a/n: writer's block and not having a computer is the worst thing ever. well, i got my computer back and I figured out how to write this chapter, so double yay! this is my interpretation of raw from this past monday on 9/1/14.

~*~this is the sound of the lost gone found, this is the sound of the mute gone loud~*~

(canon roman/aj, raw 9/1/14)

AJ watched warily as Stephanie praised Nikki for the pain she endured from 'Growing Up Bella.' As usual the bustier Bella Twin was wearing her typical skin-tight dress and sky high heels. Honestly, if you asked AJ Nikki looked like she was wrapped in plastic wrap, but most importantly she looked, as always, like she wasn't there to wrestle but to walk some red carpet or go to some club.

To be honest, though she was watching with interest because Stephanie McMahon didn't come down to the ring just for the hell of it, everything the Billion Dollar Princess was saying sounded like the teacher from Charlie Brown.

Wah. Wah. Wah. Wah.

At least until she came to the end of her little speech. "You are exactly the face the Diva's Division deserves, Nikki Bella, which is why I'm granting you a chance at the Diva's Championship."

Immediately AJ saw red. Stephanie was giving that mannequin her title shot?! She could feel herself breathing heavily and her first instinct was to rush into the ring and attack Nikki, but somehow she restrained herself.

Instead of attacking, she told the backstage hand to cue up her music. Calmly entering the ring was a much better move then giving into her blind rage and beating that poor excuse for a wrestler with her fists.

For now, anyway.

Skipping down the ramp, AJ also skipped around the ring several times before grabbing a mic and slipping through the ropes. Ignoring Nikki, she stepped right up to Stephanie.

"Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie," She cooed. "I know you're a very busy woman. I mean between helping your little husband babysit Kane, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins, there's keeping your nannies busy with your brats and of course, how could I forget, there's taking care of all these," She batted at Stephanie's russet curls. "Grey hairs. So clearly the concept of a 'Number One Contender' has slipped your mind. Lucky for both of us, I'm here to remind you. See, there is one contender, and since I never got my rematch that person is me."

Stephanie was clearly struggling not to laugh, but she ultimately controlled herself.

"Well, thank you for the education, AJ. I always love being enlightened. However, you're aware that I'm about doing what's best for business." She smirked. "And I have to be honest, I believe Nikki Bella being granted a match for the Diva's Championship is what's best for business."

AJ laughed as she shook her head. "You're all about what's best for business, and yet your giving her a match for the Diva's Championship?! A match she hasn't earned and doesn't deserve?! Look at her!" The petite Diva gestured at the voluptuous brunette. "She's not here to wrestle! She's here to use your company for her rapidly expiring fifteen minutes of fame! Is that who you really want to be the face of your Diva's Division?!"

Stephanie never answered AJ's question because Nikki suddenly grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking as hard as she could and sent her tumbling to the mat. Standing over the young woman's prone form, she taunted, making the 'L' for loser with her thumb and index finger, "Still think you're the 'Number One Contender,' AJ?"

Though dazed from the impact of her head hitting the mat, AJ was able to land a kick to Nikki's stomach, making her double over. She managed to regain her bearings and grabbed for Nikki's hair, slamming her head repeatedly into the mat. With a gleeful smile, AJ skipped around the ring, dragging Nikki with her, all the while her eyes never leaving Stephanie's.

Dropping the brunette into a limp heap, she crawled seductively over her body, licking her lips as she bent down and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry Nikki-poo," She mocked, stroking her hair. "The real 'Number One Contender' is going to take good care of the Diva's title."

Stepping away from Nikki, AJ was right back in Stephanie's face.

They were staring each other down, ice blue eyes blazing into determined soft brown, until she said, "Who's your 'Number One Contender' now, Stephanie?" and then, blowing a kiss at her boss, she skipped out of the ring, her music playing in the background.

"Impressive."

The voice that greeted AJ backstage was low and menacing. Without turning, she knew who it belonged to. No one else had a voice like that. Turning she wasn't surprised to find the grey eyes of Roman Reigns, and though she did her best to fight it, a tantalizing shiver still unfurled along her spine.

Shrugging nonchalantly, she remarked, "That was all in a day's work. Nothing extraordinary."

Roman nodded. He could appreciate her confidence. "Still, you wanna be careful. I'm sure the Billion Dollar Bitch ain't gonna take that little display of yours out there lightly."

"You're probably right." AJ agreed, smiling. "But I can handle anything she throws my way. I defended my Diva's title at WrestleMania last year against all of those Total Mannequins, and I'd be more than happy to do it again. Even with Paige in the fold. As for you... That six man tag match against Kane, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins is going to be tough, even with Jericho and Cena in your corner."

"Those corporate stooges ain't got nothin' on me."

AJ could understand where the big man was coming from. He dominated nearly all of his matches and had become much more deadly as he added more moves than just his signature spear and Superman punch.

"I'd tell you good luck..."

"But you know I don't need it."

