A/N: Alright, heres the long awaited update of this story! Its kinda rough here and there and I'm too lazy to do a final read through so pardon my mistakes. I type really fast and have long nails so I might be hitting more than one key at a time so that explains why there might be errors. Other than that like I said it might be rough here and there BUT I will redeem myself one of these days. Hope you like it, thanks.
.Of Hearts and Heroes.
Chapter 3
The best sleep he got in days was broken by the sound of a door shutting. Randy slowly opened his eyes knowing that wasn't a chance in hell that he can fall back asleep now. He automatically can smell the scent of fresh grounded coffee and the sound of it roasting in the kitchen nearby by made his mouth water. It was that morning scent he missed so very much that he willingly got up from the sofa and spotted Maria besides the front door bringing in the morning newspaper. Randy studied her a bit trying to adjust his version which was blurred out from the early morning sun that peeked through the white curtains.
Maria walks in and sets the newspaper that John reads every morning down on the bar. It took her a few seconds to notice Randy has awaken. When she finally did she gave him a cheerful smile flashing him her very white teeth and shortly says, "Oh I'm sorry did I wake you?"
Randy shakes his head. "No, of course not. Good morning by the way." He smirks noticing she still had that lingerie piece she had on last night. Gosh if this chick was single he'd screw her in a second. He really couldn't believe how horny he gets everytime a night passes and he didn't get lucky.
No that's Cena's girl, stay away from her. He thought to himself pondering in silence to think of something else other than Maria's tiny lingerie piece.
"Do you want coffee?" She sweetly asked holding up a red coffee pot breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Ooh yes, please." He answered quickly walking to the granite kitchen and taking a seat at the bar stool as Maria handed him a cup of hot coffee. "Thank you."
"Your most welcome." She says as she walked passed him and headed up the stairs. "I'll get John up for you."
"Ok." Randy says blowing on his coffee so he was able to take a sip feeling a bit relieved that Maria had gone. He took in a few deep breaths wanting to stop the jolt coming out from beneath his pants. Getting all worked up in Cena's place wasn't a good idea. His sudden horniness faded away when his eyes wandered around and landed on the newspaper Maria brought in. Anyone who knew him knew for damn sure that he wasn't much of a reader or gave a flying shit about world news but the top story certainly caught his eyes.
There on the front page was photos of two tortured humans and the headline read, "Massacre in Manhattan.' Randy quickly grabbed the paper and began to read through the article being amazed by it. The photos of the dead bodies were pretty impressive enough to have anyone lured in the article.
As his blue eyes continued to scan through the piece word by word he takes in the story and was somewhat interested in it.
"This couldn't be just a normal murder." He said to himself continuing to browse through the article. Just when he got to the bottom of it, a name got his attention, 'Stacy Keibler' was printed in bold in the fourth paragraph and his heart skipped a beat. There sat a tiny photo of Stacy's face. Huge scratch marks were planted on her cheeks and they looked similar to the ones the two bodies were sporting.
Randy stared in shock . "This has to be related. Oh gawd." He continued to mutter to himself when John came from behind him clad in nothing but grey boxers.
He came along the stairs yawning in the process and headed towards the kitchen ignoring Randy's presence. John poured himself some coffee and sat down besides Randy on the bar looking around for his newspaper when he noticed Randy scamming through it.
"If your gonna stay here with me for awhile you gotta learn the basic rules, that damn newspaper is mine in the morning." John mutters attempting to grab the paper from Randy but got his hand slapped by Orton instead.
"Back off dude! I'm reading something!" Randy spats.
John chuckles laughing to himself. Orton reading the newspaper? "Look Orton, I know your single but looking through the personals column isn't gonna land you a girlfriend, its gonna land you AIDS! Now give me the paper."
"Did you know about this?" He says turning his head to John as he pointed at the Massacre article.
John looked at where Randy's finger was and he unpleasantly met the pictures of the two bodies again. It was just two nights ago when he met the pictures for the first time and he wasn't getting used to it. It literally made him puke again, John had a sensitive stomach and cringe when it came to stuff like blood.
