Randy threw his phone across the room watching as it smashed against the wall, breaking into small pieces. Damn it, now he needed to get a new phone. He slumped down the same wall and held his head in his hands. Joining the grave silence that took over the room.
He'd decided to share a dressing room with Ted, Cody and even John had insisted on joining them so show the solidarity and support of Ted and Cody's relationship. They had decided it was time to share their relationship with their family. Telling Cody's family in the end had been easy and both his parents and his older brother, Dustin, were happy for them although a little shocked.
Unfortunately, it turned out Ted's family, or rather his father; Ted Sr. was the one with the issue. Randy supported Ted after the argument, but Emma persuaded them to talk.
At first Ted Sr. listened to his son explain how they fought with their emotions, not believing them to be true. Thought their feelings to be there because they had been working and travelling together, but after time apart, they came back together and realized they were to be together.
As much as his father wanted them to be happy, he couldn't come to terms with Ted being gay, and walked out again. As soon as his spot in WrestleMania took place, Ted's dad headed back to the hotel rather than staying around for the rest of the night.
Ted had spoken with he and Cody earlier expressing his concern over his match tonight. Ted was involved in a lumberjack match with Christian, where the lumberjacks were legends, including his father.
Randy looked over at his friends, Ted sat silently on the bench taping his wrists with a protective Cody sat on the floor in front of him resting against his legs. No matter what Ted's family thought, at least they had each other. Right now, it was more than what he had; and he was jealous.
He looked up as the door opened.
"Wow, let's stop this whirly-gig of fun," John mused trying to break the tension.
All three of them simply looked at him, Cody scolding his cheerful arrival.
"Okay, I get what's wrong with the happy couple over there, but what's wrong with you?" he asked lowering down to the floor next to Randy.
"It's nothing I want to talk about right now," he replied.
"I can stop by your room later… to talk, if you like," John said quietly, wanting to reach over and run his hand across his cheek to comfort Randy.
"If you want to take it slow, stopping by later will not be a wise move; not with how I'm feeling," Randy said giving him a knowing look.
John nodded, knowing Randy was right. A couple of days ago they took a huge step forward in their friendship, and giving in to temptation would just put them back where they started.
"Well, I've got something that will brighten your day," John said smirking.
"A new phone for me?" Randy laughed sarcastically, indicating the broken pieces on the floor beside him.
This time, John couldn't stop himself running his hand along Randy's jaw line. He smiled inwardly as Randy relaxed into his touch.
"I'm afraid not, gorgeous," he replied with a soft tone, not wanting to interrupt their moment. He scooted even closer so he could tell Randy the news. "You get to be my tag partner tonight."
Randy met John's gaze and smiled a small smile. It was the best news he'd heard today. Now he had something to look forward to.
John stood from his spot next to Randy and held his hand out, which Randy readily took, letting John pull him up.
"Who are we up against?" he asked, not releasing John's hand.
John walked out onto the stage, trying to contain his excitement. Tonight he would get to team with Randy. Something they had never done in the WWE. He stood at the top of the ramp and smiled as he saluted the audience.
Quickly making his way down the ramp he played to audience as Dave paced back and forth in the ring, showing his frustration at not knowing who his second opponent would be.
John grabbed the microphone from the apron and walked up the steps.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on," the champ said, calming the audience. "I need everyone's attention for just one minute, I have a major announcement."
Dave stopped briefly before starting to pace again, annoyed that John was dragging it out.
"It's about my partner tonight. Batista you'll especially recognize him, because, well, he's an old friend of yours," John tried to hold back a cheesy grin as he looked back toward the stage waiting for Randy's music to hit.
He continued to watch briefly as Randy made his way down to the ring. He knew he had to stop though otherwise he wouldn't be able to focus on the match. When Randy stepped into the ring, he was in completely in character, not letting any form of his true personality or feelings come through.
John stood next to Randy and whipped his shirt off, trying to elicit even the smallest reaction out of him, but with no success. When Randy became, 'The Viper', there was no way to distract him, until they hit backstage. John focused on the match trying not to let his disappointment get to him.
They went back and forth for just over five minutes and although he didn't let it show, John's tension grew with each passing minute. He'd hoped the match would be fun for both of them where they could interact but Randy was all business.
Randy's inverted backbreaker was the signal for the end of the match and as Randy went for the pin; Dave stormed the ring and interrupted the three-count. John rushed Dave but was caught with a spine buster before Randy hit the RKO on both Dave and Jack.
After the ref raised Randy's arm in victory, John got back to his feet and looked Randy straight on. Randy didn't hesitate in following John as he retrieved his belt, but John cold see he was still in character. John nodded his acknowledgement before leaving the ring and heading backstage.
