus muscular physique.]
Gaines: I'm good. I haven't been doing anything I shouldn't be. The drugs are doing whatever it is they're supposed to be doing I suppose. And I'm a little nervous about this debut thing at the GWA but other than that, I'm fine.
Doctor Coleman: That's normal. Mainly the idea of you going to this wrestling federation is that you'll be able to release any rage and anger you feel on men who are trained to deal with it. Hopefully, with any luck in doing so it'll basically help you to control your temper outside of the wrestling ring.
Gaines: [Nodding gently.] I understand, and it makes a bit of sense, and it IS something I've been interested in doing for a while now, afterall. But I really don't see what the big deal is, I've got a minor mental problem. Nothing that requires me to fight professionally.
[Doctor Coleman rose out of her seat with a sigh and leaned on her desk, her skirt riding slightly up her thigh, allowing marcus to concentrate on something more akin to his mood at the moment.]
Doctor Coleman: MINOR mental problem? Marcus, you've crippled three people in your lifetime. Thats more than most proffesional wrestlers can say. And I think that speaks volumes of your need to do this.
[Marcus let out a bit of a chortle at the reminder of his past. The first person he ever crippled was a schoolyard child who had stolen his swing during recess, Marcus grabbed the kids hair, threw him off the swing and proceeded to throw him into a wall, leaving the kid with a severe spinal chord injury that left him in a hospital bed from then on.]
Gaines: Well, that's true. But I hardly think one of those people could be classified as a cripple, that guy from the subway for instance has about forty percent of his motor functions still. And that's better than Steven Hawking.
[Debra rolled her eyes, still after all these years as this man's doctor she had trouble believing his wanton disregard for life in general.]
Doctor Coleman: That man eats food through a straw, Marcus.[She raised her voice slightly trying to maintain calmness around this man.] I'd definately call that crippled.
Gaines: I'd say he's lucky to be able to even do that. Did you know there are starving kids in Ethiopia who don't even HAVE straws to eat through? So I don't think you or I should feel very sorry for a guy who can eat his meals through a straw. If I liked liquids more I'm sure I'd go that route to. In a few years I'm sure it'll all be liquified food through straws, that or pills.
[She shook her head in mild disgust. The ease with which he joked about someone else's pain and suffering was appalling, but she had learned to remain adamantly patient with him even when he seemed so inhumanly evil it made her stomach turn. But at times she wished she could grab him by the ear and yell sense into him.]
Doctor Coleman: Has there been any sort of... episodes or anything lately that I should know about? Any dreams that seemed unusual to you?
[Marcus looked thoughtful for a moment, as he traced his steps through his memory over the past few days since his most recent session with Doctor Coleman. And deciding to forego telling her about a shouting match he had had with a neighbour, shook his head.]
Doctor Coleman: Okay then. I want to try something with you now. It's similar to a Rorschach examination except instead of inkblots, its pictures of you. I want you to look at them, and tell me what you think of the person you see in the picture, and what you think your thinking.
Gaines: [He scoffed.] Well, I'm not going to ask you what you were doing taking pictures of me, you naughty girl. But I AM going to ask what the point is. I mean they're pictures of me... I know already what I was thinking, and what I was doing, so what is the point of that?
Doctor Coleman: [Smiling to herself.] Well those are valid points, Marcus. However, sometimes there isn't a point to what we do, it just helps us to understand things about you. You should know that by now.
Gaines: Oy. I hate these tests.
[She swiveled in her chair, picking some fairly large white paper, which were in actuality photographs. She turned back around in her chair and faced him keeping the pictures turned so he only saw the back.]
Doctor Coleman: The first picture. Tell me what you're thinking, what you think of yourself, and what you're doing. Please stay concentrated on this task and nothing else. Tell me what you see, Marcus.
[She rested her eyes on him waiting for a response. Marcus looked at the picture with a smirk on his face, he could only wonder what purpose this could possibly serve in anything that is any kind of event in his life at the moment.]
Gaines: In that picture I'm in the process of generating a ball of energy that will eventually serve as a powerful projectile made of ice to be used against oppenents in the upcoming Mortal Kombat tournament. And I'm thinking about said torunament and wondering how I'm ever going to beat Shao Kahn. I nearly had him last time.
[Doctor Coleman rolled her eyes again, and put the first picture down on the ground before her feet. She flipped the next picture around to face him.]
Doctor Coleman: Marcus, please cooperate with me. This mainly pertains to your own self image and the ideas you have about yourself. What do you see in the next picture.
[Marcus focused hard on the picture depicting he and his father. Should he go for a more witty approach and see how cute she looks when she's frustrated. Or should he tell her what she wants to hear? Marcus tried to fake exuberance over this excercise but still maintained his bored demeanor.]
