"Do you know what would make me happy?
To know that this entire time that
I've been completely in love with you,
that what you actually felt
for me was real."
●Damon Salvatore, The Vampire Diaries●

▲▲▲

RAW - A WEEK AFTER HIAC

"Bella!" She turned with a small frown.

"Back to avoiding me after praising me last week?" I teased, slowly reaching her.

What? Scared Colby is making her happy again.

No.

Maybe.

She giggled, "no I just.. Felt like driving in on my own tonight"

I nodded as I had planned on picking her up at the airport, "So what did you think?"

"Of?" She questioned.

"What I did to your boyfriend last week?" I mused as while Hunter had tried to control me after the phone call and the afternoon spent with Nicole I grew anxious and just wanted to see him suffer. He had made the first move by curb stomping me so I only saw it fit to do the same to him.

"The RKO? It was nice, Orton." She gave a small smile making me frown as while she didn't seem like the defeated Nicole she also didn't seem like the fearless one.

I waited for her to go off on me for hurting Colby but she didn't say anything further.

I knew she hadn't seen him since he was touring with me all week and hoped Brie hadn't ambushed her again.

"Apparently I'm going up against him tonight, whose corner will you be in?" I mused and she was about to answer when Brie called, having gotten off from the tour bus.

"You know if I'm going to be your assistant you should let me know where you are so we can travel together."

"I figured mom would let you know but I guess she didn't, that's why my week was so peaceful" she giggled while Brie rolled her eyes and moved on with John.

"Are you okay, Garcia?"

She nodded, not looking at me and I stopped and stood in front of her.

"Nicole? You didn't wait for me last week, you were going to leave without a goodbye. You ignore all my calls and then you try to get away from me when I come near you. I know you don't like how you feel but I won't kiss you if you don't want me to or do more?"

She sighed, "You're too good for me, Orton"

"Why do you always allow those lies to spill from your mouth." I chuckled shaking my head but no smile.

"Because its true. Even if I did feel what you felt for me, you wouldn't really want me in the long run" She whispered and I moved closer to her and held her cheek and she leaned into it, looking at me.

"How can you still question me when I have been by your side for these past few weeks?"

"You don't get it Randy. I believe you, I believe everything. I believe everything you say and it sucks because for the first time I actually believe that a guy is not messing with me, that he is straight with me and you deserve someone who is straight with you and that's not me."

And the award for the guy who gets dumped without even being in a relationship goes to...

Shut up!

I wanted to speak but saw the vulnerable look in her eyes and knew she needed to portray everything but out there so I simply hugged her briefly as we went our separate ways.

Reminding myself to go knocking on her door tonight...

I sighed as I entered my locker room sharing with the man who was my competition in more ways than one in a few minutes.

I ran my hands over my face as I got ready for my match trying to erase the look in her eyes when I guess I could use it as fuel.

"You slept with my future wife's sister. Why? I'm trying to prove to her that my best friend is not a loose cannon or the womanizer as he used to portray.."

"Well I'm almost divorced" I shrugged.

"Almost but not. Nicole might seem heartless but she just got out of a relationship with Dolph. She doesn't need her head to be messed with.."

I rolled my eyes knowing his fiance probably gave him that whole lecture. If Nicole had been less vocal, maybe they wouldn't have heard but I liked it that way, let me know I was still able to fulfill a woman's needs...

"It was just one night.." I rolled my eyes.

"Were you drunk too or just her?"

"I didn't take advantage of her, John. I mean yes she had a few drinks but.. I didn't" I sighed watching as his future wife jumped into the pool making him chuckle while I focused on the woman who had been in my bed a couple days before.

It was one night, one long night. I needed a good fuck and so did she, that's all it was. With them not in the company I probably wouldn't even see her again so just one night...

I heard a grumble and saw Seth slipping on his gloves.

"So what? You finally decided to get me back for my time with Nicole by curb stomping my ass?" I mused shaking my thoughts, having not realized then how much she would mean to me then.

"Well you certainly deserved it"

I chuckled, "You deserve way more than that for the way you treat her"

"Nicole knows what she got herself into." He sounded annoyed and I turned to him, not liking his tone.

"I don't think she knew you would turn your back on her just like everyone else did." He had abandoned her yet she had felt so guilty being with me...

