A/N: It took lots of coffee to write this one. I had all the ideas stuck in my head for days and no time to write it down and when I did have time I was too tired to write. But since it kept bugging me I finally pulled up a chair made lots of coffee and bought a couple shots of expresso and typed like no ones business. Anyway enjoy and send plenty reveiws because it is my personal opinion that I don't get enough of them for this fic. -Rei
Kane did his best to ignore his father's gloating face as he bore holes with his mismatched gaze at the point just beyond the man's shoulder. As much as he hated to admit it Kane missed Paul almost as much as he hated him. The obese manipulator was all he knew for the better part of twenty years of his life and that kind of contact could not be undone by the measly progress he had with his brother and their' quasi wife. "Now is the time of our revenge son tonight Taker shall feel the sting of betrayal just a surely as he betrayed us". Like so many times before Kane ignored Bearer, turning his attention inward where the fires of his hatred had resumed its all consuming state. It seared his insides charring what was left of his already almost pitch black heart.
He was a fool to trust Mark; he was a fool to trust Abeebah when all anyone would ever want was to use him. Under his mask Kane smiled grimly, he couldn't trust anyone, and why should he, he was a monster. 'Have you lost your fucking mind', a mental shriek worthy of a banshee nearly brought the big man to his knees. Abeebah was pacing in her hotel room, too far gone to realize that she had somehow lost her temper in a way that she had only done once in her life. "Serves you ri-", Kane shut out Paul's voice as he responded to Abeebah with a deep mental growl. 'Don't you start', he felt the sharp bite of Abeebah's ire stab at him like a rusted knife.
'What do you want', Kane's rage should have overshadowed the young woman's instantly only her answering blind fury surprised him. 'What do I want, what do I want? Glen you better think good long and hard about what you want before you even consider what anyone else wants'. This statement stopped the big man's scathing retort in its tracks. What did he want? The answer was simple enough he wanted to be free, free from Paul, free from his brother's manipulations, and free from the bond that was thrust upon him with no regard or compassion on fate's part.
And had she not been viewing these thoughts of her bondmate's objectively and without her usual overly glacial perceptions Abeebah was sure she would be heart broken. Even it would only be for Glen's sake, 'In the stupid Olympics Mark gets gold for ignoring you, you get silver for listening to that jackass you're with, and I get bronze for not stopping the both of you'. The chrisom demon snarled internally at the thought of anyone being able to stop him. Nearly drowning under the sudden intensity of their' combined emotions Abeebah snarled back, 'and yet you are being controlled by that fat fuck who is playing you like a two dollar hoe'. It hurt more because Kane knew it was true, 'shut up'.
'Fuck you Glen, your not the only one hurting, God don't you get it we're in this together even your brother who I might add is not plotting against you'. Not even turning his attention outward Kane automatically followed his now mobile guardian not even aware where they were going. 'It's only a matter of time'. Abeebah didn't refute this claim as she was more than aware that the brothers were capable willing and able to stab each other in the back, 'yeah but if I killed my siblings for every time they became a potential threat none of them would have made it past pre-school', she retorted. 'Your siblings have never tried to kill you'.
Amusement filtered briefly through his mind, 'you think they weren't tempted as I'? In his surprise Kane had to repress a flinch. 'Oh yes we had and still have our moments Brandon even worked up the nerve to fight me once, I beat him to within an inch of his life', she informed him chillingly. 'What stopped you from killing him', he asked truly curious as he followed Bearer into some miscellaneous corner to camp out while people began to fill the arena.
For a long moment Abeebah didn't say anything but then Kane felt a sudden vulnerability that so familiar to his own it nearly caused him to cry out. 'I love them', she informed him bluntly, 'or as close to love as I have ever felt'. It was Kane's turn to be quiet, watching the happy, excited, and anxious faces of the people entering the arena from his vantage point. Those ignorant souls were unawares to the darkness in their' midst or they ignored it.
