Wow, aren't you guys lucky?! Double updates! Enjoy this one, I'm working on Chapter 9 as I speak. Zelks xx
The four of them looked on as the woman approached, a smile on her face, brown hair bouncing about her shoulders as she almost ran towards them, a man following behind with a pained expression, as if he didn't want to be there. Which, Rebel knew, he probably didn't. Especially as he'd cut her mother off three years ago for several reasons.
"Rebel, sweetheart!" exclaimed her mother, reaching the table and before Rebel could stop her, enveloping her in a very uncomfortable hug. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"Yeah, well, the feeling isn't likewise, as I'm sure you know. What the hell are you doing here? You told me I was dead to you." Rebel growled. The woman still wore that hideous perfume she had attempted to drown Rebel with as soon as the girl hit her teenage years.
"Oh sweetie, we all say things we don't mean in the heat of the moment." Her mother said with a high school giggle, looking round at the others. Rebel felt herself cringe inside, and wished the floor would swallow her, or her mother, whole.
"Uncle David, can I have a word a moment? Guys...I'll be right back, ok?" she said, the look she gave the three of them said all too well to remember what she had told them about her mother in the past.
"Don't worry, Rebel, we got it." Dean said, with a nod.
Rebel lead her uncle over to a quiet area of the room, sat down at a table and asked what was going on.
"We got a phone call from a bloke, called himself Harry? Andy?" Her uncle said, trying to remember.
"Randy Orton." Rebel supplied, and groaned as her uncle confirmed she was right.
"That's the guy. Said he had tickets for last night's pay per view for your mum and a plus one, and if we liked he could arrange Wrestlemania tickets too. Free of charge." He explained.
"Oh for fucks sake." Rebel groaned. This was why he'd been so quiet, not because he was waiting to see the title landscape. He was setting her up for motherly sabotage.
"I take it what's happening on screen between the pair of you isn't totally on screen, is it?" her Uncle asked. Rebel shook her head.
"Not in the slightest. But why are you here? I thought Mum cut you off after you called her out on her bullshit at Dad's funeral." She asked.
"Someone had to make sure she didn't fuck you over more so than she already has. I guess that makes me a babysitter." Her Uncle shrugged.
"I guess so. Thanks, Uncle David, I owe you one. Now, how the hell do we get you both home asap?"
"I don't know, the tickets covered us for travelling to RAW too. I know, probably the last thing you wanted to hear." He added as Rebel put her head in her hands. "This Orton guy really wants to fuck you over, doesn't he?"
"More than you could possibly realise." She replied, as her friends began to shoot glances to her that clearly said they needed rescuing.
Rebel arranged to meet with her mother at the venue as she and the guys had to get going. As expected, one of the guys was waiting for her in the car park, this time it was Dean. Thankful for the company this time, she readily jumped in to the passenger side, and told Dean to put his foot to the floor before her mother came out.
"So...why is your mom here? I thought you hated each other?" he asked.
"I hate her, she still thinks she's entitled to something from me. And the answer to your first question, Randy Orton." Rebel replied, before explaining everything to Dean. A car ride later, with several threats of what she would do to Randy when she got hold of him, along with Dean's suggestions on how to injure the man, they arrived at the arena that RAW was being held at. Rebel hopped out of the car, and went to change, Dean leaving her at the women's locker room. Already in a foul mood because of the morning's events, she wasn't in the mood for games. So when she entered the locker room and found Lana in there, among others, she mentally steeled herself for what was about to happen.
"Look what the cat dragged in," she said with a snarky tone of voice.
"You caught sight of yourself in a mirror then?" Rebel asked, putting down her bag in front of a locker and opening the locker door.
"You really think you stand a chance at Wrestlemania?" Lana continued, and Rebel noticed the locker room had come to a standstill.
"I stand more of a chance than you and your caveman of a man combined." Rebel replied. "And it's tough shit if you don't like it."
"I can always make it so you don't actually get to Mania, Rebel. I'm sure that would go down well." Rebel put down the pair of socks she had pulled from her bag and turned to face Lana. She gave the blonde a thin smile.
"Is that a threat, bitch?" Rebel asked, as the atmosphere in the locker room dropped several degrees. She didn't see AJ Lee slip out the door, running to find either Hunter, Steph, or one of the Shield guys.
"It's a promise I intend to keep." The woman replied, as she and Rebel squared up. The women in the locker room prepared to intervene, but they weren't ready quick enough as Lana swung for Rebel, hitting her on the side of her face. With a roar, Rebel launched herself at the Ravishing Russian, punching, kicking and clawing for all she was worth. There was a pause as the two woman scrapped, and then the other ladies dove in to keep the pair apart. The pair were being held back, three women a piece, as the door was thrown open. Obscenities and threats were hurled between the pair as Triple H surveyed the scene, from Lana's now scratched and bleeding face and arms, to Rebel's split lip and what looked like another black eye.
