"NOTE: Even though Mr. Kennedy and Jeff Hardy are rivals in the ring I picture them, actually getting along quite well outside the ring. I read on Matt Hardy's blog that Ken had invited Matt to his wedding, obviously there's a friendship there, so Ken must at the very least be on some kind of good terms with Jeff. Also if you watch the July 31st episode of RAW when Jeff botched the "Whisper in the Wind" you can see Ken broke keyfabe for a moment and tried to catch Jeff, but he was just a split second too late. So in the story Ken Kennedy is a friend of both Hardys.

000

Jeff shivered as he trudged the few blocks back toward the hotel from the arena where the RAW show had taken place that night. Apparently, at the end of February winter was breathing its last breath. Go figure, he picked the one night it would snow in California to take a walk.

So much for global warming…

Normally he would've found the snow falling a beautiful sight, but not now when his body ached from the show and he was shivering from the cold. On top of that, the slippery ground made it more difficult and tiring to walk.

The young Hardy was so distracted by his inner grumblings he failed to notice a black limosine pull up along side him, until the person in the limo rolled down the window and called out to him.

"Hey Jeff!"

Jeff turned his head to see the voice belonged to Hunter. "What do you want?" He growled darkly.

"Need a ride?" Hunter offered. "Awful bad weather to be walking around in."

Jeff was conflicted, trying to figure out whether to accept the ride of not. His aching body wanted desperately to get into the nice warm limo to get back to the hotel so he wouldn't have to walk anymore. However his mind was warning him to be apprehensive, this was Triple H and since the other man wasn't driving it gave him the opportunity to pull any trick he wanted to on Jeff.

The danger of being trapped in a car with Hunter outweighed the discomfort of being outside. Jeff turned his head back to the direction he was going, and answered in a calmer voice. "No thanks, I'm fine, it's not that far."

"Jeff…" Hunter gave the Rainbow Haired Warrior a knowing look. "Its snowing and I know you've got to be tired, so quit being stubborn and get in the limo."

"Yeah, right!" Jeff spat. "I bet you have a little more than my health on your mind. I bet all you want to do is reenact our little 'get together' at Armageddon."

Hunter rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, you know I promised I would leave you alone in that respect from now on," At Jeff's continued stand-offish demeanor, Triple H let out let out an exasperated sigh. "I was just offering you a car ride back to the hotel so you won't freeze to death. You just seemed so angry with me ever since No Way Out, I want to make it up to you somehow."

"Of course I am! I do you a favor by helping you out with your wife's gift on Valentine's Day, and you turn around give me a pedigree into a chair three nights later," Jeff snapped, glaring icily at Hunter as he walked. "Nice way of returning the favor."

"Jeff... you didn't cash in your favor," Hunter said simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "If you said to me "Hunter please don't use a chair on me," then I wouldn't have done. I don't cash in people's favors for them. You see what I'm saying?"

Jeff growled again and turned away. After a few moments, he stopped and turned back, his gaze much softer than before. "I guess I forgive you…"

"Good," Hunter grinned, opening the door for Jeff to get in.

"But my nose is still pissed!" Jeff snapped and kicked the door closed.

With a somewhat satisfied smirk on his face The Rainbow Haired Warrior continued walking down the street.

Hunter growled at the door being slammed in his face and leaned back in the seat. "He's a tough one," He murmured. He looked out the front window of the car and saw Jeff standing at the cross walk. A sly Cheshire cat grin appeared on his face. "Good, I like a challenge."

However, fate seemed to be more on Hunter's side than he thought. For Jeff was so distracted thinking about Hunter he stepped off the curb wrong, slipped and came down badly on his ankle causing him to fall on to the ground in front of the limo. The next thing he knew Hunter was at his side, offering a hand to help him up.

"Are you okay?" The Game asked, taking Jeff's hand.

The younger man had the urge to pull his hand away, but his body won out this time. Now it was not only cold and tired, it was injured too and was practically screaming, 'Get in the goddamn car!' Jeff obeyed and allowed Hunter to help him up and guide him over to the limo.

Jeff sat down on one of the long seats and began removing his shoe. Meanwhile, Hunter gathered up a ball of snow before getting into the car. By this time Jeff had his hurt ankle completely uncovered and was examining the injury. Hunter sat down next to him and Jeff pulled his foot away as if The Game were a venomous creature about to bite him.

