Dark Saviour

Chapter 13 - Misinterpretations and New Arrangements

….

Undertaker lay awake, his eyes riveted on the man that was still lying in his arms. For the life of him he didn't know why he had allowed this to happen. Somewhere deep inside his soul was a part of him that had longed to reach out to the distressed Hardy, even as another part of him wanted to slam the door and bolt it shut. He didn't really need the drama that would come with allowing the smaller man into his room.

Damn. I must be getting weak in my old age, Taker sighed.

Carefully, Undertaker slid himself out of bed, trying hard not to disturb the sleeping man beside him. Once he was on his feet, Taker rearranged the sheets on the bed, covering up the Rainbow Haired Warrior in the warmth that the blankets provided. Once he was satisfied that Jeff was tucked in comfortably, Taker walked over to where the coffee pot sat and poured himself a cup. Undertaker moved to take up a spot in a chair near the closed window, sipping on his coffee while he continued to watch the sleeping lump.

What the hell happened yesterday to make him break apart like that? What could have made Jeff that scared, that distraught? Who the hell has the power and will to do that much damage to the kid? As far as I know, everybody likes him. So what's changed? What trouble has he gotten himself into this time?

Undertaker was brought back to the present when the lump on his bed moved with a sigh. Taker watched as Jeff stretched out on his bed, before laying still once more, a small smile on his face. Undertaker couldn't help but smile too. There was something innocent about the younger Hardy that he found almost endearing, almost, dare he say, cute.

Shaking his head at the foolish notion, Taker turned his attention away from Jeff and reached for the newspaper that sat on the table. Setting down his cup, he began to leaf through the articles, seeing if anything interesting had happened, anything that would be able to take his mind off his current situation. However, try as he might, his mind kept drifting to the man in his bed and the sensations he felt when he was laying beside him, holding him. The exact same sensations that he was still feeling now that made him feel like he was still lying on the bed next to Jeff.

Damn it! I am getting weak.

Closing his eyes, Undertaker tried to focus on something, anything, else, but found that he was failing miserably. Opening his eyes, he smiled at himself.

This is not going to be my day, is it?

"Matt?"

Taker looked up at the sound of Jeff's voice to find the younger man trying to slowly sit up. Jeff looked at him with blurry eyes, his brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to process where he was.

"Matt's not here," Taker replied as he got up and walked over to the bed to sit beside Jeff. "Do you remember where you are?"

Jeff seemed to think for a second before nodding. "Yeah," he whispered before he looked away, inwardly flinching at the memories that tried to re-surface.

"That's good," Taker smiled slightly, hoping to minimize the amount of pain he was sensing from the younger man. "I think I would have to worry if you didn't."

Jeff looked up at Taker at that, a look of confusion replacing that of sadness. "You would worry about me?"

Taker nodded, placing a hand on Jeff's shoulder. "Of course I would. I'm not that cold-hearted."

Jeff turned away again. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"For what?"

"For thinking that you didn't care, that you wouldn't care."

Undertaker shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

"And I'm sorry for last night. I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Forget about it."

Please not again. I don't want to go through this again. Jeff thought, a lump growing in his throat as his fear rose up to choke him. "But I . . ."

"Hey, forget about it. It's not that big a deal," Taker replied softly.

Jeff could almost feel the weight lift off his shoulders as Undertaker words washed over him. He knew from the Deadman's tone that this wasn't going to be a repeat of his conversation with Jericho. It was going to be different this time. "Really?"

"Of course," Taker smiled. "But if you tell anyone about this, I'm going to have to lie about it."

Jeff laughed in spite of himself. "My lips are sealed," he sighed. "And thanks,"

Now it was Taker's turn to look confused. "What for?"

"For being there, here, when I needed you."

"Like I had anywhere else to be," Taker shrugged.

"I know," Jeff paused. "But you could have shut the door in my face."

"Did someone do that to you?" Taker asked, noticing the hurt that flashed briefly in Jeff's eyes as he spoke.

Jeff shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he answered, sitting up fully as his strength began to return.

"But if someone pushed you away . . ."

"It's okay, he had every right to what he did," Jeff said, trying to smile.

"Nobody has that right."

"He did," Jeff insisted. "I haven't exactly been the best around him lately."

