Title: He Thrusts His Fists Against the Posts and Still Insists He Sees the Ghosts
Author: Emono
Rating: FRM
Fandom: Wrestling
Pairings: John Cena/Jack Swagger, Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes, Miz/Morrison, Chris/Evan, Hardycest
Disclaimer: The WWE is not mine nor are any of it's child branches, it is the 96% property of the McMahon's and God bless the bastards that work for them. I respect the sexual preferences and identities of all the wrestlers on WWE roster, and who they share a bed with is really none of my business.
Beta: gil_follower
Warnings: Character changes, slash, wrestling violence. Spoilers for July 20th episode of RAW. Also vague spoilers for the July 13th one.
29: Representation
The Seth Green hosted RAW had been scripted to the letter. The fights had been planned out carefully, for no one wanted to hurt an innocent civilian. Some things had been a surprise, but it was scripted. It had been a while since they had done a show like that, and some people had to hold themselves back a bit. Hunter did for sure, but that didn't stop him from picking Cody up like a doll and holding him in the air.
Jack specifically remembered just covering his eyes and saying over and over, "For the love of God, put him down. Put him down. Put him down. No, wait, don't put him down!"
Even Miz had winced.
But this next episode, with the amazing Z Z Top hosting, was just a bundle of surprises. John had been chosen to introduce the hosts at the beginning, and he couldn't have been more excited about it. He went out and talked about the band, got the crowd riled up, and talked about Night of Champions.
Then Jack watched with wide eyes as 'Voices' played and Randy came out with a menacing look and the Championship belt. There was some bragging, some bringing up the past, and the crowd chanted John's name. John taunted Randy a bit about his music, and went on about the fans. A challenge was made, and the mics were dropped.
Jack was sure a fight was gonna break out, but then Ted and Cody appeared out of the crowd.
"Jesus!" Evan swore from beside him "Goddamn Legacy!"
Jack tensed, "I swear to God, they start something, and I'm going out there."
"Maybe Hunter is gonna interfere" Evan offered.
Miz shook his head from his other side, "Uh, guys, sorry. But Hunter ain't gonna be here for another twenty minutes. He knows about the fight the band planned out, but he had a thing about his littlest girl Murphy having a bad fever or something."
"Oh shit" Evan kept his eyes on the screen "Legacy isn't backing down, man."
"I'm sure someone will take care of it, right man?" Mike went to nudge his friend in the shoulder, but was met by pure air "Hey?"
Mike turned around, brow creased, "Uh…Jack? Jack?"
Evan turned around as well, "Where'd he go?"
-xXx-
John looked between the three members of Legacy, he hadn't really thought it would happen like this. He'd just expected Orton to threaten him, back off, maybe even chase him out with an allude to how Orton should stop picking on people smaller than him. But now with DiBiase and Rhodes flanking him, and Randy glaring him down, he knew there would be some trouble. He kinda wished Hunter was here with him, which is what he had almost hoped. His freakin' kid getting sick was a mis-sight on his part.
John stripped off his shirt, giving them 'come-on' gestures. He was gonna give this crowd a show.
They started to get inside the ring, he tensed.
Check one-two, oh yeah! Ungh!
A montage came up on the screen, lights going off.
John knew that music anywhere, and it pissed him off. Not only had they agreed at the very start of this relationship not to interefere, Jack was hurt and in no condition to take on the likes of Legacy. If he busted his stitches, so help him God.
I got you where I want you
Your clock's run out of time
Cause you know I know you
And I show you, that the heat you feel is mine
Jack Swagger emerged from the entrance, the crowd growing wild. The only thing that told John that his lover hadn't planned this was the ivory button-up flowing over his torso, he didn't even have his black armguards on. But he came out, grinning, beating his chest and giving the crowd a half-assed salute that made them roar in approval.
Then the blonde came down the ramp, glaring down Legacy.
Yeah, fear grips you, and it rips you
And you question what is truth
So consider me your preacher, come to explain it all to you
Get on your knees!
