The Unlikely Guardian
Summary: Based on clips from Breaking Ground – Baron Corbin takes a walk along 6th Street in Austin, Texas during NXT's 3 day tour of the Lone Star State. All he wants is to lose himself in the local music scene during his downtime but a man of his stature tends to stick out in a crowd.
A/N: There are a lot of songs in this fic but there is a reason.
September 18th, 2015
Austin, Texas
Austin was the second stop on NXT's tour of Texas and Baron's first time visiting the city. He and Finn Balor put on a hell of a match to close out the show and the night was an overall success. It was exciting to tour other cities and states; to get a feel of what it was like for the superstars and divas on the main roster but it tended to leave the newbies with the sense of being a very small fish in one big ass pond.
A loner at heart; he listened to the others make plans for the night and decided to seek his own fun. He was in the mood for music and beer, and some much needed space away from the rest of the roster. Asking a few of the locals that worked the venue where the scene was – everyone answered 6th Street and gave him directions – a few blocks up the road within walking distance.
The lone wolf returned to his hotel room, showered, changed into a t-shirt, jeans, a slouchy beanie and shoes. Grabbing his wallet and key card, he left his room and wandered out into the night. The roster was staying at a hotel near that night's venue; the Austin Music Hall, and he walked the couple blocks to his destination.
As soon as he stepped foot on to 6th Street, he knew why it was the 'go to' place to party. There were nothing but bars and tattoo shops along the road with crowds of people wandering from one to another.
"You left without me." A strong yet definitely feminine voice spoke up beside him.
"Excuse me?" He paused in his trek down the sidewalk and glanced down at an attractive brunette; his eyebrow arched while he ran curious eyes over her.
She stood about a foot shorter than his 6'8" height; tall for a woman. Running his eyes down, she had about three feet of curly black hair up in a high ponytail, wore a black wifebeater showing off toned arms tattooed with Egyptian hieroglyphs, black skinny jeans and black boots. The ensemble made her bright blue eyes shine like stars and he couldn't help but notice all the right curves in all the right places during his visual inventory.
"I said you left without me and my eyes are up here, big man." She held both hands before her breasts and pointed up.
Baron swallowed his embarrassment and narrowed his eyes on the woman. "No offense but I don't know you and I'm just looking for some peace and quiet."
He gave her a grim, tight smile and continued on his way down the street.
"Oh this one is going to be fun." She threw her head back; gazing up at the night sky, and sighed before following him down the street.
"No, you don't know me but you will." Her sultry voice went up a few octaves to a sing-song tone, watching the ground as she walked until his feet entered her field of vision. "Oh crap!"
She bumped into him, bouncing off his large frame before looking up into his eyes while he towered over her.
"I don't do ring rats or stalkers, sweetheart, so do us both a favor and kindly fuck off." He glared at her; straightening up to his full height, spun on his heel and kept on down the street.
"This motherfucker here." She growled; shaking her head and crossed her arms over her chest while she watched him stop in front of the Black Dog Pub when the live rock band's music caught his attention.
"Rude!" She huffed, following him in.
Showing the doorman her ID, she exchanged a few words with him while easily spotting her target at the bar getting a drink. He was a giant among the mere mortals around him so of course; he stood out like a gorgeous sore thumb. 'That kind of thinking will get you nothing but trouble so shut that shit down.' She admonished her stray thoughts, trying to shake them out of her head. 'He is all kinds of yum though.' She sighed, admiring his tall, muscular form and his quiet strength. His soft brown eyes held a sense of distaste and attraction when he looked at her a few minutes ago and yet; buried underneath those stronger emotions, she could see sadness within them too. 'The man has everything to pull a woman in.' Waiting until he situated himself near the stage, she skirted the crowd, ordered a soft drink from the bar and set herself up to watch him from nearby.
It didn't take long before he was recognized and people drifted up to take selfies with him. She could tell his patience was wearing thin by the 7th picture. 'Learn what it's like to be in the big leagues, big man.' She grinned, sipping at her Sprite while he finally got the chance to listen to the band. 'Ruh'ro! Incoming drunk asshole at 5 o'clock.' She chuckled when the inebriated partier stumbled up and threw an arm over Baron's shoulder; instant irritation tensing up his body. 'He definitely doesn't like his personal space invaded.'
