Part 7

The silence that settled over the booth was suffocating. Fidgeting against at the stifling silence, Alex finally cracked and glaring over at Mike, he asked hoarsely, "Do you really think I'm like him?"

Mike didn't look up. The former champion hadn't looked up since the veterans had left the booth over ten minutes ago.

When he didn't get a reply Alex sighed and without meaning to, he snapped, "For fuck sake you started this! The least you can do is talk to me," he paused then hissed angrily, "Or did this really mean nothing to you?"

That got a response.

Mike's head shot up and he stared at Alex, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He looked close to losing it. His lip quivered and in a voice thick with tears he hissed, "Don't you dare say that to me! You know how much this... how much we means to me. I..." Mike's voice cracked and for a moment he looked like he was on the verge of tears. Slumping back against the booth he stared at Alex before rasping, "When we got together during Nxt when you said yes when…" he gave a snarled sniff growling, "When you hugged me, when you congratulated me on winning the belt… I…" he closed his eyes, confessing brokenly, "You have no idea how much it meant to me."

"Then why are you pushing me away?" demanded Alex leaning forward. He was itching to touch Mike, to hold his hand, to do something that gave him contact with the man he loved but he couldn't, he couldn't quite close the gap. A small angry little voice kept reverberating in his head repeating over and over again reminding him that Mike had asked him to throw away his push.

Mike gave a stifled sniff then tearing his gaze away from Alex to stare into space, he snapped, "Because I won't be used as a fucking stepping stone. I won't be…"

"I'm not using you," exclaimed Alex, throwing his hands up in despair.

"Mike please," he reached over stopping just short of touching Mike's hand that was resting on the table, "Do you think if I was using you I'd be this upset? If you meant nothing to me, if you were nothing more than a step on some bloody career ladder do you think I would be tearing myself apart every time we have to fight? Would it break my heart every time I made you look weak? This feud is ripping me apart. You have no idea how conflicted I feel right now. I'm getting a push – a god-damn push. This time last year I was nothing and now, now I've got entire stadiums chanting my name but you know what? That doesn't really matter when the man I adore, when the man I fell head over heels in love with, thinks I'm nothing more than a re-make of the previous bastard he had the misfortune of dating."

He paused, bowing his head as he tried to reign in his emotions. Taking a deep, ragged breath he suddenly asked, "Do you think Morrison lost sleep when you two were split up by the draft? Do you? Because I did. When I was first drafted to Smackdown and then when this whole feud angle started – I couldn't sleep, Mike. I didn't sleep because it was ripping me apart. When I got told what the storyline would involve I knew it would be hard, I knew it would be the hardest thing I ever had to do professionally," he took another deep breath confessing bitterly, "I just never thought it would hurt this much. Because you know you comparing me to that bastard hurts more than any physical blows you've ever landed on me. That really fucking hurts, Mike…" his voice gave out on him crack with too much motions to allow words to form.

He pulled back and, running a hand over his face, he swore softly when he realised his cheeks were wet. Cursing at his lack of control over his own emotions, he huffed bitterly, "For fuck sake - you're reducing me to tears in the middle of a public bar and you still have the nerve to say I'm just using you. To question how much you mean to me? Well fuck you!" He drew in another ragged breath and without realising what he was doing, he stared to move out of the booth. It was only the hand on his sleeve that made him stop. That made him look up and when he did, the sight that met his eyes ripped his already broken heart apart even more.

X x x x x x x x x x

"How are they doing?" rumbled Randy rolling out his neck.

"Well they haven't killed each other," sighed John leaning on the bar.

He was watching the two younger men via the back mirror on the bar. Even through the distorted glass he could see the two of them and while it looked like they were arguing so far they'd kept it seemingly civil. He was about to say something else when the door marked private was suddenly yanked open and a rather irate looking Evan stormed through. Seeing John and Randy at the bar he walked over to them and, without speaking, he grabbed Randy's beer and downed it.

Exchanging surprised looks it was John who dared asked, "Something wrong?"

"No," snarled Evan signalling for another round from the other barman, "No why shoulder anything be wrong. I mean its lovely when you're fucking a guy and in-between cries of oh god this so good he asks if you can get him Randy fucking Orton's autograph."

John stared at him a moment then unable to stop himself he burst out laughing. Draped over the bar he missed the twins glares the St Louise boys were throwing him. It was only the hissed comment, "Keep laughing and you're on the couch for a month" that Randy growled in his ear that made him even try and hold the laughter in.

Glowering at his still chuckling lover, Randy looked at Evan for a moment before asking hoarsely, "Are you serious? He really...while you two were...Jesus Christ." Then before the other two could even move he was storming towards the private door, determined to give the barman something more than an autograph as a souvenir.

