Title: Courting Destruction

Authors: Luna and Maggie

Feedback: Loved and appreciated.  Send it to either  [email protected] or [email protected]

Distribution: Tainted Fiction, Maggie's Mad Maze, Luna's Night Moves...anyone else please just ask before you take it...I promise we'll say yes!

Disclaimer: The WWE owns the rights to all the names you recognize. This is being done purely for fun and entertainment. We are not making any money off of this. If you sue us all you’ll get our student loan debts.

Rating: PG-13 for now for language and violence. It will probably move to R in later chapters though due to more graphic violence and sex so if that is going to be a problem you might want to steer clear of this story.

Notes: This is going to be a story that is largely based in the WWE with some paranormal elements.  We are playing a bit loose with time lines of past WWE events and ages of stars as we see fit and will be trying to remain true to the characters in some cases rather than what we know of their real personal lives.  If that is a problem, stop here.

 

Courting Destruction: 10/?

 

Jeff Hardy carefully but quickly made his way across the room to the table Solie and Randy were at. He wanted to get there before other people started to notice the scene but he had to be careful. If he ran over there too fast he’d draw all eyes right to them.

 

It was a delicate balance and he breathed a sigh of relief when he arrived at the other side minus any additional company.  He chanced a glance across the room noticing that Rose had reached Shawn. The pair was headed his way. Now he just had to find a way to get Randy away from the girl without creating too much of a commotion.

 

The multicolored haired wrestler walked up behind the Legend Killer and placed his hands on the other man’s shoulders allowing his fingers to dig into the muscles there.

 

Jeff leaned down to whisper, “Randy, I thought the lady already told you she wasn’t interested in your company and to keep your hands to yourself. What part of that did you not get?”

 

Lee relaxed a bit in her struggles realizing help had arrived but the man with her didn’t loosen his grip one bit as he growled back, “I thought I told you this was none of your business and to stay out of it.”

 

“I have this funny rule that I don’t stand by and watch innocent woman be abused no matter what the asshole doing the abuse says,” he told the younger man putting more force into the grip he had on his shoulders.

 

Jeff was rewarded with hiss of pain from the Legend Killer as he loosened his hold on the girl in attempt to push away the newcomer.

 

Shawn Michaels could tell from half way across the room that it wasn’t going to be long before the trio was the center of attention. He gave up going for stealth and started moving faster dodging friends and the occasional chair as he went.

 

Rose hot on his heels was pulled up short as Edge was suddenly in her path, “Hey why’d you ditch me?”

 

“Because your tag team partner appears to be hurting my cousin and I intend to do something about it.” She whispered trying to move around the man.

 

“Damn,” Edge growled noticing the gathering group at the table.

 

Rose took advantage of the wrestler's inattention to dart around him making her way over to the heated confrontation. She pushed and shoved her way through the throng of people determined to help in whatever way she could.  As she approached she could hear Shawn trying to defuse the situation.  “C'mon guys this is a party; if you want to fight why don't you save it for the ring?”

 

Randy looked from one man to another sneering at both Michaels and the intruding Hardy.  “How 'bout you both mind your own business?  The young lady and I were just having a discussion and the last time I checked that didn't concern either of you.”

 

Jeff narrowed his eyes on the other man, the urge to hit the smug young superstar almost more than he could control.  “Once again, I'm forced to repeat myself,” he ground out angrily.  “If it concerns her it does concern me.  Maybe you missed the memo Orton but she doesn't like you and most assuredly doesn't need your unwanted advances.”

 

Solie slipped past Randy and into the waiting arms of Jeff.  He was momentarily surprised by how hot her skin was to the touch and had to fight not to let it show on his face.  If he hadn't known it before he knew what she was now.  His power rushed to the surface blowing a cool wind over them both.  The young woman turned in his arms burying her face in the crook of his neck as if she would drown herself in it.

 

“Aw isn't that sweet,” Orton said snidely unaccountably angry to see her in another man's arms.  He had done what he'd set out to do so why wasn't he satisfied?  He had terrified her; let her know that he was not someone you could take lightly.  So why did he feel the overwhelming urge to rip her out of Hardy's embrace?

 

Rose had heard enough.  She knew just from looking at her cousin that the other girl was barely keeping it together.  It was a sight that set her teeth on edge and unraveled the last of her tenuous grasp on her temper.  “You unmitigated prick,” she bit out angrily.

