Thanks to Failed-to-De-anon to have noticed the symmetry in Heath and Wade's respective transformations. At least ONE who reads (and understands) my stuffs ;)
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"WHAT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS FOR"
Chapter 6 – The wind of change starts now
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Wade hung up the phone as John Cena and David Otunga entered the Nexus locker room. He was too exhausted now to be surprised or worried again by the fact that – once again – all he had managed to reach was Justin's voicemail. He had finally accepted Heath's death - as mysterious as it still was - and had also accepted that - whatever had happened to the One Man Band - he had his part of responsibility in it.
Absentmindedly, ignoring the stares of his teammates, he flipped through the few Nexus team pictures he had on his cell-phone. He wasn't very fond of using technology, but sometimes, he would make an exception. He had one taken the evening following the signature of their WWE contracts, approved by the anonymous General Manager. They had decided to take a bad-ass picture of the whole Nexus group, but after 5 seconds, Heath couldn't hold on any longer all his excess of energy and had made a funny face, big tongue out, as usual. Otunga had snorted at the resulting picture.
"Such a harmony and homogeneity in this group. And you only asked for a picture. Clearly Barrett, your leadership skills are - how can I put this delicately? - eh…crap!"
Barrett had frowned and had vented his frustration on their ginger, telling Heath in a very grouchy voice that he should decide soon to mature a bit, because so far he was just warm and cuddly as an un-potty trained labradoodle – and about as useful in the ring as an un-potty trained labradoodle.
But Heath had just shrugged: "C'mon, Grumpy! We've gotta celebrate our contracts! Let's PARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!". The sentence ended in a very high-pitched tone, in strong comparison to his usual (very) low voice. There was apparently a bit too much energy and joy left in the One Man Rock Band, even after Wade's mind manipulation.
Looking at Heath's face expression on that picture made Wade smile slightly, before it cruelly reminded him of what he had destroyed. He pressed his lips together and looked up at Cena, considering him for awhile. He knew Cena hated him with all his guts, but he couldn't help thinking about Heath and Justin. Those two looked like the best friends in the world, but less than a year ago, they would have killed each other if left alone for thirty seconds in the same room.
When Justin had won Heath's Heavyweight championship belt, Wade had mixed the ginger's hatred with an offer he had just received. Alex Riley's father had proposed him a little contract: in exchange of a substantial amount of money, Wade had to beat Justin into a pulp and make sure the South-African would lose his championship match against Alex.
Wade had walked to a sullen, angry, and very alone Heath Slater. This had been the first time the two of them had a real talk. Wade had told him that he sincerely meant what he had said earlier while in the commentary booth, and that it was absurd that Justin was already a revered champion just a few months after his arrival. He has made Heath a promise: Justin wouldn't keep his title for long. One way or another, Wade would find a way to avenge the former champion, even if he were to get involved personally.
And Heath had seen that the promise had been kept, not knowing that the contract between Riley's father and Wade had been made before that vow. Wade had allied to Riley in a triple thread match for the Heavyweight title, and he had literally destroyed Gabriel. But when the time came for him to make the fall on the champion, Wade's eyes had met Heath's, then he had carried an unconscious Riley on top of Gabriel. 1-2-3. New champion: Alex Riley. New rich man: Wade Barrett.
Heath had caught up with Wade right after the match, not understanding Wade's action. The Brit had quietly answered that he hadn't made that promise to become the new champion, but to fight some injustice and avenge Heath. Now, if Heath wanted, he could try to reclaim his lost title by tackling Riley in a near future.
The look in Heath's eyes had almost made Wade uncomfortable: a mixture of surprise, suspicion, gratitude, devotion, and a swarm of similar emotions. Heath had leaped at him. Wade's first defensive reflex was almost to grab him and throw him into a wall. But he had then understood that it was just a hug. One of the many hugs Wade would endure from the One Man Rock Band thereafter.
"Thanks", the redhead whispered with an unsteady voice. "It's the first time someone does something for me".
The Wade he was back then had started dancing inside with a big victorious smile. Not only was he now in a better FCW position than Slater, but the latter – once number one and still dreadful – was about to become a nice puppet, docile and grateful. Santa Claus had surely received his letters.
The Wade he was today, was hating that moment. After he had destroyed Heath without the youth to have any idea where the attack actually came from, he had turned him into a perfect dedicated soldier. The memory of Heath's "Thanks" now left him nauseous. He looked up at Cena again and was surprised by the glow in the man's eyes. Disappeared, the anger; flown away, the nervous breakdown; volatilized, the mockery.
