=========================================== Needful XII: Day In The Life - Late Night =========================================== Another candy bar wrapper fell to the floor and Shane didn't have to hear the crinkle of cellophane to know that Pete was already opening up another one. "You sure you don't want us to come down with you?" Rodney asked, as he watched Pete stuff the chocolate into his mouth in morbid fascination. He shook his head as if to break himself from a trance and turned to look at Shane and Joey as they prepared for the match. "You could use the backup." Joey shook his head, "Nah, man. How'd that look? Edge'll have Christian with him, and I'll have Shane. That's two on two. If we go in there with four to two odds, people'll think we're pussies or something." "People already think that," Pete mumbled around a mouthful. He returned three glares with one of his own, "Hey, I never said it was _true_." Shane stood to tuck in his shirt, and in a last minute spark of fashion savvy, reached into his pocket and took out his green bandana to tie around his head. "Don't worry 'bout it guys, we'll be fine. Joey's gonna walk away with that number one intercontinental title contendership, right, buddy?" "Damn straight." Fists hit together, and Shane gave a confident nod to the other posse members. "Watch the match on the backstage monitor this time, guys. Don't want to get barricaded in here again." "I _still_ can't believe that bitch Chyna did that to us, man," Rodney said. "Christ! Why the hell would she go and do a thing like that anyway? Maybe Hunter was planin' something, ya think?" Maybe, Shane thought. But then quickly dismissed the thought. Sure, Hunter tended to lose his temper once in a while, but it was never anything Shane couldn't handle. Certainly nothing like the abuse he dished out on the likes of Austin or The Rock. "I don't think so. You know Chyna, she never liked you guys." Pete snorted, threw the empty candy wrapper away with the others. "Yeah, well, chick or not - she's asking for it. Austin pulling off her top...just the beginning." Rodney nodded in agreement and Joey looked thoughtful. Shane just smiled. "Guys, she may be too much woman for you to handle. You want my advise? Leave her alone." Shane gave Joey's shoulder an encouraging squeeze, pounded his back. "In the mean time, how you feelin' Abbs? You pumped?" "I'm PUMPED!" Joey pounded his chest and rolled his neck until a series of loud cracks could be heard. "Let's DO IT!" "Yeah!" Rodney snickered and took turns with Pete in punching the tense and bouncing biceps of their friend. "Go kick some ass!" "Fuck YEAH!" Joey yanked the door to the dressing room open and the three posse members followed him out, just as the previous match ended, and the Posse's music cued up around the arena. Pete and Rodney plopped down on a couch where a monitor was set up and several other wrestlers lounged around while Shane and Joey stepped through the curtain to a surprisingly warm reception. Over the past few weeks Shane had managed to win over the crowd yet AGAIN, despite his past actions - while the vast majority still remained undecided on Joey and the rest of the Posse. Shane spread his arms out wide above his head, and strutted to the Mean Street music as he lead the way down the ring, almost unrecognizable behind his sunglasses and green bandanna. He couldn't help but tease a few fans who reached out to slap his hand, darting out of the way at the last minute. "Show boat," Joey teased in his friend's ear as they approached the ring. "I don't think anyone even realizes I'm here." Sitting on the second rope, Shane held them open for his friend before stepping through himself and giving Joey a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "That's because I'm so fucking good-looking," Shane said lazily, even as he rolled his eyes. "Come on, think about the match and remember to watch out for Edge's spear." He nodded absently, already watching the crowd for any sight of the former Brood members. When the lights went out and the music cued up, the face pop was considerably louder and Shane leaned casually against his friend. He'd stay until the referee made him leave. The world was almost pitch black to Shane, except for a few flashing lights, and he ripped off his sunglasses impatiently. Sure, they looked cool, but they weren't exactly practical. J.R. and King commentated enthusiastically at ringside. "The cameras are searching the crowd for these two talented young athletes, who certainly do have a unique entrance, King." "What about to the two, talented young athletes