~*~Backstage Acceptance~*~
Climax Control 414 — After the Show
The hum of backstage activity filled the air. Crew members bustled about, breaking down equipment and rolling away cables, their voices blending into a low, indistinct murmur. Bella Madison stood in the corner of a quiet lounge area, the glow of the TV screen illuminating her face. Her hair was still damp from the earlier match with Bobbie Dahl, her gear slightly scuffed, a badge of honor from the hard-fought battle that had just ended.
On the screen, Aleesha stood in the middle of the ring, her SCW Internet Championship glinting under the arena lights as she delivered her closing words. Bella’s arms were crossed over her chest, a towel slung over her shoulder, her eyes locked onto the screen.
Aleesha: “Seeing as I feel like we need to find out which one of us is truly a better wrestler... Here’s what I propose. You and I meet up at Inception. I’ll put my championship on the line. We’ll see once and for all who is truly the better woman!”
The mic hit the mat with a definitive thud, and the shot cutting to Aleesha hoisting the championship high, a confident smirk on her face as the screen faded to black with the SCW Copyright logo signalling the end.
Bella exhaled deeply, a mix of emotions swirling within her. Pride. Determination. A flicker of exhaustion from the night’s events. But above all, a spark of excitement.
“She really knows how to put on a show,” Bella muttered to herself, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
The door creaked open behind her, and Bella turned to see Malachi stepping in, a bottle of water in one hand and an ice pack in the other.
“You’re still watching that?” he asked, handing her the water before pressing the ice pack gently to her shoulder.
Bella chuckled. “What can I say? I like a little validation after a hard night’s work. Besides, did you hear her out there? She called me out, Mal. She wants me at Inception.”
Malachi smirked, taking a seat on the couch beside her. “Of course she does. You gave her one of the best matches to end off the year. And tonight? You took down Bobbie Dahl. Hell of a way to kick off the year, don’t you think?”
Bella nodded, her smile growing. “It’s more than that, Mal. She didn’t have to say any of that. She could’ve just walked off with the title and let it be. But instead, she’s giving me another shot. A real shot. She wants to prove she’s the better woman, and you know what? So do I.”
She turned back to the screen, her expression hardening into one of determination. “Bobbie was step one. Tonight, I showed everyone that I’m not going anywhere, that 2025 is going to be my year. But this? Aleesha? This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. A chance to reclaim what’s mine.”
Malachi leaned back, watching her with a knowing look. “You sound ready for this.”
Bella turned to him, fire in her eyes. “Oh, I’m more than ready. Aleesha’s right—our last match, it didn’t feel complete. I’ve been replaying it in my head ever since. Climbing that tree, watching her snatch the title out from under me. I’ve been waiting for this chance, Mal. And now, I’m not going to let it slip through my fingers.”
She stood, pacing the small room as she spoke, her voice growing more impassioned.
“She wants to see who the better wrestler is? Fine. At Inception, I’m going to bring everything I’ve got. All the pain, all the frustration, all the fire I’ve been holding back—it’s all coming out. This isn’t just about the title. It’s about proving to myself, to Aleesha, to everyone, that Bella Madison isn’t a fluke. That I’m not just a placeholder. That I belong at the top.”
Malachi smirked, crossing his arms as he watched her. “If Aleesha’s watching this, she’s probably already second-guessing herself.”
Bella grinned, the fire in her eyes now tempered with confidence. “She should be. Because at Inception, I’m not just fighting for a championship. I’m fighting for redemption. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”
“Ah, there you are!” a male voice popped up from the doorway, that caused Bella and Mal to turn to see Christian Underwood, co-owner of SCW and despite popular opinion, a pretty nice boss...but don’t pass that around.
Bella wouldn’t pass it around but she couldn’t help but put on a sweet smile, “Hey Christian, what’s up?”
“Did you happen to get a peak at the next week’s CC in Henderson?” he asked as he leaned against the door, “It’s go home time and I’m sure you just heard what Aleesha said before we went off the air.”
“That I did,” Bella motioned towards the screen, “I accept of course, but I seem to feel like that’s not why you’re here. I hadn’t seen the card yet, I was going to on my way back to the ladies locker room.”
“Well...” Christian shifted, “I know you weren’t exactly thrilled with Cassie as well and I wasn’t about to deny you both the satisfaction of getting a chance so next week is a tag match, Harper and Cassie versus you...and your opponent at Inception.”