There went another shiver up and down her spine, despite not wanting it to happen. She had been down this road before, and it always started just like this. Innocent conversation, just talking backstage and then the next thing she knew, she was lost in a handsome face and a body with muscles to spare and it wasn't too much longer that she was nursing a broken heart.

"No you definitely don't." She spoke softly, hoping she didn't look as besotted as she felt, staring into the stunning depths of his uniquely grey eyes.

"You don't need luck either. You'll take 'em all down, one by one or all at once."

Roman's criminally plush lips curled into a heart stopping grin, and much to her chagrin, it was all too damned obvious why those rabid fangirls had christened him 'President Panty Dropper.'

AJ usually never watched matches. When she wasn't needed to cut a promo or for a match, she stayed behind in the locker room catching up on her DVR'd shows, playing video games or reading her comics. Tonight, however, she found herself in the gorilla, watching a monitor as the six man tag main event got under way.

Roman and Randy started the match and the former dominated from the outset. She watched as he attacked his former Shield member, Seth Rollins with a ferocity she hadn't sen him display before. It reminded her of when she had gone after Kaitlyn. Apparently she wasn't the only one who thought wrestling was more fun when you were punching your friends... Or well, you know, ex friends.

In the end, the match was over after Cena delivered an 'AA' to Kane, before tagging Roman in to finish off the former demon with a vicious spear.

AJ was thankful she was alone because she was basically under a fog of lust, staring blankly at the screen, as she watched Cena, Jericho and Roman stand tall in the ring. She couldn't be certain she had blinked since the match started, but she was very aware of her thighs rubbing together and a lustful throbbing in the pit of her stomach. Her face was so hot, she was sure anyone who saw her would assume she was running a fever and tell her to go to the trainer's office.

But the heat was from a different kind of fever. One she didn't want to examine closely, for fear that she was already repeating history.

As he walked through the curtain, the fog of lust she was under told her to congratulate him as he had done her. It was only fair a traitorous voice whispered in her head. It's the right thing to do. Because it's not like she wanted to see the sweat glistening off his impressive muscles up close. Or to know what he smelled like after a match.

Please.

"Impressive."

Her smile was impish as she practically bounced on her toes. Her reward, not that she was necessarily looking for one, was one of his signature panty melting smirks and the tantalizing sight of seeing his shapely biceps bulge and flex as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Told ya they ain't got nothin' on me." He boasted proudly.

AJ nodded, watching as Roman's grey eyes narrowed, eying her warily. "I can see the wheels turning in your head..."

That surprised her. Everyone always believed, backstage and in the WWE Universe, that Rollins had been the brains of The Shield, Ambrose the mouthpiece and Reigns the muscle. He was basically a glorified attack dog. With a figurative bark or snap from one of the other two, the big man would hit their opponents with a deadly spear or vicious Superman punch and together they'd finish them off with their signature 'Triple Power Bomb.'

But apparently, underneath all of that luscious hair, Reigns had a brain. Making him all the more yummy.

She couldn't deny that the wheels in her head were turning. And not from lust, either. No, she was formulating a plan. A wonderfully delicious plan that had just hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks. Or in their case the proverbial ladder, table and/or chair.

"The wheels in my head are turning. How nice of you to notice, and prove you're not just a pretty face. Tonight changed things for me. Before tonight, I couldn't careless about The Authority and their little motto about what's best for business." She mocked Stephanie, her tone overly sweet and drawn out. "She made her position clear about what she thinks is best for business, and we're just going to have to agree to disagree about that. However, agreeing to disagree isn't good enough for me. So I was thinking," She twisted a lock of hair around her finger, peering at him through the velvet of her lashes. "If you're receptive to the idea that we take down The Authority together."

Roman arched an eyebrow at the petite Diva, surprised that she was interested in taking down The Authority at all. Let alone together.

"What's in it for you?"

"The chance to restore order to the universe. I saved the Diva's Division when it was at it's lowest point, when they were putting on segments involving children's games," Her nose wrinkled in disgust, thinking back to the infamous musical chairs segment from RAW Goes Country. "And booking matches because of some insipid reality show. I'm not here to play games or to walk red carpets and parade around in skin-tight dresses and high heels and mug for cameras, I'm here to wrestle, and Stephanie obviously needs a little reminder. She is not giving away my title shot to the likes of Nikki Bella, who hasn't earned it and doesn't deserve it, not while I'm still breathing. Besides," She smiled deviously. "I can help you get what you want..." She paused, her eyes lighting up as the words spilled from her perfect Cupid's bow lips in a tantalizing murmur, "The WWE World Heavyweight Championship."

"And just how are you gonna manage that?"

"I pushed a ladder down while John Cena was climbing it, I'm sure I could do something to Seth Rollins. He can't retain his briefcase forever, and I think we both can agree he won't be cashing it in any time soon; not as long as Lesnar's holding the belt, anyway."