They were still far from being friends, but perhaps Heath's death was going to be the trigger for a change. Not the wind of change Wade was thinking about when he had invaded RAW with the NEXUS, but a significant change nonetheless.
"John, could you- ", Wade interrupted himself when he saw Cena automatically stiffening, and he remembered that each of his stupid orders (fetch some coffee, do the laundry for the team, go feed the cats, abandon Otunga on the side of the highway, clean the Nexus showers with a toothbrush –an electric one when Wade was in good spirits) usually started with a "John, could you". He sighed and rephrased: "Could you get in touch with McMahon and see if he knows any better?"
In front of the prudent – and yet a bit surprised – silence from John, Wade went on: "None of us is next of kin with neither Justin nor Heath so, maybe WWE management guys have discovered what's happened, but they won't tell us. I thought that maybe… if it was you who asked… they would be more willing to release some information."
John was stunned by Wade's lost and almost begging look, so unusual on the face on his filthy forced leader. He almost gasped when the Englishman added "Please, John…?".
There was a silence during which Cena gulped with difficulty. Like a paladin, he was conditioned to help the weakest and those in need. And right now, Wade met those requirements. He simply nodded and turned around to leave the Nexus locker room. Surprisingly yes, he wanted to help Wade, but curiosity was also a motivation. Even though he didn't consider himself as a true Nexus, he wanted to know what had happened to Heath.
Among all the scenarios running in his mind, he had – like Wade – envisioned the possibility of a vengeful Cenation member; a (way too) dedicated fan who had decided to make Nexus pay for their action by murdering one of its members.
The idea that fans were supporting him through his ordeal with the Nexus was flattering. The idea that one of them was psychopath enough to achieve such extreme actions was far less enchanting.
Heath's death, it was like a cold shower for everyone.
If Slater had been killed by one of his fans, Cena would make an extremely vehement speech about it. But if WWE universe ever applauded with the official announcement of the death of the One Man Rock Band, Cena would make sure they understood they had crossed an unacceptable line, by himself crossing another line and fully joining Nexus, body and soul.
He wouldn't fight for people who validated this type of actions.
In the locker room, Wade was completely unaware of the thoughts running through Cena's mind. All he knew was that since they had received Justin's message about Heath's death, John had softened a bit with him. As if he was feeling some pity. And Wade hated pity.
However, he felt like Heath's voice in his head was telling him not to get on his high horse but to consider mercy as a positive feeling. Especially when it was coming from an enemy. Especially if you were trying to get closer to that enemy. Naw mean?
All these months, Wade had wondered if he and John would one day become true allies, or even friends. The answer his mind had constantly given to him was: no. But after all, Justin and Heath had managed to bury the hatchet and become best friends, always together, protecting each other's back, travelling, fighting, eating, sleeping, seen by many as brothers.
A wonder, considering that less than a year ago, there was between them such a burning hatred that one would have roasted chestnuts on it. Less than a year ago, Wade had used that hatred to destroy Heath while guaranteeing the One Man Rock Band's total loyalty to himself. Without Wade's harmful influence, Heath and Justin would have probably been friends since day one. Heath would have welcomed Justin the same way he was welcoming any FCW newbie placed under his responsibility. He would have advised Justin, helped him progress, pushed him to go beyond his limits.
Wade looked down for a moment at the pictures on his cell-phone. He had destroyed so many things in his thirst for power. But maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe there was still something to save. He looked up as Michael and Husky entered the room and realized: maybe, with Heath's advice, he would save the Nexus; the movement would start with the new generation and reach the Nexus veterans. He would restore the One Man Rock Band's real memory in the heart of everyone, and bring the Nexus to the light where he once longed to be.
"You two, sit over here", Wade motioned to the bench on which he was.
Yes, Heath would be proud, wherever he now was.
Wade smiled at the two new recruits.
"Let me tell you what the Bigger Picture really stands for".
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TO BE CONTINUED
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Last chapter will be the last one. Okay, this chapter was supposed to be the last one, but I've decided to split it into two to keep more suspense. Next one will be the conclusion of what happened to Heath and what the bigger picture is for.
Meanwhile, YOUR TURN:
- What did you think of the story so far?
- Have you checked in FCW archives for everything I mentioned in here?
- What do you think happened to Heath?