Summary: When Trish makes an un-official alliance with Evolution, Lita is seemingly left to fend on her own. Or is she?
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I'll say it once: Anything that you recognize does not belong to me.
Notes: Nothing that hasn't been said before..and yes, I am taking into consideration that Gail, Nidia and Jazz have all been released. I'll work that in someway with the plot. My time sense is off slightly, but what else is new? Just use some imagination, enjoy the chapter and please review.
Thank You: aussiewrestlingfan, moonchaser1, Lucy, huntersgirl, HARK5291, Latisha C., randy-lover-4ever, Emma, LadyWolfBane and Professional scatterbrain for the reviews.
PS: As far as pairings go, I have them laid out in my mind but the romance really isn't the primary focus of the fic. I'll let y'all know as soon as I've got them finalized, so..enough with my rambling, on with the fic!
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Chapter One: Ten minutes, eh?
Lita re-shouldered her gym bag as she stepped off the elevator; idly questioning both why Chris had given her a ride back to the hotel and why Vikki was so dead set on going out. Slow steps took her to their shared hotel room, the redhead figuring she'd at least get the answer to one question soon enough. A hand came up to release her hair from the confines of the sloppy ponytail, as the other grasped the door knob. As expected, Victoria hadn't taken the normal security precautions; allowing the redheaded diva free entry into the room. She sighed audibly, kicking the door shut behind her as hazel orbs swept over the slight mess on the floor. One glance to the closed bathroom let her know that Vikki was showering, and the outfit pointedly left on Lita's bed garnered an annoyed huff. From the looks of things, the raven haired diva had gone on a borrowing spree in either Lilian's closet or Nidia's. Upon closer inspection, the redhead wairly recognized the black open backed, cropped halter top as Nidia's..and the short, flared red skirt as Lillian's. She tsk'd when she noticed a pair of high heeled boots also belonging to the petite blonde, and the redhead really began to wonder as to what Victoria was up to. As it were, she wouldn't have to wait long as the raven haired diva emerged from the bathroom, clad in her bathrobe.
"Care to explain this?" Lita raised a brow, a hand sweeping over the outfit laid out on her bed. "I have my own clothes you know.."
Victoria shrugged in response, moving to the dresser. "I know..but I figured you could use a change."
Lita rolled her eyes at the other woman, yanking her sweatshirt over her head. "Whatever Vikki, but I swear. Between you and Chris? I best have some answers by the time this night is over."
It was Victoria's turn to raise a brow, as she turned..her own chosen outfit in hand. "Well, I think Trish is wrong; claiming you have chub..and that particular outfit."
"Will portray to the world that I'm easy?" The redhead offered crisply, moving to pick up the top. "I mean, really Vikki..you know my style and this is not it."
The raven haired diva only shrugged again, absently mentioning that Stacy had also loaned one of her jackets.
"Chris, Maven and Orton are meeting us in the lobby, by the way." Lita mentioned distantly as she yanked the halter top over head. "Are Lil and Dia still.."
"Yup," Victoria confirmed, tugging on her pants. "Chris opted out, or he would be coming too..so it looks like it'll be the four of us and the guys."
Lita nodded then, perching on the edge of the bed once she had gotten the skirt on. "And where are we going?"
Victoria shrugged, meeting her friends gaze as she turned her attention to the mirror above the dresser. "Lil has the name..and the directions so I guess we'll find out in the lobby."
"Typical," was all Lita offered in response, a wry look sent to the high heeled boots. "So tell me mom, can I at least do my own make-up?"
The raven haired diva rolled her eyes, leaning forward to begin her own make-up procedures. "Just lay easy on the pink lipstick."
The redhead's nose scrunched..both at the thought of pink lipstick and at the thought of walking around in the high heeled boots. "So tell me Vi," Lita shifted the topic; tugging on the boots. "Why the sudden change of heart on going out?"
