I paced nervously outside the men's locker room. I could feel a cool anxiousness rise in my belly and send chills through me. Mark Cage, AKA Hardcore Warrior was just about to go into a match and as his apprentice I was swept up in worry. In my pacing worry I bumped into a sweat glossed chest.
"oof! Sorry..." I mumbled looking up eye to eye with Ziggler. He stared down at me, almost looking as if he was out of breath. "um..." I backed up trying to create distance between us.
"Take it easy Kyd..." he smiled with that cocky look in his eyes. I held my breath taking more steps back, his breath was just too rancid for me to handle. Ziggler's eyes held mine as he pushed passed me making me stumble against the wall.
I couldn't take it anymore, I swallowed my pride and entered the locker room. "Cage! Come on! We gotta a match to wi-" I was cut off when I caught glimpse of Mark slumped over a bench all bruised and bloodied. "C-CAGE!" I felt my blood run cold as I knelt next to him to check his breathing. Which he was... But barely. "Cage! Come on..!" My voice cracked in desperation as I rolled him onto his back easily. His face was swollen and cut up so bad it was barely recognizable and it made my stomach turn sour. "G-god...! Who did this to you..?!" I whimpered examining the rest of his body. Mark had broken 3 of his ribs on his right side and one on the left. His back was cut up and bruised as if it been hit with great force repeatedly. Mark's knees were also bloodied and bashed and he was laying unconscious.
"S-Somebody HELP!" I cried out shaking. I needed to get help but I couldn't just leave him. Not like this. "HELP!" I screamed feeling my lungs nearly bursting with desperation. Kane was the one to answer my plea. He burst in the room looking around.
"What is it?!" his voice boomed. I didn't bother to answer, nor did I have to. Kane saw me weeping over Cage's body and rushed to get some help.
"H-Hang in there..." I managed to utter. Who could've done this! What kind of sick, I felt my heart turn to stone then merge into something hungry for blood. For revenge. "Ziggler."
I sat on the bench staring at the floor as the medics took Cage away. He was still out cold so saying farewell wasn't really necessary. Besides I had work to do, All the male wrestlers stood around the locker room discussing the incident.
"Damn! He looked pretty bad!" Kane folded his arms across his chest.
"I wonder who did it. I mean especially not getting caught! They must've snuck up on him!" Another comment roared.
"Ha... Who needs to sneak up on Cage? He's nothin!" Ziggler scoffed making his way to his locker which was directly behind me. "Hey kyd... Move, you're in my way" he glared down at me with his hands on his hips. I kept my head down low and said nothing. Just sitting there, breathing. "Kyd! I said move it!" Ziggler growled kicking my torso making me fall backwards off the bench. How humiliating! Trying to act stone hard and yet he knocks me down like nothing!
Everyone turned their attention to Ziggler and I. Ziggler's mouth turned into a pompous smirk as he stepped over me and opened his locker. I pulled myself to my feet quickly shoving myself into him.
"I know what you did!" I snapped.
"oh yeah? Tell me what I did.." he smiled, relaxed and unbothered.
"You hurt Cage you son of a-!" I yelled and launched myself at Ziggler, hands poised into a c-shape to claw and choke him, but an arm wrapped around my stomach and lifted me away from him. Miz was attempting to restrain me from clawing Ziggler to death. "LET ME GO!" I roared. "HE HURT HARDCORE WARRIOR! HE HURT MARK!" I fought against his grasp but found no leverage being held in the air. Ziggler felt no threat against me, he was so calm... So damn smooth. "I know you did it!" I screamed once more before Miz dragged me out of the locker room.
"Lycan! Cool it down will ya?!" he pushed me against the wall trying to keep me still.
"Miz! He hurt Cage! It was him!" I was out of breath by now, counting on my gasps to get out my words. The rage, the kicking and yelling, all of it wore me out.
"how do you know?" Miz stared at me hard. "Did you see him?" I looked away.
"Well no.. I didn't see it happen... But he walked out of the locker room!" I replied trying to defend my case.
"Kyd... That doesn't prove anything. Besides Ziggler will do anything to mess with anyone.. You need to cool it down and be there for Cage and his recovery." Miz was attempting to be considerate. Normally he can be a REAL jerk, but others he can be a softie... As of right now he was FRUSTRATING ME.
"You don't understand I KNOW it was him!" I stepped away from the wall.
"You saw him walk out... That says nothing Kyd! You are in no position to make accusations! Now get out of here before I have security drag you out! Go cool off!" Miz left with that "I'm serious!" warning look.