"Come on," Hunter coaxed, holding out the snow. "Let's get that swelling down."

Jeff swallowed hard and slowly extended his foot out. The younger man winced as the ice touched his flesh and after the swelling went down a little bit Hunter grabbed his own bag which contained extra bandages and tape he always kept just in case. It was important as a wrestler to keep such valuable things around to bind achy joints, and other things if one got creative.

"Why don't you lie back and relax for a bit?" Hunter suggested as he began wrapping Jeff's ankle.

Jeff mulled the idea over for a few seconds, the tiredness in his body winning out again and he slowly lay down on his back. "Don't try any funny stuff."

Hunter chuckled. "I've never seen you so uptight before outside the ring."

"I'm cold, tired and I'm trapped in a car with someone I don't trust who has his hands all over my injured ankle." Jeff said dryly. "Of course I'm uptight."

"You can trust me Jeff," Hunter murmured, patting the side of Jeff's leg.

The Rainbow Haired Warrior sat up and looked at The Game earnestly. "I don't know Hunter, that's the problem. There are times when I think you're a lying slimy snake, like when you slammed my face into that chair after I'd helped you out."

Hunter opened his mouth to protest and reiterate that Jeff had not cashed in his favor, but the younger man cut him off.

"But then there are other times when I think I can trust you," Jeff's face softened. "Like when I was drunk on Valentine's Day and you didn't take advantage of me when you could have."

"That I didn't, though I admit it was really hard when you were practically begging for it," Hunter chuckled a little uneasy at how Jeff would take that admission.

"I can imagine," Jeff murmured. "But it's just that you flip back and forth, so I don't when to trust you and when not to trust you. I don't like that. Do you see where I'm coming from?"

Hunter nodded and idly patted Jeff's leg again, it was then he noticed an intricate ink design creeping out from under younger man's pant leg. He rolled up the fabric further to reveal a tattoo of a dragon on Jeff's calf.

"Cool tattoo," Triple H said, gently tracing the intricate lines with his index finger.

Jeff closed his eyes and shivered slightly at the touch. It was strange that Hunter, The Game, The Cerebral Assassin, The King of Kings, who was known for grinding people into the dust, could be so gentle. It felt both good and uncomfortable at the same time, mainly Jeff felt uncomfortable with the fact that Hunter's touch felt good to him.

Jeff steeled himself and pushed aside those pleasant sensations before speaking, "Um, Hunter… My ankle's farther down…" He said dryly.

Triple H chuckled, "Yeah, but it doesn't have a tattoo on it."

Jeff rolled his eyes and lay back onto the seat. Hunter peered over the younger wrestler's bent knees, and a Cheshire cat grin spread across Hunter's face.

"You shivered before, are you still cold?" Hunter asked slyly, though he made his voice sound concerned.

"Yeah," Jeff lied not wanting to admit that it was Hunter's fingers that had sent the pleasurable tremors. However, the lie proved to be just the answer Triple H was hoping for.

"That's too bad, but I think I can remedy that," The Game said, his grin broadened.

Suddenly, Jeff found Hunter on top of him and the larger wrestler's arms wrapped tightly around him. "Hunter?! What the--?"

"You said you were cold," Hunter replied, raising a hand to gently caress Jeff's cheek. "I heard sharing body heat works real well."

"Yeah, well…" Jeff stammered trying to sound firm even though his resolve was weakening a little as the warmth of Hunter's body against him did feel good. "I didn't expect you to pounce on me, man."

"I'm sorry Jeff," Hunter said smirking, "But I still find you irresistible."

"Hunter, don't…" Jeff tried to push Hunter away but he was at a severe disadvantage what with him lying on his back and his body exhausted from the Elimination Chamber match.

"What's the matter?" Hunter frowned. "I'm not going to do anything, except keep you warm until we get to the hotel nothing more." Suddenly the older man's smirk broadened. "Unless…You want me to do more?"

"No, I don't… But I don't think it matters to you what I want," Jeff grumbled, refusing to give up his struggle.

"Still don't trust me?" Hunter furrowed his brow in annoyance.

Jeff shook his head. "No, man your mood swings faster than a teenage girl on PMS. I can't trust that."

"I'm not that bad." Triple H protested indignantly.

"I just don't think I can understand you," Jeff admitted.