 

Randy whirled to find the redhead at the edge of the crowd glaring daggers at him.  Her look had no effect on him what so ever.  He took a step towards her an evil glint in his eyes.  “You really don't want to say that,” he growled.

 

The strawberry blonde folded her arms over her chest.  “You're right,” she agreed still fuming.  “I shouldn't have said it,” she conceded as he flashed a triumphant grin.  “Because that's a part of a man, something you, obviously, will never be,” she finished smiling vindictively as the gathered crowd began to laugh uproariously.

 

The Legend Killer moved toward the girl intent on striking at the source of his embarrassment but Edge suddenly emerged from the crowd cutting him off.  Clapping his hands he smiled, “Nice come back Toots, but I think the show is over. Don’t you all have a baby to do the goo goo gaa gaa thing over or something?” He watched as the crowd started to disperse, grabbing Randy’s arm to tell the man, “cut your losses. I’ll find a way to handle her.”

 

Rose looked around asking, “Did Steph and Hunter see that? I’m surprised they didn’t jump in.”

 

Her Pepsi wielding new friend choose that moment to reappear telling the girl, “No I heard then arguing over whose turn it was to change the baby’s diaper. I think in the end they both went to the back room to handle it together.”

 

The green eyed girl nodded, “Good then maybe our dads won’t hear about this.”

The young man looked surprised, “That’s the family that works here? Why aren’t they at the party?”

 

Blushing she hedged, “Well baby showers aren’t exactly their style…”

Shawn having made sure Solie was okay, came over to check on Rose. “You doing alright?” At her nod he sighed and added, “Be careful Ro. Randy may be an arrogant prick but he’s not all talk. He could be a dangerous enemy to make around here.”

 

“Hey man from what I heard she was just defending her cousin,” Punk added moving closer to the girl.

 

The Heartbreak Kid nodded, “I know but they both need to be careful. No more… explosive scenes.” He added raising an eyebrow.

 

Rose smiled at her one time crush and nodded in agreement. He reached over to hug the girl and kissed her on the forehead before wandering off.

 

“That’s not your dad is it,” Edge came up on the other side of her asking.

 

“Good lord, no,” the strawberry blonde laughed.

 

“Oh cuz he sort of gave off that family vibe. You think Lee still wants that interview,” he asked pulling her away from Punk. When the young man started to follow he looked back at him, “business Sparky. You understand.” He winked at him then turned away.

 

Rose just shrugged and mouthed a silent “sorry” at the young extremist before turning to Edge and her cousin still in Jeff’s embrace. “I think you better ask her. You okay Lee?”

 

Solie took a deep breath feeling Jeff's power recede as she leaned back to look into his hazel eyes.  “I am now,” she said to her cousin.  “And I have you to thank for that.”  She shook her head when he tried to deny it.  “It could have been worse, much worse,” she admitted seriously.

 

“Far be it for me to call the lady a lair,” he drawled an easy smile on his face.  His hands stroked her back in a soothing manner knowing that she needed the contact.

 

“How's your wrist,” Rose asked noticing that only one button of her cousin's leather brace was fastened when Lee turned to face her.  Hints of what looked like an intricate tattoo peeked out from the small gap.  Clearly seen was a small white crescent moon.

 

The platinum blonde grimaced as she tried to close the snaps with shaking fingers.  “To be honest it hurts like hell,” she answered truthfully.  Looking up she met the blonde wrestler's eyes.  “I have to say that if you're as big an asshole as your partner I'm not all that interested in getting that interview,” she told him frankly.

 

Edge was at a loss as to how to respond to that.  If he said he was there was no way that he could dig up any more dirt on either girl.  Yet, if he said he wasn't he'd be lying and for some reason he knew that if he lied to either of them it would be a cold day in hell before either of them gave him the time of day again.  “I like to think I'm not an asshole; that I only play one for the crowd, but then again you're asking me and I'm not exactly the most unbiased person in that respect,” he finally got out.

 

Lee nodded her head in acceptance of that answer.  “At least you were honest,” she said digging in her back pocket.  She pulled out a small spiral bound notebook and a short stubby pencil.  She wrote down her name and number before tearing off the page and handing it to Edge.  “Give me a couple days and we'll see if you've got some time then.  I'm not exactly ready to do an interview at the moment.”

 

“I understand,” he said shocked to find that he really did.  “As soon as I've got some free time I'll give you a call,” he promised putting her number in his own pocket.  Edge turned to Rose then.  “I'm sorry about tonight; maybe we could try this again some other time,” he asked earnestly.

