Title: The Road Less Traveled (38/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thanks for the review! In this chapter: Shannon and Matt enlist Rey Mysterio and Edge's help in trapping Tara. Shannon issues a powerful ultimatum.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals.
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Tara didn't make it to the pre-show autograph session. It was just as well as seeing Shannon so close would probably have hurt too much. She decided to wait with a bunch of other wrestling fans near the parking area designated for the performers, deciding that it would be the best place for her to see how Shannon and Matt were and still hide. She doubted Shannon would recognize her if she walked by him, but Matt had looked into her eyes and he would remember them. They were a unique shade of blue.
There were quite a number of fans waiting outside vying for the best spot to see and be seen by their favorite performers. Tara hung back and to the side to be less visible and to avoid attention. She craned her neck around a pole to see the door as she heard it creak open. Rey Mysterio was the first to exit, followed by his new tag team partner, Edge. A lot of the female fans waiting started cheering and screaming while snapping pictures. The wrestlers smiled and waved as they made their way over to the far area where Tara presumed their cars were parked. She paid them no mind when they left her sight.
She looked back to the door and saw Torrie Wilson and Billy Kidman walking out with Nidia and Maven. They all waved and piled into a sedan, speeding off. The next to exit were John Cena and Tajiri, followed closely by Jamie Noble and Dawn Marie. They all spent a little time interacting with the fans before leaving in various vehicles. Little by little, more stars trickled out of the building.
Then the door opened and Matt stepped through to a mixture of cheers and boos. Tara smiled and shook her head slightly, noting the cheesy grin and the hand signal Matt gave everyone. She was so glad he looked well. She'd been very worried about the look on his face when he'd last seen her. He'd believed that the blood was all hers and she was slowly bleeding to death. She felt horrible about the deception. Suddenly she noticed that Shannon had followed Matt out. Tara stopped breathing for a few seconds and just took in the sight of him. He'd lost a bit of weight and had dark circles under his eyes, but was otherwise healthy. She stared and stared at him, burning his image into her mind.
"Yeah, she's got to be the one," she heard next to her in a low voice. She turned quickly, realizing she'd been so focused on Shannon that she'd tuned out everything else. Rey Mysterio regarded her with an inscrutable expression. Deciding she didn't want to cause a scene in front of all of these people, she backed away and into a muscular object behind her. Wincing she looked above her into a very tall, blonde man's eyes. He was looking down at her with a wry grin.
"Going somewhere?" Edge asked, gripping Tara's upper arms.
She jerked away and shot forward, only to be grabbed by someone from the side. She turned to confront her new assailant and looked into Shannon's piercing gaze. Matt stood just behind him ready to help subdue her. Edge and Rey had moved in behind her effectively cutting off any easy escape route.
"Rio Angele," Rey whistled.
"No' anymo'," Shannon hissed not taking his eyes off her. "She's Tara now. Nice t' see ya again, baby."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she retorted icily.
"Don' even try lyin' t' us," Matt snapped. "I been havin' nightmares about those eyes."
She looked down in a huff and said nothing further.
"I's gonna be like that, huh?" Shannon said with a laugh. "Fine, then. Matt, git th' car. We're leavin'."
"We're still catching a ride with you guys, right?" Edge asked, securing Tara from behind with his massive frame.
"'Ow else we gonna keeper in th' car till we git there?" Matt said over his shoulder.
Tara stood still fuming over her own stupidity. Shannon tipped her head back up to him forcing her to make eye contact. He looked her over hungrily and held her chin tighter when she tried to look away.
"I kno' yo' gonna try to git away th' first chance ya git," he said.
Edge gave a low laugh behind her. She felt it rumble through him as he held her tightly against him so that Shannon could speak to her. Rey stood to her left watching her like a hawk. The fans took everything in with cheers, thinking this was part of a storyline or something. Tara ignored them, waiting for Shannon to continue.
"Yo' gonna wanna hear what Matt an' I 'ave t' say befo' ya do that, tho'," he said caressing her cheek. "I's gonna change yo' mind radically."
Before he could say anything else, Matt pulled up in a large SUV and Shannon pulled Tara into the back seat with Edge following closely behind. Rey walked around the front and got into the passenger seat.
