Hello! I know I was just here on Friday, but I don't think you'll complain too much that I'm back with another chapter! :) I would like to thank Devata, Tori Moxley, flowersNfreaks, reinita1987, ChelleLew, ShikyoKiri, ILoveAnime89, wwemicky and JM242014 for commenting! My god I love you all, but I also give special thanks, and bonus points, to The Simonette254, and for correctly guessing Tori's trainer, which is the one and only Rob Van Dam :) So yay for them, and more bonus points will be given to anyone who can tell me whose theme music is the first song Tori plays in the car.. I'm a huge fan of this superstar and always loved their music :) but anyway, let's get on with it, shall we?
Disclaimer: There is nothing you're about to see that I own... except Scarlett Payne, and the plot. But nothing else is mine! I swear!
The next morning when the girls woke up, they decided that instead of wasting money on airplane tickets for a flight that'd take 45 minutes, they would drive the 2 hour distance between Omaha, Nebraska and Des Moines, Iowa. Just because they could afford to throw their money any which way they wanted to, didn't mean they had to at every opportunity.
"Would you pick a song already? You're driving me nuts." Scarlett laughed as she focused on the road. They'd been driving for an hour and a half already and for a majority of that time, Tori had been skipping songs left and right.
"Sanity is overrated." She answered as she smiled over at Scarlett. Glancing at the phone in her hand once more, she dragged her thumb up the touch screen. She suddenly gasped and tapped on the screen, letting Metalingus by Alter Bridge flood through the car speakers.
"I love this song!" She squealed in excitement.
"So do I, hence it being on my phone." Scarlett chuckled before hearing her phone ding, signalling a text message. "Whose that?"
"Um.." Tori answered, fiddling with the phone for a moment. "Naomi, she says that you have guys have a match tonight. Want me to answer?" She questioned, glancing over at Scarlett once more.
"Just thank her for letting me know."
"Alright."
The girls were silent for a few minutes, just listening to song after song go by. Also of course with Tori skipping over the slow ones that played. It was halfway through 'I Want Crazy' by Hunter Hayes when Tori reached over and turned down the volume, low enough you could still hear the song but just barely.
"So, I think we need to talk." She began and Scarlett raised an eyebrow, glancing over at her before focusing her eyes on the road again.
"About what?" She asked, curiosity lining her voice.
"The Shield." She responded and Scarlett sighed as she pulled off the Interstate.
"What about them?"
"Are we going to join them?"
Scarlett stayed silent. Despite her attractions to certain members of said stable, she still had issues with joining them. Only Phil knew what those reservations were at this point, and he only knew because he'd found out her secret.
"I kind of think it's a good idea..." Tori piped in quietly. She watched Scarlett's eyebrow arch once more before she sighed. "Why don't you think it's a good idea?"
"We just debuted... we've barely made a name for ourselves in this industry, in the live shows, and we're going to take our names away and just be known as what? The 'Ladies of Shield'?" Scarlett answered but saw Tori shake her head slightly.
"Yes we just debuted, but we've also gained WWE gold in under a month of being in the live shows. People know our names, Scarlett. They know who we are and they also know who Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins are. Sure they're the Shield altogether, but separately they're their own people and the WWE Universe knows who they are." She defended but Scarlett just shrugged her shoulders.
"I just have to think about it more I guess." Scarlett sighed. "You can join them if you really want to. I'll just decide later on."
"Girl bye," Tori said seriously, waving her hand around in the air before she started cracking up, Scarlett laughing along as well. "Was that too much Cameron for you?"
"Never do that again. Please." Scarlett laughed and reached for the volume knob, turning it up so Hey Brother by Avicii blasted through the speakers.
They continued on until they reached their hotel. Once they checked in and made it up to their hotel room, Tori insisting on taking the stairs for some reason Scarlett wasn't aware of, Scarlett placed her bags near the bed closest to the window. Tori threw her bags next to the bed that was left and flopped down on it, face first into the pillow and let out a big yawn.
"Gonna take a nap?" Scarlett chuckled, toeing off her shoes before seating herself on her own bed. Tori let out a short huff and turned on her back.