They knew nothing of true pain and what did Abeebah know of suffering of loneliness when she herself confessed to being able to barely feel herself. 'I know you're a whole hell of a lot stronger than what you're giving yourself credit for'. Something inside of Kane broke, 'shut up'. 'Grow up', Abeebah retorted angrily. The big man closed his eyes imagining what his dark skinned lover must look like now. Somehow the thought of Abeebah's amber gaze flashing in fury seemed disturbing to the big red machine. "Come on son", breaking out of his inner dialogue Kane finally noticed that somehow an insurmountable time had passed and now he could feel the telltale shuttering of the arena. Bearer was staring at him expectantly.
'Think long and hard about what you want', Abeebah's words reverberated through his head even though he knew it wasn't her speaking. And for some unexplained inexplicable reason Kane found himself not in the least bit caring. The time he spent with Mark, Abeebah, and her family didn't matter. What passed between them didn't matter. What did matter was that he spent twenty years searching for vengeance and had suffered too long and gone too far to back down.
He was the big red machine and he would not be weak, lest his brother use it which he had no doubt Mark would do. At least with Bearer Kane knew under no uncertain terms the fat man was using him. And when his brother was taken care of he would deal with the manipulative bastard but until then Kane would not stray from his path of destruction. He didn't even acknowledge the deep panging in his gut that bespoke of Abeebah's silent disappointment.
Elsewhere Delia had went off to plan her next plan of attack against Paul Bearer. The young horseman had watched the duo for the whole afternoon and well into the evening. Bearer had run his mouth the entire time. It had Delia wondering how the fat bastard wasn't dead yet. He wouldn't stop his whining about how Kane's brother had betrayed him, how Kane should've seen through Undertaker's rouse, and how he would be punished after it was all said and done. Kane made no response. He just stared at his father much like Abeebah did when their' parents were alive, utterly bored. Or at least that was what Delia perceived when she caught glimpse of the big man's eyes.
When they moved as people were being let in Delia followed. Bearer continued to bad mouth Kane the whole time and Delia found herself craving to kill the weasel despite her sister's rules. The dark haired beauty was sure that she'd when the Nobel prize for doing the human race a favor by eradicating him. As soon as the twosome had found a dark corner to inhabit Delia left sure that they wouldn't move for awhile yet and seeing as Kane was still with Bearer, targeting the rat bastard would be all but suicide. And Abeebah didn't raise no fool.
Delia had to strategize and knew it as Kane obviously was guarding the degrading waste of space for whatever reason. The caramel skinned found her younger brother among the ring technicians finalizing something or other. When caught sight of his sister Evan raised an eyebrow. In response the elder Johns tilted her head toward the back and raised an eyebrow back. Now curious he gave a sharp nod and headed to the back knowing that Delia would follow discreetly. Once they were alone the youngest Johns rounded on Delia questions clear in his hazel orbs. Before he could even open his mouth she spoke, "Beebs gave me a target".
Both of his eyebrows shot up in inquiry. As soon as Bearer's name passed her lips Evan was grimacing. "Kane is after his brother", she further explained, "and he's more like Beebs than we'll ever know". "Shit", he knew exactly what that meant. The small boy could still remember the torment their' eldest sibling endured. They too had suffered but not to the degree that she had and if Kane was in the same situation than he would be no help. Obedience would have been beaten into long before they had ever met him. It had surprised them all when Abeebah had after sixteen years of abuse had in one night single-handedly killed both their' parents.
And had done so coldly methodically and with as much professionalism that they hadn't had an idea they were dead. That was until their' bodies were found and the cops came to tell them. Of course and investigation was done and it was ruled that the couple had been mugged and their' bodies disposed of minus their' few valuables. Evan shuttered, the police had suspected Abeebah but there was no proof and no indication to her quilt. Nothing save an obviously fresh wound running the length of the right side of her face. After it was all said and done Abeebah and Brandon were declared emancipated and their' younger siblings' guardians Brandon had snapped.
