A/N: Ugh…. Looking through my last chapter, I realized a few mistakes… The only one I'm going to bother to say is wrong was 'tonight you're teaming up against your ex-boyfriend'. It was supposed to be 'tonight you're teaming up with your ex-boyfriend'. Whatever…
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Dangerous Business
Chapter XXXIII
RAW is War
Rob Van Dam blinked, staring ahead of him where Liz had stood only moments ago. His hands were limp at his sides as he stared, his eyes trained on the empty air as her words resounded through his head. 'I'd be fine if you were never born.' He leaned against the wall, eyes wide. It's just because you broke up with her, he told himself with empty reassurance.
"Hey, Rob!" his eyes closed tighter at the voice. Hadn't the walrus had enough? "What's the matter?" Rob's eyes flashed open at the sickening tone in Paul Heyman's voice.
"Nothing," he grunted in reply, shoving himself away from the wall, glaring at Paul. "Why the hell are you here?"
Paul pretended too look offended, pressing a hand to his suit. As soon as his hand dropped, he just laughed, and replied, "I can walk wherever I please," he raised his hands in the air, bringing his thumbs toward him as he finished, "R-V-D." Rob glared at him intensely, forcing his arms to stay at his sides. "Now listen," Paul continued, seriously. "You have a decision to make," he spoke slowly, rubbing in the words as he did so. "Either you do things my way, and leave Liz during the match, or you don't do as I say, and watch as the Big Show demolishes her."
Rob looked up at him, anger flaring. He wanted nothing more than to strike out against the fat, oily-haired man in front of him, but if he did… Rob winced inwardly. Really, what did it matter what he did anymore? She had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him… So why would he still care? Why did he still love her? "Great choice," Rob said dryly, "I can either have Steven and Victoria beat on her, or the Big Show."
"I know which one I would prefer," Paul said brightly, and almost flinched at the dark look that emitted from RVD. He won't hurt me, he told himself reassuringly, but took a step back, just in case… Not many people had survived Rob's wrath-and he needed to keep this up to ensure his safety.
"You wouldn't prefer anyone," Rob spat in a low voice, "You'd just want her gone."
Paul took in a deep breath, and shrugged. "Hey," he said, dark eyes glittering. He was testing Rob's limits now. "Wouldn't be a big loss." His grin on his face widened as RVD almost reached out to punch him, but fell to his sides. Looking at RVD in superiority, he said, "Make the right choice tonight, Rob. Or you'll live to regret it."
Pressing his palms to his forehead, Rob said, his voice muffled, "I'm already regretting my mistake in listening to you."
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Liz closed her eyes, hugging her knees to her chest. Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that she should be heading to the curtains, but she didn't move to get up and instead set her chin on her knees. She had thought that maybe, just maybe, getting him to hate her would do the trick. Clear up the lingering feelings for him. But instead it'd done the exact opposite. The look on his face as she'd said those words haunted her mind. With a sudden surge of pent-up frustration, she shoved one foot over the side of the case, slamming her fist into the wall behind her, savoring the physical pain searing up her arm. Physical pain she dealt with, but this? She couldn't handle this.
Vaguely and uselessly, she wished for the old days, the days when she'd just started in the WWE. When she'd gone out with her friends every night, when she'd been striving for the Women's Championship and acceptance with the fans…and when she'd been happy. Happy. In love. Deliriously happy. Moaning something beneath her breath, she leaned against the wall. Back when she'd been with Rob. Back when things had been so simple, when the biggest thing she had to worry about was whether or not she'd win the next match.
And that day when Rob had broken up with her that had started it all. It tore her up inside, the very fact that he broke up with her, but it strengthened her ties to her friends, her family. But it clouded the way she used to understand her own feelings. That night she'd made the mistake of letting Brock kiss her. The fact that she let it happen hurt her, dirty words forming in her mind about what people would call her if they knew.
By then she didn't even know what was happening. She locked herself away from the others, sinking into a pool of unbearable pain. And the thing she cursed herself for doing most of all was letting Brock help her out of it. Why didn't she see through him? He was a monster, and she let herself believe she loved him. She forced herself to.
"Liz?!" her head jerked up, and she stubbornly pushed the tears away from her face as she looked at the stagehand in front of her. "Your match-Steven and Victoria are already headed out there…" Liz stared at the stagehand for a second, and then stood up, heading for the curtains, not bothering to thank the man. As she neared the curtains, she let out a small sigh, bouncing on her toes as her mind shut out everything but the match.
Her entrance music pounded through the speakers as she stepped past the curtains, not daring to look back where Rob would surely be. Liz watched as Victoria and Steven Richards leapt through the ropes, making a beeline to her. She steadied herself, and jumped forward at Victoria when she was close, slamming her thigh into Victoria's chin, sending the crazed Diva careening backward.
Liz barely dodged the Steven kick, his boot skimming past her face as she leaned back. Steven turned quickly as Liz regained her balance, and speared her into the fence-like barrier. She let in a sharp hiss of pain, her hand flipping to her back as she remained on all fours, never letting her eyes leave Steven. As Rob's music blared through the arena, Steven lifted her onto her shoulders, waking toward the steel steps. He tossed her onto them, her face and arms slapping forcefully into the steel. Liz clutched her left arm, watching as RVD ran to Steven, crashing into him from behind. Victoria stood up, making her way to help Steven out, but Liz ran forward and delivered a dropkick, her left arm again slapping against the floor. RVD rolled Steven into the ring, and the women made their separate ways to the apron, and the ring bell finally sounded. Across the ring, Victoria glared at Liz, who scowled right back at her.
"It was only a week ago that Liz speared Triple H off of a steel cage, King," J.R. said, keeping a careful eye on the monitor in front of him. "Vince announced on Thursday that he had people reviewing the tapes of Raw to see just who won the match-but until then it remains a draw." The crowd cheered as RVD remained in control of the match. Rob concentrated on Steven. His focus wavered every now and then, and he struggled to remain on top. Suddenly, Steven bounced off the ropes, clotheslining Rob, and running for the tag to Victoria. By the time Victoria made it through the ropes, Rob was on his feet. Victoria paused, and pointed to Liz. Rob shrugged, and tagged Liz in. The brunette leapt through the ropes, ducking a clothesline from Victoria and securing her arms around Victoria's waist from the back, lifting the former Women's Champion with a German Suplex. As soon as Victoria stood once more, she dropped her with a spinning heel kick.
Rob watched as Liz dominated Victoria with trained and focused skill. He leaned on the ropes, cheers of the crowd drowning in his ears as the mat shook beneath his feet. Suddenly, Victoria pulled off a Russian Leg Sweep, and jumped to get a tag from Steven. RVD swore underneath his breath as Steven pulled off a spinebuster. Steven grabbed Liz's bandaged left arm and pulled on it, putting one leg over her throat and the other next to the top of her head, pinning her down. Rob closed his eyes tightly, gripping the ropes with his hands as he watched Liz cry out in pain.
He had to make his decision… And the countdown was on.
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A/N: I might not have another chapter up this coming weekend because I have to read an 800 page book (that's in size 8 font and gives me a headache to read) by the end of October. Won't be that hard, but I probably won't get the time to type up another chapter. Anyway, please review!
And by the way, don't think that I'm forgetting Evolution. Nope. They're alive (unfortunately). More parts of Dominique will come soon… And since I'm evil, I'm not throwing any hints on whether or not she's going to be okay!
Okay, I realized that the timing for my story is *completely* screwed up but that's okay! Anyway, I'm probably going to have Wrestlemania coming up sometime soon.
Anyway, please review!! Thanks!!
LittleKnux2008