Disclaimer: I own nothing
Spoilers: Minor from RAW, 8-16-04 and beyond.
Summary: A new alliance is formed in the ranks of the RAW roster
Notes: Nothing that hasn't been said already. Just, please review.
==================================================================
Chapter Six
Chris Benoit quietly surveyed the scene before him. Two hours before RAW was set to go off, or one hour before the Heat tapings; and everyone had gathered in his locker room to discuss the strategy for the night. Beside him, the petite blonde ring announcer and opposite her Eugene and William Regal. Stretching against one wall, Randy Orton and stretched out on the floor, Lita.
Quite the crew we've assembled
The Crippler had to admit, it was quite an ..odd mix of personalities but at the same time. This group just might be able to pull of the impossible and de-throne Triple H. Or at the very least, provide Randy with the coverage to de-throne Triple H. Whatever the case, Benoit just wanted to give Hunter the beat down he deserved; the World Heavyweight Championship could wait. For now.
"Li, you're not on the card right?" Benoit sent an enquiring gaze towards the diva in question. Taking in her absent look. "Lita?"
The woman in question snapped her head upwards, blinking the daze out of her eyes. "No, I'm not..but I can always valet."
"Hm" Benoit raised a brow just slightly at the un-characteristically quiet redhead. "What's the order again?"
"As it pertains to anyone here" Lita pursed her lips in thought, scrutinizing the card. "Regal has Batista -- second match up. Chris, you have Flair to kick off the second half. And Eugene has Triple H." She frowned at the next bit. "No disqualifications and --"
"Hunter has time when the show kicks off." Orton put in quickly, raking a hand through his hair. "Which I imagine, it'll be more of the usual 'Orton, I'm going to kick your ass. Orton, you are nothing without Evolution, I am the Game..blah, blah, blah.' crap. "
"Hunter's always full of it" The Crippler shook his head. "Question is, what are you going to do about it this week?"
Randy grinned cockily, moving to the bench. "It's a surprise. A good surprise. But still, a surprise."
Chris allowed a smile at that, before he turned back to business. "Lita, you are not going anywhere near that ring. I don't trust Flair as far as I can suplex him."
"Same goes with the match that Regal has. Wherever Batista is? Flair is usually close behind."
Lita sent a look to Chris, but merely shrugged. "Then I'll just go with Eugene." She absently fisted the hem of her shirt in one hand, the other toying with a piece of paper in the binder. "I need a drink"
The diva set her things aside, propping herself upwards from the floor. "Anyone else want somethin?"
"I need to go talk to the stagehands..make sure that my" Orton grinned, "Gifts are here."
Lita nodded, tucking a few bills into her pocket. "See you in a few Chris, Regal" She nodded absently in their direction, a softer smile reserved for Eugene before a flash of red ducked out of the locker room.
=====
"So, are you intending on telling anyone what's bothering you?" Orton sent a look sideways to the redhead beside him. "Or are you just going to let it eat away at you."
Lita shrugged, swinging her arms by her sides. "I'm really under no obligation to share information. It's not a big deal."
Randy raised a brow in disbelief. "I don't buy that for a second."
"Believe what you want" She replied cooly. "It's not a big deal."
Just a chance for me to get the Women's title belt. She added mentally, forcing a smile in re-assurance at the Champ. But at what price? Does Hunter really believe I'm in the same state of mind as him? To be so consumed by that damn belt?
Lita let out a low sigh, stuffing her hands in her pockets; consumed by that devious proposal.
Why me in the first place? He could easily use Trish, Gail..hell even Stacy to take down Orton. I might be helping him now, but what makes Hunter think I have any sort of influence?
The diva chewed on her bottom lip, turning the corner when they reached one; not realizing she had gone in the opposite direction she needed to.
"If you really wanted to be" Randy raised a brow at the sign in front of them. "Near the equipment room, we've gone the right way. Otherwise? The catering hall is on the other side of the arena."
Lita blinked, forcing herself out of this fog. "Right, so -- "
"Let's go before we run into trouble" Orton offered, making a gesture for the diva to go ahead.
The rest of the walk was in silence; both consumed by Triple H to some extent. While with Orton, it was a case of humilation; with the redheaded diva it was a case of deception. And, while Randy knew full well he would carry out with his task. Would the redheaded diva?
=========
Benoit, Regal and Eugene huddled on the bench taking in the scene on the monitor. As expected, Triple H and company were in the ring and Randy Orton had left a few minutes prior. The redheaded diva was off with Victoria and Nidia, to discuss their tag team match. Benoit frowned, not just at the sight in the ring, but at the distant manner Lita was displaying. He knew that Lita had her moments but this wasn't one of them. And especially not for this long. He had to admit, a few hours of space cadet were almost expected for the redhead, but almost 24 hours? And especially at RAW. Whatever the case, Chris couldn't allocate any more thought to it as Randy was making his grand enterance.
Lita slipped into the locker room just as Randy was revealing the third and final picture. A lopsided smile was on the redheads face as she re-joined her companions; resting on the floor in front of Benoit.
"Nice touches" She remarked quietly to the group. "I just hope he's not crazy enough to go down to that ring without anyone."
