Chapter Text
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~ May 20th, 2017 ~
“Will you stop bitching about Cody Rhodes, ese?” Eddie complained, glaring lightly at Benoit.
“I can’t help it. I can’t stand him,” Chris grumbled.
“You don’t even know him.”
“I mean, I don’t like him on TV. The character. He’s just...ugh.”
Eddie laughed, shaking his head ruefully. “You’re a piece of work, holmes, you know that?”
Chris smiled and glanced at his best friend. Ten years had passed since they both retired. He had turn fifty earlier this month and Eddie would be the same come October. His own hair was almost completely gray while Eddie still had a few tuffs of brown. He sighed quietly. It seemed just like yesterday when they first met in Japan back in 1990.
“You okay? You sound like an old man.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I am an old man,” Chris countered dryly.
Eddie rolled his eyes. “Fifty isn’t old, holmes.”
“In ten years or so, we will be considered senior citizens.”
“Nanana, can’t hear you!” he covered his ears. He refused to accept the fact that they were no longer young. Nostalgia fell upon him when he recalled the many days on the road during his time with the company. Those were hard times. He remembered struggling to pay for the gas as well as food and the inappropriate moments the car would break down in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, he had it rough, but he also had the best time of his life; the endless jokes and the hysterical pranks everyone would pull on each other. He would cherish those precious memories.
As if sensing the change in thoughts, Chris softened and smiled at his lover. “At least we have stories to tell.”
“That’s true.”
He glanced at the TV. WWE sure had changed over the years. He couldn’t tell if it was for better or for worse.
At that moment, there was a sharp knock on the door.
Eddie blinked and stood up to answer it. They weren’t expecting any visitors, so who --
His train of thought was interrupted when a body barrelled into him.
“Surprise, hombre!”
“Rey, you ass,” Eddie snarked, but he was too happy to try and get mad at the sudden visit. He didn’t get to see Rey-Rey often.
Mysterio grinned cheekily, hugging his best friend. “Guess who I brought with me!”
Jericho walked in, carrying a paper bag with him. “Hey, guys! It’s been a few months haven’t it?” he greeted the two men.
“A few? Try six,” Chris corrected, smiling toothily as he hugged his fellow Canadian.
“Excuse me for having a terrible memory,” Jericho exclaimed dramatically, placing the bag on the coffee table.
“What’s in the bag, ese?” Eddie quipped, looking at it curiously.
“There’s a reason why they call it a surprise.”
“Smartass.”
“Okay, okay, you two. Calm down,” Chris interjected, getting between the former wrestlers. Out of the four, Rey was the only one who still worked in WWE.
Eddie snorted and sat down on the couch. “He started it,” he muttered.
Chris groaned, rolling his eyes at the latino’s immaturity.
Rey snickered and went to sit by the grumbling man. “Some thing never change,” he murmured.
“You know I’m the same old me,” Eddie snapped.
“And I never expect anything else,” Rey added affectionately, elbowing his friend.
Jericho pulled a scrapbook out of the bag. “Here’s Rey and my gift to you guys!”
“Hmm?” Chris grunted, peering at the book.
“Took us a few years to put all of the pictures together,” Rey quipped, smirking.
“Lemme see!” Eddie demanded, leaping off of the couch and yanking the gift out of Jericho’s hands.
“Eddie, play nice,” Chris hissed, gritting his teeth. Acutely embarrassed by his lover’s behavior, he threw an apologetic glance to Jericho. “I’m really sorry. He doesn’t usually act like this,” he muttered.
The younger man waved off Benoit’s apology. “No biggie. It’s for you guys anyway.”
They looked at the two latinos who were chattering excitedly at the pictures.
“Hey, look! It’s us at Dominic’s third birthday party.”
“Don’t forget about the one of all of us at Japan.”
For the next few hours, the four men gathered together and talked about the memories they all shared over the many years of friendship.
****
Waving Jericho and Rey-Rey off, Eddie shut the door and went back to the couch where his friend was still looking through the scrapbook. “It was nice of them to stop by,” he commented.
Chris nodded his head in agreement and closed the book, leaning back with a sigh. “Kurt will be out of prison in about two years,” he murmured absently.
Eddie flinched slightly. Even though it had been over thirteen years since those horrible days, he still wasn't comfortable with talking about Kurt. "Yeah," he mumbled. The fear wasn't there anymore, but he much rather not think about it.
Chris slapped himself, cursing inwardly. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up,” he spoke guiltily.
Eddie shrugged. “It’s okay, ese. It doesn’t bother me,” he lied, walking to the kitchen.
Chris frowned and followed his partner. “Still….”
Eddie sighed and turned around, wrapping his arms around the Canadian. “Listen, I’m fine. Don’t worry, okay? I have you and that’s that,” he reassured the man. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Benoit or himself. Perhaps it was both. He shook his moodiness away and began preparing dinner.
Chris relaxed, nodding. “You know you can always talk to me if you have things on your mind, right?” he probed gently.
Eddie gave the older man a soft smile. “Of course. But even then, we can deal with everything one day at a time,” he murmured.
Chris blinked. That was true. He glanced at the picture frame of him and Eddie hugging each other, laughing. They already did that.
Dealing with life one day at a time.
As long as they had each other, nothing else matters.
Not Kurt. Not the stupid everyday problems.
Just he and Eddie in this small town. Everything was perfect right now and he didn’t want to stain it. “I love you,” he spoke.
A small smile came across Eddie’s face and he leaned against the Canadian. “I love you too,” he purred.
Yes, everything was perfect. It was just right.
\ The End /