Another update? It is! Finals start next week, and instead of studying... I've been editing To Be Loved, of course. Of course. XD Oh, and I've also been working on a short tribute vid for the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels...and my computer, being the asshole that it is, delete the file. (sighs) Three days of careful editing... Gone to Hell.
Oh well, random things happen, and I can't stay mad for too long. (smiles) Anyway, here's the next chapter...and the one after will be coming soon too. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for all the reviews. I want to answer each personally, but I have no time at the moment. :( But I swear, I will one day. Soon. Eventually. Maybe.
On to the story!
"Are you sure you'll be okay alone?" 'Taker asked from his perch on the bed as Shawn bustled around, stuffing various items into his gym bag the next morning. "I won't mind going with you…"
RAW was having an extra show that afternoon, and it was slightly farther away from the hotel than normal, so all the guys had to leave several hours early if they even wanted to hope to get there on time.
"I'll be fine, 'Taker," Shawn said with a small smile. "I'm a big kid… I can take care of myself." He couldn't help but laugh slightly at the obvious concern in the Deadman's voice. "I won't get hurt, I promise."
'Taker nodded, but that wasn't what he was worried about. What bothered him was something that Shawn had said before they had left the arena last night. He had wanted to ask Shawn about it, but there was a faintest shadow in those blue eyes that told him that asking would only cause trouble.
But he really, really wanted to know what Shawn meant when he said that his (Mark's) reputation would be ruined by someone like him (Shawn).
"…And then tomorrow, I get to sleep in and watch you bumble around half-asleep," HBK was saying when 'Taker pulled himself from his own thoughts. "So today, you get to rest," he concluded with a smile.
Mark returned Shawn's smile. "Alright, alright," he conceded. "Have fun, kick ass, all that good stuff." He watched the man known as the Heartbreak Kid grin and wave goodbye before heading out the door.
Once he was gone, however, 'Taker's smile faded into the same contemplative expression from before as he wondered how things would go for Shawn. It had been a while since two guys in the locker room had admitted to be a couple… Of course, there had been Shawn and Triple H, but they had always been together, or so it seemed…
The Undertaker growled slightly at that thought, acknowledging to himself that he was kind of intruding on a long-time relationship…
"Damn it all," he muttered before lying back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I should have gone with Shawn."
A second later, the doorbell rang slightly, and Mark sighed. "Yeah?" he said somewhat shortly as he opened the door, and sighed again seeing Batista standing there.
"Hey, uh, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday…" the Animal began, completely avoiding those green eyes. "Wanna go out for a beer or something? My treat?"
'Taker scratched his chin slightly. He really didn't have anything planned for the day… except maybe sleeping.
"Eh, what the hell, sure," he said after a moment, not even paying attention to the huge smile that crossed Batista's face. "Come by at about 7, alright?"
Dave nodded happily. "Great!" he said more enthusiastically than he had planned to. Suddenly, however, he grew cautious, looking into the room behind the Deadman. "Is…Shawn here?" he asked in a subdued voice.
"No, he just left… And besides, I don't think he'd want to come. He doesn't drink."
"Don't worry, that's okay," the Animal replied, resuming his cheesy grin. 'Because I wasn't going to invite Shawn anyway,' his mind amended silently. "It'll just be us."
"Alright." The Undertaker turned to go back inside when he heard something that sounded oddly like a giggle coming from Batista's direction. "You okay over there?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Dave said quickly. "Well, see you tonight!"
'Taker watched him go with a shake of his head, mind completely on Shawn again, and the occasional thought of sleeping.
"Back to sleep," he said to himself, closing the door with a yawn.
Dave Batista was all smiles as he walked back to his room, unsurprised to find the Nature Boy relaxing in there when he opened the door.
"He said yes! I can't believe it!" The Animal allowed himself another laugh as Flair's eyebrow went up.
"The Undertaker agreed to go out with you to a bar?" Ric asked. "Seriously?"
Batista nodded emphatically. "I can't believe it either. I thought he would have at least tried to kick my ass or something for kissing him…"
Flair, who had stood up at some point, did a small strut around the room. "That's the way to play the game, Champ," he said with a laugh. "Now, alls you need to do is get him drunk enough to--"
"Whoa, whoa, I don't want to try to date-rape him or anything," Batista interrupted, although the thought of carrying a drunken Undertaker to his bedroom was very appealing… Very, very appealing, indeed…Especially as he pictured himself "helping" the older man to undress…and then maybe "helping" him take a shower…
Dave coughed to bring himself back to reality, blushing slightly. "I just want to have a drink with him, that's all. I just…want to spend time with him."
Flair shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. "And I thought I taught you boys not to fall too hard for anyone. Well, Hunter was a lost cause from the start, but you and Randy should have learned something…"
The two men shared a glance before bursting into laughter.
Shawn was standing alone in a lobby, waiting for his rental car, when he heard a loud horn honking. Everyone in the immediate area turned to see a very over-the-top convertible parked by the entrance of the building.
"Michaels!" a voice called, and Shawn squinted slightly, seeing Cena walk through the glass doors. "What are you doing here?"
"Um, renting a car. Duh," Shawn said with a smile, accepting the hug given to him from the younger man. "I need to get to the show, you know?"
John Cena grinned like a little kid at that moment. "Why rent some old bucket when you can ride in style…with the Champ," he said, nodding towards his car.
Shawn raised an eyebrow. "Why'd you go out of your way to pick me up?" he asked skeptically.
"No reason, I just happened to be passing by and I saw you through the doors."
"You caught sight of me in this crowd while driving 100 miles an hour in that thing?"
"Hey, you stand out, in case you didn't know."
HBK laughed at that. "Very true," he conceded after a moment. "Well, Champ, lead the way."
Cena smiled as they walked out to the car. "Hey," he said when he had worked up enough courage. "Wanna grab some lunch before we go to the show? My treat…"
"Now, you know I don't say no to food," Shawn said with a chuckle, folding his hands behind his head and leaning back. "Especially free food. Let's eat!"
With a triumphant grin, the WWE Champion turned up his speakers and drove off, more than a little happy to finally have the Heartbreak Kid to himself…at least, for a little while.
But it was enough.
Ha, poor Cena and Batista... they just won't accept the fact that Shawn and 'Taker are together, will they?
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