"I doubt he's that stupid Lita. I mean, Flair and Hunter might be the scum of the earth; but I'll give them their due. They're quite.."
"Brilliant?" The diva snorted. "If it wasn't them I would easily agree with you Chris. But they're just masterminds of manipulation and deception."
"Lita, may I ask a favor of you?" Regal quietly broke into the conversation, wiping the look of disgust away at the mention of Triple H. "Would it be possible for you to keep an eye on the lad while I'm out in the ring?"
The redhead opened her mouth to respond, but from the corner of her eye the sight in the ring..Randy Orton holding a sledgehammer over head..distracted her.
"Damnit" She muttered quietly, raking a hand through her hair. "I'd say everything was going smoothly until that point."
"Can't do anything about it now" Chris shrugged, ruffling the woman's hair. "Let's just make this another night of hoping there are no hospital visits or blood shed."
Lita rolled her eyes in response. "Regal? Not a problem. Eugene can stay with me in the locker room."
William nodded briskly in response before he turned stern eyes to his charge. Lita on the other hand was just making her way to the door when it was swung open. Standing in the doorway, a sledgehammer-less and shirtless, Randy Orton.
"I have been ejected from the building" He rolled his eyes at the security guards assigned to the task. "I'll be in the parking lot."
"Hold on" Lita exchanged a look with Benoit and Regal before taking Eugene by the hand. "It might be safer for Eugene and I to stick with you until the main event."
Benoit raised a brow, a skeptical look in his eyes "Why would--"
"The more distance between us and Triple H? The better" Lita replied evenly, "Considering the mood he's probably in right now? It would be in the best interest of Eugene."
"Alright" Benoit dug the car keys from his gym bag, handing them off to the redhead. "I'd feel better if you sat in the car. Who knows if you might run into trouble."
Lita rolled her eyes, gathering her things and stepping aside so Randy could grab his. "I'll see you at least before this night is over, I'm sure." She pinched Chris' cheek playfully before she took Eugene by the hand; gently leading him out of the locker room.
=====
"So why did you--"
"Partly for what I did with charging the ring and all." Orton shrugged, re-shouldering his gym bag. "And for the accidental injury to our dear old boss."
The redhead blinked, sending a sideways glance to the Champ. "What did you do to Bischoff?"
Randy smirked. "Oh, he asked for the sledgehammer. So I gave it to him." Blue eyes twinkled with mischief as the three entered the parking lot. "Not my fault it landed on his foot."
Lita giggled softly at the mental image. "Nice touch."
"Eh, Bischoff's another who has it coming to him" Randy shrugged it off, leaning against this weeks chosen rental vehicle. "And in time, I'm sure he will."
"Mm" The diva agreed, hopping up to sit on the hood of the car. Over her shoulder, she hit a button on the key ring. "Eugene, why don't you sit in there."
Lita waited until Eugene was safely in the car, before she addressed Randy. "We need to get you back in that arena. If Hunter has Eugene in a no DQ match?"
"You can only do so much, I know. And with Benoit and Regal already pre-occupied."
"Yeah" She agreed quietly, swinging her legs slightly. "Which we almost all of RAW to figure out some way.."
"And more than enough time for you to explain the bruise on your arm." Orton raised a brow at the redhead, leaning against the hood of the van. "I'd be interested to know how you got a bruise the shape of a hand on your forearm."
Lita blinked, wary hazel eyes meeting inquisitve blue. "I--"
"Don't tell me it's nothing Lita, because it obviously isn't" Randy turned sideways, leaning fully against the van. "What happened?"
"Hunter wants me to help him at Unforgiven" She replied quietly, her arms coming around herself in a protective manner. "Before you got to the hotel room on Sunday? Hunter showed up with Batista and Flair."
"Why didn't you say anything before?"
The redhead shrugged, twisting strands of hair around her fingers. "It doesn't really matter. Hunter approached me, not everyone. I really didn't see the point in telling anyone."
"It matters when Hunter is threatening you" Randy bit out, his eyes flashing briefly in anger. "And what if he hadn't left?"
"I've dealt with Hunter before Randy, so it's not a big deal." Lita huffed, shaking her head ruefully. "I just don't understand why he asked me."
"Because Hunter has wanted you in Evolution, since that one night." Orton frowned thoughtfully. "Well really since you came back from your injury; Hunter wanted you in Evolution."
"Hunter can't stand me" The redhead stated rather bluntly. "Why would he--"
"Because you keep your friends close but your enemies closer. He figured that with the rest of us around? He'd be able to keep you in check. And at the same time have a pretty good shot at really getting all the gold on RAW."
"Oh" The diva frowned, chewing on her lower lip again. "Then what stopped him? He certainly had no problem insulting me at every spare moment."
"I told you before, someone always protested it." Randy left it at that before he moved away from the van to slide the door open.
For her part, the redhead remained on the hood of the van while Eugene and Randy were inside. She frowned again, both at the prospect of Unforgiven and a more important matter. How was she going to get Randy back into the arena?
================================
End Chapter Six.
A/N-Whoops, I had the name of the PPV wrong in the previous version. Next chapter to be up shortly.