"ITVR: Chapter 86"
Opportunities.

By Jadedoll, Penumbren, & Raising Kane

"...am I honestly the kind of guy you would try to fix your daughter up with?" That was certainly a unique question from one's new lover. Mark's lips curved in mild amusement, trying to keep himself from looking too intently at Jeff. They were in a public place, after all, and even the limited display he'd given in the restaurant earlier would be far too much for an airport. Jeff seemed to realise that the question was a little odd himself, with the quick addition he blurted out. "Speaking totally hypothetically there Honey" Blinking, Mark processed the fact that Jeff had just called him "honey". Waiting until Jeff had turned toward the counter, Mark smiled. It was definitely different, and he couldn't remember for the life of him ever being called "honey" by any of his other lovers, of either gender. Coming from Jeff, something that should probably have been mildly insulting if not downright ridiculous was actually rather... sweet. And unexpected, given Jeff's own surprised expression seconds after saying it. If the younger man was comfortable enough to joke with him, after the roller-coaster ride of this morning, it gave Mark some hope that maybe they could make this work after all. They'd both agreed to try, that it was something they wanted, but he'd had doubts... hell, he still had doubts. Mainly in himself, but they were there. It was going to be a long couple of days by himself once he got home. Movement to his side caught his eye and he hid a wince at the sight of a group of teenagers huddling together and whispering as they waved the occasional hand in his direction. There were times he'd envied Glen during the earlier years of his gimmick; at least no one knew for sure what Kane looked like without his mask at that point, and that had saved his friend untold hours of friendly harassment and delays. There had been a time where he'd joked about adding an executioner's mask to his own costume, only to be told firmly that it would be far too macabre for the company. Considering that not long after he'd made the suggestion, he'd become the Satanic collector of souls, that was fairly ironic. Jeff's return distracted him from the possible delays that a lengthy, spur-of-the-moment autograph session could cause, and he allowed himself to be guided to the VIP lounge with Jeff close on his heels. Pausing near the side of the room, Mark raised an eyebrow at the younger man, wondering what exactly he was studying so intently. Turning to follow Jeff's gaze, all he could see was a supply closet in the corner... oh. He normally wasn't much for public displays, or for public anything, but once again, Jeff was having an unusual effect on him. Adam had introduced him to the joys and thrills possible in a broom closet some years ago in an encounter that still stood out in his mind, even though the circumstances had never been repeated. Mark looked at Jeff, a slight smile playing on his lips as he considered the energetic young man in front of him. "So... we've got quite a bit of time to kill before we leave. Any ideas?" **** You did mean it, but that's okay because I think I've finally figured this whole thing out. Every movement in Hunter's body came to a sudden halt. It was if his heart had suspended operations, caught between one shattering thud and the next. Dave was stopping Hunt from touching him, stopping him from stemming the flow of words about to come from Dave's mouth with desperate, silencing kisses. When Hunter had reached for his dark lover, tried to continue the passionate kiss that his panic had interrupted, his hands had found only Dave's retreat. The beautiful man slipping like water between Hunt's grasping fingers, moving away and taking his heat, his affection with him. Dave needn't have raised the hand towards him. Hunter may be blind to the intentions in those bitter chocolate eyes, but he could see�that Dave had pulled away for a reason. A reason that given the look on his�lover's exotic face, Hunter knew he would loathe. Not a single part of his body touched the one so close to it anymore, Hunt noted sadly. "You, my love, are a control freak." "Am not," Hunter denied automatically in his head, but it was a pathetic attempt at rebellion. Dave wasn't talking about only the phone when he used the word 'control', he was talking about something far deeper that Hunter was only just skirting around the edges of discovering. Sure... he wanted the phone back. He needed the thing. It was useful. It was his means of communicating with the world, of making his decisions known and putting his stamp on what was going on around him. If he couldn't speak to people, he couldn't get them to... okay, yeah... control issues. "It's beyond your control and it's driving you crazy..." 'Probably,' Hunt thought�as Dave graced him with an agonisingly sweet smile, 'I wonder if I could tell.' "...you probably outweighed them by a good forty pounds..." "...you knew you could get free... you can't say that with me, can you Hunt?" "I outweigh you... you couldn't move..." "It ties you in knots..." Hunter wondered if this is what it felt like to have his skin peeled off. Dave's words seemed to be tearing strips off�him�with their vicious honesty, fine lines of truth causing pieces of Hunter to spill free from the confines of his heart. He didn't doubt a single thing the other man was saying and somewhere deep inside his heart he appreciated the kindness and understanding Dave was showing him. The love that was being demonstrated in this slow-moving vehicle while Hunter caught a glimpse of himself in the tarnished mirror David was holding up to him with his terribly brilliant deductions. Tied in knots was an apt description for the condition of Hunter's stomach, the fluttering churn a physiological response to the turmoil unleashed in his head. It was all so heartbreakingly true. Every word. "If you don't completely trust the person you're with.... you don't trust me," At that, Hunter looked hard into Dave's eyes, meeting that tragically sympathetic gaze with his own defiant one. He trusted this man with his life. To be there, to use all the skills in their repertoires to keep each other safe while they rampaged around the ring and broke all the rules. Of course he trusted Dave... he just didn't trust himself. "You don't and that's fine." 