Bella’s eyes go slightly wide for a moment followed by a laughing smirk, “An interesting set-up.”
“I know,” Christian smirks, like the devil's advocate that he is, “I think it could be a hell of a match and it seems like you and Aleesha have this...mutual respect thing going on and I know Cassie and Harper are both sniffing around both of you and getting into your business. So handle it like I know you both can so you can focus on Inception. Cool?”
“As a cucumber.” Bella nodded, “Thanks for the heads up, Christian.”
“Of course, see ya next week and safe travels.”
With that Christian takes his leave and Mal looks at Bella and you can just see the wheels just turning already. “Bells? You good, love?”
She just smiles brightly, grabbing her towel and slinging it over her shoulder, turning to Malachi. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
As they walked out of the room, the screen in the background replayed Aleesha’s words one last time. Bella didn’t need to hear them again. She knew exactly what she had to do.
At Inception, the reset button would become a launchpad—and Bella Madison was ready to take off.
But first, they’ll take care of a boil on the the whole damn thing.
~*~Revisiting the House~*~
Just outside of New York City
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling yard of the house Bella and Mal were considering. The property seemed even more picturesque now than it had during their first visit. Bella stood on the wraparound porch, her arms crossed as she watched Mal and her stepfather, Nick, walk around the perimeter of the house. Mal gestured animatedly at something near the foundation while Nick, ever the meticulous one, crouched down, inspecting it closely.
Inside, Bella’s mom, Laura, was entertaining Bella’s little brother, Aaron and of course little Máire, the toddler’s laughter occasionally filtering out through the windows. It was the kind of sound Bella imagined filling this house for years to come.
Nick straightened up and exchanged a few words with Mal before making his way toward Bella on the porch. His hands were slightly dusty from the inspection, but his expression carried a mix of warmth and seriousness.
“So,” Bella started, a small smile on her lips. “What’s the verdict, inspector?”
Nick chuckled, shaking his head. “Give me a minute, will ya? I’ve got a whole rundown of notes I’ll get to. But first…” He leaned on the porch railing beside her, looking out at the yard. “You know, I gotta say, kiddo… I can’t believe we’re standing here, looking at a house for you and your family. Feels like yesterday you were climbing all over that jungle gym in the park, telling me you were gonna grow up, be just like your mom and have a mansion someday.”
Bella laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah, well, this isn’t exactly a mansion, but it’s close enough for me. Especially those stables.”
Nick turned to her, his expression softening. “Kid, hear me out. You’ve done good. Better than good. You’ve built a life—a beautiful one—with Mal and Máire. And now you’re moving out of the city, trading in the hustle and bustle for this…” He gestured toward the open snow covered yard, the distant currently bare trees swaying gently in the breeze. “I’m proud of you, kid. More than you know.”
Bella’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by something deeper. “Thanks, dad. That means a lot. But… I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t scary. Moving out here, leaving behind everything we’ve built in the city—it feels huge, you know?”
Nick nodded, his eyes thoughtful. “It is huge and big steps like this always feel bigger than they actually are. But sometimes, huge is exactly what you need. You’ve outgrown that old place, Bella. It served its purpose, gave you a solid foundation. But this?” He tapped the railing lightly. “This is where you start building the next chapter. For Máire, for yourself, for Mal. And honestly, I think you’re more ready for it than you realize.”
Bella looked down at her hands, gripping the porch railing tightly. “What if I’m not? What if we’re making a mistake? What if this place turns out to be… I don’t know, a disaster?”
Nick let out a hearty laugh, earning a puzzled look from Bella. “Oh, Bella. I’ve been crawling through every nook and cranny of this house for the last hour. Trust me, it’s no money pit. In fact, it’s one of the most solid properties I’ve seen in a long time. Whoever owned this before you took care of it—really took care of it. If you ask me, you’d be crazy not to put in the final offer.”
Bella’s shoulders relaxed, and a small laugh escaped her. “You really think so?”
Nick placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I know so. And hey, even if it were a disaster, you’d figure it out and you’ll have help. That’s who you are, Bella. Just like your mom, you’re a fighter. You’ve got this and we’ll all make sure that you do.”
She turned to him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thanks, dad. For everything. For being here, for always being in my corner…”
Nick pulled her into a hug, patting her back gently. “Hey, I’m just the inspector but you know I got you, kid. Always, kiddo. Always.”
From the yard, Mal called out, “Hey! You two gonna join us, or what?”