Thankfully John, who was long used to dealing with a suddenly irate Randy, caught his arm halting his progress as he soothed, "Easy anger-boy. Come on, that little barfly isn't worth a fine or even worse a suspension."

He didn't back down when Randy glared at him. If anything he stepped up to the glare, offering one of his own back. Moving closer until they were standing nose to nose, staring straight into each other's eyes. A silent war of wills raging visibly between them.

It was only the amused cough from beside them that broke the staring contest and when they glanced around, they realised it was Evan who had interrupted them. He was now perched on one of the vacated bar stools, chuckling to himself and shaking his head in apparent amusement.

"You two are so married," he teased. He squeaked in surprise and grabbed hold of the bar as John aimed a playful swipe at him, nearly knocking him off his chosen stool.

Ignoring the comment Randy growled, "I'm still going that bastard a piece of my mind. I mean how dare he! Doesn't he realise how lucky he is to have you fucking him?"

The intense silence that followed made Randy blush and dropping his gaze a moment he glanced back up to find John glaring at him, hand on his hips.

"Something you wanna tell me, Ortz?" asked his seemingly annoyed lover.

"No, and you know it," snapped Randy.

He happened to look up just at the right moment to see Alex sliding out of the booth. The younger man looked awful. Even from the other side of the bar, Randy could see the emotions plastered over his face. Brushing past John with a soft, "You know there's no one else for me," he headed straight for the other couple, determined not to let either man escape before the situation was sorted out once and for all.

X x x x x x x x x x x

Rubbing his face with his hands Alex looked up in time to see Randy heading for him. Sighing he held a hand out calling, "Don't worry I'm not gonna do something stupid. I'm just going to go."

Randy cocked an eyebrow but didn't reply. Instead he looked past Alex towards Mike who was slumped in the corner of the booth, looking younger and more broken than Randy had ever seen the outspoken start ever look. Flicking a glance at Alex then back at Mike, he sighed and rumbled, "What happened?"

Alex pursed his lips but didn't reply. Randy stared at him but when Alex simply held his gaze and refused to answer, he turned his attention to Mike, calling firmly, "Mike, I asked a question - what happened?"

Slowly Mike looked up and it was only then that Randy realised the other man was actually crying. Silent tears were falling down the former champs face and for even a hard heart bastard as Randy it was heart-breaking sight.

Shaking his head Randy sighed and counselled, "You need to work this out. Tonight." He added firmly when Alex took a few steps away. Grabbing Alex's forearm Randy pulled him closer. Leaning in he murmured something in Alex's ear, something that had the younger man jerking back in surprise, his eyes widening as he stared at the Viper. Randy gave him knowing smirk and glancing over his shoulder he called loudly, "Bourne – you ready to go back to the hotel?"

"Guess I am," sighed the high flier hopping of his stool. He flicked a look at Jesse who was back behind the bar, wiping glasses and gazing longingly at Evan whenever the high flyer's attention was elsewhere. His face was burning red with acute embarrassment, the blush deepening even more when Evan added pointedly, "Not like there's anything to keep me here."

"You mind making sure Alex gets back to the hotel safely?"

Evan frowned. He was Mike's friend, not Alex's. While he liked the other guy, he would rather spend the ride with Mike, comforting his friend. He was about to protest at the sudden babysitting duty when John leant over and hissed, "Say yes."

Evan frowned at him, the frown deepening when John flashed him a suspiciously happy grin. Taking a final longing glance at Jesses who had his back to him, Evan shrugged sadly dismissing yet another failed hook-up and called with fake brightness, "Sure why not." He padded over towards them and as he drew level he offered Alex a half smile chuckling, "Come on. I guess they figure you'll be less trouble to get back - that's why I'm babysitting you."

Alex bristled but didn't comment. He did glance over his shoulder and saw Mike watching him, the strangest look on his face, a half angry half longing look that confused the hell out of Alex. He watched as Randy leant down and murmured something in Evan's ear. From Evan's reaction, he figured it was the same comment Randy had hissed in his ear.

He gave a half chuckle at Evan's little yelp of surprise, the high flyer staring up at Randy like he'd lost his mind. Then with a massive grin Evan nodded and shooting a quick salute at John he called, cheerfully, "Come on Alex lets got get a cab home." He stated to walk away, pausing at the main door, waiting for Alex to catch him up. Letting the bigger man go first Evan aught his arm and murmured, "Don't worry by the twin those two finish with him everything will be alright."

Alex stared down at him a few moments before asking softly, "But what if fails? What if their plan…"

"One thing I learnt a long time again," chuckled Evan, ushering Alex towards the cab rank, the high flyer bouncing with renewed energy, "Is that when those two gang up on you - you're doomed. Trust me. By the end of tonight this will all be sorted. One way or another"

TBC