in the ring? You don't see _them_ resorting to these cheap, gimmick tricks. And do you know why that is, J.R.?" "No, but I got a feeling your going to tell me." "Because they're rich, and they don't _need_ to resort to cheap gimmicks!" King chortled happily and gave Shane a thumbs up that was returned with a half wave. J.R. just shook his head sadly. When Edge and Christian entered the ring, the lights came up and the four men faced off briefly before Mike Chioda dismissed Shane and Christian to ringside. After a somewhat reluctant departing from both men, the bell rang and the match began. Steve Austin watched the match on the monitor in his dressing room, with one foot propped up on the table next to it, and a cold beer in hand. He wasn't really all that interested in the match itself, but rather the man at ringside. Shane circled the ring calling out encouragement to his silly little friend as he clapped his hands together. Truthfully, Austin didn't know why the kid bothered, all the clapping in the world wasn't going to bring _that_ fairy back to life. Joey Abbs was as good as a dead man in a match against a veteran like Edge. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Shane in his corner during a match, cheering him on... //"Yeah, yeah, Rattlesnake! Go! Go! Gogogogogogo!"// Nah, it wouldn't work out. Besides, Steve kept picturing Shane naked and he was pretty sure that something like that would turn out to be distracting. Joey Abbs was body slammed and the camera cut to Shane who flinched and buried his face in his hands. "What a body slam!" J.R. called. "Hmphf. Well, Edge is just lucky that this isn't a Mean Streets match, or he'd be getting his a handed to him!" "I wouldn't be too sure about that, King." Steve chuckled and leaned back a bit to watch Shane and the rest of the match. On the other side of the arena, Hunter watched the monitor morosely, a frown on his face that was on the verge of pouting. He didn't like how Shane kept him dancing on his own last nerve everytime he saw him, didn't like how he couldn't stop thinking about the other man, and how when he was with him, everything else seemed to become so unimportant. Hated it and loved it. He was even a little afraid of it. What if he never felt that way about anyone else again? It didn't matter, Hunter was determined to get Shane back. By whatever means necessary. Even if it meant, Hunter swallowed in distaste, talking about his _feelings_. He knew how talking about that sort of stuff made Shane uncomfortable, what man wouldn't be? But he also knew there were some things that needed to be said. Hunter and Shane had a lot of history together and he'd be damned if he let one Stone Cold Steve Austin get in the way of that. Austin was just Shane's rebound fuck. That's all it was. Shane was standing on the apron now, distracting the referee as Joey battered Edge with a chair. Hunter smiled approvingly, couldn't help but wish that Shane still came down to the ring with him. He missed looking up from his beaten opponent and seeing Shane and Chyna cheering him on at ringside. "Come on, ref!" J.R. scolded. "Turn around!" Christian, seeing what Shane was doing, grabbed the back of Shane's shirt and pulled him back down roughly, gave him a push that sent the other man stumbling momentarily before he quickly regained his footing. Angry words were exchanged and Hunter frowned as he tried to figure out what they were saying. "Stay out of it!" Christian demanded, pushing the heir apparent back a couple of steps. "Fuck you!" Shane pushed back and then the two men were nose to nose as the match continued to go on in the ring. Chioda came down to step in between them, "Break it up, guys." Shane glared up into the ring at a sudden thunk, and saw that Edge had been laid out on the mat and that Joey was going for the pin. He smiled, an overly charming smile and backed off with an accommodating expression. "Yes, sir." Satisfied that the trouble was over, Chioda turned and quickly rushed into the ring when he saw that a pin was being made. Edge kicked out at two. "Nice try," Christian said dryly as stayed at Shane's side. "But it's going to take a lot more then just a chair and a distraction to help your guy win." Shane ran an anxious hand through his hair and gave the other man a quick side-ways glance. "Hey, Abbs is tough, he has just as good a chance as your brother." "Uh huh." "He does!" Shane grimaced as Joey was speared and just thanked god that Edge was still too loopy from the chair shot to go for a pin. "Okay, so he needs some work. But he's in training!" Christian just shook his