Originally written in February 2012
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to WWE. This is a work of fiction and I claim no knowledge of the actual events that went on in real life.

After RAW, February 13, 2012

After their segment on RAW, Shawn had retreated to Hunter's "office". Well, private dressing room with a small desk was more like it. There were a few notes strewn about next to tonight's script, but for the most part everything was in perfect order. Shawn couldn't help but smile about that. Some things never changed. He'd always been the one to turn every shared hotel room, every shared locker room into a mess within minutes. He'd stopped counting the times that had driven Hunter nuts. Which had sometimes made him do it on purpose just to annoy his friend a little.

It was hard to believe that it had been almost two years already since he retired. Whenever he came back for a night, it didn't seem that long. Nothing ever changed much, except for the fact that there were more new faces every time and fewer old ones he knew. Some of those new faces stared in awe and you could tell they were itching to ask for an autograph, if only that didn't come across unprofessional, even as a rookie. Those he still knew always came up to him for a chat, asking how he was, the usual.

He hated to admit it, but part of this… The arenas, the audience, the excitement to go out there and steal the show… All of that still felt so familiar, like home. He didn't miss it when he was gone, enjoying his life on the ranch, doing his hunting show – but when he was right there in that ring, it was hard to not remember how much he used to love every minute of that crazy ride that had been his wrestling career.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Hunter come in until he snapped his fingers right in front of his face. "Isn't it a little late for daydreaming, buddy?"

"I was just thinking…"

"Don't strain yourself."

"Very funny. Where would I be without your smart remarks?"

"Rabbit hunting on your ranch in the middle of nowhere because you're so bored?"

"Remember I've got lots of shooting experience thanks to those rabbits and they are much faster than you are – so be careful, my friend."

Shawn gave Hunter a serious look and Hunter tried his best to glare back at him, but it only took a second until they both burst out laughing.

Hunter was the first to catch his breath again. "See, that's why I miss having you around. Nobody dares to threaten my very livelihood but you."

"That's what friends are for, right?"

Hunter grabbed a bottle of water from the desk and sat down next to Shawn. "You were great out there tonight. I think involving you in this storyline will only add to the fans' excitement of where we'll take this. I can't wait to see how they'll react next week."

"Taker's gonna tell you that you know that I was always better than you, right?"

"You love that bit, don't you?"

"Sure, I do. But I can sympathize; I know the truth is painful, Hunner."

"You're impossible."

"I know." Shawn couldn't hide a smug grin.

"One way or the other, making this about you in some way will be a nice twist to the whole thing. I mean, I just basically told you in tonight's promo that you only want me to face Taker to feed your own ego, right? You couldn't get the job done yourself so now you want to live vicariously through me."

"It's a pretty good deal for me, isn't it? I get to sit around at home, eat cookies and be lazy and you have all the work to do and end the streak. No wonder Triple H doesn't want to do it and makes excuses. The Heartbreak Kid could've saved him a lot of trouble if he'd won that Career vs. Streak Match instead of retiring, huh?"

Shawn was surprised that despite their easy banter, Hunter's face turned a little more serious all of a sudden.

"You know, Shawn, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a while now…"

He wasn't quite sure where his friend was going with this, but just nodded at him to continue.

"I've always wondered why you didn't ask me."

"About what?"

"Your last match? Why Mark? When you decided you wanted to leave after WrestleMania and Vince asked you who you wanted to have your last Mania match against, not once did you throw my name into the mix."

"Hunner…"

"I'm not looking for an argument, Shawn. Really, I'm not. I just wondered, you know?"

And so had he for a while. Actually, his first instinct had been to ask Hunter to give him that last match because he knew that there was no one else he ever had as much chemistry in the ring with. They just clicked and created magic. Or so he'd been told – and he had to admit, there was some truth to it. But in the end, he had decided against it and went for his second choice. Not second best, he had too much respect for Mark to think of him like that, but Taker vs. HBK had never been his first choice. But how was he supposed to explain his reasoning behind that to his best friend? Back then he had been relieved Hunter hadn't brought it up. He should have known that it would only be a matter of time.

