Seven Days in Tuscaloosa
"So, how's my champion?" Adam purred, twirling the phone cord around his finger.
"Awesome, man. It's great to be back on top." Christian was splayed across the couch, his title belt still around his waist.
"You'll always be on top with me."
"Ooh, baby, do you want some of my Charisma?" Christian traced the cold steel of the belt, shivering in anticipation.
"Some? I want it all." Adam answered "I can't wait until I see you."
"I'll be there tomorrow." Jay answered "Nine a.m. sharp."
"I'll be here..." Adam paused "I saw the show tonight."
"How'd I look?" Jay asked
"Hot. Every time I see your Killswitch, it makes me want you more." Adam whispered "But I'm a little worried about Tom."
"You too?" Jay asked "He hasn't been the same since Patterson and Brisco jumped him. He seems angrier."
"That's what I saw, but I also saw what they did to him. Part of me can't blame him, but part of me sees a lot of Matt in there as well." Adam responded "Just be careful, bro. I don't want him to take it out on you."
"I can handle him." Jay answered "Don't worry about it. Let's talk about something a little more pleasant. Like what we're gonna do when I get there..."
"This is fuckin' ridiculous!" Tom shouted "I'm just a little stressed out right now."
"That's what I kept telling myself." Randy replied "But nothing I did ever relaxed me. That's when I knew I had issues."
"Oh? I thought it was when Vince suspended you for trashing a hotel room." Tom smirked, crossing his arms.
"Same shit, man." Randy shrugged "It's good to vent occasionally, but not how you been doin' it."
"This is what you meant by relax?" Tom glared at his brothers. "A fuckin' intervention is more like it!"
"Tommy, just listen to him." Matt asked "If not for you, then for us."
"Do you really think you have this under control?" Randy continued "What happens if you snap? I trashed hotel rooms only because there was no one around for me to beat on."
"What are you saying? That I'd hurt someone?"
"You sure looked like you wanted to hit that driver." Jeff replied
"I'd never hurt anyone for no reason." Tom answered "C'mon Matty, Jeffers, you know me at least that well."
"Again that's what I thought... right until I sent my wife to the hospital with a broken nose." Randy answered
"So? That's you. " Tom felt his temperature rise. "I am not like that!" His hands clenched into fists.
"Tommy, please..." Matt touched Tom on the back. He wheeled, and swung. Thankfully, he stopped short, his fist stopping inches from Matt's face.
Jeff looked horrified, Randy nodded as if to say I told you so, and Matt was deceptively calm. Tom stared at his fist, then to Jeff, then back at his fist.
"Matt, I think it would be better if you and Jeff left us alone for a while. We need to talk."
"Jeffro, grab your jacket. We're goin' out."
Once the other two Hardys had left, Randy sat down on one of the beds and motioned for Tom to join him. He was hesitant to sit, but eventually he did, although his hands remained fisted.
"Tom, you probably think I'm just trying to get on your good side." Randy said "Listen to me, though. I've been there, I know exactly what you're feeling."
"You ever been physically sick just looking at yourself?" Tom answered "And wondering how anybody will ever be able to love you again? Wondering when your partner is gonna leave you because he can't bear to be in the same room with you?"
"Yes, I have. I didn't recognize my reflection half the time. Whomever was staring back wasn't Randall Keith Orton, that's for sure." He answered "I lost my marriage because she was scared of who'd I'd become. We're not best friends, Tom and we never will be. I just don't want to see you throw everything away like I almost did."
"I am not throwing everything away." Tom growled
"You keep this up and you will. Maybe not 'till next week, next month, or even next year, but one day you'll wake up and realize you've lost everything. Your career, your family, even Jeff."
"Yeah, Jeff ain't goin' nowhere."
"Keep telling yourself that. I did. Look where it got me." Randy came across and sat beside Tom. Cautiously placing his hand on Tom's shoulder, he rubbed it gently. "I'm not here to give you a easy fix, because it isn't easy. You may want to consider entering anger management classes before you're forced into them."
As Randy talked, he continued rubbing Tom's good shoulder. The longer Tom allowed this contact, the better. Eventually, Tom opened up a little, then a little more, then the flood gates opened.
