Title: Taking Chances (1?)
Rating: adult themes
Content: Slash, angsting, violence
Disclaimer: Don't own, please don't sue
Characters: Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, HHH

Summary: Randy's relationship with Hunter is complicated. Will Chris help him to see it more clearly, or will that just bring more complications?

Author's notes:Who knows where this came from. I wanted to write some nice Shawn/Randy fluff, and this came out. I swear to god my mind hates me sometimes. I'm also contemplating writing a het fic that's been stuck in my head for weeks now. Yes, me write het. It scares me too!

"Randy?"

"Hey Chris. What's up?"

Chris smiled, but he was hiding how he felt. There was concern behind his question. "Nothing's new. How's things with you and Hunter?"

Randy's face mirrored his confusion, "OK, why?"

"You don't seem… you don't seem happy." Chris had been watching Randy over the last few months. He knew it sounded a little stalker-like, but there was something about Randy that was just enthralling. Everyone had watched as Hunter had destroyed their relationship over the title back in August. Then, the loss of the title, to his former lover of all people, had sent Randy low, really low. He'd gone off the rails for a while, exaggerating his cocky exterior and attitude to hide how hurt he really was. He'd got himself into some hot water too. Chris had watched, throughout. He'd been as surprised as anyone to see that the younger man and Hunter were back together. He'd also seen what Randy had sacrificed.

The young man was proud. He was proud of his background, proud of what he'd achieved, proud of his talent. To see him lay down for Hunter at the Royal Rumble had shocked Chris, and he'd watched especially closely from then on. He knew he was on to something, because Randy's behaviour had become increasingly erratic over recent weeks, and the light that used to shine in his eyes whenever he talked about wrestling was gone. Now, all Chris could see in his eyes was something that he interpreted as a dull ache.

"What makes you think I'd put up with being with someone who didn't make me happy? I'm not exactly short of admirers." Randy avoided Chris' glare, he didn't want the Canadian to know how right he was.

"I know you're not happy Randy. I know what you've given up for him."

The young man took a deep breath. He was curious as to how Chris could just pinpoint, like that, one of the main things that kept him awake at night. At the same time, he didn't want Chris to know how right he was. "Everyone makes sacrifices in their career Chris, even you know that."

That struck a nerve in Chris, confirming that he was right, and causing him to be even more concerned. "I know. I also know that certain people ask you to make unreasonable sacrifices in return for their love."

"It wasn't much for him to ask. I hurt him… when I wouldn't give him the title back then… I didn't deserve it, he did."

"That doesn't sound like the Randy we all know and love."

"It's true."

"Is that because Hunter told you it was true?"

"It's true."

Chris shook his head. What had Hunter done to him? The young man had come into the business arrogant and cocky, believing that he was the best and that it was inevitable that he would be the champion sooner or later. And now he was saying that he didn't deserve it? "Randy, I've been there with Hunter. I know what it's like. He told me that I'd be champion one day, but that I didn't deserve it yet, that I should wait, watch him and learn. But I never learnt enough for him. He was never happy with me. He was quite happy to sacrifice me for his career. He would never sacrifice anything for me though."

The look on Randy's face told him all he needed to know. "He told me that I needed to prove my commitment to the business. He said that if I lay down for him at the Royal Rumble, that it would prove my love for him and the business."

"So you did."

"I missed him. I hate being alone. I was so selfish wanting to keep the title when I knew it meant so much to him. "

"It meant a lot to you too. He knew that. He put that title before his love for you. And I'm betting that now he's making you pay for it. He made you lay down for him, he's stalled your career and I bet he's hurting you in other ways too. All when you did nothing wrong in the first place. "

Randy stood up and walked away. He couldn't hear this, not now. Not when he knew that Chris was right. His head had been telling him this for weeks. That Hunter didn't love him, that he was controlling him. That you weren't supposed to hurt someone you professed to love. But he'd hurt Hunter too. When he took the belt he put his relationship before his lover, just as Chris was saying that Hunter was doing now. His head hurt, he was confused, all he wanted to do was go back to his hotel room and sleep.

Sleep would be a long way away tonight though. Once Hunter had claimed what he saw as rightfully his, Randy's mind played the conversation with Chris over and over in his head. One side of him wanted to ignore it, the other wanted to question Chris about it. About how he knew so much, why he cared. He knew that things weren't right between him and Hunter, they hadn't been right since they'd got back together. Randy had accepted his lover's dominance and demands… and threats. He hadn't questioned them. He saw them as his punishment. He still loved Hunter.

Trouble was, if he continued living like this, he didn't know for sure how long he could go on. He knew Chris had seen it. Each day, Hunter took a little more from him, and gave nothing back. Soon, there would be nothing left. His career was going nowhere, he was with a man he both loved and hated, and it didn't look like there was an obvious way out. All Randy knew for sure was that he had to take any chances that were offered. Was Chris offering him a chance? Randy wasn't sure, but there was only one way to find out.