"No I'm not going to take a nap. The last time I took a nap you ended up dating CM Punk, God knows what I'll miss this time." She answered and Scarlett let out a loud laugh in response.
Hours later found Tori and Scarlett at the Wells Fargo Arena. When Naomi had texted Scarlett that they had a match earlier in the day, she failed to mention said match would be right before the main event on Smackdown. So when Scarlett and Tori showed up to the arena and saw the match card, Scarlett wasn't pleased she was going to be there hours longer than she needed to be.
They currently found themselves in one of the unoccupied green rooms the arena had set up and Smackdown was playing on the tv while they waited. Scarlett had yet to make it to hair and make up but she didn't really care. She had her black hair thrown up into a messy bun and had bare necessity make up on her face, the eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss. She wore a plain white tank top that had lace lining the bottom, her CM Punk sweater thrown over top of it and a pair of black faded jean short shorts. Her studded combat boots incased her feet that were currently propped up on the coffee table in front of them.
"Do you care about Alberto Del Rio? Cause I don't." Tori sighed. Scarlett glanced over at her as she spoke. Tori hadn't changed yet either, her outfit of choice being her Rey Mysterio sweater which was left unzipped to reveal the X-Men t-shirt she wore underneath, a pair of red skinny jeans and converse sneakers. Much like Scarlett, her hair was tied up however Tori had her hair in a high ponytail with a few pieces left out to frame her face, and also like Scarlett her make up was minimal.
"Not entirely." She answered, turning her attention back to the television. She groaned when she heard Brock Lesnar's music begin to play through the TV, which was followed by Tori's agreement groan.
"Really don't care about him." Tori said, sinking back into the couch more and hoisting her legs up to tuck underneath herself.
"You can actually do that in those jeans? They're so damn tight, I didn't think you could move." Scarlett smirked and Tori's face flushed pink before she elbowed Scarlett in the side. "Shut up."
"Make me." She challenged jokingly as she looked at the screen once more, missing the look Tori gave her at her words.
Brock and his... friend, manager, whatever you wanted to call him, Paul Heyman were now standing in the ring. Brock was staring out at the crowd while Paul gestured for a microphone. What were the chances that they actually wouldn't be talking about her tonight?
"Hello, my name is Paul Heyman," He said into the microphone as he did every time he introduced himself. He didn't have to at this point, Scarlett thought it was just to annoy people. She knew it annoyed her. "...and I am the advocate for the beast incarnate; Brock Lesnar!" He shouted and Scarlett smirked at the amount of booing she heard from the crowd. She then chuckled as Tori added in her own boo's.
"Tonight, my client would like to talk about something that's been going on for quite a while. You see, the Authority seems to think that Brock Lesnar is incapable of having a WWE championship title, but we all know that they are only trying to protect each one of the superstars in the backstage area from the beast."
"Can't Lesnar talk for himself?" Tori groaned and Scarlett shrugged.
"Dunno, maybe there's not much brain power going on in there besides 'Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat.'"
"Can't be much brain power going on in there at all. Probably had too many blows to the head." She laughed and Scarlett laughed along with her.
"They also believe.." Paul continued on even though the crowd was booing whatever it was he just said. Scarlett wasn't upset that she missed it. "..that titles, should belong to little girls who can't wrestle to save their lives."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow at that. He better not be talking about her.
"Yes yes, you all know who I'm referring to; Scarlett Payne." He went on and Scarlett shook her head. "She couldn't win a match to save her life, her own partner has to do all the work for her. If it wasn't for her partner, she wouldn't even have a title wrapped around her skinny little waist."
"That's not true!" Tori exclaimed. "You earned your belt as much as I earned mine!"
Scarlett shrugged, listening as Paul continued to talk.
"Even Monday night on Raw she couldn't get a win. Let's take a look." He said before gesturing to the titantron where clips were played of hers and Tori's match the day before with AJ and Tamina. Clips of Scarlett being knocked to the apron by Tamina's boot, clips of anytime Scarlett had been in trouble were shown. Then it showed Tori winning them the match before going back to Paul and Brock, who were both shaking their heads.