Randy listened as Tom rambled from one thing to another. As he talked, Randy realized he'd broken through. Tom was taking the first step; one of many once Randy understood what was causing Tom's anger.
As he spoke, Randy gaped in amazement. If he'd held in half the things that Tom was, he'd be in jail.
Their talk was eventually interrupted by a discreet knock at the door. Randy left Tom with his head on his fist and answered the door. As he'd expected, it was Matt and Jeff, back from their outing.
"How is he?" Matt asked
"We've taken the first step. There's a lot more work to do. I'd suggest classes. He's gonna need to learn now to channel his anger before he hurts someone." Randy answered
"Can we see him?" Jeff asked
"Go ahead." Randy stepped aside to let Jeff pass.
"Could I have a word with you in the hall?" Matt asked
Randy nodded, stepping back out. Matt quietly closed the door with a soft click. "I just wanted to thank-you. I don't know what we'd have done without you."
"As I told Tom, we're not friends. I just don't want to see anyone else go through what I did." Randy answered
Matt hesitated. He was suddenly struck by how beautiful Randy's eyes were. He'd never noticed how much they sparkled.
"Something else, Hardy?" Randy asked
Matt snapped back suddenly. "Sorry, just lost in my thoughts."
"Well, try not to let it happen too much. It's kinda creepy, you standing there with your mouth open, but nothing coming out." Randy answered "If there's nothing more right now, I'll leave you three to talk. Any problems, just call me."
"Thanks again." Matt offered a handshake.
When Randy grabbed his hand, Matt felt a tingle go through his body. "No, not now!" His libido shouted, forcing itself to remain calm and limp. "Thanks for everythin'." Matt reluctantly broke his grip.
"Just text me if things don't work out." Randy saluted, leaving a very flustered and aroused Matt in the hall. The second Randy was out of the way, Matt's cock stirred to life.
"Shit." Matt swore, staring at his jeans, now much too tight. "Same problem I had in high school."
He reached inside his pants and grabbed his erect member, making it a little less noticeable, or so he hoped. He reentered the room where he found Tom crying on Jeff's shoulder.
"Everything okay, Matt?" Jeff asked
"Just thankin' Randy." In what he hoped would look totally random, he untucked his shirt. Just the mention of Orton's name sent chills down his back. "I think it worked."
"Shhh..." Jeff warned him.
"Sorry." Matt plopped on a bed and stared at the ceiling, hoping that neither of his brothers would object to his presence. His eyes closed and he soon drifted off, dreaming of Randy in spite of himself.
While he was taking the elevator down from the Hardy's hotel room, Randy pondered the events that had just transpired. Was he wrong or was Matt hitting on him? He knew about Matt's preference, but he'd never known an iota of interest in him and as far as he went, Randy thought of himself as straight. He'd had a couple incidents with men, but even according to Dr. Ruth, one-third of purely straight men had a homosexual experience that led to an orgasm.
While he wasn't questioning his sexuality, Orton was asking himself several tough questions.
"Matt, why now?" was the first. He knew that Matt had recently had a tough break-up with Christian and that Christian was rumored to be involved with Edge. Was it a good idea to have a relationship with one of his coworkers on the rebound? Randy thought it over and the more he pondered, the less the idea repulsed him. He made up his mind to have a long chat with Matt about this sometime. Certain parts of him were definitely interested and, like Matt, he had to pull his shirt tails out to cover himself when he exited.
"Matty, you awake?" He was pushed gently.
"Hmmm?" Matt asked "Whassup?" He was expecting it to be Jeff, but in hindsight, the lack of force behind the push should've tipped him off.
"A little softer, bro." Tom lay down beside him. "Jeffro's napping."
Matt looked over at Jeff, sound asleep, his thumb in his mouth and his Bunny nestled in the crook of his arm.
"Sorry." Matt looked at his older brother. Even after all these months, he sometimes still had a hard time believing that he had an older brother, but he was always grateful that they'd found each other.
"You know me pretty well and you know that I can let my emotions get to me, but I hope you do realize that there is no way in hell I would ever hurt either you or Jeff." Tom stated "So, what exactly were you pulling with that stunt?"
