Nero Shall Fiddle Again - Chapter 4

[Nathan Saniti]

Nero Shall Fiddle Again - Chapter Four

(Author's note: All characters appear here with permission from their respective handlers.)

Grigori Rasputin and Naomi Saniti, Nathan's friend and his sister respectively, had been keeping their distance from him ever since he lost his International Championship to his beloved Kelli Starr, all with no shortage of trickery on her part. Even prior to that, when the trio had encountered the mysterious man Nathan had named "The Stranger," neither of them had shown any interest in the constant sworl of drama that had become Nathan's once complacent world. In fact, the urge to distance themselves had become so overwhelming that they had practically written themselves out of his life without a second thought.

Believing themselves to no longer be needed in Nathan's life due to the newfound allies he surrounded himself with, they struck off to find their own blissful existence together as husband and wife once again. They purchased a small farmhouse outside of the city limits of Greenville, South Carolina, though neither knew exactly why they had chosen this particular spot or this particular realm in which to reside. All that remained important to both of them was that they once more had each other, together reunited through eternity as they had been throughout history. As the sun came up, seemingly shining its approval of the pair through their rural window, both stirred from their embrace of one another with a deep breath.

Grigori softly kissed Naomi in the middle of her forehead, her third eye as some would call it, but she barely felt it. It had an odd texture to it, giving the brief sensation of leather moreso than skin. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he dismissed it as an early morning hallucination, a phantom sensation induced by waking from a perfect night's slumber. Slowly he released himself through small protests from under her, sitting up at the edge of their bed. His hand reached to his face, scratching at his beard reflexively. He mused to himself just how silky his facial hair had felt. Even his face had never felt more smooth, but his own caresses didn't register in his mind. "Just another morning trick," he supposed.

A knock came at their front door, startling Naomi awake. As if on impulse, her eyes darted about as she yanked the bed sheets to cover her bare bosom. Seeing on Grigori in the room, she relaxed a bit as they both exchanged puzzled looks for the unknown visitor. After a second, more impatient knock echoed through the still somewhat empty abode, Rasputin sprung to his feet with a grimace of disgust. Angrily, he robed himself, nearly yanking the door to their boudoir from its hinges. "Knock off that infernal racket," he growled at their front door. "I'll be there in a minute."

Arriving at the foyer, shortly followed by his beloved, he pulled the door ajar. Behind it stood one of the few entities in any realm that could still send shivers down his spine; Fate himself. The spikey-haired visitor grinned at the pair before him. "I could have just invited myself into your bedroom." He folded his arms in front. "But that wouldn't have been proper, now would it?"

"Thank you for your consideration," Naomi cooed softly, flushing a bit.

"What do we owe the pleasure of a visit from Fate," added Grigori, far less amused by the intrusion.

Fate went from pleased to somber, knowing that his visit was unwelcome, but necessary. "We have to talk about Nathan." The hosts invited their unscheduled guest into their house reluctantly. Concern etched itself upon Naomi's face as an unheard conversation began upon the shutting of the portal.

*******

Nathan patted Tyrone "Crazy Boy" Smith on the back, both men celebrating their recent victory over the Nobodies and the Sea Men backstage over the buffet table. They lauded each other for the team effort before beginning to consider their separate matches at the upcoming Trauma 176 and Icey Awards Show. Their celebration was cut short by Alexa screaming violently at her phone. Curiosity getting the better of the two, they gathered alongside Orin and Lashawnda, encircling the raging Alexa Black. They all attempted to peer at the crowd-unfriendly device as she scrolled over a back-and-forth betwixt her and Kelli Starr on the fan forums.

"THAT BITCH!" she squelched. "Nathan, I'm going to tear your little sugar-coated cooze a new hole the next time I see her!"

Nathan narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips at Alexa. He spun on his heels, motioning for Crazy Boy to bring up the conversation on their computer for all to read. All of this had began as simple back-and-forth interviews between the combatants of the future show to determine the two teams who would face off at Return to Glory for the tag titles. Nathan had been paired with Kelli in an attempt to reunite Psychadelica once more. Though he didn't approve of the circumstances, his heart was overjoyed at the prospect of him having Dollface at his side again.