"And that's the champion you all want?" He questioned. He continued to talk but Scarlett blocked him out, having had enough. She quickly got to her feet and was walking towards the door when Tori blocked her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" She questioned.
"I'm going out there, if he has a problem he can say it to my face." She answered, trying to get around Tori but it was a failed attempt as they kept 'dancing', Tori stepping each way Scarlett went.
"I'm not going to be able to talk you out of it, am I?" She sighed and Scarlett shook her head.
"Nope."
"Fine, at least make yourself presentable first." She said and Scarlett furrowed her eyebrows as she watched Tori lift her hand into her hair, freeing it from the bun that sat on her head. Because her hair was wet when she tied it up, her hair now fell around her shoulders in waves that Tori ran her fingers through gently.
"Take off your sweater." She mumbled as she pulled some of Scarlett's hair over her shoulders, brushing some behind her as well.
Scarlett did as she was told and unzipped her sweater and handed it over to Tori once she was done playing with her hair. "I look good?"
Tori nodded as she looked Scarlett over head to toe. "You look.. really good."
Scarlett nodded, completely missing the admiring tone in Tori's voice as she sped off out the room towards the Gorilla Position. Before she knew it she was heading out from behind the curtain, mic in her hand as 'Do It Like A Dude' played through the arena.
"And speak of the Devil!" She heard Paul's voice over her music as she made her way down to the ring. She kept her poker face on even though her heart was beating out of her chest as she climbed inside the ring. She'd done it again, did something without properly thinking it through first. Once her music cut out, Paul lifted the microphone to his mouth once more.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, Ms. Payne?" He smiled at her but Scarlett rolled her eyes before directing them onto Brock himself, lifting the microphone to her own mouth.
"What's your problem with me? If you have one, which you clearly do, you can say it to my face. Not the entire town Des Moines." She said, biting back her smile when the crowd cheered. She knew they were only cheering because she'd said their town name, but she felt like they might be cheering her on as well.
Paul lifted the mic to his mouth to answer her but before he could, it was snatched away by Brock.
"My problem is that the Authority give me absolutely nothing when little girls like you, who do nothing, get to have titles the second they debut." He stated and if Scarlett wasn't seeing red, she would've laughed that such a high voice came out of such a bulky man.
"How dare you say that I do nothing," She seethed. "I have worked my butt off since day one to be where I am with no help from anybody. I've been beaten, I've been bruised, so don't you dare say that I don't deserve to have any opportunity that has come my way." She finished and this time she was sure that the cheer from the audience was for her, not something she stated.
When Brock laughed at her statement, she felt her cheeks flush in anger. "What exactly is so funny?" She questioned.
"You have everyone fooled, " He laughed. "The crew, the Superstars and Divas backstage, the crowd. You even have yourself fooled, Scarlett."
"What does that mean?" Scarlett furrowed her eyebrows. The hell was he going on about?
She watched him smirk slowly as he took a step closer to her, before answering her question.
"I know your secret, Scarlett Payne." He answered, his smirk growing wider. Scarlett felt the color drain from her face as she stared at him. He... he knew her secret? Oh fuck.
"Remember Sable?" He continued and Scarlett still said nothing, just staring at him with her poker face on. On the outside she seemed fine, just listening to him speak. On the inside however, her mind was going 90 miles an hour in every direction. "She told me some stories about you..."
"I have to no secrets, so if you think you have something on me you're clearly delusional." She cut him off, chuckling as she did so. She hoped that no one noticed the shake in her voice, or how fake her laugh sounded, even to her.
"You don't?" He questioned in a mocking sort of way. "Well, then you won't mind me telling everybody what I know then?" He smirked, but Scarlett wasn't backing down.
"Go ahead." She retaliated. Why the hell did she tell him to do that? Of course Sable would know who she was! She remembered being backstage with her at different shows here and there. She practically grew up with the woman for Christ sake!
"Okay then." He said, turning to look at the crowd. "You see everyone, the woman you all know as Scarlett Payne is actually.."
