Vic Wildsyde, the Fallen King

Story by tiger-stripes on SoFurry

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#1 of Love Is a Battle Field


Vic Wildsyde, a 36 year old black wolf, was a 6'1 with a well built, perfectly muscled body, a moody and ruggedly handsome face with steel like blue eyes. He was a regular, blue collar Joe, but there was a time he used to be a "somebody". In fact, his name was known across the competitive martial arts world known as Brawling. He was admired for his talent and skill and said to be one of the "kings" of the sport whose record was unprecedented with only one loss. He was once the inspiration of many young upstarts who dreamed the professional mixed martial arts dream- to face their idol face to face in the championship battle-just the chance alone was enough regardless of victory or defeat. However, Vic soon disappeared from the public eye and not on his own accord.

10 years ago, Vic became a victim of a cruel twist of fate. One night, while out jogging, he was run down by a speeding car and left for dead. While he survived the "accident" he was, tragically, left paralyzed on the left side of his body leaving him a broken man. He was lucky to be alive. Doctors told him he may never be able to walk unaided again, and his career as a champion fighter was over. However, Vic was stubborn and being told he couldn't do something didn't sit right with him, he'd prove the doubters wrong.

For years Vic worked harder then he ever did and endured main painful physical therapy sessions in order to walk. He never returned to his love of competitive martial arts, but instead Vic helps run his cousin's motorcycle repair shop-a hobby turned livelihood-and fixes both new and classic bikes. His comfortable, simple life would soon change with the arrival of a woman from his past.

It was warm inferno of a day in Los Vegas with the temperature soaring into record highs for early summer, and Vic was busily fixing a classic 1952 Triumph Thunderbird for a collector. A red Mercedes rolled into the drive, a few of the mechanics were out taking a smoke break and noticed the new Mercedes and its female driver, a deep orange tigress stepped out wearing sunglasses, a pale blue and white, designer sun dress and hat with a black bow. She was pretty, insanely so, with a tall, lean, but healthy frame, long legs, and a pair of 24 DD's that were all god given. Roy, a 40 year old Dingo and eldest of the three awestruck mechanics, was the first to speak. "Can I help you miss?" he asked, it wasn't everyday a beauty like her stepped foot on the property. Most of the garage's Clientele were married men with an interest in riding, wealthy businessmen trying to relive their youth, and bikers who trusted the work done at the small, off strip shop.

"Could you please be a dear and tell me where I might find, Vic Wildsyde?" said the tigress in a husky, deep feminine voice, she removed her sunglasses to reveal her golden eyes. Roy was breathless for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"Vic?" questioned Roy, "What would a beautiful woman like you want with a crank like him?" It was an odd request. Vic wasn't the dating type from what Roy gathered. The wolf was a loner, seldom talked, and grumpy to say the least. He never really socialized with the others; he did his job and went home. Roy couldn't believe Vic knew such a vision.

"It's personal. Now could you point me to where I might find him...pretty please?" said the tigress sweetly.

"He's that way" replied Roy pointing to the back of the shop.

"Thanks handsome" said the feline fetal as she turned to walk through the dirty garage.

"Hey, you don't suppose...that Vic's seeing that babe do you?" asked Tome, a 26 year old badger with shaggy fur.

"Na, he's a total loner. Ain't no way Vic is kicking it with something that fine" said Geo, the brown bull, who was unsure of his own answer. The three just stood and watched as the tigress sexily walked toward the black wolf in the white muscle shirt, ripped, worn out blue jeans, and dirty brown boots.

Vic was unaware of the commotion around him. He was bent down, busily toying with the nuts and bolts. His white muscle shirt was covered in grime form the engine, his black fur was scruffy from the heat. He was in his element. "Long time no see, handsome" said Venus, the tigress.

Vic just grunted and wiped his brow. "What do ya want?" Vic said standing up; he took a cloth from his back pocket to wipe his hands. He never turned to look at his visitor.

"Hmph, your manners are as awful as ever. Is that anyway to treat an old friend?" replied Venus crossing her arms with an annoyed pout.

"I repeat...what do ya want?" Vic tucked the rag back into his jeans, and turned to face the women.