'No it isn't.' But Hunter remained silent, his paralysis still complete as he absorbed the impact of the evidence produced so beautifully in Dave's deep, rich voice. It was a condemnation, but also a revelation that Hunt hadn't known he'd needed... till he heard it. "I'm not going to ask you to... you are going to have to take the initiative.." It was a reasonable request and one that Hunter, in his turn, could completely understand. Dave shouldn't have to keep pushing at Hunter's wall, just to get a cold shoulder at every turn. It wasn't working, obviously, and didn't really do much for the health of their relationship. The big man was right, Hunter had to be the one to take the first step past this... he couldn't be pushed, because he'd just push back. That was the essence of the fucking problem. "Now if I'm wrong... why you freeze up whenever I touch you" Dave had just qualified for the sweetest guy in the world trophy, by offering Hunter a way out. A chance to deny all the charges and make up some bullshit excuse for his reactions. But for all Hunter maybe�a man with some 'problems' lying to himself wasn't one of them. Denial was just making a fool out of yourself and wary be the man who thought Hunter the fool. His body once more under his control... ha... Hunter leaned forward in his seat until he could shield his face in his hands. Long fingers carded through his hair as Hunter rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the frighteningly clean floor of the limousine. The silence was oppressive and Hunter knew it was up to him to relieve them of the tension. But his mind was still ratcheting back and forth like a�shot in a pinball game, impacting against one group of words before spinning away to collide with another. Okay... last things first. "You're not wrong." He didn't recognize his own voice, but whether it was his throat that was damaged or his ears, Hunter didn't know. "In fact, I don't think you could have been more right if you'd been my therapist for ten years." Not that he had one, but after the last few days Hunt was wondering if making an appointment might not be a good idea. "How the fuck do you do that David? How can you see me so clearly when I can't even.... " He couldn't even finish the thought, let alone his sentence. The warmth spread from the skin between his shoulder blades and tried to melt the hard cold ball in his gut. Shawn. His lover was beside him, trying to give him support and understanding while Hunt had a life-altering epiphany in the back of a stretch car. Beautiful, caring Shawn. Team his best friend up with the brilliant and empathic Dave and Hunter couldn't stand a chance. No more wondering or angst over what the hell was going on his head... just ask his lovers, they'd tell him. "It's good for us that you have the heart to match that vision." Another statement that caught all the drama and bound it in a nutshell. Hunter felt incredibly young all of a sudden, even though there was barely several years' difference in their ages. Was he really so naive? His emotions and reactions seemed such a disorganized mess of conflict, one that he doubted he had a hope of untangling, yet Dave and Shawn seemed so sure. So comfortable in their own skins and with their own needs. It was akin to fumbling around for a light switch while everyone else had candles. But he couldn't keep wallowing in his shock and self-analysis. His personal take on the world had been knocked so far out of left field recently that if the Renaissance of Hunter was to happen, it would be with his full and unflinching co-operation. He was still coward enough to hide his burningly dry eyes in his palms though, he needed that much protection at least. Hunt kept his words brief and to the point, he had no energy to put towards making them elegant. "Shawn, as usual, is right. You both are." But his sentences were also disjointed, the phrases spilling out the second they came into his head. "No-one else has ever had power over me. Vince has it in a professional sense, but we both know he can push me only so far." Hunter had given Vince that minor power and he knew his father-in-law would never abuse that trust. Even yesterday the old man had backed down to him when he tried to control who Hunter would love. "Even Kev and Scotty, who could hand me my ass, we all know that; have never used their strength on me like... like you can Dave." Finally Hunter looked up and had no idea what his face must have looked like, only that it moved Dave to try and speak once again. "I do trust you Dave... and yes it doesn't seem that way, but I do." Now it was his turn to try and get his lover to see. "I know I froze before�and my plan was to try and wrestle you, to take back control of... us. I also know that I did feel trapped and helpless and so turned on I couldn't think straight. But Dave," and Hunter leaned forward into the dark man's personal space, his hand secure in Shawn's shirt, "...I wasn't scared." It wasn't a denial of cowardliness, it was honesty. He hadn't been afraid of Dave or his imprisonment, just shocked and uncertain of what to do, how to respond. Oh... and he had wanted to be the boss... no denying that. "I'll take you up on your bargain Love. You'll let me run things till I ask for more? I get that, although my 'iron control' has been around a long while, I wouldn't want you to get bored waiting." But it would be okay, Shawn was more in tune with Dave than maybe Hunter ever would be and if Hunt could never give himself up to Dave's control, then that would be something they had to face in�the future. Would Dave understand that? Would those penetrating midnight eyes see that Hunter might not be able to let himself be ruled by another, even someone he loved?�Or would they forever hold that�pained understanding that was just about killing Hunter dead? God... he hated limos. **** "...we've got quite a bit of time to kill before we leave. Any ideas?" Like wavering a proverbial red flag, Mark's voice dropping to that sultry register went straight to Jeff's cock and reminded him that he hadn't�had sex�since last night. "Ideas?" Jeff repeated with a wicked smile, taking Mark's hand and walking backwards towards the supply closet. "Honey, you'll find I'm practically a genius when it comes to finding the best ways to kill time." He'd let the endearment drop again, deliberately this time to see what Mark's reactions would be. The big man didn't seem bothered, didn't roll his eyes or tug his hand away from Jeff's fingers with an 'eewww' or anything. Reaching the door, Jeff's evil plan was almost thwarted by a locked door. But that was soon proven incorrect, the danger of people stealing printer paper and Styrofoam coffee cups was low... the door just stuck a little when he'd tried the handle. Come-hither look firmly in place, Jeff tugged his big, sexy man into a space that while sufficient for storage, was bordering on cramped when two full grown men tried to occupy the space. Perfect. Backing up, Jeff shifted his ass half onto a box stenciled with the words [BAR. It Brownie] and reached out a dangling foot to shut the door behind Mark's back. There was very little light, only the thin glow from the main lounge hitting their ankles and casting the room in a strange soft grey glow.