4. Big Show's accident

"Come on, Sin Cara! Show him who you are!"

Noelia, who was at ringside, hit the mat with one hand, shouting and inciting the masked wrestler to do his best.

Sin Cara was fighting against Chavo Guerrero, in a Over the Limit's rematch, in which the second one had lost and then had demanded a return game.

The feud between them was born because of Chavo Guerrero, who had tried, from the outset, to grab the merit of the new wrestler's triumphs, but Sin Cara hadn't been too much happy for that situation and he had immediately enforced his total and absolute independence. The last straw, then, had been Chavo's intervention during Sin Cara's match against Daniel Bryan; the masked wrestler had never accepted his "dirty help", as he called it, and, so, the feud had begun.

Chavo had just picked his opponent up, putting him on his shoulder, but Sin Cara had managed to free himself and had grabbed Chavo's arm, launching him through the ropes and, then, out of the ring.

Noelia, who was near the little ladder, cheered with enthusiasm.

Sin Cara jumped on the second rope and launched himself on Chavo, sending him to hit the floor again. Noelia shouted happy and turned toward the public, exhorting them to cheer for her friend: she received, in response, screams and applauses of encouragement. Satisfied, she turned again to observe the match and she noticed that Sin Cara had sent his enemy on the ring again and then, with one of his spectacular moves, had slammed him on the mat.

After a series of kicks and punches well seated, Sin Cara had tried the pinfall, but he had got just a count of two.

Noelia shook her head and hit ring's mat with one hand, as she wanted to tell the ref to count quickly the next time, because, according to her, he had been a little bit slow. Meanwhile, Chavo had turned the situation and, after that he had grabbed Sin Cara's legs, he had tried the pinfall in return.

Noelia wished that the ref didn't want to follow her advise right now.

Fortunately, Sin Cara kicked out after the first count.

"Come on!" Noelia shouted, inciting him, but it seemed that Chavo had taken the control of the match: after that he had hit his opponent on the back with a kick, he had sent him against the ropes and then he had put one knee on his face, putting pressure to push him against the second rope.

Noelia pounded her fist on ring's mat, indignant, and she shouted some insults to Chavo. He deliberately ignored her and grab Sin Cara's arm, sending him again against the ropes to the other side of the ring; but, the masked wrestler was ready and, with a somersault, returned to the center of the ring; then he did one of his spectacular maneuvers and sent Chavo to hit the mat again. He turned and did a pinfall, finally getting his win and ending the match.

Noelia jumped for joy, raising the arms to the sky and shouting happy; the Mexican wrestler jumped on one corner of the ring, pointing to the sky and taking the deserved applauses and the earned shouts of the public. Then, jumping down to the mat, he turned to indicate Noelia and he invited her to reach him in the ring. The girl smiled bright and she climbed the stairs and the first rope, with elegance; she came near Sin Cara, who was handed her. Noelia mimed a "bravo" with the lips, then she gently grabbed his wrist and she raised his arm, indicating him with the other hand. The public exploded again in triumph's shouts, while Noelia turned to wink at Sin Cara.

She was sure that he was smiling too, even if she couldn't see him because of his mask.

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"You were great!" Noelia exclaimed, turning to observe Ignacio while they were walking through the hallway.

Sin Cara nodded and gave a little punch against the other handbreadth.

"Thank you, querida." he answered, giving her a little flick on the arm. "Have you seen that I needed anybody's help to win? I can do all by myself!" he added proud, crossing the arm on his chest and raising the head slightly.

Noelia glanced at him, half amused and half resentful. She stopped and Ignacio had to do the same, turning to observe her: she was now staring at him, with the hands on her hips.

"Ehi! This could seriously offend me: my support doesn't count?" she pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

Sin Cara leaned his face to one side. Noelia could hear him sneering a little, while he came near her with arms crossed on the chest.

"Shouting and hitting the hand on ring's mat?" he taunted her "What a great help!"

Noelia open wide her mouth and raised both eyebrows, pretending to be really hurt.

"Oh. Is this what you think about me? Fine. The next match you will be completely alone!" she said, showing a really arrogant expression.

She turned to go away, irritated, but she smiled next, because she hear him giggling amused and she felt his arms surrounding her waist to press her to his chest, forcing her to stop.

"Where do you want to go, babe?" he asked her, amused; he forced her to turn, without stopping to hug her. "You know that I was just kidding. I want you by my side, always."