The light-skinned brawler was never good with extreme stress and this was enough to break the camel's back. They fought, Brandon lost, badly. The next three years were a nightmare the youngest Johns didn't want to contemplate as it was the darkest days rivaling biblical Armageddon. And this meant a very grim future for any and every person in contact with either Calloway brother, themselves included. Evan gave a heaving sighed and rubbed his temples feeling an oncoming headache. "Have you warned Taker", he asked with a grimace. Placing her hands on her narrow hips Delia glared, "of course I tried to warn him he was in no state to listen though".
Evan rubbed his harder, "ok you obviously tried to catch the fat fuck alone and that obviously didn't work". "And getting me to distract Kane obviously isn't gonna work either". With each discarded idea the two younger horsemen got more and more frustrated. Neither was good at coming up with a plan on the fly as it were, while Brandon excelled at it. However their' burley brother was all but out of commission with his nervousness killing his creative brain cells. They poured over it so long that they didn't even acknowledge the passing of time.
The rumble had come and gone with Stone Cold Steve Austin the not so humble victor. They had no idea that their brother had entered in at number three only to be eliminated Mankind who entered at number sixteen almost three minutes later. They were a little too involved with coming up with ways to avoid a situation even more messy than the one they found themselves in when they first arrived at the WWF. That is until Undertaker's gong sounded throughout the entire arena. Simultaneously their' heads shot up, "Shit"! Grapping his sister's hand Evan lead her to the 'tool shed'.
He handed his sister a bag with heavy cable wires in it and added a few wretches and electrical tape. "So what we're winging it and hoping Kane doesn't kill us", asked Delia as Evan grabbed another bag and started throwing other junk in it. "We stall", Evan replied pulling Delia along with out of the shed and into the corridor leading to the rafters situated above just off backstage. "And pray to God that Undertaker doesn't toy around with Michaels". His sister looked incredulous; they both knew that wasn't going to happen. After all the shit the showstopper put deadman through he was definitely going to drag this beating out.
Evan smiled at his sister twitchingly, "Hey you wanted it interesting". Thinking about the third born of the horsemen shrugged. Her brother made a valid point. It didn't get much more interesting than provoking a psychotic seven foot pyromaniac hell-bent on making his brother's life a living breathing nightmare. Against her will a sick smile stretches Delia's peach lips. Danger always called to her instincts, suicide junky Abeebah usually called her. Viluppo didn't care this was going to be fun.
In the arena Shawn watched the Undertaker's approach. Like everyone else the icon wondered where his 'insurance' was. A little while ago it was not uncommon to see deadman and his brother together but not tonight. The big red retard was here, Michaels was sure but he hadn't come out with his brother. Was it a trap, mind games were an aptitude Undertaker had perfected long before he ever came to the WWF. A glance at Hunter confirmed he was having similar thoughts and was anxiously combing his eyes through the crowd.
Chyna however was the picture of stony calm as usual, even as her eyes darted around searchingly. Shawn couldn't help the flinch when Undertaker ascended the steps to the ring and couldn't help but scoot out of the ring when he raised his arms causing an explosive to go off in the turnbuckle. 'Come on, it's just a fire cracker', he told himself, Shawn knew that if he let the Undertaker intimidate him the phenom would have won half the battle.
But it was hard to concentrate with the Undertaker's impossibly green eyes boring holes in his skull with that dead stare. Undertaker unfastened his jacket not taking his eyes off DX as he slipped the garment from his shoulders. He was ready, he was focused, Kane wasn't there but that didn't matter. The little boy who stole his title was going to pay. Still even as the bell sounded and Michaels got back in the ring in the back of his mind Undertaker's thoughts were on his brother.
HBK began to bob around the big man, well aware that if Taker got him cornered that he was a goner. The big man easily kept step with him, blocking his every attempt to somehow get passed him. Frustrated as he was Michaels made no move to attach the larger and much more aggressive man. The brown haired man was arrogant not stupid. He knew what trying to go toe to toe with the deadman would only lead to him being beat down. Suddenly he found himself backed into a corner and cursed at allowing his mind to wander as he dodged away from the Phenom's quick right.
