Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. As always the italics are flashbacks - this time to their time in WWE. I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Disclaimer: I only own my OC and anything you do not recognize. I am in no way affiliated with AEW.
The Judas Effect
The Betrayal
Jon and Marley arrived at the arena early. They were meeting with the rest of the inner circle to discuss their segment. Marley followed Jon into the dressing room they were going to share for the evening. She unzipped her suitcase and grabbed her attire for the night: a black strapless crop top, red camo pants, and black sneakers. She sat them out so she could change into them later in the evening.
"You know I'm going to miss working with you and traveling with you." She frowned. She sat down on the leather couch and watched as Jon got his attire out for the evening. Jon was scheduled to have a match with Sammy Guevara. Afterward the Inner Circle would attack Jon to continue the build for his eventual match with Chris for the AEW World Championship.
"I'll miss you too babe, but it's only when we are on the road. Plus we get to sneak around at the hotel so none of the fans find out." He smirked. "That will be exciting."
Marley shook her head, fighting a smile. "You're terrible."
"C'mon you love it."
"No. I love you. Your terribleness is just something I have to deal with."
"So you love me enough to put up with me?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Exactly - see you understand." She giggled at his disgruntled expression. "Seriously. I don't know what I would do without you. You entertain me." Marley stood up from her spot on the couch and walked over to him and tugged on the front of his leather jacket, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Oh, so I'm like a monkey at the zoo now?"
"No, more like one of those mean lions." She giggled.
"King of the jungle?"
"Mhmm." She snaked her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.
"I can live with that comparison." He sighed when someone knocked at the door.
"Jon, Marely, are you guys ready?" It was Sammy Guevara.
"Yea, were coming Sammy." Marley called out to him. She felt bad for the youngest member of the Inner Circle. She wondered how he drew the short straw, and was forced to come and fetch them for their meeting.
"Okay, we're going to be out in the arena."
"Can't believe they sent someone looking for us." Jon grumbled.
"Awe don't take it out on poor Sammy. He's just the messenger."
"Yea, yea, whatever. Let's go. I can't wait to find out how I'm going to get my ass handed to me later tonight."
"I'm sorry Marley."
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She huffed, but didn't reply. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset.
"Marley, you know I care about you - I just don't think this will work out between us…"
She held up a hand to silence him. With as much strength as she could muster, she replied, "Stop Chris, It's fine - I get it. I'm just going to go now." She grabbed her rolling suitcase and her purse, and exited the dressing room.
She quickly hurried to the women's locker room, pleased to find that there was no one inside. She dropped her belongings on one of the wooden benches.
She needed some air.
Leaving her belongings unpacked on the bench, she left the locker room and walked down the hall to the back entrance of the arena. She pushed her way through the door as the first tear began to roll down her cheek.
How could he break up with her - just like that? She knew things hadn't always been great between them - they had a tendency to bicker, and he was very busy between wrestling and his band, Fozzy. Still, she had thought they were doing better.
She sat down on the sidewalk and leaned against the wall. She let the tears fall, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed.
"Hey, you okay?"
Marley gasped, startled. She hadn't realized anyone else was outside. She wiped at her tear stained cheeks as she lifted her head to see who was there.
Dean Ambrose, aka Jon Good, stood leaning against the wall beside her.
Marley nodded, "Fine. Sorry - what are you doing out here?"
Jon smirked, "Last I knew it was a free country and I could leave the arena whenever I wanted to."
Marley sighed, but didn't respond.
The former WWE champion slid down the wall, sitting down beside her. "You don't look like you're fine to me. What happened?"
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound rude, but why do you care?"
Jon shrugged. "Don't like seeing a lady cry."
Marley scoffed, "It's personal."
"You and Chris?" Jon asked.
"Yea, Chris and Me." Marley nodded. "We've split up."
"I'm sorry."
"Thanks."
He nodded. He rubbed his palms on the thighs of his jeans.
She watched him curiously. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes scanned the parking lot, anxiously. She wondered if he was hoping someone would come and save him from the interaction.
"It was nice of you to check on me, but really I'm fine. I just came out to get some air."
He nodded, "I came out to get my boots - left them in my rental."
Marley smiled slightly. Jon looked extremely uncomfortable. He sat beside her, his legs bent toward his chest and his elbows resting on his knees. He swallowed and raked his fingers through his shaggy brown hair.
"You should probably go get them. You're going to need them."
"You sure you're okay?" He asked, meeting her eyes for the first time since he sat down beside her, looking concerned.
"I'll survive, promise."
