Hi everyone,
This is a shorter chapter for you and I'll have another fairly soon. Had to split it up.
By now I'm sure you've all heard of the passing of Scott Oliver Hall, The Bad Guy. I know it's a little late to say my condolences, but part of what took me so long was I had a minute where I honestly thought of giving up on this story. But I know I couldn't do that. I have put so much time and effort and it has been something that has really helped me over the year in more ways than one. I hope this has helped the people who read this in some way as well. Thanks once again to everyone who reviews, faves, and follows, means the world to me.
I've said it before but I've never intended to exploit or make light of Mr. Hall's demons and personal issues with this. I believe even through his struggles, he's had a lot of triumphs and he's been an inspiration to many. He's lived a life that most would only dream of, both the good and the bad. And although loss is always a heartbreaking thing, he had lived a sort of long life when compared to so many in the wrestling industry who don't even make it past their 30s or 40s.
Scott isn't in this chapter, but he is mentioned and I just wanted to take the time to say that.
RIP Scott Hall. "Bad times don't last. But Bad Guys do."
Nash rumbled out a sigh as he finished putting on his gear. He hadn't planned on wrestling tonight, but he knew Vince had a penchant for changing things to his whims so it was always best to be prepared. He didn't have his knee brace which was irksome, especially having to wait on the apron for nearly ten minutes just to get a damn tag. He really didn't want to be in the main event, but Vince assured him everything would be fine in his usual all-knowing manner.
"Don't sweat it, big guy. You got this," Shawn encouraged him as he patted his shoulder.
Kevin shot him a half-smirk. He saw the envy in his friend's eyes. Shawn was just itching to get back into the ring. Four years may as well have been a lifetime in this business and while Shawn reveled in being back on television, it wasn't quite the same as actually being in the ring – for someone like Shawn anyway.
For Kevin, while he did enjoy his work, wrestling was more a means to an end. And that end was money. Shit, if he had had four years on his Turner contract, he would be sitting at home on his ass right now with a glass of wine in one hand and a fat doobie in the other. It probably would have saved him a great deal of torment in the end. Scott too.
If only the match was the real issue here. He griped and bitched about it but he knew it wasn't. Shortly, they would head to the ring. Shawn would cut a promo addressing Hunter and his joining up with them and then Kevin would announce his medical clearance and propose that ridiculous and pointless ten-man tag. And all the while, the little one would be looking at him while he pretended that she didn't even exist.
That was...fine. Not fine. That was the way it should be. Not the way it should be, but the way it must be. It would be better for her in the end. He prayed that would work for him too. And for now, it probably would. But how long could he keep it up when he would be forced to revisit his transgressions night in and night out?
Heather trudged slowly towards the gorilla even though they had already been given the cue to make their entrance and the nWo theme music was blaring obnoxiously through the speakers. The sisters had missed a brief segment of the faction taunting Benoit and Guerrero before making their way to the ring. They were sure to receive a horrific tongue lashing from both their father and Mr. McMahon at the conclusion. Oddly enough Heather was finding it difficult to be perturbed by this awareness, although it was clear that she certainly believed she should be. She had just returned and she was already finding the whole ordeal cumbersome.
"C'mon. Hurry up!" Reves chided Heather as she yanked at her hand and dragged her along like they were going to miss the last train to the North Pole.
Heather didn't have a moment to think about being any more apprehensive than she already was as they sprinted through the gorilla. Her senses were assaulted the instant she slipped through the curtain. The lights, flashing and glaring and hot on her skin, blinded her. The music hammered in her ear and the roar of the crowd only intensified all of it.
Still, hand in hand Reves halted the both of them at the top of the stage even though the men were more than halfway down the ramp already. She lifted their clasped hands high in the air and the audience popped with a wild roar.
The crowd was cheering for them? No. Not them. Reves. Reves had a self-assured smirk curving her lips and Heather couldn't help but admire how suited she seemed for all of this, unlike herself.
Hustling down the ramp to catch up with the boys, Reves led her along once more. By the time they had reached the end of the ramp, the men were already in the ring. Shawn of all people was near the ropes holding them open for the sisters. Releasing her hand, Reves pranced up the steps and stepped onto the apron, grinning broadly at Shawn for a moment before getting in the ring.
Heather paused in front of the steel steps. The last time she had been here she was leaning against them for support due to her injured ankle. That seemed to be eons ago, although it had only been four weeks. Try as she may, she couldn't conjure that memory without the events that immediately followed. The blonde goliath came to her aid, cradling her in his enormous arms and carrying her away. Her eyes traveled to the inside of the ring and fixed upon his magnificent form. A blush crept across her features as her heart began to race in spite of itself. Shaking off her thoughts she bustled up the stairs. Now was not the time to be waxing poetic over the behemoth.