"I need to talk to you. There is something important I'd like discuss."

"Alright, shoot."

Venus noticed that noise of busy men fixing things almost stopped, and curious ears perked straining to hear. It reminded Venus of her own cubs always curious to hear the adult talk. "Not here..." she stated closing the gap between them, they were close just barely an inch between them, "is there somewhere more private we can chat? There are too many ears here."

Vic looked around glaring his usual cold stare at the "adults" who pretended to work while not so unnoticeably listening; he simply tsked under his breath. It was like they never male/female interaction before. "Hey Reese, I'm using the office for a bit." Vic said to the white wolf in dark blue coveralls standing by the '78 Harley he was working on.

"Yeah, sure...have fun." Reese said in a playful voice with a wink. Vic rolled his eyes and shook his head. He turned and headed to the back office motioning for Venus to follow. Once inside the small, cluttered, and in dire need of organizing office space, Vic closed the door and closed the blinds to the window. He walked to the desk and sat down in torn leather chair and rested his legs on top of the desk reclining slightly, it was obvious he wasn't really interested in talking.

"So? Out with it" said Vic bluntly and to the point, Venus rolled her eyes at the wolf. She knew Vic wasn't one for pleasantries.

"I'm sure you've heard that Pualie has been arrested for drug possession and, not to mention, his taste in young, underage girls. I'm in dire straights...whatever shall I do?" Venus said in a melodramatic voice and batted her eye lashes like a damsel in distress. She knew Vic wouldn't fall for something so cliché, but it was worth a shot.

"And what does that have to do with me?" Vic's sixth sense tingled; something told him the sexy tigress had come for a reason. From the moment he heard her voice he could sense it.

"Can't fool you can I? I'll get right to the point...I've recently brought in a new fighter who reminds me of a young you. He's young, a bit hot headed, cocky but has the potential to go far as a Brawler. His style is similar to yours, but he's rather raw, unfocused if you will." Venus said as she sat on the corner of the desk, she leaned in to look the wolf in the eyes. "So I was hoping you'd train him...pretty please?"

"Pass." Venus was taken back slightly by Vic's refusal, not that she wasn't expecting it.

"So you won't do it then? I'm offering you Paulie's salary, which would pay for this dump four times over...not to mention, benefits and access to all events" Venus couldn't think of anyone better for the job to train the young fighter she found. She has seen many talented martial artists, but none had Vic's commitment, drive, or focus. Vic was truly the last of a dieing breed.

"I left that world, I like my life how it is. I don't feel the need to waste my time training some wet behind the ears punk kid. End of story, thank you for coming" Vic said blankly as he leaned back in the chair and turned it so he facing the wall. Venus growled, Vic was the most stubborn, thickheaded, fuddy-duddy she ever met. Yet, there was something about the stick-in-the-mud wolf that was impossible to hate. Still, she was determined to recruit Vic as a trainer and she never was a girl who took no for an answer.

"So that's how it is? After everything we've been through your going turn your back on a friend in need? If you won't do it for me...then do it as a favor to my father and your mentor" said the tigress as she turned to leave. Vic's ears perked up curious. "My father paid off the gossip rags and sleaze journalists to make sure your "accident" stayed that way, he even paid the police to keep the details a secrete. An attempt on your life like and snapshots of you banged up like that would sell millions of gossip rags, you know how the media loves scandal of enormous magnitude. He loved you like you were his own son and protected you...he took that scrawny, bad mouthed 14 year old brat wolf who tried to rob him and made him a somebody. I know that it probably means nothing to you now, but he believed that you would rise again and take your spot at the top of the mountain."

Vic hated Venus for bringing Carlo Tao, Venus's old man and Vic's mentor, into this. Vic respected Carlo and saw the adult tiger as a father figure, the only real one he had. Tao took pity on 14 year old Vic who he found in the parking garage of the Brawler's arena beaten and angry at the world. If it wasn't for Tao's kindness and patience Vic might be just like his "real" father, a prisoner locked up in country jail for 30 years or worse. Vic had a rough cubhood and didn't really have anyone that cared about him; he was always so angry back then. He was always getting into fights, and in trouble with the law. His family was mess up, to say the least. Back then, Vic felt like he was a lost cause and didn't have anyone to turn to. He was scared, angry and hated feeling trapped, Tao saw something inside him no else did. He helped shape the wolf into the nicer Vic he is today, even though he still is rough around the edges.

