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Matt felt his face burning a deep shade of red - not with embarrassment but with pure anger. As he made his way out to the parking lot after RAW, he could not believe his eyes.
Edge and Lita... They were walking just some ways toward the parking lot... together. They were carrying on a conversation, and although he wasn't near enough to them, it sure looked as though they were enjoying one another's company.
He lowered the small but strong pair of binoculars and flipped open his cell phone. Dialing a number he'd already memorized, he waited for the pickup at the other end.
"Yeah, hello," he said, keeping his voice down. "Look, I've got them... The parking lot. I'm gonna do something to create a distraction for them so they can't get in the bastard's rental car." He paused. "Yeah, I'll text you and that'll be your cue... Okay?"
He ended the call shortly thereafter, glancing around quickly, as he knew they were nearing. The dark-haired man grinned devilishly as he spotted the perfect object to use as a divergence. Picking it up, he made extra sure to carefully hide out in the shadows.
"Again, I can't thank you enough," he heard Lita saying as they walked just past his hiding place. He sneered at that. What was she going to do? Keep kissing up to him until his ears bled?
"I keep telling you, there's no need to thank me," he heard Edge protest.
Matt dared to raise his head just enough - and he pulled back his arm, at the same time sending that quick text, exactly as he promised - and he tossed the generously-sized rock, hitting the tall Canadian's rental car. To his great surprise, it actually connected with one of the passenger's side windows and shattered a portion of it.
"Oh, shit! What the hell...?" Edge held the redhead back with a protective arm as he stared in the direction of where the rock had been thrown but saw nothing and no one - until a moment or so later, when seemingly all hell erupted.
Lita screamed and took a few steps backward when the Big Red Monster appeared. They hadn't even seen him coming! Yet, there he suddenly was, storming straight for them, his strange, evil eyes staring right into them. His lips curled into a cruel grin as he made a grab for Edge.
The tall blond man ducked out of reach, unable to believe that he was battling Kane for the second time that night. At least the first time had been his own choice - but it seemed sheer madness that the Big Red Machine was actually out here in the parking lot, trying to stalk them!
Lita continued to scream as her blond savior hit the big man repeatedly, using the cast on his bad hand. It seemed to have little, if any effect at all.
"Don't make me chokeslam you on the pavement, Edge," Kane nearly sang as he suddenly grabbed the smaller man by the throat. "Or better yet, on your own rental car." He let out another bout of booming laughter that sounded terrifying to the redhead's ears.
She wanted to try and help Edge... She thought she owed him that much. But could she pony up enough courage to actually do that? She knew she didn't have any kind of strength that could match his in any way.
"Let him go!" she shouted, not knowing what else to do. After all, hitting him would do no good.
The monster laughed as he turned to eye her. She was delighted to see that Edge was going to take full advantage of the momentary distraction. Mustering as much strength as he could, the blond man raised a knee, driving it sharply into Kane's groin. The big man let out a horrid groan and instantly released his hold on Edge as he crumpled in a heap to the ground.
The pair sprang back into action and raced into the car. The Canadian ushered Lita into the backseat on the driver's side due to the broken glass. With their bags in tow, the tall blond man started the engine just as the monster made it back to his feet. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder and pulled out of the space just before Kane could hurl himself onto the vehicle.
Lita was still shaking like a leaf as they sped off into the night.
*
"Damn it!" Matt Hardy yelled for the second time that night. He and Kane were in a secluded area of the parking lot. He faced the much larger man. "You idiot!"
The Big Red Machine's face wore a most unamused look, and he was beginning to get irritated. The truth was, he didn't like Hardy at all, but he'd enjoyed the devious little idea he'd had, which was why he'd agreed to partake in it. But it wouldn't work without him. He decided to let Matt know that.
"Shut your mouth, Matt!" the huge man bellowed. "Without me, your plan doesn't stand a chance in hell of succeeding." He let out a booming laugh as the other man's face suddenly drained of color. Oh, Hardy knew, all right. "You call me names again and you will regret it," Kane promised, enunciating the last four words. He fixed his eerie eyes on the elder Hardy. "And believe me when I say you will feel pain."
Matt swallowed very visibly, hating the way his heart was suddenly hammering painfully. He must have been stupid to have acquired Kane to help him with his little scheme... But the big man was right - this plan would never work if not for him.
"S-Sorry," he stuttered. "It won't happen again."
The grin returned to the monster's face.
"I thought not." He grew serious again. "This time, I call the shots. Next week's RAW..."
Hardy looked him squarely in the eyes.
"... This is what we're gonna do." He began to explain their next move.