"It's gonna be fine, kid," Shawn told her, as he witnessed the apprehension etched on her face. It was a pleasant sentiment, his encouragement, albeit he did not know the extent of her turmoil.
After releasing a shivering breath, Heather stepped between the ropes, infinitely grateful that she hadn't gracelessly tripped over them.
Once everyone was in place, Shawn began his promo. In it, he would be addressing Triple H whom the nWo had apparently been courting for a few weeks now. He initiated by speaking about the group first, but Heather was only vaguely aware of his speech. When he welcomed her back after her short hiatus, he was met with a preoccupied stare that was fixed on the faction's notorious leader.
Noticing where her sister's focus was, Reves pinched the underside of her arm, soliciting a low yelp from her.
Heather jumped at the sudden sting. "Excuse me. Why would you..." she began with a murmur, then recalling where she was, her heart lurched and she offered an utterly grand and absurd grin to The Heartbreak Kid which he returned. While Shawn moved forward with his promo, Heather dropped her head in mortification, as her countenance flared with its deep crimson mantle. She wondered agonizingly how much of that the cameramen had picked up, let alone the crowd.
Thankfully, no one appeared to dwell on it. Not when it was The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels speaking about The Game, Triple H. She was invisible once more, a nobody. And she would submit to that position cheerfully.
At one point Heather had vaguely thought that she had heard someone shout from the audience, "Get to the point!"
My sentiments, precisely, Heather agreed, feeling only a touch contrite. Shawn's speech seemed to be unending. Although, she was certain it only appeared in that manner because she was overly anxious to quit the whole scenario.
Heather glanced at the timekeeper near the ring. He hadn't signaled them that the time was drawing near.
Subsequently, Shawn handed the microphone off to Kevin, an action that only served to exacerbate Heather's anguish. As he began to speak, her gaze was immediately drawn to his towering figure despite the fact that she had positioned herself at the rear of the group as she always had. His voice projected a haughty arrogance that bared little to no resemblance to the humble and soothing fashion that he spoke to her during their intimate encounter. Yet that did not prevent his deep timbre from washing over her triggering her heart race and feebleness to take hold of her after he had referred to himself as "Big Sexy".
A preposterous moniker. Oh, but are you not? She reasoned in her mind as he referred to the aggression and emotion built up inside of him due to months of absence from in-ring action. Feeling like an utter dupe, Heather stood beside the turnbuckle, her fingers white-knuckled, clutching fast to the rope as he expressed a need for physical contact.
Goodness, what had become of her? One act and her mind had become solely obsessed with the thought of it as to read innuendos from within a scripted promo?
Still, from her vantage, she admired his long blonde locks which were presently tied back into a ponytail. Heather couldn't help but reflect that she much preferred it loose and falling over his broad shoulders, recalling her fingers running through his luxurious hair. She recalled the manner in which it cascaded around them as he leaned down to kiss her. Kiss her, indeed. He had kissed her lips...and innumerable other regions of her body. Following that, his hulkingly massive form was caged over hers...and they met in their coupling.
Taking in his brawny arms and the broad expanse of his shoulders and back, Heather noticed her entire being shudder while a squeak became trapped in her throat as the memories came flooding back to her. He was simply too gorgeous to place into a proper diction. Little fires blazed throughout Heather's being and particularly within her visage. She felt exposed as though everyone in the audience as well as those viewing from home could peer into her lewd and depraved musings.
Mercifully the segment concluded before too long. As the nWo theme music hit Heather's flesh prickled with anxiety to flee the scene as expeditiously as possible. She was overcome with the urge to run out of her own skin had she the ability to do so.
Once the others began exiting the ring, Heather took that as her cue to make her departure. She ignored the impulse to leap straight from the ring apron lest some mishap befell her (she was all too certain of its probability) and clambered down the steel steps hastily. Heather scurried up the ramp exercising all the restraint she could muster without appearing conspicuous. The instant she reached the curtain she breathed a sigh of relief and broke into a run.
Kevin glanced at the tiny flurry of black and white as she quickly made her escape. He didn't allow his gaze to linger on her too long. That would be detrimental to his resolution. He knew she had been transfixed on him the entire time that they were in the ring, although by some miracle, he never once glanced in her direction. With what sort of expression she displayed, he didn't know. Hopefully one of loathing and regret. It was hard to ignore her, one of the hardest things he had ever done. So what if it felt, like a stake being driven through his heart? It would be better in the end.
By the time the rest of the crew had entered backstage Heather was nowhere to be found. Kevin found relief in this for now. Still, who knew how long they could go on in this manner? The thought worried him, but he shoved it away.
"Nash, we've got issues. You boneheaded douchebag," a female's voice growled at him.
Kevin paused. Oh yes, that one was still here. If it wasn't one it was the other, an ever-present thorn in his side from the beginning.
