It's Been A While...

[thesteedman]

It had been a long time, perhaps too long.

Kay had lingered around Clara's locker room for a little while, having knocked to see if the LAW superstar was in. Receiving no response, and having neglected to charge her cell phone the previous night, Kay had no real way of contacting her friend who had finally returned to the federation. The two had talked more than enough during her time away, catching up on phone calls and video chats when Kay was able to borrow Irelia's laptop, but it was never the same as talking face to face, the screens did not do a conversation true justice. Kay had been quite eager to meet up in person since Clara had returned, and it felt like something was always getting in the way. If Kay had possessed enough money she would have greeted her the moment she came off the plane...

As such there was no joy. She hoped to meet her in the locker room before discovering Clara had her own special space to prepare for matches. Now Kay was outside of it, seeing the star on the door with GASTER's name labelled upon it. It was a joy to see such a success for her friend, but it made Kay wonder if she would even have time for her anymore. Kay took a glance down at herself... she wore weathered jeans that cut off just below her knees, ragged sneakers that had seen better days, a white sports bra that was covered by a red and black chequered shirt that was fastened up. With the cold winter coming in, she wore a worn out green coat, and a small grey beanie that let her bangs poke out.

She looked like she just came in off the streets... Did Clara really want to be hanging around with someone like her. Given how things were left off between the two, the moment still plagued Kay's mind. She had all but put herself out there to Clara, making it clear that she had feelings for the fellow wrestler... but Clara shied away. Kay felt a little apprehensive ever since... hoping that her advance upon Clara would not cost the two their friendship. She was gutted that Clara didn't seem to feel the same about her, but she accepted it, still wanting Clara to remain a close friend despite her feelings.

Now that the Brit was fast becoming a top draw for the LAW, Kay knew it was possible she could be left behind. It had been over a year after all, it was possible Clara had made a ton of new friends in that time... perhaps even a special someone. Having already been lingering outside the locker room of GASTER for several minutes, Kay let out a defeated sigh, realising that perhaps she was in no luck today. She tucked her hands into her coat pockets, before she turned to leave the area.

[Vc0m]

Despite simply giving a promo, Clara was utterly exhausted. There were people she really...really didn't want answering her challenge, and Stephanie was on the top of the list. Her spine and lungs were in for a bad time at We Are LAW.

All she wanted was to grab her things from her locker room (which still felt weird to say that she had her own private locker room), and go home...

...only to catch a familiar lock of blue hair next to her door:

"Ah! Kathy!"

Her exhaustion from her promo disappeared in an instant, as she rushed towards Katherine Scarlett, as if afraid that she was about to disappear in front of her very eyes like a mirage.

She was almost about to hug her, before remembering how awkward it was leaving, and then saying good byes over (Kay's non-existent at that time) phone, Clara needing to send Katherine the money for her first phone (after much reluctance from the blunette) to properly say farewell that should've been said in person.

From there the two did manage to keep their friendship going overseas, as much as it pained both ladies to be apart. She felt Katherine sending her all the messages, all the hints that the two could be even more than that...

...but for one, she wasn't happy with the idea of "girlfriends-by-mail". While love broke all bounds, it was unfair to Kay to not get the return of her feelings in person. For another...she simply wasn't ready. Her last 2 potential loves came and went, with Asuka dedicating herself 100% to streaming, and despite the lovely night she had with Clara Kennedy, she simply didn't feel the spark from the lovely girl. It might've been selfish, but she wanted to make sure that what she felt for Kay was genuine, and not just a fling that would be done in a few months' or years' time.

But despite everything, despite all her problems, Kay stood by her side while she stayed in UK. Besides her sister, she was her most trustworthy person in Japan.

Which is why she felt nervous approaching the blunette. She awaited to see her reaction to her, rather than rush through the meeting...

[thesteedman]

Kay stopped in her tracks when she heard the familiar British accent calling for her before she could depart from the corridor. She turned her head... gazing upon her friend and all those feelings rushed back to her all at once. Her legs felt like they had turned to jelly, as her own breathe caught within her throat to see her friend standing on the other side of the corridor.

