Title: The Liberator
Part 26
Author: Angel Eterno
Rating: NC-17 - slash
Content: Slash, Romance, Abuse
Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me. They belong to WWF and Titan Sports. No copyright infringement intended.
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Rob still felt hot and flushed after his shower: he was convinced Christian had to know he'd been jerking off in there, although he'd managed to stifle the resulting moans of release. Every time he caught sight of Christian he had to quash the hot rush of desire flooding his over-receptive body. It was no use continuing like this, he had to come to a decision: if he wanted Christian, first he had to make sure Christian wanted him - and it shouldn't be just because he was on the rebound from Edge. Now was too early, Christian had been so hurt and damaged by his former lover he was willing and eager to give himself to anybody who gave the impression of caring, and Rob didn't want that: he wanted Christian to come to him because he wanted Rob Van Dam. Purposefully he strode across the room and picked up his gym bag, announcing to Christian he was going to workout before breakfast - but it'd be nice to meet up for lunch. Christian smiled timidly, looking slightly wary of being left alone. Rob crossed the room to where he was standing and placed one hand on his cheek while kissing him lightly on the forehead and whispering "I'll see you later ... ring me ..." And as the door closed behind him, Christian was already entering Rob's cellphone number ready for use.
***~***~***
The gym was not too crowded: there was only one other person there in fact, in the distance working out on the leg press machine. Rob took no notice, instead immersing himself into his preliminary stretching routine. He needed to hit those weights, and hard; so it was with determination he flexed himself thoroughly in his warm-up, oblivious that the other person had left their machine and was sauntering over to him. Y2J had his ponytail tied up in a loose loop, and was looking hot and flushed from his workout. His bright orange towel flung carelessly round his sweating neck and shoulders. Rob started at his voice.
"Hi!" Jericho was grinning, as he released his hair and shook it out in a cascading fountain of gold. He leaned over so it hung in front of him before flipping it back and re-tying it. The effect left Rob feeling distinctly uneasy, but he couldn't understand why. Seeing Jericho there in front of him took his mind back to his morning interlude with Christian, and his slip of the tongue (and brain) when he'd confused the two. He felt guilty as hell (again) and was sure Jericho could read his mind. Jericho just stood and stared closely at him, appearing to scrutinize him closely. Rob was puzzled, until he remembered how he looked. Instinctively he put his hand up to his cheek.
"The bruises are looking a bit better ..." Jericho commented, his blue eyes seeming to examine one individually before directly meeting Rob's in a challenging stare. "What happened, Rob?"
Rob sighed and spread his hands. "It's a long story, Chris ..."
"I got the time ..." There was no let-up and Rob knew it. Sighed again, then began explaining to Chris how he'd goaded Christian into arguing with him, then fighting back ... in order to boost his confidence to stand up for himself against Edge.
"And it worked!" Rob finished exaltedly. "Edge tried to waylay him only last night and Christian would have none of it."
Chris nodded cautiously. "That's good." He knew damn well he didn't sound over-enthusiastic, wished he could say more, but felt there was nothing left to say. But there was one thing he was curious about ... and he had to know: "Are you and Christian together now then?"
Rob took a quick intake of breath at the sudden directness of Jericho's words. He met the other man's inquiring eyes, but there was a curtain across them, concealing his innermost thoughts. He glanced away, unable to continue looking into the cerulean lakes.
"I ... don't know ..."
Chris raised an eyebrow, his gaze quizzical.
"You don't know?"
Rob jittered about on the spot a bit before replying.
"Christian's been hurt, I don't want him to rush into anything ..."
"It sounds like he wants you there," Chris offered, quelling that stupid sinking sensation in his stomach.
Rob felt inexplicably sad, but relieved.
"I like him - I like him a lot," he admitted to the other blond. "But to be honest I feel strange talking about it to you..."
"You do?" the eyebrow quirked upwards again. "Why's that? You should know me pretty well by now."
"That's just it!" Rob insisted - inexplicably annoyed. "I DID know you pretty well. Hell, Chris that's just it ..." he could say no more: his voice trailed off and Jericho reached over and squeezed his hand.
"I know what you're trying to say but there's no need really. How many times do I have to tell you that what happened with us was just a one-off fun thing? We were both drunk - we both had fun and that's all it was. I don't want anything more than that I don't want to complicate my life ever again - so please just do what you want to - go to Christian - BE with Christian..."
Rob was a little uneasy at the strength of Jericho's insistence: but was pleased to hear it all the same. Happily he embraced his friend, and although Jericho seemed a little taken aback at this, he hugged Rob back, before quickly drawing away and heading off for the showers. Leaving Rob relieved, happy and feeling a great need to check up on where he would meet Christian for lunch.
It wasn't until he was mulling Chris's words over in his brain again later that one question remained - why had Chris phrased his words in such a way - he'd told Rob he never wanted to complicate his life ever again ... Vaguely Rob wondered what had happened in Chris's past that he was so against the idea of getting too close to someone ... Determinedly Rob pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he benched close to 400lb: could be he was reading too much into it.
***~***~***
"Hey Scotty!"
The man known as Raven tossed back his red braids and grinned at his former ECW cohort.
"Hey, Rob." He replied, his softly spoken words seeming to Rob to be in sharp contrast to the real person. Rob liked Raven, no doubt about that; but he had heard things about him: dark things that nobody seemed to want to talk about too much. He knew those "dark things" also included Stevie: but of Stevie there had been no recent signs - and Rob wasn't sure he wanted to know why. Nevertheless - he was curious.
"So how's it going?" he asked the sinister, silent individual seated in the corner of the locker room unpacking his bag.
"It's going fine ..." Raven replied, looking up at Rob with charismatic darkness. Only Scotty could look at anyone that way: sounding so calm - yet filling one's soul with the deepest foreboding and fascination.
"How's Stevie? I haven't noticed him around much lately."
Raven laughed: a deep throaty sound that almost sent involuntary shivers down Rob's spine.
"I haven't noticed him much either lately," Raven admitted, shaking his mahogany curls. "I think he got tired of playing with me ..." and then he shot Rob a ominous glance "Either that or scared .... Some people don't care for my games you know ..."
Rob had heard whisperings about Raven's games... and wasn't too surprised at his admission. Not too many people he knew would be interested in Raven's games either ... except maybe one ... one other who he knew to be VERY interested in games of torture and violence ... "
Inwardly Rob smiled - a hatchling plan birthing in his mind.
"Scotty - I know someone who may be very interested in your 'games' ..." he ventured; and the man known as The Dark Raven smiled that enigmatically sinister smile again at the notion of a new playmate.
"In fact," Rob continued, "I'll send him along to your room later - after tonight's show ... I'm sure you'll find you've got quite a lot in common ..."
Raven leant back against the bench, his breathing heavy in anticipation of post-Show occurrences; this sounded just what he needed: a little light entertainment to keep him on focus. It wouldn't do to get out of practice in these things... He glanced up quickly at his former ECW cohort.
"Is he one of ours?" he queried.
"No he isn't," came Rob's quick reply. "He's WWF - but I know for a fact he enjoys the same games as you ..."
Rob let his voice trail off - an evil grin crossing his countenance as he surveyed the sadistic smile crossing the Birdman's face.
"Yeah," he continued, "I'm sure the two of you will hit it off perfectly ..."
End Part 26