A/N: Greetings, everyone! Welcome to this wild story I had stuck in my head for a bit. I do hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it! More chapters to come soon, so stay tuned if you like it!
He laced up his shoes, making sure they were passing safety regulation. He fastened the buttons of his khaki shorts and looped his belt through the loops. He then pulled a large red shirt out of his gym bag then pulled it over his head and onto his body. The shirt donned a blue and white logo with the words, "Never Give Up" above the logo and, "Cenation" below it. He fit a matching red baseball cap atop his head and pulled cloth wristbands around his wrists. The man looked into the mirror above the sink behind him with determined eyes.
"It's time, Cena." Said the man obviously known as the face of the WWE, John Cena. "Rock this place!" He slapped his hands against the sides of his face and turned to walk out of his locker room door and right outside stood one of the workers who lead the Superstars to the ramp, seemingly waiting for John to come out.
"Always early." The worker said to John as they walked hastefully towards the ramp waiting area.
"You know me." John said plainly. "Just doing my job." The duo walked past Superstar tag team Enzo Amore and Big Cass en route to the waiting area. Cena gave the two men a passing wave.
"Knock 'em dead, Cena!" they heard Enzo shout while they continued towards their destination. John snickered to himself at the younger man's ever-present enthusiasm. John and the official finally made it to the waiting area where several other officials waited to do their systematic checks to make sure John properly suited. To his right near the entryway, the United States championship belt sat on a pedestal. The official looking at a display with a queue listed on it pointed to John.
"Theme hits in three minutes and counting!" He said to him. John Cena nodded and tugged at the hood of his cap.
"I'm on it." He said as he picked up the championship belt and prepared himself to make his entrance. He then spotted AJ Lee walking up to the waiting area wearing her wrestling gear. When she made it to the area, he smiled at her.
"You ready, AJ?" John asked her. The woman nodded.
"Pretty much." AJ replied. "I've got my lines and ad libs down. I just have to remember to skip around the ring this time." John laughed.
"You got that down, too." The two then heard the time keeper call out to AJ.
"Theme hits in two minutes and counting, AJ." He said. AJ nodded then looked to John.
"Let's steal the show again!"
Out in the ring, the seemingly irate couple of Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, known as the Authority, were receiving their usually heel heat from the twenty-one thousand fans in the arena that night. The Monday prior, John spoke about Stephanie and Triple H. During the end of the show last week, John claimed that Triple H and she had gone on an illogical power trip and were satisfying their own personal vendettas by subjecting the Superstars to unreasonable matches and situations. The couple snapped back at John by saying they write his paycheck and that if he wanted them to continue to write his check he would silence himself. That statement caused John to retort with the words, "We won't be silenced", and with those words, every Superstar walked down the ramp and surrounded the ring. Triple H began screaming they would fire all of them if they did not return to the locker rooms. Stephanie began screaming at John telling him to leave the ring or be fired by her personally. AJ Lee, standing behind them on the floor with the rest of the Superstars, climbed onto the apron and into the ring behind Stephanie unbeknownst to both Triple H and her as they were both facing John Cena. AJ proceeded to spin Stephanie around and hit her with her signature spinning heel kick, knocking the principle owner out. Instinctively, Triple H reached for AJ but was grabbed by John and dropped by his Attitude Adjustment. The entire arena erupted in cheers as the two faces reveled in the glory of their actions and the show went off the air.
This night, Triple H and Stephanie stood in the ring alone facing the wave of jeers they received from the massive audience. Stephanie wore a look of contentment, but anyone who knew of Stephanie's character knew that look could be worn by her with ease, as a masquerade or otherwise. Triple H, however, wore his anger on his skin for all to see. He held the microphone up to speak.
"Let's cut to the chase here because I am no mood for games." Triple H said. "Last Monday on RAW, we were assaulted by two Superstars who clearly don't know the rules, so tonight…we're gonna make an example out of both of them. You know who you are so come on out here." As the Authority stood waiting for John Cena and AJ Lee to come from backstage, a chant for both Superstars began.
