Chapter 10
The show 12/10/2003 (as taken from www.nwatna.com): CM Punk and Julio Dinero were shown in a pre-taped interview, saying they were sure that Raven had their back, just like they had Raven's back.
CM Punk & Julio Dinero def. Red Shirts Kevin Northcutt & Legend and Raven beat Abyss. Then challenged them to a cage match. The cage match happened 12/17/2003. To put is bluntly: Punk and Julio turned on Raven.
Raven smiled. "Gee Punk? How did you miss your mouth?"
"That isn't funny, Raven." Punk glared as the water from his bottle ran down his shirt. He'd missed and now looked like part of a wet T-shirt contest.
"Actually," Raven snickered. "A wet CM Punk is kinda hot."
Punk smiled. "Oh really?" He pouted. "Well its still not nice and as punishment I am going to look for Julio." He headed towards the door.
The older man sighed and nodded. Julio had been missing for a little while. Sending Punk to hunt him down was probably not the best of ideas, but would keep them both busy till the cage match. Once more Raven wondered if he should do this. He wanted this match to end his fued with the Red Shirts and Abyss, but it but the men he loved directly into the line of fire. He winced; okay fire wasn't the best choice in wording. But a blood bath match put them in danger nonetheless. Lots of danger.
***~~~***
Punk frowned as he rounded the hallway to the offices. He was still trying to wring the water out of his shirt and hadn't found Julio. Suddenly, Don Callis was in front of him. He snarled and started to run his mouth, but was cut off.
"Just the person I was looking for." Callis smiled.
"Hell no Callis. Find someone else." He started to walk off.
Callis laughed. "Julio's in my office. You might want to accompany me there. Your precious Raven could be in more trouble if you don't." Punk blanched as Callis leered at him. "Oh, don't think for a second I don't know about the three of you. Fucking each other in the hotel room. I think it would be beneficial to keep that information secret, don't you?" He glared. "My office. Now."
Punk went, and as he opened the door he saw Julio. His lover was shaking with anger and had tears in his eyes. This was looking to be so not good,
***~~~***
Raven was pacing the locker room when Punk and Julio returned. He took one look at them and lost all anger. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Punk sighed, looking away.
"Bullshit." Raven grabbed Julio's arm. "What happened?"
Punk snapped. "We ran into Calllis okay? Let's just say it wasn't the most pleasant meeting."
Raven growled. "What did he say?"
Julio reached out and touched Raven's chest gently. "Just the usual crap. Kinda got us down. Relax Raven. We've done the promo and will be going out soon."
"Fine. Don't tell me." Raven laughed. "I'm sure it will be worth it too see the smirk wiped off his face when we win and I get the title."
"Hey Raven," Punk stood in front of him, suddenly very serious. "You know we both love you right?"
Raven nodded. "I love you guys too." He grinned. "It feels so strange to say that, but I do."
Punk closed his eyes and put his hands on either side of Raven's face as Julio's arms wrapped around him from behind and Julio nuzzled his neck. "We do love you Raven." Julio muttered.
"Uh, guys?" Raven asked. "What's up?"
Punk kissed him softly. "Just making sure you know we love you."
"Be careful out there, Raven." Julio added with a squeeze.
"Yeah." Raven grinned evilly. "Lets go kick some big fat ass!" He pulled out of their grasp and walked out the door.
Punk and Julio shared a look. "Fuck," the younger one said, biting his lip.
"I know." Julio pulled him into a quick hug. "I know." Then they followed Raven out.
***~~~***
Julio passed Raven and saw him smile. The match was going so well. An how he hated it. Seconds later, he felt a hit to his head and the next thing he knew was that he was really high up on a table, and his body wasn't responding.
Suddenly Raven was beside him, in pain, but holding his arm. He saw Legend fall beside him and realized he was about to have been compost if it hadn't been for Punk, who pushed Legend off and Raven, who stood ready to yank him off the table. It was Raven who pulled him down after that. Almost in a cradle position, then let him slide to the floor. The older man grinned and made sure Julio was all right before running back into the fray. Julio wished they had let Legend slam into him. Unconscious would be a good place to be right now.
