Oh my god the subscription / favorites / reviews are overwhelming! Thank you all so much! I'm sorry it took so long to update, I had a felony to deal with -_-' ANYWAY, here it is!

And remember…well you know it by now!

Chapter 4: Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

It had been a rough week for Punk. He was anticipating his match with John but at the same time, dreading it. It had been a long time since they had had a one on one encounter. His heart was all a flutter. His mind was terrified. And his groin was constantly alive when he thought about John pinning him. He was starting to think that masturbating as often as he needed to was becoming extremely unhealthy, although it saved him from doing some curls at the gym. He had been able to go home for a few days. He had seen his mom who had scolded him for hanging out with the wrong crowd once again. Not taking into account his age, he was being "disciplined for beating up the other children for no reason." He had been forced to clean his apartment. Not the best way to spend his day off but at least he got to spend some time with Colt Cabana at night.

Although the Nexus seemed to like Punk, he didn't really consider them friends. They wanted to spend time with him. The feeling wasn't mutual. He watched his foot move back and forth on his table as Colt was swearing his head off next to him. Apparently playing Call of Duty with middle school kids merited this behavior. Punk wasn't much of a gamer but out of all the systems, the Playstation 3 was the best use of his money. Blu-ray and Netflix were its main uses. He had a few games but nothing ridiculous, except Little Big Planet. "These fucking kids are cheats!" Colt yelled, throwing the controller down centimeters from Punk's thigh. Punk couldn't help but laugh. His longtime friend got worked up too easily. Punk would handle things with a level head or half assed it if it was something Colt tricked him into. Colt always went over the top with everything. They could go to the bathroom together (which was always weird) and Colt would make a scene somehow.

"Wow, Colt. You just jobbed to an 8 year old. You're slipping."

Colt gave Punk a glare as he took a long sip of Pepsi. "At least I'm trying. Why don't you give it a shot?" He asked, waving the controller in Punk's face. Punk instantly shot it away.

"I'm fine. I just wanna sit and watch something and that includes you getting your ass handed to you by a kid."

Colt sighed, switching over to Netflix. He started to browse the categories before deciding to talk again. "So, you're fighting John, huh? Good luck hiding your boner." He smirked.

WHOMP!

Colt groaned and instantly grabbed the side of his head. Punk's foot was still in the air, ready to strike again if Colt was dumb enough to make another stupid comment and there was a good chance of that happening. "I'm sorry, Colt, I couldn't hear you over the sound of my foot hitting your thick skull. Care to repeat it?" Punk smirked.

"No...seriously! Jesus fucking Christ, Phil, that hurt! It was a joke!"

"I got him calling me by my name now...well, well, well."

Punk decided he could lower his leg for now. He was much faster than Colt could ever be so he wasn't worried about kicking his face in again. He wasn't usually a sensitive person but certain topics were off limits under literal pain of death. Colt continued to rub his face, as he thought over his choice of words before we spoke.

"But in all seriousness, are you gonna be ready for Monday?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well let's see the last person you liked in the WWE was Jeff, right?"

"...yup."

Colt took a second to gather his thoughts. He didn't want to get kicked in the face again. "Well, you said that before and you ended up beating the holy hell out of him. Is that really what you want to go through again?" Punk said nothing. Colt had made a good point. Why would situation be any different? Punk shook his head.

"It's not gonna happen. It's different this time. I think my attraction to Jeff was that he was everything I hated. It intrigued me."

"Weirdo…"

Punk raised his foot, ready to strike if his "friend" adding anything else insulting to that statement. Colt put his hands up in defense.

"But John doesn't make me feel like that. I smile just being in his presence. He's on my mind constantly. Jeff was just a passing thought."

Colt said nothing. He just listened.

"For once he's quiet. I should have tried this years ago."

"That's honestly all I have to say. You don't need to worry about me. I've been in this situation before and I learned from it. I won't make the same mistake twice."

Colt reached over and patted Punk's head.

"What am I? A dog now?"

"I hope so, buddy. I don't want to see you upset again. I don't think I can afford to keep buying you ice cream as you cry and eat for a week."

WHOMP! WHOMP!

"Beware of dog."

It seemed all too soon when Monday had arrived. In the shower that morning, tonight had been plaguing his mind so much that he fell getting out and gotten a slight black and blue eye. It wasn't the worse injury ever and if anyone asked, he got in a fight. Punk had actually made it to the arena at a decent time for once and surprisingly, so had his men. The Nexus guys were buzzing with anticipation for their leader's match tonight. At one point, they were talking about the awesomeness that was CM Punk and then they had to say the one name that had been on Punk's mind for the past week.