Undertaker's brow furrowed as his mind tried to connect the dots. "Was it Jericho?"

Jeff shook his head. "Like I said, I deserved to be shut out. It doesn't matter who did it. I'm just glad that you were kind enough to not push me away, even though I know I deserve it."

"You don't deserve to be treated like shit," Taker replied, his voice full of conviction as he spoke truthfully to the younger man. "Nobody deserves that."

Jeff shrugged. "That's all a matter of opinion."

"Who the hell is filling your head with these ideas, Hardy?"

"No one," Jeff answered, not able to meet the Deadman's gaze.

Taker reined in hard on his growing frustration. Jeff obviously wanted somebody to help him, but he was keeping something important from Taker and it was starting to really annoy him. "If you keep lying like that, I won't be able to help you."

"I don't want anyone to help me," Jeff muttered, his eyes swimming with tears again.

Shit. I'm no good at this, Undertaker thought as he saw the first tear spill over. Quickly, he moved over so that he was sitting closer to Jeff and put his arm around the younger man. "Hey now, there's no need for that."

"I'm sorry," Jeff choked, trying desperately to regain some composure as he buried his head against the Deadman's chest.

"It's okay. But you know, if you tell someone what happened, then things would get better."

Jeff shook his head. "No, it would only get worse. I can't let anyone else get hurt."

Taker lifted Jeff's chin so that the Rainbow Haired Warrior was looking straight at him. "What do you mean you can't let anyone else get hurt? Is someone threatening you?"

Jeff nodded slightly. "I can't say anything or someone will get hurt," he answered softly. "I've probably already hurt someone else by just being here."

Undertaker pulled Jeff into his arms, his head resting on the smaller man's head in hopes of comforting the man as he tried to sort out what Jeff was saying.

Why would someone purposefully attack Jeff this way? Abuse him? It's definitely abuse, at least physically and mentally. Who knows what else has happened to him? Taker thought, his eyes traveling over Jeff's exposed skin as he winced inwardly once again at the multiple bruises that decorated his flesh.

Sure, some of them probably came from the stunts he pulled in the ring, but definitely not all of them. He had been in the business for a long time and had never seen damage like that. That is, unless someone was being beaten by someone else at the same time.

"Who did this to you?" Taker asked, his finger tracing over a small cut on the back of Jeff's hand.

"I . . . I don't remember."

Undertaker sighed, his impatience obvious as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "Obviously whoever is doing this has scared the shit out of you."

"No, it's not that."

"Yes, it is. You seem to be afraid that someone else will get hurt if you say something, anything, to help yourself."

Jeff buried his head against Taker's shoulder again, choosing not to reply.

"And you seem to be forgetting who you're talking to."

Jeff frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You're talking to the Deadman. The Undertaker. No matter how scary this guy is, I will always be scarier."

"Even if that other guy is Glen?" Jeff laughed slightly.

"Even against Glen. Although he would tell you differently."

Jeff smiled, closing his eyes as he let the strength that was the Undertaker flow into him. Somehow, in Taker's arms, Jeff felt nearly invincible, but only nearly. He couldn't let go of the threat Cena had made against Matt.

No, not a threat. A promise.

Jeff clung onto Undertaker for a moment longer before pushing the Deadman away, putting a smile on his face. "Well, it was nice being able to talk to you again. I should probably go now, though."

Taker nodded slightly, not wanting to hold the kid there if he didn't want to be. Jeff nodded back before pulling the covers away and slipped out of the bed. He headed toward the door without another word, but when he reached for the door handle, he paused and turned back to look at the Deadman.

"Thanks for everything, Mark. I won't forget it." With that, he opened the door and left.

….

Undertaker continued to sit on the bed after Jeff had left. He really had no desire to move as he tried to contemplate why he felt this sudden need to protect the kid. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out where these feelings were coming from, nothing made sense to him anymore. Nothing seemed to fit in with what he tried so hard to be. The Phenom didn't feel these kinds emotions. He only felt anger and bitterness toward those who crossed him. He only felt anything close to joy when he could tear his opponents apart and win the gold. But these new emotions were so strange to him. He hadn't felt anything remotely like it since . . .

Taker nearly jumped as Kane came bursting into the room, a big goofy smile on his face. Kane bounced onto the bed, coming close to Undertaker until he could stare right into his brother's eyes.