Victoria turned slightly, her mascara wand poised in her hand. "I'll let you know when we get to the club."
Lita groaned in annoyance, tentatively standing to join her friend at the mirror. "Why do I not like the sound of that?" She shook her head slightly at Victoria before she ducked into the bathroom. "I'm gonna need a hand with my hair.."
Victoria nodded in confirmation, turning her attention back to her own makeup. Truth be told, the raven haired diva only wanted to get Lita out and about..take her mind off things. But, after she had overheard Trish. Victoria scowled slightly at the memory, near ruining her eyeliner..but she recovered enough when there was sharp knock at the door. With a slight sigh, the raven haired diva took the time to perfect the eye makeup before heading to the door. A brow raised as she flung the door open, questioning why Lillian appeared..and in track pants and a tank top. She soon found out that, Lillian was also opting to stay in and had just stopped by to drop of the name of the club, a few others and general directions. The blonde ring announcer gave her well wishes to the raven haired woman before she bid her farewell.
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"You know, we could be prepping for next week." Randy Orton pointed out--for the third time-- as he brushed off his suit jacket sleeve. "But no..you just had to say we would go."
Chris Jericho raised a brow, sending a wry smirk to the younger wrestler. "You know..you also coulda said no. And might I point out? You also took the longest getting ready."
Randy rolled his eyes in response, absently checking his reflection in one of the lobby's mirrors. "Yeah, whatever..so long as we don't stay out too long."
"Okay dad," Chris shook his head, sending another glance to the elevators. Lita had called ten minutes prior, promising that Nidia, Victoria and herself would be there soon. They were already two minutes past that and still no sign, the blonde wrestler let out a sigh; flopping down into one of the wingbacked chairs. "Considering that they aren't even here yet? We may never get there at this rate."
"Well, it's going on.." Maven sent a glance down to his wristwatch, "10:45 right now..so, hopefully they'll get here soon and we can be on our way."
Jericho nodded, flicking a glance to the elevators. "I should probably go call a cab or two."
"Why bother?" Orton sent a glance to Chris as he perched on the arm of a couch. "Just give me a few..we'll have the limo take us."
Chris chuckled, "I knew there was a reason why I tolerated your pansy ass."
Orton kindly gave Chris the one fingered salute before he whipped out his cellphone. Maven just shook his head, used to this kind of banter by now while Chris leafed through a magazine. And, by the time Randy had made the necessary arrangements; there was still no trace of Lita, Victoria or Nidia. And so, they settled in a little while longer. Five minutes passed, and Maven was looking through the magazine Chris had abandoned. Randy was still perched on the arm of the same couch, while Chris was preparing to call Lita. He was just dialing the redhead's cellphone number when a familiar laugh just reached his ears.
...
"Finally," The blonde man muttered tossing the cellphone in his hands back to Randy. "Ten minutes she says." He rolled his eyes, standing to greet the trio of divas exiting the elevator.
Maven glanced up from the magazine in his hands, following Jericho's gaze to the three. "It's about time." He also stood, standing off to one side of Chris.
"Ten minutes eh?" The blonde man rolled his eyes as Lita stood before him. "Your sense of time is really off Li." He nodded in greeting to the other two, taking the time to absently look over the diva before him.
Lita rolled her eyes right back, near eye level with her friend. "I'm hurt, Chris. I took the time to dress up just for you and this is the thanks I get?" She sighed over dramatically, playfully pinching his cheek.
Chris's eyes softened momentairly before they twinkled with mirth. "Well it was worth the wait then..you look stunning."
The redhead took it in stride, the compliment rolling easily off her shoulders. "Yeah whatever..blame her." She sent a pointed look to Victoria before glancing back to the blonde. "So, are we ready to go?"
"We were just waitin' on y'all." Maven put in kindly, also eyeing the redhead before he nodded in greeting to the other two. "An' Chris is right, you look great Lita."