He smiled and nodded. He got to his feet. He was about to walk away when he turned around, "Marley, I'm really sorry."
She gave him a grateful smile, "Thanks Jon. That's sweet of you."
She watched him walk away. She sucked in a deep breath, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the brick wall of the stadium. She couldn't believe she had been caught crying by her co-worker. She needed to work on controlling her emotions at work. There would be plenty of time for her to wallow in self pity when she got home.
Unfortunately she would have to spend one last awkward night with Chris at the hotel before she could catch a flight home.
She put a hand against the wall, pushing herself up. She brushed off her clothes. She was about to go back into the arena when she heard Jon calling her name.
She turned around to find him running toward her, carrying his boots. "What's up?" She asked.
"Since you and Chris split up - do you. . . " He paused for a moment, obviously struggling with what he wanted to say. She waited patiently. "Do you, you know have a way back to the hotel and stuff."
"I'll probably still ride with Chris." She shrugged. "Or I can ask one of the girls."
He nodded. "Well, I mean. .. " He rubbed the back of his neck with his free-hand. "If you need a ride back to the hotel or a place to stay you can crash with me. It would probably be pretty weird having to room with your ex."
Marley stared at him, stunned.
His blue eyes grew wide, "I mean - I wasn't trying to - you know. I didn't mean to cross a line or anything . . . I just thought. . . "
"Jon, it's okay. That's nice of you. Thank you. I was just surprised."
He nodded.
"I appreciate the offer. That would be nice - as long as it isn't an inconvenience."
"No inconvenience at all." He grabbed the door to the arena and held it open for her.
"Thank you." She smiled and stepped through the door.
"I'll meet you here after the show?"
"That would be great, thank you."
He nodded and headed in the direction of the men's locker room. Marley sighed, a small wave of relief washing over her. At least she wouldn't have to face Chris after the show.
Jon had just defeated Sammy Guevara. Marley stood at ringside as Jon got to his feet, and the referee raised his hand. She had stood at ringside to support her boyfriend during the match.
The referee was raising his hand in victory when "Judas" by Fozzy filled the arena. Both Jon and Marley turned and looked up at the ramp.
The fans all cheered. Then the lights went out.
"You know what happened last week wouldn't go unanswered JR." Tony said from the announce desk.
"Wait a minute." JR replied, "I can't see a damn thing."
The only light in the arena came from the fans cameras as they tried to catch a glimpse of what was happening in the ring.
When the lights came back on Marley was now beside Jon in the center of the ring. She was holding a steel pipe that she had retrieved from under the ring. The rest of the Inner Circle was surrounding them, ready to strike. The fans all yelled and cheered, excited about the chaos they knew would follow.
"Moxley and Marley are trapped." Tony said.
"4 of them" J.R. added, "Jericho, Santana, Ortiz, and Hager."
Jon and Marley glanced at each other. Marley nodded and Jon braced himself the fight.
The fans all booed when Marley spun around, striking Jon in the stomach with the lead pipe she was carrying. He doubled over and she hit him across the back with it. When he fell to his knees the rest of the Inner Circle attacked. Marley stepped back, watching as the 3 men kicked and punched him in the ring.
"That Jezebel. She hit Moxley with that foreign object. That steel pipe." J.R. called.
"Look at her, she's watching as they beat up her boyfriend.. . and she's smiling."
Marley was indeed smiling. She took a step back, tossing the lead pipe aside, and helped Sammy to his feet.
The rest of the Inner Circle stepped back so Jericho could drop to the mat and hit Jon with a series of strikes to the upper body. Once Jericho stepped away, Hager picked him up and pulled him to his feet. He put him in a choke hold as Jericho began to whip him with the AEW championship. Hager let Moxley fall to the floor and Jericho struck him one more time with the belt.
The fans all booed as Jericho paraded around the ring, holding up his championship.
Santana and Ortiz pulled Moxley up again, holding him in place so Hager could hit him with a low running knee. Moxley crumpled on the mat, curling up in pain.
Marley stepped forward, she got down on the mat, straddling Moxley and grabbing his face roughly. "Things could have been different you know, if you hadn't been so stupid;" She smiled wickedly, he tried to push her away, but she shoved his arm away. "You should have accepted the offer. You deserve this." She got up, stomping on his midsection repeatedly before taking a step back so Santana and Ortiz could pull him to his feet again.
"Did Marley say that Moxley deserved this?" Tony questioned.
"I think she did." J.R. confirmed quietly.
She smacked him across the face and laughed. The fans all booed.
