"I am NOT like Juvi and Evan," Rey thought to himself the next morning. He
had been obsessing over Billy's allegations ever since their conversation
last night. He had lost a lot of sleep over them, too, while Billy snoozed
soundly in the next bed. The bastard.
Rey had to concede that having Nathan hurt Matt might have been going a little too far. Stephanie hadn't yet rendered judgment over whether to send Nathan to developmental for a while and the Latino felt guilty for involving him in his plans. But that still didn't mean he was as bad as Shannon's two former stalkers. He sighed as he entered the hotel gym. It would be a very early workout, but seeing as he couldn't sleep, he might as well make use of his time. He stopped short when he noticed a figure hunched over the weight bench, deep in thought.
Shannon apparently hadn't heard anyone open the door. He was adjusting the weights on the machine slowly, as if his mind was on something else. Rey's first instinct was to quietly approach the blond and make another move on him. But Billy's words still rang in his ears and he silently wondered if pursuing Shannon had caused the younger man further grief in his already complicated life. Weighing his options, he suddenly found it was too late to make a choice. Shannon had turned and looked up at him, his expression immediately becoming guarded. He straightened and took a step back, making Rey wince inwardly. When had he become so reviled by this young man? He knew though that he deserved Shannon's reaction.
Sighing and moving slowly so as not to scare the blond further, Rey moved into the room and let the door shut behind him. Shannon's eyes widened slightly but he stood his ground.
"I'm not going to torture you," Rey said breaking the silence.
"Uh huh," Shannon replied doubtfully.
"I mean it," the Latino said. "I'm really not."
"And I should believe this why?"
Rey sighed again. How did he go about apologizing for his behavior in recent weeks. He still felt something for Shannon, but he knew the young blond would never feel anything romantic for him. Especially after everything he'd put him through.
"You have no reason to," Rey nodded. "But I'd still like you to."
"No offense, Rey, but our track record on trust issues sucks," Shannon said raising an eyebrow. "And one of my best friends took the brunt of it last night."
"I know," Rey's cheeks reddened. "That's one of the reasons I can't sleep. I can't believe I let this go so far."
"I'll be sure I tell Matt," Shannon said dryly, moving to collect his things.
"Don't let me chase you out," Rey said sadly. Shannon shot him a sarcastic glance. "No, I mean it. I'll go if it'll make you feel better."
"I was done anyways," the blond replied.
"Shannon, please," Rey tried. "I'm really, really sorry about everything. I know I've been a bastard to you."
"You figure that out on your own?"
"No, it was pointed out to me last night," Rey said looking down. "I've become no better than those other pricks who were after you."
"Yeah, well, no argument there," Shannon muttered. "At least I forgot about them for a while."
"You should forget about them permanently," Rey insisted looking back up into Shannon's green eyes.
"I would, but every time I do, they show up again."
"They won't show up again," Rey said confidently. "Trust me on that at least."
"They won't, huh?" Shannon looked doubtful again. "How do you know that for sure?"
"Because I told them if they ever tried to violate you again I would end their careers."
"You did?" Shannon exclaimed, his eyes widened in surprise. "When? Why? Oh, I think I know why. You wanted me for yourself."
"That's not why I did it, essa," Rey said, trying to explain. "What they did to you made me sick. You're essentially an innocent in this business, Shannon. My instinct was to protect you and avenge what happened. My interest just turned bad, that's all. When Billy told me I was turning into Evan last night, I knew he was right."
"Billy said that?"
Rey nodded sullenly.
"So, he's not planning to hurt Matt further?"
"Billy says he doesn't want to go down that road anymore," Rey shrugged. "That if Shane can't love him for being him, he wouldn't try manipulation. It wasn't meant to be."
"For what it's worth," Shannon sighed. "Thanks for threatening Evan and Juvi for me."
"I wasn't alone," Rey smirked. "Chavo helped me. And when Eddie found out what Chavo was going to do, he jumped in."
"Los Guerreros got in on it?"
"Juvi has been giving us Latinos a bad name," Rey smiled. "Eddie hates that shit."
"I see," Shannon chuckled.
It was good to finally have a tension free conversation with the blond. Rey felt as if a demon had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Can I ask you something?" Shannon broke Rey's thoughts. He turned to the blond and nodded. "Why do you go out with guys when you so obviously love Angie?"
Rey bristled for a moment He hated analyzing this part of himself, but he knew he owed Shannon an answer. Or at least a theory.
"I'm not sure myself," he began slowly. "I've tried to stop a few times. Angie is wonderful and I love her very, very much. But I can't get everything I need from her."