�But Jeff wasn't bothering to find a switch, he was too busy trying to pull Mark's head towards his, his position on the boxes giving him a few added inches so that his taller lover wouldn't strain something cooped up in here. "See my idea, my fuckin' brilliant idea Honey," and he let the name purr from his lips as Jeff gifted Mark's cheekbones with small, breathless kisses, "is to get you somewhere quiet," the young man dropped his voice to a whisper, but kept tasting�down the�silky-rough skin of�exposed neck�"...and dark." Blindly he stroked across Mark's massive shoulders, still, even without sight,�one hand found its favorite spot on the back of a strong neck, while the other worked its way around and down Mark's black clad chest. "Then I'm going to do my best," deft fingers began to work on the cool metal of�a�belt buckle. "To get you to kiss me goodbye... Honey." It was more than a kiss, more than a disinterested press of lips on lips. If Jeff had been hoping for a reaction with his teasing, then his hopes weren't in vain. Mark's tongue was a sweet invader, tangling and dancing with Jeff's own, taking everything the writhing man could give through his lips and returning lust with lust until Jeff had to brace himself on the boxes to keep from getting dizzy. Long seconds passed while their mouths made love, hands tracing muscle and sinew, bodies beginning to catch alight with passionate fire.�Jeff parted his legs wantonly, trying to urge Mark closer, to bring his warm sex into contact with the firm shaft he could feel behind his lover's clothes. Jeff felt a totally irrational desire rise in him, a stupid, crazy delightful idea that went beyond kisses and involved Jeff bent over the boxes while Mark made love to him in this private hidden room. The needy ache was already beginning to push at his self-control, but Jeff had some restraint even if it wasn't normally obvious. They couldn't. Not like this. Their 'might be a relationship' was walking a deadly line between existing and being nothing at the minute. Rushing into bed had been the cause of the nightmare this morning and while no beds were on offer, the theory was the same. So, no fucking of the naked variety. Of course, there was always the wild, filthy kind that suited their clandestine situation perfectly. Tearing his mouth from Mark's, Jeff swiped his tongue over delicious wet lips and pushed at his lover's chest, moving Mark away enough so that he could slide off the boxes and drop gracefully to his knees. Pressing his mouth to the half-opened zip, Jeff delved inside the denim to find the perfect length within. Feeling a ferocious hunger well up, Jeff desperately wanted to finish what he'd started this morning. What he'd killed with his foolish words. Maybe now, he could have that first taste of Mark. If he was allowed. Licking his lips in anticipation, Jeff looked up to catch Mark's eyes, the brilliant green clearer as his vision had adjusted to the darkness. "Can I?" **** He made it into the kitchen, leaving Chris to deal with his climbing bundle of fur, and approached the young lady staring through the doorway in confusion. He ignored the litter of groceries across the counter when the whirlwind known as Jess bombarded him with a dozen questions, some related some not, and tried to pay attention. "Adam, what in the world is going on? I'm putting away groceries when all of a sudden this huge black fur ball jumps up on the counter and starts rubbing against me. Why is there a cat here? You don't like cats remember? I still remember when you threw a shoe out your window at Boots because she wouldn't stop yowling outside your window." She was giving him one of those stern 'tell me the story here' looks when her interest switched gears quickly. He could feel her stare boring through his forehead and knew what was coming before she even spoke a word. "There's blood in your hair. You are hurt, aren't you? I know it didn't happen during your match Monday because I watched it with mom and you were fine then. Did you get into a fight? Where else are you hurt at?" She was just starting to reach for the hem of him shirt and he'd gently smacked her hands away in exasperation as Chris' voice floated through the room. "I'm sorry if Valentino got a little too friendly... Jessica..?" At least that had put a temporary stem to Jess' questions, though Adam didn't fool himself in thinking that it was a permanent reprieve. He stifled a laugh as the young lady gave his significant other a thorough once over with her eyes. Despite her crush, he didn't think she'd be too disappointed to find out that he and Chris were now an item. Chris, as smart as he was, was not a rocket scientist... so her interest was a passing fancy. And Chris was used to being ogled by both sexes so he couldn't see it bothering his lover terribly unless it became a regular occurrence. With Jess that was highly possible... the teenage imp in her just wouldn't be able to resist watching him squirm if she got any kind of abnormal reaction. "The big man here likes to get into the lap of any woman he comes across." He was simultaneously curious and thanking god that Chris had qualified that statement to the fairer sex. The last thing he wanted was to find himself with a big bundle of fur in his lap at any given opportunity. "I did call him Valentino for a reason." Now the name kind of made sense, though he still considered Satan a much more applicable tag for the beast. He smiled as Jess explained that she had simply been startled because she had never, ever expected Adam to have a cat in his house... at least voluntarily. He smirked when the little flirt batted her eyes at his lover and said she thought he was cute... the cat, not Chris... she wasn't quite that brave apparently. "It's Chris' cat, obviously, otherwise it wouldn't have made it past the front door," he said turning to look at the beast with a wicked grin. "And if he starts howling at my window, I'll throw a shoe at him too. Rule number four, no commandeering Jess' lap, she has that reserved for... Ow!" Turning back to his neighbor with a scowl, he rubbed his arm lightly. "What? I was going to say your cat." He tried pouting, but she wasn't buying it. "Yeah, right. Now, back to the topic at hand... what, besides your head, is injured and whose butt do I get to kick for making you bleed?" He snorted as she reached for his shirt yet again and then rolled his eyes as he smacked her hands away again. "You're not going to leave me alone until you see it are you?" He groaned when she shook her head and then lifted his shirt enough for her to see his ribs and the colorful bruising on his back. The quiet hiss of sympathy said more than anything else she could have done. His skin probably looked like one of Hardy's more colorful dye jobs if his pain level was any indication. "Is that it or... ?" Adam cut off that question with a look of outrage. "Yes, missy, that's it and even if it wasn't... that's all you would be seeing. You're not getting me out of my pants you little hussy." "As if I'd even want to," his tormentor answered with a smirk before sending a flirtatious glance in Chris' direction. "Although if it were Chris here, you can