Scarlett couldn't let this happen. Launching herself forwards, she went to slap the microphone away from Brock's mouth but was horrified when her hand hit skin instead. Sure, she heard the thud of the microphone hitting the apron, but her hand had hit skin. She had just unintentionally slapped Brock Lesnar across the face.
Glancing up at him, she could already see the angry red mark forming against his skin. She tried to swallow but found she couldn't when a lump had developed in her throat, she had to get out of there. Quickly.
Scrambling as fast as she could under the bottom rope, she felt a hand slide through her hair just as she got out of reach of the ring. She didn't turn around as she ran up the ramp, she didn't turn around when she heard Brock threaten that it was now his top priority to make her pay for what she had done. She didn't turn around once, just kept running and running until she threw open a door and slammed it shut behind her again.
"Ms. Payne, what do you think you are doing? Barging in here like that?" Stephanie McMahon exclaimed as she and her husband took in the younger girls dishevelled form. Her emotions were on display now, stretching across her face, every single one of them. Fear, of someone like Brock Lesnar knowing her secret, Horror, at the fact that she had just slapped Brock Lesnar across the face, and so many others it was hard to determine which she was feeling the most.
"He knows," Scarlett panted from running the distance from the ring to the Authority's office. "Brock Lesnar knows who my father is."
"Shame." Was all Hunter said in response. He showed no emotion on his face whatsoever.
"You..You have to stop him from telling anyone. You have to make him be quiet." She demanded but her eyebrows furrowed when Stephanie shook her head.
"Ms. Payne, we don't have to do anything." She answered and Scarlett's eyebrows furrowed more.
"Why? You both were determined as I was that no one finds out my secret." She wondered out loud. When did they change their minds?
"We were," Hunter spoke as he stood up and fixed his jacket, pulling the button through the slot it goes through. "That was before you disobeyed us."
"What?" Scarlett asked, confused. She had so much running through her mind she truly didn't know what he was talking about.
"We advised you to stay away from Phil Brooks, told you he was bad news, and how do you repay us? By making it your business to show the world, on our show, that you are dating CM Punk." He answered, making his way over to her.
"But.." She started as he began to guide her to the door but he cut her off.
"There are no buts Ms. Payne, you played your cards and this is just karma coming back around to get you." He said as he opened the door and practically shoved her out of it. "Maybe next time, you'll listen to what the Authority has to say, rather than spit in our faces." Was the last thing he said before he shut the door in her face.
A little while later Scarlett was in the Gorilla Position once more, however this time she was supposed to be there. Her match with Naomi was next and she couldn't wait to get it over with. Her mind was swirling in every direction still and it'd take a miracle for her to be able to focus on her match.
Somebody knew her secret, and that somebody wasn't just anybody. It was Brock Lesnar. Of all the people in the world, it had to be him that knew. Their families didn't exactly get along well, there was always a feud going on that Scarlett never understood but it was always there. Lurking around the surfaces whenever Brock was part of the WWE roster when her father had been also. What was off screen never failed to be brought onscreen, but now his target was her.
When she had finally gotten back to the green room, Tori had jumped up off the couch to her side in seconds flat. She questioned the secret, but just as she'd told Brock, she had none. She felt guilty lying to Tori now, she always had, but now it was worse. She just didn't need another person to know, she couldn't have that.. She hoped that Tori had bought her story, but somehow she doubted it.
"Wyatts!" Dean's voice broke through Scarlett's thoughts, making her jump. Glancing around the area, she expected to see him but didn't. However when her eyes passed over the monitors, she found him. Along with Roman and Seth.
"'Bickering children'? That's cute.." He smiled at the camera, referring to Bray's earlier comment about Roman and Dean's argument that night. However, Scarlett's mind suddenly cleared, only thinking about the smile that graced his features seconds ago... he looked cute smiling like that. "...that you think you can say that to us, but watch it. Cause you're talking to the hounds, Wyatt family!" He exclaimed and Scarlett shifted her eyes to the screen next to the one Dean was on as it showed the Wyatt family in the ring. Bray was now seated at the ropes, his legs dangling over the edge of the apron as Luke and Erick stood at his sides.
