Three D's still in effect :)
so.... tired, so... sleepy, maybe I'll just take a nap on the keyboard :)
Respect the Game (11/12)
by lirpa
The next evening...
mark had obtained a key from the front desk, Hunter had obviously told them to expect him. With the note clenched in his large fist, he walked carefully towards the elevator and got in. It had taken him most of the day to get here. When he finally had reached Colombus he had realized he didn't have a clue what he was going to say to Hunter. Come to think of it, he still didn't know what he was going to say, but to hell with it, he'd just say whatever came to mind first, whatever intelligent thing came to mind first he qualified.
Mark stabbed at the button to the 22nd floor. He had absolutely no idea how Hunter had done it but he was staying int he exact same room as they had maybe a week ago. Time seemed to flow differently around Hunter, it felt like much longer.
The elevator dinged and the doors made the same clanking noise as they had before. Caught in a way of nostalgia Mark almost didn't get off in time.
After almost being squished by the elevator doors Mark made his way to the door of room 2246. He stood there for a moment, looking dazed, before lifting his hand to knock.
The knock seemed hollow to Mark, but the door swung backwards and Hunter stood in the doorway, looking unsure of himself. When he saw Mark, however, his face lit up.
"Hello, Mark."
"Hello, Hunter."
"Do you want to coem in?"
"Yep."
Hunter swung the door back, smiling broadly.
Mark stepped in before exclaimeing, "Only one bed!"
"Yep."
"Then what are we going to do?"
Hunter frowned, "No, we're going to sit on the sofa and talk."
"I didn't say anything."
"You implied it."
"I'm innocent, innocent I say."
"Whatever, get moving."
Mark stalked over to the sofa and sat. "What'd you wanna talk about?"
"Why'd you leave?"
"My priorities were messed up."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I thought the title was the most important thing in my life. I was wrong."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then what is the most important thing in your life?"
"You, Hunter, you."
"Pretty words."
"True words."
"You still left."
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
"I suppose."
Mark laughed, "I'm either here or I'm not, Hunter."
"tehn you'e here."
"Good."
Everything was quiet for a moment, "What took you so long? I left almost two days ago..."
"I didn't even find out you were gone until yesterday afternoon..."
"And then?"
"I raced home, got there in the evening, or the middle of the night, whichever you think eleven fits into."
"So?"
"So I found the note, wanted to come right away. Sara agreed with me right up until I got to the door. Then her maternal instincts kicked in and she decided I could use the night's rest, and made me stay overnight."
"Made you?"
"She can be scary when she wants to be."
Hunter laughed, "I can believe it."
"It took me most of the day to get here from the ranch. And then I spent and hour or more trying to figure out what I was going to say to you whenI finally saw you again."
"And what did you decide?"
"Nothing, I spent most of the time panicking."
Hunter laughed, "For a while I didn't think you were going to show up."
"It took Sara and I a while to figure out what you meant."
"Who came up with the answer."
"Me, of course."
"Seriously?"
"Okay, she might have helped, but only a little."
Hunter laughed, "You two fight like children."
"We do not! We don't fight at all."
That only made Hunter laugh harder.
"Okay, so maybe Sara and i fight a little."
"A little?"
"Yes, a little."
"Try telling that to someone who hasn't seen the two of you go at it."
Mark merely growled.
"You don't scare me, Mark."
"Why not?"
"I know you're just a big teddybear on the inside."
Mark looked about ready to jump Hunter, but thought better of it.
"So what about Vince?"
"Screw Vince."
"No thank you."
Mark laughed out loud.
"He's going to be angry."
"Mhhmmm."
"So?"
"So what?"
"What are we going to do?"
"Vince already knows."
"How?" Hunter sounded angry, "You said he didn't."
"He knew you were with me, he didn't know much beyond that."
"Why'd he find out?"
"Like he was going to let me steal top talent otherwise. He did want you out of the way, which playd into my plan perfectly..."
"But? I sense a but coming."
"But when you disappeared he didn't want me to leave the tour. He and I had a few words, which ended with me throwing the title on his desk when he threatened to take it from me."
"You did that for me?"
"You're more important that any title," Mark paused, "Shit, I better phone Sara."
"Why?"
"So she knows we're both still alive?"
Hunter giggled as Mark picked up the phone and dialed his home number.
"Yeah, Sara?" Mark paused for a moment, "Yeah he's here. I don't know, I'll ask him."
"Hey, Hunter?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you coming back with me?"
Hunter's eyes teaed up, "Yeah."
Mark turned back to the phone, "Yeah, he is. Yeah, yeah, no. See you son."
After hanging the phone back in its cradle Mark turned toward Hunter, "let me show you just how glad I am you made that desicion."
Hunter's giggles, and Hunter, were buried under Mark's kisses, and soon there were no giggles at all.
