Friendly reminder that the story "Life's Zig Zags" is a companion piece to this one, check it out!
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The backstage area buzzes as the production crew sets up for NXT Takeover: Orlando. Ravyn and AJ mingle backstage with a bunch of their friends and give encouragement to some of the young stars of NXT. They choose an empty table near the seamstresses to settle down and watch the controlled chaos of a show they're not a part of. Voices from catering pass through the curtain to their side with ease. It takes a few minutes for them to recognize a pair of voices having a very interesting conversation.
"I was going to put something out today, but my computer is acting up," Corey grumbles to someone.
"We could try my computer, it's been wonky since you let me borrow that drive the other day," Corbin suggests. "Maybe we can still get our Wrestlemania moment with that bitch after all."
AJ starts to get up to confront them but she puts a hand on his arm telling him to stay put. The fury in his eyes scares her. His fists ball up at his sides as they hear the two men's voices drift away from their location.
"If they so much as LOOK at you cross I'm going to rip their fucking heads off," he growls like a predatory beast.
"Babe," she starts.
"I'm serious. Those two have gotten away with too much for too long. What they just said there? That's a threat. They're threatening you. They're threatening to harm you," he seethes. "You're my girlfriend and I love you. If someone threatens you I'm going to react. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you ever again." He looks at her seriously. "You can share my dressing room tomorrow. And besides my match I'm not going to let you out of my sight."
"I saved some of the stuff from that flash drive... Some of the videos had Corey using drugs on company property and a couple of them were with some others that may be potential blackmail," she explains.
"We won't stoop to that level," AJ tells her matter of factly. "If they try anything I'm going straight to Vince, and then the police."
His tone tells her that there's no arguing with him. She nods, just thankful that he cares enough about her to be this concerned. They make the rounds and greet the rest of the NXT stars as they prepare for their big event. Ravyn is thrilled when she sees JJ out of the corner of her eye. The redhead is at the backstage monitor watching the opening bout. Ravyn lets AJ know where she'll be and sneaks over to join her friend viewing the show.
"So, I went through that flash drive and found this..." Ravyn pulls her phone out and shows JJ the photo of the redhead from the leaked photo. "Does she look familiar to you?"
JJ takes the phone and gives it a thorough examination, "I certainly recognize that hair color. Her face looks familiar too, I just can't place it."
"I know I've seen her backstage once or twice back in NXT," Ravyn brainstorms. "Maybe she was dating someone."
A lightbulb seems to go off for JJ, "Oh! I'm such a fucking idiot! She hangs around Corbin! I completely forgot about her. I hadn't seen her around since Corbin left NXT."
"Shit! You're right!" Ravyn finally matches the face to a memory. "Well, at least now you can prove that picture isn't of you! I found a bunch of other pictures on there too. Of lots of other girls. I saved a handful, just in case."
"I'm honestly over the photo. The people who still think it's me can keep thinking whatever they want at this point," JJ shrugs.
Ravyn nods, "AJ and I heard them talking earlier. They were going to release more tonight, but my plan fried their computers."
JJ chuckles, "That plan was amazing. I wish I had seen it go down."
"I would have loved to see their faces," Ravyn laughs.
The two girls are joined by their boyfriends soon after. The four of them find a spot where they won't be in the way and watch the show together.
"Babe wake up," AJ whispers slyly the next morning, his girlfriends back to him. When Ravyn doesn't respond he snakes an arm around her her hip and slides his body close to hers. The hair from his chest tickles her back. "Babe, it's Wrestlemania day.."
She yawns and stretches a bit, leaning back against AJ's warm body. He kisses her neck gently. A soft moan escapes her as his nose trails up to her ear. He nibbles her earlobe making her squirm under his touch. Her body reacts without even being fully awake. Turned on by the reaction he's getting he continues kissing her neck and collarbone. His hand teases the elastic of her lacy black underwear. In one swift motion he's got them down around her ankles and his hand sets to exploring her body. Within minutes he's got her quivering underneath him. She tries desperately not to leave claw marks in his back, but she can't stop herself. Her sharp talons sink into his soft flesh as she begs him not to stop. To keep her from drawing blood he pins her hands above her head on the kingsize bed. His head dips down capturing her lips with his own. She sucks his lower lip into her mouth and bites down gently, driving him wild.
In the tangled mess of bodies and sheets she feels completely his. They collapse into a heap panting and sweaty just minutes later. AJ flops onto his back as he struggles to get his breathing back under control. She moves in close and rests her head on his chest. Her fingers toy with the dark hairs as she watches his chest rise and fall with every breath.
"That's a good way to start Mania day," she smirks.
He runs his fingers through her long hair, "I kinda wish we could just stay here all day."
She sighs, content to stay right there with him forever, "But we can't. We have nine thousand autographs to sign before the show tonight."
"Just lay with me a few more minutes," he requests.
She doesn't need to be asked twice. She sinks herself into him letting her head rise and fall with each breath he takes. He twists his fingers into her silky hair, enjoying every last moment they have to themselves before the big event.
"Ravyn, I've got you scheduled for a photo op in thirty with our VIPs," Mark Carrano dictates as the women's champ exits her first 2 hour autograph signing for the day.
"Sure thing," she confirms. "Give me a few minutes and I'll be there."
He nods to her and goes back to the strict schedule on his clipboard. She makes her way through the backstage area of the convention center. A quick bathroom break and she grabs a granola bar as she traverses the quiet halls back towards the convention floor.
"So should Corbin and I expect you to come find us before the show tonight?" Corey's voice grates on her eardrums like nails on a chalkboard. "Or should we wait until after the show when you drop the belt and your boyfriend dumps you?"
"Oh for fucks sake Corey, fuck off!" She spits.
He cuts in front of her, stopping all forward momentum she had had. "I'll make sure to release the really good shit during the show then," he dangles the flash drive in front of her. "The really good pictures with you all tied up, the videos with Seth and Jimmy. Make sure that redneck and everyone else see just how much of a slut you really are."
She rolls her eyes, a new found confidence shining through ever since the destruction of the actual flash drive. She crosses her arm and smiles, "A
a little bird told me that flash drive of yours is useless. Everything on it is gone, you and I both know it." She watches the wheels turning in his head as he tries to process exactly what she's saying. "I also know about the other girls. Before, after and during our relationship. I've seen all the pictures.. All the videos. If I wanted to I could release everything and show the world just how much of a womanizing scumbag you really are." He stumbles over a response but makes only nonsensical noises. "Get the fuck away from me. Get out of my fucking life and erase my name from your vocabulary," she demands. "And if you so much as TRY to hurt my relationship, my friends or my career Vince will be the first one seeing everything on that drive. I'm sure he will REALLY appreciate all the drugs and partying you organized on property he's renting."
Tyler appears over her shoulder as Corey starts to back away slowly. "Everything okay here?" The blonde asks with a smirk.
"Everything's fine," Corey lies. "Just wishing the champ good luck tonight."
Tyler raises an eyebrow in amusement as Corey turns and high tails it from their presence. "AJ sent me to find you. You good?" He asks Ravyn carefully.
"I think my the 'my ex is a piece of shit' chapter of my life is finally over," Ravyn almost laughs.
Tyler grins, "About time."
She playfully swats at him before he pulls her in for a hug. "Now all I have to do is endure a ninety minute photo op and one more hour long autograph signing before I wrestle my best friend in a ladder match at our first Wrestlemania."
"No pressure," Tyler snorts.