Inviting The Shield into your home didn't seem like a particularly good idea. Especially when it's an upscale, lavishly furnished and extremely expensive. Also when you're so particular about every last detail of said home's arrangement that seeing anything in even the slightest bit of disarray would drive you up the wall. But this is exactly what Cody Rhodes had done. The wide, open windows of the night sky was a backdrop for the extremely strange meeting. Rollins, Ambrose and Reigns stood on one side of the living room and Cody on the other. The Shield were all dressed in black clothing while Cody was dressed in his finest white suit, as if he were trying to blend in with his overly white home. Cody's stare towards The Hounds was indifferent but weary. He didn't trust them and they certainly didn't trust him. Mutual goals had brought them together for their fleeting partnership. Sitting on the also white plush coach was Aksana. Make-up less, and dressed in a long, sleeveless t-shirt, black pants, and a grey slouch cap. A laptop was resting in her lap but she wasn't looking at it. The dark haired Diva's eyes were wide and completely locked on The Shield. She couldn't believe this was the level Cody had sunk to.
Cody Rhodes: Care for a drink?
The silence was finally broken as Cody poured a glass of wine, obscenely expensive, of course, into a glass and held it forward. Ambrose took the glass, through it's contents over his shoulder and proceeded to drink whatever small droplets were left and quickly drug his tongue along the surface. Cody's eye twitched. Ambrose's eccentric behavior was not appreciated. Nor was the mess he had created in his pain painstakingly clean home. Cody clenched his fists in front of his face and sucked in some air. He was trying not to completely go nuts. It took some time but he calmed and straightened out his tie.
Cody Rhodes: Charming.
Roman Reigns: We're not here for pleasantries.
The booming voice of the group's enforcer was correct. This was not a budding friendship. Far from it.
Cody Rhodes: Ah, I was only trying to be a good host. But yes. Let's skip all of that and get right down to business. I hate John Cena. You all hate John Cena. I want the IC Title. I want to see John Cena's reign come to an end by any means necessary. Hence, why I reached out to you three..
Ambrose slumped down onto a stool and pressed a fist against the side of his head.
Dean Ambrose: ..Charming.
Cody Rhodes: Let's be perfectly clear. When this is over our relationship returns to what it once was. Nothing. We're all going to walk away with what we want. I become a champion and you three get the justice you so desperately seek.
The son of Dusty Rhodes envisioned himself with that perfectly polished title around his waist and sighed in contentment.
Cody Rhodes: As an added bonus..Ikeda is thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Ambrose began to smirk and was probably having a vision of his own after hearing that name. No doubt it involved a lot of pain for the creator of the EBWF.
Cody Rhodes: You three are a team. You are a cohesive unit. That's far more than what can be said for Cena's patchwork group of miscreants. Vile, disgusting Syxx and that old man smell that won't come off after you wrestle him. The Miz and his insipid catchphrases and not to mention his ring rust which should leave him vulnerable. And that..Trent idiot that I personally have torn apart on numerous occasions. They are threats that must be dealt with but I personally don't care about any of them. Just..leave Bryan to his own devices. If he catches one of them in a submission, we'll have an elimination..
Roman Reigns: He's not part of deal. We don't have an agreement with him.
Cody Rhodes: I..am the team captain. The team is named after me. You should do..what I say.
Dean Ambrose: We don't listen to anybody. Got it? As far as we're concerned it's Team Shield..
This was proving to be more difficult than Cody had previously imagined. He pulled open a drawer that held the a very sharp, enormous butcher knife inside. It was outside of The Shield's vantage point. Aksana began to shake her head and Cody spotted this from the corner of his eye and decided better of it. He closed the drawer.
Cody Rhodes: What's in a name? It's irrelevant.
Seth Rollins: As long as our team wins you get the title. You don't even have to tag in. You can just stand on the apron and let us handle it.
This was something that had occurred to Cody recently. The slightest hint of a grin appeared on his face as Rollins began to thumb through a large art book with hand drawn pictures created by Cody himself.
Cody Rhodes: That would be my most desirable situation. Watching as Cena and Ikeda are ripped limb from limb while I have the best seat in the house. It's what they both deserve, correct? A fitting ending. You three make them burn and I'll pour the gasoline over their charred remains until their isn't anything left. Let's strive to make that--
Rollins paused and rose a brow. Amongst all the normal pieces of art he had looked through, he had came across something very different. A very detailed drawing of a blood soaked corpse laying in an alley. Covered in lacerations and swarmed by insects. Cody snatched it away.
Cody Rhodes: ..a reality.
Dean Ambrose: Yeah, yeah. We got it. Don't worry your pretty little head. Let us do the heavy lifting and stay out of the way. Keep Bryan on a leash and away from us. You get your belt, Cena and Wes get bodied.
The Shield, growing tired of their ultra clean surroundings, began to take their leave. Rollins began to pass Cody when he stopped and turned to look at him.
Seth Rollins: Depersonalization.
Cody Rhodes: ..Excuse me?
Seth Rollins: Depersonalization disorder. Treat it with naloxone. Although, in your case it might only provide a small relief..
Cody looked as the final Shield member departed and after going to great effort to clean up the wine mess he began to observe his reflection in a nearby full length mirror.
Aksana: Cody..do you have any idea what you're doing? Those are the guys that are trying to run the company out of business. You know..where we work? You can't trust them. They could turn on you as soon as they are done..
Cody Rhodes: ..I hate John Cena and I hate Wes Ikeda. I wish only for them to suffer and for me to witness it..
Cody's animosity towards John Cena and Wes Ikeda were well documented at this point. He gazed deeper into the mirror and began to grin.
Cody Rhodes: I'm the only sane one on my team. Bryan has obvious anger problems, Reigns has daddy issues, Rollins seems to get off on scaring people and Ambrose..well..I'm not entirely sure what his deal is.
Aksana: Cody..did you even listen to me?
Cody Rhodes: I had this lovely image last night. I imagined Cena and Ikeda decapitated. I held their bloody heads in my hands and let their blood cover all over me. It's the most alive I've felt in months.
Askana shifted uncomfortably on her position on the couch she was used to seeing Cody only cold and distant.
Cody Rhodes: ..I hate John Cena and I hate Wes Ikeda. I wish only for them to suffer and for me to witness it..
He repeated this over and over while continuing to stare at himself in the mirror. His mask of sanity had completely slipped away for the time being.
