"So Kane?" Carrie had finally finished the last waffle she could force down her throat and could now focus her attention elsewhere.
"What?" Kane's eyes had been hopping from person to person in the dining area, he could tell they had all been starring at the pair. Seeing Kane in the daylight was a rare sight to behold in itself, let alone while sharing someone else's company.
"Kane?!" Carrie waved a hand in front of Kane's grimacing face. "Kane you can't ignore me forever!" Her voice grew louder as Kane continued to stare off into the crowd.
"I said what?!" He slammed his fists into the table, if everyone hadn't been staring before they'd be staring now and Kane was in no mood to be gawked at, he simply got up, an ominous creaking to his chair as he did so and began to walk away. Carrie hadn't followed, instead she went to fill a cup of coffee.
'Asshole!' She grimaced at how rude Kane had been, but eventually another feeling came over her, it was Carrie's turn to feel the heat of everyone's stares. "Can I help you?" She finally acknowledged her coworker's judging faces. Before she had the chance to hear any response there was a quick pull at the back of her shirt, her half full mug clanked against the floor.
"Ahhh!" Carrie shrieked, flailing to see who was now dragging her through the hotel lobby.
"Quiet idiot." Kane stated flatly as he continued to pull her. Then he heard something he wasn't expecting, laughter. He grew wide eyed as his hold was made difficult, not by squirming, but by Carrie's body rocking as she nearly doubled over in laughter. "What is wrong with you?" He pulled her vertical, back onto her feet before reaching the elevator.
"Nothing, absolutely dandy, traveling in style!" She folded her arms behind her head as she regained composure. "What?" Still red in the face from laughter she looked over at the puzzled monster.
"That's not the reaction I usually get." But the more he thought about it the more he realized, this wasn't a usually dragging of dead weight, normally he was pulling bruised and mangled bodies around the arena.
"Right. Terror, scared. You want me to scream so you can save face?"
"I don't need you to-"
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Carrie reached deep within her lungs to get out a long shrill cry. Kane's hands had clenched over his ears, the sound absolutely unbearable up close, he barely heard her when she spoke again. "Quick quick in the elevator." And with that Carrie's body went limp in an extreme trust fall type maneuver, Kane fumbled, only barely catching her. Looking up from Carrie he saw a bunch of startled faces, all waiting to see what the demon would do next.
'Saving face.' Kane rolled his eyes as he resumed dragging Carrie, pulling her into the elevator he slammed the button to their floor. "Are you out of your mind?"
"I thought I was helping." Carrie gave a haphazard shrug.
"Helping?" Kane ran a hand over his head not sure what else to say. 'And I thought I was unhinged.'
"You want people to be scared of you and if they heard me laughing they-"
"I don't need help making people fear me." He leaned against the far wall of the elevator, creating a large noticeable gap between the two of them.
"Right." Carrie nodded, looking down at the floor trying to avoid what was surely an angry glare. Kane waited for her snappy comeback but none came, she just stood there like a scolded child. His body grew rigid as he found himself fighting the urge to move closer, to touch her, to feel her skin, he shook his head vehemently as he finally calmed the desire.
"What . . ." His breath had been caught in his throat, causing him to start over. "What were you going to ask me? Earlier?"
"Earlier when you were ignoring me?" Carrie finally looked up from the floor.
"If I heard you, it means I wasn't completely ignoring you." Kane was realizing Carrie would not relent,not pull any punches not for another two months, his one word answers and shrugs would not suffice, he actually had to think, had to talk, she was not letting him coast on creepy.
"Valid point." No longer pouting her smile threatened to reach her ears. ' Not ignoring me? Admit it Kane, I'm weaseling my way in there . . . just wait . . . you're not going to love me, but you're not going to hate me either!' A determination that had been chopped down earlier in the morning began to sprout back up.
"Carrie?" Kane nudged her with his elbow as the doors opened. Even the slightest touch, it would linger, it would make his pulse raise. 'Don't touch her, women equal pain! You can't touch her. You're a bull in a china shop or however that phrase goes, and her skin is-'
"You ok?" As they made it to the hotel room she could see anxious look painted across Kane's face, it was obvious he was struggling with something.
"Dandy." His fists clenched as his vitals returned to normal. " I'll ask again." He tried to sound calm and nonthreatening but it was not an easy task. "What were you saying earlier?"
"I was going to ask-" She stopped to plop down on the bed the second the door opened. "What are your plans for today?"
"Going to the gym." He replied quickly.
"And then?"
"Eating lunch."
"And then?"
"Going back to the gym."
"And then?" Carrie leaned in to imply she wanted to hear something different.
"Eat dinner." Kane's face twitched as the repeated question began to get on his nerves.
"And then?" She was still not satisfied.
"Go to sleep . . . without any interruptions." He added the marginal demand.