bet..." Adam couldn't help laughing, but he tried to be stern when he cut her off with a "Don't finish that sentence or I'm telling your mother." Her typical teenage response, sticking her tongue out at him, reassured him slightly. She was only teasing and he was hoping that Chris would realize that and not take offense. As she grabbed a couple of packages off the counter and headed to the refrigerator with them, he sent a sympathetic look at his lover, still wrapped in black fur. "So you never did say who I have to maim... ?" He growled slightly as he remembered the incident, but then smiled when he thought of the perfect reply. It would clue Jess in without seeming too terribly obvious... he hoped. He smiled adoringly at Chris for a moment before turning back to look at her. "You aren't going to do anything of the sort, besides Chris already broke his fingers for me. Isn't that sweet?" Her head whipped around like a bobble-head doll and she just stared at him open-mouthed for a moment. He wasn't sure if it was because he had said breaking someone's fingers was sweet or because she'd correctly interpreted the big hint that he'd dropped. Adam found out a moment later when another shriek split the air as she dropped the ice pack she'd been pulling from the freezer. "Oh my god! You finally told him? That is so awesome! I told you that you should tell him. Didn't I?" He was cheerfully going to strangle her. **** � "That wasn't unexpected Kev. It's called a miracle... I'll prove to Benny that we're not spawn of the Devil even if it takes a year." Nodding slightly, Kevin continued eating while he thought about it. Bret had never liked them, not in the WWF, not in WCW, and the only reason they'd ever been able to figure out was because of Shawn. Well, not Shawn directly, as far as he knew, but because of their taking him into their relationship as a third. Since Bret had had some sort of thing with Shawn---although not something anyone had ever been willing to call a relationship---it couldn't have been because of their gender. Too bad Benoit was such a good friend of Bret's, because all the Harts really seemed to be good at anymore was being bitter. "But Scott, that's not completely true. You call me a little devil all the time." And here was something to take his mind off of one of his least favourite ex-co-workers. In fact... speaking of co-workers... Kev's eyes narrowed slightly as Sean and Scotty indulged in their normal�banter. He'd never gotten a chance to do more than nod at Mark, but seeing him come in with Hardy at his side had been a screaming alarm that something had happened last night. Sean's interesting behavior, right up until Mark of all people had cornered him and said... something... to him, was another sign, and one that Kev had far too much experience in dealing with Sean to ignore. Putting down his fork with a slightly regretful expression, he cast a quick look at Glen to make sure that Sean's other half looked as relaxed as Sean did before he put the Kid on the spot. Good. Glen looked just fine, and his laugh at Scott's comeback proved that. Leaning back a little, Kevin turned his gaze on Sean, complete with raised eyebrow. "So, Sean... what in the world happened with Mark and Jeff Hardy last night? When I talked to him yesterday, he was so far stuck in denial about the kid that he needed a lifejacket. What did you do?" **** The slouch in Hunter's normally rigid posture made his heart ache. He wanted to reach out and comfort Hunter's during his distress, but he wanted the answer just as much and he wasn't sure he would get it if he gave into his impulses. Silence had descended on the limo in a smothering cloud and Dave held his breath as he waited for someone to break it. It seemed like an eternity but was in reality only a moment or two before Hunter gave him the answer he sought. "You're not wrong." His heart clenched tightly once again. He'd just found out that he hated being right as much as he'd hated being wrong earlier. He just couldn't win today, obviously. And where did Hunter's admission leave them? Could they work past it? Would Hunter even want to try to? It would take a huge change for Hunter to give up that iron-willed control and not everyone could do it. Going into a relationship and expecting someone to change for you was more often than not a recipe for disaster. Dave was hoping and praying that it wouldn't be in this case, but only time would tell. "How the fuck do you do that David? How can you see me so clearly when I can't even.... " He could answer that, but did he really want to expose more of his past at this point? Dave wasn't really sure that he did. He could say it was because he'd studied his lover, learning his mannerisms and moods, and that he'd finally put the pieces together, but he doubted that that was the answer Hunter was looking for. More than anything, he wanted to reach out and pull Hunter into his arms and take it all back... take that torn up look from his face, but at this point that might do more harm than good. He just wasn't sure. Luckily they had Shawn. Dave's attention was taken for just a moment by the movement of Shawn changing seats, his eyes meeting Shawn's over Hunter's back as Shawn offered the comfort that Dave just couldn't at the moment. He could see the sadness lingering there for Hunter's pain and a flash of something else that knew was about him but he wasn't up to trying to identify. He didn't want to keep analyzing everything that happened between the three of them. In that moment, he sincerely wished that he'd kept his mouth shut and just let Hunter have his way. It wouldn't have helped solve anything, not that he was sure his little speech had done that anyway, but it would certainly have been less painful. "You see so much, sweetheart... It's good for us that you have the heart to match that vision." Did he really? It seemed kind of heartless to rip apart the man you loved, bare the foundations of his soul, for your own benefit. He couldn't even bear to look at Shawn as he tried to convince himself that it had been a necessary evil... that they'd never make anything of this relationship beyond really hot sexual encounters if they weren't honest with each other and themselves. The thing was, they had so many other issues to deal with between them that maybe it wasn't destined to happen anyway. Had tearing Hunter down been of any real benefit or was he pinning his hopes on something that was doomed to fail from the beginning? No... he couldn't start thinking that way again or he might as well have them pull the damn limo over to the curb and get out on the closest corner. He could find his way home, lick his wounds, and then spend the rest of his life wondering if he'd done the right thing. No way. Still... as Hunter started talking again, Dave felt like he was being pelted with stones rather than words. He'd wanted honesty and Hunt was giving it to him. It was the tone as much as the