Slaughterhouse

Rookie Mistake

It's time for Raw again. Rhea and Carmen left Orlando the day after they all made up so they could prepare for the show with everyone. Carmen has a main event match against Rhea who will have Dom in her corner, and Finn and Damian are tag teaming to start the show. It's supposed to be set up as a way for Rhea to prepare Carmen for battling Raquel alone at the next PLE.

Carmen has already made her entrance and is bouncing around the ring, shaking out her joints. When Rhea's music plays and she walks out, cocky and confident as ever, Carmen grins at her and holds her arms out to the sides. Challenging her.

Rhea jumps onto the apron and makes her entrance. She licks over her teeth then looks over her shoulder at Carmen, smirking as she stands and gets into the ring. Carmen winks at her, making Rhea roll her eyes.

When the bell rings, Carmen and Rhea circle each other, both smiling with evil eyes. Rhea stomps over to Carmen, grabbing her and throwing punches. Carmen does the same to her and the crowd is eating it up.

Carmen shoves Rhea off her and she stumbles back, shock on her face. Carmen laughs and waves her back over in challenge. Rhea starts to walk away in annoyance and Carmen shouts at her.

"What? Scared already?"

Suddenly Rhea spins on her heel and runs at Carmen, throwing her arm out and hitting her so hard she falls flat on her back. Carmen gasps, kicks back up and turns only for Rhea to be running at her and does it again. The crowd is screaming as Rhea kneels over Carmen and grabs her by her throat. She grips Rhea's wrist and squirms on the floor of the ring.

"You really think Mami would get scared? NOBODY scares Mami!" She shouts in her face.

Carmen kicks her legs up and onto Rhea's stomach. She kicks her off of her, sending her flying onto her own back. She crawls over a stunned Rhea and starts laying blows into her sides. She is shouting, trying to block her. Rhea suddenly grabs Carmen's wrists and twists her arms around.

Screaming as Rhea struggles her legs free, she wraps them around Carmen and pushes up off the floor so she's on top now, still holding her arms in a twisted mess.

"Come on Carmen! You're no match for me! How will you beat Raquel huh!" She shouts as she stands, pulling Carmen from the ground.

The assault on Carmen continues, Rhea attacking her brutally. She counters a few times, landing a couple of kicks and punches of her own. The last time she swings to punch, though, Rhea ducks. Carmen stumbles forward and Rhea kicks her back, causing her to fall into the ropes.

Rhea pulls Carmen away from them and sets up for a riptide. The crowd is on their feet, chanting her name, chanting riptide as she reaches and grabs Carmen's hand between her legs.

She hoists her up off the ground but Carmen forgot to grab onto her. She slips out of Rhea's grasp and falls flat on her back onto the ring floor. A bit of pain sears through her at the unexpected impact and she yelps. Rhea looks down at her in surprise but quickly covers her and the ref drops down to count.

1..2..3!

The bell rings and Rhea sits back on her knees, staring down at Carmen and studying her face. Carmen pants and subtly nods so she knows she's okay. When she does, Rhea's face turns to a look of pure anger as she stands and storms out of the ring, making her way back to gorilla.

When Carmen makes it backstage, Rhea is waiting for her. The anger is still on her face, it wasn't for show. She's actually upset.

"Hey what's wrong?" Carmen asks.

"What's wrong? Seriously Carmen?" She shouts.

Carmen flinches at the tone and frowns.

"Why didn't you hold onto me like you were supposed to?!" Rhea asks.

"It was an accident I just forgot in the moment! I'm sorry!" Carmen replies softly, not liking how people are starting to gather around and watch.

"You forgot? You forgot your fucking safety? It was a fucking ROOKIE mistake! You could have been hurt Carmen! What if I hurt you huh?" She screams.

"I said I was sorry what do you want from me?" Carmen raises her own voice but it comes out in a squeak.

"Sorry isn't going to save your fucking life! I want you to stop being stupid out there and do what you're supposed to fucking do!" Rhea shouts.

Carmen's jaw drops and she goes to say something but her voice cracks and she can't get it out. Buddy comes rushing over from across the room. Having been here to support them since he has time off, he saw the whole thing.

"Hey! What is wrong with you?" He asks Rhea as he wraps an arm around Carmen's waist.

Rhea looks at him then back to Carmen with a deadly stare.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with HER? Maybe you were brought here too fucking soon. You should still be in NXT pulling stupid shit like that!" Rhea shouts again.

"Walk away Rhea!" Buddy growls at her.

Rhea looks at him again and goes to continue her verbal assault when he stands in front of Carmen protectively, still holding her as he glares at Rhea.

"Now." He speaks through gritted teeth.

She huffs and storms away and out of the building, slamming her hands onto the door on the way out. Buddy turns to Carmen and studies her face. She's trying desperately not to break down but will fail at any second.

He wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her head to his chest as he guides her out of the building and to the rental truck. Buddy helps her in and takes her to the hotel, knowing Rhea storming off means she left for the gym.

Once they're in the room, Carmen still hasn't cried but she also hasn't spoken. Buddy helps her change out of her gear and into an oversized shirt of his before putting her in the bed and lying next to her. He caresses her cheek and moves some hair from her face.

"Are you okay?" He asks softly.

"No."

With that, the tears unleash like a floodgate and Carmen cries heavily. She's hardly getting a breath in between sobs as she cries. Buddy pulls her close, shushing her softly and holding the back of her head. She wraps her arms around him and grips his shirt, crying into his chest.

Buddy lets her cry for a few minutes before pulling her back and kissing her forehead. Her cries are reduced to sniffles as he does.

"She called me stupid." Carmen's voice breaks.

"She didn't mean it and you know that. It's no excuse, but you know she didn't mean it."

"She said it twice you know she meant it." Carmen sniffles.

Buddy sighs and kisses her forehead again before pulling her back into his chest, letting her rest there until she falls asleep.