Title~ Texas Grace (5/?)
Author~ Cristal
Email~ Talis13@yahoo.com
Rating~ PG13
Disclaimer~ All characters belong to the WWE.
Distribution~ hardy2extreme.com otherwise, please ask permission.
My Group~ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cristal-FanFic I recommend joining: there's more to read there. ;)
Notes~ Roster split IS in effect
Summary~ Lita finds a savior in an unexpected person…
Lita moved fluidly in the practice ring that was set up. She was kickboxing with an innate grace as she moved. She blocked punches and kicks, delivering as good as she got. This was just something to do when she was stressed out before a show: find the ring and let loose. She just had to find the right person that was willing to spar with her. That alone was a difficult task until recently: she admitted she was mean as a snake. She found someone that had a little knowledge in kickboxing, was tough and also mean as a snake.
He flashed her a smile before sweeping out, taking her down to the mat. Lita couldn't react quickly enough and landed on her butt with a thump on the canvas. He chuckled as he looked down on her muttering every curse imaginable towards him. He offered a hand, which she took before yanking and throwing him over her shoulder. He landed behind her with a colorful curse followed by silence.
Both were laid out in the middle of the ring. Lita turned over, resting on her elbows as she smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you Al…I appreciate it."
"You aren't fooling me with that sweet as sugar act and you know it." He returned with a grin before getting up and helping her up as well.
Al rolled his shoulders as he looked at her. "You still wanna go?"
She paused a moment in thought. "Why not?"
"I think you got a visitor because I KNOW he isn't here to see me." He pointed over her shoulder with the slightest of smiles.
Lita turned, a smile touching her lips as she looked outside the ring at Bradshaw who had just come in. She leaned over the top rope with Al next to her. "Hey! You here to see Al?"
Bradshaw looked at her like she just grew another head. "Why the hell would I be here to see Snow?"
"Because I am just all that." He replied flippantly, getting a giggle out of Lita.
Bradshaw rolled his eyes at the other man. Lita tilted her head in an endearing manner as she looked down at him. "Did you need the ring? Al and I were just practicing-"
"Because no one else will get in the ring with her." He supplied with another smile.
Lita smacked his arm with a pout. "Hey!"
"Well it's true!! None of the other divas besides Jackie will get in here with you! And Jackie wasn't here yet…and then the guys!! Why exactly will you not get in the ring with any other guys?"
She shared a quick glance with Bradshaw before looking over at Al. "Because I love you best?"
He snorted with a roll of his eyes. "Right. I heard it was because you almost broke one of the Hardy's in half."
"That's just a rumor."
"Yeah right. Even some of the bigger guys are afraid."
"So why are you in there?"
"Because I'm the only guy that's brave enough. All of the three hundred pound guys wandering around, you'd think one of them wouldn't be so afraid of Red." Al supplied with another charming grin before slipping out of the ring. "Well, I gotta go Red. I'll see you guys later."
Lita smiled with a wave. "Thanks again Al!" she looked down at Bradshaw, a plot forming before she even noticed. "So. You up for it?"
He arched an eyebrow. "Up for what?"
"I assume you came out here for a reason Bradshaw. Wanna try and see if you can beat me at my own game?"
He hesitated a moment, very tempted at the offer. "I wouldn't want to hurt you or anything…I don't always pay great attention when I throw punches…"
"Oh come on! It'll be my fault if I let you get one on me!!" she laughed.
He watched as she smiled and laughed…she hadn't done that much lately and he found it refreshing. He quirked half a smile at her. "Fine. Prepare to be beat at your own game Li."
The little nickname threw her off again, much to her chagrin. She bounced on her feet in the ring, looking over at him. "Have you ever done this before?"
He paused a moment before grinning. "Nope. But I learn quick."
"Good, you'll need to." She returned with a smile.
He shook his head, his black hair fanned out behind him as he moved. A serious light came to his eyes as he dodged a couple of her kicks, even making an effort to sweep her feet but missing. She smiled slightly as she threw another punch. "So…I don't know a whole lot about you…"she ducked a throw and came back with her own. "How old are you?"