"Fine...but we've doing things my way" Vic said as he got up from the chair, "I'll train this kid, but if he turns out to be a lost cause then I'm out."

"We'll talk terms...now if you'll excuse me; I have a PTA meeting in an hour. Be at the arena at 12 o'clock Sunday to meet the younger you and sign contracts. Bye lover." Venus said as she turned and walked toward the door, she turned the knob and opened it. On the other side door were the three men she met before-Roy, Tome, and Geo. The three acted as if they just happened to be entering at the exact time same time the tigress was exiting. The truth; however, was the mechanics had a bet going that Vic and the tigress were doing "naughty" things at work. The three lost $20 bucks each to Reese-after all, the white wolf knew his cousin better then anyone.

"Excuse me boys" she said as she winked at the three as she moved past them, she gave an extra jaunt to her walk to leave them wondering. Vic; on the other hand, rolled his eyes and mutters "morons" before yelling at them to get back to work; they quickly scurried back to their work. Vic sat back into the office and reclined back a little, he folded his arms behind his head and sighed, "A trainer, huh? Sounds like a headache."

Sunday noon, or rather two o'clock, Vic drove his Harley into the sub-parking lot of the arena and parked near the service elevator. He was dressed in a pair of old, ripped blue jeans, a white t-shirt, vintage leather jacket, and a dark pair of sunglasses. He grabbed his keys and put them in his pocket, and put his helmet on the handle bar. The general public didn't use this parking lot as it was designated to Brawlers and arena personal, it was private and had security roaming around incase a sneaky tabloid photographer somehow got in.

He walked through the backstage area where sound, lighting, and other professions scurried to get ready for tonight's live pay per-view match for two of the female divisions toughest competitors, both fan favorites for their abilities and poster girls for horny teen boys across the country. A few of the female lighting-crew members took notice of the tall, dark, handsome wolf and whispered to one another say how hot and cool he was, one was so bold to tell her co-worker "he don't bad from the back either". They giggled like high school girls as he smirked at them; they nearly went weak in the knees.

Vic headed straight to the main stage where Venus said she would be. Once he stepped foot in the tigress's sight, her dominate side came out to bat.

"You're late! I told you to be here at noon, but here you are two hours past our agreed time...oh well, I suppose I should be thankful you even bothered to come at all" stated Venus annoyed at Vic's casual attitude. The tigress was glad in her finest black pants suit and a pair of black heels, her face was stern and focused much different from the playful feline at the garage.

"Relax, V, I'm here, ‘sides I do have a business to think about too ya know" said Vic nonchalantly as he removed his shades, "now where's the whelp you wanted me to meet?"

"There, on the stage. Follow me" Venus said as she pointed across the sea of empty chairs that will be filled with cheering fans in mere hours, part of him missed the crowded arena packed with cheering fans. They walked to the main stage area where Venus's brother, Tony a former heavy weight kick boxer turned recruiter, was hold up practice pads and coaching a red canine. "The kid's name is Ash Barker, 20 years old from small town New Jersey. He has some expertise in the martial arts mostly in amateur competitions. He does have skill, but he lacks the focus of an average Brawler. He's got raw potential; all he needs is a real master's touch to point him the right direction. Plus the fact that he's a total hunk doesn't hurt, if I wasn't happily married I'd certainly go for him...would that be considered robbing the cradle?" said Venus.

Vic was awed; the young red husky in the white muscle shirt, and blue sweats was pretty good. It was like Vic was watching himself from long ago back when he was an upstart, but what was striking was the pup's looks. Ash was 5'10 ½, 157 lbs with excellent, well built muscle tone that looked "hot" on his smaller frame. He was good looking-exceptionally so-with a young puppy face that made him appear a bit younger with odd, but strikingly appealing bi-colored eyes giving him an edgier sex appeal. One of his triangle-like ears flopped over like a folded triangle, it looked "puppy" like but cool at the same time. Vic felt something boil up inside him; he was attracted to the young husky from Jersey.