He stared at the article for a few seconds wondering to himself if he wanted to fill Randy in the news. The murder Shelton had discussed with him the other night had made front page news and it was for sure going to cause a mass media frenzy although he honestly didn't give a crap about it. He looked back at Randy who was waiting for him to answer. "Yeah, I heard about that." He relies back in a careless tone.
"Dude! This was like two nights ago and you didn't tell me! This is urgent man!" Randy says.
"Randy, I just saw you for the first time in five years last night and I have a life how the fuck are you expecting me to tell you about these things?" John challenges trying to get common sense back into the kid's head. "Shelton and I discussed that shit and its nothing. It isn't mutant related, trust me on that one." He explains as he takes a sip off his cup.
Randy gives John a blank look. He knew for sure John doesn't want to be proven wrong because he didn't like the feeling of being stupid. Randy on the other hand was sure this attack was mutant related. "A human can't be capable of doing this John."
John sighs slightly wanting to remain cool about the situation. He only heard of this murder twice and already it was getting on his nerves. "Humans are capable of anything."
"Yeah humans that happen to be mutants." Randy spits back tossing the paper to John's face. "Read the damn article, it mentions Stacy. She was attacked."
Stacy? John thought to himself remembering the 5 foot 11 blonde who was a part of the team five years ago. He began to wonder away again thinking if there was a chance Torrie was with Stacy. Can she be hurt as well? John quickly knocked the thoughts out refusing to feel concern for the two best friends. He had moved on with his life and didn't need to drag his past along the way.
"Sorry, not interested." John says tossing it back to Randy resulting him in jumping off his seat wanting to be away from the article.
Orton just throws him a look of disbelief. "Dude, Stacy was hurt. She was attacked last night and the police think that the attack is related to the murder. Just look at the picture of Stacy! Check out her face! This is serious John!"
John however wasn't listening . He was staring out the huge window and had his back turned on Orton. "Then do something about it. Your a big boy, you should be able to save the world yourself from evil..." John laughs trying to play it off.
"Why are you making fun of this? Two people are dead and Stacy is hurt. What the heck is so damn funny about anti human mutants? We heard of them before and now their in the city. What so damn funny Cena?"
"The fact that you, Christy, Shelton, and everyone else here thinks that there is a chance in hell that funny business is going on again. If you want to play hero with Christy and Dave go ahead. Just let me know and I'll give Christy a call for you."
Anger for John starts to unleash through Randy's gut. He couldn't believe that John didn't have the decency of a human to even care about others. He doesn't hesitate for a second and quickly got his coat off the coat rack and walked towards the door.
"Where the hell do you think your going?" John questions seeing Randy's reflection walking towards the front door in the window. He then turns around to find Orton outside the door already.
Randy gives John one last look of great disappointment and says, "With a life like yours Cena, I was convinced that you weren't longer an ass and you've changed but by the looks of it you still are that asshole."
John doesn't bother in replying back since that was the end of the conversation. He just looked on as Randy walked out of his sight and an a part of him was hoping this was the last time anyone from his past will walk in back into his life.
XxXxXxX
The busy morning New York traffic was taking its affect through the streets as people of all kind run and bump into him on the fully loaded sidewalks. Randy just continued to pranced through the streets trying to get at the end of the block so he can see what street he was in. He honestly didn't know where he was going and figuring out where the hell he was would be the first step to get where he wanted to be.
After departing from John's apartment he had a few stops in mind. First would be a any sort of convenience store so he can fetch himself a doughnut with the little money he had left. His stomach was growling to be fed since he hasn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.
When he got to the end of the one mile block he spotted a small market on the side with a bright logo of oceans and palm trees. The place looked cheap and he wasn't willing to walk up another block in search for another one so without any second thoughts he walked into the small market and spotted a familiar figure.