Jack pointed down at the ground, mouthing the words tauntingly.
Get down on your knees!
Randy eased off the stage, not even looking at the blonde as he made his way past Cody.
"We're bailing" Randy hissed in his lover's ear.
Cody walked backwards, still keeping his eyes on Jack as he made his way towards the ring, "What? Why?"
"Because he's not cleared to wrestle tonight because of what I did" Randy kept his voice too low, walking around the other side as the blonde climbed into the ring "If we hurt him, he can go straight to Vince."
"Fuck" Ted heard that last part, heading toward the ramp with the others "You just had to loose your fuckin' temper, didn't you?"
Cody glared, "Shut up, Teddy."
I'll bring you to your knees!
On your knees!
The music died away, and Jack was given a mic by the lovely Lillian.
"Thank you, pretty-babe."
She blushed.
Randy reached the front of the ring and eased his belt off the surface, glared down by both Jack Swagger and John Cena.
"Randy" Jack grinned, pointing at them "You and the girls weren't gonna try and start a fight with John all alone, now were you?"
Randy kept his mouth shut, knowing if he touched the little brat he could get suspended.
"Now, I didn't come out here as Team Cena" Jack admitted, holding up a palm in sublimation when John frowned at him "And I didn't come out here as Pro-Legacy either. I think we all know about the soon-to-be infamous match coming up on Night of Champions. Am I right?!"
The crowd roared for him.
"So who are we missing here?" Jack asked rhetorically, counting "Cena, Orton, Rhodes, Million-Dollar Brat…oh! It's Triple H."
Ted growled a little, but Randy gave him a brief look, "Cool it."
"Now I -even with my personal preference- don't believe you two butting heads out here is fair" Jack stood in the middle of the ring, pointing at himself "So I'm out here as a representative for…The Game."
The crowd went fuckin' nuts at the dark tone he put in Hunter's title.
Randy brought the mic up to his lips, "You? Spotting in for Triple H? A brat like you shouldn't meddle in the affairs of Legends and Legend Killers."
The implication wasn't lost.
"Oh yeah, the Big Bad Legend Killer" Jack scoffed "Please, Orton, spare me. And after what happened last week, I can't be scared of you. Picking on people half your size, it's not nice. I mean, of course…with Seth Green. Ya know, Seth Green?"
Randy nearly twitched.
"Seth Green, bless 'im" Jack shook his head, holding out his hand to about his hip "Who's the size of a…a…"
"Hornswoggle?" John offered.
"No, no, he's not nearly as heavy" Jack stated thoughtfully, lowering his hand "He's the size of a…"
John intersected again, "He's like a Hobbit."
John looked over at his lover, a deadpan look on his face, "Yes, John, like a Hobbit."
John grinned.
"Ok, so Seth Green is like the size of a Hobbit" Jack assured the crowd, who had laughed, then glared back down at Orton "The point is, Randy, a small little man punk'd you out last week."
"You think I…do you think we were embarrassed?" Randy asked.
John narrowed his eyes, "You should be."
The five wrestlers knew the dark meaning behind those words, that the 'Seth Green' jab was an allude to how Orton had cornered Jack in the locker room and knocked his head into the mirror. It was a rough jab, because it pissed Jack off that he had lost his chance to fight with Yoshi, something he had really wanted.
"This Sunday -- something that doesn't involve you, Swagger" Randy folded his belt over his shoulder "History-"
"Doesn't involve me?" Jack cut him off angrily "How many blows have you taken to the head recently, Orton? If you don't remember, I'm up for United States Championship this Sunday. So don't treat me like a kid…I'm a contender."
The crowd cheered in response.
"What I was saying" Randy sneered "History is going to repeat itself this Sunday, but not tonight. Triple H and Cena have a match against Legacy…well, I want in on it."
Jack tensed, feeling the weight of the phone in his pocket more acutely now.
"It'll be John Cena and Triple H against Rhodes, DiBiase…" Randy locked his eyes on John, sparks flying between them "And me. What do you say? You accept?"