He avoided as many people as possible so he could get back to his locker room to grab his bag. He decided to take a shower when he got to the hotel. Right now he didn't want to face Randy, especially considering Ted and Cody would already be gone by now.
After Ted's match, he and his father argued in the ring. Ted was able to play it off as a scripted fight, but it was real and hurtful. Ted had tears in his eyes by the time he hit the backstage and Cody, who hadn't been fighting that night, took him back to the hotel.
John knew he should be sticking around for Shawn's farewell, but the two of them had already spoken during the day, and if he stayed, Randy would be hanging around him.
He nodded his acknowledged goodbyes to some of the crew as he got in his car and sped back to hotel.
The following day Randy woke up and immediately his mind starting thinking on John's behavior the previous night. He thought everything was going well between the two of them however, after John disappeared following their match he wondered if he'd done something wrong.
He didn't want things ending so quickly between them, in fact he didn't want them ending at all. Noticing the time, he skipped his morning shower and headed for the hotel gym. He knew John, and although he always found the nearest weightlifting gym, he still liked the quiet hotel gym for his cardio work.
He entered the gym and immediately his eyes fell on John's back as he stood catching his breath after finishing on the treadmill. Randy stalked quietly over, not wanting to disturb him, but soon noticed he had his eyes shut and his iPod was blasting in his ears.
Randy stepped onto the treadmill behind John, making sure not to get to close that John could feel his presence. He watched the champ calm his breathing, as the sweat ran slowly down his arms, his muscle shirt sticking to his skin. Randy couldn't help but part his lips slightly at the sight before him, wanting to taste the sweat rolling off him.
Having planned to catch John, Randy found himself caught as John suddenly straightened up and turned around, jumping a little at finding Randy behind him.
"What are you doing here?" John shouted, breathless from his work out.
"I wanted to talk to you," Randy said quietly, shaking off the embarrassment of being caught gawking. Struck as well by John's anger at him being there. Now he knew something was wrong.
"What?" John shouted again.
Randy suddenly realized John wasn't angry. He reached forward and yanked the headphones from his ears.
"I said, I wanted to talk to you," Randy said chuckling. "Are you seriously playing your music THAT loud? You'll go deaf."
"I like music so leave me alone," John said moving to walk past Randy.
Randy shot his leg up to rest on the rail opposite where he stood, stopping John from escaping.
"Again, I said I wanted to talk," Randy said with an insistent tone.
"Fine. Talk. But can you at least let me off the treadmill?" John asked indicating Randy's leg.
"No, you'll try to leave," Randy said. "Why did you disappear like that last night?"
John stepped back and rested against the panel, careful not to hit any buttons and start the treadmill up again.
"I was tired."
"Liar," Randy said, removing his outstretched leg from the barrier.
He moved so he was facing John head on. John looked down from Randy's gaze, not able to look into those piercing eyes. Randy reached over and mimicked John's actions from when he trapped him in the ring, bringing John's head up to look at him.
"Why?"
"Because things didn't feel right last night," John admitted.
Randy smirked at John's comment and took a step forward.
"How did you want it to feel?" he said, leaning in so his mouth was inches from John's ear. "Passionate?"
"No. Maybe," John stammered. "I don't know. But it didn't feel like I was expecting."
Randy put his hands on John's hips and pulled him closer so their bodies were closer than they'd been in months.
"Maybe? Or maybe you wanted to feel… excitable," he said whispering into John's ears.
"Randy," John softly exhaled his name, closing his eyes at the closeness.
"Spend the day with me on Thursday," Randy said resting his forehead against John's.
John's eyes shot open at the comment, Randy wanted to spend the day with him, just him. When they didn't need to work for days afterward.
"Wait, you aren't going back to St Louis?" John asked confused.
Randy shook his head, stepping back from John and removing himself from the treadmill. Turning away, he moved to a nearby bench, took a seat and hung his head. He didn't move until he felt John's body pressed against his side, his hand kneading the tense muscles in his neck while his other sat on Randy's knee.
"I'm not going because Sam has made other plans. Her and some friends are going to Florida for a long weekend; she's taking Alanna with her," Randy explained.
"I'm sorry, gorgeous. I know you were looking forward to see Alanna," John soothed.
Randy turned his head to look at John, hoping his eyes were showing the need to have some comfort in his life.
"Please spend my birthday with me," Randy said, pleading with John.
"On one condition," John said. "No, two."
"What?" Randy said frowning.
"One, you smile for me," John said trying to cheer Randy up. "And, two, you go on a date with me."
Randy smiled, placing his hand over John's, leaning his head against John's shoulder.
5