i'm relying on your common decency
Jay White sees some potential in Callum Newman, and offers him some training and advice.
They have some enemies in common, so what's the harm in accepting?
tw: drugs/weed, smoking, alcohol (all very minor), manipulation
[Ao3]
There's a look of amusement across Jay's face, as Callum struggles under him in the choke hold that Jay's locked in on him. His short fingernails claw at Jay's arm and Jay simply loves the sharp pain. To Jay's disappointment they're not quite long or sharp enough to break skin.
"You have issues with your knee but you can't be scared of it. Get up, Callum. Unless you're ready to call it quits this early?" Jay taunts, and Callum grunts.
The two of them had been at it for hours in Jay's personal gym, on his training ring with Jay having the upper hand on Callum for most of it. Jay wasn't as strong, and not as fast physically, but his mind was sharper. He knew where to move when, how to read Callum, how to counter everything Callum threw at him.
Callum who was struggling up to his feet. Finally using that power to his advantage. Jay hops off of Callum's back, kicking the back of his bad knee and bringing Callum down to a kneeling position. Jay grins when Callum gets right back up, turning to face Jay and wrapping a hand around his throat. It takes a lot for Jay to not lick his lips, and he's glad he doesn't when Callum spits on him and pushes him away. Jay stumbles back to the ropes, wrapping his arms around the top ropes and leaning back.
"What's wrong?" He tilts his head, sticking out his bottom lip in a pout. Callum scrunches his face up in displeasure in response.
"This is all bullshit. It's been what, three hours? How is fucking around with you going to help me…be better?"
The unnamed parties hung in the air. Will Ospreay, David Finlay, Yota Tsuji…hell, even Jon Moxley. Jay knew how frustrating this all was. He had his own mountains he had to climb. Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Naito…Okada.
Jay liked Callum. He saw a lot of himself in Callum. Tape studier. Quick thinker. Record setter, even when no one thought they could be.
He couldn't help but fuck with him a bit despite all that but there was a purpose, even if the younger wrestler didn't see it yet.
"I can watch you in the ring for hours on tape, and trust me, I have. I even have seen you in person…once from backstage. I simply can't get a feel for you if I don't have my hands on you, and I need more than a match to get that point. Regardless of all that, if I'm going to help you, I need to know you."
Callum scoffs at that. "Alright Switchblade, what did you learn wrestling me?" He fidgets a bit, bouncing on his feet.
It's clear to Jay that Callum knows there's a truth to what Jay's saying. Prepare all you want for an opponent, you'll never know what they're like until skin meets skin and bodies merge. They've both mingled with Finlay and Ospreay, to varying degrees from each other. Jay knew David as well as Callum knew Will, there was no doubt about that.
"You're not used to being your weight yet. You're still learning to use your weight, and you're doing great with how much you've changed. Hell it did get you the big one. You're not using your strength though. You're stronger than you've ever been, but you're not acting it. Dragging people around, a very good sidewalk slam no doubt. Very impactful lariat. A lot of it very new for you. Not unlike Will though, you fall into a pattern. A predictable pattern. Let's use…Moxley as an example. We've both had our eyes on him, haven't we? He hasn't really innovated anything in his arsenal in a while, but almost all of the time you can't see what he's about to do even if you know how he fights. How he moves…it's pretty enigmatic. There's no predicting someone who is always on like that."
He lets Callum stand with that, watching the gears turn. There's a clear irritation on Callum's face with the Ospreay comparison, but he doesn't lash out at Jay. "I'm too predictable. I wrestle like I'm on a schedule. That what you're saying?"
"Just about," Jay nods, releasing himself from hold he had on the top rope. "You're easy to read. It's something you can use against your opponents. You're no longer some underdog. Stop expecting people to underestimate you. Start expecting them to know you, especially these guys you've locked up with. Start simple. Fake outs." He steps towards Callum, who watches him with clear caution. "Don't just try to plan your next move. Plan the next three. I can see it in you, your instinct is impeccable, but your doubt overwhelms you and you play it safe. Like Ospreay. You end up like David. Rushing head first, strong arming wins by playing dirty. Nothing wrong with the ends justifying the means, but that's not sustainable."
Jay can see Callum shrinking, like he's afraid of what was going to come after the lecture.
Jay can see the defiance in Callum's eyes, the desire to be contrarian. To be a brat, and it makes Jay grin. Callum only frowns in response. He tries not to laugh at Callum, instead choosing to slap Callum's arm a bit.
"Let's shower up. You and I have a lot more to talk about, don't we?"
It's been about a week since they'd linked up.