John glared down and put the mic to his mouth, "Well played, Randy Orton, well played indeed."
Jack cocked his head at his lover.
"You, oh look at you…" John pointed at the man "Underneath that anger management problem is a true evil genius. You see…you see, you just put yourself in this match because you know that if you're in the match, there's no way Triple H and myself can co-exist."
Jack shrugged, "Can't happen."
"It's because each of us we'll be so concerned about making a statement with Randy Orton…there's no way we can work together."
"The clash of egos would be too great" Jack added.
"You've done such a good job at sabotaging this great main event, us accepting this match tonight?" John began to pace the ring, addressing Orton but not really "It defies all science, it defies all logic…I even asked the magic 8-ball, and it said ask again later, but I'm sure it defies that too!"
Jack put the mic away from his face, closing his eyes and trying to suppress laughter.
"Ok, John, put your 8-ball away" Jack gestured his lover to calm down for more show than really meaning it "As The Game's representative, I believe he should have a say in this little addition."
Jack pulled out his cell phone, showing the crowd. They liked where this was going. He made a show of dialing in the number, getting a confused look from John.
"Are you calling him?"
"Shh! I'm on the phone" Jack snapped, getting laugher from the crowd "People are so rude."
Jack held it up to his ear, listening to it ring. He kept the mic close to his mouth.
"What?" came the rough tone from the other line.
"Triple H? It's Jack Swagger, your unofficial representative of the moment" Jack replied quickly, knowing the man would hang up "There's been a change to your match tonight."
"Swagger? Oh fuck, this can't be good then. First, how did you get my number? Second, where are you?"
"Why, I'm in the ring with one John Cena and a pissy Legacy glaring at us" Jack replied, giving Randy a wink "It seems Orton isn't happy that he's being left out of your little game, and he would like in. How 'bout it? Do you think he's been good?"
"Let me get this straight. Orton wants to join the tag-team match?"
"Yes."
"All of Legacy against me and Cena?"
"Yes."
"You're not going to show up in the middle, are you?"
"No" Jack looked over at his lover shyly, lashes fluttering "I promised Johnny I wouldn't interfere in any of his matches…anymore. So what do you say, H? You gonna let Randy in on the fun or not?"
"What does Cena say?"
"What do you say, John?" Jack carried on the message "The Big H wants to know."
"I say there is no good reason on this green earth that the two of us should fight the three of you" John stated dramatically "We would simply self destruct."
Hunter scoffed on the other line, "Tell the little princess I accept."
"But, despite that…" Jack looked at his lover, nodding slightly.
"Request accepted" they chimed together.
The crowd went crazy.
'The Time is Now' played over the speakers.
John gave the retreating Legacy a 'you can't see me' gesture, grinning the entire time.
Jack flipped the phone shut and shoved it into his pocket. He leant against the ropes, giving Cody a smug grin and waving his fingers at him. The younger man didn't look angry or upset, just neutral. He understood as well as Jack did, what went down was wrong.
There would be repercussions, they just didn't know what it would exactly.
30: Going Against Your Conscious
Jack had a match tonight, and he was going out.
"Ah, hell no" John spat "There is no way you're going out there tonight. The doc said to stay out of the ring for a week. That means no RAW."
"It's just two cuts in my head, it's not like I had internal bleeding or broke anything" Jack replied flippantly, shimmying into his jeans and buttoning them "My hair hides them. And I can't really be excused from a match with a wound that's not supposed to exist, can I?"
"It doesn't matter" John protested "Your health comes before wrestling."
"John, I'm on in ten minutes, I'm going" Jack sat down on the bench, pulling on and lacing his wrestling boot "The only thing I can foresee that would rip my stitches would be getting slammed down on the mat. Obviously, since Big Show's on my team, that won't happen."
"But-"
"I'm up against Primo and Kofi, for God's sake, I'll be fine" Jack pulled on his other boot and hurried to lace it "Ok, so MVP will be harder…but I started this little back-and-forth with him, I can't pussy-out now."
John's brow creased, wondering when his lover did that, "Uh…what did you say to him, again?"
