Disclaimer: All WWE content is owned by Vincent Kennedy McMahon and any use here is purely for entertainment value only. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Jeff Hardy has been chosen to be the human host that would allow the demon keeper of the seventh layer of hell to enter the realm of Earth. In fighting for his life Jeff has some unexpected allies. Featuring: Matt Hardy, Undertaker, Kane, Batista, Umaga, John Cena, Ashley, Maria, Edge...
NOTE: This fic is written with the assumption, that Jeff, Edge, and Umaga are still on RAW, and Matt, Kane, the Boogeyman and the Undertaker are still on Smackdown, and that Undertaker is still the World Heavyweight Champion and Matt and Jeff are still the Tag-Team Champions.
000
Matt Hardy shook his head to clear it, as he climbed the turnbuckle. He'd been feeling dizzy all through the match and the added height was making it worse. Hell, he was lucky he hadn't gotten pinned by Cena or Batista, yet. Luckily, Jeff was fully on his game and picking up Matt's slack. They now had Cena lying in the middle of the ring, while Batista was staggering to get to his feet after Jeff drop kicked him into the steel steps.
Matt tried his best to steady his shaky legs on the turnbuckle. He was so tired and dizzy it was getting harder to focus. He looked over at Jeff already standing up on the over turnbuckle. The elder Hardy smiled and finally found his balance enough to stand up.
Then suddenly the world seemed to spin. He blinked a couple of times hoping it would straighten itself out, but it did not. Instead the world around him grew blurry except for the image of Jeff across the ring.
Jeff stared straight at him. There was something cold and sinister in Jeff's eyes, and when he spoke, it was not his voice, and black blood dripped from his mouth. "Did you think you could fix things so easily?"
Though Jeff was across the ring, his voice was as clear as if he were right next to Matt's ear. The elder Hardy blinked a few more times, not believing what he was seeing and hearing. Between blinks Jeff transformed into the hell keeper Chiron.
"You have no idea what you are dealing with…You can not save your brother by sacrificing yourself…I will ensure that he does not let you do so…"
Before Matt could even comprehend what Chiron was saying, he fell forward and everything went black…
Jeff watched in horror as his brother fell from the turnbuckle like a dead weight into the ring. He jumped down from his own turnbuckle and dashed over to Matt's side.
"Matt!" Jeff kneeled down next to his fallen brother, and tried desperately to get Matt conscious again. "Matt! Matt talk to me!"
The ref came over to check on Matt as well, then signaled for the match to be declared a "no contest". By this time Cena sat up, looking a little confused that he had not been leg-dropped by the two Hardys. Meanwhile, Batista got back into the ring
"What happened?" Batista came over to the two brothers, looking alarmed.
"I don't know…I don't know…! He just toppled over," Jeff said clearly panicked. "Come on Matt! Wake up dammit!"
Fortunately a few minutes later the EMTs showed up and carefully placed the still unconscious Matt on a stretcher, and carried him out, with a shaken Jeff following closely behind.
000
Chiron was not happy. At first it seemed that his plan was going correct when the Hardys had stopped talking to each other. But then one of Grim's reapers interfered and forced the Hardys to make up, and Matt to admit Chiron had been sending him nightmares. At first even that might have been a good thing, however, Matt made Jeff promise to not remove the protection symbol.
No, Chiron was definately not happy. It was time to switch tactics once again, and this time it would be drastic measures. However, if he was going to do what he had planned, he would need help from one of his associates, willing or not.
000
Jeff sat in the hospital Emergency Room holding his brother's hand, hoping at any moment Matt would open his eyes and be all right. The younger Hardy was wavering in limbo between bursting into tears and punching some one in the face out of frustration.
The physicians hadn't told him much, just that at the very least all of Matt's vital systems were functioning on their own. The nurses took a sample of his blood to check for drugs, toxins or any abnormal ph levels in his blood that might have caused Matt's sudden loss of consciousness.
Jeff was grateful that Cena, Batista and Ashley had accompanied him to the hospital right at after the match. The younger Hardy knew that if he had been forced to wait in the ER waiting room all alone, wondering if his brother was dead or alive, he might have gone mad with worry.
Once the medics were sure Matt was stable, they allowed Jeff to go in and sit at Matt's bedside. Even though Ashley was the elder Hadys' significant other, visitors were restricted to one family member, due to the confined space of the ER.
Because of this Jeff was every surprised when both Taker and Kane showed up in the doorway of the small room.
"Has he awakened at all yet?" Taker asked evenly, while Kane moved over to examine Matt for possible causes to his condition, using reaper methods.