"Then we're not so different. A lot of other people and I can't understand you either." Hunter pointed out seeing a break in the weather. "You're the charismatic Enigma. That's what makes you unique, I want to understand."

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment." Jeff allowed himself a small smile.

"Good," Hunter smiled genuinely back. "Feel better now?"

The young Hardy nodded, his body relaxing a little. "Yeah, quite a bit actually. At least I'm not cold."

"You know…" Hunter said slowly as he tucked back loose strands of Jeff's hair. "It doesn't have to end when we get back to the hotel."

Jeff let out an amused snort. "If you are implying what I think you are implying then no thanks."

"You haven't even heard what my proposition is yet."

"Proposition?" Jeff quirked an eyebrow.

"What would you say if I told you that even if you didn't win The Money in the Bank ladder match you would still get a title shot?" Hunter grinned.

Jeff's mouth fell open, all amusement gone as the gravity of what Hunter was proposing weighed down on him. "In other words, you want another roll in the hay with me in exchange for a title shot?"

"That could be part of it," Triple H said in a more business like voice. "But more than that one time thing, I want you to give in to me on a regular basis and in return I will grant anything you want, that is in my power to give."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Jeff gawked. "You wanna have affair with me?"

Hunter rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well if you want to put it layman's terms, yes. Think of it as more of a business relationship, exchanging one favor for another."

"A business relationship?!"

"Did you ever wonder how John Cena really beat me at Wrestlemania 22?" Hunter asked a little curious at Jeff's answer. When the younger man shook his head he continued. "He and I had a little relationship going, as long as he was with me he'd have an easier time keeping his championship, you see? It started around Wrestlemania 22, I made his win look good, it wasn't just a pinfall, it was a submission. Our 'business' dealings kind of tapered off when I had that injury last year but by then he'd learned how to stand on his own two feet."

By this time most of the shock had left Jeff's face and he glared at Hunter intently instead. "So that's what you meant when you said John 'came for you like a river'…"

"Many times actually…" Hunter grinned allowing his mind to wander to the good times he had with John Cena for a few seconds before shifting his attention back to the Jeff. "Well, what do you say? Do you accept my little proposal?"

Jeff sighed and answered gently, but firmly. "No…"

Hunter sat up off of Jeff and looked back at the younger man, truly perplexed. Usually everyone he had propositioned to before, yielded by this point or at least started to become uncertain. Yet Jeff was still adamantly resisting.

"Why not?" Triple H asked. If he knew the reason behind the Rainbow-Haired Warrior's continued refusal then maybe he could find a way around it. However, before Jeff could answer the limo pulled up to the hotel.

"This is my stop," Jeff sighed as he carefully slipped his boot on over his still sore ankle.

Just as he reached to open the door, Triple H grabbed his other arm and pulled him back.

"Easy man!" Jeff snapped.

"Answer me this first. Why won't you accept my proposal?" Hunter demanded.

"It's not me man..." Jeff answered softly, but steadfast. "I don't want my achievements handed to me; I'd get bored if I did. If I'm to be in a relationship with you there's got to be something in there, something more than just a business relationship. I deal with business in my job so I don't want it to carry over into my private life, my sex life if you wanna call it that."

When Hunter didn't say anything more and even loosened his grip on Jeff's arm the younger man frowned and held still, waiting expectantly for Hunter's next few words.

Instead of words Jeff suddenly had Hunter's mouth over his own. The younger wrestler frantically tried to push Hunter away as the kiss came on hard and hot blooded almost crushing Jeff's lips in its wake. However, his resistance weakened when the kiss became more slow and sensual as Hunter seemed to massage every corner of the young Hardy's mouth with his tongue.

It was a kiss that had seduced many a man long before Jeff.

"Damn … "Jeff whispered breathlessly when they finally parted his lips quivering and his whole body shivered with pleasure.

"I thought you'd say that," Hunter grinned very pleased at Jeff's reaction to the kiss. Instead of being disgusted the younger man seemed to want more. "No one else has ever kissed you like that before have they? Not Maria, not Candice, not even your precious Trish."

Hunter pulled Jeff into another kiss, equally passionate as before. This time instead of trying to push The Game away, after a moment's hesitation, The Rainbow Haired Warrior slowly wrapped his arms around him, one hand digging into Hunter's hair while the other clawed at his back.

