Sorry about this chapter being up so late... I had no internet access last week .. I was a deprived individual, but I'm back.. whoo? :P

I own nothing.. and I just wanted to thank all of the people who reviewed my last chapter.
.. you guys had me cracking up with some of those reviews.. XD ( I was tempted to use Al Snow.. I really.. REALLY was. XD )

So here's hoping you guys enjoy.. and since I'm starting school on Tuesday, the next chapter will probably take a few days to be written.. Just giving a heads up. :P

In a wrestling arena on a lone Monday night, staff workers scurried along the halls, Eric Bischoff went about firing people, Triple H was intimidating a poor, new rookie, while other wrestlers were getting into fights about which locker room was theirs. Next to the arena entrance, two men sat next to each other, each on a steel folding chair, and each holding a newspaper high enough to cover both of their faces. They were in "disguise", as the older of the two had put it - yet how one couldn't guess that the sparkly ring tights belonged to one Chris Jericho, Randy didn't dare to mention.

All in all, it seemed to be just another regular Monday night, Randy concluded, as he and Chris whispered secretively to each other behind their newspapers.

"So you go up to her, turn on some charm, and she melts in your arms and agrees to dump that Al guy for you, and you two run off and live happily ever after.. madly in love for years to come.."

"That doesn't sound like a nightmare to me."

"You know Rundo, sometimes your stupidity amazes me. It was OBVIOUSLY a nightmare!" Chris scoffed. "You and Stephanie.. please.."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Randy asked indignantly. "And since when am I Rundo?"

"Shh, I think that's her." Chris hissed, and they both once again raised their newspapers. Randy snuck a peek beside his newspaper, only to see Mae Young walk in.

"Is it her?" Chris asked, while he held the newspaper three inches away from his face.

"Nope.. but it's your old love interest."

"Trish." The Canadian instinctively stated, lowering his newspaper, only to see Mae Young glancing in his direction. A look of horror crossed his face and he immediately raised his newspaper again.

"Isn't she the next best thing?" Randy asked, laughing. Chris sneered at him.

"You're not funny, Rundo."

"Aww man, and here I was hoping I was." He said in a mock hurt tone, which made Chris snicker. "Oh, there goes Lita. She's not with Kane.. I guess that means you can go talk to --" He was rudely interrupted when Chris practically smacked him in the face with his newspaper as he got up and headed over to the redhead.

"Jackass!" Randy cried out after him. Chris heard him, of course, but paid him no mind.

Payback for the stupid Mae Young comment.

"Hey Lita, wait up!" He called out, making her turn to face him. "Geez, walking so fast.. Kane's not around, is he?" He said when he caught up to her. She snickered.

"No.. he's off, who knows where."

"Well," The Canadian said smugly, "It wouldn't matter, because I'll beat his ass like I used to do back in the day." Lita sighed heavily, making him frown. "What's the matter?" He asked, as they started walking together down the hallways.

"Eric Bischoff's giving Kane the opportunity to face whoever he wants at Unforgiven.. it's a wedding gift." She sneered in disgust. "And he's probably going to put Matt's name on there.. or maybe he'll be a coward and put someone else's name."

"So it's like an open contract? Well, I would take the spot babe, but I want Edge that night.. otherwise it'd be on."

"Yes.. you tell yourself that, Chris."

"But seriously.. you should just write someone's name on there."

"Yeah? Like who's? Matt's not going to be ready in time."

"Kane's put other people on the shelf besides Matt.."

She smirked as she realized what he was getting at. "Well.. enough about that.. what's the story with Stephanie? Have you unleashed your super fool-proof ultimate plan on her yet?"

"No.. not yet. I told you, I can't unleash that too soon." He paused, scowling. "She has a boyfriend." He mumbled.

"Ouch."

"Yeah, that's putting it mildly." He said sarcastically. "And his name is Al."

"What does his name have to do with it?" She asked, confused.

Chris growled in frustration. "Why must everyone ask me that? First Rundo, and now you. The name has everything to do with it!"

"Rundo?"