Jeff shook his head sadly in answer to Taker's question.
"How did you guys get in here, without security being called?" Jeff asked automatically, as he looked back at Matt, not really caring what the answer was.
"We have ways of persuasion that don't necessarily involve threatening someone's life…" Taker answered as he shut the door to the small room.
"Yeah, we actually respect the sanctity of the hospital environment," Kane said in all seriousness, while he looked Matt over. "Taker, it looks like he's in a dream state."
"Does it look like Chiron's involved?"
Kane nodded. "Do you want to go in or should I?"
After a slight hesitation, Taker answered. "I'll go in."
The hesitation in the Phenom's answer did not go unnoticed by his younger brother. "Are sure?"
Taker nodded firmly. "I'm sure."
"Okay…" Kane relented with a slight warning tone to his voice. "I'll go stand outside and make sure no one comes in."
"You do that," Taker nodded as he went over to sit on the other side of Matt's bed, across from Jeff.
After Kane left, Jeff looked pensively at Taker. "What did you guys mean by 'dream state'?"
"Your brother won't wake up until Chiron decides the dream is over," Taker answered plainly.
Jeff swallowed hard, dreading what tortures Chiron might have in store for Matt in the dream. "So what am I supposed to do? Sit back and let him torture Matt?"
Taker took one of Matt's hands in his, then held out his other hand to Jeff. "First you can help me get Matt out of this nightmare."
Jeff looked at Taker's outstretched hand, with some uncertainty. "Please tell me you're not implying we need to hold hands, are you...?"
"Do you want to help Matt or not?" Taker snapped, in no mood for such trivial insecurities.
"Yeah," Jeff took the Phenom's hand. "Now what do we do?"
"Close your eyes and clear your mind," Taker instructed calmly.
Jeff closed his eyes a little hesitantly. "You're not going to give me a 'surprise' are you?"
"Shut up and clear your mind!" Taker growled.
Jeff nodded and did as he was told. Suddenly, he felt a rush like wind past a speeding car. No sooner had he begun to wonder where this sensation was coming from, he found himself standing next to Taker in field of thorn bushes. Jeff looked around and knew exactly where he was.
"Oh hell…"
000
"Oh hell…"
That was all Matt could think of when he realized where he was. He had gone directly from the wrestling ring, to the seventh layer of Hell. He should have known this would happen, after he spilled everything to Jeff earlier that day.
"Matt!"
Matt turned to see Jeff, or at least the illusion of his little brother running toward him. The elder Hardy idly wondered how the nightmare would play out this time. He prayed silently that it would not involve him sexually assaulting him his little brother.
Matt clenched and unclenched his fists as if to be sure he was still in control of his body. He was relieved to know that for the moment he was.
"You okay?" Jeff asked as he came up to him.
"I'm fine," Matt breathed, then decided to take control of the dream, before it controlled him. He grabbed Jeff's wrist and started running in the opposite direction, Jeff usually led him in the dreams.
"Matt, wait!" Jeff dug his heels into the ground, forcing them to slow down and stop. "It's no use running around if we don't which way to go!"
"I do know which way to go! I've been here before," Matt insisted, trying to pull Jeff along.
"Matt, this place changes its configuration everytime!" Jeff protested.
Matt stopped and let go of Jeff's wrist. He lowered his head and let out a large sigh of frustration. "Shit…Which way do we go now…"
Jeff came up behind Matt and wrapped his arms around his older brother's shoulders. "Shh…It's okay, We'll be okay man, I'll figure out a way."
Matt solemnly reached up and patted Jeff's hand. "I know…"
"You've always protected me so I'll protect you this time," Jeff purred as he slowly and subtly slid his hand down Matt's shirt, and nuzzled the back of his older brother's neck.
Matt felt a cool chill of fear run up and down his spine. "What are you doing, Jeff?"
Jeff buried his head in Matt's hair and inhaled. "I'm sorry, you just smell so nice, it's easy to forget where we are."
Matt jerked himself away from Jeff. He took a few more steps away from his little brother, his heart racing with dread. "What's wrong with you Jeff?"
"What do you mean?" Jeff looked at him innocently.
"You coming on to me that's what's wrong!" Matt snapped.
Jeff smiled at him. "That's because the only one I care about is you…"
Matt swallowed hard, something about Jeff's smile unnerved him. There was something dark and sinister around the edges of those bright eyes.
"I care about you to Jeff, but…" Matt said, loosing some of his firmness.
