~ Backstage at Raw, Christmas 1997 ~

"So, Shawn... think we horrified Vince enough?" Hunter asked, smirking, as he and Shawn walked back to their locker room, arms around each others' waists. Hunter kept his tone casual, trying not to reveal how much he was being affected by the feel of Shawn's naked flesh against his. Thongs didn't really count as clothing, he decided.Shawn chuckled.

"Yeah. He's probably shitting himself. Wonder how big the fine'll be this time?" Hunter shrugged, enjoying the chance to have Shawn within his grasp, however fleetingly. Shawn seemed to be even more touchy-feely than normal---and Hunter wasn't complaining one bit. He pushed the locker room door open and reluctantly let Shawn slip free of him as they entered.

They chatted while pulling things out of their lockers, Hunter trying not to be obvious as he watched Shawn strip from the corner of his eye. He tried so hard not to, but it was so damned hard not to look---Shawn seemed intent on flaunting himself around Hunter lately.

A comfortable silence settled over them as they showered and dressed again, Hunter sneaking glances at Shawn whenever he thought Shawn wasn't looking. He wondered if he'd ever have the nerve to tell Shawn how he actually felt about him. He was involved with Joanie right now, but... he was starting to wonder if he was really in love with her.

Shawn's voice took Hunter by surprise, as lost in his thoughts as he was.

"Hey, Hunt---what're you up to tonight?" Hunter was mildly surprised at how tentative Shawn sounded, but chalked it up to distraction. He shrugged, zipping his jeans.

"Dunno. I think maybe Jo wanted to go out, but I'm not sure."

"Oh." Shawn sounded disappointed.

"Why? Did you want to do something?"

"Oh, I don't know. I was just thinking... maybe it'd be nice to hang out together tonight. We haven't done that for a while." It _had_ been a while, Hunter realised with a start, wondering when he'd started drifting away from the man he considered his best friend... and his longstanding wet dream.

"If you want to, I'm sure Jo won't mind, Shawn. She's been saying that we seem to be almost avoiding each other lately." She had, too, and he'd laughed at her, not seeing it himself until now. His own voice was tentative now, and he hated it, hated that he didn't know the mind of his best friend anymore. The suddenly tense silence made him keep talking. "I'm not sure how she came to that conclusion, given how much time we spend together." Hunter forced a chuckle, suddenly wanting desperately to change the topic.

Shawn was silent, for so long that Hunter finally turned and looked at him in concern.

"Y'okay, Shawn?" Shawn hesitated, then shrugged slightly.

"I dunno, Hunt. I mean..." He trailed off for a minute, before turning to look at Hunter, an unexpectedly serious look on his face. "Hunt, look... I need to tell you something."

Hunter's heart stopped, seeing... something... in Shawn's eyes.

"Sure, Shawn," Hunter said, concerned. He reached out, intending to put a hand on Shawn's shoulder, and was hurt when Shawn flinched away. But for some reason his mouth kept working, completely independently from his brain, and hearing what came out of it, he cringed, knowing that whatever Shawn wanted to tell him, it was important, and he was blowing it. "You know I'm your best friend, Shawn. You can tell me anything. I'm here for you."

Shawn hesitated again, his struggle for words completely unlike his normal self. He started to speak, then stopped, looking as though he were debating with himself. Hunter frowned in concern, ignoring the triphammer racing of his heart. Shawn took a breath and opened his mouth.

"Hunter... I..."

There was a knock at the door.

"Hunt? You in there? You done yet?" Jo's voice carried even through the thick door. Hunter grimaced at her timing, still worried about Shawn but almost relieved that he'd been interrupted. He looked at Shawn apologetically, but Shawn shrugged and smiled at him.

"It's okay, Hunt. Nothing important. Just... a lot of stuff going on lately. Don't worry about it. Really." Shawn's tone was light, but Hunter could see the shadows in his eyes. He reached out again, but Shawn side-stepped him without seeming to, and motioned toward the door, shooing him out.

"Go on, Hunt. Jo's waiting for you."

Hunter hesitated, but a nod from Shawn convinced him and he picked up his gym bag as Jo called through the door again. Part of him was screaming at him to stop, to make Shawn talk to him... but Shawn gestured toward the door again with a smirk, and he opened the door.

He walked out, smiling down at the woman he loved, and wondered why he felt like his heart was still in the room behind him.

Read Chapter3 of 10 of Penumbren's The Hermit