 

There was something in that look that wouldn't let the strawberry blonde shoot him down without a second thought.  “Maybe,” she allowed giving him a tremulous smile.

 

“Great,” he said smiling broadly as he winked at her before taking his leave of the trio.

 

“Thank god,” Rose muttered as she watched him disappear into the crowd.

 

Jeff and Solie laughed at her relief.  “That bad,” her cousin questioned.

 

“Yes and no,” she answered waving off the concern of the pair. “Let's take a look at how bad your wrist is so we know what kind of story to tell your dad should he ask.”

 

Lee looked around the room. “It’s probably not that good of an idea to take the covering off in a crowded room. I’ll be okay.”

 

The green eyed girl shook her head. “I mean it Solie. Better me than your dad or mine being the first to see how bad you’re hurt; besides there shouldn’t be that many people around that know what our tattoos mean anyway.” She bit her lip pulling the long sleeve tee under her security shirt down further none the less. Belatedly she looked up remembering that multicolored haired young man was still in hearing distance.

 

At her blush the platinum blonde sighed, “It’s okay. He knows. I think we’d be having this conversation outside with the fire department if he hadn’t helped.”

 

Jeff nodded, “Steph is back with the baby. Nobody is going to be looking over this way. I’ll stand guard while you check if you want me to.”

 

“Thanks,” Solie gave him a tentative smile before letting her cousin remove the leather covering to view the damage below.

 

Rose was used to dealing with the occasional injury from her dance training but even so she couldn’t help but gasp when she saw how badly her cousin’s arm was already bruised. What was worse, the bruises couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than a hand print.

 

At the gasp, Jeff turned his head briefly around before going back to watching the crowd. “Yeah I don’t think there is any way you’re to convince your father that is anything other than what it is. Any chance you can keep him from seeing your arm until it heals up? Otherwise how about just telling him? Would it be that bad?” He asked chancing another look at the girls.

 

The shocked pain filled look on the girls’ eyes was answer enough and he nodded turning back around. Still, Rose didn’t want the young man to have the wrong impression of their fathers.

 

“It’s not that it would necessarily mean trouble for us… it’s just our dads have pretty much raised us on their own and they’re rather protective of us. They don’t exactly think rationally when it comes to anyone hurting us. It would just create a lot more headaches for everyone involved,” the strawberry blonde offered.

 

“Maybe you could get someone in the make up department to help you cover it up then,” He offered turning around as heard the snaps of the covering being put back in place.

 

“Except that means showing my arm to them and the more people that know….” Solie ran her fingers through her hair.

 

Sitting down her cousin asked, “How did we get in so much trouble so fast Lee?”

 

The platinum blonde couldn’t help smiling at the girl’s downtrodden look, “We’re just talented like that Ro,” she grinned at her.

 

“If it's all the same to you I'd rather be talented in other areas,” Rose muttered.  Lee and Jeff started laughing at that and it took the redhead a moment to realize exactly why.  “Ooh you two...do you have to be such perverts?”

 

Solie, still chuckling, leaned against the younger Hardy.  “I don't know about him,” she managed between giggles. “But you know my mind is always in the gutter.”

 

Jeff wrapped an arm around the platinum blonde's waist.  “What can I say?  I'm a guy,” he responded with a negligent shrug.  “It's my job to constantly think about sex.”

 

“Ooh, he’s got you there Ro,” Lee said falling into hysterics again.

 

Rose crossed her arms over her chest glaring at the two peevishly.  “Honestly, you two are worse than a couple high school kids,” she sniffed disdainfully.  “Could you please try to be serious here for a second? How are we going to explain those marks to your father?”

 

Lee slipped from the young man's loose embrace sighing deeply.  “I don't know honey.  I'm thinking right now we're just going to ignore it and hope like hell neither of them notices I'm never without the covering.”

 

The strawberry blonde dropped her arms to the side to lean forward.  “And how long do you really think that will last?  You know they're far more observant than we'd like them to be, especially when it come to us.”

 

“I know honey,” Solie admitted reaching up to touch Jeff's hand on her shoulder.  “But right now it's the best I can come up with.  If you've got a better idea I'm not too proud to try anything.”

 

“Anything,” Jeff echoed in a decidedly flirtatious tone causing the platinum blonde to laugh again.

 

Rose rolled her eyes.  “And I thought it was bad when there was only one of them,” she muttered shaking her head.