In a few minutes it would be over. He spared a moment to curse Don Callis and Jeff Jarrett again, then fought his way to Punk's side. The look on the blondes face said it all, they had to do it soon or he was going to break.
After handcuffing the Red Shirts to the ropes and giving them a double chair shot, Julio turned to look at Punk. Raven stood between them, ready to give Abyss the Evenflow DDT. A glance and it was agreed. They lifted the chairs and nailed Raven.
Julio and Punk walked out of the ring. Jeering at Raven and the fans. They joined Jeff Jarrett and Callis Co. and proceeded to be utter asses.
Julio looked back at Raven before they walked through the curtain and felt his heart shatter. Raven looked … Raven didn't look so good. Punk made a small whimper and headed through the curtain. As soon as Julio passed in, Punk grabbed him in a hug and began to shake.
"Very well done boys." Callis said, clapping a fuming Julio on the arm. "Let's go to my office."
They silently followed.
***~~~***
Raven sat in the ring, head in his hands. He couldn't believe it. They had… they had…. He couldn't even think it.
Betrayed.
Again.
***~~~***
"What do you mean this is all we get?" Julio thundered.
Punk kicked the table. "You promised us his contract!"
Don Callis smiled mockingly. "Now if I was to hand over Raven's contract, what's to stop you from going and telling him what you did? You gave your word to turn on him so I wouldn't tear up his contract and kick him out. I never said I'd give you his contract."
Punk howled. "You said you'd let him keep his job if we turned on him. We did. So we want to make sure you don't go back on your word."
"Oh I won't." Callis frowned. "But that doesn't mean it will stay that way. As long as you two are against him, he stays in the company."
Julio began shaking again. This was never how he thought it would be. "If you keep the contract, what's to keep us from telling him anyway?"
"The fact that he will be out of a job and labeled as a guy who fucks his allies."
Punk cringed. "Fuck you Callis."
Callis laughed. "I think Raven fucked you out already CM Punk."
Julio nearly went over the desk, but Callis held his hands up, stopping him. "What if I gave you a copy," Callis negotiated. "That way you get to hold a part of his safety in your hands. If I fire him, you can attempt to use it to get him back in."
Punk sighed. "That is the best offer we are going to get isn't it?"
"I'd say so," Callis nodded. "You saved your lover's career." He said with scorn.
Punk grabbed the copy of Raven's contract. "See you January 7. Lets go Julio." He walked out, less like Punk than he had ever been. Julio glared one last time at Callis, and followed.
They got back to Julio's rental and saw Raven's car still in the lot. "Let's go back to the hotel and get our things. He isn't going to want to see us." Julio said quietly.
Punk nodded and they drove off to the sound of his heartbroken sobs.
***~~~***
Raven walked into a dark hotel room. Once in which they had just shared hours ago. The bed was still messed up from their morning. But, all the things that had belonged to Julio and Punk were gone. He quickly moved to the phone to call for a new room. On the table was a piece of paper and on top of that, Punk's plastic ring he got out of the quarter machine, just a few weeks ago and Julio's leather bracelet that Raven and Punk kept stealing to wear themselves.
His eyes misted over as he picked up the items and held them. The piece of paper he held up to the light. He frowned. What the hell was a copy of his contract doing in this room? With Punk and Julio's things on it? A thousand excuses ran through his mind, but settled on none. The tears he had tried to ignore came rolling down. He slid the ring on, and snapped the bracelet around his wrist. He lay back on the bed and reached across for the mini-bar. Getting a room with one while Punk was there didn't matter, but now, the cold comfort of alcohol was all he had.
It's all he started with.
A/N: So guys, thanks for the ride, this is the last chapter. Unless they get over this crap and they get back together. This sucked to write as much as it sucked to see. I very much hope that someday I can make this happy, but for now, I can't. Drug of Choice has been fun and it hurt to do this. I should have a Christmas and New Years specials for the boys, just forgetting this whole thing never happened. We shall see.