"Clara..." Kay exclaimed, a beaming smile spreading across her beautiful lips. A few seconds passed, and her expression shifted suddenly as Clara seemed to reluctantly approach.
"Are you for real? Do you Brits always have to be so civilised?!! Get your sorry ass over here!" Kay yelped out, mocking annoyance over the cautious approach of Clara. Kay paced over to her with a near threatening approach and posture, as if Clara had said something gravely insulting to her. The moment the distance was closed between the two, Kay wrapped Clara up in a bearhug that would have made Karen Starling proud, lifting Clara off her feet before spinning around with her in the hallway.

After a few spins, Kay wisely dropped Clara down to her feet, but kept her hug upon the stunning dark haired beauty with a more loving form of embrace, letting out a soft and pleasant giggle at the same time. She didn't want to let go of her in all honestly, but when enough time had passed, Kay eased back so nothing got awkward, letting Clara catch her balance before giving her a firm pat on her shoulder.
"It's been a while! Look at you, all superstar on your return! Got your own locker and everything! Is a trip to the UK all it takes to become the top dog around here these days?" Drifter yelped out, looking Clara up and down. Physically there didn't seem to be all too much change to GASTER, there was evidence that she had trained and further refined her build and figure yet, there was something about her stance, and her presence that oozed more confidence than before. Something had changed her... Whatever happened back in her home had matured Clara, and yet somehow she seemed all the more gorgeous to Kay's eyes then before.

"Hey... you've got a lot of explaining to do by the way. I'm sure it was all fine and good going back to England and developing yourself... but you left me behind to fend for myself against all the creeps in here!" Kay jokingly added, giving Clara a firm but playful jab against her shoulder.
"If you ever try and bail again, I'm gonna challenge your ass to a deathmatch!" Drifter pipped, before giggling once more.
"Damn, I hate to admit it but I missed you Clara. It's been so long... C'mon... I want details! I know we've had our chats online, but I know you've been holding back the juicy stuff! I wanna' know how things went down! Who did you have to beat up to get your own locker?" Kay yelped, clearly excited to see Clara returned and finally meeting her in the flesh after so much time.

[Vc0m]

"Hey, Kathy...I...!", Clara meekly greeted her friend, her smile suggesting little hostilities as she kept away for a little while...

Clara was reluctant to approach for 5 seconds...and it was enough to wind the blunette up as she angrily approached the Brit, Clara surprised at Kay's posture, actions and words...

...until the taller woman wrapped the Brit in a hug tighter than in any of their wrestling spars, Clara actually croaking from the pressure as the Canadian spun the Shadow Lord around in a circle with her hug before finally placing her back on her feet, and relaxing her hug...but not completely letting go. Despite the slightly sore spine she now had, Clara actually felt tears of happiness well up in her eyes, but she kept them in, instead simply hugging the blunette back with a warm smile on her face.

The sudden release from the hug, despite the spin happening a few seconds ago now, caused Clara to almost lose her balance as her head was still slightly spinning.

"I am just as confused as you are! I would've thought they would've started me back at the bottom...not this heroes welcome thing...", Clara laughed as she scratched the back of her head.

Despite that, she had to remember that she left things behind here. Even if she just took a break from wrestling but stayed in Japan, she could've been here to help Kay against any troubles in the ring. She definitely meant that in a joking manner, but Clara could not help but feel guilty.

Still, even as a joke, she didn't expect Kay to try and challenge her to a deathmatch. She giggled, but shook her head: "Do you really think I'd accept beating up someone as pretty as you in a brutal match like that?"

Once Kay mentioned wanting to catch up, she actually quickly looked behind her back, as if feeling a chill behind her. But besides crewmembers simply talking plans for the show coming up, there was no one.

Still, she felt afraid to divulge her personal life details out in the open like that.

"Let's discuss that inside, actually..."

The two girls entered the locker room. It wasn't anything too huge. Wardrobe at the back, mirror and a chair propped up against the wall, and another chair for important visitors right near the entrance. Clara took that seat, while allowing Kay the more comfortable chair near the mirror:

"First of all, I am so glad to see you, Kathy. If anything, part of the reason I came back was for you. I wanted to maybe do like I did prior to LAW and travel the world, but the thought of loneliness on the road frightened me. Alice wanted to stay in Japan, so I wouldn't have had a buddy on the road with me..."

