Chapter 15 – Always There
A/N: A slight warning…do not read this chapter if you're not prepared for excessive sappiness. ^^;
"So I need your help, see…"
"Can you say that again? I need to remember this forever." Edge smiled one of his usual cheery grins.
She grabbed his shirt. "Help me or say no. Unless you want me to rearrange your face."
"Alright, alright, chill out." He wiggled out of her grasp. "Yeesh, no fun at all. I'll help, sure."
"Lovely." Her face instantly turned sweet. "Meet me at Chris's room...Chris Jericho? 10 minutes."
He bidded her goodbye and she suddenly wondered if she should have asked Chris about it first.
"Oh well." She said outloud, walking toward the room herself. She had called them all, they were all coming, and she had a better chance of getting through the thing without getting destroyed or destroying Raven.
She went to Chris's room, or at least the room the manager told her to go to after she threatened to kill him with the phone cord…
It was the right room, because Chris came out half asleep, his hair a mess and his clothes crinkled.
"Take a nappy?" she snickered.
"Do you have a tracking device on me or something? God!"
"Well, you are one of the most dangerous animals in the world." She smirked.
"Crikey." He added jokingly.
"I'm having a meeting here, so excuse me." She went to push past him but he stopped her.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm having a meeting." She repeated. "You're in it too, don't worry."
"Oh how nice of you, you're not going to kick me out of my own room…"
"I know, isn't it?"
"What's this meeting about? And how many people are going to be in here?"
"Man, this room is trashed." She commented, ignoring the questioning.
"Sam…"
"Don't be so pushy, I'll tell you when everyone's here." She sat on his bed, not bothering to move any of the stuff out of her way.
And they all came, even Kurt, who she was figuring wouldn't after she completely told him off earlier. Not that he didn't deserve it, mind you. Like a general speaking to her troops, she paced back and forth in front of them, looking very serious.
"Alright, as most of you know, I need your help with something. And this happens to be a big help, since this has to do with all your jobs." She stopped and faced them. "You all know how I've basically broke through the front lines, right?"
They all nodded.
"Well, apparently, now they want to take me out. I've heard through various sources that Stephy has her entire federation ready to jump me at will. At the same time. And even I know I'd get bruised up, and thus means the Alliance would have a huge victory. And no one wants that, obviously."
"So we're going to be your backup, then." Jeff spoke up.
"Basically." She nodded. "But I need you to take it easy on Raven."
"You still friends with him?" Lita asked. She nodded.
"He's the one who told me." She explained. "So, is everyone in? They're planning on doing it at tomorrow's show."
"Why not?" Edge shrugged.
The others agreed as well. She looked at them with an extremely serious look.
"And by the way, if Rob's there…he's mine." She smirked. "So mine."
No one had any objections, knowing of her…history, with him.
~~
As the meeting went on, another one commenced.
"Rob!" Raven looked surprised when he opened the door to see him standing outside his door. He gave a half-smile, looking a bit nervous for obvious reasons.
"Hello Raven." He managed.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, glaring toward him.
"Woah woah, easy man." He shook his head. "I'm not looking for trouble."
"Well, you're coming to the room you probably know Sam is in, I think that's trouble if you ask me." He huffed.
"Is she…?"
"Here? No." he smirked. "Better thank your lucky stars. She'd pummel you into a pulp if she was."
"Listen, Raven, I didn't chea…"
"Save it for someone who cares." Raven snapped. He didn't realize how mad he was at just the sight of him, but it sure was coming out that way.
"Listen, I just wanted to come over here to find out what you're going to be doing about this jumping issue." He sighed. "That's it."
"What's there to be said? She's already rallying the troops and if you're seen she's going to most definitely go after you."
"So she'll be alright?"
"Yeah, no thanks to you. Are we done here?"
"Yeah, we're done here." He said after a pause, backing off.
"Get out of here before she comes back." He slammed the door in his face after that, leaving Rob scowling but not at all surprised.
Raven, though wishing he didn't, knew somewhere in his head that Rob really didn't do what was seen. It just wasn't like him, and with him risking his ass to check on her…?
But there was no way he was going to admit it. She was over him now…and he finally had her.
So what did it matter?
"Everything." He muttered, answering his own head.
But the realization that it was just a thought – no proof that there was a folly in looking in on that kiss he was caught. And unless he found out somehow that that kiss was staged, or SOMETHING – he wouldn't say a word. Maybe he was succumbing to his own selfish wants, but he figured that without real proof she would probably yell at him or even ask if it was a way out of their relationship…
Had he really sunk so low as to be jealous of the ex boyfriend? He shook his head, resolving to just forgetting about it all. He was being stupid – she loved him, after all. She did. He just knew it.
He jumped as if he was caught doing something wrong when the door opened and Sam slid in. She gave him an odd look, walking in. She started looking around, almost suspiciously.
"What are you up to?" she asked.
"Nothing. Just thinking." He shifted a bit.
"You got to get out of that habit one day. I did that for the last god knows how many weeks, and I was a zombie. Because I was thinking into everything. Jumping to conclusions about everything before it happens. It's kind of like Romeo and Juliet, you know? He thinks she's dead, doesn't wait even a couple of minutes to weep…and what happens?"