"Wow." Carrie chuckled. "Now it all makes sense." She continued to laugh.
"What makes sense?" An eyebrow rose, he had no idea what she was getting at.
"Monster this . . . Monster that, you left the most important adjective out." She watched as Kane picked up his gym bag.
"Most important?"
"Party monster!" Carrie hopped up on the bed bouncing once or twice. "No T.V? no crosswords? Game of solitaire? Slurpee through a crazy straw nothing?" She jumped up and down again like an energetic child.
"Are you mocking me?" Kane's nose wrinkled, not appreciating Carrie's jests. For a moment Carrie contemplated her answer, returning to a seated position on the bed.
"Yes?" She wouldn't bother denying she was poking fun at the giant buzz kill.
"I don't like . . . being mocked." His hand gripped the door handle with a bone crushing force.
"How can you laugh at someone else if you can't laugh at yourself?" She tried to talk sense into the riled beast.
"Because no one will tell me I can't." He replied with a icy sense of confidence, with that established he left.
"I now understand they lyrics I take two steps forward I take two steps back on a much deeper level." She spoke aloud to herself as she crashed back on the bed and reached over for the remote.
The sun had been down a few hours by the time Kane returned back to the hotel, to an empty room. 'Where'd she go?' He scanned the room from side to side, even taking a minute to look in the closet. 'She mentioned friends, why would she want to stick around here? Haven't given her a reason to stay.' He went over in his head the last day or so, how cold and irate he had been with her. 'I . . .' He looked down at his palms. 'I hurt her . . . I berated her. . . And she ran away what do I care?' He tried to brush off Carrie's absence. As his self reflection ended he saw something out of the corner of his eye, he walked over to the end table, dropping his bag to the floor he stared down at a half melted slurpee, crazy straw included. Next to the frozen drink was a now condensation covered notepad, some ink bled words on it. Taking a big gulp from the drink he winced as a brain freeze took hold of him. 'Bet she'd laugh her ass off at this.' He rubbed his forehead as he waited for the pain to subside before reading the note. 'Have a little fun . . . it won't kill you. P.S don't drink too fast - you're roommate / tormentor Caroline Lories.' He rolled his eyes as sat on the bed. 'Women equal pain. Women equal pain.' He repeated over and over as he drank his frozen beverage. 'Ridiculous crazy straw.' He did have to admit maybe small changes to his routine wouldn't be so torturous.
Sure enough Kane's hunch had been right, new city, new hotel, same reservations. He hadn't seen Carrie for a day and a half, and was curious if this was the new set up, he'd only have to see her once or twice a week. 'I did almost kill her.' A small piece of him was disappointed with this arrangement. 'This is what I want, I want to be alone!' The more he said it, the more taxing on his psyche it became, he didn't understand why he had to convince himself, why he had to remind himself that Carrie was nothing but trouble. With a swipe of the key he opened the door and almost bulled over the woman stuck in his head. "Carrie!" He felt her careen into his chest.
"Kane! Hi, thought you might've forgotten all about me!" She gave a wave before dipping below his arm limbo style. "I'll be back in a little while ok? I mean if you don't mind sharing the space." She wasn't sure if the other night had been a one time deal and hadn't yet figured out a way to bring it up without the two of them getting in another fight.
"Where are you going?" He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from scampering away. "Where did you stay last night?" He found himself concerned about her well being. 'She doesn't take care of herself, she probably slept on a subway bench for all I know.'
"I'm going for a walk." The moment quickly got awkward when his hand did not move. "Is that ok with you Kane?" He wasn't really listening, looking over Carrie's head Kane could see him.
"Stay here." Kane's voice seemed distant.
"Kane it was a rhetorical question." Carrie rolled her eyes as she tried to resume her stride, but his hand did not waver, instead of simply resting on Carrie's shoulder, now it held her in place. "Kane let me-" She stopped her statement and looked up, as the lights flickered. "The hell?" She squinted to try and see the man she finally noticed at the end of the hall. "Who is-" She took one step forward but Kane tugged her backwards pulling her to the ground as he forced her into the hotel room. "Ow! Kane I thought we were past this! What's the big-"
"Stay here. Lock the door and don't open it for anyone but me!" Kane growled, his face looked ghastly as the lights flickered again.
"Kane what's happen-" She couldn't get a sentence out. Kane wasn't great with words and didn't have time to spell it out, he had to keep it short and to the point.
"Stay here!" Kane slammed the door shut. 'I have enough trouble dealing with them separately, I can't let those two collide.' He waited to hear the door lock. 'Finally she listens.' He was relieved to know he wouldn't have to keep tabs on Carrie's safety. ' Don't want him to touch her. Don't want him to get his filthy hands on her skin.' Kane would not let the man take away one of the few things that made him feel . . . anything. Kane began to distance himself from the door. "Messing with the fuse box? You're going to have to do better than that. I'm not afraid of the dark. And I'm sure as hell not afraid of you." Kane after a few long paces was eye to eye with the shadowy figure.