"...and once I came back, LAW created this sort of celebration for me. I legitimately thought no one was going to miss me...but it was nice to be wrong on that.", Clara smiled.

[thesteedman]

Kay raised an eyebrow over Clara's sudden shift of disposition when the two had finished their warm and pleasant greetings. Her alluring jade eyes seemed to glance about cautiously, as if the two were being watched from unseen eyes within the shadows. The notion felt a little haunting and made Kay feel a little uneasy, knowing all at once that something serious was happening. Clara soon motioned and requested for her to come inside her locker room, as if it was some form of sanctuary against unwanted glances and listening ears. Without questioning, Kay followed Clara, gently closing the door behind her.

She whistled once she was within the locker room. It wasn't anything grand by any means, modest in size, but it had everything a wrestler would need. A personal wardrobe, a few chairs and a nice looking mirror and drawers. Having a personal locker room was quite a statement, and Kay noticed she had her own shower room and personal space. Kay still had to share the general locker room with many of the low card and house show wrestlers. It got a little crowded some days, with a lot of bodies all close together, moving like chaotic road traffic. Kay usually got in and out as fast as she could... but Clara no longer seemed to have that issue.

"Check you out. Big time girl! I have to say I'm impressed! It's nice and cosy in here. You're gonna' have to let me sneak in here to use the shower after my matches!" Kay giggled, though she wasn't quite joking with her playful suggestion. Clara didn't really respond, meaning something was definitely troubling her. She offered the more grand chair that Kay assumed was supposed to be for Clara herself, no doubt for interviews and the such between matches. Normally she would argue and let the woman befitting her throne take the seat that belong to her... but seeing the look in Clara's eyes made Kay comply.

Kay took off her beanie and coat as she began to settle, clasping her hands together as she leaned forwards to listen to Clara. She felt her heart skip a beat once again when she listened intently as Clara began to speak, managing a pleasant smile when Clara mentioned that she was one of the reasons for Clara's return. It was a unique emotion to feel cared about... even if Clara did not share the same feelings Kay did every time she gazed upon the British beauty, it still meant so much to have a good friend. Kay had to bite on her lower lip a little just to suppress her own joy of emotions from spilling out.

If only Clara knew just how wrong she was, thinking Kay wouldn't miss her. It killed her inside when she could only see Clara on a laptop screen during the long time she was away. A part of her believed she was never coming back...

"I really appreciate that Clara. I really do, and I love that you came back... it really hasn't been the same here since you've been gone... but that's not why you brought me in here to talk is it?" Kay began to speak. Kay wanted nothing more than to cuddle Clara and become uncharacteristically girly and play catch up and shower her with loving remarks... no doubt there would be a time for that later... but Kay could see something was wrong. Clara looked uneasy... she picked up on her nervous ticks, small motions and certain looks that Kay had become used to. It wasn't hard to figure out... Everyone was talking about the challenge between GASTER and the Baroness that occurred moments after Clara had announced her return to the ring.
"I bet she's more afraid of you then you are of her." Kay began with a surprisingly mature demeanour, leaning forward to hold Clara's hand with one of her own as she spoke about the Baroness without a prompt.

"You have nothing to prove out there Clara. You've already beaten her once... even in the small chance that you lose, that is something Stephanie will never be able to shake off from her career. She's just a bully... one you've exposed and one you've put down before."
Kay gave Clara's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"If anything dire does happen... you know I've got your back. I'll be there for you come what may." Kay whispered. There was something in her look and her tone that gave a gravity to her statement. Her smile became warmer, more reassuring to try and calm Clara's nerves before Kay leaned back and let go of her hand.

"Though I have to say... a bikini match? I didn't think you had it in you Clara. How come you never offered me one of those?" Kay mentioned, returning to her usual self, managing a devious yet beautiful smile as she placed her hands behind the back of her head and began to get comfortable within the seat.