The other half of their victorious team, Crazy Boy, was paired with his once-rival, the woman throwing an absolute tantrum. Both teams had two other teams each to conquer; Nathan had Judge and Jury, as well as the Sea Men once more, and their other representative team, dubbed Crazy Power, had the Nobodies and the returning Unholy Alliance. Both fragments of the (un)Stable would be sure to have their hands full. Nathan had even "poked the bear," so to speak, prodding both Dillingers into a brief response. He had hoped to rile both men from their proverbial bunker. He'd had enough of their hiding in the shadows.

In order to hype up the matches bookending the Icey Awards, interviewers had scrambled in every direction in an attempt to get remarks and reactions from varying members of both contests. Alexa had made it no secret that she wasn't happy about Nathan being paired with Kelli from the get-go, but with Joka still AWOL and the Brothers Dillinger taking no immediate interest, the powers that be pulled this -now- unusual pairing from some rather dark recesses. The prospect had lit Nathan's heart aflame, but Alexa didn't share his enthusiasm.

His mind had fluttered with the possibilities for the upcoming show. Tyrone had located the man Kelli cryptically referred to, the one she believed was in peril, only to locate him quite safe and sound. Nathan spoke to the man, and he had agreed to make an appearance at the Iceys in order to set the record straight. Teaming with Kelli Starr had burdened his mind. Even he was unsure of where her alliance would lie once he laid all of his cards on the table. The mere thought of luring Grimm and Sadistic into the open with the bait of gold gladdened his soul, but first he had to overcome his opponents both at the Iceys and at Return to Glory, should they make it that far.

"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?" screamed Alexa.

Nathan, snapped rather unapologetically from his train of thought, glowered at the rampant madwoman. "Not entirely, no."

"That Kelli bitch will use you, just like she did at Living a Legacy. She'll use you to get her grubby little sticky, gold-digging mitts on those tag belts." Alexa paced the room, occasionally slapping her head as a way to focus her speech. "She'll play you like a fiddle and toss you aside when she's had her fun. Mark. My. Words. Those belong to Crazy Boy and me!"

Nathan slowly stood up, strolling calmly over to the furious female. Alexa halted her pacing, looking Nathan square in the eyes, her pupils dilated like an animal on the prowl. "My dear Miss Black," Nathan soothed as he caressed the spot on her scalp she insisted on smacking repeatedly. "Miss Starr and I shall have our own discussion at this very next show. I can assure you she and I will be on the same page."

Before anyone could react, Nathan snatched Alexa by her long black and red hair, snapping her backwards, down, and over his knee, causing Alexa to shriek in surprise and pain. He placed her locks under his right foot to hold her in place while grapevining her legs with his left to prevent any sudden bursts of protest from her lower extremities. Calmly, yet through gritted teeth, he continued while the others looked on helplessly. Orin held Lashawnda and Crazy Boy back, allowing the scene to unfold. "You, my dear, must focus your overabundant energies upon your own opponents so that you and Mr. Smith may face Miss Starr and I, should we all be so fortunate. Then..."

He yanked back on her hair for emphasis, causing her to yelp in pain again. His face darkened demonic, just as it had in recent past. Alexa squinted, staring daggers at Nathan as he tortured her. She wasn't sure if it was the combination of involuntary tears from having her air pulled or if her already unsettled mind had played a trick on her, but just for a second, she could have sworn she saw a metal mask covering Nathan's entire head. "...And ONLY then will you ever lay your hands upon her. Is. That. Understood?"

Alexa nodded as best she could while restrained with her own mane. Nathan unceremoniously dumped her flat on her back as he stood, the crux of rage seated firmly on his still monstrous gaze. "That goes for each and every one of you," he snarled, pointing to everyone in turn as an added prominence. "I shall do my utmost to assist you in your goals as long as we are a faction, but if any of you step in the path of my goal of reuniting with the love of my life, I will make your lives a living hell. Now if we are quite done with this little insubordination, I have plans to unfurl and strategies to conceive."

Nathan's face flushed back to its usual shade of pale as he sauntered away, leaving his allies puzzled, perhaps even a bit unsettled by his actions. Alexa sat up, messaging her scalp, still glaring at the retreating Nathan. "Metal masked sideshow freak." Orin and Lashawnda assisted her to her feet, paying no attention to her mutterings.

Crazy Boy, however, took notice. "What did you just say?"