"…and I saw Cena check in here earlier."

Punk looked up at Harris. It was nice to know that John was here but why did it seem that they constantly brought up his name just to annoy him or jump start a part of him that he didn't want starting up. Although he would never admit it to them. Mike tapping his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts. Suddenly there was a 2 liter of Pepsi in his line of vision.

"What's this?"

"Pepsi, boss. Your favorite." Mike explained with a smile. Punk took the bottle and realized that they had bought it just for him. Granted that Pepsi was in no way expensive but it was still a nice gesture. "Oh. Thank you." Punk said, placing it next to his bag. The travel agent made his way into their room to inform him about his match with Cena being the main event, as if he didn't know that already. No matter. Punk instructed the rest of the Nexus to rest up and do something until the show started, short of staying out of trouble.

"Meet in the viewing bay when the show starts."

The men all nodded and raised their arms in their loyal pledge.

"I wonder if this is how Hitler felt."

It was three minutes until Raw went live. The camera crews were allowing various audience members a chance to get their posters up on the titantron. It was a kick for the people who may not get on TV or were not in the general viewing area of the cameras. Punk had always gotten a kick out of some of the things people would write. Some were the typical WWE branded slogans. A bunch were "I heart (insert name here)" or "Marry me, (insert name here.)" Punk had seen a few of those for him but he was in no way interested. Just because a sign tells you to do something doesn't mean you do it and if he did plan to marry someone, it would not be some fan girl.

The opening video played and the pyrotechnics ignited. In never ceased to amaze Punk how clearly he could hear them from backstage. He almost felt bad for the people that had seats close to the stage. They must have been going blind or deaf.

"The night is off to a very typical start."

And it seemed like the universe had been waiting for Punk to think a thought like that just so it could kick him in the ass and say "Nope!" The music changed from Nickelback to an all too familiar song. It was John's theme. It didn't surprise Punk that John couldn't wait to greet the WWE universe. However, not the entire Universe seemed happy to see him. John didn't care. Punk couldn't help but smile as his opponent for the night walked on screen. No matter how tough he wanted to act, Punk's inner child was acting like a schoolgirl.

It didn't take John very many words to drop his name. Apparently it was in John's New Year's resolution to take care of "the world's most deranged psychopath:" Punk.

His men seemed to be getting worked up at the names John was calling him. Punk was laughing on the inside.

"I really don't think I'm that evil…but what genius isn't."

Even more so, John Cena was calling him out right then. He didn't want to wait until the main event apparently. But John would have to wait because the music that played next wasn't Punk's. It was that of the WWE champion and his dopey sidekick: The Miz and Alex Riley. "This could be interesting." David commented. Punk nodded. "Hey, boss. Are we gonna go out there?" Harris asked. Punk thought about it. "Let's wait and see what happens." Punk replied, without really thinking. He wanted to delay seeing John as long as possible. The conversation continued between the two men, talking about Wrestlemania and what it sounded like. John made it a point to mention a name that got under Punk's skin: Randy Orton. Punk had a history with the Viper that he had never settled. It was on his list of things to do but it never seemed to have a good enough opportunity.

"For once, I want John to shut up…I guess I'll have to do it before I start hoping that the Miz will kick his ass."

Punk stood up and looked towards his men. "I've had enough of this meaningless BS. John thinks he can mention our match once and then go on about everything else like I'm not important? Hell no." His men nodded and stood up with him, following their leader towards the stage. Punk had his music cued up and in less than a minute, "This Fire Burns" was playing through the entire arena instantly met with a sea of boos. As Punk stepped into the arena, he could tell he had come at a convenient time for Miz. John looked like he was going to beat the shit out of him.

Punk stood for a second, just looking at John. He had to blink a few times to make sure he was seeing the real John Cena and it wasn't a dream like he had had during the week. But it was real. John was here. Punk shut his eyes and took a deep breath before lifting the microphone to his lips.

"Miz, you do not have to explain yourself to the jerk, John Cena. Miz, you are Champion. John Cena is not."

Punk noticed that he had to take deep breathes as he stared down John. Taking moments to breathe were so demanding that he felt his lungs would collapse under the pressure. He was brought back to that morning when he fell and his eye was starting to ache. Luckily, if he fell here, there wasn't anything to hit his eye on.

"John Cena, you will not be WWE Champion. As Miz stated, there are 40 participants in the Royal Rumble match. That makes your odds worse than they have ever been and if you take into consideration that I am in the Royal Rumble match with every member of Nexus."