"Lana, Rebel, that is enough!" he growled as they both broke free. "Rebel grab your things you'll change elsewhere. If I, or Steph, catch either of you at this again, I'll rip you a new one. Rebel, I said grab your things." Hunter looked at the furious Diva, who scowled, grabbed her bag, shoved the odd item back in to it and followed the COO out the door.
They walked on, Rebel furious and bleeding, until Hunter reached another locker room. He rapped on the door.
"Come in!" yelled a voice.
"You decent?" asked Hunter.
"We are now!" came a laugh. Hunter opened the door and indicated for Rebel to follow him. She walked inside, and found Kane sat inside on a bench.
"Rebel changes with you guys from now on." Hunter said as Big Show came out of a cubicle. "What the fuck got in to you Rebel? You don't launch yourself at people like that!" he added, turning to face the angry Diva. Rebel dumped her bag down at the side of a bench, and slumped down, putting her head in her hands. "Randy's done something, hasn't he?" She nodded. "What did he do?"
"Invited my narcissistic bitch of a mother to last nights pay per view, tonight's event, and to Wrestlemania." Rebel explained. She went on to explain to the COO, and the two guys, her mothers behavior. How everything would be about her, how she would endeavor to make very achievement Rebel had to be about her. How, when Rebel had fought time and time again to distinguish herself from her mother's need for attention, her mother had managed to cripple any attempt till she came to the states 4 years ago.
"Yeesh. Anything we can do to help tonight?" asked Kane. Rebel paused, and nodded.
"Yes. Don't give her any preferential treatment. Don't let her have pictures with me, don't pick her out on camera, nothing. Hell, if I could ban her from the event I would."
"You can't...but I can." Hunter said thoughtfully. "Need a reason, mind you."
"Oh I can get that sorted. I have an idea." Rebel replied. "I know, not really what I should be doing, I should be ignoring her and trying to get rid of her another way. But it will work, and I know exactly how to do it. I'm supposed to meet her in an hour."
And so, an hour later, Rebel stood waiting for her mother and Uncle. Hunter was watching from a distance, along with some guys from security. He didn't like the idea, granted, but if having her mother here was enough to make Rebel act that badly out of character, then the woman had to go. And if it was true, that Randy Orton was to blame, then the man would have to be dealt with. How, he didn't know, but he would. As he pondered this, he saw a woman coming over towards Rebel, a fixed smile on her face. This had to be her, he thought, and watched on.
"There you are! You'd think the family of stars here would get some kind of preferential treatment, arrange that for us next time, hmm?" her mother said, in the sugary tone of voice she used when she wanted something.
"Funny that, there isn't going to be a next time." Rebel said, feeling braver knowing she had people watching.
"Oh of course there is, you're going to need me with you at Wrestlemania," she said, reaching to link her arm with Rebel. Rebel stepped back out of reach, and her mother let slip the slightest scowl.
"Don't touch me. You've got some fucking nerve, after that voicemail you left me, and the phonecall after I won the Rumble, to assume I'd let you back in my life. No wonder everyone else has cut you off. You're a leech, you hear me? A leech on other peoples emotions, on their finances and wellbeing." Rebel said. The mask slipped completely.
"How fucking dare you, you ungrateful child! After everything I've done for you, every bit of support I've given you?"
"Support? Yeah right. You've done nothing other than support me sending you cash to while away on holidays etc. And I'm not a fucking child, woman, I'm a grown adult." Rebel said, glareing at her mother. There was a resounding slap, and Rebel felt her cheek sting.
"How dare you speak to your mother that way!" she yelled. As soon as Hunter saw her slap Rebel, he'd given the security team the nod and they headed over. As soon as her mother saw them coming, Rebel watched as, as expected, her mother burst in to floods of fake tears, insisting that Rebel had hurt her. It was perhaps more satisfying than giving Randy Orton a knuckle sandwich, as the security team informed her she was not welcome in the arena, at the event, and that the whole scene had been caught on tape. Her mother was then escorted away by the guards.
"And that's why I was no contact with her." David replied, watching his sister in law be dragged away, cussing and screaming.
"Hunter, this is my Uncle David. He was my dad's brother. He came along to try stop my mum from pulling this kinda crap." Rebel said, introducing them.
"Pleased to meet you, David. You coming to the show tonight?"