Gaines: I see me and my father. I'm probably thinking: nice joke dad. And he's most likely telling some joke about how my mother can never hear anything he says, meanwhile I'm blocking out anything he's saying myself. Happy with that response?
[Doctor Coleman kept her eyes focused on Marcus and disregarded the question as she dropped the next picture to the ground overlapping the first one. She turned the next picture over facing him.]
Doctor Coleman: And this picture?
[Gaines had had enough of this useless excercise, it showed nothing, it made him wonder what the point of even coming to this office was if all she was going to be doing instead of showing skin was showing pictures she'd somehow taken of him during his daily life.]
Gaines: There's me and my most recent invention; The Horseless Carriage, however people in cities like Detroit and Chicago have taken to calling it an "Automobile." But I don't know how long that'll last. My main problem with the invention is its too small. I really should have designed the damn thing to scale don't you agree?
[Doctor Coleman dropped the pictures on the ground and stood up from her chair, it was easy to sense her annoyance at Marcus's inabilty to even keep a straight face through this excercise. To a psychiatrist unfamiliar with his/her patients habits and personality, at this time it would be easy to give up. However, Debra knew that this was Marcus being who he was. He really didn't want to concentrate on something he saw no point in participating in, it was just wise strategy to move on to another topic and forget this had happened and hopefully later on he'll be more receptive to some of her somewhat unorthodox tactics.]
Doctor Coleman: Okay, well moving past that. Tell me about this debut you're making in the Gladiator Wrestling Association. What sort of competition is it?
[Marcus shifted a little in his seat, this was a topic he actually was interested in discussing, no wonder she was so good at getting through to him.]
Gaines: Well as far as I know, its a four corners match. Which, if you need a description, is a wrestling match where there are four combatants each starting in opposing corners, when the bell rings, its no holds barred, every man for himself basically.
Doctor Coleman: [She nodded her head approvingly,she lifted her voluptuous body off of her seat and moved over to her desk and leaned on the edge facing Marcus.] Sounds like it could be exciting. And do you know who you're scheduled to be fighting? Have you done any research or anything of that nature on them?
Gaines: [He shook his head nonchalantly.] Well, two of the guys I've only done a bit of background checks on, like their bios and the like but I wouldn't proclaim myself to be an expert on either of those two. And the other is a man named Ryken, an old-timer from the now defunct Survival Wrestling Association or SWA for short, you may have heard of it? I saw him fight a few times on television, it was somewhat entertaining. I guess there's this big stigma surrounding him. The reputation the guy carries around with him is a pretty overwhelming one if you're into believing everything you hear. I am not one of these guys who buys into magic beans, henceforth I supremely doubt anything I've been told or heard about him.
Doctor Coleman: So you don't believe his reputation is accurate, I take it? Tell me about you're thoughts on all of these men then. Talking about strategies and you're opinions of them may help you to prepare for this match mentally.
Gaines: Okay, well you want to know how much Ryken's reputation is worth in my opinion? Most likely worth much less than a tonka truck. As far as I know he's honourable and most likely into giving street kids a second chance by playing pick-up basketball. He's a goody-goody and you know what, come to think of it, Ryken's reputation means its just five things to knock down instead of four in this four corners match. As far as I'm concerned the other two nitwits can sit in there corners the whole match, if I were betting money on the match it'd be on either me or Ryken.
[Doctor Coleman seemed a little startled by Marcus' outburst but she realized he was probably becoming more and more passionate about wrestling as the days to his debut came and went.]
Gaines: And come to think of it, does anyone care what someone has done in the past? Its all about the present, for all I care Ryken could have split the atom and the only thing that would matter is that the Atomic bomb was dropped. Hell, even if his initials were on the damn bomb no one would ever know. Unless you wanted to go picking pieces of shrapnel from some poor deformed kids skull.
[Debra looked at Marcus half puzzled and half disgusted as she pictured the image of the dropping of Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It was confusing as to why he was talking as if Ryken had invented the atomic bomb. She quickly reasoned it was mainly his mind getting the best of him.]
Doctor Coleman: Well, this is off topic, but yes, people do care. If they didn't you wouldn't be on medication and watched twenty-four hours a day. [Smiling.] And try not to place someone into history as if you actually believe it happened.
Gaines: True, but this isn't about MY past, its about some long-haired janitor turned wrestler. Who gives a damn? I know I don't. As far as being a legend is concerned... isn't it the main point of a legend to be mysterious, aren't those morons down at the Smithsonian still trying to decide if Hercules was a real man or not? Shucks, for all we know "Ryken" is just a nerd with suspenders, or better yet just a statue of some nobody trying to reflect in his former glory, like Rodin's "The Thinker". And if you ask me, Ryken would have been wiser to stay gone than to try and come back for more, even if it is to a fed he's never been involved in.