[Vc0m]

"Oh, sorry for being silent! I am sure I can arrange for you to change in here as well. I'll just ask for a special pass for you. Alice said she was fine to mingle in the common locker room, and my friend Chika is too proud to use someone's private locker room...so I think it will be just the two of us here...", Clara blushed at the suggestion, before pouring her heart out to Kay about her return...before the subject turned to her current predicament...

"That's not...", she tried to say before Kay interrupted her with reassuring comments. It was good to have that, as every one of Kay's words knocked down shadows of doubt in her own mind...but only for a moment. It wasn't good to have your brain constantly critique yourself, every little small bad thought, every little bad action, every bad match, every bad anything. And even though when Kay finished, when she was supposed to feel reassured, and safe when Kay promised her support in her match against the Baroness...she still felt afraid:

"The more I think back to our first match against one another, the more I realize it was just a fluke. Anger from not wanting my face unmasked, anger at Steph, anger at being weak as I was back then..."

"...and it's weird. I feel, had she had any other personality, slightly, even a little warmer eyes...I wouldn't have been afraid. Steph is a good wrestler...but her scary personality is what I think makes her feel great. If I don't fear her, I think...I know I can beat her. And knowing you are at my side...it makes me feel all the more safe, Kathy..."


Then the subject turned to something more humorous - the attire stipulation for the encounter:

"Um, eh...I mean...it was spur of the moment ok? I promised any match...any non-too-lewd match, to my challenger, and even if she is my enemy, I have to maintain face in front of her. That meant accepting a bikini match..."

"And what do you mean? We tussled in my old apartment didn't we? Or do you mean when cameras were on?", she smiled in a sly manner as she winked at Kay.

[thesteedman]

Kay had been half joking when she mentioned the shower, but to hear Clara say she could certainly use it so long as the staff were alright with it... Kay couldn't help but manage a cheeky smile that incidentally only made her look all the more adorable to the Brit. She would certainly take Clara up on that one... whilst she didn't mind using the main locker room for the majority of the roster... the thought of having a shower alone was always much better. She could relax and enjoy a long hot soak instead of enduring the usual racket that went on in the shower room between much of the female roster. Plus... Kay was getting a little tired of the perverted eyes that gazed upon her. She never showered naked in the general locker room as a result... but in a private shower room she could really enjoy the peace and lack of eyes.

With that matter settled, Kay leaned forward to listen to Clara eagerly. She could see the poor girl was still afraid of the Baroness, even after all this time and even after she had a win under her belt against the French bitch. Kay couldn't deny there was merit to Clara's fears in all honesty, the Baroness for all her beauty and stature was somehow quite an intimidating presence. The was a cold calculating look to her eyes at all times, and a venom within her smile. She carried herself in such a way that the Baroness almost seemed much more elevated and grander than she actually was. Her personality made it appear that she had a plan for everything... but the look in her eyes betrayed her for nothing more than a damn psycho.

"I know it's easier said than done, but try not to think about it too much... at least not until the PPV anyway. Look instead to what lies ahead of you and what you've got to look forwards too... I bet a good month or so from today when it's all come and gone, you'll be looking back at this moment when you were nervous and you'll think how silly you were for being so. Heck, I bet by then you'll be spit polishing a belt too! One of the good ones of course, not that losers one." Drifter tried to further reassure her friend, smiling as she spoke, giving Clara a light slap on her knee.

"Oh don't get me wrong. It will be a spectators sport as much as it will be a wrestling match! It's just a shame your tussling with a mad woman and not someone more fun and bubbly!" Kay added over the subject of a bikini match. Clara managed to catch her off guard however when she mentioned their playful encounter within her apartment long before Clara went away back home. It made Kay blush as she rubbed the back of her head a little.
"Oh yeah... that! How could I forget?... " Kay yelped, recalling the fond memory very well. She recalled nearly kissing Clara then... and kind of wishing she had done...
".. Wasn't really a bikini match though was it? That was just you sacrificing clothes to escape my deadly holds." Kay pipped in quickly, realising she was almost losing herself to thought.
"You're always welcome to a rematch though sometime... last I remember you gave in because I was too fat and you couldn't take the weight of me." Kay spoke in clear jest, managing a cheeky smile on her lips as she crossed her legs and leaned back in the comfortable seat.