words that hurt. He'd caused this and now he had to take his own medicine... face his own truths. "Even Kev and Scotty, who could hand me my ass, we all know that; have never used their strength on me like... like you can Dave." He was thankful that Hunt was looking at the floor rather than him when he flinched from the impact of those words. He'd told Hunter that he didn't trust him, had been prepared to argue if Hunter said otherwise, but to hear it in Hunter's own ragged voice hurt more than he'd thought it would. Dave had meant it when he told Hunter that he loved him... it had snuck up on him, that was true, but this thing was growing by leaps and bounds each minute that he spent with the man. Never would he consider forcing Hunt to do anything he didn't want to, anything that he wasn't comfortable with... and he was just about to tell him that when Hunter looked him right in the eye. "I do trust you Dave... and yes it doesn't seem that way, but I do..." Dave blinked and waited for more. He was sure Hunter wasn't done and he wasn't sure he understood how that could possibly be true when he had the evidence of Hunter's reaction to prove otherwise. "...I did feel trapped and helpless and so turned on I couldn't think straight. But Dave, I wasn't scared." He felt a huge wave of relief run through him. As long as Hunt wasn't scared of him, and that thought had just about killed him, then they could deal with this... thing. If he understood correctly, then Hunter's problem was with being submissive rather than anything that he'd actually done and he could understand that to some extent. Even though he'd never had control issues to the extent that Hunter apparently did, his first experience with being on the submissive side of the coin had been an eye-opening experience. And he did have his experiences with Sean to give him insight as well. Hunt being in his personal space had his fingers itching again to give that comfort he'd forced himself not to give. "I'll take you up on your bargain Love. You'll let me run things till I ask for more? I get that, although my 'iron control' has been around a long while, I wouldn't want you to get bored waiting." Bored? Hunt had to be joking. The one thing he would never expect from this relationship was boredom. Finally giving into the urge that he just couldn't restrain any longer, Dave captured Hunter's free hand with his own. Closing his eyes, he lifted that strong hand to his mouth and brushed his lips against the palm before clasping it within both his hands and lowering them to his knee. He shook his head slightly as he opened his eyes, capturing Hunt's intense gaze with his own once again. "Hunter... I can promise you that I�m not going to get bored. I love you. So if you need time then I'm more than willing to give it to you." Dave knew he was speaking to more than just Hunter's issues at the moment, but he wasn't sure Shawn would pick up on it. "I'm not going to run because you're not falling on your back for me, begging me to take you. I may do that though... fair warning." He smiled, hoping it would lighten the atmosphere surrounding them at least a little bit, but kept to the serious topic at hand. "You may never be able to be the submissive type Hunt. Some people, like me, enjoy it at times... some just can't. I'm hoping that curiosity will eventually make it worth the risk. You've met O'Haire... if you think you have control issues... I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sean used to be the most controlling bastard that I've ever met. With enough incentive, even he caved into his curiosity eventually so I'm not going to give up hope that you might give it a try some day. If you don't then we'll find a way to work around it." "That doesn't mean I won't ask for something from time to time. If there's something I want... I'll ask. I may even try some gentle persuasion, but I'm not going to try to bulldoze over you to get it. The way I feel about you, I could never push you for anything you don't want to give Hunt. Ever." Dave leaned a bit closer to Hunt, finally breaking the connection of their eyes, rubbing his cheek against the unshaven roughness of Hunter's. "So right now I'm going to ask you for something. Later tonight, when we're all settled at your house, I want you to consider giving me that punishment that I earned earlier." Dave winked over Hunt's shoulder at Shawn, though he couldn't be sure the blond caught his actions. "If you can't then that's fine, but for right now... I really want you to kiss me. I don't want this conversation to scare you off limousines for life, so give us something to make this all worthwhile. Show me that forcing this issue wasn't the wrong thing to do. Kiss me." **** "Are you coming down with something?" Sean jerked away from the hand on his forehead and glared at his lover. So much for Glen being proud of him. And why did everyone always assume that he was sick when he tried to behave himself? True, it didn't happen terribly often, but they needn't act like it never happened. "I was trying to be nice for a change, obviously I should have reverted to normal and been intentionally provoking instead," he said rolling his eyes at Glen. Finishing off the last bite of his cake, he realized that everyone had left except for Kevin and Scott. He was still incredibly happy for the two of them and they hadn't had a lot of time to talk lately. Sean had missed it more than he had realized, but it had been important for Kevin and Scott to have space to work out their problems. Now that they had... Sean popped from his seat and stuck his tongue out at his smirking lover as he rounded the end of the table and approached the two men. Hearing the tale end of their conversation, though he had no clue what had sparked it in the first place, Sean grimaced upon hearing the name Bret Hart. No love lost there, Bret had never really been the warm and cuddly type and when it came to anyone in the Clique, he was ten times more likely to hit them than to say hi. He couldn't help but comment though when Scott said that they weren't spawn of the devil. "But Scott, that's not completely true. You call me a little devil all the time." The cheek pinch was expected, as was the slap to Scott's hand in retaliation. He wasn't sure why Scott was so obsessed with his cheeks, but this was an old game for them. "That's because you drive us all batty, Sean, not because you're evil incarnate... but we love you anyway." Sean didn't take it personally because he knew that Scott and Kev did love him... as family. They always looked after him and he tried his best to look after them as well. He had been there through one of the worst times ever for Kev and for Scott both. And they were always there for him when he had rough patches as well. They could always count on each other. That didn't mean he wasn't going to pick on them every chance he got... especially Kevin. "Damn, Kev. Good thing you and Scott