Doctor Coleman: All right, and what of the other two? what do you know about them?
Gaines: [Shrugs and stares off into space for a moment obviously considering the question, then returns his attention to her.] Well, like I said I Know next to nothing about them. Most likely newcomes like myself. I know for a fact however, that there is some kid named Chris Tyrone or something involved. If I were him I'd stick to smoking the pot and leave wrestling to people who don't have the "munchies" twenty-four hours a day.
[Marcus stopped his train of thought to allow the doctor to add or to interject.]
Doctor Coleman: Go on.
Gaines: And then some guy named Jimmy Luchadory or something. I don't even know the guy and I'm already positive I can kick his a**.
Doctor Coleman: Don't you think that's a little arrogant? I mean if you don't even know the man then how can you make a judgement?
Gaines: That's a good point, and don't get me wrong and think I'm being too cocky for my own good. It's almost a given that anyone with the name of Jimmy is a loser, sure that Jimmy fella' who coaches the Miami Dolphins USED to be a winner, with the Cowboys, but look where he is now... MIAMI.
Doctor Coleman: Okay, now you're just rambling. I wish you'd be a little bit more down to Earth when analyzing things of this nature, I doubt that just because his name is Jimmy means his abilities as a competitor will be nullified. And besides I thought the dolphins were a winning team now.
Gaines: I know. It was absurd of me to go off the deep-end like that. I just feel really connected to this GWA already. I'm not sure but it's a good feeling. And with that feeling comes a need to shove anything my opponents say right back down their throat. And I don't even know about the dolphins anymore.
[He let a soft open smile form on his face and winked at her.]
Doctor Coleman: Well then putting aside all you're views on the other wrestlers and their handicaps involving their names do you think that you can win? I mean you're fairly confident that you can come out victorious?
[Marcus admired how versatile Doctor Coleman was, her ease in dealing with a vast array of topics made her seem almost inhuman. It was perhaps her most appealing feature, the fact that he could talk to her about anything and she'd always have something to add or to say.]
Gaines: Well, I don't know. I thought the point of me wrestling at all was to mainly release anger? Wouldn't winning be considered secondary? Don't get me wrong, winning would be great and all but it doesn't honestly matter if I win, does it?
Doctor Coleman: Well yes and no, Marcus. The main goal here is to be therapeutic for you, yes. But that doesn't mean that you can't also find a career out of it perhaps. Think of it as a means to an end, you win, and you release your problems. It could be considered a win win situation.
Gaines: Oh, okay, I guess you make a good point. And it would be nice to be able to hold up some sort of gold belt and actually be praised for beating someone up for it instead of being arrested.
[This could have been perhaps the first time that Doctor Debra Coleman made more sense than she normally did. Usually it was all in one ear and out the other with her, mostly jargon about mental health and so forth. Yet, she also seemed unsually focused on this topic, perhaps it was just her way of reaching Marcus at his core and drawing him out more and more.]
Doctor Coleman: So then tell me about what you plan to accomplish on Wednesday.
Gaines: [Shrugs.] I'm not sure, I don't think anyone can guarantee a win, right?
Doctor Coleman: I'm not asking you to guarantee a win. Just make it therapeutic. Okay?
Gaines: [Nods.] Yeah. And I'm hoping to be able to feel a release. I'm honestly not proud of the things I've done in the past, doctor. I've done a lot of things that had I been able to control them better or had an outlet like I do now, wouldn't have happened.
Doctor Coleman: Good. It's good to see you feeling remorse for those things. In this session alone I thought it was back to the old Marcus, the one who was in fact proud of crippling three people.
Gaines: I know, I know and I'm sorry. I sincerely can't help my behaviour sometimes. I'm working on containing it at least. I've set the goal that eventually I'll manage to control it somewhat.
Doctor Coleman: Excellent. I'm glad that even though it took almost ten years to reach you it shows I'm having an affect on you. This is a step in the right direction for sure.
[Doctor Coleman moved over to Gaines as he stood up and offered her hand for him to shake. As he looked into her eyes, a world of ideas came to Marcus, no woman had managed to reach so deeply into his very being and touch him as this woman did. In Marcus' arogant view of the world, women seemed almost beneath him, unworthy of having has attentions, yet this woman had captured his heart. He felt sick to the stomach at the thought that he was allowing himself to fall for a woman, a woman who was almost ten years his senior, and his therapist no less. It was so dickensian he had to smile at the idea.]
Doctor Coleman: [She notices the smile forming.] What's so funny?
Gaines: Oh, Uhmm... Window washers... they wash windows... yet.... don't MAKE the windows that they wash. That's ironic, don't you think? Funny to.
Doctor Coleman: [Smiling politely despite a horrible joke.] Okay, sure. Good luck on Wednesday, and make sure you keep it therapeutic, remember that always.
