Title: Flawed Perfection

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Angst

Pair(s): Kane/Zack, Kane/Lita

Summary: All his life, Kane has been told that he is a monster. He doesn't deserve to be loved. He doesn't deserve to live. His wife, the woman who claimed to love him for better or worse, tried to break him from the inside out. Now, all he has to live for are a child that's never seen his face and a brother who wants him to rot in hell. Kane's been taken to his limit. The heartless monster is in need of a savior like never before…

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides the child.

Warning(s): Slash, Het, Violence, Cruelty, etc.

Part: 14/? – M is for Monsters

OOOO

"What?" Rosa asked. She was still shocked that she had run into the Cenation Hero at such a late hour.

"Well, it's actually kind of obvious. You're in a robe with, what looks to be, very little underneath. You were in there for some intimate time with The Broski." John said matter-of-factly.

Neither realized that Kane had come out of his hotel room and now hovered in the hallway. He had been a bit restless and he needed to stretch, so he had decided to walk back and forth down the hall until he could tire himself out. That's when he heard Rosa and John. Rosa stood outside of Zack's hotel room in little more than a black, silky robe. It couldn't be… no, Zack wouldn't do that. He had been so heartbroken when Kane had told him to leave him alone, Kane didn't want to think that he could rebound so fast.

However, all of the facts were there. Rosa stood outside of Zack's hotel room, scantily clad, with a set of the most obnoxious heels that Kane had ever seen on her feet. She shifted awkwardly from side to side, and on a few rare occasions, Kane was able to see the hint of a dark corset underneath her robe. He didn't want to believe that Zack would sleep with her, but then, all of the evidence seemed to say that he did. Kane felt his blackened heart sink in his chest. Zack didn't love him after all.

"I don't have time for this. I need to find Kane so that I can talk to him." Rosa said. She tried to make her way around John, but the Cenation Hero wouldn't let her.

"I just want to make sure that Zack's okay, Rosa." John said. Rosa could tell from the strained lilt in his voice that he was serious in his concern for Zack. "He rushed out on me and I just want to make sure that he's okay."

Rosa finally showed a shred of mercy. "He's not okay, John. He's not okay at all."

John's easy, kind-hearted nature fell away and a dark look haunted his face. "What's the matter with him?"

"He wanted to talk to Kane about some stupid comment that he made because he didn't have a chance to explain himself, but the monster shot him down." Rosa elaborated.

Kane flinched at that word. Monster. It was the only word that could cause such a violent storm of emotion to form within the big man. He hated that word with a violent passion. He had ever since Paul Bearer had called him it as a child, after the first time that the former apprentice had seen his disfigured face. Kane knew that he was a monster. He didn't have a conscience. He didn't have a heart. But if that was true, then what was that dull ache in his chest that told him that maybe he cared a little bit more about Zack than he was ready to admit?

No. He couldn't think like that. If Zack wanted to call him a monster, to hell with him. He was just like all of the others. He waltzed into Kane's life and pretended to be different. And, like a fool, Kane had believed him. That's when Zack had gone in for the kill. Kane had been vulnerable and had gone down without a fight. But he was wise and wouldn't fall for the same rouse twice. He wouldn't let that hard shell around his heart be broken yet again. He would move on, like he always did. Zack could rot in hell for all he cared.

"What stupid comment?" John asked. He seemed truly confused.

Rosa rolled her chocolate brown eyes. "You don't remember the conversation that the two of you had in that locker room that seemed to be abandoned? You asked him what he saw in Kane."

John nodded. "Yeah. Actually, I do remember that." And then, the blank look returned to his face. "He had more to say, huh? Well, then, obviously he's told you what he wanted to say."

"Why should I tell you?" Rosa asked, indignant.

"Because I'm his best friend and I'm worried about him?" John offered.

John flashed his dimples and Rosa relented. "Fine, but you can't tell him that I told you."

The smile fell and he looked totally serious once more. "I swear, those words will never pass these lips."

"Good." Rosa looked him over once. "He said that he doesn't care about the fact that Kane is a monster. In fact, it only makes him love Kane more. 'His imperfections make him more perfect' were his exact words."

"Wow." John shook his head fondly. "The kid's really fallen hard. Next thing you know, he'll be writing Kane love letters and sending him bouquets of flowers."