"I was forced into a corner and now I can't take back what I did. So I keep my distance because I don't want to look at her"

I rolled my eyes as he probably listened to fucking Stephanie telling him to leave Nikki alone because she wanted to make her suffer all because she had a feud with her sister.

"Then why not just tell her, be honest with her. She deserves that so she doesn't fucking feel conflicted all the damn time"

So she can be mine.

He frowned as he looked at me, "Why are you telling me what to do when this is all your fault?"

"My fault? How is anything that happened my fault when you left her for the taking!" I moved towards him feeling the anger run through me, not sure what Hunter was thinking putting us in the same room for the night.

"Taking? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm not sure what you are used to in relationships but when you have a girlfriend you shouldn't be hiding what you have away" I snapped and he shook his head.

"Of course. I keep myself neutral hoping not to be fucking pulled in between again and I'm still dragged into this shit"

"Shit?" I spat folding my arms while he simply sat down on the bench.

"You are barking up the wrong tree."

"What?" If he thought he could get out of it he had another thing coming. I was going to make him pay out there tonight and it would all be legal...

"I have hurt Nicole by turning my back on her but that's only because I can't stand to look in her eyes knowing what she doesn't.. Well its not like he can take anything from me with Vince signing off creative's plan for me anyway."

"What are you talking about? Look if you don't love Nicole then stop using her!" I said through gritted teeth while he sat there calmly.

"I'm not using her, Hunter is and believe me he doesn't love her"

Hunter...

"What? Is this some sick joke?" I chuckled at him thinking I would believe that.

He stood up, "How blind are you? Have you not seen what has happened? The moment Hunter comes back to TV Nikki is gone and when she does come back he let's her betray the only other person who knows and who will not hold her opinion on them. So he gets Nicole running to him and has his wife happy, but he can't give Nicole the champion out of nowhere because then Stephanie might 'suspect something'. So where does that leave Nicole? High and dry ready for you to slither in. Didn't you see how pissed he was when we met you guys the other day?"

"No.." I shook my head.

Hunter?

No.

"Yes. So just leave me alone and go knocking at Hunter's door. He is the King of Kings controlling everyone including Nicole." He left the room and I followed but didn't head to the gorilla like I was meant to.

I pushed open the door and Nikki frowned as she saw me, "what's..."

"Is it true?" I snapped and she frowned before slowly approaching.

"What? Why are you so angry?" I felt her fingers on my beard and pushed them away causing her to flinch.

"You and Hunter" I muttered slamming the door behind me.

Her eyes widened briefly and she then set her brown eyes on me and I saw it.

"Randy.."

"So it is, you and fucking Hunter. Are you fucking kidding me?" I shook my head and paced up and down in front of her.

"Ra.."

"How did I not fucking see it all this time before I even wanted you. You were there always and I fucking thought it was because of me.."

"Its not simple its.."

"You are fucking the boss. My fucking best friend, my brother, you are fucking him and I fucking go to him declaring how much I want you and he was probably having a laugh with you while you were fucking him!" I screamed at her causing her to move back.

"What?"

"I told him I wanted you and I told him about my suspicions about Colby and he entertained them, just like you. What were you just giving into me as a way to amuse each other?" I spat not even sure why I came to her first instead of Hunter.

"No, he doesn't know anything that happened between us, Randy. I didn't know, I didn't know how to..."

"Why not?" I stopped and looked at her.

"What?"

I was so mad but I felt the hope fill me at her words. "Did what happened between us actually mean something, that's why you are hiding it?"

"Yess... I mean No."

I nodded seeing the confliction her eyes.

"You are afraid!"

She frowned, "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Oh I forgot you are fearless, the great Nikki Bella wanting to run the women's division fears nothing." I nodded.

"Glad you realize that"

"I would respect that if you worked to get here"

"You know I did Randy. Don't..."

Nicole and Hunter...

I shook my head not wanting to see it.

It made no sense...

"Maybe but you aren't fearless with him. I have seen you hide with him because you believe he is what you need. Maybe I thought it was Colby and I was wrong but every fucking emotion I saw in you was real. You aren't fearless, not with me right now. You are afraid Nicole. You are afraid of feeling things that no one else has made you feel before. You are afraid of being with someone that is not for you because you have this plan. Your plan isn't realistic, now I know why you have fucking pushed me away. You fucking want perfection, you say you're no good for me but I guess I don't meet the standards of a man who runs an empire!" I chuckled as the hurt filled my veins but yet I wanted her to argue with me, prove me wrong but her brown eyes darkening let me know I hadn't hit a nerve I only infuriated her.