"Rundo."

"... Rundo? Who the hell is Rundo?"

"The champion! Have you not been keeping up or something?" Chris demanded angrily, while Lita burst out laughing.

"Rundo.. sounds like a laundry detergent."

He was about to respond when he spotted a familiar person walking around the corner of one of the hallways. The sight made him stop walking and lose his train of thought altogether. Lita stopped next to him, looking at him curiously, before following his line of sight to an all-too-familiar person that her friend was always obsessing over.

Only this time, the young Stephanie McMahon was not alone.

The sight was nothing short of sickening to Chris Jericho. It at the very least put to rest to small yet nagging fear he had carried the entire week that she was going out with the idiotic Al Snow. After all.. she hadn't specified which Al.

He sneered involuntarily as he studied the man holding Stephanie's hand who had to have been the famous Al. He sure didn't look like an Al, he concluded, giving the man a once over. He had a decent build, was probably an inch or two (at the most) taller than Chris, had short but very McMahon-looking brown hair. He was indeed a good looking man, clad in a tux that Vince himself probably wore at one time.

"Wow." Was all Lita could muster. "He's pretty handsome."

"He's not a bad looking guy," Chris shrugged, before his arrogant smirk crept on his face, "But he's got nothing on me. Excuse me Li, but I should go introduce myself."

"I'm just kind of low-key right now, you know.. trying to work back up to where I once was. That's basically the arrangement I had with my dad." Stephanie explained, as her boyfriend took in the surroundings. He was about to comment when a voice cut in from behind them.

"And you have always been one for arrangements, haven't you, Stephy baby?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes at Al before turning to face the Canadian that never seemed to stop smirking. This time, however, she was rewarded with a charming smile, before he extended his arms out to her.

"Can I get a hug?"

"Chris -"

"Pleeeaaase." He said, his smile turning to a pout as he completely ignored the man standing next to her. She sighed and did the only thing she could to get Chris to stop - giving him what he wanted. She stepped to him and wrapped her arms around him, not expecting the tight hug she got in return. He leaned back, picking her feet off the floor.

"Chris!" She clung tighter to him, making him laugh and put her back down as he let her go.

"That felt nice. I need more of those."

She was about to say something when they both heard the man next to them loudly clear his throat. Chris turned and made eye contact with him for the first time. He raised an eyebrow curiously, his blue eyes meeting the man's green eyes. Stephanie saw this and took the initiative.

"Chris, this is my boyfriend Al.. Al, this is Chris Jericho, a highly annoying friend of mine."

"Nice to meet you.. Al." Chris said, forcing the name out as he stuck his hand out for him to shake. Al readily took his hand and shook it in a firm grip.

"Nice to meet you too.. Chris." The Canadian ignored the friendly tone and almost smirked at the look of distrust in the man's eyes. Chris tightened his grip on Al's hand as they continued shaking.

Stephanie cleared her throat, and they both let go. She gave Chris a warning look, to which he answered with a shrug.

"So, how did you two meet?" Al asked. "You know.. just out of curiosity."

"We hated each other." They both answered at the same time. They exchanged amused looks, before Stephanie continued. "We have a lot of history."

"I've heard a lot about you." Al informed Chris, earning a curious and suspicious look from the Canadian. "I'm good friends with Christian.. known him for ages."

"Really? So have I, and I have never heard about you." Chris said mockingly. "Are you two.. really good friends? You know.."

"No!" Al said indignantly, looking at him in disgust. Again, Chris just shrugged. Al turned back to Stephanie and put an arm around her shoulders. "Anyways, it's been nice meeting and talking to you Chris."

"Likewise." Chris said, looking at Stephanie and smirking at her. "Whatcha got for me tonight, baby? Match, show, what?"

"Match for Heat.." At this, Al snickered. Chris looked at him, envisioning himself dragging Al by the stupid McMahon-do through barbed wire. That thought made him smile. ".. And you've got Edge on the highlight reel."

"Thank you darling, you always keep me posted. I'll see you later?" He asked, and she gave him a small smile.