"You think we're too full of our own pride and you're right, we are. We have a lot of pride because we are the best unit in this industry. When we get you in the ring at Elimination Chamber.." He said as he started moving side to side in a little dance, causing Scarlett to chuckle. "...we own you."
"That's the first smile I've seen in almost an hour, if I knew Dean dancing would've helped I would've went to find him." Tori laughed and Scarlett's cheeks turned pink, she'd forgotten Tori was standing next to her once Dean's voice broke through her thoughts.
"And we don't care if you are monsters, or if you are men, we are not afraid of you." Seth said as he shifted the camera onto him. "I'm gonna scrape the beards off your faces with the bottom of my boot for one reason..." He exclaimed and Scarlett's eyes widened.
"I'd be a little scared of Seth if he said that to me..." Tori said kind of quietly and Scarlett turned to look at her. Her eyes were just as wide as Scarlett's were.
"I agree." She answered, turning her attention back to the screen as Roman spoke next.
"But you just don't seem to understand, one of us would've become WWE World Heavyweight Champion," He gestured between himself, Seth and Dean. However Scarlett didn't like the look Dean gave Roman when he stated that one of them would've become champ. His look screamed 'One of us?'. "But fortunately for us we know a few methods for making people understand." Roman threatened, his voice seemingly getting deeper on each passing word.
"Don't make me laugh!" She heard Bray scream from the other monitor and she rolled her eyes.
"Shut up." She and Tori said at the same time, causing both girls to laugh.
"So now it's time for some justice, boys! Believe in the Shield." Dean stated before the camera shifted to their 3 fists joined together.
"I'll 'believe in the Shield', when the eyes are battered shut! The fools! The fools!" Bray yelled at the titantron before Smackdown cut to what would be a commercial once it aired.
"Well then.." Tori chuckled, turning to look at Scarlett who simply nodded.
After a few minutes Scarlett found herself in the ring along with Naomi, Tori in her corner and Cameron in Naomi's. But already she couldn't focus, her mind flashing back to herself being in the ring earlier in the night, wishing she could take back what she had done but she couldn't.
When the bell was rung to begin the match, nobody, not even Scarlett and Naomi realized how long it would go on. They had been in the ring 10 minutes already, and Scarlett only knew that because Michael Cole kept shouting that this was the best Diva's match he'd seen in a long time. JBL agreeing, only because it lasted more than 2 minutes. Scarlett had kicked out of Rear View twice already and Naomi had managed a last minute kick out of Scarlett's Crucifix driver, taught to her by Tori of course.
The Shield had made their way to the ring after about a minute and a half of her and Naomi being in the ring, but Scarlett made sure to keep her eyes away from them. She was already distracted enough, didn't need 2 others.
Scarlett managed to throw Naomi off of her at 2 and a half after receiving a blow to the head via drop kick. As she rolled over, she had to hold in her chuckle as she heard the arena erupt into chants of 'This is Awesome'. If she was watching the match, she'd probably think that a 10 minute Diva's match where no one was quitting would be awesome too, however she was living it. So it wasn't as awesome.
"Come on girl, you got this!" She heard Cameron shout to Naomi as both girls got to their feet. They locked up once more and Scarlett quickly moved around Naomi, before wrapping her arms around her midsection and lifting her up. She managed the belly to back suplex, throwing Naomi a few feet away but Scarlett didn't have the energy to move herself anymore. She just wanted the match to be over with already.
"I'm not doing that, Ambrose." She heard Tori say sternly. Against her better judgement, she turned her head to look at them.
Tori was standing with all 3 members of the Shield but was facing Dean with her arms crossed over her chest as Dean towered over her 5'3" frame as he gestured towards Scarlett, unaware of her attention on them.
"You gonna let her lose then, Victoria?" He questioned and Tori didn't answer.
Shaking her head, Scarlett was about to get to her feet when she was pulled to her feet quickly instead. Naomi sent her flying into the ropes using all the strength she had left and Scarlett rebounded off of them. She ducked down, going for a spear but Naomi saw it coming and jumped over her. The second time Scarlett rebounded off the ropes, she was hit with her third Rear View, knocking her to the apron once more.