Paul had already gone on, but Shawn and Kid stopped a few feet ahead, looking back at them. Shawn had an eyebrow raised in curiosity, but Kid was snickering at Reves's manner of addressing the giant.
Nash made no qualms in displaying his irritation as he rolled his eyes. Still, he canted his head to signal Shawn and Kid to go on without him. He knew this wasn't going to be pretty and questioned his own sanity for entertaining the little wench.
Shawn gave an exaggerated cringing expression as he gaped at the ash-blonde girl who was glowering up at his huge friend. After looking towards his friend once more and mouthing "Good Luck", his hands clasped in prayer, he turned away down the corridor and Kid followed suit.
Oh, great. Here we fucking go, Nash thought, wondering just how much she was privy to everything that had transpired between the little one and himself. They moved a little way down the corridor against the opposite wall so as to not block the gorilla or be heard by curious ears.
Reves started in. She wasn't exactly shouting, but her voice couldn't be deemed a whisper either, "What the hell do you think you're doing to my sister?" she challenged.
"What were you doing to my buddy?" Kevin asked defensively as he glared back at her. "Just using him? Just ripping his heart out?
"Oh get off it. We're not talking about Scott right now. He has nothing to do with this. Seriously, what's your deal? Because I swear to God-"
"I don't intend to hurt her if that's what you mean," Kevin cut her off.
The young woman's face screwed into a sneer. "You don't intend to hurt her? Fabulous job! Are you really that fucking stupid?" she snarled. "Do you know how upset she's been all weekend thanks to your little disappearing act? Better yet, do you even care?"
Kevin was going to say that he did, but once he opened his mouth he realized that he had absolutely no idea what she had been going through. In his own impulsive and self-centered cowardice, he had scarcely given even brief consideration to the result of his actions. He only thought about distancing himself from her, so he could clear his conscience by atoning for his own lecherous deeds. He had surely left her confused and devastated, wondering what she had done wrong when she had done nothing at all. She deserved so much better. So much more than what he could give her. He had already proven that.
The giant stared back at her sister with a guilt-stricken expression etched on his face. His pride and ego were getting the best of him here, but he hated allowing her the satisfaction of seeing him like this. He furrowed his brows in a scowl of his own. "Let me get this straight. Suddenly you decide to start playing the concerned and caring big sis and I'm the asshole?" Kevin thought back to when Heather had injured her ankle just a few weeks prior. No one tried to help her. No one even seemed to give a damn. Yet they all wanted to shit on him for showing a shred of human decency towards her. Every one of these motherfuckers was cracked out of their minds.
Reves didn't take too kindly to his counter interrogation. "How dare you? Who the fuck do you think you are to question anything about my relationship with my sister. I don't need to justify anything to you. And while I might be an uber bitch, when it comes down to it, that's still my baby sister and I'll be damned if I sit back and watch you hurt her like this."
Stunned into silence, Kevin was somewhat taken back by her words. However, his eyes narrowed toward her. He understood the desire to protect her sister. It was the same desire he had to protect her from himself. Still, that was a bold statement coming from the likes of her – someone who had torn his buddy's heart to shreds and seemed to have no qualms about it.
Despite his actions to the contrary, Kevin didn't want to hurt his Little One. Nothing could be further from the truth. He only wanted to see her happy and healthy, smiling and laughing genuinely, like the other day when she was playing in the water with her friends. It was the same type of thing he desired for Scott but in a different way. He would say it about Shawn and Kid too (regardless of the rift between them at that time).
"Why do you think I would do that?" he asked defensively.
Because he was a liar, that's why. It was a Catch 22. He had vowed that he would never let anyone hurt her. But what choice did he have other than to do the worst thing he could think of in order to do what was best for her?
He suppressed a shudder. He was cracking and he didn't want to give this smug little bitch the satisfaction of seeing him in this state.
"Truthfully, part of me doesn't," she admitted grudgingly and sent him a look that seemed to warn him not to fail in her observation of him, "but you know what they say, Hell is paved with good intentions."
Kevin shot her a look of annoyance. "You mean the road to Hell," he corrected, thinking of the manner which Little One would have done if she were here. His heart swelled with pride at the thought.
Fuck. He wasn't supposed to be thinking like that.
"Whatever. Shut up! You know what I meant," Reves rolled her eyes.
Kevin released a growl of agitation. This conversation had long since become cumbersome. "Well, if you're through, I've got a road to pave," he said bringing the discussion to an abrupt end as he stalked off without a second glance.
Her mouth dropping open in the closest thing to shock that she could feel, Reves glowered at the bumbling idiot of a giant as he meandered away. She didn't know what he meant by that, but if it was what she thought he was about to have his balls torn off.
"Unbelievable," Reves muttered to herself as she stomped back to her locker room.