head, "For what? The ice-capades?" A sudden mental image of Joey twirling around in a skating rink, and Shane couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Don't make fun, Joey'd look pretty kicking in nylon tights and a tiara." Steve Austin frowned as he watched Shane and Christian laugh at ringside. What the hell was so funny? And why was Christian standing so close to Shane? The beer can in his hand crumpled like tin foil as he clenched his fist, and the beer dribbled down his hand. Jealousy, he hated jealousy. All these damn feelings were starting to annoy him. Triple H growled low in his throat as Shane and Christian seemed to be having a very animated conversation. What the hell was that velvet wearing freak saying to his Shane? He wasn't sure how, but he was pretty damn sure that this was all Steve Austin's fault. When the bell sounded and Chidoa raised Edge's hand in victory, Shane sighed and tugged off his bandanna, tucked his sunglasses into his front pocket so he could toss his friend a reassuring look. Joey always took his losses way too harshly. It was the type of attitude that could either make him a very sore loser and hated by everyone, or a great athlete with a 'No Quit' attitude. Shane was betting on the later. "Nice try, man, you did good!" Shane called. Christian nodded next to him and gave Shane's shoulder a rough pat as the two rose to get into the ring. "Good work, big bro," the Canadian complimented. The two left and Shane swung an easy arm around his friend as he helped him exit the ring. "I suck," Joey pouted. "I really, _really_ do." Shane smiled fondly at his friend, his eyes sympathetic. He remembered that it was only up to a few months ago when people were constantly telling him he had _no_ business in the ring, that he was terrible, that he had no talent, no ambition, no _heart_. It wasn't until he took bump after bump, match after match, and went out and challenged everyone that crossed him in even the slightest that he started to get some respect. Looking at Joey's crestfallen expression, but seeing at the same time a deeply rooted determination - he knew it was only a matter of time before his friend became one of the best. Still, it'd be nice to see cheer him up. Shane leered suggestively, "Well, Joe, if it's any consolation, I'm sure that if you _do_ suck, that you'd do it very well." Old Joey probably would of socked him the face or shrugged off Shane's arm uncomfortably, but new, enlightened Joey, just laughed and shook his head. "How 'bout this, man? Beer, pizza, and an 'Evil Dead 2', 'Army of Darkness' marathon. Just you and me," Shane offered. Steve Austin flashed through his mind, but he'd understand about this. They could always reschedule something like that, but right now his friend needed him. There was always time for wild monkey butt sex, consoling a friend while berating the enemy was strictly a timing thing. "It'll be fun and take your mind off this shit." "I don't know," Joey teased. "How do I know you won't take advantave of me in my vulnerable state?" Shane laughed, and pinched Joey's earlobe making the other man jump in surprise. "I promise to keep my hands to myself." Joey nodded, "Okay, sounds good. Hell, it sounds great. Just let me grab my gear and I'll meet you out in the parking lot, okay?" "Yeah. I gotta leave a note for someone first. If we motor we can catch the main event back the hotel." Shane sighed as he walked into Steve Austin's dressing room and located the other man's gym bag. He quickly rattled off a note and stuffed it into one of the pockets, hoping that the other man would not see it as some sort of 'he's more important then you' thing. But he wasn't really worried, Steve Austin was surprisingly understanding and laid back about such things. As Shane left the dressing room and disappeared around the corner, Hunter watched him with a frown. He couldn't believe that Shane was actually going to let Austin fuck him. Just the thought of it was...was unimaginable. Austin had no right to Shane. And he would never have him. Hunter slipped into the dressing room and slipped inside, grateful to see that the Rattlesnake was not inside like he half-expected him to be. Instead, he saw the gym back and went straight for it. And instead of a key, he found Shane's letter and a thought formed. An idea so perfect that it couldn't of been better had he planned it that way from the start. The letter was soon crumpled and stuffed into his back pocket, Hunter took out his own hotel key and placed inside the bag. Zipped it closed. Steve Austin was going to get the surprise of his life.