She turned her attention toward taunting the fans as Sammy took over the beatdown, slapping Jon and kicking him across the chest. Sammy then grabbed onto Jon too, helping hold him as Jericho unscrewed one of the large spikes off of his leather jacket.
Hager trash talked Moxley as Jericho held up the spike. He then rushed forward, jabbing Moxley in the eye with the spike.
"Did - did Jericho just hit him in the eye? Tell me that did not just happen?" The commentators were shocked with the actions displayed by the Inner Circle.
The Inner Circle released Jon and he rolled around the ring, clutching his face. The fans all chanted "asshole" as Jericho stared at Moxley. He adjusted the title belt on his shoulder, ignoring the audience's chants. Marley leaned nonchalantly against the ropes as she watched her boyfriend writhe in pain on the mat.
The trainers and referees swarmed the ring, but it was too late - the damage had already been done to Jon Moxley.
As soon as the main event ended, Marley left the women's locker room. Marley had changed into a pair of black leggings and a grey long sleeved t-shirt right after her backstage segment with Chris. She had remained in the locker room the rest of the evening to avoid running into him.
Jon was already waiting for her by the back entrance to the arena. He had his car keys out and was spinning them casually around his finger when she walked up to him.
"You ready to head out?" He asked. She nodded in response, adjusting the strap of her duffel bag on her shoulder.
He opened the door for her and led the way to his rental car. He popped the trunk and tossed his suitcase in. He then held out his hand for hers.
"Thanks." She handed it over and he sat it inside before closing the lid.
They both got in the car and put on their seatbelts. She had never ridden with Jon before. She hoped that he was a safe driver. He backed out of the parking spot and exited the parking lot. She looked out the window at the city lights as they drove toward the hotel.
"Thank you again for this. It is really nice of you."
"You're welcome. Like I said, It would probably suck having to hang around with your ex."
"Yea, I spent most of the night avoiding him. It sucks we still have to work together on screen for the time being."
"Once word gets around that you've split you know McMahon will split you two up. Don't worry about it."
Marley nodded, "You're probably right. I'll probably be fine by next week's show anyway. It was just hard tonight because it was so fresh. You think he could have done me the favor of breaking up with me after the show was done."
Jon shrugged, clearly unsure of how to respond.
They finished the ride back to the hotel in silence. He parked the car in the closet spot he could find, and cut the engine. Marley unblocked her seatbelt and got out of the car. Jon popped the trunk and also got out of the car. They both walked around to the trunk to grab their bags.
"I am going to have to see him though. I have to go and get the rest of our stuff from his room."
"Want me to go and get it?"
"You don't think that will be a little weird?"
He shrugged. "I can just say I offered to grab it for you if he questions me. He doesn't need to know your business -or mine."
Marley smiled. "You're my hero today, Jon."
"Yea, don't get cheesy or I might change my mind." He grabbed her duffel bag out of the trunk. He was getting ready to sling it over his shoulder when she motioned for it. He handed it over.
"Thank you."
He nodded and grabbed his rolling suitcase out of the trunk. "What room were you guys in."
"308"
"I'm in 411. Why don't you head up the 4th floor and I'll stop off and get your stuff." They walked to the hotel. She grabbed the door and they entered the lobby.
"Are you sure? I can ask one of the girls." She offered as they crossed the lobby, heading toward one of the elevators.
"I'm positive. Chris isn't going to give me a hard time."
She nodded. He pressed the up arrow on the elevator. When the doors slid open they both stepped hit the 3 button.
"I can stay here and hold the elevator instead?" She suggested.
"Okay." He stepped off the elevator at the 3rd floor and headed in the direction of room 308. She waited on the elevator, hoping Chris wouldn't give him a hard time about him taking her things.
It felt like an eternity waiting for Jon to come back, even though it was only a few minutes. Jon was dragging her rolling suitcase.
"Thank you - did he say anything to you?"
Jon shrugged. "He questioned why I was picking up your stuff. I said we were talking at the arena and you told me what happened. I said I offered to come and get it. He didn't look too pleased, but he didn't give me a hard time."
Marley nodded. She pressed the button for the fourth floor. When the doors opened, she followed him to his hotel room.
He opened the door and waited for her to step inside. He followed her in and closed the door.
"Are you hungry or anything - I can order some room service?"
"No, I think I'm okay. Thanks anyway."
He nodded and put his bag by the dresser that carried the TV. "You can take the bed, I'll take the couch." He said, grabbing the remote off of the bedside stand.
"That's okay. I'm inconveniencing you. I'll take the couch." She argued, shocked by his offer.