"And I guess being with you is? The only thing stable is about you is Alanna, other than that you are a mess Orton" She spat and I knew it was due to me hurting her with my words.

I wanted her to feel guilty but I had forced my way into her life, I had pushed and pushed even though she warned me but I didn't know how fatal it would all be...

"I know I am but when are you going to realize that you aren't this picture perfect mistress. You are a mess Nikki and you need to be allowed to be a mess. And you know the only time you can be is with me" I shrugged.

"I never said I was perfect but I am not with you..."

We both knew she was lying, I saw it last week when she didn't want me to go and I saw the emotions earlier in the night when she wanted me to leave her even though she knew she needed me.

"You're the prey Nikki and I am a predator. You know I want you" I reminded her not sure where the screaming went.

While she had been stunned before I was now the tamed man while she seemed to want to attack.

"I am in love with him, not you. I told you that and this is all a way of getting into my pants so why does it seem like me being with anyone but you is hurting more than his betrayal?" Her eyes glistened as she fucking continued to lie.

I frowned when she knew it was more, so much more "Why are you lying?"

"Because I love him" She croaked and I resisted the urge to pull her into my arms to comfort her as my mind was in overdrive.

I closed my eyes breathing deeply, "But you don't do you?"

"Randy Orton to gorilla!"

"Do you love me or not Nicole?" All she did was stare at me.

I sighed and left, ignoring her fucking tears.

***

I stood up being defeated by the man who I had thought was my competition for Nicole all these months when my best friend, my mentor, my brother stood alongside his wife was the one behind it all.

"You and Randy, we are fine. We sorted this thing out. Let's just get back to where we were..." I heard Seth the man I had made a fool of myself in front of before.

I stared at him as he extended his hand and I took it and pressed my forehead to his trying to clear my thoughts but saw Hunter in the corner of my eye. He knew she was all I wanted, all I craved but I knew then I was no longer anything to him, my replacement was standing before me like I always knew.

"I'm sorry" I apologized before delivering an RKO.

I cleared the ring getting rid of all the members, ready to punt Seth but saw Hunter before me instead.

I pushed past him not wanting to look at him as he pressed his forehead to mine pretending to care when he had listened to me. Watched me watching her...

"Its going to be alright. You're my brother okay? I love you okay?" He pat my cheek with a small smile as I stared at him and I was angry, so angry at her because she loved him but realized he was the one who was punishing her. I had barged into his office so many times in defense of her wanting her to be treated better, he was with her and punishing her.

I pushed past him wanting to leave to remind her of the hurt he caused but felt him stop me which he shouldn't have done. I immediately took him down and I was sure I would have busted him open as all her tears were because of him, the man I trusted. But I felt myself being pulled off and attacked by the men who were meant to be loyal to me, I couldn't trust anyone.

I immediately fought back, pushing them off me and sliding out to attack Rollins, injure him, break him so The Authority would have nothing. Delivering RKO's to whoever tried to stop me but once again I was outnumbered as Kane held onto me. And before I was able to be set free I felt my head collide with the announce table.

"That's enough! That's enough!" I heard Hunter somewhere around me as I was laid out on the table but soon crawled off following his voice while I wasn't sure where I was.

I wanted Nicole, I needed him to take me to her.

She'll realize it, she doesn't have to lie to me anymore that's why she pushed me away to protect me because she loves me...

He's the enemy.

He said enough.

He has her.

But I'm his brother he will give her to me.

Clearly you are about to pass out you are delusional.

"Finish him!" Stephanie's voice echoed.

"We don't need him!" I heard Rollins.

Where is she?

Waiting for him.

"Finish it" Hunter ordered following his wife's lead.

No...

I told you, he wants to get rid of you. They want to get rid of the only one who truly cares about her, so they can destroy her...

***

"You can't stay away" I smiled even though I knew she had done so many things wrong I couldn't be mad at her. As I was stretchered towards the ambulance despite being sure I could walk.

"I can't." She sighed. "Wait, don't close the doors."

"Nicole, where are you going?" I felt her hand leave mine.

"I'll be right back I promise!"