"But what…?" Jeff prompted softly.
Matt turned away from Jeff, to try and gather his thoughts. "It's just…look I just want to get out of this place, the evil here seems to be affecting both of us."
Matt turned back around to see if Jeff agreed with him on that point. For moment he saw a dark look cross Jeff's face, then the next thing Matt knew he was falling backwards. Even before he got over the shock of hitting the ground, Jeff's mouth was pressed over his and the younger Hardy's tongue was practically shoved down the elder Hardy's throat. Matt's stomach turned over as he felt his little brother's tongue caress his mouth.
He struggled and managed to get a hand inbetween his younger brother's face and his own. "Jeff! What's wrong with you?!"
Jeff smiled down at him. "I love you Matt."
"I love you too, Jeff...but not like this!" Matt tried to sit up, but Jeff was still straddling his waist.
Jeff frowned. "Deny, Deny , deny that's all you ever do MAtt!"
"What are you talking about?" Matt snapped in both anger and fear. "I'm not denying anything!"
Without another word Jeff pinned Matt's left wrist the ground. Then the younger Hardy took Matt's right hand and kissed the palm. "You've always wanted me. All those stolen hugs and touches, I could see the desire in your eyes." Jeff ran Matt's hand from his face, down the length of his body, and over areas that were forbidden for a brother to touch.
Matt stared at his brother in fear and disgust as he tried to pull his hand out of Jeff's grip. "What are you doing? This isn't like you! I don't know how many drugs you've been taking, but this is not true!"
While keeping his older brother's right hand on the on the inside of his thigh, Jeff brought Matt's left hand up to his mouth."No drugs Matt," Jeff murmured kissing Matt's fingertips. "I would never again let such a thing come between us."
"Jeff I'm your brother, not your lover!" Matt finally pulled his hands out of Jeff's grasp. "This is insane!"
Suddenly Jeff's expression turned sad and he gazed longingly at Matt. "I can't help it Matty, I want you so much," The younger Hardy rested his forehead on his older brother's chest.
"Jeff," Matt softened his voice a little. "For the love of god! I'm your brother, I care for you, but not this way!"
Jeff lifted his head and his expression darkened. "I'm sorry Matt, but I'm no longer going to ask, I'm going to take!"
Suddenly branches of the thorny bushes reached out and bound Matt's arms and legs to the ground. However, the thorned branches were careful not to cut into Matt's flesh.
"What is this?!" Matt stared on in horror at the branches entwining themselves around his body. Then he remembered the dream he had before, where he had Jeff pinned down, now the roles were reversed. Perhaps the real Jeff was still in there, he had to try and talk Jeff down.
Jeff licked his lips as he pulled Matt's shirt open to reveal his smooth and sculpted chest. The younger Hardy's lips trembled as he ran his hands over the muscular planes, and planted a kiss on his older brother's abdomen. "You're so beautiful Matty..."
"Jeff, stop this!" Matt shouted, redoubling his efforts to free himself from the thorny bonds.
Jeff's hands slipped down into Matt's pants and began to palm his groin. "Why? All I want is to give you pleasure. And don't just tell me to stop just because it's supposedly "wrong", I need a better answer than just that."
Matt felt the blood rushing to his cheeks as his body reacted to Jeff's pleasurable ministrations. "Please, stop..." Matt moaned softly, his resolve began to weaken.
"I knew that would quiet you down," Jeff smirked.
Matt's eyes rolled back into his head as his body was bombarded by all of the pleasurable sensations. They were working on him to break down his barriers and give in.
Suddenly, images of playing baseball and forming their own wrestling federation in the backyard flashed in front of his eyes. Always his little brother tagging along behind him wherever he went. Even up that particularly large evergreen tree.
"Matty! Don't let go!"
"It'll be okay Jeff! I won't let go! Now reach for my other hand!"
"I can't! I'm scared I'm gonna fall, Matt!"
"Come on Jeff you can do it! I know you can!"
The bond of brothers, the unconditional love of family. Even weakened or bent it would always come back into shape, but once broken it could never truly be mended again.
"Jeff, stop," Matt managed to move his hand enough to place it on top of Jeff's. "No matter how much I love you, the kind of sexual love you intend is wrong, because it'll break the bond we already have between us! We would be lovers not brothers. I love you as a brother, doing this could shatter our relationship as siblings. I could never forgive you and when you finally realize and come to your senses...it'll be too late."
Jeff abruptly stopped his ministrations. He stared at Matt blankly for a moment, then smirked "Good answer."