She slowly made her way closer while observing how Baron slipped the man's grasp not once but twice; his temper building beneath the surface. When she saw that arm coming the third time, she swooped up on Baron's right, grabbing his bicep and pulled him just enough out of reach of the drunk that the man stumbled.
"Hey there, pretty lady!" The drunk slurred with a dopey smile.
"Hey, slick! Look, man, I know the big guy is a celebrity and all but you're embarrassing our people by fanboying all over him like that." She slid her hand along Baron's back while she moved to situate herself between them. "Why don't you do us a favor and keep your hands off the man before he Hulk's out on the bar? We don't need him leaving here talking trash about Texans, right?"
"Okay, pretty lady!" He patted her cheek; unaware of her body tensing up or her clenched fists but Baron was, before he turned back to his friends.
"Fuck me; gross ass sweaty-palmed prick." She growled, wiping his touch from her face. "Poor you, having to decide the lesser of two evils – a ring rat/stalker or an annoying drunk."
She slid her amused eyes up to the right, meeting his confused gaze before she backed up to a high table. She could feel his inquisitive eyes on her and schooled her features while sipping her drink and watched the band, outwardly ignoring him.
Baron kept glancing at the strange but attractive woman in his peripheral vision, trying to figure out her game. Yes, she approached him outside but since he's been in the pub, she'd left him alone, only interfering in his downtime when he almost lost his temper on the touchy drunk. He shook his head; returning his attention to the stage and lifted his beer to his lips, only to have it spill down the side of his mouth and neck when the drunk returned and bumped his mug by draping his arm around his neck.
"Seriously, man…" He shrugged his arm off his shoulder, turning furious eyes on his repeat irritation but didn't get a chance to say another word or do a thing.
The brunette had rushed up, grabbed the wrist of the arm that Baron shrugged off, twisted it up behind the man's back and took him to the ground, pinning him by his captive arm and her knee to his lower back.
"Leave her alone!" The man working the door shouted out to two approaching bouncers, and Baron was stunned to see the three men go about their business without a backwards glance.
"I asked you nicely to leave him alone but can't say I'm surprised you didn't listen considering how fucked up you are. Someday you'll learn drinking this much is a waste of alcohol – if you live that long. Now say you're sorry to the nice man for putting up with your annoying ass." She hissed in his ear, yanking his head back by his hair so that he could look up at Baron.
"S-sorry, bro!" He stammered out; sobering up a bit from the pain radiating in his shoulder.
"He is not your fucking bro." She snapped at him and Baron watched the hot little brunette transform into a predator before his eyes.
"Now apologize for being a shitty representative of my home state." She gripped his short hair in her fist; a devious grin pulling at the corner of her mouth.
"S-sorry, Sir!" He turned his pleading eyes up to Baron; who fought down a grin before his eyes darted up to the downed man's friends.
"Don't be stupid!" One of the bouncers stepped up behind them, staring down the college students. "She's sober and trained. Get brave now and you'll end up on the floor lined up next to your friend."
"Apologize for your stupid friends." She shook his head lightly with her grip on his hair.
"I'm sorry, Sir."
"I was the one they were going to jump! Apologize to me!"
"Sorry, Ma'am!"
"Is there anything else you'd like him to apologize for?" She turned an amused look up at him and Baron bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling, shaking his head in the negative.
"Get him and his buddies a courtesy cab." She told the bouncer, lifting the still restrained man to his feet.
"Get the fuck out of here and learn some fucking tact!" She pushed him towards his friends and watched the bouncer usher them towards the door before glancing up at Baron. "I told you, you left without me. Do you need another beer?"
Baron narrowed his eyes on her; his mouth dropping open but no words coming out for a few moments. She arched an inquisitive eyebrow at him while he worked his way through his confusion, waiting until he sorted his thoughts.
"Who are you?" He finally asked.
"Well that was anticlimactic." She pouted; expecting something more profound after the lengthy wait.
"Alexandra Rossi." She held her hand out, frowning when he didn't take it. "You can call me Lex." She cocked her head when he continued to stare at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Okay, maybe I should ask - what are you?"