"What happens if you find a guy," Shannon began looking furtively around the room. "A willing guy and he gives you everything you need?"
"That won't happen," Rey grinned. "She gives me things I can't get from guys."
"So you're hopelessly bi?"
"It seems that way."
"What if she finds out?"
Rey was quiet for a moment, studying his hands. It made him sad to think of his wife's plight, but he couldn't control himself. He looked up at Shannon's expectant gaze and shrugged. "She knows," he said simply. "We've never directly discussed it, but she's made it clear in subtle ways that she knows. I'm sure it bothers her, but she doesn't say anything about it."
"Well, that explains part of it, doesn't it?" Shannon smiled.
"What?"
"She has to love you a lot to know about this and not make a fuss."
Rey shrugged again, but inwardly he felt good. Angie must love him a great deal and he loved her, too. He probably would never be able to give up dating men, but it was good to know he wasn't lying to her.
************************
"Shannon?" Jeff called out nervously. He'd just woken to an empty bed and noted the dark bathroom. He got up to search it anyway. Where could the blond be? He hoped he wasn't being preyed upon. That damned Mysterio could be anywhere.
The click of the door gave him a start and he was relieved when Shannon walked into the room.
"There you are," he said gathering the blond against him. "What did I tell you about going off on your own?"
"I'm fine," Shannon muttered, annoyed.
Jeff smirked behind his back as he held him tighter. There was nothing cuter than a peeved Shannon Moore. He'd never admit that to his lover, but it was true. He pulled away and examined the younger man carefully to make sure everything was okay.
"I said I was fine," Shannon rolled his eyes and put his duffle bag down in the corner. His hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, which he'd just reached up to release and Jeff watched in fascination as the blond hair spilled out and brushed against Shannon's shoulders.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you," Jeff said neutrally. But his eyes were still on Shannon's hair. And his now-bare chest, as Shannon was slowly stripping for an after workout shower.
"Well, I did bump into Rey," Shannon admitted.
"What?!"
"Take it easy," Shannon said sternly. "He wasn't after me and I CAN take care of myself now and then. I am a professional wrestler, you know."
Jeff's raised an eyebrow in irritation and flopped down on the end of the bed. "Talk," he demanded, crossing his arms. "Now."
"Not much to say really," Shannon shrugged. "He's sorry for things going so far and won't be bothering me again."
"Pfft," Jeff replied.
"I believe him," Shannon said. "He said Billy told him they were becoming like Juvi and Evan."
Jeff could feel the rage begin to simmer inside of him at the very mention of those disgusting men. But he remained silent.
"I believe him," Shannon repeated glaring pointedly at Jeff. "And this means you can go back to work."
"No, it does NOT," Jeff growled. "I TOLD you I didn't just leave to protect you."
"But, Jeff, you're a huge star," Shannon whined. "You CAN'T just give that up."
"Watch me," Jeff glowered.
"Your career," Shannon approached him entreatingly. "I can't let you do that."
"If my career is meant to continue, it will be there when I'm ready," Jeff said with certainty. He knew he'd made the right decision on this.
"But I'm not that big a star," Shannon said. "Let me take the break for you."
Shannon still didn't get it and Jeff's heart was heavy at the thought. They'd always understood each other so well.
"Look, baby," Jeff said, pulling Shannon down onto the bed with him and spooning him from behind. "I'm just not as into wrestling as I used to be and it's a problem." He put a finger to Shannon's lips when he felt the blond would interrupt. "It's not your fault. And you will be as big a star as me. Maybe bigger."
Shannon squirmed and shook his head, which made Jeff laugh and kiss his ear.
"Yes," Jeff insisted. "You will. It's your turn now, baby. I just want to sit back and watch you shine."
"But I want to do that WITH you."
"Someday, I'll go back," Jeff whispered. "I promise. I just can't do it right now. I can't be away from you anymore and I want you to become the superstar I know you were meant to be. This is the right thing for me to do, baby. I promise you, I didn't come to this decision overnight."
"But, Jeff."
"No buts," Jeff smiled into Shannon's soft mane. "I need to be with you, baby. I need to FEEL you with me for a while. Not just one or two days every other week or so, but constantly."
Shannon was quiet for a while. Jeff had just started wondering if he'd fallen asleep when his voice broke the silence. "If you really feel you need to do this I'm behind you," Shannon said softly. "I love you, Jeff."
"I love you, too, Shannon."
************************
NOTE: Is that it? Not if you don't want it to be. I could bring it up to present in the next chapter and then update it when Jeff returns, if you like. Or I could leave it here, with our two favorites in our favorite place: bed. You all tell me what you want. In the mean time, I'm pondering my next pairing. Hmm . . . Shannon / Shane? Shannon / Matt? Hmmmm.