"You should be." A gloved hand bunched up and plowed into Kane's face. Kane recoiled a step or two before using that inertia to apply an audible uppercut. "I see you have a new woman." The voice perplexed him, the face he knew, it had changed slightly but it was unmistakable, but this voice he had no idea who this was, despite his best efforts he couldn't place it. Ignoring the statement Kane wrapped both hands around the man's neck and with brute force choked him into the corner. "What . . ." Air struggled to pass by Kane's hold. "What is her name?" The cornered man grappled to hook an arm under Kane's knee, scooping up the monster he slammed Kane into the floor. Carrie's eye was pressed against the peep hole, lights still on the fritz she couldn't see much but she could hear Kane groan in pain.
'What's happening? What do I do?' She glanced over at the phone contemplating calling the cops. As another thud emanated on the other side of the door she refocused her attention on the hallway.
"Do you plan on losing a child with this one too?" The slugger took a jab a Kane's misfortune, he could see he hit a nerve, unfortunately for the man, Kane hit back with a big boot straight across the face. "Don't get the wrong idea Kane, I have no interest in making your woman my own. It's you I want to destroy, it's only fair I know the name of the collateral damage." Speaking through a nearly broken jaw made his words almost unintelligible, despite the fierce kick he quickly got to his feet and after a few sloppy steps, speared Kane into a wall. That was not nearly enough to put a now livid Kane away, taking the man's skull in his giant hands Kane squeezed his head like a lemon, large fingers digging into his temples.
"She's not my woman!" Kane finally willed himself off of the wall, with the power struggle leaning in Kane's favor and his hands still clenched tight like a bear trap he flung the man into the very same spot he had just escaped from.
"What is all this noise?! Not cool! I am trying to relax and-" Carlito had swung open his door, disturbed by the crashing sounds of the brawl, he immediately regretted that decision. Both giants paused and started advancing towards the nuisance, cold glares focusing on the now trembling onlooker. "N . . . Nevermind I'll leave you two . . ." Carlito didn't even finished just reentered the safety of his room and slammed the door shut.
'Idiot learned his lesson just in time.' Before could realize he was distracted it was too late the mystery man had capitalized lifting Kane into another scoop slam. Kane reeled in pain, his back had connected with the unforgiving floor, he was not used to being matched in brute force.
"You're right. Woman is the wrong word. A pet? Rescued from the pound. Lita always had a thing for strays didn't she?" The man looked down at Kane who despite being slammed into the ground still had a look of anger and aggression on his face, he wouldn't let the pain get to him. Though his attempt to get up was thwarted by a kick to the back of the neck. "I mean look at you." The man began to walk towards Kane's hotel room. "But I have to say Kane . . . I'm impressed." He spoke as he took step after slow step closer to the door.
'Impressed? What is he getting at? What does he think he's doing, turning his back on me, last mistake he'll make.' Kane dug his nails into the carpet as he pushed himself to his knees.
"It's been only what? Three days and you've already got a pet who listens to commands … sit . . . stay. Does she roll over yet?" He was now at the door. Kane was back on his feet his face contorted in anger and disgust at the derogatory statements. Labored breaths steamed from his nostrils like a raging bull.
'Who does he think he is?' Kane's shoulders rose and fell, with shortness of breath and a surge of madness. 'Playing mind games with me?'
"No? Not yet? Does she speak? Lets see." A huge fist began to pound on the hotel door. Carrie let out a squeal of fright as the wood shook, she took six steps back stopping only when she bumped into the bed. Quickly she put her hands over her mouth trying to remain quiet, in a way remain hidden. She grew ever more concerned as the handle began to jiggle.
'Who is that? Where's Kane? Oh god I'm going to die here aren't I?" She began to panic. 'Anyone insane enough to pick a fight with Kane . . . probably has bodies buried under their porch. I don't want to be on Dateline!' She looked around the room for something to defend herself with, she had no intention of going out without a fight.
"Hey!" Kane called out, the man turned around just long enough to be met with a furious clothesline. ' I won't let her pay for my sins. She stood up to me, if she try that bullshit with him, he'll crush her. Collateral damage.' Kane was not able to hide the fact that for whatever reason, a small soft spot had grown for Carrie, not from himself and not from the man he had forcefully laid out on the ground."'You think you can beat me? Break me? I am a monster, a machine I will burn you to a crisp!" 'I won't lose her to the pitiful likes of you!' Carrie had been the only person to give Kane the time of day in months, her hand being slightly forced was irrelevant. She was providing Kane with something he was more often than not deprived of, human contact, it had been meager and turbulent, but to Kane it was comparable to water in a drought, the smallest drop was still sustenance. He still hadn't made up his mind if he would push her away but he would be damned if he let this attacker take her from him. 'I'll tear him to shreds, I'll decimate him, destroy him! I won't let him get to her. She has enough monsters to be scared of.' The whole time he had been thinking over his compulsion to protect Carrie he had been unleashing heavy punches and kicks to the man contorted on the floor. Kane paused to catch some breath as his foe tried to get to his feet. Both men stood winded in an odd sort of stale mate. In the same moment, they grabbed each other, in tandem after rocking hundreds of pounds, they threw one another, plowing their collective weight through Kane's hotel door, breaking it straight off it's hinges and sending it to the ground.