"You bet I am...I'm not dealing with that harpy." He laughed.
"Excellent. Why don't you come with me, David? I'd love to hear exactly how this whole mess came about. Also, I heard from Rebel you're a bit of a John Cena fan?" Hunter said with a smile.
"Damn right I am." He grinned.
"Excellent. We'll get you up in a VIP box, and we'll get you introduced. Rebel, hadn't you better go get yourself warmed up?" Hunter asked with a pointed raised eyebrow.
"Sir yes sir." She replied with a mock salute.
As Rebel headed towards the locker rooms to change, she caught sight of the black eye in a window's reflection. Yes, she agreed she should have known better, but there was no way she was going to let Lana get away with insulting her like that. She gently pressed a finger to the side of the bruise, wondering if makeup could possibly hide it. Then she scowled. Makeup be damned. She wasn't hideing behind anyone, so why should what was happening be kept a secret? As she carried on down the corridor, voices came floating down. They sounded familiar, and it surprised her to realize it was Dean, Roman and Seth. But what they were saying…it didn't sound like her friends at all.
"How much longer do we have to keep babysitting, Rome?" asked Dean. "Don't get me wrong, you know how I feel about Bell…but we can't keep tabs on her forever."
"It's just till Mania, that's all. Hunter said we gotta stop Orton from taking her out before she gets there. If that means practically being her shadow, so be it." He replied, adjusting the belt on his shoulder.
"This is ridiculous. Not the protecting her, keeping it a secret from her. She should know about this, it's for her own safety. It's not right." Seth said, shaking a head.
"I know, but you know Bell, she's not going to like this if she found out…" Dean said, his eyes suddenly locking on to where Rebel stood, furious.
"You've been babysitting me?" she growled. "All this time, I thought the three of you were my true friends, sticking by me through one of the shitest times in my life…and you've just been there because you think I can't handle Orton?"
"Hey…Rebel, calm down," Seth began, but was silenced by the look of pure venom in her eyes.
"I can't believe this! You guys are my friends! I trusted you!" She exclaimed as Fandango and Rosa walked past. "Now I find out all along you think I can't take Orton, that I can't look out for myself?"
"Maybe the big dog is worried you might be able to take him instead," Rosa interjected carelessly as they passed.
"Don't be stupid of course she can't," Roman bit hard as he scowled at their retreating backs.
"Oh I can't, can I? Poor little Rebel isn't good enough for the Big Dog to waste his time?" She snapped, making Roman whip back to look at her, and he didn't like the angry woman he saw.
"Wait, I didn't mean it like that, Rebel…"
"Don't be silly, Rebel, we know you can take Roman any day of the week…" Began Dean, trying to calm her down.
"You don't think I can do it, do you. You don't think I can take Roman, and you don't think I can take Orton. Just you wait. I'll prove it to the world. I'm announcing my Mania opponent tonight, and there's not a damn thing ANY of you can do to stop me." She said, turning on her heel and storming off, slamming doors as she did so. Roman pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
"Hunter, it's Roman. We have a big problem."
The three guys were quickly ordered to Hunters office, and once the problem was explained, Hunter was pacing the floor.
"Secrets be damned, Hunter, we need to keep him away from her, on and off camera. She's picked someone, she's going to announce it tonight." Dean said.
"Orton?" Hunter asked.
"I'm 100% certain of it." Roman replied. "She's gonna get herself hurt, badly, and Orton's gonna get exactly what he wants." Hunter scratched his chin, and looked at the three men.
"You said she used to look up to you three, right? When you were a stable?" The three men nodded.
"Told me so herself, " Seth said. Hunter looked at the nights events, laid out on a sheet of paper on his desk. He then picked it up and ripped it up.
"Maybe she will listen to you. Keep your current story lines, work something out that involves Seth turning on The Authority. You've got three hours before show time. Reform the Shield." He replied.
"You think it will work?" asked Roman. Hunter ran a hand through his once long hair, and looked at Roman wearily.
"It's the only chance we've got."
Rebel paid the show no attention that evening, just sat waiting for her cue to go out. She'd made her intentions clear to everyone, tonight she would announce her opponent. She'd tweeted it to the millions of Wild Ones, her fans. Everyone backstage was avoiding her, whether it was because they could sense her foul mood, she didn't know, and didn't care. As she got to the curtain, ready to go out, John Cena came over.
"You made up your mind, then?" he asked.
"Yep."
"Mind if I ask who?" he said, getting a smile in return.
"It's a surprise." She said with delight, and walked out to greet the crowds.