"Well, seeing as how I just made it to the elevator without tripping? I highly doubt I'll be doing much more than just sitting at the bar." She shrugged absently, hazel orbs flicking momentairly to the pair of eyes gazing at her before she turned her attention back to Chris and Maven.
Victoria rolled her eyes at the redhead, linking arms with Nidia. "Lil's staying in with Benoit, so I've got the directions." She inclined her head a touch towards Jericho. "Did you call cabs?"
Chris cleared his throat, effectively shaking Randy from his momentary daze. "Actually, Orton here still has use of the limo, so.."
Victoria raised a brow, before sending an appreciative grin to Orton. "Well, we're heading out to the Warehouse District..Lil recommended a few places and their all open late, so.."
"Limo's out front and ready to leave whenever we are." Randy Orton finally entered the conversation, straightening his suit jacket as he joined the others. "So, if we're all here then--"
"Let's go," Lita broke in, impatient to finally get moving. "Because really, I'm so looking forward to making a fool out of myself."
"Ah, but darling Lita." Chris dropped his arm playfully over the redhead's shoulders. "You do that every night."
Lita rolled her eyes, veering the man and herself towards the exit. "Yeah well, not always in four inch high heeled boots."
Chris chuckled good naturedly, keeping his retort at bay as they made their way out. Maven offered an arm to the remaining diva's while Randy followed behind.
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When everyone was finally settled in the limo; Lita took a glance around. Chris was to her right, Victoria to her left. Randy sat directly opposite her with Maven and Nidia on either side. And, just as the limo was pulling away from the hotel--and Lita was trying in vain to tug her skirt down--the redhead smirked slightly at the man across from her. At his slightly confused look, she merely shrugged before replying.
"Just thinking, twice in one night I've been in a limo." She quirked a lopsided smile, leaning back into the cushioned bench. "I could almost get used to this."
Orton grinned in response, stretching his legs; the tips of his shoes coming to rest just near Lita's feet. "Glad to be of some service."
A tiny smirk tugged at the corners of the redhead's mouth before she replied, "Well, for what it's worth..thanks. After the hellacious night I had? I really needed something like this."
He shrugged it off, smiling easily. "You're welcome..and welcome back to the ring by the way."
It was her turn to shrug, "Thanks." She settled back further; hazel orbs fluttering shut for a moment as the limo came to a stop. "Hey Vi?" The redhead sent a sideways glance to the raven haired woman. "What's the name of this club?"
The dark haired woman checked the slip of paper in her jacket pocket, before she answered, "It's called Heaven. There's another club underneath it called Earth though..Lil mentioned we might want to check out that place first."
Lita nodded at that, tucking a wayward curl behind one ear. "That works for me, but honestly..where do these club owners come up with the names?"
Victoria shrugged, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in her pants. "80's songs?"
That launched a conversation between them all as the limo continued on through the streets of Cleveland. Despite the fact that the girls had been late, the night was starting out fairly well. Of course, the discreet flirting between Randy and Lita hadn't gone un-noticed by Victoria..or Chris for that matter. Both, however, filed that little bit of information away, to be used later; after they had discussed the more important matters in one case and just seen to a friend having a good time in the other. And, just as their limo pulled up to their destination, another limo was pulling up a few blocks ahead. Unaware to Gail Kim, Carmella, Trish Stratus, Ric Flair and Batista exiting; Chris Jericho made his way out first, followed by Nidia, Maven and Victoria. He was preparing to help the redhead exit, but another body took over that task. Blue eyes looked on, an amused smirk on his face as the blonde man watched Lita accept Randy's helping hand. His smirk widened when the redhead actually blushed at the gesture, but he shook it off quickly when hazel eyes narrowed dangerously in his direction. He offered a sheepish grin before following after Victoria, Nidia and Maven. And so, with their enemies just a few blocks away; the six entered the club fully prepared to leave their troubles in the ring behind.