"Let's Go, Cena, AJ Lee!" was the chant the crowd chanted at the top of their lungs. It seemed to irritate Stephanie as she looked around the arena.
"John! AJ!" She shouted into the microphone. "Get down to this ring right now!" Moments after her shout, AJ's music played and the arena erupted in a thunderous cheer. The cheers got even louder when AJ made her way from behind the Mini Tron with her signature skipping entrance as she held the Women's championship belt on her shoulder. Microphone in hand, the woman skipped down the ramp and around the ring, much to the chagrin of her bosses. AJ then walked up the metal stairs and stepped through the ropes before putting on her signature grin. She held her microphone to her face.
"Hi, Boss People!" AJ said with childlike enthusiasm. Triple H held up his microphone.
"AJ," He started. "We are in no mood for games. We're here for business." AJ then proceeded to make a bold statement by cutting him off.
"Well, Boss Man, since we're here and talking about business, let's talk about you guys handing out opportunities to challenge me for my…Women's Championship to women who have no business near a wrestling ring. Nikki Bella? Summer Rae? Eva Marie? Now, granted I did beat all three of them to retain my title, neither one of those bimbos deserved a shot at my championship because neither of them have wrestled a single match to earn a number one contender's spot. It was handed to them because they were in your favor, because they sucked up to both of you. Because of that, actual contenders who were and still are worthy of challenging me for my title don't get a chance. Women like Nattie, Paige, the Bella I actually hate a little less than Nikki, and almost every other woman on the roster have to sit and watch while their chance at becoming Women's champion gets handed to all the bimbos that bring you coffee every Saturday morning. I would rather fight a worthy woman and lose than fight one of your handpicked mannequins and beat them every single time, even with as much joy as that brings me." The crowd cheered immensely for AJ's fiery rant. Stephanie stepped to AJ with rage in her face.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" Stephanie nearly shouted, the McMahon rasp lining the tones of her voice as she vigorously poked at the title on AJ's shoulder. "That title is in your hands because that is what I want, and if I choose to take it from you then I will! There is nothing you can do about it because we own you and every other woman back in that locker room!" Stephanie put on her sadistic grin before continuing. "But let's get to what we called you down here for, AJ. Last Monday night, you and John Cena attacked us. You assaulted us! Now….you're going to beg us…for forgiveness!" The crowd booed her profusely. "You will beg us to keep you and beg us not to fire both of you!" AJ looked at the floor with a pitiable look in her eye as the crowd chanted 'no' in mimicry of Daniel Bryan. She then slowly lifted her microphone to her face.
"I'm sorry." She said without looking up, causing the crowd to continue to boo loudly. She then looked Stephanie in her eyes. "I'm sorry if you think I'm going to beg you for anything!" Her burst was received by a huge pop from the audience. "I've worked my entire life to get to where I am. Blood, sweat, tears, broken hearts, and failures! I've gotten through all of that, and I'll be damned if I betray myself and these people by letting you treat me like I'm one of your bimbos!" Stephanie's face filled with anger and in that rage she slapped AJ across the face as hard as she could, the force and sting of the slap causing AJ to stumble. The audience Oh'ed at the attack from Stephanie, but then immediately cheered as a seething AJ closed the distance between her and her boss. The looks on the two women's faces and their heavy breathing told everyone that the hostility was soon to reach its climax. Stephanie held the microphone up to the side of her face.
