Title: Flawed Perfection

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Angst

Pair(s): Kane/Zack, Kane/Lita

Summary: All his life, Kane has been told that he is a monster. He doesn't deserve to be loved. He doesn't deserve to live. His wife, the woman who claimed to love him for better or worse, tried to break him from the inside out. Now, all he has to live for are a child that's never seen his face and a brother who wants him to rot in hell. Kane's been taken to his limit. The heartless monster is in need of a savior like never before…

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides the child.

Warning(s): Slash, Het, Violence, Cruelty, etc.

Part: 1/? – Introduction

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"M-Mask?" A small hand stroked the contours of his red leather mask. The hand memorized each inch of leather, almost as if the skin that was hidden underneath would come to the surface from the subtle touch.

"Yes. It's a mask." Kane affirmed the child's earlier statement. He continued to allow the touch, even if it unnerved him to have someone so close to his scars. He didn't wish to alarm the child.

"Why?" The inquiry was so soft, so tentative, that he almost didn't hear it. Shockingly blue eyes flickered up and met dark brown seas of melted chocolate. "Why do you wear the mask?"

"Because…" Kane trailed off. How could he impart twenty-some years of torment on this innocent soul? The answer was simple. He couldn't. "Because I don't like the way I look underneath."

"Why not?" It was an innocent question, not meant to irritate. But it did. It crawled under his skin and made him so very uneasy. He couldn't ruin this child like he had been ruined.

"Because I'm not pretty like you are." Kane answered. It was true. The child was so very pretty, from her doe-like eyes to her soft red curls. And Kane was… well, a monster.

The child chuckled softly. "You're not supposed to be pretty. You're a man. You're handsome."

"I'm not handsome, either." Kane denied.

The small head tilted to the side. His beautiful baby batted her thick lashes at him. "Won't you take the mask off, Daddy? I want to see your face."

Kane shook his head. "Not now, sweetheart. Maybe tomorrow, okay?"

"You said that yesterday." The child said defensively.

"I don't want to take the mask off!" Kane lashed out viciously. The child flinched, because Kane had never shouted at her before. Immediately, Kane calmed down and reached out for her. "C'mere, Nell. I'm sorry that I yelled."

Hesitantly, Nell climbed into her father's arms. "I didn't mean to make Daddy mad."

Kane shushed her, before he kissed her forehead softly. "You didn't make me mad, sweetie. I could never be mad at you. Just… I swear that we'll will talk about this later, okay? Now, it's time for bed."

As if on cue, Nell yawned dramatically. "Okay."

Nell allowed her father to carry her to the twin bed underneath the window. Her black and white baby blanket was stretched out on the small mattress. Kane fell to his knees beside the bed and tucked the four-year-old in, before he tucked her soft red curls behind her ear. She looked so much like her mother that sometimes, it hurt to look at her. It hurt to remember what Lita had done to him, how she had betrayed him. Often, he wondered if Lita had ever loved him. Or had she used him like everyone else?

The Big Red Monster could still remember finding Lita in bed with Matt Hardy. The woman that he had loved, the first person that he had willingly opened his heart to after the monstrosities that Paul Bearer had subjected him to, had betrayed him. She had walked out on him and Nell. And after that, Kane had vowed to never allow anyone to hurt him or his baby like that again. For being such a horrific monster, Kane could be extremely sensitive when it came to his baby. She was the only one allowed in his shattered heart.

Kane watched as the tiny child's body nestled down in her blankets and she fell asleep. When he was sure that she wouldn't awaken for some time, he reached behind his head and unbuckled the straps of his mask. If he had his way, Nell would never have to see the horrible scars that marred his face underneath. Lita had seen and she had shunned him. But even after all this time, his heart still fluttered at the sound of her name. Kane shook his head, before he kissed Nell's forehead. Love was an overrated, idiotic emotion.

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