Rosa smacked his arm harshly. "Be serious, John! He's really upset about all of this!"

"I am serious, Rosa. The kid needs to understand that, if he plays with fire, he'll be burned." John said.

"You think that Kane would actually hurt him?" Rosa asked, astonished. She had never seen it like that before.

"Not intentionally. In fact, I think that Kane has it for Zack just as bad as the kid has it for him. But he is a loose cannon. It's impossible to tell when his fuse will blow…" John's voice trailed off as Kane started to walk away.

Kane couldn't handle the note of accusation in John's voice. He would never even dream of hurting Zack. It wasn't in his nature to hurt, to destroy. He had been raised into it. Paul Bearer had almost brainwashed him to believe that it was okay to hurt others, but in the end, that one shred of decency still remained within Kane. He wouldn't hurt Zack because, as hard as it was to admit it, John Cena had been correct. Kane had fallen hard and fast for The Broski, and now he had to pick up the scattered pieces…

TUESDAY, SMACKDOWN

Zack's heart hadn't really been into his match. When he took off his sunglasses and flashed his signature grin at the crowd, there was a little bit less enthusiasm behind the sentiment. His match was against Dolph, whose usual cockiness faded a little bit when he saw the uncharacteristic gloom on Zack's face. The two didn't like each other all that much, but there was a mutual respect that most wrestlers shared for each other that flowed between them. Dolph made quick work of The Broski and didn't show off at all. In the end, Dolph had the three count for the win.

Zack walked into the back, his head bowed as he tried to work the kinks out of his neck. He had had a lot of time to think over the last twenty-four hours. He realized that he had actually cared for Kane for a lot longer than he was originally willing to admit. In fact, the feelings could, potentially, date back to when Kane first attacked him and put him in a wheelchair. Before now, thought, he had just been too afraid of the monster to admit to it. And now, he may have lost that chance entirely.

A hand slithered around his shoulder and he froze. He knew those well-manicured nails anywhere. "Eve. What a… pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"

Eve smiled at him, but the smile was dark and he didn't like it at all. "I just talked to John Laureinitis about your opponent for next week on Raw. Do you want to know his name?"

Zack blinked. "Well, I would assume since you came all of this way to back me into a corner, you'd tell me."

Eve just shook her head. It seemed as if his cruel words hadn't even dented her concrete exterior. "Your opponent for next week on Raw is none other than Mark Henry."

"W-What?" Zack almost choked on the air.

"You heard me, Zackie. Your opponent is Mark Henry." Eve said. "But… there is a chance that I…"

Zack rolled his eyes. Here comes the stipulation. "There's a chance that you could do 'what', Eve? I don't have all day to waste in this arena."

"I didn't know that you were so eager to climb into bed alone." Eve hissed viciously. Her words cut Zack to the bone. "But, that's not what I wanted to say. I wanted to say that, if you come on a date with me, I'm sure that I could -,"

Zack shook his head. "Dream on, sweetie. I'm in love and I don't intend to let you ruin." Zack looked down at the floor. "I can do that by myself."

"But, Zack -," Eve reached out for him.

"I said NO, Eve! Learn what the damn word means!" Zack snapped at her.

With that said, Zack stormed into his locker room and slammed the door closed. Even with the door closed, he could still hear the muffled sound of Kane's music start to fill the arena. He wondered if Kane even cared about him anymore, not that it would matter for very long. This match with Mark Henry could end his career and then he wouldn't have to worry about seeing Kane every day and wondering what he could have done to make it better. Total exhaustion coursed through him as he crashed face-first onto the couch and let out a loud sigh.

Slowly, Zack rolled over onto his back and rubbed his hands over his face. He didn't deserve Kane, he decided. If he was supposed to be with Kane, then this all would have played out differently. And now, he was about to be slaughtered by Mark Henry. It seemed to be a rather unfortunate end. The man was no short of a monster in the ring, even more so than Kane. Because, with Kane, he wasn't blatantly trying to hurt you (most of the time). Mark Henry, on the other hand, was a war machine that was out for blood. Zack's blood.

"Shit!" Zack exclaimed as he slammed his fist into the coffee table. "I don't want to do this…"

OOOO

A/N: Please Review!