are back together. You're going to need some help working off all that food." Kevin ignored his prod and gave back one of his own. He just didn't know what he was prodding. Then again maybe Kevin did. It didn't make Sean any happier with his question though. "So, Sean... what in the world happened with Mark and Jeff Hardy last night? When I talked to him yesterday, he was so far stuck in denial about the kid that he needed a lifejacket. What did you do?" He gaped for a moment at Kevin's assumption that he had anything to do with Mark and Jeff's new situation. How the hell did Kevin do that? Then he got a little anxious that Kev was going to give him hell for interfering. The big man had warned him more than once that sticking his nose into things wasn't always the best way to go about something. That didn't even touch on the strain he'd put on his and Glen's relationship last night. He was going to get his butt chewed. But he couldn't not tell Kevin what had happened. It was kind of like your dad asking why you were trying to sneak into the house at 3 a.m. He had to answer the question because Kevin had asked, but he didn't have to like doing it. He tried pouting. He was hoping to gain some sympathy, but he could tell that Kevin wasn't biting. "I was trying to drop a few subtle hints that Jeff and Mark had a thing for each other and they weren't exactly appreciative of my efforts." He could see Kevin's doubt at the word subtle, but ignored it. "Glen got ticked at me for interfering and while we were discussing, very loudly, the reason that I stuck my nose into it, I happened to mention that Mark and Jeff were both obviously into each other. Mark and Jeff had the room next door and apparently overheard our little... discussion." He was so not going to call it a fight, though he was sure Kevin had that figured out. "I'm sure they would have figured it all out on their own... given twenty or thirty years to think about it." He stared mutinously at Kevin. Maybe if sympathy wouldn't work, then righteous indignation would. He had been right after all. "They said thanks, though I'm sure Mark's regretting it about now since he's decided we should try to be friends. Jeff called me the Guru of love though... that was kinda cool." Glen groaned and buried his face in his hands. Sean just grinned. **** "Shawn, as usual, is right. You both are." Barely keeping back the snort that wanted to escape at those words, Shawn wished that they were words he could bring up again later without bringing these memories with them. He couldn't remember Hunter ever admitting that he was right... at least, not like that. Keeping his fingers moving in slow, comforting motions across Hunt's back, he watched Dave, seeing answering pain in the dark eyes that were focused so intently on the man between them. Why couldn't this be easy, without all the melodrama and problems that had already arisen? ...Because it was them. Because nothing this important was ever going to be as easy as he was wishing; because if it was worth having the way that he wanted to have it, it was worth fighting for. Even if that meant fighting themselves. Movement beneath his hand warned him, and he shifted slightly as Hunter looked up, keeping his hand where it was as Hunter straightened. Right this second, the last thing he wanted to do was lose that contact. What he really wanted was to wrap himself around both of the men beside him and try to ease the pain that they were all feeling, but it wasn't going to work out that way. "I did feel trapped and helpless and so turned on I couldn't think straight. But Dave... I wasn't scared." That was... unexpected. And a relief. Hunter might never be able to fully give up his precious control, but at least it wouldn't be fear keeping it intact. Of course, he'd seen something similar to this before, hadn't he? Some quiet conversations with Scott, years ago, came to mind. He'd always wondered, before and after his time with the two of them, if all parts of their relationship were equal... but he couldn't see it being so. Kevin was just so much in charge, so much in control of himself all the time, that he hadn't been able to picture that precious control being given up. Without telling him enough to make any of them uncomfortable, Scott had been able to assure him that it did happen... and had generally mentioned the issues Kev had had to deal with to get there. Maybe he should suggest that Hunter give Kevin a call. Kev would surely be able to offer some sort of advice... Hell, maybe it would be his turn to make a phone call once they got to Hunter's house. It had been a while since he and Scotty had really talked... and now he had some specific questions for his friend. "I'll take you up on your bargain Love.... I wouldn't want you to get bored waiting." Somehow, Shawn suspected boredom would never be a problem with the three of them. The fact that Hunter hadn't refused, hadn't denied, and had in fact simply asked for patience on that particular issue... that was hopeful. Even more hopeful was Dave's reaction. "I love you. So if you need time then I'm more than willing to give it to you." Shawn's head snapped around at that. The words might have been addressed to Hunter, but somehow, he just knew that they were directed at both of them. Was this Dave's way of telling him, while reassuring Hunt, that he knew that Shawn needed time? That he was okay with that? That Shawn shouldn't try to rush things, or say those all-important words before he knew that he meant them? His eyes wide, Shawn could only stare as Dave continued to speak, his own mind racing. There was so much between the three of them, much of it filling the atmosphere in the limo as they tried to move forward here. Move forward... emotionally. The problem was that Shawn didn't know what emotions were filling him at that moment. Love, joy, empathetic pain, pride in Hunter, near-awe of Dave's patience... love. That was the important one, wasn't it? And it was one-sided on his part. Only... was it? It had to be. Didn't it? He'd known Dave for a long time now, but had never felt anything like that for the man... only attraction, both physical and intellectual. But he'd been telling the absolute truth yesterday morning when he'd told Dave that he could love him. Shawn could sense it, could practically see the possibility standing just over the horizon, with the way that Dave felt about Hunter and himself, the way he treated them... everything that Dave was drew Shawn to him. And here Dave was, telling both of his issue-ridden lovers that he understood, that he was willing to give them as much time as they needed. He didn't deserve this man. Everything he'd ever done, the relationships he'd been in in the past, everything he'd learned told him that he didn't deserve this kind of patient understanding, the love that he could feel emanating from Dave. Even the emotions coming from Hunter tripped that switch, because he still