To say Roman was scared was an understatement.
It's been a week since Dean's kidnapping and there hasn't been any news on him. Roman, Dolph and John have tried asking the rest of the roster, but no one has any clue. Most are really worried about the Lunatic Fringe, agreeing what happened was too extreme. Fans took it upon themselves to try getting information, tweeting Seth and Kane about Dean's whereabouts. Seth replied to only one, and with only one word:
Gone
This caused many emotions to the Samoan. He felt angry for what happened to Dean, felt sad for not being able to save him, felt confused that so many people were willing to help him, and scared for the unknown.
Roman was currently in the hotel gym, trying to do his workout before the show tonight. But all his thoughts were about his brother.
Is he alright?
Is he injured?
Is he safe?
Is he dead?
Roman shook his head. No, none of that. He can't think like that. Dean's not dead, he couldn't be. He's fought all his life, this is just another battle. But…was it the last?
"Roman!"
Roman jumped when he heard his name being called. He looked over as he set his weights down, seeing Dolph coming up to him.
"Hey, is something up?"
The bleach blonde frowned, "Not really. We still can't get anything. Even the fans are getting mad."
"I really hope he's alright.."
"He is. I know so. He might just be hiding out and waiting for the right moment to strike as well as tending to any pain he has. I'm sure he's fine."
Roman wanted to believe that, wanted so badly to know that his brother was fine and just plotting in secrecy. But there's still that doubt, that maybe…Seth's claims are true indeed, that Dean's gone forever and not coming back. Hopefully, Seth will answer questions tonight.
Raw: August 25th 2014
Seth did not answer a fucking thing.
He and Kane came out about a third into the show, giving a eulogy for Dean. Roman was furious. Seth saying over and over how he ended the Shield, how he showed Dean whose boss despite losing at Summerslam. He put Dean in his place.
Before he could say anymore, an unexpected theme blasted through the speakers. Everyone; wrestlers, fans, and commentators alike, were confused and shocked to see Paige skip down the ramp, her new Divas championship around her waist, mic in one hand and a large, cloth covered object under her other arm.
Roman studied it, trying to figure out what it is and why she has it.
She entered the ring, smirking at the confused faces of Seth and Kane. She looked at the picture they used for the segment, shaking her head at it. She raised the mic to her lips and started talking.
"Couldn't you have used a better picture of him?" she started. "I mean, I know you hate the man, but you could have done some justice."
She quickly removed the picture from the stand and tossed it out of the ring. She took her object and set it on the stand, removing the cloth that hid what it was. What it showed is a picture of Dean from the Shield documentary, him shirtless in the desert. The squeals and cheers made Roman chuckle.
"See? All better." she sang with a smile.
"Is that the only reason you came out here? To change the damn picture?!" Seth yelped like a puppy.
She chuckled, shaking her head, "Partly, but there's a bigger reason."
She walked up to him, standing nose to nose with him. After a few moments, she slapped him across the face. His head whipped to the side, his body staggering back slightly.
"The hell?!" Seth snapped, holding his cheek and glaring at her.
"You're a heartless ass you know that?!"
Seth looked at her innocently, "What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean! You little stunt last week. You went too far. Why did you do that to him?!"
Seth laughs, "Really? I went too far? I did what I had to. I put him where he belongs."
"Beating him senseless, handcuffing him, throwing him in the trunk of a car and speeding off is not too far? That's perfectly sane to you? Is that what the Authority condones nowadays?"
"Quit it with your judging. You would have done the same thing."
"What are you talking about you little shit?!"
"I'm talking about the fact that you would do the same thing to your 'Friendenemy' AJ Lee."
Paige growled at that, "I would never do that to her."
"Let's say you two and a third Diva, let's say Tamina, formed a group." he continued, ignoring her statement. "You three wreck havoc in the Divas Division, beating the likes of the Bella Twins, Natalya and Alicia Fox. You three are unstoppable for about two years. Then, you realize you can't do much more as a group. Groups only last for so long. So you turn on the other two, wanting to be your own person. They want revenge of course, so they make it their goal to get you back for what you did. You have a match with AJ; her craziness matches Ambrose's to be honest and would be most likely to get first dibs. And by some miracle and with help from Tamina, she wins. You're mad, that was your moment to shine, your moment to prove that you didn't need them, that they were nothing but dead weight. So the next night, you get a rematch with her, but your plan is to show her who runs the place, that it was a fluke win. So you pummel her with any weapon within reach: chairs, a table, the steel steps, kendo sticks, anything. Then because you fear she'll ruin the rest of your career, you handcuff her and drag her to your car, throw her-"
He didn't get a chance to finish before Paige tackled him to the ground and punched wildly at his face.
"You bastard!" she screamed.
Kane rushed over and pulled Paige off of Mr. Money in the Bank, holding her tightly against his chest. She struggled to get free, kicking wildly since her arms were restrained.
Seth staggered over and took her jaw in his hand, laughing at her glare and failed attempts of getting free. Before he could open his mouth to insult her, Roman bolted down the ramp and speared Seth, brawling with him on the floor. Kane let Paige go to help Seth, but she stopped him, turning him around and punched him in the face.
The two eventually cleared the ring, Roman taking the mic that was on the floor.
"WHERE IS HE YOU BASTARD?! WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!"
Seth merely smirked, walking with Kane back up the ramp. Roman was about to chase, but Paige shook her head, saying it might do more harm than good. He waited for the signal for him and Paige to head back up themselves.
Paige followed him to his locker room, knowing Roman had questions for her and she figured it's only fair for him to get them answered. It's not too often for a woman to intervene like that in male segments. Actually, there haven't been any in recent memory.
"You doing okay there big man?"
He turns to her and nods, "So, I gotta ask, why did you come out tonight?"
She sighs, "Well, what he did last week was despicable. Everyone back here agrees, but no one else has the balls to do anything. I wasn't afraid; I want to beat the everlasting crap out of him for what he did."
He laughs, "I think everyone else wants to beat him up as well."
"Well, they have to get in line. And besides, I've always wanted to be in a feud with him. Now with you and Dean not protecting him anymore, and with this opportunity, I can swoop in and start shit."
"But he's got the backing of the Authority."
"So? I'm not scared of a worm and Uncle Kane. What're Mommy and Daddy going to do? Strip me of my title? Suspend me? They can't risk that with the amount of girls we have."
"I just don't want you to risk anything to help me. Dolph and John are already risking things for me, I don't want more people involved."
"Rome…" she sighs. "We want to help you. I think we're aware of the consequences, and we don't care. Don't push people away, cause we ain't leaving."
He laughed, "Thanks, means a lot."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Paige opened it to reveal a stage hand.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
"No, the Authority sent me to inform you two that you're both in a tag match against Seth and Kane."
"Both of us?" Roman asked, confused and a little stunned.
"Yes. Seth was furious with Paige's actions and wanted her in the match, not settling for her being a manager."
"Interesting." Paige started, smiling. "And I suppose there's a catch to this?"
"All they said was that if Roman manages to pin Seth for the victory, then he'll reveal what happened to Dean Ambrose."