Work Text:
Scapegoat Jack Perry disappeared after the NJPW Wrestle Dynasty match with Yota Tsuji. Was Scapegoat still alive?
Month has passed. Jack was sobbing and screaming at his lovely cabin home in the middle of nowhere in LA. Surrounded by trees and in the woods. Jack was in his bed staring at the ceiling. He wondered.
Did people care about him? Did people love him? No one contacted him for more than a half year. Jack isolated himself from the rest of the world. He was so tired of the rejection of his own craft. Of course, he wanted to try something new with being Scapegoat. He wanted to project his inner suicidal feelings and despair to everyone.
He would never go back to the naive happy go lucky Jungle Boy. After all he had been through, the betrayals and anguish.
He couldn’t go back to those happy moments with the Jungle Express…
It was so simple back then until…
THUD! KNOCK! THUD! KNOCK!
Obnoxiously loud knocking. Another knock again and again. Almost violent and haste with the thuds. Jack tried to ignore it but he awoke from his bed. If the knocking didn’t happen, he would continue to sulk and be depressed in bed. Probably think of ways to kill himself in the ring as a sacrificial lamb. A scapegoat if you would.
Or perhaps he thought of inspirations and ideas for his newest knife designs. Or waited for any knife commission orders. Well, he was currently creating the design for Renee’s cooking knife commission. He was glad he could still use his creative skills for knife making and blacksmithing. And being appreciated for once. With the loud knocking, guess it had to be put on hold for now.
He looked through the peephole. A receding hairline with wrinkles frowned in the forehead. An older man with a stubborn face wearing his signature black turtle neck.
A figure from the past visited him. His past idol. His dearest mentor. His old lover…
Christian Cage
“I know you're there, Jack!” Your stupid bus is here. I can see your baby eyes in this hole. If I can, I would kick this door. You know I can’t do that, Jack!”
The old man never dies no matter how many times you try to kill him. He might be a vampire for all Jack knew. Hell, he even asked to be invited for entrance to his cabin.
If he wanted to, he could have killed Christian again at this moment with his homemade knives. Throwing knives at Christian or chasing him around like the good old days. But, Jack has no energy to deal with him. He already killed him on TV with the coffin shut down. It was a poetic death yet he came back to life.
The Canadian vampire built his own family, The Patriarchy as the Jungle Express was dead to him. He got Luchasaurus killed at one point. He hated that Luchasaurus stuck with Christian. He still wondered what lured Luchasaurus into the Patriarchy. Did Christian lure Luchasaurus with his vampiric spell?
Jack still desired to research more on dark magic, especially the vampiric kind to avoid any spells or whatever Christian does to seduce people.
As Jack was deep in hesitation whether or not to invite Christian inside his cabin. He was leaning in to not inviting in.
“Jack, don’t just stand there! Let me in! Gosh you are a piece of shit. You know why I am here. I wouldn’t be here if you had the guts to win your matches. You were tail coating and had glory when you were with me. My son, Nick, had the guts to win belts and kill his opponents. He even went to the Best of the Super Juniors with my tutelage. He is the youngest ROH World Television Champion!
Look at you now, Jack! You are stuck in the middle of nowhere! Depressed In the woods!”
Christian bragged about his prodigy, Nick Wayne. Jack rolled his eyes. This former mentor poured salt in the Scapegoat’s bloody wounds. Jack the sacrificial lamb in the prototype of Christian’s Patriarchy and for AEW. He has sacrificed everything in his career. Again, sacrificial lamb equals scapegoat.
Jack sighed and opened the door gradually. He rolled his eyes and then responded,
“Your precious prodigal son betrayed you, didn't he.”
“Hmph”
Christian pissed off by his comment. Snarled his nostrils and stared back at Jack. Still waiting for that invitation to come inside.
Even though Jack was missing from the public. He still followed along with AEW storylines on TV. How Nick, Kip and Mother Wayne betrayed Christian over his indecisiveness and not sticking to the plan. This marked the end of The Patriarchy. Perhaps, the rise of The Matriarchy.
Then, you get Adam Copeland trying to squeeze his way in to get back with Christian.
Most likely Copeland wanted to get back to the glory days of the Edge and Christian. One last reunion.
“Aren’t you with Copeland, now? You don’t need me. You should stay with him.”
ADAM!? Why would I want to be in that egotistical glory hog of a geezer!? He has no right to jump. Do I look like I want to tag team with him?! Huh, do I look like his second fiddle or his side character to the Adam Copeland legend!” Christian raged with a face in disgust.
“But you hugged him...”
“And here I thought you would know me better, Jack.” scoffed the undying vampire.
Jack thought for a minute. That he wouldn't be surprised if Christian betrayed Adam Copeland. Again. He betrayed his longtime friend or lover before. And this wouldn't be the last. Yet, it was weird that Christian came all the way to LA just to talk to him. With the Forbidden Door match around the corner
“Why are you even here, Christian? Can't you just bother Luchasaurus oh wait he's KillSwitch, now to you”
“Idiot, he's still injured. And missing, too. Hmph, I wouldn't be here if that stupid dinosaur wasn't so fragile and lost. And they say I'm old. Look at him, he's ancient! He might already have Alzheimer's for god’s sake. No one needs a dinosaur if they keep dying and getting injured.”
