Nothing
A shot at the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.
Finally the championship, the rank, the status and everything that came along with it had been so close he could taste it. He should have known, he should have truly considered the consequences. The haze of blood and rage and the taste of the championship belt had made him blind. He should have known.
You know the stipulation, and you gave your word.
Now take that mask off!
What a fool he had been. Everyday, every night, every year, minute, second, for an eternity he hid behind the security of his mask. It served as more than just an object that covered his features. It also contained his essence, provided as his emotional crutch. He -needed- the mask, like an addict to a drug, to feel whole. Without it, he was not Kane. Without it, he was nothing.
Now, because of a fleeting lapse of judgment, he was forced to throw away the one thing he had left to cling to.
His hair had fallen in front of his face, and for a fleeting moment he gazed upon it. Had he not been afflicted by the fire, the hair style he preferred would have been possible. But the scars made even those wishes, like all others, nothing more than a faded dream.
Yes, without the mask, he was nothing.
He should have known.
Like everything else, bliss always managed to escape him. Time and again he reached out to become something better. Time and again he would be forced to see himself as he truly was. A monster in a world that had no place for one.
Rob…
His presence had always brought the big man comfort. So sincere and confident, when they were together it felt as if anything could be overcome.
Even at that moment, destroying every part of Evolution, Kane almost lost himself in the comfort of his friend's company. For that single moment, it felt like everything was going to be ok.
He should have known.
He gave his word, and he understood the stipulation. There was nothing to save him from that terrible Fate.
It was never going to be ok again.
As he slowly removed his mask, in his mind's eye he saw the audience's cheers and chants evolve into screams of horror and disdain. Like the people of his youth, the eyes of the spectators burned holes in his now exposed soul. Turning to face RVD and looking into his wide, hazel eyes, the silent accusation was too much for the big man to bear and his psyche finally snapped under the pressure. Having been taught no better alternative, Kane did the one thing his shattered mind could conjure - lash out.
Having nothing else to destroy, Rob was the unfortunate victim of his rage.
Looking down at his partner's broken form sprawled upon the hard canvas, tremors of hate and despair threatened to tear Kane apart.
Rob had abandoned him, the fans that had cheered so strongly for him had abandoned him. Once again, he was alone.
But this time, he didn't even have his mask to cling to.
As he gazed upon the crowd that now loathed him, Kane felt his sanity slip away.
He was now as he had always been.
Nothing.
Author's Notes: While Slow Chemical will continue as if the events of the past two weeks never happened, nonetheless I was inspired to write this fic. Kane's recent actions made me wonder what in the world he must have been thinking (referring to the character and not poor Glenn, who must have been given one hell of a raise to shave all of his hair off and take his mask off like that) at the time. This fic was meant to go into in thoughts and emotions at the time his mask was removed. I hope you liked it, even if it is short. ;)