FicWad

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the hotel room. Percy slowly opened his eyes, feeling the familiar ache in his muscles, but this time it was less intense thanks to the pills he had taken the night before. He turned his head and saw Penelope sitting beside him, her face etched with worry. The moment she saw him awake, her eyes filled with relief.

"Percy," she whispered, her voice trembling, "you scared me out of my mind last night. You took so many pills… I was terrified you wouldn’t wake up."

Percy winced at the memory of his reckless decision. He had been so desperate to escape the pain that he hadn’t thought about the consequences. Now, seeing the fear in Penelope’s eyes, he felt a wave of guilt crash over him.

"I'm sorry, Penelope," he said, his voice thick with remorse. "I didn’t mean to scare you. I just…I couldn’t handle the pain anymore. I thought I could push through it, but I wasn’t thinking clearly."

Penelope sighed, her expression softening as she reached out to gently touch his face.

"You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Percy. I understand how much this means to you, but you have to take care of yourself too. I can’t lose you. We can’t lose you."

Percy nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I promise, I’ll be more careful. I’m just… I’m so close, Penelope. I’m so close to everything we’ve ever wanted."

As they both began to relax, Percy’s gaze drifted to the two championship belts displayed proudly on the dresser.

The Intercontinental Championship and the Winged Eagle Championship, symbols of his hard work, his victories, and his rise to the top of FMW. A surge of pride filled him as he stared at the belts, the tangible proof of his success.

"You did it, Percy," Penelope said softly, following his gaze to the championships. "You’re a champion."

Percy smiled, the satisfaction of his achievements momentarily overshadowing everything else. But when Penelope handed him his check, expecting him to be elated, his expression changed the moment he saw the amount.

It was less than he expected—significantly less. A scowl formed on his face as he clenched the check in his hand.

"Where’s the rest of it?" Percy demanded, his voice sharp.

Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean? That’s what Lucius said you earned."

Percy’s jaw tightened, his anger boiling over. Without another word, he pushed himself out of bed, the soreness in his muscles forgotten as he stormed out of the room. Penelope called after him, but he didn’t stop. He needed answers, and he knew exactly where to get them.

He made his way to Lucius Malfoy’s hotel room, knocking sharply on the door. Lucius opened it, a look of mild surprise on his face.

"Percy," Lucius greeted, his tone calm and measured. "What brings you here so early?"

Percy held up the check, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Where’s the rest of my money, Lucius? This is nowhere near what I should’ve earned."

Lucius remained unruffled, motioning for Percy to come inside. "Come in, Percy. Let’s talk about this."

Percy followed Lucius into the room, his anger simmering just below the surface. Once they were seated, Lucius leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he regarded Percy with a level gaze.

"Percy, I understand your frustration," Lucius began, his tone even. "But you have to understand that this is how the business works. That amount on your check? It’s your earnings after my cut as your manager."

Percy’s brow furrowed in confusion.

"Your cut? What are you talking about?"

Lucius sighed, as if explaining something obvious.

"Percy, how do you think you got these opportunities in the first place? The fancy hotels, the limousines, the trainers, all of it costs money. As your manager, I’m the one who handles these expenses, who negotiates your matches, who ensures you’re in the spotlight. My cut is a reflection of that work."

Percy’s anger began to dissipate as Lucius’s words sank in. He hadn’t considered the logistics behind his sudden rise to fame, the expenses that went into maintaining his image and career. It made sense, even if it wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

"All of this, Percy," Lucius continued, his voice smooth, "is an investment. An investment in you. But you have to understand that I don’t do this for free. I expect a return, and that’s what this cut represents."

Percy nodded slowly, the tension easing out of his shoulders. "I get it," he admitted, his tone more subdued. "I didn’t think about it that way."

Lucius leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mix of ambition and cunning.

"Good. Because this is just the beginning, Percy. You have the potential to be the highest-paid fighter in FMW. But only if you continue to win, to dominate. The more you win, the more you’ll earn, and the more we’ll both gain."

Percy’s expression hardened with determination.

"Then I need a new opponent," he declared. "Something big, something that’ll make up for the lost income. I’ll be the highest-paid fighter in FMW. Because I’m never going to lose."

Lucius’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

"That’s the spirit, Percy. Leave it to me. I’ll make sure you get the match you deserve."

As Percy left Lucius’s room, the anger and confusion that had clouded his mind earlier were replaced with a renewed sense of purpose. He would do whatever it took to keep winning, to secure his place at the top, and to ensure that Penelope and their child would have the life they deserved.

But deep down, a small voice whispered a warning. The path he was on was treacherous, filled with dangers that he was only beginning to understand. Yet, Percy pushed that voice aside, focusing instead on the goals ahead. He had come too far to turn back now.

He was Ryker Black, the undefeated champion. And nothing was going to stand in his way.