The young boy was in knee length brown summer shorts and a Hawaiian shirt that was supporting the bright colors on the market's logo. His hair had grew into funny afro and looked like it had a mind of its own. Randy autiomatically knew who it was.
Carlito was busy stacking up newly arrived cans of soup on a shelf when he felt a figure approach him from behind. That's when his eyes landed on Randy and he couldn't believe his eyes. The two stared at each other for a second just to see if each other was real.
Randy couldn't be any happier that he ran into Carlito. Carlito was the only guy he got along with in the team. He was closer to this kid than he was to John or Dave. John and Dave were close friends but he didn't give a damn about those two assholes.
"Dude..." Randy mutters under his breath being amazed at the afro Carlito managed to grow through the years. "Is that thing alive?" He asked attempting to touch it.
"NO!" Carlito spats backing away a bit. "No touch on Carlito's hair!"
Randy raises his hands in defeat. "Ok, ok. I won't touch your hair but I'm fuckin glad I ran into you dude because some shit is happening and I don't know if you know yet but-"
Carlito holds a hand up and stops Randy. "No need to explain. Carlito is aware of whats going on. He moved closer to Randy and whispers, "Its about the anti human mutants thing right?"
As a reply Randy slightly nods. "Carlito knows about it. Its been all over the news lately but the police is so dumb. They think its a human who did it. Carlito disagrees, he thinks its a mutant on human crime."
Randy nods again, "Dude, that's what I think too!"
"Good, then you will be at the meeting tonight right?" Carlito asked.
"What meeting?" Randy asked being confused as ever giving Carlito a blank look.
"Christy called Carlito the other day and scheduled a regrouping." He informed. "She said John was willing to regroup with us."
Randy shakes his head. "No dude. I was just with Cena, he doesn't want too."
"So your saying that Christy is doing this behind John's back?"
"Well I would say but why give a fuck about Cena when he doesn't care for anyone else other than himself and his hot ass girlfriend!" Randy says getting worked up about Maria again.
"You saw John?"
"Damn right I saw him. In fact I spent the night at his place."
"He didn't mention anything about the murders?"
"Nope not until I saw it on the paper and asked him about it. He just said Shelton and him discussed it and agreed it wasn't mutant related."
Carlito chuckles. "That's a lie. Shelton says its a mutant murder and Carlito is sure too."
"Yeah I'm siding with you guys. Cena is just being an ass like always. So anyways dude, when are we gonna have this meeting?"
"Tonight at Shelton's place." Carlito fills in.
"Cool, its just gonna be me, you, Shelton, Dave, and Christy?"
"No, I just heard that Stacy and Torrie are gonna be there also. They're going to give us inform about the mutants since they've seen them."
Randy's eyes widen at the mention of the two girls. He's been so damn concerned about their condition especially Stacy's. "Are they ok? I read about the attack in the paper. Is Stacy fine now?"
Carlito giggles. "She's wonder woman, of course she ok."
XxXxXxX
The air reeked of nothing but the smell of foul cigarettes as Carlito and Randy made their way up Shelton's studio apartment for the regrouping. Christy and the rest was already there and they were awaiting for the two boys to join them. Randy manages to put a disgusted face on as he spots pee marks on the walls. This had to be the nastiest place he has ever stepped in.
"I don't get it. Shelton's dad is a cop and they can't get a better place? I mean just check this dump out! Who the hell would want to live in a place like this?" Randy moaned to Carlito.
"Not all people have the money that you do." Carlito answered.
"Oh shut up! I'm not very fortunate anymore. I thought I told you my old man left me."
Carlito snigger. "Ha, maybe you can afford to live here then." He jokes.
"Shut up dude."
Reaching the door they knocked on it and had it opened. Dave Batista was now standing in front of them looking more intimidating than the last time they saw him. He was a lot bigger and was wearing more tattoos then usual. The two walked into the creaky apartment as Dave shut the door from behind them. There was Christy, Shelton, Stacy, and Torrie who looked like they were taking part in a heated conversation. Randy and Carlito's arrival didn't seem to disturb them at all.