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He had her. He had her! He finally had her! Shannon couldn't keep his eyes or his hands off of her now that she was with him. It was as if he had to constantly reassure himself that she was really there. That he wasn't just dreaming it. Shannon was determined to keep her with him, though. Nothing and nobody was going to pry her away from him again. His heart was racing with all that he wanted to say to her. But he'd wait until he had her alone.
She sat stiffly between him and Adam looking forward, almost as if she were going to her own execution. He ran a hand through her straight dark blonde hair. It was so soft. So was her skin. He drank in the sight of her without her costume and smiled. She wouldn't look at him but he knew she saw him out of the corner of her eye. She'd reddened slightly at his smile. He looked up and caught Edge staring at her as well. A small possessive pang speared him for a moment, but it passed as he remembered that Adam was happily married, as was Rey.
He looked forward and saw that Rey was also looking at her with interest. Tara paid them no attention, suddenly becoming very attentive to her fingernails.
"They say you're almost as fast as me," Rey taunted softly. Shannon knew the smaller man meant no disrespect and was trying to draw her out. The ride to the hotel would be a long one and the normally masked man was curious.
"Whatever," Tara responded noncommittally.
He knew she was a Yankee from the few times when she let her Russian accent falter. He wasn't able to pinpoint the voice until now though. He liked it. It was gentle yet full of confidence.
"I don't believe it either," Rey said with a cocky grin.
Tara had apparently tired of his goading. "If you would like a demonstration, Rey Mysterio, I am sure it can be arranged easily enough," she hissed in full Rio character with flashing eyes he'd never had the chance to see before. Rey's grin widened, as did Adam's. Neither man had ever met Rio and both seemed quite taken with her.
"S'enough," Shannon said with a smile of his own.
"Please let me leave, Shannon," Tara turned to him pleadingly still using the Russian accent. "I do not want anything to happen to you."
"Yo' stayin'," he said emphatically. "An' no' jus' fo' tonight."
"But . . ."
"NO BUTS!" Matt yelled from the driver's seat, glaring at her through the rear view mirror. "Ya 'ave NO idea what yo' leavin' did ta us. All o' us! Yo' gonna listen ta what we gotta say. An' drop th' accent! We kno' yo' a yank! We wantcha anyway." This last line was delivered with the patented Matt Hardy grin.
Tara, clearly surprised at Matt's outburst, fell glumly silent beside Shannon. He took her hand and held it tightly. No way was she getting out of this. She was his again.
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After they arrived at the hotel and Rey and Adam helped them escort Tara to their room without incident, Shannon pushed her through the door and shut it firmly behind him so that she was trapped between him and Matt. The taller man immediately grabbed her and swung her around.
"I thought fo' sure you were dead," he said with tears forming. "Don' eva leave us again!"
"I did what I had to do," Tara responded, but hugged him back with equal ferocity. "Besides, I almost was dead."
Matt's blood ran cold for a moment. "What do you mean?" he demanded setting her down but not letting her go. He held her gaze as he waited for an answer, knowing full well she would try to side step the subject if he gave her any chance. She took a few deep breaths and finally spoke.
"When Sven told me Henry planned to kill me that night, he said he and Justin had come up with a counter plan to make him think I was dead so I could get away," she said a bit shakily. "I didn't think he would attack you guys. When I heard what he planned I knew I was going to have to leave you all, too."
Matt's heart was breaking for her as he listened. He looked up and met Shannon's stoic gaze. He could tell the younger man wasn't happy with what he was hearing either. Returning his eyes to Tara, he quietly urged her to continue.
"I called Shannon to hear his voice one last time," she said, tears spilling. "I knew I couldn't put his life at risk any longer. When I fought Sasquatch, I knew the knives he would use would have been coated with the same poison they tried to kill Todd with."
"Todd?" Shannon asked.
"Fury," she said looking down. "His real name is Todd."
"An' 'ow d'ya kno' this?" Shannon asked a bit possessively. Matt smiled softly and squeezed Tara's hands.
"Because Sven and Justin adopted him, too," she said evenly. "He helped me recover just like they did. He's my brother now."
"Anotha brotha?!" Shannon exploded. Tara smiled at Matt, who knew Shannon missed the exchange. "Why ya need so many?"