"I'm good. Please. He sat down on the couch and nodded toward the bed. "Just toss me one of those pillows.
She nodded and slid off her checkered vans. She grabbed one of the pillows and tossed it to him. He caught it and sat it down on the couch. She grabbed the top blanket off the bed and walked it over to him.
"Thanks."
"No, thank you for letting me stay, and giving up your bed, and getting my things." He simply smiled in response. She smiled back. She pulled back the second blanket and climbed into the bed. She leaned against the headboard. He turned on the TV and surfed through the channels before stopping on a movie that Marley didn't recognize.
"Is this okay with you?" He asked.
She nodded, "Sure. I've never seen it before."
"I think you'll like it."
"Okay then." She nodded. He turned up the volume and they both got comfortable so they could relax and watch the movie. She flipped off the bedside lamp - pleased that she had a stress-free place to stay for the evening before her early-morning flight.
Marley flopped on the bed. She could hear the water running in the bathroom where Jon was taking a shower. She had already showered and changed while Jon was out getting some food to bring back to the hotel. She was clad in her favorite pajamas. She grabbed the bag of take out off of the bedside table and opened the containers when she heard the water shut off.
A few minutes later Jon stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of black shorts, a towel draped over his shoulders.
"Hey babe." He sat down beside her on the bed.
"I figured you'd be hungry so I got the food ready."
Jon grabbed his container of food. He leaned back against the headboard and sat his container of food on his lap. "I'd say you're too good to me, but I really think you enjoyed beating me up earlier."
"Yea right" Marley rolled her eyes. She sat cross-legged on the bed, her food also placed on her lap. "You're too cute - how could I enjoy beating you up?"
Jon gave her a look of disgust and took a bite of his dinner. "You take that back right now." He demanded.
She shook her head. "I meant it - you're adorable."
He groaned in irritation. He continued to eat his dinner, none too pleased with her choice of descriptor.
She smiled at his reaction and continued to eat her salad. They ate their meals in silence, Jon watching the movie she had turned on while he was in the shower.
"I think the segment went well though." She said after a couple of minutes. "The fans seemed really into it. They are loving your feud with Chris."
Jon nodded in agreement. "Yea, they were already behind me - but your betrayal and allegiance with the Inner Circle definitely adds fuel to this feud." He finished off his food and tossed the container in the trash can. "And you were amazing- as always. It's nice getting to see you show off your talent - instead of just your assets." He joked.
Marley shot him a nasty glare over top of her salad. "I am going to pretend you didn't say that. I am feeling generous."
He chuckled. She finished her salad and leaned over him to throw away the container. He took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her on top of him.
"You better let me go. I'm not sure I like you right now."
"You love me - you're always reminding me."
"Hmm. I might have to cut back on that - seems it's going to your head."
"I like hearing you say it."
"Of course you do - like I said, it goes to your head," She poked him playfully on the forehead and laughed when he swatted her hand away. "Don't be a grouch."
He grunted in response. He gently rubbed her back. "You know, I like this position much better when I know I'm not going to get beaten up afterwards."
Marley laughed. She playfully grabbed his face like she had earlier in the night, but this time she gave him a quick kiss. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because you said I'm too cute to beat up."
"Hmm… yea, I guess I did say that."
"You have to watch what you say. I'll remember and hold it against you." He teased.
"I thought I was supposed to do that."
"No, you're supposed to remember when I fuck up and hold it against me."
"Oooh, I see. So when you say dumb things like I was only using my assets - I need to remember and hold it against you?"
"Hey, I appreciate your assets."
She rolled her eyes. "Lame."
"It was a compliment."
"Some kind of compliment." She shook her head, acting disgusted.
"Take what you can get babe."
"We have to work on your romantic side a bit. "
"There is no romantic side, you know that."
She scoffed, "You like to act all tough, but deep down you're a teddy bear."
"Ugh. Definitely not."
"It's true….." She teased. "And it's adorable."
"Well you've killed the mood for the evening." He gently shoved her off.
She laughed as she fell back on the bed. "If that's how you feel, I think I'll just go to bed." She rolled over, turning her back to him and switched off the lamp. She climbed under the covers and laid down against the pillow. "Goodnight my adorable teddy bear." She teased.
She laid there with her eyes closed, her back to him, as he climbed under the covers. She giggled when she felt his arm snake around her waist and the scruff of his beard scrape her skin as he kissed her neck. She let out a little shiver, knowing exactly how her night was going to end, as his hand slid down her side to the band of her pajama bottoms.