Callum sits in Jay's living room, leaning back on his fancy black leather couch. White's place is more understated than Callum expected. There were things of note like the couch that was clearly well loved, but also well kept. The smell of leather just from the couch was overwhelming. There were shelves set up, some random decorations here and there. Sports memorabilia and the like. Rugby, football, wrestling. The walls are painted a light grey, and there's light filtering from large windows, and doors leading to his outdoor pool. Linen curtains and—
When Jay walks back in, Callum sits up. Jay raises an eyebrow at him, before holding out a silver can. Import Sapporo, which doesn't surprise Callum. The can is already popped open, so Callum presses it to his lips to take a sip. Familiar.
Jay sits next to him on the couch, leaning back. A lit joint in his hand that Callum almost didn't notice until the smell of weed hit him.
"Never took you for the smoking type…for anything."
"Smoked some cigarettes in Japan a few times, picked this habit up from…" Jay seems to hesitate, and Callum is surprised by it. For the briefest flash, Jay looks vulnerable. Callum isn't sure if that's a look he even expected to see on the New Zealander's face. "…some bad influence, I suppose."
It doesn't seem like the thing to push, so he doesn't. Another sip of his beer seems like a better idea, so he sticks with that. Something about Jay White is far more intimidating than anyone he's been in a room with, and he almost threw up before his match with Tanahashi in the previous G1. He steers away from the who.
"I guess…I cant imagine you'd want to disconnect that much. Even the slightest loss of control seems like it bothers you."
Jay laughs, before bringing the joint to his lips. He inhales, holds, and exhales. "It does, yeah. It's not something I do often. I suppose I'm in a mood, one might say."
"Cryptic," Callum mumbles under his breath. He knows Jay is grinning at that, he doesn't even have to look at him to tell that. "You ever smoke with David?" He doubted it, but it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.
"No, but I've spiked his drink."
"…What?"
"What?"
It is with great attention that Jay scrutinizes Callum's performance. Pulling in a bit of an odd favor with a certain denim clad wrestler, he was able to get Roderick Strong to agree to work with Callum. The caveat being that they travel up to him, instead of him coming down to Florida. No Marina Shafir to be around, she was out in Cincinnati. Strong seemed bothered when he had informed them about that, but it really wasn't Jay's problem right now.
Roderick has Callum's wrist, and Jay sees it coming without even having to be in the ring. He's moving his arm under Callum's legs to hoist him up for a back breaker. Jay watches.
He sees the way Callum is thinking. He missed the mark on evading the start of it. Roddy's got him up, and Jay smiles when Callum doesn't freeze. He tilts himself backwards even more, tipping himself out of Roderick's hold and bracing his with elbows down to balance himself. The momentum of his movement continues, and he lands on his feet. Strong is down on one knee, and Callum is able to land a PK right across the chest of Roderick, knocking him backwards onto the foam mats on top of the concrete. The sound of Callum's leg meeting Roderick's torso fills the gym for a moment.
Callum's body conveys surprise for just a second, before melting into confidence. With a familiar grin on his face, he doesn't waste time bouncing on his feet today. Instead, he immediately reaches down to grab Strong's head and keep it going.
Satisfaction settles in Jay White as he leans against the wall. Callum's thinking is changing. It's sharper. More focused.
He muses the idea of guilt for what he was doing. It was with selfish intentions that he reached out to Callum. To get what he wanted, he needed some unexpected roadblocks out of the way.
He trusted Juice.
He trusted the BBG.
When the time came, they'd be right there.
So obviously, he couldn't risk losing them.
Jay watches Callum back Strong into the corner, forcing him to sit before stomping down on him repeatedly.
Callum though…
He wasn't sure if he'd be the perfect distraction, or a necessary casualty.
Strong is back on his feet, kicking Callum's bad leg. Callum is kneeling, rolling through an attempted kick from Roderick. Jay watches it play out the way he expects. Callum uses the ropes to pull himself up. He gets height, kicks off the middle rope, and goes for the Oscutter. Jay knows what Callum's going for as Strong steps out of the way. Callum rolls through, hitting a back heel kick as soon as he has footing. It connects with ease.
There's the chance that Callum catches on, of course. That he turns his ire to Jay, for using him so blatantly. Shamelessly.
Callum hits Kiss the Crown. Roddy is flipped inside out.
Jay thinks about how many times he's ducked under the Rainmaker. Snap suplex, or a Russian leg sweep. For Callum, he thinks about how he'd ground him first, before going for a dragon leg screw.
He claps as Callum gets the pin, no referee to count, but undoubtedly making it well past the three count with Strong under him. Callum smiles at Jay, desperately seeking validation. He's reminded of David, in the Noge Dojo, smiling at him when he manged to pin Nagata for the first time.
Jay smiles at Callum, like he did at David.
Casualty.