There was a change of tone in his voice, on the last word, and if Ignacio hadn't wore the mask still, she could have seen a strange light, almost suffering, overshadow his eyes.

Noelia smiled bright and her gaze became sweeter. She raised her hands and lifted his mask up to slide it out of his head, freeing his blondish and quite sweated hair.

Ignacio was now smiling with that sweetness that seemed to be able to turn only to her.

Noelia stood on tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I know." she said, making a wink; then she wrinkled her nose in a grimace. "Ugh. You stink!" she decreed, walked away a little from his sweated chest "Go to take a shower." she ordered, giving him another smile.

He did a grimace and let her go.

"I love you too, eh." he sarcastically answered and she show him the tongue.

"I know." she repeated amused, while he shook his head and run one hand through his hair.

"See you later, querida." he said, then he went to male locker room.

Noelia nodded and touched her lips with fingertips, then she puffed a kiss behind him.

%%%%%

Noelia was walking through the hallways of the stadium, directed toward female locker room: she absolutely needed to change her clothes, because she was wearing light-blue top and shorts, with gold refined, still, sport suit combined to Sin Cara's clothes.

She was turning the corner, when a voice from the end of the hallway, captured her attention. Curious, she followed it, then she shyly look out over the wall: there were Big Show, a journalist and…Kane.

Noelia observed the scene, silently: the two big men seemed to be really mad, especially Big Show who, in a fit of rage, had violently punched a plastic divider next to him, almost touching the poor journalist who, according to the scared expression of his face, wasn't passed good moments. But, after all, Noelia didn't feel right in blaming the two wrestlers: they had just lost the Tag Team Championship Title to David Otunga and Micheal McGillicutty, two members of the New Nexus, led by none other than CM Punk. And it was precisely his fault if the two giants had lost their title – in fact, CM Punk had hit Big Show with a kick behind the neck, even if he hadn't to intervene in the match.

Phil had been really incorrect, she took note of this, even if she considered him as a friend.

The green gaze of the girl shifted on Kane, who had on his face a strange expression, half threatening and half annoyed; he seemed to be holding an indescribable anger and, in that moment, Noelia wished that Phil didn't decide to come to that part of the backstage, because she had the impression that the Big Red Monster would gladly use him to vent his frustration.

But, it was another the person that came next to the three men, forcing Noelia to look away from Kane's face: he was Alberto del Rio.

He was Mexican as her, stinking rich and convinced to have everything from life.

Noelia often found herself thinking that, to be really the perfect man, Alberto needed to learn how to use his brain.

And, of course, if he had really known how to use it, he would never do what he did next: after that he had insulted the two giants in Mexican, he had violently slapped Big Show on one cheek and then he had ran away, at the speed of light.

Noelia opened her eyes and mouth and she held her breath, shocked.

The verse that came out from Big Show's chest, immediately after, had something inhuman, that made her shiver; the big man threw himself to the pursuit of Alberto del Rio and Noelia, overcome by curiosity, ran after them, surpassing Kane who, slower, was walking with long strides.

What happened next, happened in far too little time, but she saw the scene really slowly: she had just turned the corner, when the noise of a car that sharply braked made her jump; it took her a few seconds to focus on the scene, and, when she did that, she had to press her hands over the mouth, to keep from screaming in horror: there was a beautiful car, it was sports, black, sleek and, under its front left wheel there was…Big Show's leg!

Noelia was petrified, while she was observing the scene, and she was able to awake herself just when a new inhuman shout made her jump again. But, this time, it wasn't Big Show's voice, but Kane's one who, quickly overcoming her, had rushed to his friend and now he was trying to pull him away from under the car.

Regaining completely control of herself, Noelia moved quickly to Alberto del Rio and she put the hands on his chest, clawing the precious shirt that he was wearing.

"Por favor, por favor! Dile que se retire! Dile que mover el coche!" (A/N: translation: "Please, please! Tell him to move! Tell him to move the car!") she almost begged him, in Mexican, terrified.

Alberto looked at her from above, with surprised expression: the girl, who now was begging him, had a really sweet face, upset by that scared expression that, in some strange way, tenderized her.

"Por favor!" she cried again and, just in that moment, when he could hear that cracked note in her voice, Alberto del Rio took gently her from the wrists and sent her away, addressing then to his friend, Ricardo Rodriguez, and commanding him to move the car.

Slowly, the luxury car backed away and, then, Noelia easily extricated herself from Mexican's grip and ran to help Big Show.