Matt's eyes widened, and he held his breath in shock. The voice that had just come out of Jeff's mouth was not his little brother's voice. Instead of deep and smooth, laced with a southern accent, this new voice was hoarse and whispery. Matt could not even tell if it was male or female.
In his shocked state all Matt could utter was a whispered, "What the--"
To make the situation even more confusing that it already was, another "Jeff" came running over the hill toward them.
"Matt!"
Matt looked back and forth between the two "Jeffs". The funny thing was, the second one that had shown up seemed more like his Jeff, but in this world who could tell?
At first Jeff was horrified to come over the hill and saw someone, in his image, molesting his brother, but soon the horror turned to rage. He charged toward them. "Take your hands off him you incubus, son of a –"
Jeff was interrupted when the Undertaker caught up with him, grabbed his wrist stop him and clapped a hand over Jeff's mouth before the insult could pass his lips.
"That's not an incubus Jeff!" Taker hissed still keeping his hand firmly clasped over Jeff's mouth. "The copy is too perfect, that is Libido, the keeper of the second layer of hell. So keep your mouth shut. We don't need two hell keepers after you."
The doppelganger Jeff, now known as Libido, slowly got off of Matt, though the thorn bushes still bound the older Hardy to the ground. The hell keeper studied Jeff for a moment, then smiled his eyelids drooping in a sultry way. He turned back to Matt, looking amused.
"No wonder you did not fall for me, I didn't get it quite right," Libido smirked.
The hell keeper ran his hands through his hair turning, it into braids, and changed it into the color purple, instead of blue like it was before.
"Better?" The hell keeper looked back down lustily at Matt.
"No!" Matt screamed and renewed his struggles to get free from the thorned branches.
Libido only chuckled. "Aw too bad, I rather like the braids though, I think I'll keep them…"
Even though Libido kept Jeff's face and hair his clothes began to change into was a sleeveless coat with a high neck made of shiney black leather that stretched down to his ankles. Bands of the same fabric wrapped around his arms so they looked almost like Jeff's arm stockings. His skin changed from a human beige to almost white and translucent, so the veins full of the demonic black blood could be seen winding their way across his whole body.
"Why are you here Libido?" Taker growled.
"Well, I got a tip from Chiron that one of my incest souls got out of the second layer, and may be wondering around the seventh layer...I thought he was the one," Libido glanced over at Matt, then back at Taker. "But he passed the test so I guess he was wrong…"
"Then Chiron has deceived you, Libido," Taker said solemnly. "He has channeled you into that man's dream, he is not a soul he is still alive."
Libido's sultry drooped eyes, widened as shock and anger streaked across his face. Then he frowned darkly and screamed at the top of his lungs. "CHIRON!"
A few seconds later the aforementioned hell keeper appeared. "Yes, Libido…?"
"Chiron, my friend, why have dragged me away from my souls into this mortal's dream?" Libido asked in a voice like honey dipped in venom.
Chiron glared at Libido, but instead of answering he waved a hand in Matt's direction. The thorny branches grew to lift Matt up into a vertical position. Then they tightened cutting into Matt's skin. The older Hardy screamed in pain as blood dripped down each thorn.
"Matt!" Jeff screamed, trying to break free of Taker's grip to try and help his brother. "Let him go!"
Libido gazed at the scene, for a moment he stared completely entranced, looking as if it were the most erotic site he had ever seen. Then he blinked and shook his head, before turning back to Chiron.
"Don't distract me!" Libido snarled. "There's something more to all of this! What are you up to?"
"Hmmm, you've become stronger Libido…" Chiron raised an eyebrow at the younger hell keeper.
"Stop changing the subject and tell me what you're up to, if you don't I'll go tell Grim you're up to something bad," Libido warned.
Chiron pointed to Jeff and leveled with a cold gaze. "This human is to be my vessel once it is time...then I will be able to send all violent souls on Earth into Hell myself…"
The anger left Libido's face and he just stared at Chiron in shock. "You're actually going to go through your gate, when the window is open?"
"Yes," Chiron answered icily.
Libido grinned and his sultry gaze returned again "Oh… how daring…"
"Lord Libido!" Taker called out. "I implore you come with me to inform Grim of this, with your testimony and mine it will be enough evidence for Grim to imprison Chiron before he does this effrontery!"
"Now why would I do that to my good friend Chiron?" Libido grinned wickedly at them, before sauntering over to Matt. "After all... He has shown me some very lovely sights today."
As if to entice Libido further to his side Chiron tightened the branches entwined around Matt's body, causing the elder Hardy to cry out in pain again.