Jack rolled his eyes. Fuck, this old man is such a hypocrite he thought. He's the one who wooed Luchasaurus into The Patriarchy. In the back of Jack’s head, so Christian didn’t know where Luchasaurus was. That’s good to know.
“Look, Christian. I have no business with you or your toxic whatever relationship with Edge, or with the stupid Patriarchy. Leave your slimy erectile dysfunctional husk of body out of my home.”
“No No No! You don't reject me, Jungle Boy, Jack Perry!!! You tried to kill me. I admire that. But! See what I have made you become and how far you have fallen without me.”
He pushed the perhaps the loud yelling Canadian vampire geezer away from his face and shut the cabin door. He snarled at the mention of his old name, Jungle Boy. For all he knew, the bubbly naive Jungle Boy is dead to him. Jack sloped down behind the door in exhaustion and sighed.
This is the same old Christian. Can't handle a rejection letter. Wants what he wants. All he does is take and take and leave you behind. Good for Nick Wayne and his mom stepping up. They are too good for Christian Cage.
But, inside of Jack Perry's heart lies a small pity spot for Christian. Yes, he's an asshole. But those times with him in the Jungle Express were the fun and memorable times he had. He thought Christian Cage loved him. Trained with him for days and nights. The love and laughter. The gentle hugs and head kisses he would get. Christian often blushed whenever Jack was too forward and flirty with him
Christian suddenly laughed outside and then silence said “Come on Jack. You asked why I'm here. Well I tried to contact you. You left without saying a word or notice. Thought you were missing. But who would have thought you still love to post on Instagram. Making knives and what not. Living in the middle of nowhere in California.
“Seems like you don't wanna be in the ring anymore. I get it. I also had a break. But Jack, don't you miss being in the ring? What's stopping you from entering?” Christian said remorsely.
For once, he sound like the fatherly mentor figure he is to Jack
Jack slowly opened the door. “So why did you come here?”
“Hmph, aren’t you thinking this too much?”
“What?”
“Do you love wrestling”
Jack said a quick yes. He wanted to elaborate on what he loves and hates wrestling to Christian. But he already told them in the past. It was the first question he was asked by Christian when they first trained together.
Christian with his smile showed off his wrinkles and crow feet from hearing Jack Perry's bright glow of enthusiasm. He expressed the same way now.
Huh, he still can smile, Jack thought. Not the cocky annoying grinning or devilish smile type.
A genuine smile.
Christian took a deep breath and said,
“Jack I understand you need a break but at some point you need to get back in the ring. You can't just sulk and brood everyday on why people don't like you. Why do you keep losing and failing? Jack, I already told you. Stop listening with those imbeciles on the seats and in the ring and locker room. Ask yourself why you wrestle. Why are you in the ring?”
Jack was surprised at Christian speech. Say what you say about Christian. He can shit talk you all day long and brag about himself. But the moment you get his good side, he's your mentor and your number one supporter. Jack teared up and almost wanted to hug Christian but he couldn't. He still felt the anger and betrayal yet he wanted to hug his old lover. What a weird relationship they had.
Did Christian come all the way to LA to give Jack a pep talk??? Is there an alternative motive behind this??? Jack was very cautious. Christian could stab his back anytime. He does it for everyone, especially the ones closest to him.
Jack always wondered if Christian Cage is capable of love. Who knows?
One thing for sure, Jack loves wrestling. The artistry of crafting his moves. The same feeling he has with making his knives and steelwork. The time and patience to hone his skills. Performing live! He felt free! He had his family supporting him on the side when he was in the ring.
The love and support. And from the fans.
Maybe Christian is right. He relies too much on the audience’s approval. But isn't that the fun part. They cheered and danced for him. Yet those boos and yells maybe weren't so bad. Playing around with their emotions and seeing how it goes. Oh no, he was slowly becoming like Christian Cage. But also not.
Christian Cage was his idol, his mentor, his muse. Whether he liked it or not , some of Christian mentorship lingers in Scapegoat Jack Perry.
“That's all I have to say. Hmph sorry I have a flight to catch.” He later mumbled
“I wasted my time being here anyway. Why do I even bother to come?”
Christian left the cabin porch as he was not invited to come inside Jack’s home. Further proof that Christian is a vampire.
Jack tried to figure out why Christian went all the way here. Is Christian lonely and wants Jack??? Is Christian looking out for him? Maybe he does miss his former mentee and lover. Maybe he wants someone beside him or to help him betray Copeland. He probably has a plan to betray Copeland.
What's in Christian's mind?
Or he wanted to genuinely help Scapegoat Jack Perry to get out of the wrestling burnout.
Either way, Christian Cage is too much of a pussy to ask help or even offer one.
One thing for sure, Christian Cage knew how to motivate and encourage Jack Perry. A text notification came on Jack’s phone. A screen saying Nick Wayne.
The Scapegoat later went down to his dark basement. Glass beakers, injection shots, wires, steels, scalpel knives and necromancy along with dark magic books. All laid out in the desk. Next to it is a bedrest with a tied injured muscular huge ancient dinosaur…
“Please Luchasaurus, please live…”