"He and I share a lot in common, Shannon," she said turning to look at the blonde man. "But share no romantic interest whatsoever. I already told you why. I love you and that will never change."
Shannon eyes shone brightly when he heard that. He quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly before letting her go again and waiting for her to continue her story. She took a few seconds to collect herself.
"Anyway," she said looking back at Matt to concentrate on what she was saying. Matt tried not to look as amused as he was. "The knives were coated in a higher level of poison so Henry could be quite sure I was dead. But Justin found me soon after I left you and hid me in the trunk of his car. He then got Sven to rush me back home where they began to detoxify my blood immediately. Since the wound was small and I stopped most of the poison from getting into me, I was able to recover fairly quickly."
"Small wound?" Matt asked confused. "I saw th' amount o' blood ya lost. It was no small wound."
"It was," she clarified. "The blood you saw wasn't mine. Sven taped a blood bag to my thigh so that Henry and his goons would think the knife went through."
Matt felt a rush of relief go through him. He pulled her to him for another hug and held her tightly. "Yo' neva goin' anywhere without us eva again, ya kno' that?"
"I can't stay with you!" she protested.
"Like hell ya cain'!" Shannon said darkly. "If ya don' stay wit' me, I'm gonna go afta Henry myself!"
"WHAT?!" Tara shrieked in Matt's ear. He laughed a little and let her pull away to face her boyfriend. She was all Rio at that moment. Shannon looked unimpressed.
"Ya 'eard me," he said. "I mean ta leave 'ere an' go inta th' Series ta kill 'im."
"You cannot do that," she said, Russian accent firmly in place. "He will kill you first."
"We'll see," the blonde man responded.
"Do not do that," she pleaded with him.
"Don' leave me," he countered spearing her with his brilliant green gaze.
She stared at him uncertainly for such a long time Matt was afraid she would run. He knew how desperately she wanted to avoid hurting Shannon and she believed that staying with him would put in great danger, not only from Henry but from her own terrible luck from her past. But Shannon was giving her no option.
"I mean it, baby," he said softly. "Ya leave me eva again an' I'll do it."
She finally nodded silently. And Matt knew she would never leave them again.
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thanks for the review! In this chapter: Shannon and Matt enlist Rey Mysterio and Edge's help in trapping Tara. Shannon issues a powerful ultimatum.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals.
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Tara didn't make it to the pre-show autograph session. It was just as well as seeing Shannon so close would probably have hurt too much. She decided to wait with a bunch of other wrestling fans near the parking area designated for the performers, deciding that it would be the best place for her to see how Shannon and Matt were and still hide. She doubted Shannon would recognize her if she walked by him, but Matt had looked into her eyes and he would remember them. They were a unique shade of blue.
There were quite a number of fans waiting outside vying for the best spot to see and be seen by their favorite performers. Tara hung back and to the side to be less visible and to avoid attention. She craned her neck around a pole to see the door as she heard it creak open. Rey Mysterio was the first to exit, followed by his new tag team partner, Edge. A lot of the female fans waiting started cheering and screaming while snapping pictures. The wrestlers smiled and waved as they made their way over to the far area where Tara presumed their cars were parked. She paid them no mind when they left her sight.
She looked back to the door and saw Torrie Wilson and Billy Kidman walking out with Nidia and Maven. They all waved and piled into a sedan, speeding off. The next to exit were John Cena and Tajiri, followed closely by Jamie Noble and Dawn Marie. They all spent a little time interacting with the fans before leaving in various vehicles. Little by little, more stars trickled out of the building.
Then the door opened and Matt stepped through to a mixture of cheers and boos. Tara smiled and shook her head slightly, noting the cheesy grin and the hand signal Matt gave everyone. She was so glad he looked well. She'd been very worried about the look on his face when he'd last seen her. He'd believed that the blood was all hers and she was slowly bleeding to death. She felt horrible about the deception. Suddenly she noticed that Shannon had followed Matt out. Tara stopped breathing for a few seconds and just took in the sight of him. He'd lost a bit of weight and had dark circles under his eyes, but was otherwise healthy. She stared and stared at him, burning his image into her mind.