"When Jeff told me about what you'd done on the freeway, I was scared. Not for me , and not for Jeff, but for you." Matt answered
"Why?" Tom asked "I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."
"Until we met, I was the man of the Hardy family. My dad was around, but he was too busy with work and the farm to be much use. I raised Jeff basically. Once you came along, it was nice to have someone to turn to." Matt sighed
Tom looked over his shoulder, but Jeff was still sleeping quietly.
"As you know, my own life hasn't been all that great recently." Matt turned to Tom, who saw a look of total adoration in his eyes. "I need you as much as Jeff needs you. I can't lose you either."
Tom was shocked. "Matt, I don't know what to say." He whispered.
"Just listen to Randy. You're an awesome husband, an excellent GM, but most of all, you're one of the coolest brothers on the planet." Matt answered, his face turning a little pink with the compliment. "And I'd hope you'd feel the same way about me and Jeff."
"My feelings aside, it's gonna be a long road for me. My physical scars will heal, eventually, but the emotional scars are another story. It's nice to know I have someone like you to count on."
"What about me?" Suddenly, Jeff's tiny body was worming between Matt and Tom, who quickly rolled to prevent any contact to his scarred torso.
"You too, Jeffro." Tom kissed his brother, then wiggled his eyebrows at Matt before tickling his younger brother.
"Tommy, stop it. I can't fight back or I'll hurt you." Jeff wriggled under Tom's feather touches.
"I know." Tom pulled Jeff's t-shirt up and blew a raspberry on his tummy, making Jeff's laughter increase in volume as well as his squirming.
"Matty, help?" Jeff pleaded, unable to stop Tom without hurting him.
"Sorry, Jeff, you're on your own." Matt replied. At least he was until Tom pounced on him, tickling him as well.
"Well, screw that!" Matt returned the tickles. Their tickle fight soon turned serious as clothes were beginning to come off to allow access to each other's most sensitive spots. While Matt held Jeff down so Tom could remove his shirt, he suddenly wished the young body was not his bro's, but a certain Legend-killer.
"No fair!" Jeff starting kicking to free himself. Accidentally, one of the kicks hit Tom's bad side. He dropped faster than if he'd been shot. "Fuck! Tommy, are you okay?"
"I guess tickle fights are also on the list of things I shouldn't do until I heal." Tom gently touched the area around where Jeff had kicked him. "Nothing torn."
Jeff gasped a sigh of relief.
"I think maybe I should get some rest." Tom softly lay down on the other bed. "Today's been exhausting to say the least." He pulled off his shirt, jeans, and socks and climbed into bed.
It wasn't like Tom was needed for Raw, but he went anyway. Vince was gonna be there and Tom was going to confront the Chairman, regardless of what might happen. At least he was covered enough so he didn't feel like people were staring at him.
Outside the office of the Chairman, Tom took a moment to gather his thoughts. If he was going to be successful in his persuasion of Mr. McMahon to rehire Jeff, he could not under any circumstances lose control. He knocked.
"Enter." He was always surprised at how much like Captain Picard Vince sometimes sounded like.
"You wanted to see me?" Vince asked
"Yes." Tom replied "What's up with Jeff Hardy?"
"He failed a wellness test." Vince replied "It's as simple as that."
"Mr. McMahon, Jeff hasn't been tested in over three months." Tom responded "And before you ask, he's my husband. He would tell me if he'd had to show off his dick to someone."
"I don't make the rules. I told Jeff when I re-hired him, that he was coming back with two strikes."
"Since when have you hidden behind the rules?" Tom demanded "Did you run his b-sample?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"We're waiting for the results to come back."
Tom exhaled noisily. "This is the biggest screw-job since Montreal in '97, you know that! I don't know what your plan is, but I will fight this!"
"Just remember, I can have you removed as well." Vince replied
"Whatever. I wonder how Jerry Jarrett would react if all three Hardy's showed up at TNA looking for jobs?" Tom smiled
"You're under contract..."
"And then there's lawsuits for wrongful termination once we prove this drug thing is a sham." Tom added "It would be a lot easier for all of us if you'd just accept that Matt is finished with you. Later, boss."