"I said that I was the MVP of Monday Night RAW" Jack stated, almost sounding innocent "He got a little mad, whatever. I could match him in strength before, but I bet my new speed will get 'im."
Jack tapped his heels against the floor, then snatched his black arm bands off the bench.
"Besides…" he gave his lover a wink "You've been helping me with my flexibility. I can almost do a DDT perfectly. A few more strenuous sessions, and I'll have it flawless."
John raised a brow, "You can't learn a DDT from what I teach you."
"Well, Jeff Hardy and Morrison, sometimes Mike" Jack admitted, getting a weird look "What?! Jeff is the king of aerial flips, besides Evan. And have you seen Nitro move? He's a fuckin' snake, man. And he teaches a lot of what he knows to his little Monk of Mojo."
"Ew" John closed his eyes, grining his palm into them "Don't call him that."
"Aw, but I love my Mikey" Jack faux-pouted, teasing his lover so badly he saw his eye twitch "But not nearly as much as I love my Johnny."
"Don't call me Johnny."
"I'll see you later" Jack smoothed his armbands along his forearm, then walked over and dropped a peck on the older man's cheek "I'll be fine, ok?"
John watched him go, just fucking knowing any kind of match with the Big Show wasn't going to go well.
31: Last One Standing
There was a another reason Jack refused to skip out on this match. He would be facing most of these guys in Night of Champions anyways, he had to get a feel. It would be good practice. And with Big Show and Carlito on his side (what with that whole brother fight going on), how could he loose?
Jack went out there, riling up the crowd and beating his chest and just having fun with it. He saw MVP and mouthed the words 'you want some of this?', but from the look in the man's eyes he shouldn't really be playing around.
Everyone got out there with their appropriate songs and show offs.
Jack found himself in the ring first of his two partners, Kofi on the other side. The black man could bounce like he was on air, but he was no high-flyer. And Jack had kicked Evan's ass before.
Jack took Kofi down the second he got the chance, not wanting to get a flying kick to the head. He almost got pinned, but he kicked out. Somehow Kofi locked his head in his arms, keeping him bent over. Jack struggled, but found himself double-teamed by Kofi and MVP. They swung him into the ropes like a doll, and he managed to duck their double-clothesline the first time around.
When he went back, he got picked up and slammed down face-first into the mat. He got the breath stolen out of him, but it was a blow to his abdomen more than to his head. He groaned and tried to recapture his breath, rolling over onto his back. When he cracked his eyes open, he found MVP standing beside him.
//Shit!//
Too late, he got a 'ballin' to the chest, a fuckin' elbow in his ribs. He took the blow, Carlito grabbed his leg and pulled him out of the ring and out of harms way. They both landed against the fan wall. MVP pointed at him from the ring, but Jack wasn't having any of it.
Big Show came around the ring, looking pissed.
"Come on!" he barked.
Jack scoffed, "I don't owe you nothin', man."
"What the hell did you say?" Paul advanced, getting right in Jack's face. He stared down the man, but found he didn't quite reach his eyes. The blonde just held out his arms, giving him a what the fuck am I supposed to do? look.
Then he spotted Kofi climbing the turnbuckles.
"Oh crap."
But Big Show caught him like was nothing.
"Move!"
And Jack did what he was told, ducking under the man's arm and out of the way.
Big Show slammed Kofi into the fan wall, the blonde winced and turned his head away.
//Damn, that's gotta hurt.//
Big Show threw the dark-skinned man back into the ring, then slapped Jack's shoulder, "Go."
Jack went up there, putting Kofi in a head lock right as the cameras started rolling again.
"Nothin' personal, man" Jack drawled, jerking the man's head back hard. He kept them there pretty solidly, and when he tried to get up the blonde merely slammed him back down into the ring. And who said he wasn't as strong as he used to be? The ring shook!
Jack and Carlito got out of the ring, leaving the Big Show with Kofi.
Oh man, but Big Show's headlock was more brutal than his could ever be. Jack was sure poor Kofi's head would pop.