"It's silly. Forget about it. It doesn't matter and I shouldn't have asked."

He realized, he had been drifting off again with his thoughts so it wasn't a surprise that Hunter took his silence as him not wanting to talk about it.

"It's not. Sorry. I just… I'm not sure how to explain it to you."

"Just tell me. I'm a big boy, I can take it."

The small smile on Hunter's lips made it easier for Shawn, but he was still looking for the right words.

"There were a couple of reasons, you know? But what it comes down to is… Well…" He paused for a moment. "With you, it would've been too hard. I knew you'd give me the match of my life, but you know as well as I do that there'd be so much history involved, and I'm not just talking storylines here. I can't help but think that history might have kept us from delivering the awesome match everyone would have expected us to have."

Hunter was about to say something, but Shawn stopped him.

"No, let me finish. I'm also well aware that the very same history would have had the potential to make that match the best match of each of our careers. It would have been amazing to go out there, and tear the house down on the grandest stage of them all with you, one last time. But quite frankly, I really don't know if I would have been able to still walk away from all of it afterwards. Don't get me wrong, Mark gave me one heck of a farewell match – but with you, it would've been even more personal and it would've reminded me all the more of everything I loved in this business. So in the end, it was easier that way for me. And also for you, I think."

Hunter seemed to ponder Shawn's words for a while until he spoke. "I think I understand where you're coming from, even though I'm not sure I agree 100 percent. But I haven't been in those shoes yet and I'm not sure I'll ever make a decision as final as you did. You know me, I'm too involved in this business. But what makes you think it was also easier for me this way?"

"Oh come on, Hunner, I've known you for how long? I know how you are… You're always Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected. Don't you think I didn't notice that my decision to retire was secretly gnawing at you? You didn't say anything; you never do when you know it would only make stuff harder on me. But I wouldn't have been the only one overly emotional about this match – the fact that two years later you ask me about this only proves that, too. Don't even try to deny it. Neither of us would've ended up a sobbing mess on live TV, but… I think you get what I'm saying, don't you?"

"I do. I guess I just never looked at it that way." Hunter suddenly laughed, "Triple H and Shawn Michaels sobbing their eyes out during the main event of WrestleMania – that would've been quite the sight, though, wouldn't it?"

"The sappiest career ending in WrestleMania history."

"Bambi's mother dying would've had nothing on us."

"Exactly."

"So, choosing to face Taker was probably one of your smarter decisions, huh? …Not that you didn't totally ruin the tough guy demeanor the next night on RAW with your farewell speech anyway, but at least you spared me."

"Hey! Who cried like a chick while doing my induction speech at the Hall of Fame a year later?"

"Alright, alright… so let's just say we're even – and neither of us embarrassed himself at the biggest event of the year. That's something, right?"

"Right."

Hunter was still chuckling about the whole thing, when Shawn turned to him once more.

"Paul…" Hunter looked up, seemingly surprised at Shawn's rare use of his real name. "Just so you know… I really would've loved to have my last match with you. But in the end it doesn't matter much, does it? We've really had some of our best moments out there together, fighting side by side and against each other. And for that I'd like to thank you. It means a lot."

"The pleasure was mine, Showstopper. Always has been."

Shawn got up, but still couldn't help but smile. "Gee, let's get outta here, man. I got a feeling there must be something in this place that makes us all sentimental. So unlike us."

Hunter followed him. "Totally. If we keep going like this, we'll be declaring our undying love for each other any minute now. And wouldn't that be awkward in the morning?"

"It would. We'd never be able to get back to easy banter like this."

"Which would suck."

"Absolutely."

"We'd better run then…"

Hunter had already grabbed his bag and darted for the door and Shawn followed suit. Only in passing did he notice the odd glances they got for making a dash for the parking lot. Mostly from the rookies this time; the people in the back that Shawn had known for a long time were probably still used to their craziness and expected nothing less.

Yeah, some things really never changed, no matter for how long he was gone. And he wouldn't want it any other way.