Now Undertaker was in the corner and Michaels took the liberty of pounding on the big man while he was off balance. But just as quickly he was swatted away like a pesky fly as Undertaker tried to regain his bearings. Not pausing to think Michaels was back on him, not letting him breath, not giving him the chance to recover. However Undertaker was ready and grabbing the younger man by his throat threw him into the corner. Again Michaels dodged and got a few hits in only to once more be in the Phenom's grasp. Undertaker punched away, feeling the satisfying minute give of HBK's bones under each strike.
He took great pleasure out of hurting him, took comfort out of every grunt forced the showstopper's throat. This 'boy' had taken his title from him. Stolen not once but twice, and had the nerve to mock him afterward. This the dead man would not abide. Feral, Undertaker lifted Michaels high above his head and walked over to the casket intent on throwing him in. But the younger man was able to wiggle out of his grasp and drop behind him. Michaels pushed in into the ropes and tried to once again create distance between them.
Growling Undertaker went after him; his prey wouldn't get away that easily. Backstage everyone was riveted upon what was happening in the ring they didn't take notice of what was happening just behind them. Simply put Paul Bearer and Kane were being pummeled. Paul cursed and covered up as best as he could and Kane was hunched over in pain. Delia had made sure that her first wrench had caught the big man in the crotch and followed it up with drill bit.
Both she and Evan knew that they couldn't keep this up for long and that if Kane got his hands on them they wouldn't survive so they did what they did best. Ducking and dodging into the shadows of the rafters while throwing dangerous items at a target. And hoped to God in heaven that their' targets didn't catch glimpse of them. Suddenly Kane straightened as if the continued assault as if the various sharp and weighty objects being thrown at him didn't hurt. "Shit", Delia hissed, "time to go".
Wordlessly her younger sibling agreed as the big red machine's eyes affixed on the rafters they were throwing from. Backing away Evan and Delia grabbed their' bags and the younger horseman led his sister to the stairs on the opposite side. "Think he'll follow us", he asked as they fairly flew down the stairs. He was answered by the sound of Kane's knocking over some junk that was apparently in his way. How he got up there so quickly was beyond either of them. Delia laughed even as they ran, this was fun.
"You distract Kane, I'll deal with Bearer". The caramel skinned beauty rolled her eyes, "I'm crazy not stupid, you distract Kane, I'll deal with Bearer". They both heard the big man's footsteps coming toward them. "We don't have time for this", Evan hissed once they were down the steps. Smiling his sister pulled out the electrical tape and proceeded to tape the door behind them shut. "Set a trip line quick", she told him. Not missing a beat the boy did as Delia said. The doe eyed woman finished taping the door shut and grasped her brother's hand, pulling him toward the opposite stairs where Bearer was yelling obscenities.
Quickly both siblings attacked the obese monstrosity from behind with electrical tape. Delia and Evan circled around him taping his eyes shut before he even knew what happened. And his hands were next as they passed. The two horsemen were able to get to Bearer's waist before they had to abort their' mission. The door Kane was trying to get through was starting to give under his relentless assault. Swiftly kicking the manager to the ground Delia turned and ran with Evan not far behind her. They had done all they could and now it was up to the dead man.
Back in the ring Undertaker was on his third attempt to get Michaels into the casket. The showstopper had already had some close calls before as the dead man had all but thrown him the casket earlier and thrown over the top rope by his nuts later. Chyna and Hunter had already saved his bacon twice in this match up. However whatever was thrown at him, Undertaker kept coming. And with him came a new level of brutality that seemed to increase every time he got up. He even managed to tombstone Michaels while in the casket. Now Undertaker had chokeslamed him it seemed that his victory was assured.
That is, until once again Chyna and Triple H got involved once again and they were not alone. DX swarmed in numbers surrounding, coming out of nowhere to help their' leader. A crutch to the back of the head had Undertaker distracted enough for Chyna to give him a low blow. Undertaker was dropped to his knees with another shot by Helmsly and nearly groaned in pain when Rick Rude joined in on kicking him while he was down. The others joined in with zeal, taking turns while hitting him. Now Undertaker could no longer stop the question surfacing his mind, 'where was Kane'. Betrayal seeped into his every pore as he lay unable to retaliate.
