Title: Taking Chances (7/9)
Rating: R for adult themes
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?

Randy walked up to the room he'd shared with Hunter with a sense of resolve and purpose. He knew this wouldn't be easy, however Hunter reacted. However, he would have to continue working with the man, so he figured it would be best to deal with things like an adult, and as firmly as possible.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. He heard movement behind it and then it slowly swung open.

"Randy," Hunter smiled at him, "where have you been, I was worried about you."

"You know where I've been. I only came to get my stuff, and then I'm leaving again." It should have been easy to say, but Randy was finding it incredibly hard. Hunter looked so apologetic, so caring… it was almost like when they first started seeing each other.

"Don't go Randy. Please don't." Hunter made to touch Randy's good arm, but the younger man pulled it away.

"I can't take being with you any more Hunter. I'm going while I'm still capable." Randy began picking up his things and throwing them haphazardly into his case. It was difficult with his arm strapped up, but Randy wasn't thinking about that right now. All he wanted to do was leave, but the way Hunter was staring at him was unnerving. It was almost like he was sorry. However, that soon changed as Hunter saw that it was having no effect.

"You need me Randy, you'll be nothing without me."

That made Randy stop what he was doing and look up. He wanted to make some witty retort but there was something in his head, Hunter's voice, telling him that the older man was telling the truth. Much as Randy was trying to persuade himself otherwise, there was a little bit of him that believed Hunter.

A fleeting satisfied smile crossed Hunter's face, he knew he was getting somewhere, "just think of how much you've learned from me, and how much you still have to learn. Who got you a match with the Undertaker, who made sure you were in a championship match at the Royal Rumble?"

Something clicked for Randy when he saw that smile, and everything that he'd previously been confused about became clear. "You didn't do that for me, Hunter. You did it for your career. It's all about your career. You don't want me and you don't need me. If you cared for me you wouldn't have tried to end my career."

"I only wanted to hurt you the same way you hurt me. You have no idea what it's like to have someone take that title away from you."

"Yes I do," the anger in Randy's voice made Hunter stare in surprise. "You did the same thing to me, remember?"

"You weren't ready, you got too cocky… you put that title before me."

"And you did exactly the same to me. Only it was worse for me because I loved you and I would have done anything for you. And you knew that. You used me, and you used the fact that I loved you."

"How is your shoulder?"

The change of tack confused Randy, and he returned to packing his things. He didn't want to get caught up in one of Hunter's mind games. He didn't want to discuss anything with Hunter. He just wanted to get out of there. There were so many confusing thoughts and feelings in his head and his heart, he knew that the bravado he was showing would soon slip, and Hunter would take advantage of that.

Packing complete, he picked up his bag and turned towards the door.

"You'll return to me Randy. You need me. You're weak, you know deep inside that you are, you're just pretending to yourself that you're strong enough to do all this without me. You'll come crawling back, you're so weak and naïve."

"Goodbye Hunter." Randy walked out of the door. Slowly he walked to Chris' room, trying to fight Hunter's voice, trying to fight his own insecurity.

As he heard Chris' door close behind him, he leant back against it and allowed his choking sobs to take him over.