"Kane!" Carrie screeched out in horror, she could see how bruised and battered he was. She would not allow this to go on any further.
"Carrie, run!" He coughed out, pushing himself to be the first on his feet.
"Get out! You crazy bastard leave us alone!" Carrie took her bedside lamp and crashed it over the man trying to regain his bearings laid out in the doorway. Had there still been any life in those eyes, after that it was completely knocked out of him, he was unconscious. Kane still huffing and puffing took the man by his ankles and dragged him away. Kane with many spectators drug him all the way outside of the building, kicking him one more time.
"Leave us . . . me-" Kane quickly corrected himself. "Leave me alone, before I get angry." Kane implied this was only a portion of his destructive ability. He slowly lumbered to the front desk. "That man . . ." Kane was completely out of breath. "That man was about to attack . . . my wife." He lied, had he said the two men had a heated grudge that spilled throughout the hotel he felt there'd be more questions, possibly some police presence. 'What a bother.' His body finally relaxed slightly. "Don't. Let him back in!" He made his point abundantly clear, the attendant nodded quickly.
"I'll call the police!"
"I don't care what you do, just keep him out! Or else I'll throw him out a second time, I can't promise he'll be in as good health." Kane rubbed an aching joint as he lurched his way back to the elevator.
"If anyone asks . . . we're married." Kane only then realized how grandiose his lie had been. Looking from left to right he didn't see the woman he had so fiercely protected. "Carrie?" 'Did she run like I said?' He continued to scour the space. His search paused when he heard rapid breathing coming from a childish hiding spot. "Really?" He crouched down beside the bed, looking underneath he saw a curled up Carrie, eyes clenched shut, hands over her mouth. "Carrie!" He reached out his hand to assure her things were ok but at his touch Carrie bolted away scampering from under the bed to the other side of the hotel room.
"Ahhhh!" She grabbed the half of the lamp she still had with her. "Kane!" She let out a sigh of relief, when her hysteria caught up with reality, dropping the lighting fixture. "You're O.K!" She ran over to him hugging the sweaty man as tight as her arms would allow.
"Carrie." He just kept saying his name, he felt he had accomplished something, he had protected her. He didn't recoil from this hug, he had earned this sensation, but he didn't reciprocate either, his arms laying lifelessly at his sides. "It's over now, you can calm down." He looked down at Carrie who still seemed rattled
"Who was that guy?" Carrie looked around to make sure the lunatic was gone, then over at the door still lying awkwardly on the ground.
"A thief." Kane pulled away, lifting the door off the floor, inspecting the level of damage.
"He stole something from you?"
"Yes." Kane's nose wrinkled thinking of the robbery that had transpired.
"Does he have a death wish? Who would steal from you? What did he take?" Carrie couldn't fathom the thought of taking anything that belonged to Kane.
"My past." Kane voiced vapidly as he tried to wedge the door back in place. "Under the bed?" Kane tried to change the subject, he was just getting mad all over again.
"You keep telling me you're the worst monster of them all, where do you hide from someone who attacks that monster? What can protect you from that kind of crazy?"
"I can." To keep the door up straight he pressed the back of a chair against it then deposited himself in that seat, his arms folded like a bouncer, eyes staring blankly in the distance.
"You're going to-"
"Like you said you're already dealing with one monster, THE monster, you're already playing with fire, part of tolerating you is keeping you alive right?"
"Yeah I guess so." Carrie gave a half chuckle at the morbid statement.
"Then that's what I'll do." Kane gave a heavy shrug, wincing at his still aching back.
"So you're going sit there all night? Not going to sleep?"
"I couldn't sleep if I wanted to." Kane shook his head, both his body and mind were throbbing rest would not come easy.
"You want to put something on T.V? Keep you occupied?" Carrie was now sitting Indian style on the bed, she tossed the remote to the impromptu guard.
"Carrie?" Kane began to flip through the channels.
"Yeah?"
"You're afraid of him . . ." He paused to recollect the sheer look of terror on her face when the fight spilled over into the room. "But not of me . . ." He had a nagging question in his head but was unsure if he wanted ask it. "Why?" He relented to his curiosity.