"Yeah, she's got to be the one," she heard next to her in a low voice. She turned quickly, realizing she'd been so focused on Shannon that she'd tuned out everything else. Rey Mysterio regarded her with an inscrutable expression. Deciding she didn't want to cause a scene in front of all of these people, she backed away and into a muscular object behind her. Wincing she looked above her into a very tall, blonde man's eyes. He was looking down at her with a wry grin.
"Going somewhere?" Edge asked, gripping Tara's upper arms.
She jerked away and shot forward, only to be grabbed by someone from the side. She turned to confront her new assailant and looked into Shannon's piercing gaze. Matt stood just behind him ready to help subdue her. Edge and Rey had moved in behind her effectively cutting off any easy escape route.
"Rio Angele," Rey whistled.
"No' anymo'," Shannon hissed not taking his eyes off her. "She's Tara now. Nice t' see ya again, baby."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she retorted icily.
"Don' even try lyin' t' us," Matt snapped. "I been havin' nightmares about those eyes."
She looked down in a huff and said nothing further.
"I's gonna be like that, huh?" Shannon said with a laugh. "Fine, then. Matt, git th' car. We're leavin'."
"We're still catching a ride with you guys, right?" Edge asked, securing Tara from behind with his massive frame.
"'Ow else we gonna keeper in th' car till we git there?" Matt said over his shoulder.
Tara stood still fuming over her own stupidity. Shannon tipped her head back up to him forcing her to make eye contact. He looked her over hungrily and held her chin tighter when she tried to look away.
"I kno' yo' gonna try to git away th' first chance ya git," he said.
Edge gave a low laugh behind her. She felt it rumble through him as he held her tightly against him so that Shannon could speak to her. Rey stood to her left watching her like a hawk. The fans took everything in with cheers, thinking this was part of a storyline or something. Tara ignored them, waiting for Shannon to continue.
"Yo' gonna wanna hear what Matt an' I 'ave t' say befo' ya do that, tho'," he said caressing her cheek. "I's gonna change yo' mind radically."
Before he could say anything else, Matt pulled up in a large SUV and Shannon pulled Tara into the back seat with Edge following closely behind. Rey walked around the front and got into the passenger seat.
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He had her. He had her! He finally had her! Shannon couldn't keep his eyes or his hands off of her now that she was with him. It was as if he had to constantly reassure himself that she was really there. That he wasn't just dreaming it. Shannon was determined to keep her with him, though. Nothing and nobody was going to pry her away from him again. His heart was racing with all that he wanted to say to her. But he'd wait until he had her alone.
She sat stiffly between him and Adam looking forward, almost as if she were going to her own execution. He ran a hand through her straight dark blonde hair. It was so soft. So was her skin. He drank in the sight of her without her costume and smiled. She wouldn't look at him but he knew she saw him out of the corner of her eye. She'd reddened slightly at his smile. He looked up and caught Edge staring at her as well. A small possessive pang speared him for a moment, but it passed as he remembered that Adam was happily married, as was Rey.
He looked forward and saw that Rey was also looking at her with interest. Tara paid them no attention, suddenly becoming very attentive to her fingernails.
"They say you're almost as fast as me," Rey taunted softly. Shannon knew the smaller man meant no disrespect and was trying to draw her out. The ride to the hotel would be a long one and the normally masked man was curious.
"Whatever," Tara responded noncommittally.
He knew she was a Yankee from the few times when she let her Russian accent falter. He wasn't able to pinpoint the voice until now though. He liked it. It was gentle yet full of confidence.
"I don't believe it either," Rey said with a cocky grin.
Tara had apparently tired of his goading. "If you would like a demonstration, Rey Mysterio, I am sure it can be arranged easily enough," she hissed in full Rio character with flashing eyes he'd never had the chance to see before. Rey's grin widened, as did Adam's. Neither man had ever met Rio and both seemed quite taken with her.
"S'enough," Shannon said with a smile of his own.
"Please let me leave, Shannon," Tara turned to him pleadingly still using the Russian accent. "I do not want anything to happen to you."
"Yo' stayin'," he said emphatically. "An' no' jus' fo' tonight."
"But . . ."
"NO BUTS!" Matt yelled from the driver's seat, glaring at her through the rear view mirror. "Ya 'ave NO idea what yo' leavin' did ta us. All o' us! Yo' gonna listen ta what we gotta say. An' drop th' accent! We kno' yo' a yank! We wantcha anyway." This last line was delivered with the patented Matt Hardy grin.