[Vc0m]

Kay definitely was helping Clara's negative state of mind, even by just being in the room with her. Her spirits and confidence was slowly, but surely climbing up, helped by the cute blunette's reassuring words. She giggled at the suggestion that she would be holding a belt soon, as they got back to talking about their potential bikini affair.

And as Kay mentioned the fact that her bikini match would not be for fun, her mind cast back to the few matches where she did wrestle in a swimsuit. First time was supposed to be for fun, but she got paired up with the woman she upset. The second one was against a man she had a ton of beef with. Indeed, she had never had a bikini match just for fun. Maybe after We Are LAW, and during summer, she could invite Kay for a friendly, standard match on a beach. A couple of holds, squeezes and Kay tapping out ("mwahahaha") wouldn't hurt either woman in the slightest.

"We definitely need to arrange that at some point. Summertime would be the best for it, wouldn't it?"

Kay then recalled their first tussle...but not the right one:

"So, for one...", she poked Kay and her visible abs: "Not fat in the slightest. Second of all, you are getting warmer, but you are still a bit cold. Did you forget? I invited you to my house, and greeted you in a bikini...", she tried to make the Canadian cutie remember...

[thesteedman]

Kay blushed a little, recalling all too well the moment when Clara had opened the door to her place in little more than a yellow two piece bikini. It had been a very fun afternoon and evening to say the least. Given how the two had wrestled together in the slick oils in Clara's place, Kay had thought it all to be a sign to make a move on Clara. The Canadian recalled Clara shying away once more though, all but cementing Kay's current thoughts that Clara did not have the same romantic interest she had when it came to her deeper feelings.

It was fine... Kay was trying to move on from such thoughts... Having Clara as a close friend was more than good enough for her. She managed a modest smile when Clara continued to bring up the bikini spar they had, but shook her head soon after.

"Nuh uh! I don't recall such a challenge... and by not recalling it, it means it didn't happen, hence I didn't lose this imaginary challenge and as such... means I'm still undefeated in our line of challenges..." Kay began to exclaim, putting some jest to the tone of the conversation as she managed a giggle. She recalled Clara getting her in an alarmingly brutal camel clutch hold... and when Kay stubbornly wouldn't give, she switched to a bodyscissor. Given Kay's endurance, she could have held out for a long time... and kind of did... but she was so exhausted, there was no chance of escape by then... given the playful nature of the spar she chose to finally tap out. Though being caught between Clara's oiled up legs had not been all so bad despite them trying to squeeze the life out of her.

"It's still 1 - 0 to me!" Kay lied. "Though if you are desperate for a rematch, I may.. be willing to accept. Honestly though, I might just retire undefeated..." Kay spoke with mocking purpose.
"Enough of that though... no more talk of Baroness... at least not for today anyway. You've been away a long time. What have you been up to in Merry Ol' England?" By now Kay had that beaming and beautiful smile upon her lips as she requested more information on what Clara had been upto whilst she had been away from the LAW.

[Vc0m]

Clara knew Kay knew what she was talking about. She herself came within a striking distance of confessing to the Canadian, but couldn't muster up the courage at the time. Had the situation repeated, she would've definitely confessed her feelings to Kay...she just hoped she wasn't too late. As a matter of fact, she didn't know whether she dated anyone in the last few months. She felt that the talk may or may not go there...but she had to wait for her opportunity to confess to come up...

Meanwhile it was time for counter-arguments!

"You cheeky...you can't do that! That's not what fighters do, they don't ignore battles!", she huffed her cheeks: "If that didn't happen, then our bout in the rain didn't count! I wasn't 100% that day! No chance will I let you "retire" till I beat you!"

She giggled at the faux-argument...though legitimately, in her mind, they were 1 a piece in their small-scale encounters. So a potential 3rd battle was going to happen some day, she believed.

The funny argument got her head out of her current predicament, and the conversation continued on, moving on to Clara's life:

"I was on a full break from wrestling. I found job as a fitness coach in a gym near my family's house. Thought it was good to try that since I still want to try and be a wrestling trainer at some point. So I kept in shape with that. In addition to that, I tried some acting. Small theater plays and small indie movies. You'd be surprised at how much indie sci fi films are filmed in UK"