“But Dad, why not?”

An answer doesn’t come, just a stereotypical Dad sigh when he’s had enough of hearing the same question. Stu-E’s sitting in the backseat of a taxi next to Laney, who’s been asking question after question all the way to the airport.

“I’d be ok, even Erica wouldn’t hurt me.”

Price glances over at her without answering, and glances at the taxi driver who has a bit of a smile on his face at the interactions his passengers have been having.

“I’d duck Michelle’s superkick, easy. My head’s too small for Luna’s Blood Moon and I’m too short for Erica’s octopus stretch!”

In the front seat the cab driver tilts his head, she’s making good points but her Dad isn’t budging on it.

“Enough, Laney, Tobias has the biggest ego on the roster and you somehow missed that, didn’t you? I’m not having another phone call off your Mother because you’re put everything in jeopardy by not thinking and not staying where you should be, right?”

Dejected, she just nods in agreement in begrudgingly acceptance that she’s not entering the battle royal at the pay-per-view.

“Listen to your Dad, kid, maybe in a few years time you’ll be in there. Just enjoy having fun for now?”

Now the taxi driver is joining in, making Laney feel like the blonde kid in A Christmas Story and truth be told she’d already ‘shot her eye out’ as the cast on her arm attested to. Politely she smiled at the driver as Stu-E points at the driver and nods in agreement.

“Just leave the matches to me at the minute, ok?”

“Ok, Dad. Are you looking forward to your match?”

Price pauses for a moment before answering, “A little, I guess. It’s turned in to a weird situation, I want him at 100% but I worry he’s got too much going on. To be the World Champion, darling, you want everybody to fight you at their best because it means much more when you beat them.”

Laney smiled at her Dad, “Do you think you’re the best, then?”

Stu-E smiles, “What is this? Question time for the Champ?” Laney just shrugs her shoulders.

“No, I don’t think I’m the best, that title I carry was won because on one night I was just lucky to get by. Every time I step in the ring, I never walk in there thinking I’m the best, I go in there thinking I have to do better than my last match. And when you get to my age, that’s all you can do; just give the fans more than you did last time, and hope it’s enough to go home with title still around your waist.”

Laney gives her Dad a cuddle, “I hope you never lose the title, Dad.”

Price tilts his head in to the cuddle but his gaze stares right out the window. Visions flash through his mind of his friends through the years who had their own World titles and he was just in the same stable with them, never thinking he’d be in this position.

Deep down he never wants to lose the title, but he’s not dumb enough to think the day will never come, which is why he’s so content to just enjoy the ride, much like the taxi ride on the way to the show as the scene fades.