Title: Destroyed (11/?)
Rating: M
Content: slash, violence, unpleasant things that will be revealed throughout
Characters: Raw Roster, main characters Randy Orton, Evan Bourne, John Cena
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue
Distribution: ffn, lj, anywhere else ask first
Summary: Evan has a terrible secret, Randy and John are determined to help him, but Evan knows what's at stake should anyone find out. Set around current Raw storylines (loosely).
Although Evan knew what was going to happen, his heart sank as he watched John count the 1...2...3... which would end his career. The obvious anger on Barrett's face sent shivers down Evan's spine, and he prayed that John knew what he was doing.
John stormed backstage while Randy took the applause and cheers for retaining the championship, wanting to get the inevitable confrontation with the Nexus leader over before Randy came backstage. He didn't want the younger man worrying about him any more than necessary, and he wanted to be able to reassure Evan as soon as possible.
A strident English accent made him turn around quickly, and he steeled himself. "What do you want Barrett?"
"Orton must mean a lot to you," Barrett sneered, "you wouldn't give up your career for just anyone."
"You know nothing about me," John spat, "but believe me this is not over."
"Oh it is John," Wade laughed. "If you, Orton and his little bitch have any sense, it will all end here."
"No!" Cena grabbed Barrett by the throat, "this is between me and you. Now let me make one thing clear. This. Is. Not. Over." He punctuated each word with a squeeze to Wade's windpipe. "I am going to make your life a living hell." In disgust, he let go of the Englishman and turned away.
"You do what you want to Cena," Barrett choked breathlessly, "but warn your boy Orton that I have unfinished business with that slut Bourne so he'd better watch his back."
Cena roared in anger and ran towards the Nexus member, who quickly turned and sprinted down the corridor. John grabbed a chair and threw it at the retreating man, frustrated as it bounced off the floor.
"John?" The voice behind him pulled him away from his anger and he composed his features, not wanting Randy to have anything else to worry about. He was already going to explode when he found out what Barrett had said about Evan.
"You ok?" John asked carefully: it had been a brutal match.
"Yeah, what did he say? Randy indicated to the now empty corridor that Barrett had retreated towards.
"He..." John cursed in frustration, "he said he's got unfinished business with Ev."
Randy was silent for a moment and then a roar that shook the arena exploded out of him and he punched the wall, anger dulling the pain that immediately shot through his knuckles. He turned to John and slowly and deliberately tried to calm his breathing, but there was no denying the anger and venom in his voice. "If he lays even one hand on Evan I will destroy him."
John nodded, he had no doubt that Randy would carry through on his promise. He was fiercely protective of those he cared about. "We need to give Ev a call, check he's ok."
"Shit," Randy suddenly realised that Nexus would have no qualms about a sneak attack and almost ran to his locker room, grabbing his phone and quickly calling his lover.
"Ev, you ok?" He asked before the younger man could even say hello.
"Yeah, Randy I'm fine. What is it?" Evan could tell something was very wrong. When Randy didn't speak he panicked even more, "Randy what is it? Are you ok? Is it John?"
"We're ok," the older man growled, "John's fine."
"So what is it? Randy you're scaring me," the young high flyer was becoming increasingly agitated, "is it Barrett, did he do something?" When Randy answered that in the negative Evan noticed the tone of his voice had changed somewhat, "he said something about me didn't he?"
"Unfinished business, he said." Randy started to pace the room in fear and anger, "Ev, maybe you should go check into a hotel or something, I'm worried about you being there on your own."
"I... ah fuck," Randy heard the sound of smashing glass and muttered curses and then Evan spoke again, clearly and calmly. "I'm gonna go check into a hotel for the night, maybe for a couple of nights. I need to decide what I'm gonna do next, because right now I don't have a clue, and I'm not thinking straight."
"That sounds like a good idea."
"I don't want you to worry about me," Evan whispered.
Randy's expression softened and a smile crossed his usually harsh features, "I'm always gonna worry about you Ev."
The love and compassion in Randy's words made John look up in surprise, and steeled his determination. He would end this, one way or another.
Evan quickly packed a small overnight bag, his hands shaking as he threw the essentials into his travel bag. He hadn't wanted to betray to Randy quite how worried he was by the whole situation, but he knew he'd become complacent – he should have known that Barrett wouldn't let things end so easily. Knowing what Barrett and his cronies were capable of only magnified his concern, and with a frustrated grunt he threw the bag over his shoulder and grabbed his car keys, deciding to head out towards the airport.
He parked at the first half decent hotel he saw and booked a room. It was basic but it was anonymous and that was what he wanted. Pulling out his phone to call Randy Evan noticed a text message that must have arrived while he was driving. The sender and content confirmed that he'd made the right decision:
I haven't 4gotten about u. u will pay 4 crossing me.
Evan shuddered, he didn't even want to imagine what Barrett was planning, or indeed what Randy would do if he got half a chance to get his hands on Barrett. He knew he needed to protect Randy's career, to protect the fragile grasp he had on his rationality, but at what cost he did not know.
The high flyer sat back on the bed, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes, frustrated and emotionally exhausted. Slowly he began to breathe deeply, using the calming meditation techniques he had learned when working in Japan. When he knew he was calm enough that he wouldn't betray his fear when speaking to Randy, he picked up the phone.
"Ev, you're at a hotel?"
The love and concern in Randy's voice comforted Evan somewhat, "yeah, out by the airport so you two can come straight here after Raw tomorrow."
"Good."
"Is John ok?"
Randy chuckled, "yeah, he says he's gonna enjoy misbehaving and breaking the rules for a while. Wanna speak to him?"
"Please," Evan hadn't realised that John and Randy were rooming together but that fact reassured him a lot.
"Hey kid," John's cheerful voice further lifted Evan's mood, "I'm seriously looking forward to kicking some Nexus ass in the next few weeks you know."
"I bet you are," Evan laughed softly. "Thank you for what you're doing."
"Hey this is necessary for all of us Ev, we're gonna deal with this our way."
"I just wish I was fit and healthy right now," Evan sighed, his mood rapidly dissipating. Every one else was risking something, and he was stuck in a hotel room with no role to play.
"You will be, soon enough."
John put Randy back on the line and they chatted for a few more minutes but Evan was distracted and, feigning tiredness, Evan ended the call. As he tossed and turned in bed his mind took him to a place he didn't want to consider, but it was one thing that he could do, that might keep Barrett away from all of them. It could lose him everything, but Evan realised it might be the only thing he could do. And that thought terrified him.