"That was easy enough. " He wanted to leave the arena right away, but a glimpse of tattooed skin changed his plan.
"Randy? Got a second?" he shouted
Orton looked over. Had it been anyone else, his reaction might've been different. "Gimme a minute, Cena."
"Whatever, dawg. Catch ya at catering."
"Hardy? You're the last person I'd expect to see here." Randy's expression was a mixture of surprise and happiness.
"Just needed a word with the boss." Tom said "Do you know anything about this wellness test Jeff supposedly failed?"
"Jeff? I didn't know he'd been tested." Randy replied
"Just wondering." Tom answered "It seems like Vince has a personal vendetta against the Hardy family."
"Have you talked to Matt about when he's coming back?" Randy posed his own question.
"Sorry, dude. There's been a few other things on my plate recently. I thought that's what the two of you were talking about in the hall the other day."
"I was hoping, but our conversation took another turn." Randy smiled sheepishly as the memory of that day returned to him.
"Next time I see him you want me to have him call you?" Tom offered
"Would you?" Randy's voice uncharacteristically squeaked.
"Leave it to me, bro." Tom replied
Randy brightened like a child on Christmas. "Cool." He clapped Tom on the shoulder.
"Ow! I'm gonna need a sign that says do not touch!" Tom groaned
"Sorry, dude. Im' so fuckin' sorry..." Randy was falling all over himself with apologies.
"It's... it's okay Randy. Really. It just really gonna hurt until I get the stitches removed." Tom took several deep breaths, focusing on them to lessen the pain.
"You okay? Seriously?" Tom had a weird expression.
"Where's the trainer holed up?" Tom asked
"Just outside of catering." Randy answered
"Okay. Thanks again for all your help and I will talk to Matt Ay-sap." Tom promised.
"Trainer... trainer... trainer's office...here we are." Tom entered.
"Tom Hardy... haven't seen you in a while." The trainer was arranging ice packs and heating bottles for the inevitable stiff muscles that would parade his way once the TV show began.
"Could you take a look at my shoulder. It feels weird." Tom said "I don't know how to describe it."
"Certainly. If you'll just take your shirt off and let me have a look."
Tom disrobed to the waist. The trainer took one look.
"You've lost a few stitches."
"What?" Tom asked
"I'd say maybe eight or nine at least. There's a six inch piece of skin just hanging there."
"Can you fix it?"
"Sure. Lie down and...what the hell?" The trainer had examined the rest of Tom's injuries.
"What's wrong?" Tom asked
"What the hell did they sew you up with... yarn! You're losing stitches all over the place!"
"Well, it's been over a week. They should be coming out soon."
"Coming not, not dissolving. You're lucky the skin has fused except for this one spot." The trainer clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"I guess I should've gotten the hundred-year instead of just the thirty-five year warranty." Tom answered. It felt good to be able to crack jokes again.
"Just hold still and I'll take care of this." Still clicking, the trainer began to repair the damage.
While he waited, Tom texted Matt. It took him about twenty minutes, because every time the trainer pulled a stitch tight, Tom tensed and his fat fingers hit the wrong button, plus Tom was not much of a text messager.
"I hope this works." Tom hit send.
Matt was relaxing by the hotel pool, watching Jeff do Swantons and corkscrews off the diving board when he received Tom's message.
"CALL ORTON RE RETURN. I THINK HE LIKES YOU, LOL. "
Matt felt the heat go straight to his face. He read the message several times, wondering if Tom knew how much he hoped the LOL was accurate.
"Watch me, Matty!" Jeff shouted, executing a perfect "Whisper in the Wind" into the pool.
Matt was too caught up staring at the words on the screen to pay much attention to his brother. Jeff pouted when he came up out of the water. Unused to being ignored, he stomped over to him.
"Matty, you didn't watch me!" He put his hands on his hips and pouted.
"Huh, what... oh sorry. I got other things on my mind."
"Yeah, like this stupid thing." To Matt's horror, Jeff grabbed his phone and prepared to throw it into the pool.
"Jeffro, please don't."