Alberto del Rio remained to observe her for a few seconds: his hands, that had tightened those slender wrists, now just burnt. Anyway, he quickly returned in himself, and, shaken the head to return to reality, he grabbed Ricardo and they ran away from the scene that prosecuted them – and, especially, away from the fury of the two giants.

Noelia knelt near Big Show, who was now squirming on the floor, holding his injured knee and screaming in pain. Kane was trying to hold him and, contemporaneously, he shouted too, asking for help; when he turned and began to scream louder, mad and frustrated, Noelia quickly get up and reached him, going in front of him and pressing the hands on his chest, to calm him and to capture his attention.

"I'm going to seek help, you just stay here with him!" she exclaimed agitated and then, without giving him time to respond, she ran away.

Fortunately, she immediately found the paramedics.

"Help! HELP!" she shouted breathless, stopping next to them and bending on knees to breath.

"Miss, calm down: what's happened?" asked a nurse, alarmed.

"There…There was an accident!" she explained "You…Big Show has been invested by a car: come, quick!"

She signed them to follow her and the paramedics did that, while new shouts – angry Kane's one and painful Big Show's one – filled backstage's hallways.

"Here he is: this way!"

Noelia indicated in front of herself: Big Show was lying on the floor still and Kane was next to him and he was trying to calm him and to help him to get up.

The paramedics rushed next to the wounded, while Kane backed away a little, leaving them the possibility to work better.

Noelia, who had tried to come near to give her comfort to Big Show, had been forced to leave again, because the big man had squirmed, angry, and had shouted to everybody to go away, because he was okay. The only person who had the courage to remain next to him anyway, was Kane, who, first, tried to help him to stand up and then tried to calm him, tightening his hand, while the paramedics began to examine the injured knee.

Noelia stood aside to observe the scene, the arms crossed on the chest; she was gnawing her thumbnail for the nervous, while she was doing back and forth, following an imaginary trajectory.

Finally, the paramedics decided to bring Big Show to the hospital, to do more extensive checks on the condition of his knee: the big man settled down on the stretcher and they began to take him away; Kane, who, obviously, wanted to follow his partner to the hospital, was stopped by a nurse, who bravely stood in front of him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you come with us; Show needs quiet, first: we let you know how he's as soon as we have done all medical testing and tomorrow you can come to see him." she said.

"What? No, I don't give a fuck of what you have said, I'm coming with you. Now." The Big Red Monster roared, increasingly irritated, while he advanced one step, hanging over the nurse in a threatened way.

"But…" she tried to protest, while she took a step back, scared.

In that moment, Noelia decided to intervene. Bravely, she slid between them, even giving back to Kane who, for the surprise, stared at her, without saying anything.

"Don't worry and go ahead. Leave it to me, I'll take care of him." she said to the nurse, showing her a reassuring smile.

The woman looked at her a little bit hesitant, but then, after one last glance at Kane, she convinced herself to go immediately away.

Noelia sighed, relieved, but she rigidify again immediately after, when she could feel Kane's warm breath caressing softly her nape.

"Get out of my way." he murmured, with a dark and scary tone.

Noelia swallowed, worried, and turned slowly to face him; she tried to print a resolute expression on the face, but, as matter of fact, she felt that her legs were really feeble and, as soon as her gaze met his serious one, she felt that her heart completely lost the control of its beats.

Showing herself much more braver then she actually was, Noelia firmly shook the head and she didn't move, not even of a millimeter, remaining there to face him.

"No, you can't go. You have listen what the nurse had said…" she began, but Kane seemed to ignore her, because he took a step forward, hanging over her and looking at her with a hard gaze.

"Get out of my way." he repeated, with a hoarse voice, that made her shiver.

Noelia bit her lower lip, really intimidated, but she didn't move and, once more, she shook the head, resolute.

When she raised her gaze to observe him in face, she could unexpectedly see him showing to her a strange sneer, that made her shiver again.

"Maybe you deceived yourself to be able to stop me, lassie?" he jeered at her, thinning his gaze and taking another step toward her.

Now, they were so close that he could feel her slightly accelerated breath brushing against his naked chest.

Noelia swallowed again, moistening her lips with her tongue; she ran one hand through her hair, with a nervous gesture, while she observed him from below with an unsure expression, clearly uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, stubborn, she didn't move and, for the umpteenth time, she shook the head.

"No, but I'm not going to go away. If the paramedics had said that it's better that you stay here, you should listen to them and…" she began determinate, but she couldn't finish the sentence.