"Thirty five." He blocked another of her punches. "You?"
"Twenty seven." She stepped back slightly, judging. She suddenly came forward, sweeping out with her leg and causing him to tumble to the mat. She looked down over him with a grin. "That was really sorry just so you know."
"Oh was it?"
"Oh yes, abso-AHH!" he grabbed her hands, tossing her over himself. He rolled with her, pinning her to the mat with his weight. She couldn't help but laugh at his smirking smile. "Didn't expect that…"
He adjusted himself so he wasn't crushing her under two hundred ninety pounds, instead just straddling her slim waist. "I think you just lost the game."
"Nah, I just lost the match. This game is FAR from over." She smiled devilishly at him.
He couldn't help but feel at least a little better at her beautiful smile. He smiled back at her, watching her face. She wore her emotions so clearly through her eyes…everything was there. Every thought and feeling, no matter how fleeting. His attention was pulled towards her lips that relaxed into a gentle pout when she wasn't smiling. The pout was there, but she wasn't unhappy…more like debating or thinking.
Lita took a deep breath before giving into temptation, pulling him down for a kiss. As he came back to his senses, he ran a hand through her hair before resting it behind her neck, pulling her closer to himself as her hands trailed up his chest and around his neck, her fingers playing in his soft black hair. His hair was kind of like the softest blanket as it shone under the bright lights above them…
Bright lights…
Wait a second…
Both seemed to remember just a moment too late where exactly they were: but too little, too late. Neither broke the kiss until someone called their attention. He lifted back from her, looking at her flushed face, hazel eyes bright as stars. He looked over, seeing one…oh wait, not one, but two seemingly annoyed Hardy's. Goody.
Jeff stood, hands on his hips, looking at the two. "Helllo!! You're in the middle of a wrestling ring! Should we call for a time out? I think you two need a break."
"Better yet, condoms and a hotel room."
"MATT!!"
Matt ducked the water bottle his brother just hurled at him, laughing all the while. "Well! It's true!!"
Bradshaw shook his head, quickly getting off of the redhead. He helped her up; noticing the blush still hadn't left her cheeks. "Uh…sorry…sorry Lita."
She looked over at him, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "That's all right…maybe we can…I don't know, go out tonight? After the show?"
"Yeah! Yeah, that'd be great. Wherever you want." He noticed he was still holding her hand and quickly let go with his own dark, subtle blush. Before he could let go entirely, she grabbed his hand again with a smile.
"That's be great…let's talk now about where we can go."
Unfortunately, amongst the friendly ribbing from the Hardy's and their own nerves, neither Bradshaw nor Lita noticed who had come in directly after the Hardy's, seeing everything that happened between the two in the ring…
That night, Bradshaw was taking on both Big Show and X-Pac: he still wasn't sure how he managed that. Oh wait, that's right. Show was Heyman's big gopher boy. He needed to stop forgetting important facts like that. He finished getting ready before walking over to the locker room showers, ducking his head under the stream of water. He shook his hair before grabbing a towel and drying most of it off, leaving his black hair slicked back out of the way.
Once he was finished, he started down the hall towards the Hardy's locker room, knowing that's where Lita would be: he wanted to check on her before he went out. He made it to the locker, seeing the door wide open and hearing the typical friendly arguing inside. Lita and Jeff were in a heated debate with Matt playing referee. She waved slightly at him with a smile and he returned it with his own smile before heading towards the ring.
Bradshaw was only part way down to the ring when he was attacked from behind, feeling a little weasel throw their whole weight on him. He stumbled forwards slightly, enough for X-Pac to take him down to the floor with a vicious bulldog onto the concrete. He shook his head, feeling the blood trickle from his lip…must have bit down when he landed. He spat, clearing the blood momentarily. Trying to put up at least a partial guard, he stopped one of the kicks to his face, but not the next. He hit the lightly padded floor on his knees with a thud.
All of a sudden, the booing went up an octave and suddenly he was suspended high enough in the air to notice. He looked over into eyes that were glazed over with power that he barely controlled. Bradshaw couldn't help the coughing laugh that left his lips as he noticed the nasty black eye and cut from the fight last week: it was just now starting to fade… As he was hauled into the ring, he caught bits and pieces of the King and JR's commentary.