A cold reminder that Mark is still in the hospital. With his word against Ziggler I would finally have back up. What the hell am I saying? Mark is hurt and I need to be there for him. Gathering the rest of myself I made my way to the hospital and sat in Mark's room, waiting for him to wake up. The man I admired, cared for, looked up to, is laying broken before me. "I should be the one in the hospital... Not you..." I said softly sliding my hand into his. My fingers traced his knuckles lightly, his hands were warm and soft; very gentle. Next thing I knew I found my nose against his arm, resting my face against his bicep breathing in deeply. I closed my eyes drinking in his scent and drowning myself in it. I stretched my fingers along his, till they were parallel. "I'm sorry..." I whispered feeling the tears sting my eyes.
"for what?" a voice said weakly yet cheerfully. I looked up at Cage, his head was propped up and looking down at me, smiling as much as he could since his face was so beat up.
"Y-youre awake!" I stammered standing up and leaning over him.
"Haha Kyd... you shouldn't worry so much about me..." His hand rubbed the top of my hair reassuringly. And man did I just swallow it up. My head tingled with pleasure at his touch, I felt like a puppy. I loved his hands running coarsely through my hair and rubbing my scalp. It felt so nice.
"U-um... Have you SEEN yourself?" I said trying to get those thoughts out of my head.
"I look pretty handsome huh?" He smiled knowing he looked like crap.
"you're not exactly the picture of health..." I turned my head trying my hardest not to blush.
"haha it's good to see you too... Have a seat Kyd" Mark gestured towards the chair next to him. Happily I took the seat and scoot close to the bed.
"how's your head?" I asked holding his hand again, this time it was more of a I'm here for you hold rather than the previous loving hold.
"It aches... But this pretty sight is making me feel better" his smile never ceased, even when he looked upon my face, examining my features.
"Whats wrong Kyd?..." Mark's smile vanished. "You look troubled..." His hand rubbed my head once again and I rolled my eyes up in response. Oh I love it when he rubs my hair.
"well... I just... Who did this to you..?" I asked.
"you mean beat me senseless? I don't know... The one in the match I guess" Mark thoughtfully stared down at his bed.
"you mean you... Don't remember..? The attack in the locker room..?" I bit my lip.
"locker room? I thought i lost a match!" Mark's eyes were wide with surprise. Aw damn.. He doesn't even know who did this.
"So who did it?" Mark asked.
"I-I'm not sure... No one really knows" I stared down at the floor hopelessly.
"Hey..." his hand traveled to my cheek and lifted my face so our eyes would meet. "I'm fine, okay? See?" Mark smiled reassuringly.
"You're so silly you know that?" I returned the smile unintentionally. "Just rest up okay?" I stood up and leaned over him, pressing my lips firmly against his forehead. I felt him cringe.. His head probably still hurt.
"get some rest too Kyd... You almost look as awful as me" He said only half joking.
"I'll visit you tomorrow okay? Don't give the nurses any trouble now" I smiled rubbing his hair softly.
"The nurses should know better" mark laughed.
I made my way back to my apartment and sunk onto the couch. The bruises covering Mark were all I could think about - Until - I found myself in the ring once again. I was facing a new rookie chick who's name was something in latin. The woman had long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail and a gold and white mask covered her face. Her outfit was white with gold trim, spandex pants and sports bra looking top. Her arms and legs were thick with muscle. And she stood about a foot or so taller than me.
I was quick enough to dodge her explosive blows but not fast enough to find a good open area. She swung a heavy fist at me, I ducked just in time and threw myself at her belly wrapping my arms around her in attempt to knock her over. She didnt budge! She stared down at me and grabbed my hair throwing me against the ropes and taking a good 3 punches on my face and torso.
"How do you expect to protect yourself!" she spat in a swedish accent. Her hands gripped my hair and slammed me down on the ring face first. She stood over me and bent down so her face was close "when you can't even protect your mentor..." she laughed and slammed my cheek against the ring hard.
"Y-YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" I growled and reached behind me grabbing her shoulders and flipping her over me. Instantly, I stood up and threw my body down on her pinning her chest and face with my foot, while her legs were pinned by my arms and torso. She kicked me off with ease and stood up panting. I pulled myself up shaking now.. A hand reached out to me from beyond the ropes.
"I got this!" he yelled. I didn't know this was a tag team. I grasped his hand tightly pulling him into the ring when i realized.
"Ziggler?! " I whimpered. He smirked grabbing my hand so tight it began to crack. My eyes widened in fear and pain.
"Haha cage isn't around to protect you brat..." Ziggler stepped towards me backing me into my opponent who wrapped her arm around my throat and coiled her legs with mine. Ziggler began throwing punches at my stomach and occasionally beating my face. He smiled twistedly, then grabbed my throat. The woman released me allowing Ziggler to lift me by my throat and throw me out of the ring. I crashed into a table. "G-GAH!" I cried out trying to push myself up but found little to no strength to do so. Next thing I knew WHAM!
A chair smacked into my head and back.