Roman studied AJ; grey eyes searching her captivating softly colored brown. This didn't seem like a set up, like a plan set in motion by the traitor he once called a brother. Or Triple H and Stephanie. But then again, he knew better than to just blindly trust someone. Especially someone he barely knew.

"Prove it." He told her coolly. "Then we'll talk."

On Main Event, the next night, Seth had a match against Cesaro and suddenly the lights were cut, cloaking everyone in darkness.

From ringside, Michael Cole said, "Uh-oh. It looks like Rollins isn't just going to be dealing with Cesaro. Any moment Roman Reigns, his former Shield cohort could be stomping down the steps, ready to doll out some justice."

But instead of hearing Roman's music, the arena heard, "Light it up! Light it up! Light it up!"

Skipping down the ramp with a serene smile on her face was AJ, but she wasn't wearing one of her shirts. Along with her signature denim shorts and Chuck Taylors she was wearing Roman's 'One vs All' t-shirt.

"AJ Lee?!" JBL squawked. "What in the devil is she doing here?!"

"Sethie, Sethie, Sethie," AJ sang from the apron of the ring, fingers trailing along the gold briefcase. "This is a very nice briefcase. Too bad it's being wasted since you're never going to cash it in."

Meanwhile, backstage, Roman watched with interest as the petite Diva taunted his former teammate.

"I don't have time for your games, AJ."

"I'm not playing games, Sethie. I'm only interested in doing what's best for business, and I think what's best for business is you finally admitting that you're not cashing in your briefcase as long as Brock Lesnar is WWE World Heavyweight Champion. And I think you should admit why you're not. Because you know you can't beat him! You know that the beating Cena took at SummerSlam is going to be twenty times worse for you, and you don't want to disappoint your Mommy and Daddy by proving what a failure you are! Just admit it!"

Seth stared the Diva down from his position inside the ring, practically seething from her taunts, but she didn't flinch. She stared at him with equally intensity, not moving a muscle, her jaw subtly ticking. However, if the two-toned Superstar thought of reacting, he wouldn't get the chance.

Cesaro took advantage of the distraction AJ provided and hit Seth, square, in the back of the head with his elbow, sending him tumbling down. With his body limp and feeling dazed, he was vulnerable to the aptly named 'Swiss Superman.'

A devastating neutralizer ended the match.

Slipping through the ropes of the ring, AJ leaned over Seth's limp body, grabbing his face in her hands and saying sweetly, "Wakey, wakey Sethie, because you should be conscious for this. You don't deserve the Money In The Bank briefcase and the contract that comes with it. But I'll share a little secret with you. I know who does. His name is..."

Bending down, she whispered into the limp Superstar's ear, "Roman Reigns."

She gave him a loud smacking kiss on the cheek before slamming his head into the mat for good measure and then she was climbing out of the ring and skipping up the ramp. She was halfway up the ramp when she was stopped by Randy Orton.

"Actions," He growled, eyes shooting daggers. "Have consequences, little girl. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong if you're not prepared to face them."

"Touch her," Suddenly Roman had joined them on the ramp. "And my fist is gonna be so far down your throat, you ain't gonna walk right for a week."

Randy just laughed manically in the younger wrestler's face. With his eyes still trained on Roman, he grabbed AJ, harshly by the wrist and then he yanked a fistful of her hair, making her yelp in pain. She sank to her knees as he kept pulling and pulling, until her vision blurred with tears and he got her position for an RKO.

Positioning her was as far as he got before Roman took him out with a devastating Superman punch. Without a second glance at the fallen third generation wrestler, he helped AJ too her feet, wiping a few tears that had fallen down her cheeks.

"Looks like you came through."

"Thanks to you, I'll still be in one piece so I can keep my promise to wreak havoc in the division until Stephanie gives me what's rightfully mine, my rematch and then I'll be on my way to getting my title back. I know my baby's missed me as much as I've missed her."

They were still on the ramp and they knew they couldn't just go backstage. Not without cutting a promo, of course.

"It's your move, Hunter. In the ring, laid out like a rag doll, is the man you put all your money on. Well, guess what; the two of you are a bout to go broke. Your golden boy's losin' his luster, and I'm gonna make sure he turns to rust. He can't hold onto that briefcase forever. Sooner or later he's gonna have be the man he says he is and cash it in, and when he does, I'll be waitin' for him. And next to my feet is your other glorified pet. Guess The Viper," He kicked Orton's body for good measure. "Lost is bite and is nothin' more than a spineless worm."

"Stephanie," AJ sang. "You say you're all about what's best for business, well, why don't you put your money where your mouth is, and give me the rematch I deserve against that pasty little crumpet you're generously calling the Diva's Champion. I'm the rightful 'Number One Contender,' and if I have to take out your little band of wannabe models and actresses to get what's mine, I will. Name the time, name the place and I'll be happy to take out the trash."

After she dropped the mic, Roman held out his closed fist and she held out her own. It was a sign to The Authority of their newly formed alliance. And the bodies of Randy Orton and Seth Rollins were a message.

soundtrack "a new start" by a fine frenzy

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