"Wow! What did Bradshaw do to ask for THIS beating?!"
"No idea King. Those two are like dogs…always attack in a pack. And always from behind…"
"Still! Look at this! I'm surprised Bradshaw's still standing!"
"The man's a tough SOB, that's for sure. It's taking two of the NWO to beat him. That says something!"
"Yeah, it says whatever he did he probably shouldn't do it EVER again!!"
Right about then, he felt his vision blurring as he was dropped a final time in a choke slam, landing roughly against the canvas. He was debating on whether he could kick out…what the hell?!? Of course he could kick out…he'd do it for her smile alone. With a heave, he threw Show's arm off tiredly. Wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up…his resolve strengthened and he struggled to his feet, leaning heavily against the ropes: nothing like going out with a bang: he'd take at least one of them down.
Show got up right after Bradshaw. He looked at Bradshaw who suddenly lunged at him, taking him down with the aptly named 'Clothesline from Hell'. Show staggered but didn't fall: he was obviously knocked for a loop though. Bradshaw went down, sweeping his feet out from under him and quickly going in for the pin. At the two count his periphery caught X-Pac and he moved, just in time to miss a sharp elbow to the back of the head.
X-Pac looked worried for landing on a tag team partner that easily outweighed him by about five times. Fortunately, that was just the opening Bradshaw needed. He moved quick enough to surprise the smaller man, pulling him into a rollup and managing to get the pin after an agonizingly slow three count. He struggled up, still noticing blood dripping from his lips as he sat in the middle of the ring on his hands and knees. He hurt: there was nothing simpler.
The referee raised his hand briefly before darting away: that movement didn't bother him as much as it probably should have: he already knew the threat was there. And it was probably mad. One large hand easily wrapped halfway around his neck, lifting him into the air. "You're going through the damn table if I can keep you conscious long enough.
Bradshaw just gave a harsh bark of laughter as he was tossed unceremoniously outside the ring to the unforgiving floor. He was down in a heartbeat and quickly hefted Bradshaw high in the air, throwing him through the announcer's table, which broke with a deafening crack under his body. He was out.
"Oh Jesus, what can we do?!?" Lita asked as she looked with horror at the screen. Bradshaw just got absolutely pounded…she felt so horrible…so guilty…
Matt hugged her quickly. "Nothing we can do right now Lita…"
"But…but, I mean- Matt, LOOK WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!"
He sighed as he looked at her before looking back at the carnage on the screen, Bradshaw shown lying in the wreckage of the table. There were finally medics able to get to him after Big Show got out of the way. "Right now…the only thing you can do is be there for him…"
She nodded, trying to go through the door. Jeff and Matt both held an arm. "Calm down or they won't let you near him Lita." Jeff ordered with a sympathetic look.
She took several deep breaths as both Hardy's stood by in case she made a break for the door again. After she calmed down, they went with her through the door and down the maze of hallways…it seemed like it took forever.
"Remember Lita, this could have been prevented…"
She looked up with a glare at Heyman as he stood with Brock. She turned her head, oblivious as Jeff and Matt walked near her as protection, sharing a confused glance.
They finally made it to backstage where they had brought Bradshaw back and she ran over, grabbing his still bloody hand. "Will he be all right?"
"I don't know yet miss. We're taking him to the hospital right now."
"C-can I come?"
"Only if you're related."
"Oh…" she looked down as his hand slipped from hers as he was wheeled outside and to the ambulance. She watched as the doors shut with a hallow thud and couldn't help but feel a certain level of despair as she watched them drive off, thinking of the words of that man she loathed, ringing in her ears…
End of Chapter 5
Author's Rambles~ All right, too angsty. Everything's been too angsty (sniffle)!! Well, anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. ^^ Things were looking so good for them for a few minutes there…^^;; I always feel so bad ruining the moments, but its in my blood. Chaos must rule!! Oh well, ignore the insane ramblings. ;) Let me know what you thought!! ^^