February 10th, 2003 – After The Show

"Finally! I thought we'd never get away from those two!" Randy grinned as he slumped against the locker room wall, one arm leaning against the painted breezeblocks, the other folded over his forehead. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Ric and Triple H were trying to keep an eye on us all night. Just what we need! Our own personal stalkers!"

The show tonight had been so refreshing, so different; instead of concentrating on the matches at hand, the night had passed by in a blur, Orton and Batista spending the hours snatching glances at each other whenever Triple H and Ric Flair hadn't been looking. With every glance, Orton's cheeks had flushed a deep red and a shiver had run down Batista's spine, both of them excited by their newfound romance. At the end of the night, they'd climbed into the limo along with the rest of Evolution; but Batista had craved time alone with Randy and had made up some excuse about leaving part of his kit behind, which was how the pair of them had managed to escape Flair and Triple H.

"Maybe they noticed something was up." Batista smiled in return. "I mean, you didn't have to keep groping my leg in the limo."

"Like you wanted me to stop." Randy pushed himself away from the wall with a snicker and stepped closer to Batista, his eyes shining.

"A little subtlety wouldn't have gone amiss. They almost saw us."

"And that would have mattered why?"

"You haven't seen Triple H when he's jealous, have you?" Batista reached out and touched at Randy's skin, his fingers resting on the younger man's broad shoulders. "He likes to get all the attention, rookie, whether romantic or otherwise. If he knows I'm more important to you than he is, there'll be hell to pay."

"But they're bound to find out sometime, right?" Randy asked, a flicker of worry showing in his eyes. If nothing else, the young man found himself strangely proud of the bond he had formed with Batista; even though he was still unsure of himself, he wanted people to know about the relationship in the long run. It just felt right.

"I'm guessing they already know, or at least suspect something. Why else would they have followed us around like a pair of hawks? Don't worry about it, runt. What can they do about it, anyway? If they have a problem with it – if anyone ever gives you any trouble about it – send them to me, and it's me they'll have to answer to."

"Thanks, Batista." That, at least, was reassuring. Batista was big and strong, and pretty damn imposing when he wanted to be, as Randy already knew. He wouldn't put up with any shit from anyone. Even though Orton himself was no pushover, he felt so much safer knowing that the huge man was looking out for him.

"Dammit, this can wait, anyway. I'm starving. Do you wanna get some food?"

"Sure. What kind of thing were you thinking of?"

"Whatever you want. I'm so hungry right now, I could eat a Goldberg."

"Sure thing, squirt. I could eat a whole Big Show myself." Batista snickered and grabbed his jacket, leading Randy towards the door and the taxi rank. "And as for what I'll be having for dessert… we'll have to wait and see."

There weren't that many places open at three in the morning, so the couple settled on a fast food joint on the main road leading out of town, its near-vacant booths lit by the anaemic glow of neon strip lights. Their taxi pulled up alongside the menu outside, giving the two of them plenty of time to decide on their food before heading in to order. There were only a scattering of patrons inside, and if any of them did recognise the two wrestlers who walked up to the counter and ordered, they didn't show it. It took a few minutes for the food to arrive, and when it did, Batista took the tray and carried it over to a booth by the window so they could watch the cars drive by. Randy grabbed a few sachets of sauce, and a couple of napkins, then scuttled over to where Batista had chosen a seat.

The diner was neutral ground, and that suited Batista just fine. Despite Randy Orton's casual attitude, it was still clear that the younger man was nervous about their mutual attraction. It was almost as if he were over-compensating, putting on a bold front to disguise his inner uncertainty; Batista had seen plenty of people do that before, whether in a dating situation or otherwise. He had had plenty more life experience than the youthful rookie sitting opposite him, and he decided that it was far better to address the issue now than to let it fester between them. If he allowed Randy's discomfort to continue, it could cause problems, and he just wanted to be comfortable with the younger man, make him smile. For a few moments, though, the two of them were hungry enough to forget about conversation until their appetites had been sated; Batista wolfed down most of his burger before looking up at Randy, wiping his mouth on one of the napkins as he cleared his throat to speak.