"It was a Catwoman." Stacy states to Shelton and Christy. "I'm sure it was and the other one was a guy. I'm unsure of what he is but he was kind of clown like. His face bore white paint and had bright red lips. That was Torrie's description at least."
Shelton nods. "Yeah the Catwoman was probably the one that murdered those two innocent people the other night. The scratches on you are similar Stace."
"Yeah I was thinking the same thing." Randy says jumping in the conversation wanting to feel important as he took a seat besides Stacy studying the cuts on the side of her face.
No one seemed to greet him but Randy ignored that fact and continued to blab since he was aware none of them were happy to see him. "So anyways." Christy says getting off the silence that Randy caused. "Has anyone of us still have our powers?"
Carlito raises his hand. "Carlito has tried and yes Carlito still has his powers."
Stacy was next to step up. "I have my powers. I remember tossing that Catwoman with an extreme amount of strength across the parking lot yesterday."
Randy chuckles. "Yep, I have mine and I still use it too. How do you figure I can nail seven chicks in one night? With my super speed and dementional travel of course! With the dementional travel I can just about screw seven of them at the same time or maybe even more."
Everyone in the room just gave him blank stares. "That was too much information." Torrie said rolling her eyes at Randy.
"What about you Torrie? Have you tested out your powers?" Shelton asked.
"Uh yeah after the attack on Stacy last night we went back to our apartment tested me out. I still have mine although it took me forever to be visible again." She states.
"Dave and I tested our too and we're completely fine." Christy answered for her and Dave who stood behind her like her shadow.
"Ok that's great all of you didn't lose your powers because by the looks of things after you exposed yourself to being a mutant last night Stace, they're gonna come for you." Shelton informed.
"So whats the plan?" Stacy asked. "Are we just gonna sit here and let them find us first?"
"What I would recommend for you Stacy is to stay indoors and hideout. They already saw you and if you go out with us there's a chance that they will know about all of us. Mutants do travel in pacts and your the key to have us slayed. I wouldn't be suspired if they're looking for you right now."
Stacy nods agreeing. "What are you guys planning to do about this? I'm not gonna hideout forever Shelton. That's just crazy!"
"I'm gonna do some research and we'll hopefully find out how many of them are out there. So far we know about two, the Catwoman and the Joker. Trust me, there might be more. I know how anti human mutants work. There has to be more of them out in the city somewhere."
"Hiding out." Christy adds. "What do you say we have a look at some of the abandon places in the city just to hunt down their hideouts?"
Shelton shakes his head. "That's too dangerous. We can't hunt them down until we know exactly what we're dealing with here. I suggest remaining cool for now until I get my research done. Just keep your eyes open, and try not to expose yourself to them. That's the last thing you want to do."
XxXxXxX
John drives through the busy night streets on his way to work soon after dropping Maria at her new boutique. It wasn't long ago when he bought a small vacant building for Maria. He got her it for a birthday present so she was able to live her dream in opening up a boutique for her fancy lingerie designs.
Maria was a fantastic designer and he knew one day that her designs were gonna make it big in the fashion world. Buying her the place to set up her shop was the first step to make another dream of theirs come true. Although the place had a lot of work to be done to it before she can open it up, John couldn't wait till that day comes. It was about time Maria was working and pitching some cash in their bills.
Thankfully he didn't have to pick her up afterwards, she said was going to take a cab home. He didn't want to bug his boss for a break just to pick that girl up when she done with the paint job at the boutique. Plus, he needed to complete as much hours as he can. The more hours he worked, the more fatter his paycheck was at the end of a week's period. Money was all that mattered to him these days. It was the key to his happiness and it always been that way.
Parking his car in the staff's lot he entered through the back door punching in his time card to inform the damn thing he was here on time. He couldn't possibly count the times when that fucking thing screwed him over on his pays. It would say on his paycheck that he worked for only six hours when John was dedicated to working past at least eight. He made his way to the men's lockeroom to place on his uniform and soon headed behind the bar to serve another round of drinks to a flock of already drunk SOBs.