Gaines: Will do doctor. I'll see you next Thursday? GWA depending of course.
Doctor Coleman: Of course. I'll have my secretary call to arrange a time.
Gaines: Okay, until next time Debra.
[Marcus winked as he walked past her out the door towards the elevator. He knew she didn't like him calling her by her first name like he always did, but he felt normal when flirting with her, almost human in a way.]
Doctor Coleman: And good luck wednesday, I'll be watching.
Gaines: Thanks, I appreciate that.
[He raised his hand slightly in acknowledgement of her well-wishing. Despite his inner self wanting to lash out at anyone who made him feel even remotely good about something, Debra Coleman always tamed that part of Marcus. She also made it close to impossible for Marcus to concentrate after a session in that office with her maybe that explained the aforementioned taming. In fact there were even times when after feeling excruciatingly hot while on one of his frequent forays up her thigh with his eyes that he had to take a five minute break for some fresh air, but being as the building is at least fourteen storeys tall that break ended up being a thirty minute elevator ride. He could honestly say that he loved coming to this office no matter how bad it made him feel to think "happy" thoughts. He constantly remembered each and every visit to Debra Coleman's office in which he had noticably perspired, all these wonderful memories of this building began flashing to him as he waited for the elevator with a smile on his face.]
[However, he hadn't long to mull over these thoughts, a familiar voice boomed out of the shadows near a support structure. Marcus had basically been asigned a watchdog to keep an eye on him whenever he was out in public, whether the officials that assigned this man to him knew or not, there watchdog was a prick. His name was Terry Bullock, a fat little tree stump of a man who took an almost perverse pleasure in taunting Marcus, his goal was to cause Marcus to lose control of himself and try to physically harm mister Bullock, in which case the court system would not hesitate to lock Marcus away.]
Bullock: Wait up, Marcus. I'd hate to see you go out in public without someone making sure you don't f*ck up.
Gaines: I'd hate to leave you all alone in a big scary building, Bullock.
[The elevator doors opened abruptly and Marcus stepped on eager to escape Bullock's persecution of him. However, no such luck, Terry stepped on just as the doors were closing. Gaines rested his arms on the metal arm rest that was lined around the elevator while Bullock took up position immediately in front of the doors facing Marcus, a demented sneer plastered on his face.]
Bullock: So she really got you into that Gladiator Wrestling thing, eh? I didn't think they'd let a nutjob like you into any line of work, even if it IS wrestling.
[Marcus always did his best to block anything Bullock said and just take his presence with a grain of salt, however he felt irritable and merely glared at Bullock fully and completely annoyed.]
Bullock: Yeah, I watched that the other day, apparently you're first match is against that guy Ryken and two other guys. You think you got a chance against a legend like him?
Gaines: Blah, blah, blah. That's all I've heard in my head since learning of this match. Legend doesn't mean anything, all it is is a six letter word that rhymes with hedge-end. Too much talk about somebody I don't even know. As far as I'm concerned if someone else who doesn't matter such as yourself wants to call Ryken a legend that's you're own business, but as the definition of legend says... legends are things of the past. Ryken just needs a wakeup call.
Bullock: You know Marcus, I'm gonna give you credit and say you might have a chance in there. But even if you get past Ryken you have those two other guys to contend with. Now I know you can hurt one guy pretty bad, but these are trained professionals, no amount of martial arts are going to save you from that.
Gaines: [Laughs.] I like how those two guys are being callously referred to as "those other two guys." Let's leave Ryken in the Ryken world, and the "other two guys" in their own little world, and you leave me to mine. Okay?
Bullock: Sure. But what kind of friend would I be if I didn't at least discuss things with you man to man?
[Bullock smirked at his own comment, knowing full well Marcus nor himself considered each other a friend. It was just his way of trying to get under Marcus' skin.]
Gaines: [Shrugs.] Well, whatever. If you don't mind, I just spent a little under an hour of my time talking about that guy and the other jerk-offs I have to beat on Wednesday, I need some sack time.
[The elevator came to a halt just as Marcus finished up his statement and the doors opened. Marcus pushed his way past Bullock and eventually out on the streets where he'd basically lose Bullock by taking a cab instead of the predetermind taxi cab. He had had enough talk about Ryken and wrestling for one night,and the thought of talking to Bullock, a seasoned hardcase about it made him queasy. He in fact missed Debra already, she really was doing a number on him, yet he would gladly continue going just for a glimpse of her, or a smell of her perfume.]
[He immediately rushed out of the building leaving Bullock to amble along slowly after him. The street exterior had finally met dusk head on and the street lights shone brightly down the strip, Marcus hailed a cab and headed home to think about his upcoming debut in the peace of his secure home.]