Kane had nailed her with a very mad glance, that made her heart beat stronger in the chest; then, with a really fast move, he had triggered the arm and he had tightened the hand on her chin, forcing her to raise her face and to look at him in the eyes.

She had remained motionless, scared by that sudden reaction, and had stared at him with her green eyes filled with anxiety.

Kane had just lowered, so, now, their faces were a few inches away from each other; it seemed that he would kiss her, but his intentions were quite different. He stared at her in the eyes with a dark and threatening gaze, while he tightened a little his grip on her chin.

However, his fingers seemed to know the precise limit of pressure to exert not to do harm to her.

"You must learn to get your own business." he murmured, with controlled tone, an inch from her lips.

Noelia didn't even respond and she just stared at him in the eyes, very fearfully.

He looked at her just for another moment, then he pushed her away, doing a little pressure on her chin and forcing her to get out of his way.

Then, without considering her worthy of more attention, he went away, but, fortunately, without trying to follow his friend to the hospital again.

Noelia watched him disappeared behind the backstage's hallway and, just then, she was allowed to breathe again. She reached her hand to massage the chin, still upset by what had just happened.

Then, she sighed, half relieved and half resigned.

Kane had really scared her in that moment.

But, there was something that, incomprehensibly, always drove her to him.

And then, even if he had roughly grabbed her from the chin, his grab wasn't absolutely violent and it didn't hurt her even for a second; his fingers had remained gentle, as they were touching something extremely fragile that threatened to shatter at slightest pressure.

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She had met him again after a really short time, while she was walking again through the hallways, directed to the male locker room, to meet up with Ignacio. She had finally changed her clothes and now she was wearing a simple white t-shirt, that left naked one shoulder, and a pair of dark jeans, combined to black Converse. She still had wet hair, because of the shower she had just taken, but she didn't want to blow-dry them, so, now, they fell down to a shoulder, curly and dark, sticking on her neck and on her arm.

She had come to a vending machine, because she was thirsty, and it was then that she had seen him again: Kane was sitting on a bench, a few feet from her, with head bowed, the hands folded in front of his mouth and the elbows on his thighs.

Noelia looked sideways at him for a few seconds, then she sighed and shook the head, looking up to the heaven and jeering at herself for what she was going to do.

Apparently, in a first moment, she ignored him; she inserted coin in the machine and she took a bottle of water. Then she turned and, silently, she reached him.

Kane didn't seem to have notice her, but, even if he did, he didn't move absolutely. Noelia twisted her lips into a grimace, then she gave him the bottle, putting it in front of his face.

"Take it, it might help you to calm down." she said gently, forcing to smile a little.

But, again, Kane didn't move a single millimeter and remained rigidly in that position.

According to Noelia, in that moment, he seemed a big and cold marble statue, roughly scratched by not too experienced hands.

A scary monster.

From whom, however, for some strange reasons, she couldn't stay away.

When she understood that he had no intention to give her any sort of attention, Noelia snorted and took a step back; then she stooped a little and she leaned the bottle of water next to him, on the bench.

"All right, I put it here. Drink it, until it's fresh. And don't worry, I'm sure that Big Show will heal soon." she affirmed gently.

Then, without waiting for any signs or answers, she turned and began to go away, leaving him alone.

But, his hoarse voice, unexpected, forced her to stop.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, curt.

When Noelia turned again to observe him, she could see that he had finally raised his face and now he was looking at her with an undecipherable expression, the bottle of water tightened between his hands. She frowned, confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked in return, bending the head to one side.

Kane stared at her serious, then his bi-colored eyes went down to observe the bottle that he was tightening between his hands.

"Why are you so gentle with me?"

That question left her so speechless, that, when Kane turned again to observe her, he could see her frowning and tightening the arms on the chest, her lips quite open for the surprise.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, then, unexpectedly, Noelia smiled sweetly: her lips opened to show a row of white and regular teeth, and her really green eyes shined with an harmonious note.

Seeing her in that way, Kane opened his eyes a little, almost scared by her genuine brightness and by her gentle smile that she was addressing to him.

To him.

To a monster.

Why?

Noelia clutched in her shoulder, without stopping to smile, and she slowly turned, giving him the back; she took a step forward, then she turned her face again and she glanced at him over her right shoulder.

"Why not?" she simply said.

Then she definitively turned and she went away, leaving him alone.

Kane remained to observe her, while a strange and indecipherable warmth enlarged in his chest.