couldn't believe that everything he'd dreamt about for nearly a decade had been given to him so easily. Well... not easily, but the fact of giving them at all went in the face of all of his experiences. Damn it. Dave was so calm, so collected; even Hunter was more controlled than this. Did either of his lovers know just what they were getting in him? Someone so insecure, so convinced of his own unworthiness, that even with two men who'd repeatedly professed their love to him sitting right next to him, that he found himself doubting. He didn't doubt Hunter or Dave's feelings, not one little bit. But doubting himself... that was easy. He'd had years of experience with it. He wasn't about to walk away from this, not now... but it would take a long time before he could convince himself that he deserved this. Half-listening to Dave's soothing words, Shawn filed them away under the heading of 'Things to Ask Dave About Later'... preferably out of Hunter's hearing, since the whole dominance thing would probably bother him even to hear about. Although... maybe they should talk about it with him... well. Privately first, maybe. Keeping back the sigh that wanted to escape, Shawn forced himself to focus on the current discussion. He'd have to try to deal with his own problems later... hopefully without Dave---or Hunter---forcing them out of him at an inopportune moment, because even Mark hadn't been able to convince him that he was wrong about some of them. "So right now I'm going to ask you for something.... I want you to consider giving me that punishment that I earned earlier." That caught his attention. He managed a somewhat weak smile in answer to Dave's wink, but he suspected that his own internal struggle was far more visible than he'd like it to be. The thought of Hunter spanking Dave... that helped clear his head, at least. "If you can't then that's fine, but for right now... I really want you to kiss me.... give us something to make this all worthwhile. Show me that forcing this issue wasn't the wrong thing to do." If Hunter couldn't bring himself to do it... Shawn suspected that taking control wouldn't be a problem, but if it was, he'd be more than happy to volunteer his services. Well. Apparently Dave had succeeded in getting him out of his own internal debates, at least for the moment. Lips curving slightly at that, Shawn knew that he could only ignore his emotional tangles for a little while longer before they caused their own problems... but for now, they'd have to wait. Right now, his attention was completely absorbed in the unspeakably beautiful sight in front of him as Hunter leaned forward. Shawn's fingers tightened unconsciously on Hunter's shoulder, not wanting the moment to end... and ruthlessly ignoring the part of him that was shrieking for attention of his own. **** "...whose butt do I get to kick for making you bleed?" Chris had decided he liked Jessica the moment she started teasing Adam. His opinion rose into 'ally' territory the moment he found that she was owned by a feline herself and shot right into 'partner in crime' when she bullied Adam into showing his injuries. His lover wasn't looking at her face, his arms at an odd�angle after lifting his shirt to show the mottled pattern of colours across his ribs. Chris, however, did see Jessica's face as she assessed the wounds on her neighbour. It was that expression, one of irritation, caring and outright fury that pulled her straight into the small orbit of people CJ considered friends. She obviously cared for Adam in the�perfectly platonic manner of long time teen-adult friendships and her questions regarding Adam's attacker weren't quite as teasing as they appeared to be. 'You'll have to wait in line,' Chris thought as Adam studiously avoided mentioning Terry's name. Although Jessica might be just about the best person to aim at the Asshole, once he was incapacitated of course. Chris would relish the�hornless wonder�being kicked in the balls by a teenage girl. "Although if it were Chris here, you can bet..." Chris's surprised snort was caught in Valentino's fur as the beast tried its best to ram his head up CJ's nose. The sweetly�coy look that headed his way was just as much of a shock at the quip had been. Now Chris wasn't stupid, he had enough fans of the female variety to know that his ability to put someone in a headlock wasn't the main reason they�watched him work, but he hadn't expected that from Adam's young neighbour. The girl lived next door to Adam 'Edge' Copeland for god's sake... she should be flirting with him, not Chris. Before he could think up a reply that didn't contain the words 'thanks, but I'm fucking Adam actually', Jessica was distracted from anymore naughty�suggestions by his lover and a packet of frozen peas. From what little he knew of the girl, Chris couldn't see her admiration as being a problem, she was obviously destined for bigger and better things than a pro-wrestler with liking for maniacal cats, so a little harmless flirting wouldn't hurt anyone. And CJ just loved to tease girls about what they wanted in men. He could have Trish in hysterics when it came to picking her boyfriends or girlfriends for her, so flexing his cupid skills on young Jessica would be a brilliant way to get to know the girl. "...besides Chris already broke his fingers for me. Isn't that sweet?" Setting Valentino more firmly into his arms, Chris moved into the kitchen and leaned against the counter beside Adam. Satan, of course, tried to rub his fluffy, whiskered cheek on the taller man's shoulder, but CJ intercepted the move with a vigorous chin scratch and war was averted. He did raise an eyebrow at Adam's subtle explanation of their relationship. Jessica must know that his lover liked guys and not have a problem with it, a good thing in Chris's mind. He hated the idea of pretending he was just a house guest to the young woman. If they were to become friends, he didn't want to start off by lying. The high-pitched shriek caused CJ to wince and Valentino's tail to fluff up into raccoon proportions. Perhaps seriously re-thinking Jessica's lap as an option in the future, the cat's yellow eyes watched the dropped ice-pack with feline curiosity. It would have to be sniffed at some time in the future apparently. "You finally told him?... I told you that you should tell him. Didn't I?" Finally? Bright glittering smile on his lips and demon cat in arms, Chris turned to his lover with a amused expression. So, Jessica didn't just know that Adam liked men... she knew he liked one man in particular and if the expression on Adam's face was anything to go by, that information should have remained secret. "You told Jessica about me Babe? Really? Wow." Seriously, it was pretty cool to know that Adam had moaned about him to someone. "Was this over ice-cream or while watching a chick-flick?" Doubting that Jessica would be offended by his sexist remarks, but not willing to risk it, Chris winked at the young