"Well?" Kane said encouragingly.

"What?" Taker asked, slightly unnerved by Kane's actions.

"Well, spill it. I want all the details."

"What details?" Undertaker looked at his younger brother in confusion.

"Details, details," Kane repeated.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Taker said as he stood up. "I think there's something wrong with you."

"Oh, come on. You can't tell me that you and Jeff spent all night together without doing anything worth talking about."

Taker looked at Kane, an eyebrow raised. "Okay, something is definitely wrong with you."

Kane rolled his eyes. "Don't try to hide it. I saw Jeff coming out of here this morning and since you're not usually awake this early, something had to have happened between you two."

Taker didn't reply. Even though he and Kane were close, he wouldn't tell him what had happened to Jeff. It wasn't for Taker to say, at least not until he knew more.

"Oh, so it was that good huh? Left you speechless?" Kane smirked, wiggling his eyebrows slightly.

Undertaker shook his head. "You have one sick mind."

"Of course I do. That's what makes me, me," Kane smiled, following Undertaker to the table. "So, are you going to tell me about it or what?"

"Or what?"

"Damn, you're frustrating," Kane growled, grabbing a cup so he could pour himself some coffee.

"What can I say?" Taker shrugged. "Nothing happened."

"Are you serious? You had that hunk all alone last night and you didn't jump his bones?"

Taker nearly choked on his coffee. Taking a deep breath, he stared at Kane. "Have you and Shawn switched bodies or something?"

Kane laughed. "I wish. I would love to be that little guy."

Taker shuddered. "How am I related to you again?"

Kane smiled. "Aw, am I making you nervous?"

Taker shook his head. "Like you could."

Kane moved to stand next to Undertaker, smiling sweetly. "Are you sure about that?"

Moving away, Taker shook his head. "Yeah, there is definitely something seriously wrong with you."

Kane laughed, stepping away from Undertaker. "So, you were serious when you said that nothing happened between you and Jeff?"

"Nothing happened and nothing will ever happen."

"Why not?" Kane asked, taking a sip of coffee.

"Because nothing will. It's as simple as that."

Kane rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless."

"Am I now?"

"Yes," Kane said. "So, what did happen last night?" he asked, shrugging off Taker's question.

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that," Kane said, giving his brother a strange look. "I know you better then that."

"We talked."

Kane frowned at Taker. "You talked?"

Taker shrugged. "Yeah, we talked. That's all."

"Man, do you need to get out more."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Taker asked, glaring slightly.

"Nothing," Kane replied, holding his hands up as he backed away. "I was just saying that you've been cooped up to long."

Taker rolled his eyes. "Sure you did."

"I did," Kane said, feigning hurt.

"Whatever," Undertaker replied, waving off the comment. "Anyway, where have you been lately?"

"With Phil."

"Who?" Taker asked, confused.

"You know, CM Punk. Since I've been working with ECW more lately, I've been hanging around with those guys. Phil was alone, so I've been rooming with him."

"Guess that means' that I no longer need to pay for a room like this then," Taker said, looking at his brother. "Thanks for telling me."

"No problem," Kane smiled, drinking the rest of his cup of coffee. "Anyway, guess I had better get going. See you later."

Taker merely nodded as Kane walked out of the room. As he finished his cup, Undertaker walked over to the bed and lay back down. He could still smell Jeff's scent on the sheets.

What is wrong with me? I feel like such an idiot right now, Taker smiled to himself as he closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. I think I'll rest for a little bit. I don't have to leave for another couple of hours.

….

Taker walked down the hall after the house show with a slight limp. During his match he had landed on his right leg wrong, causing it to buckle underneath him. Fortunately, at that particular time, he had been supposed to fall, so it wasn't too hard to improvise from there.

As he walked down the hall that would take him to the parking lot, he could sense that someone was following him, but whenever he glanced over his shoulder, nobody was there.

Hmm. I guess Glen was right. They all think that Jeff and I are together or at least were together last night. Undertaker shook his head, smiling slightly. What those guys won't do for a little gossip.

As he continued down the hall, he could still feel someone watching him. This time, however, he did not turn back. Instead he chose not care. As soon as Taker walked out the door and into the night, the feeling of being watched stopped. Sighing with relief, he made his way toward his bike. As soon a he reached his bike, Undertaker could feel someone watching him again.