"Always."

"The guy's a total loser. TOTAL.. and complete.. loser. She can't be going out with a loser.."

"Chris, you've been harping on this Al guy for almost an hour. She's just going out with him.. she's not married to him or anything."

"Ah Rundo.." Chris sighed. "To top it all off.. he's friends with Christian! I'm glad that loser is out.. I can't believe I ever hung out with him."

"I guess we both have had bad luck with friends." Randy said, frowning. "I didn't exactly pick the best guys to hang out with either." He mumbled, anger underlaying his words.

"Well, that was your dumbass fault." Randy scowled, still getting used to Chris and his sometimes blunt, and sometimes razor-sharp tongue. He had concluded that it depended on his mood. "You can't trust Triple H, kid. You should have figured that one out.. he only has two friends in his life."

"Batista and Flair, I know."

"No Rundo.. the title, and the sledgehammer." He shrugged, before crossing his arms over his chest. "You have one.. you should get the other."

"A sledgehammer?"

"Everyone needs a friend."

Only one name entered Chris Jericho's mind as he got his ass handed to him by his former best friend and tag team partner. Never mind the fact that he had put Christian out of action in the cage match they had had, oh so long ago.. or so it seemed to Chris. And never mind the fact that they had turned into bitter enemies after the whole ordeal with Trash Stratus. He also chose to ignore the fact that Christian was Edge's brother, Edge, the man that Chris wasn't the best of friends with either.

All of that completely forgotten, the last thought that ran through his mind before Christian nailed him with his own chair (besides cursing his ex-best friend for ruining such a freakin' expensive chair) was that come hell or high water, he was going to get Al back for this.

"I'm TELLING you Stephanie!" Chris snarled angrily, as he held an ice pack to his forehead and leaned gingerly back on her sofa. "He's an asshole! He deliberately made Christian go out there to attack me! Where the hell is he? I will kick that son of - "

"Chris! Relax!" Stephanie exclaimed, putting a second ice pack on his forehead. He scowled at her. "You're jumping to conclusions. Just because they're friends, does not mean that Al sent Christian out on a mission to assault you."

He scoffed. "Whatever.. he's probably out congratulating the creepy little bastard as we speak." He spat out bitterly. "Thinks he can just.. waltz in here.. jump me whenever he feels like it.. stupid.. just wait.." He mumbled, closing his eyes as he adjusted the ice packs.

"You sure you're okay? You don't have a concussion, do you?" He grinned a little, catching the hint of concern in her voice, and shook his head.

"No.. I'll live."

"Hey, I forgot to ask.. since when are you friends with Randy Orton?"

"Rundo! I don't know. For like a week, if you want to call him a friend."

"What would you call him?"

"My lackey. I'm Batman, he's Robin. He helps."

"So he's your friend."

"I guess. How'd you know anyways?"

"No reason, just seen you two talking more, that's all." She shrugged, before taking a seat next to him. He leaned against her when she did, resting his head on her shoulder. "Chris!" She whined. "I sat down for a break, not to be your cushion!"

"I'm an injured man, woman! Don't you have any compassion?" He said, his voice mumbled as he spoke through the ice pack. His cell phone went off for what had to have been the eighth time. He sighed but otherwise didn't move.

"Well?" She asked, annoyed.

"Well? Well what?" He asked, equally annoyed.

"Are you going to get off?"

"No."

"Are you going to answer that?"

"No."

"Why are you so unreasonable?"

"Cause."

"You are the most immature.. self-centered.. arrogant.. bastard I have ever met, you know that?" She said in disgust.

"You ran out of good insults, huh?" He said, amused.

"No I didn't!"

"That's okay baby, you can't hang in the verbal battles with me. I've proved that one time and time again."

"You are just impossible." She said, giving up. He laughed and straightened, pulling out his cell phone to look at the number. She snuck him a look, curiosity getting the better of her. "Who's that?"

"Rundo. Wants me to let him back in."

