Chapter Nine: There Are Consequences
A/N: I'm trying to catch up on this week's RAW. I was practicing flute and choir music for our Solo and Ensemble Festival, so my parents wouldn't let me watch the show. I did see the result though. Brock Lesnar's gonna get his ass kicked, just sayin'. And thank you all for over 600 views, you're all so amazing! No one cares about my busy life though, so here's chapter 9, based somewhat off of the RAW after the Royal Rumble.
Roman was still in shock. He had been so close, he'd almost had it. When he heard the sound of Motorhead echoing throughout the arena, however, he was thrown completely off his game. He had survived Vince, the League of Nations, and 28 other superstars trying to pitch him over the top rope. And his undoing is an old man who hasn't been seen since he got his ass handed to him a month ago. (I'm a huge Triple H fan, I don't actually think that at all). Dean almost won, but Triple H ultimately got the upper hand and took the title. Vince had warned him revenge would come when he least expected it, guess he was right.
"I don't believe this," Roman growled, pacing in the parking lot outside the arena, "I had it. I could feel it, I could taste it, *roars* then fucking Triple H…!" Seth was sitting in the safety of their rental, trying to avoid being a target of Roman's anger. Dean, being the daring, crazy devil he is (on and off screen) chose to try and calm him down.
"Rome, you think you have issues? I'm the one who could've thrown the bastard out of the ring for that title. I was runner up, I was the one who could taste it. You-"
"YOU WEREN'T THE CHAMPION!" he screamed, now facing his brother with a face that would send any wrestler, past or present, scurrying for cover, or at least making them take a step back. Dean, of course, took a step forward. Get in your angry big brother's face and expect things to improve. Such a smart idea. "Dean, I'll only tell you once. Get out of my face, or else." Dean just smirked and replied, "Make me." The two were on the ground brawling before Seth could even get out of the car. When any of them were angry enough, they would brawl with each other to let off steam. Seth was torn between breaking it up and joining in. He chose to scream dog pile and jump on top of both of them, attempting to start a tickle fight. It did solve the problem, Roman was laughing with the other two in no time. They were having trouble talking in between laughing fits.
"S-Seth! What're ya *laughs* d-doing?! You're *laughs* n-not h-helping!" Roman choked out. Dean was enjoying this way too much. He'd, somehow someway, managed to get to Seth's feet, and was tickling him there. Seth was rolling around, trying to escape Dean's grasp and failing successfully. Roman broke away from them and watched the struggle unfold. His brothers had the strangest ways of cheering him up sometimes. This was one of those times.
"Roman! *laughing his head off* Rome, help me! I'm dyin' over here!" Seth shouted as Dean continued his torturing. Eventually, Roman went over and pulled the two apart. They'd wasted a good ten minutes out here and they didn't want to be the last three in the locker room. They wouldn't really be a part of the show until later, though, so it wouldn't really matter either way. Most of the time, everyone was in the catering area, talking in some random hallway (Roman remembered when they used to lurk in the darkest corners of the arena), or going over their lines one last time before the show. Then there were the people with face paint and props. It was a mess sometimes. By the time they got there, Kevin Owens had beaten Dolph Ziggler and The Dudley Boys had won their match against Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. The locker room was empty.
"Are we still going along with the plan?" Seth asked, directing the question at Roman since Dean had put on his headphones. The Samoan shrugged while taking off his shirt and pulling on his SHIELD vest. Dean was wrapping his hands listening to some Panic! At The Disco song. Seth was looking through his duffel for his gear when he noticed something. Roman had a pair of black gloves on, Dean was using black tape to wrap his hands. Seth had never gotten rid of his old gear, and the gloves were in his bag… "Are we gonna wear our old gear?" Dean looked at him with that face that said "Really?".
"You and Rome can wear the vests all you want. I'm good with the leather jacket and wife beater that doesn't make me feel like I'm in police gear. I tried that in my last movie and I didn't like it." Dean responded. He was humming something in a minor sounding key that seemed somewhat familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"What're you gonna do, Seth? You're not scheduled to fight tonight," Roman told him, breaking his silence.
"I'll be out there at ringside cheering you on. Where else would I be?"
"Somewhere you can't get attacked from behind," retorted Dean, "You're not going out there." He worried over his boyfriend. Most of the bruises had faded and his black eye was barely visible. His ribs still hurt, but other than that he was perfectly fine. Still, Seth, with enough convincing, agreed to stay backstage (somewhere the SHIELD used to lurk when they shot promos in the dark) unless the numbers gain of the League proved too much. Roman's ribs still hurt him a little, but just barely. He was still devastated about the night before, but he would pull through tonight. Dean felt great, aside from his taped shoulder of course. He was energized, he had both his brothers back, and he was still Intercontinental Champion. Their match against Sheamus and Rusev would be a piece of cake.
XxX (Worded slightly different from how the show went down)
The crowd was screaming as Dean took out Barrett and del Rio out at ringside. The brothers were in control and a spear from Roman was what won them the match. To top it all off, the two members of the SHIELD powerbombed Rusev through an announce table, holding their fists out as a sign of unity and victory. Seth was safe backstage, cheering for them with Jimmy and Jey by his side (probably planning a welcome back party or something for later). The night was ending on a high note.
That is, until they heard Stephanie McMahon's entrance music start playing.
Stephanie emerged, slow clapping with a smile on her face. "Impressive, boys, impressive. Now, as you know, my father and I came out here earlier tonight to congratulate my husband on becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and announce that we'd be making a match for his number one contender. It's going to be a triple threat match, and it's going to be between… Roman Reigns… Dean Ambrose… and Brock Lesnar." The crowd lost their minds after hearing that two SHIELD members could get the chance to be Triple H's challenger at Wrestlemania. Dean could unify the IC title with the title. Roman could get his title back. There's just one problem with that: Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman in his corner.
Dean's eyes went wide and Roman's eyebrows went up in surprise. The IC Champ vs. The Former WWE WH Champ vs. The Beast. Dean and Roman looked at each other, worried and skeptical. What was the Authority playing at? It's a 2:1 shot against Lesnar and the SHIELD would have the industry's biggest title in its hands come Wrestlemania. They were left standing dumbfounded in the ring as RAW went off the air, Stephanie heading backstage with an evil grin on her face.
