Comfortable Shoes

[Dave M]

OOC - Something different, hope ya'll enjoy.

The scene opened in the grand converted barn. A female at he base of an extremely wide stair case shouted,

"STEVE, hurry up, you'll be late. Your ride is due to arrive any minute!"

She knew it was pointless. He worked to his own schedule and although he always seemed to be cutting it fine, he was always on time and ready. She on the other hand liked to be prepared, waiting and not rushing around at the last minute. This was just one of many differences that seemed to point towards them being a badly suited couple, but for some reason they just worked. Ying and yang she'd often joke.

"STEEEEEEVE, seriously?! Whats taking you so long, all you need is a pair of cut off denims and one of your Village People waist coats!"

Upstairs Stone Cold Steve Austin smiled to himself. He loved it when Kristin joked about his wrestling. She had a way of making him feel like it was just some silly little hobby. Not the thing that had allowed him to buy this immaculately converted barn on his 2000 plus acre ranch here in Texas. Goddam the hunting was good here. They'd kept their place in LA as well though, she'd never fully subscribe to the redneck, cowboy life style.

The room he was stood in was big, and the walls were covered with memorabilia. It was the only room he had with any up, it was the only place Kristin wanted it as well. But every where you looked there was a replica Championship belt, or a picture of Steve posing with a wrestling legend. Steve was looking around at them, a picture of him warmly embracing Brian Pillman from his Hollywood Blonds days. A still of him giving his infamous Austin 3:16 speech to Jake Roberts, him covered in blood, arm in arm with Bret Hart and Ken Shamrock after their timeless submission match. Various shots of him with the Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, even Mike Tyson!

Why I am doing this?

Steve - "I'm coming!"

He shouted downstairs to his wife to avoid the dreaded third reminder, if it got to that point he knew she'd be annoyed.

It wasn't often both the WWE and EBWF would be in town at the same time. WWE at the AT&T Centre for Raw and EBWF doing their tribute to the troops at Foot Hood. It also wasn't very often he would get VIP invites to both events as well. He'd made no secret of wanting one last run, it had been 10 years since he'd taken his ball and gone home and since then he'd only made sporadic appearances for Vince. He liked the WWE, it was like a comfortable pair of shoes. Going back he knew exactly what he was getting into. He knew everyone there, from the guys who put the ring up to all the top stars. It was like his wrestling home.

Steve also loved getting the call from Vince. He'd never admit it to anyone. Austin knew Vince better than anyone. And what he knew was Vince wasn't about sentiment. Vince was about business. Which meant if Vince and WWE called him he was still big. He was still someone. He'd still put bums in seats and sell t-shirts. Not bad for a 49 year old who hadn't wrestled a proper match in a decade!

But the EBWF was interesting. He knew most of the top stars there. If he decided to go back stage there would be plenty of people there who he could share a story with, drink a beer with and generally have a good time with. But it was an unknown. Austin had never directly worked for Wes Ikeda and heard bits and pieces about him being a workaholic, but that wasn't news. If you wanted to make it big you had to devote your life to it, and Wes certainly had done that and then some. At the age of 49 he didn't need new challenges did he?

"STEVEN JAMES HURRY UP"

Ah he'd done it, he'd got the middle name treatment, she was going to be annoyed with him now. Steve's stomach done a flip. He was nervous! Stone Cold Steve Austin was nervous! Arguably the greatest wrestler of all time, the face of the attitude era was nervous about going to a standard Monday night show. He wasn't even going to appear on screen. All he was doing was going back stage to say hi to some friends and chat with the boss. What was there to be nervous about?!

He knew Vince would have him doing the same stuff. He'd turn up, plug the impressive WWE network, give someone a stunner and drink some beer. He was good at that. The second the sound of breaking glass filled the area they would go wild. Just that sound and he'd have them eating of his hand straight away. Who wouldn't want that? The week after his first appearance you could put your house on the arena being filled with 3:16 signs. Who'd have known that little off the cuff comment would have lived for this long.

On the other hand what would Wes Ikeda want? Steve wanted one last run, he didn't know if it would last 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years. But he had unfinished business. He left on his own terms before, but there was that nagging feeling he never got the closure on his career he wanted. He didn't get a chance to step in the ring and put over the talent he wanted to, he didn't get any last title runs. Would Wes Ikeda and EBWF allow him that chance? They'd just signed Brock Lesnar and a whole host of legends, would they want one more. Hell, he didn't want to come back and be curtain jerking matches with no bodies. Stone Cold wasn't arrogant, but fiercely proud of his legacy and knew this need for one last run really could feasibly destroy that. He'd seen enough legends having one match too many and it made him sad, did he want to become one of those?