Hunter ran his tongue across Jeff's slowly coaxing it to come out and dance with him. He felt a flare of victory as the young Hardy's tongue cautiously slipped out to touch his own. Finally, Jeff grew bold with the rush of desire streaming through his loins at the sensual movement of lips and tongues, and kissed back with equal fervor.

When they parted again this time they were both shivering. He placed a hand under Jeff's chin and turned the young Hardy's head up so they were looking eye to eye.

"Do you accept my proposition?" Triple H asked again, touching his forehead to Jeff's.

Jeff furrowed his brow in confusion, still not believing what Hunter was asking of him. This time he was wondering why Triple H would want him at all. He had always assumed that Hunter like most of the locker room regarded him with a kind of polite disdain as if he were an estranged relative that no one spoke of outside of the family.

"Why me…?

Hunter looked down almost embarrassed, he hesitated before looking back up at the younger man right in the eye. "I like you." He said softly.

Jeff felt his breath catch in his throat shocked by this admission from Triple H. However, there was something in older man's eyes that said the sentiment was genuine, beyond just sexual desire.

The young Hardy swallowed hard, trying to get himself under control and think clearly. "Let me…Think about it…" He whispered between deep breaths.

"Let me think about it" was not the answer Hunter was hoping to hear but he would take it. It was a great deal of progress from a definite "no", he'd gotten when he'd first started working on Jeff.

"When will I know?" Hunter breathed into Jeff's ear sending more shivers through the younger man's body. It was taking everything Hunter had in him not to throw Jeff down and take him right there on the floor of the limo but he kept himself in check. He had to move slowly, as he did not want to scare the young man away just when he was making progress.

"Give me till the end of RAW tomorrow. I'll tell you then." Jeff rasped. "Now if you don't mind I'd like to get up to my room and rest." He tried to slip out of Hunter's grasp, but the larger man held him fast. "Hunter?"

"You're not going to get very far with that ankle," Hunter reached over and opened the car door. He stepped out then offered his arms to Jeff. "Let me help you."

Even after their conversation Jeff was not too keen about having Hunter take him up to his room. However, Jeff's poor ankles were already weak and he didn't want to do further damage to the injured one by walking too much. He only hoped that his roommate for the night, Ken Kennedy was already there, he knew Hunter wouldn't try anything with another person in the room.

Jeff accepted Hunter's help out of the car but before he leaned fully on the other man he reached down to grab his duffel bag.

"You can have the porter bring that up for you," Hunter suggested.

"I'd rather carry it myself it's got my sketch books in it and my iPod and stuff in it," Jeff said, grabbing the strap.

"That's a lot of weight to put on your ankle." Hunter murmured, sounding genuinely concerned. "Here," He grabbed the strap and slung Jeff's bag over his own shoulder.

Jeff was truly surprised by Hunter's kind gesture. He jumped a little when the larger man wrapped an arm around his waist but quickly got over his shock and leaned against Hunter taking the weight off his sore ankle.

Just by chance when they entered the lobby they were spotted by none other than Jeff's roommate Ken Kennedy.

"What did you do to him Hunter?" The blonde haired wrestler asked when he approached.

"It wasn't Hunter, it was a frozen curb and my head in the clouds," Jeff shrugged casually.

"Again?"

Jeff nodded and Kennedy rolled his eyes. "All right, let's get you up to the room and get some ice on that ankle. I'll take it from here Hunter."

"I've already got a hold of him, I can help him up," Hunter insisted.

Kennedy raised an eyebrow at Hunter's apparent eagerness to help Jeff but kept quiet about it. He also noticed Jeff seemed a little uneasy in the grasp of the larger wrestler, as his eyes kept flickering between Triple H and himself.

"I think I have a better idea," Kennedy said when he spotted one of the luggage trolleys near by. He grabbed it and pushed it over to them. "Hop on Jeff."

Jeff laughed as he slipped out of Hunter's grasp and limped gingerly over to the trolley and got up on it.

Hunter barely managed to hide his displeasure when Kennedy took Jeff's bag from his shoulder and placed it on the trolley under Jeff's feet. However, his disappointment showed full and complete, when Kennedy pushed the trolley into the elevator and Jeff waved back at Hunter just before the doors closed.

"Until tomorrow, Jeff," Hunter murmured. "Let's hope you make the right decision."

000

Oh what will Jeff's decision be...? And how will Hunter react?