Title: Priorities

Rated: T (Teen)

Genre(s): Romance/Hurt/Comfort/Drama

Pair(s): Mark/Randy, Mark/Mike

Summary: After winning the championship, Randy has become distant. It's taking its toll on his relationship with Mark. Will it be saved, or is it too late?

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides my OCs.

Warning: Slash!

A/N: This is for SlipKid13 and BlackDiamonds.32.20.54, who both requested a Mark/Randy story.

Part 1/3

OOOO

"I fuckin' hate you! You hear me? I hate you!" Bethany slammed her bedroom door closed in her father's face, before the infuriation and disappointment settled in her stomach like lead.

Randy knew that he had seriously messed up this time. No matter how badly he'd screw up in the past, no matter how many times he missed important events in his life because of work, his daughter had always believed in him. So, how did all of that belief, that adoration, turn into hatred? It didn't take much, but it was enough. And now, not only did his beloved daughter hate him, but she was also injured. Mark had had to carry her into the house because of her knee, and know she couldn't dance for a month.

You see, Bethany had been in the middle of her recital, when she looked out into the crowd in search of her father. But when she found his seat vacant, the distraction had caused her to stumble and land awkwardly on her knee cap. It had also cost her first and second place. But that was nothing compared to the feeling of abandonment that her father had left her with. She had told him months in advance, and he had promised that he would be there. But when it came time to deliver, he just couldn't…

"I'm… sorry, Bethie?" He tried, knowing that it wouldn't work even before the words left his mouth.

"Save it!" Came the cry from inside the bedroom. "Ever since you've had that stupid belt, you've turned into a real-life heel. And don't try to make excuses. You know it's the truth."

"Hey!" He beat down on the door. "You will not talk to me like that, Bethany Hart Orton-Calaway! You will speak to me with respect, or you won't speak to me at all!"

"Fine by me!" Bethany hissed, before she went silent.

Well, that backfired. Randy knew that things had been different ever since he had obtained the belt, but he didn't think that things had changed this drastically. Hesitantly, he tried to knock once more. The only response he received was silence. And then, the muffled sound of a sob. Dammit! It seemed that, as of late, all he was good at was hurting the people close to him. Worried, but knowing that that worry would be ill-received, he resigned to come back later and check in on the teen.

"Bethie, I'm… I'm gonna head downstairs. If you need somethin', just let me know, OK? Don't hesitate to ask." Randy said, but once again it was met with silence.

He did exactly that. Slowly, he entered the kitchen and watched Mark fix himself a cup of coffee. He looked more tired than he usually did, and that was probably the reason for the cup of coffee at this hour. Green eyes looked up and met his ocean blues, but no words were exchanged. Mark was a master of the silent treatment, and it looked as if Randy was going to be on the receiving end tonight. Once, he had gone ten days without saying a word. Randy still had a crick in his neck from the week and a half on the couch.

"Mark?" The Deadman raised an eyebrow to show that he was listening. "I'm sorry that I missed the recital, and dinner, and…" he trailed off. He was almost certain that there was more, but he couldn't remember.

Green eyes narrowed at him.

"Um… well, there was that conference at Bethie's school, but I doubt you'd be mad at me 'bout missing that. And I already apologized for missing the recital and dinner. Was there anything else important?"

The corner of his mouth pulled down.

"Y'know, Mark, it's kinda hard to have a one-sided conversation. If you could, oh I don't know, add some input here… it would be greatly appriciated." Randy said.

One green eye twitched.

"Mark?" Randy was really worried now.

"Our anniversary, Orton. Our fifteenth anniversary." Mark said, his voice abnormally calm.

Randy felt like a royal ass. How could he have forgotten their fifteeth anniversary? It wasn't like he had forgotten the other fourteen. And he had treated it like it was some second-rate holiday, not even worthy of being celebrated. He was digging his own grave here, and he knew it. Even if Mark didn't look upset on the outside, he knew that he was. He knew his lover well enough to know when he was hurt, even if the older man didn't know himself. Mark took a slow sip of his coffee, before he started for the stairs.

"But it doesn't matter, Orton. It's obvious where your priorities lie." Mark said, before he rounded the corner to their bedroom. "G'night."

The last thing Randy heard was the slam of the door and the click of a bolt.

OOOO

"I'm heading over to Carrie's house. I should be home by five." Bethany announced as she came downstairs, her knee covered in her brand-new Ace brace.