"Besides offended by that question, I'm your personal security." She wiggled her fingers on her outstretched hand; still waiting for a handshake, before giving up and letting it drop to her side with a sigh.
"It really isn't surprising why Paul picked you over Finn to assign me to. Your manners are atrocious. Can't even shake my damn hand." She rolled her eyes and strolled over to the bar with him right on her heels.
"I'm just getting you another beer and then I'll stay out of your way. You can keep watching the band. I doubt anyone will fuck with you now, drunk or sober." She waved at the bartender and held up two fingers, pointing to her Sprite and his beer.
"Mr. Levesque assigned you to me? How did I merit that?" He nodded his head in thanks to the bartender for the fresh draft, taking notice of the Sprite he slid her and turned to lean against the bar, looking down at her profile. "I get Balor since he's the champ but why did he give you to me? And since when do we get personal security?"
"Okay, first of all, he doesn't give me to anyone. I have veto rights on any potential clients. You couldn't have made that sound more demeaning if you tried. Actually, you could have." She furrowed her brow in thought before glaring at him until he uncomfortably lowered his eyes to his drink.
"You guys are touring other states now; but the traveling circus isn't as grand of a production as the main roster and doesn't merit a full security force beyond what is supplied by the venues. However, we discussed the importance of ensuring your safety beyond the venues, and certain members of your roster have been granted security on a trial basis to see how it works out and if it should be continued. Paul chose you over Finn because you're a loner and Finn hangs out in a crowd. I'm sure your sparkling personality had something to do with it too." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye with a smirk. "I'll be overseeing Finn's and your safety at the venues but you're stuck with me out in public so get used to my eyes on you. I won't crowd you though. You go do your thing and you won't even know I'm here unless someone invades your personal space."
He scoffed when she waved him off; dismissing him, and sat on the stool beside her. "My personality?"
"Yeah, you know the one that gave you that permanent constipated look on your face." She rested her elbows on the bar, shot her eyes up to a narrowed brown gaze and sighed heavily before she put on her 'business face'.
"We all know you have to carry yourself in a certain way to represent the company and interact with the fans but it is a given that you guys get tired. Tempers can flare when you're constantly badgered for photos and autographs when you're exhausted, or just want to enjoy your downtime which is a rare thing in this industry. On top of making sure you're safe, I am exceptional at gauging when you've reached your end." She swiveled her stool towards him, chuckling while she sipped from her straw.
"You might be the strong, silent type but I could see that guy's 'imminent ass-beating countdown clock' winding down. He didn't have long before you wiped the floor with him. I'm not only responsible for protecting you from others but from yourself as well. You don't want to lose everything you've worked for over a drunken fan and a short temper." She arched an eyebrow, giving him a knowing look.
"You're right; I'm just not big on strangers touching me." He nodded, spinning his mug in slow circles on the bar, and feeling significantly scolded.
"I don't blame you there. I hate being touched by people and probably picked the wrong type of work to avoid that. The upside is I can beat the shit out of them, you cannot." She poked his arm; turning her shining eyes up to him.
"I guess Mr. Levesque trusts you because you're a good babysitter."
"And because I have five martial arts disciplines in my arsenal and years of experience under my belt." She gave him a small smile when his eyes widened in wonder for a split second.
"As for babysitting, my first charge was Punk and his social disorder and temper are fucking legendary so everyone else pales in comparison. You are a pin prick in the pain in the ass department compared to him. I loved Phil though, bad attitude and all. He was a teddy bear much like the rest of you supposed bad asses. After he left, I switched over to The Shield during shows and Ambrose in public. For being in the business so long, that man is incredibly socially awkward and needed help connecting on more than a physical sense. His fangirls didn't give a shit because they'd get wet over his hotness but the company needed him to open up just a bit and not just stand there and fidget. It still amazes me to this day that he is so incredible on the mic but in person, he was so uncomfortable he'd trip over his words. Anyways, after they split up, I took on Reigns since women couldn't stop throwing themselves at him when he enters through the crowd but in public, I belong to Rollins now. Outside the arena, Reigns is a model superstar and doesn't venture out much since he's a family man but Rollins can be somewhat intense, and after the dick scandal, it was decided he needed a handler." She rolled her eyes and swatted his bicep when he snorted a laugh. "I do not handle his dick; just his shitty decision making skills, you ass."
