Disclaimer: I do NOT own the following wrestlers, or any of the events that actually happened on camera.
I respect the actual beliefs and sexualities of the following wrestlers.
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Well, here's part twenty-three.
Chris insisted on celebrating Matt's return to RAW by going out to dinner with anyone who would come. Chris was set to return after Summerslam, so he could be pictured without the stitches. His bruises were yellow now, and would soon fade altogether. He was using cover up until then, and Matt laughed at him and called him a queen everytime he saw him using the cosmetic.
"Shut up," Chris would reply, chuckling.
Sure, things weren't perfect, and they both still had nightmares, but it was better than before. Matt was laughing a lot more, and Chris was becoming more and more self-satisfied: two sure fire signs that Matt and Chris were on the right track.
Matt wouldn't compete at Summerslam, but he would at Breaking Point. Vince told him he wanted to build a rivalry around him and Jack Swagger again. Jake got really shy about it again, which made Matt wonder if Brie wasn't the only person hiding a twin under the ring. Jack Swagger had so much self confidence that it was hard to see him and Jake Hager as the same person.
For their whole time back with the WWE, Chris and Matt still slept together. Mark told everyone not to make a big deal out of it, but they all wanted to. What were they supposed to do? Matt and Chris were platonically sleeping together. It almost merited a comment. But after all Mark went through to get them to that point, no idiot with a comment was going to ruin things.
"Hail barbecque," Punk said, devouring his ribs. Jeff smiled sickly watching him- he already heard from Stephanie that he was going to leave Summerslam with a new accessory and Punk didn't.
Punk looked up. "What? Do I have something in my teeth?"
"No," Jeff said, a little too innocently to be taken seriously.
"Stop teasing him," Mark said, putting his arm around him.
Jeff sighed. "I can't tease Matt and Chris, I can't tease Punk... who can I tease?"
Mark whispered something in his ear, and Jeff's eyes widened. He smirked and almost purposefully dropped his fork. "Oops," he said, shooting a look Mark's way. He went under the table, and Punk shook his head.
"That's almost enough to make a man lose his appetite," Punk said, "We're in a restaurant, damn it!"
"Then pass the ribs," Rey said, reaching for his plate.
Punk slapped him. "I said almost." Punk then continued on his ribs, trying to ignore how Mark's hands were gripping the table. The older man was trying to keep a straight face... and was failing miserably.
Matt and Chris laughed from their spots at the table. "Could you believe these are our friends?" Chris asked.
Matt elbowed him. "You're just as immature as them."
"No I'm not," Chris said.
"Assclown," Matt said, reminding him of one of his favorite catchphrases. "Jackmule. Need I continue?"
"You made your point," Chris conceded. He grabbed Matt's hand and smiled at him. "Ever thought we'd end up here?"
"In a Barbecque hut?" Matt asked jokingly.
"You know what I mean," Chris said.
"No. But life pulls you in directions you'd never guess." They stood quiet for a moment, and then Matt said, "Can we leave? I'm sorry, but I don't want to stay in a place where my brother sucked someone off."
"You're going to have to leave the planet, Carolina," Punk offered. And he turned around and faced the glare of the Undertaker. Punk's eyes widened and he put up his hands in surrender. "Sorry."
Jeff got out from under the table, lips slightly swollen. "Watch your mouth, Punk."
***********
While Matt showered, Chris began pulling out the clothes they sent to the laundry. He shook his head. Chris Jericho folding someone else's laundry. Matt, the things you do to me. He picked up a pair of Matt's jeans and a note fell out. Chris was about to put it back in when he noticed the handwriting.
But why would Matt keep that? Everything else that was even remotely related to Adam was thrown out, and here was a note. In Adam's handwriting. Chris looked it over in his hand. It would be wrong to read it... right?
He pushed the motion into the back of his head. Matt probably didn't even know it was there. He opened it and saw that some of the words blurred thanks to being washed and dried, but he could still read it.