"Something sexy on here?" Jeff saw the message. "Ooh," he squealed
"Jeff, it's not what you think." Matt collapsed into the deck chair, now completely embarrassed.
"I think my Matty has a crush!" To his relief, Jeff handed the phone back.
"I do not!" Matt shouted. "Orton and I are just friends."
"Hhmph." Jeff dropped into the chair beside his brother. "You lie about as well as you act. "
"Shut up." Matt retorted
"Matty!" It was rare that Matt spoke this way to his younger brother and Jeff hated it.
"I still getting over Jay. What makes you think I wanna jump back into a relationship?"
"That monster in your pants for one thing!" Jeff pointed "I guess it's good that we're alone."
"Fuck." Had there been people around, Matt would've been really embarrassed. As it was, he tucked it down the leg of his jeans and smiled.
"Matty, like I'm anyone to tell you about relationships." Jeff patted his brother's arm.
"So what do I do?" Matt asked
"Duh, call him. Find out where he's gonna be and ask him out. Sheesh, do I have to plan everything?"
"But what if he's not interested in me that way?"
"You'll never know unless you ask. Now are you gonna call him or do I hafta?" Jeff reached for the phone. Matt snatched it away.
"I'll call him later." Matt growled "He's probably in the ring right now or somethin'."
"Pussy." Jeff retorted
"Brat!"
"Horndog!"
"I'm gonna throw you back in the pool if you don't behave."
"Ooh, Matty wants to get me all wet." Jeff squeaked
"Why you little..." Matt lunged across the table. Jeff, still wet, was easily able to avoid Matt and the chase was on. It ended the way it usually did with Matt catching his younger brother.
Jeff clung to his brother for life as Matt walked out onto the diving board. He was fully dressed. His plans did not include swimming, but he was there to watch Jeff.
"Now let go of me so I can throw you in."
"No! Please! Matty! Let me go!" Jeff squirmed
"Okay." Since his clothes were already damp, Matt jumped, taking Jeff with him. They both came up for air at the same time.
"See what you did?" Matt tossed his soaked shirt onto the deck. "I'm all wet!" His shoes, socks, and pants as well as one other garment followed.
"Matty, are you... naked?" Jeff turned away. This was not the place for Matt to suddenly get all exhibitionist.
"Nobody here." Matt started doing laps. Every time he hit the end of the pool and somersaulted to swim back, Jeff saw just how nude he really was.
"What the hell." Jeff's swim trunks joined the pile of clothes and he started chasing after Matt. He caught up to him when Matt surfaced.
"Jeff, are you naked too?" The question was irrelevant when he felt something brush against his thigh. Since Jeff was treading water, Matt guessed it was something else.
"I felt overdressed." Jeff started doing the backstroke, giving Matt a clear view of his package.
Matt felt himself start to harden again. He growled, wishing Lita was still with him. She wasn't good for much else, except fucking. He'd never had to worry about unwanted erections when she was around. Memories of all the restaurant hand jobs and oral in airplane bathrooms that she'd given was enough to bring a smile to his face.
"Matty, stop looking at me like that. I'm a married man."
"Looking at you like what?" Matt replied
"Like you wanna ravage my tight ass." Jeff replied "Imma go in. It's getting dark out." He climbed out of the pool and put on his trunks.
"Good idea." Matt gathered his wet things and followed his brother inside, thinking about what Jeff had said. It wasn't a difficult thing to do... just one phone call. But if it wasn't so difficult, why did Matt's stomach do flips when Jeff suggested it?
"Only one way to figure this out..." Once they were back in their suite, Matt went into the bathroom. He stared at the blank display until his fingers complied with his mind and pressed the numbers, but he was still anxious.
"You gonna be in there all night?" Jeff banged on the door.
"Yes!" Matt shouted
"Well, hurry, I gotta piss."
"Fine." He closed the phone and opened the door. "It's all yours."
"Matty, what's goin' on?" Jeff pushed past his brother.
"Nothing, Jeffers, nothing is going on." Matt stuck the phone in his pocket. "Nothing at all."
TBC
Matt needs to get a set or he's gonna screw himself out of a possible relationship... looks like it might be up to the other two-thirds of Team Hardy to come to the rescue!