Carlito had a turn with Kofi, slamming him and almost pinning him.
Jack got tagged in once Carlito dropped kicked the champion, holding him for one of Jack's drop-kick's to the head. Jack even went for a pin, but Kofi kicked out. That was a little too close to his head, so Jack tagged out for Carlito again. That man was thirsting for his brother's blood anyways. He didn't even attempt for a tag, and it was a good thing he didn't.
It was a Colón battle out there, Jack wanted no part of it.
Of course, Jack got lost in the motion and barely dodged Primo's fist to his face. The blonde jumped off the ring, keeping his head protected. John would kill him. But then the little brat pinned his brother, and Jack wasn't about to loose the match.
For the save earlier, Jack slid up there and delivered a double-fisted blow to his back to break the hold. No sooner did he get to his feet was MVP on him. He got a blow to his temple, but he ducked down below the ropes in time to avoid the other punches. Fuckin' Montel was having none of it, and the blonde hadn't even gotten his balance yet before he was dive-bombed.
Jack's back took the brunt of the hit, keeping his head up and out of the way.
Jack shoved the man away from him, groaning in frustration. All he heard was Primo's name being shouted and then the bell going off.
//Well that sucks.//
Jack looked up in time to watch Big Show spear down Primo. He scoffed, rubbing his sore abdomen. Paul always was a sore loser, even when Jack was watching the show as a teen. Big Show never lost well. Carlito was done. MVP tried to be a hero, go up there and take down the Big Show himself. But all he got was a chokeslam for his efforts.
Jack crawled into the ring, getting a good seat to see Big Show pick Kofi up off the ground with only one hand in his hair. The poor champion didn't know what hit him, because the next moment Big Show punched him right in the head. Kofi went down hard, laying with the others.
Jack got to his feet, coming to stand beside the man.
"You took them down, the wins is yours, man" Jack assured the man, looking down at MVP "Ha! I think he's had enough, yeah? Hell, ya took down…everybody…"
The realization came too late, Big Show turned around and clamped a hand down upon his neck. Jack gasped, eyes wide, his fingers clawing at the larger man's shoulder.
"Paul, no" he whispered "Man, my head, please…I've got stitches, I shouldn't even be out here."
There was only a moment's pause, a hint of hesitation in the man's eyes. The blonde was sure in that moment was going to be spared.
What a dumb thing to think while in a ring of fallen opponents and an angry Big Show.
Jack found himself lifted into the air, seeing nothing but bright lights for a few moments before it was the rush of air in his ears. The bastard must have angled it, because his head cracked off the mat pretty hard when he landed.
Jack was embarrassed and would deny it if it wasn't for the tape, but he fuckin' screamed when his the skin re-split along his skull. All he felt was give an pain, features twisted in agony as his back arched up and off the mat. He dropped with a thud, scream dying into a groan.
Everything went kind of fuzzy there for a few seconds, but that was definitely Big Show's music in his ears and a mix of boos and cheers. The announcers were saying something, but it didn't matter. He could hear the frustrated groans of his fallen co-workers around him, mentally counting them in his head and losing track. Losing track of less than six guys?
Something was wrong.
Jack cracked his eyes open, lifting a trembling hand and probing his skull. He felt wet hair, slick, and the edge of one of his wounds split wide open. He pulled his hand back in front of his face, suppressing a whimper when his finger caught on one of the threads.
"Fuck" he muttered, trying to find his voice "Guys? Someone? I…I…"
Montel stirred first, head pounding, "What the fuck are you goin' on about, Swagger?"
"I need…I…my head…" the pain was burning through his scalp, a little disorientated because of the slam.
Montel's eyes widened, "Oh shit, he's bleedin'!"
"What?" Carlito managed to get to his feet, kicking aside his brother and shoving MVP away from the blonde "You ok, man?"
"Fuck" he saw the crimson stain on the mat, Carlito turned and shouted, "I need a medic over here!"
Jack's eyes drifting shut, "Shoulda listened to John."