Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since the last update! Thanks to Sharon, Daniella Consuela, cheri, Jodi, huntersgirl, Latisha C, Y2J Chris Jericho, Kay, and DCFanatic4life for the reviews! I hope you enjoy, and please continue to review!
Torment of Tantalus
Chapter 3
A week after he had received word of Stephanie's engagement to Triple H, Chris Jericho found himself outside of their locker room, wondering how if it was possible to beat a man to death in the five minutes he had before his scheduled Highlight Reel. 'It isn't like Hunter would be missed,' Chris resolved grumpily in his head.
At the moment, Hunter was standing in front of the door to the locker room, looking at Chris with superiority. "Jericho, you're not going in there," he ordered the other man. Chris glared at him, feeling the muscle beneath his eye beginning to twitch.
"Look, Triple Nose, get out of my way. I've got to talk to Stephanie, and it has nothing to do with you or your little 'faction'," Chris informed him, making rabbit ears in the air. "So why do you scurry along and check with the technicians that the ring is big enough to handle your ego."
"That's cute, Chris, really cute," Hunter said snidely, looking down at the other man. "But you're not going in there. She's still upset over last week, and I am not going to subject my fiancée to any more pain."
"Cut the shit, Hunter. You and I both know you're just in it so you can steal your title back," Chris snapped. "You don't care about Stephanie at all," he added, snarling.
Hunter chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Chris, Chris, Chris... You see, there comes a time in a man's life where he needs to settle down, get a wife, have some kids, wind down... Well, now it's my time." Chris stared at him, his eyebrows raised.
"That's total bullshit, Hunter, and you know it. You had your chance—hell, you had two—and you screwed them up. You don't deserve another shot at being a loving husband for Stephanie, and as long as I'm concerned," Chris's eyes narrowed, "you're never going to get the chance."
"You know, that's funny, that's really funny, because as of now," Hunter smirked, "Stephanie doesn't want to be in the same building as you. Good luck trying to convince her that the love of her life is the wrong guy for her."
"Gee, thanks Triple Nose. I always knew I could count on you for some good advice. Now can you move your big ass out of the way so I can go talk to Stephanie?" he prompted.
"I don't think so, Jericho."
"Wow. I didn't know you could think. I guess that nerdy kid in my Bio class was right...apes do have brains," he smiled at Hunter, enjoying the stormy look he was getting. "Anyway, I'll stop by later and pick my dear Stephy up for dinner and a movie. Until then, I'll be out in the ring with a very important Highlight Reel, and you can go run off with Flab and Bitchista—whoops, I meant Flair and Batista, sorry, my bad."
"You're never going to convince her that you're right," Hunter called after Chris, who had started walking away.
"Never say never!" Chris replied cheerfully.
"She's not going to trust you anymore."
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
"Chris, you're never, ever, going to hold status over me in her life, get over it," Hunter said, following Chris. "And if you think that Evolution is some sort of joke, how about you try and show it to the world tonight?"
Chris took a moment to wonder if Hunter had speech-recognition delay, or if he was just plain stupid, but he quickly decided on the second. "Birds of a feather flock together," he said beneath his breath, and Hunter caught it.
"That's damn right, Jericho. I am the best, brightest, and biggest superstar on RAW, and Evolution is my 'cavalry', if you will."
Chris sighed, rolling his eyes. How did anyone so dense ever become the Heavyweight Champion? It was a disgrace. "Yup, you got me there, Trips. You are the best at cheating your way out of matches, you sure are bright, I mean, that sure was intelligent to pretend to rape a stuffed doll to get back at Kane, and you do have the biggest presence on this show, you do. The minute you walk into a room, everyone runs. People generally don't bring extra changes of clothes to work, and if you gotta sneeze... Well, I don't think there is a Kleenex in this world that can even cover one of your nostrils."
"Jericho, you can keep throwing childish insults at me, but you will never get me out of Stephanie's life," Hunter said through gritted teeth.
"Hunter, Hunter, Hunter," Chris said, mimicking the other man. "You've got a few things to learn when it comes to Stephanie." He stepped up to Hunter. "There is no way you can get me out of her life. When it comes down to it, we're best friends, and there is no way that Stephanie would ever let somebody as stupid as you come between us. So, Hunter, buddy," he flashed a fake smile. "Get used to my face, because it's the one you're going to be seeing time and time again...and it will be the one next to Stephanie when she breaks off the engagement." The Canadian looked down at his watched and clasped it. "Well, I've got to do a segment that doesn't bore people to tears, so I'll see you around," he took a few steps away from Triple H, and then turned. "But in all seriousness, Hunter..."
"What?" he snapped, eyes dark. Jericho's comments were annoying and childish, but they nagged at him all the same. He gritted his teeth. Chris Jericho would pay for his involvement. No one would ruin Hunter's plans.
"You know the steroids you borrowed from Batista? They're supposed to go in your arm, not your nose," Chris commented with a smile before turning and walking away, leaving a furious Hunter behind. 'Oh, yeah, baby,' Chris thought victoriously to himself. 'The King of the World is in the house... Hunter is going down. There is no way on God's green Earth that Stephanie is going to marry him...and there is no way that I am going to take him stealing Stephanie underneath my nose lying down. So, get ready, Trips, get those two ass-kissers you call your teammates, too... You're going to need all of the help you can get.'