As hours passed he stood there and watched on as a bunch of them passed out in front of him. Luckily he wasn't on the babysitting duty tonight. A skinny ass fool by the name of Charlie Hass was the babysitter for tonight's shift and John couldn't help but laugh his ass off as the young Hass puked himself out as he attempts to clean the green lumpy vomit in the bathrooms. That's what this place made you do when you were new.
"You'll get used to it." He says patting Hass on the back.
When the clock struck 2 am he was free to go. He mentally gave himself a gold star for completing all his hours and that damn paycheck he was gonna get at the end of this week was worth standing here on his feet for eight hours straight with no commercial like breaks. John made a quick bathroom stop since he was gonna literally piss his pants if he didn't release the hot liquid soon. After releasing he walked out of the rest room and headed to his car to drive the path home.
He started his path in the freeway and go off the 54th exit at Manhattan street where his apartment was close. He drove through the dark paths taking a few shortcuts through allays since one straight street in New York was at least five miles long.
Going into an ally he suddenly hits the breaks when the sight of a yellow taxi cab ahead caused him to halt. The taxi had crashed into a couple of garbage cans and was smoking freely but what got his attention was the two figures surrounding the vehicle.
A tall shoulder length dirty blonde haired man sporting a pair of jeans and a leather jacket stood in front of the cab while a red haired woman was approaching the back. John tuned off his headlights quickly watching what was going on when suddenly he heard screams coming out of the taxi cab and his heart stopped. It sounded like Maria.
Without a hesitation he jumped out of the car and ran towards the cab to Maria's aide when the scarlet haired woman transformed one of her arms into a sledge hammer and whacked him upside the jaw before he can get any close to Maria. John flew at least a good 5 feet back and landed hard on top of his vehicle feeling the pain shot up from his jaw as a sting took its place on his back.
He adjusted his eyes and didn't take them off the cab as the man in the front of it opened his mouth and unleashed the longest tongue he's ever seen in his life. It was like a snake and had a life of its own. Being in an extreme amount of pain to get up John just looked on as the man's tongue shattered the windows of the cab and grabbed Maria.
Maria helplessly screams in fear as she flew a good 20 feet in the air and was swung so hard left and right. The tongue soon tossed her out of its tight deadly grip and her tiny body was soon slammed against a brick wall. John felt his angry rise as he witnessing his girlfriend knocked out cold on the ground.
The pain he felt moments ago faded away as a fire sparked inside him. His blood boiled at a tremendous rate and he was inching to kill. John quickly jumped up from the hood of the vehicle and ran like a mad beast towards the two mutants not being aware that he just released his inner power and was literally on fire.
Edge and Lita stood by in amazement at the mutant going for them. He was some of fire torch and they can feel the heat he was generating. They looked at one another and nodded heads agreeing to depart, since this was something Hunter would want to hear. Another mutant living in the city, Hunter was gonna have a feast. Lita ran like a speeded bullet around Edge and poof they were gone and John landed on nothing but thin air.
The two mutants had teleported and was no longer in sight. John gets up from the grounded dusting the dirt off his pants when he noticed that his hands were burning flames.
"No!" He yells to himself waving them around hard enough to put the flames out. Once they were out he ran for Maria who was knocked out on the side. She was bleeding from the top of her head and it stabbed John in the heart.
"Oh gawd, baby..." He says softy getting her in his arms as he placed a hand over her open forehead to stop the bleeding. "Maria, its gonna be ok baby. I'm here, John is here."
He rocked her back and fourth as he screamed for help feeling completely useless. He took one look at the cab to see that the cab driver had his neck snapped to an extreme measure. When no one came he had no choice but to get help himself. Without hesitating any longer he carried Maria back to his car and roughly drove through the empty streets to a nearby hospital. All he wanted to do now was get her some help not giving a damn that he just exposed himself to the group of anti human mutants.