"Hey, Tony, take a break" said Venus as she motioned him to stop.

"Okay...take five kid, you've earned it" said Tony taking off the pad from his arm and placing them on the stage mat. The two athletes walked off the stage and walked toward the sultry tigress and the jet-black wolf with pierce grey eyes.

"Vic, meet Ash, Ash vice versa. From today on, you two will be training together" said Venus.

"Wow, this is like something out of a dream...No, I mean I'm a big fan; I can't believe I'm getting to meet you like this...um, I always thought you were the best; better then Ty Tatum and Sung Benson. I'm Ash, nice to meet you" Ash said berated himself internally for sounding like a nerdy fan boy. Ash always admired Vic; the jet-black wolf was his idol for as long as he could remember. Meeting face to face like this was better the Christmas, his birthday, and his high school graduation combined. Ash hoped no one noticed his wagging tail; it had a mind of its own.

"So...what do think?" said Venus noticing the husky's tail wag, it was extremely cute. Vic looked over the husky; the red dog was even better looking up close. He felt his heart beat faster looking at him, he felt awkward, unsure, but what was stranger was that for the first he felt this gushy at a first meeting. He quickly pushed that aside.

"His stance is sloppy and his form is clumsy-it's pitiful. Not to mention the fact he's a total light weight and an amateur" replied Vic in his usual blunt tone. Venus looked at him with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

Ash went to speak but Tony stopped him, the male tiger's large paw rested on his shoulder, Tony shook his head slowly signaling the husky to not cause trouble. Vic may be a jerk sometimes, but he knew arguing with Vic was useless. As Venus, Tony, and Vic walked away to discuss business in Venus's office upstairs, Ash glared at Vic in disbelief and annoyed anger. He couldn't believe his idol would diss him just like that, it hurt a little bit.

Hours passed and Vic was ready to call it a day, for three hours straight he listened to Venus berate him about tact, his "jerky" attitude, and on protocol (which he already knew). He wanted to sit back and have a cold beer while watching the news or read a book. Once he reached his bike and zipped his jacket up he heard a voice calling him. "Hey, what's the big deal pal?! You've known me for like two seconds and you diss me just like that...you don't think I'm good enough for the big leagues or something?" said Ash, the red husky, in a disgruntled tone. He was angry.

"Not yet. Look, pup...you do have some potential, but getting upset because I punk'd you shows me you have a long way to go. Let me tell you how things roll here, guy ‘round here always talk trash and very few have the skill to back it up. Your opponents won't hesitate to use that temper of yours to their advantage...you waiting around for me to tell me off is proof of that you're easily riled and that is a weakness."

"I'm not easily riled; I just don't like jerks who think they're better then everyone else."

"Hate to tell ya, but you're gonna meet a lot of em. You'll learn that soon enough...starting Monday, you will drive to my place and work your tail off; no bratty whining. Ask the ball buster with stilettos for my address, and be there bright and early..." Vic said gruffly as he maneuvered the bike out of the parking space. He mounted his Harley and put his helmet on, "now if you'll excuse me I got things to do". Vic started the engine, it roared as he turned the gas. Before Ash could blink, the wolf's wheels squealed as he torn around the corner and disappeared.

Ash stood there growling to himself, he balled his fists clenching them in frustration. He couldn't believe that his hero turned out to a huge jerk with an attitude. He felt like was six years old again sneaking down stairs after hearing a noise thinking it was Santa Clause, only to discover his parents putting gifts under the Christmas tree, and eating and drinking the cookies and milk that he personally put out for jolly fat man in red. He was so upset that he hid under his bed sulking refusing to come out and talk to the "poopy head fibbers", he stayed there most of that morning. Vic was his idol, his hero. He thought the wolf was the best pro-martial artist the Brawlers had, even better the legendary Tao himself. "Alright, ya jerk faced wolf...you want me to prove myself? I'll show you that I'm not some amateur whelp. I'll climb higher then you thought possible and prove I can talk the talk and walk the walk" thought the husky as he turned toward his beat up Buick. "I can't afford to fail...not after I upset my mom and dad like that. This is my dream, and I'm determined to see it all the way to the championship match. No matter how hard it may be."