Rey had to concede that having Nathan hurt Matt might have been going a little too far. Stephanie hadn't yet rendered judgment over whether to send Nathan to developmental for a while and the Latino felt guilty for involving him in his plans. But that still didn't mean he was as bad as Shannon's two former stalkers. He sighed as he entered the hotel gym. It would be a very early workout, but seeing as he couldn't sleep, he might as well make use of his time. He stopped short when he noticed a figure hunched over the weight bench, deep in thought.
Shannon apparently hadn't heard anyone open the door. He was adjusting the weights on the machine slowly, as if his mind was on something else. Rey's first instinct was to quietly approach the blond and make another move on him. But Billy's words still rang in his ears and he silently wondered if pursuing Shannon had caused the younger man further grief in his already complicated life. Weighing his options, he suddenly found it was too late to make a choice. Shannon had turned and looked up at him, his expression immediately becoming guarded. He straightened and took a step back, making Rey wince inwardly. When had he become so reviled by this young man? He knew though that he deserved Shannon's reaction.
Sighing and moving slowly so as not to scare the blond further, Rey moved into the room and let the door shut behind him. Shannon's eyes widened slightly but he stood his ground.
"I'm not going to torture you," Rey said breaking the silence.
"Uh huh," Shannon replied doubtfully.
"I mean it," the Latino said. "I'm really not."
"And I should believe this why?"
Rey sighed again. How did he go about apologizing for his behavior in recent weeks. He still felt something for Shannon, but he knew the young blond would never feel anything romantic for him. Especially after everything he'd put him through.
"You have no reason to," Rey nodded. "But I'd still like you to."
"No offense, Rey, but our track record on trust issues sucks," Shannon said raising an eyebrow. "And one of my best friends took the brunt of it last night."
"I know," Rey's cheeks reddened. "That's one of the reasons I can't sleep. I can't believe I let this go so far."
"I'll be sure I tell Matt," Shannon said dryly, moving to collect his things.
"Don't let me chase you out," Rey said sadly. Shannon shot him a sarcastic glance. "No, I mean it. I'll go if it'll make you feel better."
"I was done anyways," the blond replied.
"Shannon, please," Rey tried. "I'm really, really sorry about everything. I know I've been a bastard to you."
"You figure that out on your own?"
"No, it was pointed out to me last night," Rey said looking down. "I've become no better than those other pricks who were after you."
"Yeah, well, no argument there," Shannon muttered. "At least I forgot about them for a while."
"You should forget about them permanently," Rey insisted looking back up into Shannon's green eyes.
"I would, but every time I do, they show up again."
"They won't show up again," Rey said confidently. "Trust me on that at least."
"They won't, huh?" Shannon looked doubtful again. "How do you know that for sure?"
"Because I told them if they ever tried to violate you again I would end their careers."
"You did?" Shannon exclaimed, his eyes widened in surprise. "When? Why? Oh, I think I know why. You wanted me for yourself."
"That's not why I did it, essa," Rey said, trying to explain. "What they did to you made me sick. You're essentially an innocent in this business, Shannon. My instinct was to protect you and avenge what happened. My interest just turned bad, that's all. When Billy told me I was turning into Evan last night, I knew he was right."
"Billy said that?"
Rey nodded sullenly.
"So, he's not planning to hurt Matt further?"
"Billy says he doesn't want to go down that road anymore," Rey shrugged. "That if Shane can't love him for being him, he wouldn't try manipulation. It wasn't meant to be."
"For what it's worth," Shannon sighed. "Thanks for threatening Evan and Juvi for me."
"I wasn't alone," Rey smirked. "Chavo helped me. And when Eddie found out what Chavo was going to do, he jumped in."
"Los Guerreros got in on it?"
"Juvi has been giving us Latinos a bad name," Rey smiled. "Eddie hates that shit."
"I see," Shannon chuckled.
It was good to finally have a tension free conversation with the blond. Rey felt as if a demon had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Can I ask you something?" Shannon broke Rey's thoughts. He turned to the blond and nodded. "Why do you go out with guys when you so obviously love Angie?"
Rey bristled for a moment He hated analyzing this part of himself, but he knew he owed Shannon an answer. Or at least a theory.
"I'm not sure myself," he began slowly. "I've tried to stop a few times. Angie is wonderful and I love her very, very much. But I can't get everything I need from her."
"What happens if you find a guy," Shannon began looking furtively around the room. "A willing guy and he gives you everything you need?"