'For fuck sakes.' She groaned to herself, cradling her head. This had to be over with, now. As Naomi got down for the pin, Scarlett grabbed onto her right arm suddenly and pulled it forwards before wrapping her leg around said arm, locking her shin underneath Naomi's chin. Just as she was about to lock in her other leg she realized what move she was about to pull in front of the WWE Universe.
Gasping, she quickly shifted, instead kicking Naomi in the chest so she flew backwards slamming her head against the mat before Scarlett pulled herself into the corner and ran her fingers through her hair. Holy fuck, had she really almost did that? Was she trying to help prove Brock's point?
"What are you doing?" She heard Dean's voice hiss at her from her left. Glancing at him she noticed Roman standing right behind him, his face just as stern as Dean's, but she saw both men's facial expressions change upon seeing her worn out look. "Are you alright, Princess?" He questioned, this time his voice softer.
"Distraction, please.." She nearly begged him and he nodded his head slowly. Moving over to the middle of the rope, he quickly jumped on top of the apron and made it seem like he was going to get in the ring so the ref began to stop him.
Scarlett got to her feet and moved over to Naomi who was still laid out from the massive kick, before she dropped down next to her.
"Sorry about this." She apologized before she grabbed the back of Naomi's pants and rolling her up so the ref couldn't see that she was cheating. She heard Dean shouting at the ref to turn around and as the ref dropped to the apron to slam his hand against it, she gripped onto Naomi's pants tighter as she squirmed until she heard 3 slaps.
Once the third slap was sounded and her music blared through the arena, she quickly slid out under the bottom rope where Tori and the Shield stood. A stage hand brought over Scarlett's belt as Lilian Garcia announced her victory, but Dean snatched the belt away from him so he could hand it to her himself.
"Good job Princess." He whispered in her ear. If she'd done such a good job, why'd she feel like so much like shit?
"I can't believe you did that." Tori said for what seemed like the hundredth time since they'd arrived back at their hotel.
"I understand you, okay?" Scarlett groaned from her spot on her bed. "I understood you the first 50 fucking times you said it."
"Don't get snippy with me, you're the one who cheated." Tori snapped back and Scarlett sighed before apologizing. "I still can't believe how proud Dean was of you for doing that either."
"What did he want you to do?" She questioned, lifting her head off of her pillow to glance over at Tori. She was sitting up on her bed wearing only an oversized DX t-shirt as she played with her cell phone. Scarlett had noticed that it buzzed every few minutes, but it wasn't her business to know who Tori was texting.
"He wanted me to interfere. To break up Naomi's pin on you if she went for it again." She rolled her eyes. "He called me Victoria too, I really dislike being called that."
"The match was going on forever Tor, I actually wouldn't have cared if you broke it up." Scarlett answered truthfully.
"Well I wasn't going to do it, and I hope you're not planning on cheating again?" She questioned as she glanced over at Scarlett who sighed.
"I'll try not to cheat again, okay? Will that make you shut up?" She asked, chuckling.
"Yes it will." Tori smiled back, glancing at her phone as it buzzed in her hand once more.
Shaking her head, Scarlett was about to roll over to face the window when her own phone buzzed on the side table. Reaching over, she grabbed it and unlocked it to find a message waiting for her.
"What was that girl?"
Scarlett groaned and threw her phone back down on the bed before she covered her eyes with her elbow.
"Who was that?" She heard Tori question. Scarlett shook her head, mumbled out 'Naomi', before she got up and started digging through her bag.
"What are you looking for?"
"A dress. Or something short and tight, and you should do that same." She stated, holding up a black tank top that was practically see through before throwing it back in her bag, continuing to search.
"Why?" Tori questioned, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Because, we're going out dancing so I can get drunk and I need someone around to make sure I don't do anything completely stupid."
How do you feel about Scarlett's cheating? Or, anything at all in this chapter... some pretty heavy stuff on Scarlett haha tell me what you think! :)