The door opened then, and in walked Chris Jericho's biggest nemisis.. Al. Both Al and Chris sneered at the sight of each other, prompting Stephanie to stand up, lest the two get into it right in front of her.

"What's this?" Al said in a calm voice, as Stephanie approached him.

"Oh, we were just talking. No big deal." She said, shrugging. Chris snorted behind her and leaned back on the sofa, wincing. He was starting to feel the after effects of that belt all right.

"Ohhh.. I saw what happened out there, Chris. Tough break."

"You know.. Al.. I know that you set that thing up with Christian. Nice move, but alas, it's not gonna work junior."

Al looked at him then, confused. "You think that was my fault?" He asked in disbelief.

"He's just upset." Stephanie cut in. "Don't mind him." She added, shooting Chris a "look" that translated into "Shut the hell up already or I will make you regret it later." Of course, Chris had to say something after getting the "look" - but before he got the chance, his cell went off again.

That Rundo is sure as hell persistent.

"Chris?" Stephanie asked, making him look back up. His eyes went to Al's arm, which was now wrapped casually around her waist. He scowled and met her eyes again. "You gonna let him in or what?"

"Yeah yeah, I always have to save rookies' necks." He tossed the ice packs aside and stood up, before walking over to her. She thought he was going to ask for another one of his hugs, but he once again surprised her.

Completely ignoring the man next to her, he leaned in and for a second, she thought he really did have a concussion and was about to kiss her on the lips right in front of her boyfriend. Instead, he gave her a small, almost teasing kiss on the cheek.

"If you ever need a real man.." He whispered so low in her ear, she almost didn't hear him. Key word was almost. She smirked and shoved him away, much to Al's pleasure. The taller man tightened his grip around Stephanie, not hiding the severe dislike he now had of the Canadian in front of him.

"Go chase Robin, Batman."

"Yes, my love." He said teasingly, before looking back at Al. He noticed that the vibe he was now getting from Stephanie's boyfriend had turned very negative from the time when they first met. For some reason, that made him even more amused. "Til next time.. Al."

"Til next time.. Chris."

"You know kid.. you make a poor excuse for Robin." Chris said into his phone, looking out the window at a young and scowling champion.

"I've been calling for like an hour!" Randy snarled.

"I've been busy junior! My world doesn't revolve around you and getting you out of your problems. Yet I guess that's all Robin's good for. Go around the left, there's a door there, Rundo." He hung up, then walked off quietly towards the door that wasn't guarded by security guards. A few seconds later, Randy was back in.

"Finally." He mumbled.

"Oh get off the high horse, Robin." Chris said, rolling his eyes.

"Robin?"

"I'm Batman, you're Robin. Don't question me, junior." Randy rolled his eyes, but Chris kept going. "That Al guy is getting on my nerves."

"I've noticed. You've made it real obvious." Randy said sarcastically, but of course, he was ignored.

"Next week, we're going to have to launch a new operation."

"Whoa, I don't want to get involved! I have other things going on besides helping .. oh fine." He said, seeing the look Chris gave him. "I don't have much else going on besides this crap with Evolution."

"Exactly. Now that I have met and interacted with the enemy.." Chris said, clasping his hands and rubbing them together. "There is no competition.. we're going to break them apart. Operation Break Up."

"Original stuff."

"Shut it, Robin! We have to strategize. Once he's out of the way, she'll run right into my arms." The Canadian's blue eyes sparkled mischieviously. "It's fool-proof."

"I thought you already had a fool-proof plan."

"I do! But that is the ultimate plan.. this is the next best thing.. AND DIDN'T I SAY NOT TO QUESTION ME?!" He shouted, glaring at the young champion.

"Sorry, sorry, geez." Randy said, raising his arms. "Fine, we'll work on it next week."

"Yes.. she's going to be mine.. I can feel it, and it's gonna be sweet.." Chris said as they started to walk back in together. Randy suddenly scowled.

"Hey, why do I have to be Robin?"

"Batman's better looking."

"Yeah, well he's also taller."

"Are you saying I'm short?"

"Maybe."

"Don't push it, Rundo."