lady and offered, "I didn't have anyone to share my secret crush with, ice-cream or not." Moving a little closer to the fridge, Chris answered her original question. "He didn't really tell me he liked me in a straightforward way or anything. We went out to a club and there was some... tension..." this time Adam got the wicked little wink, "...so I said 'Hey, do you umm...?' and he said, "Yeah, um, do you like... you know...? Then there was some kissing, but you're too young to hear about that." Because of course, teenage girls never think about two good-looking men kissing each other. Much. "And as to the person responsible for the bruises, don't worry, there's a pretty long line and yours truly's at the head of it." Valentino, at that moment, chose to leap directly from Chris' arms, powerful back legs using his stomach as a spring-board and belt across the kitchen floor at fifty miles an hour. His target, it seemed, was�the back window, facing onto the rear of Adam's property, where a large Doberman had wandered in from across the street. A low growling sound could be heard issuing from the feline's chest and his tail, beyond raccoon now and into squirrel territory, was lashing back and forth with unmistakable intent. "Yeah sure," Chris mocked as he leaned down to pick up the frozen peas from the floor and hand them to Jessica. "You're all brave and kick ass when there's a pane of glass and a fence between you." Seeing Adam's tired face, Chris pointed a commanding finger at his poor wounded lover. "You. Upstairs. Bath. Now." **** "I�m not going to get bored. I love you. So if you need time..." Just like that. With eloquence that astounded Hunter, Dave gave him permission to be who he was, with no demands that he change, no pressure to become someone that he may not be capable of becoming. The words "I'm not going to run" relieving that knot of cold pain in his gut. The thing that had caused Hunter a measure of fear, unlike the weight of Dave's sculpted body in his lap, was the slim chance that the beautiful man might not be able to accept Hunter as he was, 'control issues' and all. He would try to let go of his need to run the show, but if he couldn't, if it was as much a part of Hunter as the�smirk and the nose, then he had to trust that Dave wouldn't give up on him. Because, deep down in a scary place that Hunt wouldn't admit to, he knew he would force himself to change if Dave wanted. If either he or Shawn found they couldn't tolerate Hunter as he was, be it the 'power' thing or the asshole side of his personality, then Hunt would try to fix himself for them. He may be creature that defined the word 'pride' but he would�alter his very soul for them if they asked. But Dave wasn't asking anything of the sort. His expressions and actions spoke of that far more thoroughly than his words and it had been Hunt who'd wanted to work though his problem. Dave was only asking him to�focus on a part of himself that didn't fit in with the rest, the piece of Triple H that made their lovemaking just a fraction short of perfect. "You may never be able to be the submissive type Hunt." Hunter honestly had to admit that he probably wasn't. "...and say that Sean used to be the most controlling bastard that I've ever met." Hunter stifled a massive surge of jealousy over the mention of Dave's ex. Damn it!.... Was there an issue he didn't have? "...we'll find a way to work around it." Now Hunter could shake off that hard pain inside him, now he could look into lovely, exotic eyes and let himself grin without an edge of agony. Dave Batista did not quit on someone he loved when they weren't perfect, he just stepped back, gave them room and waited to see what would happen. If he didn't love the man before, he certainly acknowledged it now. Sappy as it sounded, all�they needed was love and the three of them could take down mountains. "...doesn't mean I won't ask... may even try some gentle persuasion..." Dave was brilliant as well, a fucking genius to suggest a softly-softly approach to Hunter then qualify it by mentioning his plans to ask for what he wanted anyway. Just the very thought of Dave politely asking if he could tie Hunter to a bed was enough to bring Hunter's body back to full alert. That and the honeyed warmth of Shawn's thigh resting against his, his beloved's proximity a source of strength that Hunter hadn't even known he'd tapped. "...to consider giving me that punishment that I earned earlier." The rough catch of Dave's skin on his stubble took Hunter's breath away, the sultry promise in his lover's words sending pleased little messages straight to his cock. Hunt had been very turned on before the bloodletting had taken place, his hormones were still in the game even if his heart hadn't been. But Dave's request made him pause. Could Hunt do that? Could he bring himself to hurt Dave, even in such a superficial, enjoyable way? He was a certified master at wounding people emotionally, but despite his occupation, inflicting pain wasn't normally something he could bring himself to do and certainly not to someone he loved. Maybe he could... he'd think about it. Maybe. "...but for right now... I really want you to kiss me... Show me that forcing this issue wasn't the wrong thing to do. Kiss me." Hunter would reflect later that it had been a command. An order for Hunter to comply with, one that was wrapped in positives for Hunt as well, but those last two words had still been a demand for obedience. He didn't even stop to think... or panic. Hunter lifted Dave's jaw with his palm and pressed their mouths together in a long, loving kiss. Not as heady or passionate as the one earlier, but a kiss more of understanding, acceptance and apology. Hunter was totally enamoured of this amazing man and wanted to put all his worshipful feelings into this kiss, to make it the first stage of their new chapter and to put their physicality into some perspective. Pulling back fractionally, Hunter held Dave's lower lip in his own for a moment before nipping at it quickly with his teeth. Just because he didn't like being helpless, didn't mean that playing rough was out of the question. Driving back in, Hunter half-climbed onto Dave, body inclined over the gorgeous one along side it, lips drinking in his lover's skin, mouth and tongue. He kept his hands loose on Dave's jaw and chest, he wasn't trying to be alpha dog, just to give Dave what he wanted and to take what Hunt could feel so freely being offered. Because he could tell that Dave would give him anything. God... all�Hunter had to do was ask. Humbled,�he�slowly broke the kiss and shifted down until he could rest his cheekbone on Dave's chest. The thump-thump of�his lover's�heart, a balm to�Hunt's frayed nerves. Flicking one eye open,�he caught sight of Shawn's face, his best friend's hand had not once broken contact with his back. "Darling, you going to join us?" **** to be continued...

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