"So. Randy. You've never dated a guy before."

"No." Randy's answer was curt, shy. "Have you?"

"No." Batista grinned as Randy's eyes widened, amused to see that the smaller man was surprised by his answer. "Not that I haven't looked. I mean, c'mon – do you really think I'd spend all that time in the dressing rooms just ignoring the guys around me? There's nothing wrong with appreciating what people have got."

"I… I guess not." Randy was blushing again, and had started to eat his burger as though he were trying to hide behind it. "I just thought… the way you came onto me like that… you seemed so experienced…"

"It's just confidence." Batista smirked and reached over to pat Randy on the shoulder. "Maybe I haven't been with guys before, but I've been with a few girls…"

"Are you saying I'm a girl?" Randy's head shot up, one eyebrow raised inquisitively.

"No, that's… oh, shit. No. That's not what I'm saying!" Batista stammered, attempting to cover up his mistake, but it was too late.

"Well, that's what it sounds like to me!" Randy continued, holding out one of his French Fries and gesticulating at his larger companion, putting on a gruff voice to imitate his partner. "Oh no, Randy, I've never dated a guy before, Randy, but I've dated lots of girls, because I am just so damned hot, and you're such a girl, Randy, you can't help but want me!"

"Now, hold on a minute here…"

Batista's stern reprimand – if there had been one on the way – was halted mid-sentence as his younger partner broke into a grin and started to giggle. The larger man frowned for a moment, taken aback by Randy's sudden laughter, then blushed in embarrassment as he realised the younger man had been joking all along. He wasn't offended after all. Batista shook his head in disbelief and carried on eating, letting Randy enjoy his victory for now. That was what he found so attractive in the young man, someone whose sense of humour and mental capacity matched his own; still, he'd have to pay for getting one over on him!

It had gone 4am before the two wrestlers made it to the hotel where they'd booked in for the night. Luckily, there was a 24-hour check-in, and Batistahanded the taxi driver a generous tip as one of the hotel staff hurried down togreet them. The large wrestler hauled his suitcase out of the trunk before helping Randy with his luggage, the two of them easily managing three bags between themselves as they strodeto the reception desk, where a bored and weary-looking receptionist glanced up at them with a distinct lack of interest.

"Hey." Batista nodded at the woman and indicated himself and Randy. "Is there a double room booked for the two of us? Under the name Bautista?"

Randy's eyes widened in shock as his tired brain registered what Batista had just said. A double room? They were going to share a room already? But they'd only just started dating! Did Batista really want to move that fast? Not that Randy would complain, but still – damn! That was some sex drive!

"No, I'm sorry, sir. I have a single room for a Mister. D. Bautista, and a single room for a Mister R. K. Orton. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, that's fine. I just thought there might have been some kind of mistake." Batista turned to the side and winked at Randy, a wicked grin on his face. He'd been messing around just to see what kind of reaction he'd get from his partner, just to see how Randy would act if the idea of sharing a bed with Batista was suddenly put into his head, and judging from the shocked look on Orton's face, the ruse had worked. Spluttering and cursing under his breath, Randy flushed a deep scarlet and grabbed his bag as the keys were handed over, Batista joining him to head up to their rooms.

"I swear, Batista, I am going to have to keep an eye on you." Randy growled at the larger man as they headed up in the elevator. "I seriously thought you were going to… well… y'know…"

"Not tonight, squirt. I think you need your beauty sleep." Batista smiled at the smaller man and patted him on the shoulder. "Right, this is my floor. Yours is the next one up. I'll see you at breakfast, okay?" He stepped closer, leaned over, and delivered a swift peck to Randy's cheek, a soft kiss which made the smaller man's skin burn, echoing the desires burning within him, making him sigh – then the elevator doors opened, and Batista was gone.

Randy heaved a lonely sigh, clutched at his doorkey, and made his way dreamily to his hotel room, tired and alone.