Matt, love, words cannot describe how I felt when I saw you faint. I nearly died myself. I wanted to run to help you, but... my leg. And I probably deserved that to some degree. I should've been more aware of what you needed. I won't take the blame for all of it... I was trying to save our relationship... but I want to man up. I pushed you, when I should've held you. I love you, and I'm going to think about you every second I'm alive. It's my blessing and my curse. I just wish I could rewind things back to the threesome, and I just kicked Chris out of the room instead of starting things. Then, Chris wouldn't have taken it as an invitation to ruin our lives. But what's done is done, and I hope you could forgive me... to be loved but not liked is a bad feeling, and I think that's how you feel about me now. You love me but you don't like me. It hurts me to write that, but it's true. But know that I like you and love you, and nothing will change that.
Chris shook, folded the paper, and put it back in Matt's pants. He had no doubt now that Matt read it. But why would he keep it? Did he really believe Chris ruined his and Adam's lives? Or was he still stuck on Adam? Chris looked at the shower and thought about all they've been through. Why didn't Matt tell him about it?
He sighed. He couldn't confront Matt about it... he had to wait for Matt to want to tell him. If he pressed it, it could undo all the progress Matt made. Maybe Matt thought he did throw it away. Maybe.
I wish I could read his thoughts sometimes. It'd be easier than having to wonder...
The door to the bathroom opened, and Matt came out, wearing his pajamas. They both quietly agreed to wear them when they started sleeping together. Matt rubbed his hair with a towel and said, "The shower's yours."
"I'm folding clothes, assclown," Chris joked, hiding the dilemmas he was going through.
"Well, I can take over," Matt offered, "After all, what would you look like if you didn't pamper yourself four hours a day? You look bad enough with the pampering..."
"Watch it, Hardy. That's not how you talk about the Aya-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Matt grinned, "Off you go, Queenie."
He'll tell me when he's ready, Chris thought, watching Matt fold their clothes.
*************
Matt woke up earlier than he would've liked when he felt Chris' hand twisting in his hair. He stifled back a scream and then pulled his hair as gently as possible. Chris shifted, and Matt thought he woke him up for a second, but then he went back to sleep.
It wasn't too early, only about six, so Matt put on the first pair of jeans and shirt he saw and went outside for a walk. The sun wasn't fully up, and there was a peace that you never really found anywhere else. He shook his head. No, he felt this peace before... when he and Chris fell asleep next to each other after Mark made them talk.
He wondered if he could really keep doing this to Chris. Keep sleeping next to him, keep using him, when he knew how Chris felt... and when Adam was still in his thoughts. Chris never asked for more than Matt gave, but Matt wanted to give Chris everything he deserved for pulling him out of the pain he was in.
I have to bury Adam for good. And that's when Matt knew what he had to do.
*************
Chris hung up the phone and held back a cheer. He ran into the adjoining room and hugged everyone he could find. He ended up with Matt, who chuckled. "What's got you so happy?" Matt asked.
"My stitches!" Chris said happily, "They're coming out at the end of the week!"
"Awesome," Matt said, hugging him, "So... you're going back to Smackdown soon?"
"Actually, it appears that I'm going to make a bid for the Unified Tag Titles," he said, "So... I'm going to be on every brand."
"With who?" Matt asked.
"Promise not to laugh," Chris said.
"Cross my heart, hope to die," Matt said. Matt smiled at him, and Chris was completely reassured.
"It's Paul."
"Paul who?" Matt asked.
"Paul Wight."
"The Big Show?"
"The one and only," Chris said. Suddenly, Matt's face reddened, and his cheeks puffed. "You promised!" Chris snapped.
"I'm trying not to..." Matt said, and Chris shook his head.
"I see promises mean nothing to you, Hardy," Chris said.
That sobered Matt up. He went up to Chris and poked his belly. "I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to laugh at the Jeri-Show connection."
"That won't be our name!" Chris snapped playfully. They laughed for a while, and then Matt poked his belly again. "What?"
"When exactly are you getting your stitches removed?" Matt asked.
"Saturday. Why?"
"No reason, really." Matt felt bad for lying to Chris, but this was something he needed to do alone. And really, how well would Chris take the news that he was going to see Adam Copeland, of all people?
But Matt was determined to bury his past with Adam. And for that, he would have to face him one last time.
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