"What are you gonna do, huh?" She shouted in AJ's face as the crowd began to chant for AJ to 'slap her back' repeatedly. "Hit me? I dare you to do that again so I have more than enough reason to FIRE you!" AJ positioned herself to return Stephanie's slap, but her arm's momentum was crushed by the mighty arm of Triple H. The abruptness of the block made AJ look over at him, allowing an opening for Stephanie to strike AJ with a heavy right elbow. The elbow hit her so hard, she was knocked to the ground, and the audience replied to the Authority's actions with an ocean of boos and jeers. Stephanie threw her microphone and demanded Triple H to pick AJ up so she could strike her again. Before she could, however, John Cena's music hit and soon after, John Cena himself ran down the ramp (much to the pleasure of the fans watching the event) to save AJ from the bosses' assault. Triple H released AJ and went to attack John as he entered the ring, but was met with a barrage of punches. Stephanie lunged for Cena in an attempt to attack him, but AJ recovered from the slap and hit the older woman with a slap of her own. Stephanie fell to the ground, then John and AJ stepped out of the ring and back onto the floor, the two smiling the whole while. Their smiles faded, however, as everyone heard an unmistakable theme begin to play. It was the theme of Mister Vince McMahon. The crowd began to cheer as they had not seen or heard from Vince personally in what seemed like years. Sure enough, Vince McMahon sauntered out from backstage onto the ramp with a microphone in hand and the crowd roared with cheers for him. The four battlers looked to the ramp with shocked faces as Vince held up the microphone to speak.
"I just have one question?" Vince started before pausing for a moment. "What the hell do you four think you're doing?" His gazed turned to his daughter and son-in-law. "You two fighting employees, employees fighting you, handing out title matches, scheduling matches with injured Superstars…hell, injured Superstars! I leave you two in charge of my company and this is what you show me? This is what I have to come back to? My company in chaos?" The chairman stopped speaking briefly as the crowded chanted his name. He then pointed to John Cena and AJ Lee standing at the foot of the ramp. "And you two. The leaders of this little Superstar riot you've got going on. You've got the nerve to stand against my company and my choice of managers, granted…now I'm beginning to regret it, and rally every single employee in my books to rebel against my daughter and my son-in-law and rebel against me! I'm the reason ALL OF YOU are here now!" Vince McMahon then had an idea. "Since you have a problem administering proper authority, Stephanie and Triple H….and you have a problem with my authority, Cena and AJ…. I have an idea. An idea to end all of this…this nonsense!" Vince looked up to the ceiling of the stadium for a moment. "I'm going to add a new main event to the Summer Slam picture." The crowd began to cheer as if they knew what would come next. "It's going to be a match. It'll be John Cena….and AJ Lee…against…" Vince waited a moment before pointing into the ring at his family. "…the two of you." The crowd roared. "John. If you and AJ lose the match…you're both FIRED!" John and AJ looked at each other with slight fear. Triple H and Stephanie smiled before they heard the additional stipulation. "Stephanie. If John and AJ win that match…you're FIRED!" Triple H's face lost all hope and Stephanie's filled with disdain. The crowd roared as the chairman revealed his plan to resolve the issue between the Authority and the team of John Cena and AJ Lee. Stephanie held her microphone up to voice her disapproval.
"Dad, you can't do this!" Stephanie said. "You can't make us wrestle them. You can't make your own daughter get in the ring after over ten years." Vince popped back at his daughter's attempt to sway him away from booking their match with John and AJ.
"I can and I will, dammit." He retorted. "In fact, if either of you decide not to participate in the match at Summer Slam, I will fire you…on the spot!" The crowd began to chant "Yes" as Stephanie's eyes filled with disappointment and anger. "And I'll be watching your match to sure. Put on a good show!" That moment, Vince's music began to play and the crowd lit up once more as he made his way back behind the stage.
John, AJ, Triple H, and Stephanie had made their way backstage sometime after the commercial break began. The four began conversing about the segment with AJ, still excited about the promo she gave, leading the conversation.
"I still can't believe he gave the OK for us to work together." AJ said. Stephanie grinned at the smaller woman's excitement.
"I figured it was about time," She started. "So I pushed the idea on him until he couldn't say no." Triple H folded his arms.
"We just gotta deal with Vince's switch-swap mind for a while." He said with a bit of sharpness in his tone.
"I'll help out with that." John said. "We'll have to keep sticking it in his ear so he doesn't change it up." AJ almost broke into character and began skipping due to her excitement.
"This is going to be amazing!" She said. "Where is Vince anyway? He didn't head back here too much earlier than we did." The cameraman standing next to them spoke up.
"He's headed out of the arena." He told them. "He said he had something to discuss with Creative." Triple H huffed.
