Title: Taking Chances (2?)
Rating: R for adult themes, or M, as FFN would have it.
Content: Slash, angsting, violence
Disclaimer: Don't own, please don't sue
Characters: Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, HHH
Summary: Randy's relationship with Hunter is complicated. Will Chris help him to see it more clearly, or will that just bring more complications?
Author's notes: Thanks for the lovely reviews so far. Still don't know where we're going, but I know we'll get there eventually.

"Chris, can I talk to you?" Randy looked around nervously. He wanted to talk to Chris about what he'd said the other night, but he didn't want Hunter to know what he was doing.

"Sure," Chris was pleased, but could sense Randy's discomfort. He nodded towards his locker room, "OK in there?"

Randy nodded and followed the Canadian into the room. He relaxed a little as he heard the door slam shut.

"I was thinking about what you said."

"I hoped you would."

"I don't have long, Hunt's in a meeting for about an hour. He'll wonder where I've been."

"Has he always been this controlling of you?"

"No... well, he always warned me that people would try to take advantage," Chris could understand that, there were a lot of people who could only be described as mercenary. He also recognised that Randy had failed to see that the most mercenary of them all was Hunter. "Then, when I got back with him... he said he couldn't trust me. So he likes to know where I am."

Chris just stared at Randy, willing him to see how wrong this situation was. Willing him to see that it was Hunter's fault that he was so miserable. Randy shifted uncomfortably, and attempted to change the subject. "From the way you spoke... I know you have a history with Hunter. I'm guessing that you think I shouldn't be with him... I just don't get why."

"I do have a history with Hunter, and I'm not the only one," Chris sighed. "That's how I can look at you and know that you're going down the same road I went down. I was lucky. I got out before he went too far."

"Will you tell me about it?" Randy was timid in his question, for he could see by the dark shadow that crossed Chris' face that it was a time and place he didn't like revisiting.

"One day."

Randy nodded. Chris' voice was so firm, he knew not to argue.

"When you two got back together after the Royal Rumble, what changed?" Chris diverted the subject back onto Randy.

"I'd changed."

"I don't think so."

Randy looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"When you and Hunter split the first time round, you went off the rails, yeah?" Randy grimaced and nodded. "You did some stuff and I know you regretted it, but you were pretty much on self destruct mode, right?" He took the younger man's silence as assent. "You were still the same Randy, but you were unhappy and looking for a way out."

"I wanted Hunter back."

"But you were still the same person underneath. You hadn't changed. You just lost your focus on what was really important to you. I bet Hunter told you that you'd lost your fire, that you had wasted your talent, that the only way you'd get anywhere would be with him. I bet he said that he didn't believe that you loved him and you had to prove it. And I bet it was him that suggested that you lay down for him at the Royal Rumble." Chris put his hand on Randy's shoulder. He figured the young man needed the comfort right now.

"How do you know all this?"

"I know Hunter." Chris decided to continue. He knew Randy didn't really want to hear this, but he was right so far. "I bet that since the Royal Rumble, he's been doubting your love for him. I bet he's been asking you to prove yourself to him over and over, each time hurting you in a different way and each time destroying a little more of you. I bet he's asked you to do things that you hate, but you do them anyway because you're scared. Not scared of losing him, scared of being alone. You've taken into account everything he said about other people, and although you're right to be wary, you have to trust someone. Because if you stay with him, you'll burn out."

"I love him. He loves me." It sounded almost like a mantra. As if Randy thought that if he repeated it often enough, he might one day believe it was true.

"That doesn't mean what's happening is right."

"I know."

The admittance was a small triumph for Chris. "So if you know that what he's doing isn't right, why do you stay?"

"Because staying is easier. Leaving takes a strength I don't have at the moment."

"You are strong enough Randy. He's just worn you down so much you don't believe in yourself any more."

"I did try fighting back, once."

Chris cringed, he could guess what happened. He took a deep breath. "That is exactly why you have to get away. You can't live in fear of him."

"I know, I know." Randy turned away and kicked the wall in frustration. "I love him, and I hate him, I need him, but I wonder how life would be on my own. I thought I could handle all this on my own, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but ever since we talked last, I've laid awake at night wondering about what I could have done, what could be changed."

"He'll change you Randy, he'll destroy you so that he can control you."

"I'm not ready to leave him, I think about it every night, but I can't."

"So..."

"I'm thinking about it, honestly I am. And I will. I know... I have to."

"And until you do?"

Randy bit his lover lip nervously, "Until then... can I still talk to you about it? You help me make sense of things. See things more clearly."

Chris nodded. It was a start at least.

"Thanks." Randy looked at his watch, "look, I have to go, Hunt'll be looking for me. Thank you Chris."

"Anytime."

As Randy left the room Chris sat down and put his head in his hands. He so desparately wanted to help the poor kid, but now he was afraid that it was too late.