Slightly annoyed now, he turned quickly and saw Jeff standing far off to one corner, apparently waiting for a cab. "Hey," Taker nodded.

Jeff nodded back. "Hi."

"Are you traveling alone now?"

"Yeah," Jeff nodded again.

"I thought that Shawn and Rey were supposed to travel with you?"

Even from this distance, Taker could see the sadness that crossed over Jeff's face as he looked away. "I don't want to be a burden on anyone."

Confused, Taker walked toward Jeff. "Why would you be a burden?" he asked when he stood next to the younger Superstar.

Jeff shrugged. "Those two have better things to do then babysit me."

"I highly doubt that they consider it babysitting, nor would they consider spending time with you a burden," Taker chuckled slightly.

Jeff looked up at Undertaker. "How could I not be?"

"There you go again, putting yourself down like you did last night. Why are you so concerned about being a burden all of a sudden?" Taker asked, beginning to get annoyed at Jeff's behaviour.

"Since Matt left I just . . . I just feel like everyone is trying to look after me because I can't do it myself."

Taker nodded in understanding. "You and Matt have traveled a lot together."

"Yeah, we have," Jeff smiled slightly. "It's so odd being alone."

"I wouldn't necessarily say that you're alone," Taker said thoughtfully.

"Why?"

"Well, you do have friends here," Taker answered. "The only time you'd be alone is when you go to bed."

"That's the scariest time," Jeff muttered, barely loud enough for Undertaker to hear.

"Is the Rainbow Haired Warrior afraid of the dark?" Taker asked jokingly.

"No, I'm not afraid of the dark," Jeff replied, laughing slightly at the Deadman's attempt at humor. I'm afraid of what the dark brings, he thought silently.

"Well," Taker said, looking off thoughtfully. Ah, fuck it. Who gives a shit what they say, he thought before saying aloud, "If you wanted, you could always room in with me."

"Really? What about Glen?"

"He's off with the ECW people," Taker answered.

"Oh?" Jeff said.

"Yeah, so I have spare bed if you want it."

There was a moment of silence as Jeff considered what Undertaker was offering him. After a while, Taker broke the silence as he shrugged. "Well, whatever you decide. Just let me know."

As he started to walk away, he felt a timid hand grab hold of his arm. Turning back, he could see Jeff looking at him shyly. "I think I'd like to share a room with you."

Taker nodded, not saying a word. He turned once again and continued to walk toward his bike. As he sat on the bike, he looked up to see that Jeff was still standing where he had left him. Taker shook his head, smirking slightly.

"You coming?"

Jeff looked up at Taker a little startled. He walked toward the bike a little timidly. "You don't mind I come with you now?"

"Unless you're going some place else, we're both heading in the same direction," Taker replied, handing Jeff the spare helmet.

"I just thought . . ."

"That I'd be mean and make you take a cab," Taker rolled his eyes.

"Well . . ."

"If you don't want a ride, I can always leave you behind."

Jeff shook his head, smiling. "No, I think I'll take you up on your offer."

"Good, now stop wasting time and get on."

Jeff nodded, putting on the helmet. Before he put the visor down, he looked at Undertaker again, concern in his eyes. "You're not doing this because of last night, are you?"

Taker smirked. "You think I would stoop that low?"

Jeff shook his head. "No, I just wanted to make sure that there wasn't going to be anything awkward between us."

"No, I just don't really feel like going through the hassle of changing rooms."

Jeff nodded. "Makes sense," he slapped down the visor before getting on the back of the bike. Once again, he felt his heart pounding wildly as he felt the power stir underneath him. Wrapping his arms loosely around Taker's waist, Jeff leaned against Undertaker's back for a brief second before they took off down the road.

Jeff closed his eyes, trying to burn the feelings he felt into his memory. Little did he know that Undertaker was doing the exact same thing.

What the hell are these feelings? Do I love him? That can't be what I feel. Besides, even if I did, he would never return those feelings. He's probably got a girlfriend waiting for him at home, they both thought as they leaned into a turn, as they leaned into each other.

….

A/N: So, there's another chapter. I'm glad that people are enjoying reading it.