Guilt

Pairing: KOW(Hero/CC)

Rating: PG- angst

Drabble

Summary:The moment at ROH Final Battle 2006 when Hero and Sweeney leave Claudio.

"We don't need him anymore, Hero... Now come aaan!"

Your thick accent trys to pry me away from this nightmare. I stand motionless and numb on the entrance ramp, staring at his face as he stands silent in the ring.

"Let's go already, leave that bum. All he's ever done is hold you back!"

You insist, prodding and pushing and rushing me.

Despite his frame and build he looks small, alone and afraid, waiting for me to decide as the jeering fans make their presence felt.I'm shaking as I finally turn away from his pleading gaze. I can't believe it. It's finally over.This wasn't how it was supposed to end ,surely. Larry grins and I feel slightly nauseous.

His face falls as I look back, and my heart breaks, but I have to do this, don't I? There isn't a choice for us, not anymore, all paths now lead to our breaking up, our split from eachother for good.

"Hero, that's it! We're goin' all the way to the top, baby! Leave the garbage in the ring, okay?"

I let the insult slide. I never would have before.

The curtain parts as I pass through it, the calm and quiet greeting me. My breathe shakes as I let out a sigh, my fingers running through my hair as it falls over my face.

Larry smiles and pats me on the shoulder.

"See? That was easy, huh?"

It should have been easy.

I remember when he told me he was leaving, he'd got his big offer from the WWE and he was taking it. I was happy for him, a little sad perhaps, but bigger and better things right? But then you came along, and suddenly his leaving wasn't an oppourtunity, it was a slap in the face. It was an insult to everything we had become as a team. How dare he. How dare he leave US when we were doing so well here.

It would be easy to blame you for this, but I was the one that listened. I was the one that allowed myself to be controlled into your way of thinking. I was feeling vulnerable and unsure of my next step, and I reached out for anyone. It was my mistake and now I was paying for it.

'That Claudio, he's a damn traitor that's what he is. You can't trust him anymore, Hero. It's just you and me, you don't need to rely on anyone anymore.'

Yes, it should have been easy. He was the one that left me. He was the one that left our team high and dry.He was the one breaking us up, right?

So then why am I the one feeling guilty for walking away?