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Armageddon, December 20, 2000
Lita was filled with a cross between excitement and anxiety. The night's pay-per-view event was an important one, in more ways than one.
"We're not lettin' you get in there alone with Dean," Matt Hardy stated firmly, his dark brown eyes determined. "You won't go in there when he's in the ring unless either Jeff or myself are in there first."
The redhead frowned as she eyed the dark-haired man. Sometimes, he could be so bossy.
"Matt, I can handle myself. And I know I can beat that letch."
"She's right, bro," Jeff put in, the young man giving Lita a wink. The diva was grateful for her colorful-haired friend for coming to her defense. Now, if only she could convince Edge that she'd be all right in the match...
Edge... Her tall, handsome, Canadian blond boyfriend was in his own locker room, preparing for his own match. He and Christian would be involved in a four-corners bout for the Tag Team titles against Right to Censor, K-Kwik and Road Dogg, and, last but not least, the Dudley Boyz. Lita had admitted to him earlier that she was slightly nervous for him. The Dudleys in particular could hurt him, and she knew how important the tag championships were to the two blond men as well. Ironic that each of them was worried about the other. But that was what love was all about...
Matt was suddenly lecturing her again about the dangers of her being in the ring with Dean Malenko, but Lita was no longer listening. She'd been unable to visit Edge at his locker room earlier, as Christian wouldn't leave for a second. And there was no chance Edge would get in here - not with the Hardyz, and particularly not with Matt here. Damn... It looked like they would have to wait to see each other later.
*
Edge sat anxiously on a couch in his and Christian's locker room, his gaze fixed to the television monitor. Lita's match was about to begin, and he had no intention of tearing his eyes away from the action... Thank goodness for Stephanie, who'd just stepped in to spend a few of her free moments with Christian.
A knot formed in his belly as the match began. He didn't like this, and, somehow, he had the unsettling feeling that something bad was going to happen. After the date the redhead had been forced into going on - complete with a prank played on Malenko at the hands of Lita and the Hardy Boyz - Dean had to have something planned.
"Yes..." The blond man let out the word in a nearly inaudible whisper, as, thanks to Lita's Twist of Fate on Eddy Guerrero followed by Jeff's Swanton Bomb, the first Radical was eliminated. Now, all the diva had and the Hardyz had to do was take care of Perry Saturn and Malenko.
A groan escaped the blond Canadian as, a few minutes later, Jeff was eliminated. That left the match at two on two - or three, if you counted Saturn's little girlfriend Terri on the outside. The Little She-Devil was definitely one to interfere in a match if an opening presented itself.
Edge glanced over his shoulder at Christian and Stephanie. The couple were deep in discussion, holding hands and gazing softly at each other. Good...
His relief was short-lived, however, as Perry Saturn, although just eliminated, threw his body into Matt Hardy's - Lita being knocked from the ring in the process as Matt fell into her.
Things went from bad to worse as Dean took full advantage, wrapping the Hardy Boy into a small package. And that left Lita all alone with the perverted creep...
Edge swallowed hard, his mouth running dry as he raked a hand through his hair and held it there. God, this was not good... He wanted so badly to do a run-in on the redhead's behalf - get that short, stubby son of a bitch away from her.
Just as quickly as the urge came, the Canadian became excited and hopeful as Lita took control of the match. Much to Edge's surprise, the diva hit Malenko with a beautiful array of moves, including a hurricanrana and a reversal into a DDT. She was amazing! The blond man wanted to hit himself for momentarily forgetting how awesome she was in that ring.
"Come on, baby..." he said in a whisper. Evidently, Stephanie still had Christian all distracted from him, and he was glad for that. He would definitely have some questions to answer if his tag partner noticed him right now.
Lita did a great job with her offense and defense for awhile - until Dean finally caught her. Edge's heart nearly skipped a beat or two as the Radical then proceeded to manhandle her.
All he could do was watch as Malenko flung his girlfriend around the ring like a ragdoll. His jaw clenched, hands curled into fists as he watched the bastard deliver a backbreaker and pull up on two as he faked a pin. The asshole was toying with Lita - and enjoying it!
Finally, but definitely not mercilessly, the man slapped on his Texas Cloverleaf. The exhausted and battered redhead tapped out.
Edge tore at his hair in frustration and rage as, immediately thereafter, Malenko picked Lita up off the canvas - only to toss her haphazardly and rudely from the ring and to the arena floor.
Thankfully, Matt and Jeff returned by this point - to attack Dean and to go to their diva friend.
Edge didn't bother sticking around to hear Lita being interviewed by Jonathan Coachman a moment later. Instead, he bolted from the room.
He was fuming as he stormed down the arena hall. He was going to find Dean Malenko and have words with the man.