Steve slowly walked down the stairs to his front door and Kristin immediately shot him an annoyed look. He never understood why she got annoyed at him being late, she wasn't even coming with him. But it was the fact she worried that touched him.

Steve - "Hey, calm down. I was doing my hair."

He rubbed his hand over his completely shaven dome. She immediately smiled. She couldn't ever stay mad at him! They hugged and briefly kissed. They stayed in each others arms as Austin spoke again.

Steve - "This is the part where you tell me I'm too old to be doing this shit and could end up in a wheel chair like a proper wrestlers wife does!"

Kristin had those thoughts. But she also knew Steve, and this was something he had to do. She wasn't sure even he knew why, maybe he wanted to get on the road with the boys again, maybe he wanted to put over new talent like he always mentioned, maybe he just wanted to prove to himself one more time he could hang with the best. She knew better than to question him being too old. He was in the best shape of his life. If she played that card he would launch into one of his DDP yoga is the best monologues. She liked them, he would get so passionate about it without realising. It wasn't often you got to see that from Steve. But he got excited about is because he knew his body. He knew he was destined for a life time of pain until he got involved with DDP. So that wasn't worth mentioning. She also didn't believe it, he still had something to give. Deep down she knew she'd miss him being on the road, but he'd always come back to the ranch. He enjoyed his hunting and fishing too much and worked to hard for everything here to spend 365 days on the road again.

Kristin - "Well if YOU don't think your good enough any more!? I have been watching wrestling lately, that Dolph Ziggler looks pretty good. You know me, I've got a thing for guys with stunning blonde hair."

She winked at Steve and he smiled. She loved bringing up his Stunning Steve Austin past and especially the long blonde hair. Often joking it must have been the same as hers to maintain.

Steve - "Your the only stunning one now!'

Kristin squealed as Steve lifted her and gave her one final kiss before setting her down.

Steve -"I cant stand around here all day swapping hair style tips, I'll be late. Wheres my ride already?"

Kristin rolled her eyes and gestured towards the door with her head.

Kristin -"He's already waiting. He gave me this parcel for you."

She handed Stone Cold a package wrapped in brown paper. He looked at her puzzled, only for Kristin to respond with an equally confused looked. He ripped it open to reveal a sleeveless vest inside. It was black with white lettering saying

Still Drinking Beer
Still Raising Hell
Still Austin 3:16

It made both of them smile straight away. It had been a very long time since Steve had seen any new merchandise with his name on. It felt like the time he'd seen the first Austin 3:16 shirt. Thats when he felt like he was actually good. Seeing this shirt made him feel the same again.

Kristin -"Thats awesome! Get going, NOW!"

Steve -"Are you sure this is the right choice, I wont look stupid will I?"

She knew he didn't mean the shirt, he meant everything about stepping back in the ring.

Kristin -"All I want is for you to be happy Steve, you know this will make you happy. Plus I need to get some new pictures of you for that room upstairs, so we can take down all those with that ugly bitch Debra in! Now go!"

She have him a playful push and smile. He knew she was joking. She had taken all his baggage from the past on board and accepted it. He knew it really was 4th time lucky.

He walked to the door, he hated limousines. They were meant to be luxury travelling, but he always felt cramped and awkward in them. Still, he couldn't complain about a free ride to the show. Just as he was about to step through the door Kristin called out to him.

Kristin -"Steve, where are your shoes?"

Looking slightly puzzled he replied.

Steve -"I decided to wear the new boots you got me, why?"

Kristin - "You always wear you comfortable shoes."

Steve -"Hell, I threw the shoes in the trash and put these on instead. They feel good."

Kristin -"They look good too, see sometimes its good to have a change."

He nodded as he stepped outside.

Steve -"Son of a bitch!"

Driver -"Hello Mr Austin sir, would you like a beer.

The driver held out his hand, which had a ice cold Bud Light in it. Steve looked on, slightly stunned as also before him was a camouflage painted 1988 Dodge Ram Charger. It was in pristine condition. It also was the exact same model and years as his favourite truck on the ranch and what he also thought was one of the most comfortable rides going. Someone had done some research on him to be pulling out all the stops like this.......