Part Two
Hunter thanked whatever divine spirit that was responsible for their safe arrival to the hotel. Although Dwayne was usually a pretty safe driver, for some reason he couldn't keep his eyes on the road. He kept glancing back at him and Chris in the back seat and flashing him a smile every time Jericho snuggled closer to him. The man was turning into a menace. As they walked through the hotel doors, Hunter tried to come up with a plan of action until Linda got there in the morning.
"Chris shouldn't be alone," he said to Dwayne. "If some of the other guys found out about his condition, who knows what might happen to him."
"Yeah. They might really try to screw up his head... more than it already is..."
"So... I think one of us should stay with him tonight. That way we can keep him out of trouble."
"Good idea... You two have fun." Dwayne was about to walk away when Hunter pulled his arm back.
"Why do I have to stay with him?" he asked. "It looked like you two bonded a bit while I was on the phone. You should sleep with him."
"Say it a little louder, why doncha?! I don't think the bellhop heard ya! Besides, I'm seeing someone... It wouldn't look good for me to bring another man to my room."
"Whatever... Look... We'll flip for it."
"Fine." Dwayne pulled out a quarter. "I'll take tails."
"You would," Hunter mumbled.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that..." Dwayne flipped the coin. It came up heads. "Looks like you've got yourself a roommy!"
He pouted. "Fine... But you go upstairs and get his bags from his room."
"Sure... sure." Dwayne looked over Hunter's shoulder. "Umm... Looks like Chris has made some more friends..."
Hunter turned to see what he was looking at and almost choked on his gum. A few feet away was Chris sitting on a sofa with Matt and Jeff Hardy, chatting away like they were long lost chums. "Not good," Hunter said, rushing over to the others. Even though the Hardys were good guys, he didn't want it leaking out that Chris Jericho, The Living Legend, was slightly off his rocker and couldn't remember what he'd had for breakfast.
"Hey, guys," he said, trying to sound friendly in the face of danger. "How's everything?"
"Just great, Hunter," Chris replied, in his ever cheerful fashion. "Jeff says he's gonna dye my tips blue. I don't really care for the red. Maybe you should think of doing yours. Isn't Jeff's hair the coolest?"
"Umm... okay... Sure... We'd better get you to bed." He pulled Chris to his feet and tried to steer him towards to elevator.
"Hey, Hunter," Matt started, "what's the matter with Chris?"
He was trying to think of a reasonable response when Chris chirped in, "I have amnesia! I'm special, right Hunter?"
"Amnesia?" Jeff asked. "I thought that only happened on daytime television."
"Yeah, well, it's happening now. And this is hush hush.. So please don't tell anyone, okay guys?"
"Sure, Hunter," Matt said.
"You can count on us," Jeff added.
Hunter finally got Chris into the elevator. "You really shouldn't go talking to people you don't remember," he scolded.
Chris pouted. "But... Matt and Jeff were so nice. Jeff's gonna dye my hair and I was hopin I could hang out with him."
"Well, the Hardys are good guys. But not everybody here can be trusted if they found out about your condition. They might try to take advantage of you."
"Hunter... I never knew you cared so much!" Chris gave him a big hug. Afterwards, his arms lingered around Hunter's waist.
They stepped off the elevator and headed down the hall. Hunter spotted Dwayne standing outside the hotel room with Chris's luggage. When asked what took him so long, he just shook his head and unlocked the door. Chris and Dwayne helped bring the luggage inside.
As Dwayne lugged in the last bag, he saw Hunter standing in the middle of the room, his head hung down low. "What's the matter?" he asked, walking up to him.
"Bed..."
Dwayne laughed, seeing what his almost-relative was so upset about. Even though the room was large and wonderfully furnished, there was only one bed. "Well...," he started as he wiped a tear from his eye, "At least it's a big bed."
"Shut. Up." Hunter flopped down on the bed and buried his face in the pillows. Dwayne made some comment about leaving him and Chris along and meeting up with them in the morning. He was busy wondering what vengeful spirit was responsible for him having to room with and be held accountable for Chris Jericho. The sudden dip next to him indicated that Chris was on the bed too.
"Hunter?" Chris asked. "You okay?" He rubbed Hunter's back, his hand moving in small circles.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice slightly muffled. "I'm just a little tired."
He really wanted to say that the last time he shared a bed with anyone, it was with a conniving she-devil that kept her claws in him for so damn long she almost sapped away all his manhood. But he didn't want to sound bitter. Besides, what did he have to be bitter about? That his ex-wife wanted half of everything he had? That he was playing babysitter to one of the most egotistical guys he's ever met? A guy who doesn't even know that they were supposed to hate each other? After all, Chris still held a title that was rightfully his. Now was not the time to be nice and caring. He should be striking Jericho down to become the next champion. But Chris was just so damn nice! If only he would say something mean... Something insulting... That was sure to get his fighting instincts going.
It was pointless, anyway. He was really enjoying his backrub. Hell, Stephanie never rubbed his back. If she had, it never felt this good. He tried to remember the last time someone had done something nice for him. Not that he had really done anything to deserve a nice gesture. Sure, he got plenty of gestures. Usually the ones involving only one finger... But none of them were nice. He couldn't dwell on that matter for long. He had a job to do. He had to keep Jericho out of trouble until he could deliver him into Linda's hands in the morning.
He turned his head to one side and saw Chris staring at him. Their faces were inches apart. "What?"
"Nothing..." Chris smiled. "It's just that... You've got the cutest nose."
"Umm... Thank you..." He rolled off the bed and began searching through his bag. He was trying very hard to ignore the warm feeling spreading up his neck and over his face. Deciding that a cold shower was the only solution, he pulled out some clothes and his bathroom supplies. Seeing a World Wrestling Magazine at the bottom, he pulled it out and tossed it on the bed. After putting his bag back in order, he turned around and saw Chris flipping through the book. "It's the company magazine. Look through it. It's a few months old, but you still might remember something. I'm gonna grab a quick shower."
"Oh... Okay. Well, maybe I'll remember something by the time you come back out."