The next week Retubition was getting off the bus and Slade and Candy were arguing about something stupid, as usual. The Retribution crew was glad to get off the bus away from them. They were driving everyone insane. It started with a dispute about their favorite bands that began the day’s war of words.

“You’re nuts. That song was weak at best. And, the other song you’re thinking about is not Ozzy.”

“Who sang Fairies Wear Boots then, smart ass? Like you know anything about music. You are probably into techno shit and are just trying to look cool in front of the guys,” Slade complained.

“Actually, I just went to see Ozzy a week before I came to IWX and that song was not Ozzy. It was Black Sabbath.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

Slade thought, “Huh? You’re right. It was. But Sabbath is still Ozzy.”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

Candy walked away satisfied she was messing with him just enough to get a rise out of him.

“You’re impossible! How could you get any more annoying?”

“I can. Just wait,” she giggled.

Slade snarled following her.

Colt watched them walk away together arguing, and stopped Trent and Dustin.

“Guys, this is insane. They are driving us all crazy. Slade is my friend but damn. I can’t take much more.”

Trent agreed, “I thought it was just me. Those two are going to kill each other one day. They actually we’re fighting over what flavor pancakes were the best at breakfast. I’m about to gag-and-bound them both just to get some peace and quiet.”

“We have to try to get Davis to change his mind. Candy and I cleared the air between us but I can’t stand another day of this. She’s been great with Retribution but this can’t go on another day. The whole roster is ready to beat the crap out of them.” Dustin ran his hands through his long curly surfer blonde locks.

Colt agreed, “We have to tell Davis he has to separate them for a while. I like Candy but I’m afraid he’s going to snap. I don’t want either of them doing something they will regret.”

***

The Retribution crew all went to Davis’s office and a lot of other people were already there, all talking at once. It looked like a mutiny was in the works. Davis held up his hands in defense.

“Alright, alright. Everyone calm down.”

Jarrod Justice was pacing the floor. “Davis we are fed up. You have to do something.”

Cyrus Evans agreed, “Take them to Court Xtream. Let’s take care of it.”

The Retribution members went into the crowd and Trent spoke up. “What’s going on?”

Sahara stood tapping her fingers on the wall. “Guess! Candy and Slade are driving everyone bonkers. They walked into catering a few minutes ago arguing and started a food fight.”

Gage walked up looking a mess with mashed potatoes all over him. Isis was trying her best not to laugh and he just glared at her.

“I got in the firing line.”

Everyone snickered, even Davis.

Davis held up his hands. “All right. We all agree. Wrestlers Court?”

The whole crowd yelled, “Yes!”

“Ok. Jarrod, you are on the side of the roster. You’re the prosecutor. Wraith, as always, is the judge. Sam, you ok with representing them?”

Sam agreed, “I’ll go tell them. We can convene court in the morning.”

***

Next morning…

“See what you got us into?” Slade paced the floor in his locker room waiting for the verdict.

“Me? You threw food at me! That’s what started this.”

The socially awkward Sam held his hands over his ears. “Stop! Please. You two are giving me a migraine. It started the day you two met. Truth is, I think you both like each other and are too damn stubborn to admit it! Like two kids on the playground. So sit down and shut up before I knock you both out!”

Slade chuckled with a hint of annoyance. “Like you could super geek. Fine. My luck they will suspend us and I will miss Summer Mayhem. I’ll have to drop the title to Gage… again.” He sat down looking defeated rubbing his head. “I worked too hard to get here for this to happen.”

Candy looked around concerned. “They can’t do that. Right, Sam? Your uncle has the last say.”

Sam looked worried for Slade. “Yes. Uncle D and Wraith started wrestling court to allow the roster to settle things like this. If he loses it this way he might not get another chance for a long time. If at all. He got into trouble a while ago and this would really screw things up.”

“It wasn’t my fault. That stagehand lied saying I attacked him for no reason. He was taking nude pics in the girl’s locker room. Not my fault he got his ass kicked. He deserved that beating.”

“Well, he’s gone now. But you didn’t have to fight with Cyrus too. Cryus didn’t know what was going on. All he knew was the guy was looking at his phone and you started kicking the guy’s ass. You knew better than to start anything for no reason with Cyrus. He, Wraith, and Uncle D are close.”

Slade shook his head in frustration. “The guy said I set him up. I almost lost my job. Cyrus knew me better than that. I still got in trouble for fighting with Cyrus and all I did was take up for the girls. I still think it was punishment because of…”

Candy saw his expression turn to sadness. “Because of what?”

“Because... I’m a recovering addict, Candy. I screwed up a lot back then. I had a drug test after that. My test came up dirty for pain killers. Pills, alcohol and lots of lonely nights can destroy a man. If it wasn’t for Colt, Davis, and Gage my career would have been over. They helped me get my life back. We’re a family here, Candy. You just haven’t been here long enough to see IWX for what it truly is."

“Oh, no. I… I didn’t know. Slade, I didn’t know.” Candy’s lip started to quiver.