Tara, clearly surprised at Matt's outburst, fell glumly silent beside Shannon. He took her hand and held it tightly. No way was she getting out of this. She was his again.
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After they arrived at the hotel and Rey and Adam helped them escort Tara to their room without incident, Shannon pushed her through the door and shut it firmly behind him so that she was trapped between him and Matt. The taller man immediately grabbed her and swung her around.
"I thought fo' sure you were dead," he said with tears forming. "Don' eva leave us again!"
"I did what I had to do," Tara responded, but hugged him back with equal ferocity. "Besides, I almost was dead."
Matt's blood ran cold for a moment. "What do you mean?" he demanded setting her down but not letting her go. He held her gaze as he waited for an answer, knowing full well she would try to side step the subject if he gave her any chance. She took a few deep breaths and finally spoke.
"When Sven told me Henry planned to kill me that night, he said he and Justin had come up with a counter plan to make him think I was dead so I could get away," she said a bit shakily. "I didn't think he would attack you guys. When I heard what he planned I knew I was going to have to leave you all, too."
Matt's heart was breaking for her as he listened. He looked up and met Shannon's stoic gaze. He could tell the younger man wasn't happy with what he was hearing either. Returning his eyes to Tara, he quietly urged her to continue.
"I called Shannon to hear his voice one last time," she said, tears spilling. "I knew I couldn't put his life at risk any longer. When I fought Sasquatch, I knew the knives he would use would have been coated with the same poison they tried to kill Todd with."
"Todd?" Shannon asked.
"Fury," she said looking down. "His real name is Todd."
"An' 'ow d'ya kno' this?" Shannon asked a bit possessively. Matt smiled softly and squeezed Tara's hands.
"Because Sven and Justin adopted him, too," she said evenly. "He helped me recover just like they did. He's my brother now."
"Anotha brotha?!" Shannon exploded. Tara smiled at Matt, who knew Shannon missed the exchange. "Why ya need so many?"
"He and I share a lot in common, Shannon," she said turning to look at the blonde man. "But share no romantic interest whatsoever. I already told you why. I love you and that will never change."
Shannon eyes shone brightly when he heard that. He quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly before letting her go again and waiting for her to continue her story. She took a few seconds to collect herself.
"Anyway," she said looking back at Matt to concentrate on what she was saying. Matt tried not to look as amused as he was. "The knives were coated in a higher level of poison so Henry could be quite sure I was dead. But Justin found me soon after I left you and hid me in the trunk of his car. He then got Sven to rush me back home where they began to detoxify my blood immediately. Since the wound was small and I stopped most of the poison from getting into me, I was able to recover fairly quickly."
"Small wound?" Matt asked confused. "I saw th' amount o' blood ya lost. It was no small wound."
"It was," she clarified. "The blood you saw wasn't mine. Sven taped a blood bag to my thigh so that Henry and his goons would think the knife went through."
Matt felt a rush of relief go through him. He pulled her to him for another hug and held her tightly. "Yo' neva goin' anywhere without us eva again, ya kno' that?"
"I can't stay with you!" she protested.
"Like hell ya cain'!" Shannon said darkly. "If ya don' stay wit' me, I'm gonna go afta Henry myself!"
"WHAT?!" Tara shrieked in Matt's ear. He laughed a little and let her pull away to face her boyfriend. She was all Rio at that moment. Shannon looked unimpressed.
"Ya 'eard me," he said. "I mean ta leave 'ere an' go inta th' Series ta kill 'im."
"You cannot do that," she said, Russian accent firmly in place. "He will kill you first."
"We'll see," the blonde man responded.
"Do not do that," she pleaded with him.
"Don' leave me," he countered spearing her with his brilliant green gaze.
She stared at him uncertainly for such a long time Matt was afraid she would run. He knew how desperately she wanted to avoid hurting Shannon and she believed that staying with him would put in great danger, not only from Henry but from her own terrible luck from her past. But Shannon was giving her no option.
"I mean it, baby," he said softly. "Ya leave me eva again an' I'll do it."
She finally nodded silently. And Matt knew she would never leave them again.