"I just don't see it." He shook his head, leaning back and giving her the once over. "You're so fucking tiny." He chuckled, taking a sip of his beer.
"I am not; you're just a fucking Sasquatch!" She mock glared at him, smiling when he genuinely laughed.
"So why are you late? We started this tour yesterday and there was no Lex to be seen." He placed an elbow on the bar, resting his head against his fist and found himself enjoying her company.
"I am technically on vacation but Paul hounded me into interrupting it to watch over you. Don't go thinking you're special; it didn't take much to talk me into it. I get bored rather quickly but I was sick of planes and refused to drive to Houston. Austin is close enough to home to get here in a little over two hours so I told him I'd meet you here."
"So you really are a Texas girl? That wasn't some line you were feeding that asshole?" He laughed when she shook her head. "I don't hear an accent."
"Born and raised but I hate it here and one reason is the misconception that we all have that ridiculous accent. I only use it when I visit my oil wells on horseback." She shook her head when he chuckled at her. "The weather is too fucking hot and summer lasts a minimum of eight months, and that is the other reason I took a job on the road. It is nice to see more than one and a quarter seasons." She smiled; her expression turning serious when she glanced over his shoulder and shook her head no. "I think you've done enough networking with the fans tonight. The bouncers will head them off now that I've made a scene."
"Thank you." He said in earnest after looking back to see some dejected fans walk away.
"You are welcome." She lifted her Sprite and clinked glasses with him.
"You don't drink alcohol?"
"Not exactly the wisest move when I'm responsible for the well-being of other people. I also have a temper and that doesn't mix well with my skills so I took a page out of Punk's book and stayed Straight Edge even on my downtime. Alcohol plus temper plus lethal skills equals disaster, lawsuits and jail." She shrugged her shoulders and sipped from her straw.
"I was under the impression that the McMahons weren't fond of Punk. How did he end up with their prized muscle?"
"Simple; he was a cash cow. They might not have liked him or his attitude but he was great and worked his ass off. They needed him safe or business would suffer, and I took my job as his protector damn serious. I miss him something fierce." She felt a wave of melancholy sweep through her; missing her friend's presence and the fun they had on the road. "Daniel and the Shield boys carried the main roster after he left and Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose carry it now, and I'm sure you don't want to talk business while you're out on the town." Her cheeks colored slightly before she looked past him to the stage. "Why don't you get back to what you came here for? I'll make sure you aren't disturbed."
"You know, I'm actually enjoying the straight talk and not the smoke everyone else tends to blow up our asses. Everyone in Florida beats it into our heads that it is hard work but paints a pretty picture of the future. You're from here; how about we finish our drinks, check out some more local talent and keep talking?" He opened the fist his head rested on and settled his face comfortably in his palm, waiting on her answer.
"Pumping me for information, Mr. Corbin? Yeah, sure, why not." She grinned; enjoying the calm look on his handsome face.
"Will Paul – Mr. Levesque get pissed at you for revealing the seedy underbelly of the company?" He gave her a teasing smirk that barely covered a concerned expression that she might get into trouble for this.
"Oh darlin, Paul knows I won't lie to any of my clients and he particularly knows he doesn't intimidate me." She patted his arm, feeling his tension fade in those few seconds of contact. "You really should smile more often, big man. It makes you look cute and cuddly. Aww, see, there's a blush!" She laughed, almost falling off her stool an instant later when he lightly nudged her. "Damn, Sasquatch, be careful; you almost landed me on my ass."
"I'm sorry, I thought you were this bad ass MMA fighter hired to protect me." His shining eyes locked with hers over the rim of his glass; a smirk on his lips while he finished off his beer.
"You just wait until the ring is set up in San Antonio tomorrow. I'll put you in your place, big man." She chuckled, closing out her tab with the bartender. "Let's go, Sas."
She led the way to the door, reaching into her front pocket and holding up a folded hundred. "Thanks, man!" She nodded at the doorman; who nodded in return while pocketing his cash.
"Welcome, little lady! Have a nice night, Sir!" He nodded at Baron with a laugh; who couldn't help but chuckle in return given that she forced the drunk to address him so.