"Let Me In" ~ A WWE Universe Tale

The Story

 The steam of his fresh cup of coffee wafted up under the detective's nose, bringing him back to a level of consciousness that he had forgotten upon entering the police academy. The old blues record spun with age and weathering off in the corner of the living room. His kids were playing on the floor in front of him, with various toy cars and blocks.

"Balor? ... Balor?" A familiar voice broke the detective's daze. His icy blue eyes flashed, blinking rapidly like being hit by a sunbeam before turning to the source of the noise, nearly spilling his hot cup of coffee all over his crotch. His partner, a short but healthy-sized woman with the most entrancing forest green eyes Balor had ever seen, gave him an impatient stare.

"You still with me, Space Cadet?" Her hard Dublin-Irish accent caught her tongue and throat as she snickered, raising her orange-ish eyebrow for dramatic intent.

"Listen... we've been working on this case for a while now. It's..." he checked his watch. "... Four in the morning. In the middle of the worst winter we've had in centuries. With all kinds of noise going on with the endurance only a 2-hour nap can provide. I haven't eaten. Haven't had anything substantial... not yet."

"Christ, hon... you need a break. C'man. Go to bed, I can handle the kiddos."

"No!" Balor shook his head, blinking with a sudden intensity like he just received a fresh slap in the supermarket. "I can handle this... I know I'm close... guts are only meant for wrenching, that means that I'm getting there! I know it!" At that moment, the TV that was on in the other room broke the white noise of Minoru's fresh hit, "187" and the conversation between colleagues. The soft jingle of the kids' favorite show.

We're~ really glad~ that you're~ our friends~, and this~ is a friendship~ that'll~ never~ ever~ end~! The happy music kept on the same upbeat, mind-numbing melody. Balor's eye unmistakably twitched.

"I swear to God, I love 'em to death and back but if I hear that stupid song one more time---" Balor's partner snickered, putting a finger on his lips.

"Watch it. ... You look awful... please, go to bed. I'll take care of the wee ones." Balor couldn't help but smile, even if it felt pained, as he leaned in and gave his partner a soft kiss which only she knew how to return the best.

"... Thank you for everything, Beck... honestly... for everythi---"

"Nah nah, don't waste your time with the sappy stuff. Hoof it, soldier! Hya!" Rebecca grinned, lightly pushing Balor towards the stairs. He whined with a smile, waddling up the carpeted steps like a toddler being told their bedtime. Rebecca only snorted and walked into the kid's room with a handful of papers to sort through for work.

The children weren't far above the ages of 7 and 8, still young enough to be innocent in any normal circumstances. Rebecca sat down as the youngest boy leaned his head against her leg, singing along with a mesmerized sway to add to his Lotus-position seat in the middle of the room.

If~ you're~ feeling~ lonely~ today~, come along~ and throw~ your~ cares~ away~! Rebecca blinked from all the bright blues and greens on the dilapidated television screen. She knew Balor's pain with that blasted cartoon or... whatever it is. She brushed her hair back, looking through the notes of several cases. Missing children's reports. That struck a personal nerve. Sick people like this deserved only the worst. Rebecca closed her eyes tightly, her brain unable to think. What was it with this stupid show that made kids love it so much? It's mind-rotting and... creepy.

Soon enough, the title card faded away to show a cheap Mr. Rodgers-esc. set-up accompanied by the sound effect of cheering children. Sure enough, the host of the show made his entrance in a clownish fashion. He was a jolly, portly man with a dimpled smile and eyes that could never lie. His joyful laughter made his belly shake under his red turtleneck sweater, brushing off the fake paper snowflakes as he shut the door to the set behind him.