"I'm not sure I'm going to like this surprise," John said to himself, getting himself ready to go out and assist if need be.
Rebel walked down to the ring, loving the cheers and yells the crowd provided, hopping the ropes as she normally did. She went to each turnbuckle, encouraging the cheers from everyone. Finally, she stood center of the ring, and put the microphone to her lips.
"So. I'm here to tell you who I've finally chosen as my Wrestlemania opponent," she said. "I've thought long and hard about it. I wanted to pick someone who, if I won, would show that Rebel Wild is NOT a one hit wonder, that winning the Rumble was NOT a fluke. That I am HERE TO STAY. That Diva's today are a force to be reckoned with and we will NOT be taken down and taken out without a fight!" The crowds went nuts, they ate every word. As Rebel raised her microphone to her lips to continue, a familiar sound rang out through the arena.
"Sierra. Hotel. India. Echo. Lima. Delta. S.H.E.I.L.D." There was no hiding the surprise on her face, or the jubilant cheers of everyone else as the former stable, re-united, came down to the ring, in their old gear. Inside, Rebel was fangirling out to the highest level. But she reigned it in, remembering she was supposed to be angry with them. The three men got down in to the ring, climbed on the apron then as one climbed in.
"Well, this IS a surprise. When did all this happen?" she asked gesturing to the group.
"Well, sometimes, as well as a plan b, there's always a plan C." Seth smiled, patting his briefcase.
"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your interruption. Not that the ladies in the audience mind." She added, with a grin, causing wolf whistles and cheers to come from the female members of the audience.
"Now, as some of you may know, Rebel and the three of us go way back. Roman and Rebel treat each other like brother and sister." Dean said.
"This is true, not gonna lie." Rebel smiled. "You've been there for me for my best, and worst times. Looked out for me, even."
"And we're going to keep doing that. You said you were going to announce your Wrestlemania opponent. We want to make sure you don't make a mistake and pick someone you can't handle." Roman said. Rebel raised an eyebrow.
"You think I've picked someone I can't handle? Someone who's going to decimate me?" she asked. Seth stepped forewards and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Now, Rebel…I know what you're thinking. I know who you're going to pick, and believe me, it's not a wise decision." Seth said as the three of them stood in front of her.
"Oh you do, do you?" She said, amused. "Really? Because from where I stand, you don't know jack." The crowds were eating the sudden turn of events up. Rebel pushed his hand off her shoulder and took two steps back. To see her apparently turning her back on them, guys who regarded her as family, the crowds were loving it.
"Think about this, Rebel, we're your friends, you know this, we've only got your best interests at heart." Roman said, and was silenced as seconds later Randy Orton came out. He'd barely gotten down to the ring when, to the crowds delight, John Cena came down.
"If I'd known I'd be having a party for this announcement, I'd have brought some cake and balloons. In fact, can we get some cake? Chocolate preferably, unless you guys aren't keen on chocolate?" Rebel said as Randy looked from John to the reformed S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I could go for chocolate," Randy replied, clearly enjoying the game.
"Done deal, I'll get a few plates and forks, it'll be an announcement party." She smiled, watching Randy and Roman not take their eyes off each other.
"As we were saying," Dean said, breaking the silence that had quickly filled the ring with an icy atmosphere. "Think about this, Rebel, think about what could happen if you pick Orton as your opponent."
"Wait…you don't want her to pick Orton as her opponent?" asked John, confused. "Isn't that why you three are here, to protect her when she agrees?"
"And why shouldn't she pick me as an opponent? Sure I could kick her ass all over this ring, but that's no reason not to." Randy said, and Rebel tried not to break her act and slap him hard.
"Surprises me if not, I'd have thought she'd have loved kicking your ass all over this ring, but I'll happily do it instead," Roman said, squaring up to Randy, almost as if he was defending Rebel's choice even though he didn't know it yet.
"I don't think Rebel wants you as an opponent either," Dean said, noticing where her eyes had been fixed for nearly the entire exchange. "Don't Rebel, I'm begging you don't."
"Rebel wait…don't!" Seth exclaimed. Rebel said nothing, as she crossed over the ring, Dean stepped in front of her but she wasn't having any of that, and punched him so hard he crashed to the floor, holding his jaw. She then went and squared up to Randy, before kicking him in the gut and dropped him in his own move. The crowds went mad, looking at Randy as he lay, stunned on the floor
"You can kiss my ass," she said to Randy as he lay on the floor, and wheeled round to a laughing Roman, as Dean and Seth looked on ashen faced. "And I will see YOU, and your shiny little belt at Wrestlemania" She said, leaving a stunned silence in her wake as she exited the ring.