“How would you? You’re still pretty new here. It’s my fault for fighting with you all the time. I’ll take the heat if I have to.”

Candy sat down beside him crossing her hands on her lap. “I don’t want you to lose your title. I know you work hard.” She looked at him with sad eyes.

“I thought you said I only got the title by sleeping with Jenna.”

Candy reached out to take his hand. “I don’t really think that. I was just mad at you. You belong on top. I don’t want you to be punished for me.”

He squeezed her hand. “Whatever happens we are both at fault. We will take the punishment together.”

A knock on the door came. Sahara and Isis walked in. “The verdict is in. They’re in the main backstage area by the monitors.”

Slade stood up. “Let’s get it over with.”

Candy was shaking and Sahara and Isis hugged her. “It’s going to be ok.”

***

They reached the backstage area and the whole roster was there. Wraith sat in front of them at a desk looking as intimidating as ever. His dark brooding demeanor and tattoos covering most of his body made him an intimidating sight to behold. Not to mention the sheer mass of the older bodybuilder.

“Come forward,” Wraith rumbled.

They went and stood in front of him. Slade stood tall crossing his hands in front of his waist ready for whatever punishment came. Candy just stood there scared and trying to not cry.

“You both understand why you’re here?”

“We do,” Slade spoke up. He stood bravely staring emotionless over Wraith’s head.

“After deliberating I decided to go along with Davis’s original idea. If you can’t get along we will help you get along.”

He pulled out a set of handcuffs setting them on the table. One handcuff on each end with a long cord connecting them.

“Cyrus. Will you do the honors, please.”

Cyrus took the cuffs cuffing one hand of each of them. Slade looked confused while watching them be cuffed. Candy watched as Cyrus cuffed her hand closest to Slade and he could feel her shaking.

“Slade, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Candy, stay quiet.”

“About four feet. That’s how far apart the line between those cuffs are. By Summer Mayhem, in two weeks, you will get along or Slade will be asked to drop his title and sussed to his opponent. Slade, you will not get another title shot for six months if you fail. You know what six months can do. It can make you or break you. Candace, if there’s no change, you will be demoted back to being a jobber. You will never return to the main roster. All you have to do is convince a jury of your peers that you are a team and everything goes back to normal. We need to see that you have worked out your differences. You have two weeks.”

Candy gasped, “No. Please. Don’t take away my spot. I’ll never get a title shot being a jobber. Please. My mom... needs...” She stopped herself before she said too much. No one noticed her personal comment slip.

“Wraith, that’s harsh. Candy doesn’t deserve that. We all know she has the potential to be great. If we don’t work it out, it could ruin her career.” Slade tried to defend her.

“She does have a ton of potential. I guess it’s up to you to make sure that doesn’t happen, Slade. It comes down to you. Get along or pay the consequences. As you remember during the last incident, someone has to be the one to take the heat when things go bad. You did it for the girls in the locker room. She’ll be the one who does it for you.”

“So what’s with the cuffs?”

Wraith chuckled. “Glad you asked. For the next two weeks, you will be tethered together. Except for during showtimes… maybe. That’s between Davis and the writers. You still have to work. You will eat, sleep, travel, and even shit together. We will allow you to change clothes and shower alone. Colt and Sahara agreed to be in charge of the keys because frankly, no one wants you two wearing the same thing for two weeks smelling like sweaty ass. That’s punishing us.”

“You’re kidding?” Slade shook his head in disbelief while Candy was freaking out beside him

“Nope. You have about four feet of the tether. Get cozy cause you’re going to spend a lot of time together in the next two weeks. We have a few bonding projects for you to do also. If you can’t get along we will teach you how to. Davis is cutting you from tonight’s house show. Head to the hotel and get started.”

Wraith handed them an envelope.

“What about fans? Don’t you think that it’s going to look a little odd in public?” Slade took the envelope.

“We thought of that. Davis is going to promote it as a charity event. We will say it was a bet between you two against Davis. The hours you spend tethered equals more money for the charity. Summer Mayhem you both can announce what charity you choose if you can get along. If not, the roster will choose and you will be fined $10,000 each that will go toward the charity, taken out of your contract pay."

Candy cringed at the thought. That much money could help her mother back home.

Slade watched Candy fiddling with the wire tying them together. Her little lip quivering and tears in her eyes threatening to break loose.

“Wraith. I can do this but Candy is taking this hard. She can’t lose what she worked so hard for. We don’t get along but even I can admit she has worked her ass off.”

“I figured as much. I guess you’re going to have to help her cope. Go ahead. A limo is waiting.”

Slade reached over as Candy was fully crying now. He pulled her into his arms.

“Hope you guys can live with yourself if this goes bad. This may hurt her more than our little catfights. Come on, Candy. Let’s go grab some food. We’ll watch a movie or something.”

Davis smirked leaning towards his nephew, Sam. “Hell, it’s working already.”

Sam smiled seeing Slade protectively taking her through the crowd. “Uncle D, I think your right.”