Punk took another deep breath.

"Your odds of winning go from slim to a big, fat zero."

The Nexus nodded. Punk knew that his men would guarantee his victory. No one, not even John Cena would keep him from taking his rightful place as WWE Champion. He had worked so hard. Now, it would finally happen. John smirked at him. He was testing what Punk said. Punk couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed and flattered at the same time. "Stop looking at me like that." Punk took another deep breath. This had to end.

"Can't wait to see you take on these odds."

Punk nodded at the men that stood quietly behind him. The men nodded and started to walk towards the ring. Punk knew they wouldn't destroy John, just rough him up a bit. As the men got closer and closer, Punk noticed that the Miz and Riley had slipped out of sight somehow. Typical Miz. It almost seemed as a foresight for his career. Punk shrugged, as he watch his men surround the ring.

Suddenly, Punk heard faint footsteps behind him. They got closer and closer and before Punk knew it, two figures were charging the ring. At first, Punk was clueless but then he couldn't help but place his face in the palm of his hand as he realized it was Santino and Koslov. As they cleared the ring of his men, Punk noticed that John was looking right at him. Punk felt lost in those eyes. He wasn't sure what emotion was present on his face but he didn't really care. John's eyes seemed like they were testing him. Testing him to get in the ring. Punk's mind started to run with images of himself and John that could come to fruition later that night. Punk's men were suddenly around him and asking for guidance.

Punk called for a huddle. "What do we do, boss?" Mike asked. "What do Italians and Russians have to do with Cena?" Harris asked. David smacked him upside the head. "That's what you are thinking about? They just need attention! That's all." He explained. Punk sighed, looking at his men. He had been looking right through them to stare at John whose eyes were still on him.

"Let's try this again. This time I'm coming with you."

The group dispersed and turned to face the ring. Punk raised his microphone once more, keeping eye contact with John. "You wanna play games, Cena?" Punk asked, "Let's see you take on these odds!" And with that, the new Nexus stormed towards the ring. Punk's eyes never left John's. John's did the same. Punk wasn't sure what was going on between them but it was making him excited and terrified at the same time. It seemed like a blessing in disguise when the lights started blinking, indicating that a higher power wanted to protect the main event.

"It's about damn time."

His men started to look around, as if they expected to see someone. Punk honestly knew what the anonymous Raw GM was going to say. All Punk could do was look at John, whose eyes were still on him. He was trying to wrap his brain around it. John looked intense. It was sexy and Punk had to think of almost a hundred turn offs to keep his cool. As Michael Cole read what he predicted, he saw his men start to panic.

"Boss, can he do that?"

"What are gonna do?"

"That's bullshit!"

Punk didn't answer them. He was too busy looking at John who was now giving him a devious smile. John knew that he had Punk all to himself now. Deep down, Punk was slightly worried. It would have been easier with his men by his side but Punk didn't need them. The world would end tonight in Punk's mind. No outside interference. No Nexus. Just Punk and John.

"Tonight…it's all over."

Punk walked into their locker room after a long walk around the back stage area to clear his head. He wasn't sure who was in control right now, his brain or his heart but he knew which one needed to be. If he let his heart win the battle tonight, his inner war was over and he might as well quit right now. Even though it was over an hour into the broadcast, the trio was still abuzz about what the GM had said. Punk was even more annoyed than he had been earlier.

"Do they really think I need them that much? That I'm incapable of handling myself ?"

"Seriously, guys. This isn't an issue." Punk shrugged. His men turned to their leader with a look of confusion. Punk knelt to the ground like he did during his entrance and motioned for his men to take a seat. For the moment, he imagined he was talking to three versions of himself. He needed this pep talk more than anything but he knew these men were not capable of such things.

"Faith…faith…faith…"

Then men gave him a look for repeating the same word three times. Punk's mind had gone blank for a moment.

"Don't choke up now!"

"One must have humility to truly possess faith. One must be willing to sacrifice their all…to bow before the temptations of the blood thirsty."

"I sound like some third rate evangelist…"

The men watched Punk as he took a breath to continue, "And to truly sacrifice, the soul must be truly sanctified."

"I need to clean myself of these emotions."

"Millions of voices of the undead will ring out with the heart and soul of the man beast. Such are…but a few are the qualities of loyalty."

Punk lowered his head, as did his men.

"I must be loyal to myself. Tonight, I'll defeat John. And then…this will all end."

OMG again SO sorry it took so long to update. I half the next chapter ½ written already so it should be up soon! Reviews please =D