"Ah, the sounds of suffering, so sweet," Libido murmured, gently stroking Matt's cheek. "Especially sweet when they come from such an alluring mouth." He gently traced Matt's lips with his finger tips. "A ravishing sight. Beautiful lips trembling with pain." Libido placed a tender kiss on Matt's trembling lips.
Despite the excruciating pain all over his body, Matt managed to find his voice for a few moments. "Fuck you! You fucking freak!"
"Please, stop! Leave Matt alone!" Jeff screamed, more pleading than demanding now. "I'll do anything just please stop hurting him!"
"Jeff shut up!" Taker shouted.
"Remove the protection symbol from your body in the real world, and Matt will wake up," Chiron said coldly. "It is up to you."
"How dare you make deal like that Chiron!" Taker snarled. "It'll make it all the worse for you when you get caught!"
Chiron glared at the phenom. "You are in no position to threaten me reaper! Even less considering who you were once."
"Don't go there with me Chiron!" Taker raised his scythe. "If you do, I'll use this on your head!"
"Spoken like a former keeper of the seventh layer," Chiron drawled. "Obviously your rebirth failed. I assume this reaper business is your last chance at redemption, is it not?"
The others including Libido looked shocked at this revelation, and exchanged glances between Chiron and the Undertaker.
"Shut your mouth and stay out of my head!" Taker snarled.
"Ah, the advantage of being a hell keeper, able to read another's mind, and this being a nightmare, makes it all the easier," Chiron stated with a slight sneer in his voice. "If you strike me here, you will gain nothing, and you know it, in fact that trauma might be too much for Matt Hardy to handle."
"Taker please…" Jeff quietly pleaded.
Chiron turned serious gain. "My terms still stand."
Taker growled lowly to himself as he looked over at Jeff. "Your call."
Jeff looked at Chiron right in the eye. "I'll remove the protection symbol as long as you let Matt go and never haunt his dreams again!"
"Agreed," Chiron nodded. "When you remove the protection symbol, your brother will wake and he will never see me in his dreams again."
Jeff nodded back. "Agreed."
And with that Taker took Jeff's arm and they both disappeared back into the real world. Jeff looked down at Matt who was still "asleep", but there are no wounds on his body.
"It's still just a dream, Chiron could not do real physical harm to Matt," Taker explained. "However, Matt's mind thinks it's real so Matt still feels the pain."
Jeff growled. "Chiron… No matter, what he does to my body, I promise that nothing will ever hurt my brother again..."
"Are you sure you are ready to endure this? Chiron is going to be angry with you," The Phenom said gravely. "What you've seen done to Matt, he's going to take it up a notch, the next time he meets you in a dream."
Jeff gulped, but nodded firmly. "I know...but if it's for my brother, I'll do it..."
"Fine," Taker half sighed, half growled. "Take off your shirt."
Jeff removed the shirt exposing of the protection seal that was painted on his back. He put his hands on a nearby wall and braced for whatever the Phenom intended to do.
Taker put his scythe against Jeff's back, "This may sting a bit..." He ran the blade down along Jeff's back. It did not cut the skin, but it scraped off the symbol and it's magic.
Jeff bit his lower lip at the pain, but managed to contain his tears. When Taker had finished Jeff looked down at Matt again, hoping his eyes would be open.
Just as the younger Hardy began to wonder if he had made a raw deal, Matt's eyes snapped open and he sat panting, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. He looked down at his body, looking for the horrible gashes the thorns had inflicted, but they were not there.
"Matt!" Jeff smiled and hugged his brother. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" Matt sighed in relief and hugged Jeff back. "That was insane."
"It's only going to get worse as the end of the window period nears," Taker said solemnly.
"We know, we know…" Jeff groaned.
"Taker…" Matt narrowed his eyes at the phenom. "What did Chiron mean when he said 'Spoken like a former keeper of the seventh layer'? Was he referring to you?"
"That's none of your concern!" Taker snapped.
"But…"
"Don't argue with me!" Taker growled. It seemed a particularly sensitive nerve had been touched.
He pointed his scythe at the two brothers."You've already made my job a lot harder, and I swear to God if you do not do exactly as I dictate from now on, you two are on your own!"
And with that Taker stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Leaving two rather terrified Hardys…
000
Things are going to get pretty dark for our heroes. Now at the moment Jeff has removed the protections symbol, their biggest ally, The Undertaker seems to be angry with them for some reason. And what are the suppressed memories of Taker's past that Chiron was referring to…?