Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed! The Muses enjoy the praise...as do I. ;)
Shawn Michaels had watched, silently, as what he knew would be a tragedy play out between the Undertaker and Triple H.
He had been silent, that is, until his best friend had refused the challenge thrown down by the man that had retired him.
"WHAT?" Shawn yelled, jumping to his feet in front of his TV, dropping the food he had been eating to the ground. "What are you doing?"
It was almost funny to the Heartbreak Kid, in that moment, how quickly that old would re-opened; how easily his past anger for what had happened rose to the surface and threatened to bury him alive.
'Wait, you know Hunter better than that,' he reasoned with himself, taking a deep breath. 'He's the Game. He's Triple H, the Cerebral Assassin. He's playing with the Undertaker, and you're letting yourself get played too.'
A small smile came to Shawn lips as he reconsidered. Yes, he decided, Hunter was just baiting the Deadman, to get him at his best so that he at last put away the man who put away Shawn Michaels at his best.
Still, an uneasy feeling remained with Shawn, even as he began to clean up the small mess in front of him. Even though he and Triple H were closer than brothers, there were times when, he knew, they were hard to read, even to each other.
After all, the current COO of the WWE had seemed completely serious when he said "No" to the Undertaker's challenge...Perhaps he really meant it.
But why?
Why would anyone refuse the chance to look the Deadman in the eye and end him?
Again feeling the initial rumblings of anger, Shawn clenched his fists. A part of him felt bad for doubting his friend...But another part of him wondered if his doubts were not baseless and unfounded.
Had Triple H really changed so drastically in such a short amount of time?
Last year, the man had been willing to die to avenge his best friend. And even though Shawn doubted him then, the Game made good on his promise. He had almost beaten the life out of the Undertaker.
But now? No? Saying no to an opportunity to finish what he, Triple H, started last year, and to end what he, Shawn Michaels, had started four years before?
"I hope you have a darn good reason, my friend," Shawn said softly to himself, throwing his spilled food away. "I trust you, buddy...But I know you, too."
Reaching into his pocket, the Heartbreak Kid pulled out his cellphone. He punched in several numbers and waited.
"Hello, John Laurinaitis? Yes, this is Shawn. I was wondering..."
Short chapter; next is coming right away.
Review?