"He's already startin'." He said while he pulled his phone and began dialing Vince's number. Stephanie shook her head.
In the parking lot of the arena, Vince walked towards the limousine that waited for him to arrive. The moment he reached it, he felt that same pain he felt out on the ramp fill his chest again. It seemed to stay a bit longer, but not long enough to give Vince pause. He did, however, get distracted as he did not notice the limousine driver calling out for him to enter the vehicle.
"Sir?" Vince heard the man call out as he snapped back to his senses. Vince nodded then walked to get into the limousine. The moment he sat down in the seat, his phone rang. He pulled it out and saw that it was Triple H.
"Yes, Paul." Vince said after answering the phone call.
"You could have told us you were going to meet with Creative." Paul said on the other end. "We wanted to make sure this arc is fool-proof."
"Nothing's going to happen, alright? Stop worrying. I'm just going to discuss the mid-card plans with Creative." Vince heard Triple H sigh into the phone.
"Alright. Call us if you need anything."
"Yes, yes. Good night, Paul."
"Good night, Vince." Vince ended the call and put his phone in his pocket.
Backstage, Triple H put his phone back in his pocket. The other three Superstars eyed him waiting for an update.
"What did he say?" Stephanie asked husband.
"He said he was going to talk about the mid-card with Creative." Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Great." AJ said. "Well, I don't have anything else scheduled tonight so I'm going to go get ready to head back to my room. See you all tomorrow." AJ waved at everyone and headed to the women's locker room to gather her things. John looked to Triple H and Stephanie.
"I guess go shower and get myself ready for the rest of the night then." He said to the two.
"Gotcha." Triple H said to him. "We'll see you out there." John nodded and headed to his locker room to shower and prepare for the next segment. Triple H looked at his wife whom had a distant look on her face.
"What's wrong?" He asked her. Stephanie blinked a few times before answering him.
"Something is wrong with Dad." She said. "I could feel it out there in the ring." Triple H furrowed his brow.
"Is it serious?"
"The energy from the crowd interfered a bit, so I wasn't able to see details. I'll try to read into it again tonight." Triple H nodded. He then began to think about something.
"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if…" He stopped mid-sentence, somewhat afraid of what Stephanie's reply would be.
"Paul." She started. "I haven't been able to think about that. Shane and I have been dealing with this ever since we were kids. Linda told us that there were others like us, so I focused on finding those others. I never thought about life without my abilities." Triple H nodded, accepting the answer his wife gave him. "How long have you wanting to ask me that, by the way?"
"To be honest," Triple H started. "…Ever since I found out about it. I think about it all the time. Having to hide my power from everybody for so long made me wonder what it would be like to just be normal. I thought you wondered about the same thing." Stephanie shook her head.
"Not in the least." She said. "You shouldn't either. Being an Alpha Human doesn't mean you're not normal. It just means you have something unique about you, just everyone else does. We tell Vaughn that same thing every day, right?"
"Yeah. Vaughn's different, though. She's a child. We have time to help her understand that. It's already been instilled in me that I'm a freak. It took you to get me to understand what I really am and that others are going through it, too." Stephanie gently placed her hand on her husband's massive left shoulder.
"I understand, Paul." She said. "I do. Not everyone had parents as accepting of it as Shane and I did. That's what we want to change, you and I. We want everyone to know that we're all the same, flaws and differences aside. The same way we're getting Vaughn to understand that, we'll get everyone else to understand." Triple H smiled and lovingly kissed Stephanie on the lips.
"You're right." He said. "I won't forget that." He then grinned. "Why didn't you just read my mind to figure out what I wanted to ask you?"
"Because that's no fun." Stephanie replied jokingly. "If I read your mind, you wouldn't have told me what worries you as only you can. Sure, I can peer into your mind and know what you're thinking, but knowing how you think about it is something a telepathic observer like me can't find." Triple H lifted his eyebrows and gave his wife a half-grin.
"I guess so." He said plainly. He then looked at his watch. "We'd better go get ready. John's match should be up in about twenty minutes." Stephanie smiled and began to head to their office.