And then the lights went out, organ music began to play as the pyros on the ramp went off. It harrowed his brother's entrance and his rescue. Or so the dead man thought and apparently so did JR who was all but screaming the big red machine's praises. Kane walked down the ramp purposefully slow. Whoever had attacked Paul Bearer and he had gone. Neither the big red machine nor Paul had caught glimpse of their' cowardly assailants. And even though he had inkling about whom it was, Kane made no move to telling his ranting father as they had removed the prodigious amount of tape that had been wrapped around him.
The big man poked at the link that bonded him to Abeebah and found only her disappointment and cold fury. Her thoughts were closed to him. Turning his attention outward Kane took notice of DX members heading up the ramp to attack him. It only took one punch each to dispose of any and all his would be attackers. Easily stepping over the top rope Kane began to clear the ring. Most of the people he was currently choke slamming the big red machine didn't even recognize. However the pain and fear on their' faces was enough to further fuel his blood lust. Seeing the look in the big monster's eyes the senior members of DX quickly got out of the ring.
Even as they watched their' fellow delinquents get pummeled Triple H and Chyna pulled a dazed HBK out of the casket and up the ramp to leave. Like a giant sentry Kane stood in front of his brother waiting for him to stand. It took longer than anyone expected but Undertaker did stand and approach his younger sibling. Still dazed the phenom didn't even register the hand around his throat until it was much too late. The on looking spectators screamed in horror as Kane chokeslamed his brother. All the air in the dead man's lungs left with a woosh as his already abused back when it met the canvas.
'Glen what the hell', finally jarred into paying attention to their' link Undertaker was confronted by the searing heat of Kane's rage, agony, and determination. He wasn't looking into the eyes of his brother; he was looking into the eyes of the monster Paul head brought to the WWF. Suddenly he couldn't breath couldn't think couldn't move as he heard the wailing laughter of Paul Bearer. "Time to pay the piper dead man", all the red head could see was Kane's fist descending toward his face. The big red machine pummeled his brother without mercy satisfied with the pain and betrayal he felt from his prone brother.
'Good let him suffer as I've suffered'. Malignantly he ignored that a part of his own heart cried out along with his brother's. This is what he wanted Kane told himself. In the end Undertaker would betray him and all the years he had suffered lay partially on this man's shoulders. Their' parents were already dead and Bearer was next on his hit list. Easily slinging his brother's dead weight over his shoulder much to his father's delight Kane walked over to the side of the ring and deposited Undertaker none too gently into the casket. Slamming the lid shut Kane glared at the frozen referee.
The demon in chrisom held out his hand and the little man automatically handed him the keys and padlock to the coffin his brother was laid up in. Shutting the lid Kane locked it and threw the keys into the crowd. "I got a better idea son, drag dat son bitch here", called a smug Paul Bearer. Under his mask the big man grit his teeth as he felt the not subtle push from Bearer. The man still thought he could control him and in doing as Bearer said Kane continued to allow him to think so. The big red machine pushed the coffin to the ramp where his father stood in wait.
In his hands were a can of gasoline and a lighter in the other. Again Abeebah's words echoed through his mind. 'He's playing you'. 'And playing me better than I'm playing him it would seem', Kane thought with sudden enlightenment. Paul's beady gaze was on him expectantly and the compulsion was pushing into him harder than Kane could have ever imagined. It was all but screaming in his head for blood where once upon a time he had thought it was his own torment urging him on.
Now he knew the difference. Kane wished for his brother's agony, wished him pain for all the wrongs that he committed against him, but never ever had he wished for his brother's life. This was Paul's greed and spitefulness at work. Paul the pathetic Kane dubbed him now even as he silently watched the older man uncork the gasoline and spill it all over the casket. Desperately the dark haired wrestler tried to think of something that would stay his brother's execution. 'ABEEBAH', the answer was immediate, 'what'? 'Take care of Mark', and without second thought he took the lighter from Paul and set fire to the coffin that his brother was still locked in.