Bella pulled back, wiping her eyes quickly before grinning at Nick. “Come on, inspector. Let’s go see what other notes you’ve got for me. And then we’re gonna go celebrate your birthday.”
“I told you you didn’t have to do anything!” Nick exclaimed, as she took his arm, “Of course, I told your mother the same and I should have known something was up when she told me to make sure my schedule was completely cleared today.”
As they walked down the steps together, Bella couldn’t help but feel the weight of her doubts lifting. With Nick’s reassurance and her family by her side, the next chapter didn’t seem quite so daunting anymore.
Bella laughed as they rounded the stairs to where Mal was waiting for them, “Hey, I was in Nevada last weekend and we’ve both been super busy. You deserved to be celebrated, dad. End of story.”
Nick just sighs out loud, shaking his head, he should have known his girls would make sure that he was gonna have some sort of a birthday celebration, “Fine, just no crazy songs.”
“Well there goes my big zydeco plan, guess I’ll have to cancel. Hope I can get my deposit back.” Bella said with a smirk, “Maybe karaoke.”
“Jesus, you really are your mother’s daughter.”
This house wasn’t just a house—it was the start of something new.
It was gonna be home.
~*~Rules of Engagements: The Enemy of my enemy is potentially a friend`*~
The scene opens in a quiet park near Henderson, Nevada. The sun is setting, casting hues of orange and gold across the sky. Bella Madison is seated on a weathered wooden bench near a small pond. The faint chirping of crickets and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze provide a serene backdrop, but Bella’s demeanor is anything but calm. She’s dressed casually, ripped jeans and a leather jacket, her expression serious as she stares at the rippling water. The camera moves closer as she begins to speak, her tone measured but carrying an undercurrent of frustration.
"You ever just sit back and wonder how people think they can get away with anything? I mean, really. You try to do things the right way, handle your business, and then someone’s gotta come along and stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. That’s what I’m dealing with right now." Bella shakes her head, letting out a bitter laugh. "Cassie Wolfe and Harper Mason. Young Justice. I swear, just saying the name makes me laugh. Justice? What exactly have either of you done to embody justice? Because all I see are two people trying to play hero in a story they don’t belong in."
She leans back on the bench, her eyes lifting to the sky briefly before settling back on the camera. "Cassie, I’ll give you credit where it’s due. You earned your shot. That’s not in question. But what is in question is your timing. You couldn’t just wait, could you? You couldn’t let Aleesha and I finish what we started without butting in and trying to make everything about you. And that’s where you lost me. That’s where the respect I might’ve had for you? Gone. Because let me tell you something, Cassie—earning a shot doesn’t give you the right to jump the line. And now, you’ve made it personal."
Bella sits forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her voice lowering slightly. "And Harper… I don’t even know what to say to you. What are you doing here? Are you just along for the ride, hoping Cassie’s spotlight will somehow shine on you too? Because that’s all I see when I look at you. A tagalong. An extra. And trust me, I’ve seen plenty of people like you in my time. They come and go, never making any real impact. You might want to think about that before you step into the ring with me."
She pauses, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as the faintest smirk crosses her lips. "And then there’s Aleesha. Look, I know what people are thinking. ‘Bella, how can you trust her? Isn’t she your opponent at Inception?’ Yeah, she is. And I’m not naive. I know alliances in this business are as fragile as glass. But here’s the thing—Aleesha didn’t have to offer me a rematch. She didn’t have to do anything, but she did. That tells me something about her character. And for now, I trust her. For now, we’re allies. But I’m not stupid. I know how quickly things can change."
Bella stands, pacing a few steps as the intensity in her voice builds. "But Cassie and Harper, let me make one thing crystal clear. This isn’t about Aleesha or me trusting her. This is about the two of you thinking you can step into my business and not face the consequences. You think you’ve got something to prove? You think this match is your chance to shine? Guess what—it’s not. This match is about me reminding everyone exactly who I am. Someone who’s tired of being disrespected. Someone who’s done being overlooked. And someone who’s ready to put you both in your place."
She stops and turns back to the camera, her voice calm but laced with steel. "At Climax Control, you’re going to find out exactly what happens when you mess with someone who’s got nothing left to lose and everything to prove. Young Justice? The only thing young about you is your naivety. And justice? It’s not coming for you. Reality is. And reality? Her name is Bella Madison."
With that, Bella walks toward the pond, her silhouette outlined by the setting sun as the camera fades to black.