"That won't happen," Rey grinned. "She gives me things I can't get from guys."
"So you're hopelessly bi?"
"It seems that way."
"What if she finds out?"
Rey was quiet for a moment, studying his hands. It made him sad to think of his wife's plight, but he couldn't control himself. He looked up at Shannon's expectant gaze and shrugged. "She knows," he said simply. "We've never directly discussed it, but she's made it clear in subtle ways that she knows. I'm sure it bothers her, but she doesn't say anything about it."
"Well, that explains part of it, doesn't it?" Shannon smiled.
"What?"
"She has to love you a lot to know about this and not make a fuss."
Rey shrugged again, but inwardly he felt good. Angie must love him a great deal and he loved her, too. He probably would never be able to give up dating men, but it was good to know he wasn't lying to her.
************************
"Shannon?" Jeff called out nervously. He'd just woken to an empty bed and noted the dark bathroom. He got up to search it anyway. Where could the blond be? He hoped he wasn't being preyed upon. That damned Mysterio could be anywhere.
The click of the door gave him a start and he was relieved when Shannon walked into the room.
"There you are," he said gathering the blond against him. "What did I tell you about going off on your own?"
"I'm fine," Shannon muttered, annoyed.
Jeff smirked behind his back as he held him tighter. There was nothing cuter than a peeved Shannon Moore. He'd never admit that to his lover, but it was true. He pulled away and examined the younger man carefully to make sure everything was okay.
"I said I was fine," Shannon rolled his eyes and put his duffle bag down in the corner. His hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, which he'd just reached up to release and Jeff watched in fascination as the blond hair spilled out and brushed against Shannon's shoulders.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you," Jeff said neutrally. But his eyes were still on Shannon's hair. And his now-bare chest, as Shannon was slowly stripping for an after workout shower.
"Well, I did bump into Rey," Shannon admitted.
"What?!"
"Take it easy," Shannon said sternly. "He wasn't after me and I CAN take care of myself now and then. I am a professional wrestler, you know."
Jeff's raised an eyebrow in irritation and flopped down on the end of the bed. "Talk," he demanded, crossing his arms. "Now."
"Not much to say really," Shannon shrugged. "He's sorry for things going so far and won't be bothering me again."
"Pfft," Jeff replied.
"I believe him," Shannon said. "He said Billy told him they were becoming like Juvi and Evan."
Jeff could feel the rage begin to simmer inside of him at the very mention of those disgusting men. But he remained silent.
"I believe him," Shannon repeated glaring pointedly at Jeff. "And this means you can go back to work."
"No, it does NOT," Jeff growled. "I TOLD you I didn't just leave to protect you."
"But, Jeff, you're a huge star," Shannon whined. "You CAN'T just give that up."
"Watch me," Jeff glowered.
"Your career," Shannon approached him entreatingly. "I can't let you do that."
"If my career is meant to continue, it will be there when I'm ready," Jeff said with certainty. He knew he'd made the right decision on this.
"But I'm not that big a star," Shannon said. "Let me take the break for you."
Shannon still didn't get it and Jeff's heart was heavy at the thought. They'd always understood each other so well.
"Look, baby," Jeff said, pulling Shannon down onto the bed with him and spooning him from behind. "I'm just not as into wrestling as I used to be and it's a problem." He put a finger to Shannon's lips when he felt the blond would interrupt. "It's not your fault. And you will be as big a star as me. Maybe bigger."
Shannon squirmed and shook his head, which made Jeff laugh and kiss his ear.
"Yes," Jeff insisted. "You will. It's your turn now, baby. I just want to sit back and watch you shine."
"But I want to do that WITH you."
"Someday, I'll go back," Jeff whispered. "I promise. I just can't do it right now. I can't be away from you anymore and I want you to become the superstar I know you were meant to be. This is the right thing for me to do, baby. I promise you, I didn't come to this decision overnight."
"But, Jeff."
"No buts," Jeff smiled into Shannon's soft mane. "I need to be with you, baby. I need to FEEL you with me for a while. Not just one or two days every other week or so, but constantly."
Shannon was quiet for a while. Jeff had just started wondering if he'd fallen asleep when his voice broke the silence. "If you really feel you need to do this I'm behind you," Shannon said softly. "I love you, Jeff."
"I love you, too, Shannon."
************************
NOTE: Is that it? Not if you don't want it to be. I could bring it up to present in the next chapter and then update it when Jeff returns, if you like. Or I could leave it here, with our two favorites in our favorite place: bed. You all tell me what you want. In the mean time, I'm pondering my next pairing. Hmm . . . Shannon / Shane? Shannon / Matt? Hmmmm.