"Have fun." Mark mumbled, before Bethany kissed him on the cheek.

Randy sat on the other couch, as far away from Mark as possible. It wasn't his fault. Mark had choosen to sit on the other couch to watch television, and even though it was set on a channel that he knew Mark hated, the older man refused to ask him for the remote. It was Phase Two of Mark's silent treatment: Avoid and Ignore. This phase lasted about a week, before Mark would eventually get over it. However, Randy had learned from Glen that there was, in fact, a Phase Three. Phase Three: Leave. Randy knew he needed to fix things before they got that bad.

Bethany hesitated, looking for all the world like a lost puppy. Should she say goodbye to her other father as well? And then she remembered how he had abandoned her last night, how he had promised to be there and just couldn't pull through. And even if it was a little vindictive, maybe it was his turn to be disappointed. With her decision made, she walked out of the room and pulled on her coat. Taking her wallet and stuffing it into her coat pocket, she walked out the front door and started down the road to her Uncle's house.

"Mark." Randy turned to his husband, and was a tad disheartened when the older man didn't turn at the sound of his name. "I am so, so sorry that I forgot our anniversary. I never meant to make you think that it didn't mean something to me."

Mark didn't even flinch.

Randy frowned, this was so awkward. He wasn't used to pouring his heart and soul out like this, and on the rare occasion that he did, it was never ignored so blatantly. "Mark, please…"

The older man continued to stare at the television.

"Baby," Mark's eye twitched at the term of endearment, and Randy worried that he had gone a little heavy on the pleading. "Please, don't ignore me anymore. I can't take it. It hurts. And I know that I hurt you, I know that you must've felt abandoned… because I feel that way now. Please… just tell me that we can move past this."

Mark tilted his head to the side, looking for all the world like he was in deep thought. But a few seconds later, Randy realized that he was just concentrating harder on a T.V. commercial.

"Mark…" he would never admit that it came across as a whine.

That was when his lover snapped. He rose from his seat without a word, conquering the stairs in record time. And then, wait for it… the customary door slam that told Randy that Mark was beyond furious. There should be an entirely different level of anger invented for this situation. Randy sunk into the couch cushions, dejected. Never before had his charm not only failed him, but also put him in a worse situation then he was in before. Maybe Bethany was right. Maybe he had turned into a real-life heel…

OOOO

Bethany came back at 4:59 PM. Only, this time, Mark was the only one downstairs to greet her. Randy had left an hour ago, not leaving any indication of where he was going and when he was coming back. The fifteen-year-old used the barstool in front of the island counter as her foot stool, lifting herself onto the counter and taking a seat. She took an apple out of the bowl of fruit and took a bite, the bittersweet juice like rain in the desert to her dry mouth. Mark just watched, amused, as she finished the whole fruit in record time and tossed it in the wastebasket.

"I feel bad." Bethany announced, after a few moments of silence. Silently, she flicked a few locks of black hair out from in front of her face. "I mean, he did say that he was sorry. And he did look really sad this morning."

"He's not sorry. They never are." Mark muttered, the comment not really meant for her ears.

"What d'you mean?" Bethany asked, honestly confused.

Mark closed the book he had been reading, a serious look on his face. "Nothing. It doesn't matter and it never did."

"You can't mean -,"

Green eyes widened, and a harsh voice snapped, "Don't say it!"

Bethany flinched back involuntarily, and the action almost caused her to roll off of the counter. Mark's hand caught her arm before she could fall, however. "Yes, Daddy. I'm sorry I upset you."

"It's OK, baby. Just do me a favor and don't turn into a klutz all of a sudden, OK?"

"Yes, Daddy."

It was then that a car pulled up in the front driveway. The engine was cut, before a tall man stepped out with two armfuls of paper grocery bags. Mark, noticing this, had taken to reading again. He was so preoccupied in the plot line that he didn't even notice his lover come in, set the bags on the dining room table, and walk over to the two of them. Bethany watched him for a few seconds, before she slid off of the counter and ran for the staircase as fast as her injured leg would carry her. She didn't want to be here for this confrontation.

"Hey." Randy said meekly. Mark raised one dark eyebrow, but didn't respond. "Will you just answer one question?"

Mark raised an eyebrow to show that he was listening.

"Do you still love me?"

OOOO

A/N: I know… but I had to end it there. I hope y'all like the story so far, and I hope y'all will review! More reviews make me want to write faster, y'know! Well, anyway… until next time, then!