"They both die." Raven answered.
"Exactly." She nodded. "And you can change the ending to the story."
He stared at her, then shook his head with a smile.
"Of all the lessons I've given you, you remember that one? God, you are a hopeless romantic."
"Can't say I never listened to you." She pointed out. "You know, Raven, I guess since I'm out of my depressive destructive mood, I'm expected to…" she cringed, looking down. "Apologize? For all the crap I put you through. I don't know how you keep putting up with me…"
He seemed a bit shy at moving to her, kissing her very softly on the lips. She rested her head against his once it broke.
"Never for a second think I ever was regretful for meeting you." He said with a serious tone. She pulled away, giving him an odd look.
"That was…abrupt." She raised a brow. "You're not dying, are you?"
"No, no, nothing like that." He shook his head. "Just…thought you should know."
She stared at him a couple more seconds, then smiled and shook her head.
"I don't know why I didn't start with you first." She said with a grin.
"Don't sell Rob so short. I mean, I know he did…that…to you, but he helped you find a couple of endearing qualities that you continued to pretend wasn't there. Stuff I couldn't bring out of you, since I have my current anti-social status…"
"Hmm, maybe." She shrugged. "I just don't like thinking about him anymore…and if I see him with that jumping thing, I'm going to kill him. I know it."
Raven knew he had a decision to make then – to tell her or not. Realizing that he'd just be an ass if he didn't, he took a breath. "Listen, I know this is probably going to mean nothing to you, but I'm going to feel like a jackass if I don't tell you. Sam, Rob came around today."
"He WHAT?" She asked, sounding instantly angry.
"Listen, before you get all homicidal, let me get this out. He came over with a serious look on his face, and he asked what you were going to do about the jumping thing, and even if you knew about it."
"And you told him?"
"Sam, I've known RVD for a very very long time. And I know he's not a butt kisser." He shook his head. "He wouldn't go running to Steph with the info or to suck up to you. He was just generally concerned about your safety."
"Are you actually standing up for him?" she asked, astonished.
"No, I'm not. I just thought you should know. I'm not going to stop you from doing whatever the hell you're going to do to him. I'm just telling you what happened."
He left it at that. Nothing of his suspicions that perhaps Rob WAS set up that night, nothing of his concerns that her anger was directed at the wrong person. He didn't want her to even think about it.
That didn't mean, of course, that he didn't feel bad. Because god, he felt like he was a lowlife for thinking that any information like that would change what he had. What kind of relationship was that? He breathed in deeply, sitting down on the bed and let his head hang – his braids instantly tumbled down against his cheeks. He couldn't help but act a little erratic; all of a sudden he wasn't feeling so great.
"Raven?" Sam seemed surprised at the sudden development of him not even speaking. They were mid-fight, damn it! He wasn't allowed to just quit.
"Listen, I'm not going to argue with you about this – about him. I was just stating what I felt and what I know. If you feel beating him bloody is your way to get revenge, then power to you. But don't yell at me for stating my opinion. I'm just telling you this for your own sanity, not mine."
She was taken aback by the look he shot her. It was a weird hurt look that was kind of foreign to her, and she didn't know how that fight made him look at her that way.
Then she felt it – guilt. It felt a little strange having the sense of it again. The only other person that had a look like that was…
"I'm sorry." She stated, looking a bit like a scolded child – like she was indignant at the fact she had just been officially told off, but truly did understand she had crossed the line.
He stared at her, surprised.
"You are?"
"Uh…yeah?"
"You just apologized."
"Damn, you don't have to rub it in. Jesus."
"No, no." he jumped up, startling Sam. "You just apologized."
"…And you say I have mood swings?" she eyed him curiously.
"You don't understand. I just made you apologize. You don't apologize to anyone!"
"Raven, I think we established that fact." She stated, deadpan.
He knew she didn't understand the significance of the moment – he didn't really know fully why either. It was just the fact that anyone else talking back like that would have gotten his balls kicked, or their head smashed in…
He hugged her. It was probably the most innocent movement he had ever made – he didn't even hug his parents when he was younger…when he saw them, of course. She was dually surprised at his movements, almost feeling like this one hug was ten times more intimate then any kiss she ever got from him.
He pulled away from her after a while, looking partially embarrassed. He was about as good as she was when it came to showing emotions. "Listen, Sam…never ever think I'm not on your side. I've always been on your side…because you've always been on mine. No one has ever been on my side; do you understand that? Ever."
"Raven…"
"Ha, I'm sorry." He looked away.
She had never noticed just how many times he showed his utter devotion to her, even though she had just been a horrible bitch to him half the time, taking all her frustration out on him. She swallowed slowly, letting it all sink in. He was actually vulnerable at the moment, letting out all these things that she never even thought about. She hadn't taken into consideration that she might actually really truly fall for him in the deep way she loved Rob. She had promised herself she'd never get herself into this position again but…
"God, I do love you." She said to him but more to herself.
"Sam, you don't have to…"
She pulled him into a kiss, cutting him off. It wasn't their usual one, no; this one was entirely different.
This one was real.