A/N: Hello. Thank you for looking at my story. This is an Auto Shop AU. Please enjoy it and leave a review. Or don't. I am not a beggar.

I don't own these characters.

Under The Hood

Chapter One

Seth checked the time on his phone for the seventh time since he had gotten on the treadmill. He didn't know why he was so nervous. He was just supposed to hang out with a few people from work. The people that worked at the garage were cool, but he was never nervous about hanging with them. Maybe it was the new guy making his anxiety peak.

He continued to run his warm down mile, but was thinking about stopping early. He needed a shower, and then he needed to stop by his apartment after he left the gym. He wanted to look good tonight. Even if that meant slightly nicer jeans, and a plain fitted t-shirt. Finally deciding to let his anxiety get the best of him, he turned off the machine and slowed to a walk as it powered down.

The girl that worked at the gym, Paige, came by with a towel and disinfectant to clean the machine. She had been watching Seth check his phone over and over. Assuming he was in a hurry to leave, she figured she would help him be on his way.

"Hey!" Seth said breathlessly, noticing the pale, compact woman. "You don't need to do that." He smiled at her thoughtfulness, as she wiped down the machine for him.

She smiled back. "It's fine. You got a big date?"

"No, just meeting people from work," Seth said, wondering if he was that obviously wound up. "There's some new people coming with us. You wanna go?" He offered. He had never invited her out before, thinking she'd take it the wrong way. But after years of interaction, she had to know he wasn't interested.

"I gotta close tonight, but thanks for thinking of me." She said simply. Her smile said that she was honestly grateful, and Seth thought he'd try again later. If she was grateful for the invite, then he would send another one her way soon.

"Alright," he said, grabbing his water bottle. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," the dark haired brit said, leaning on the newly clean machine.

His reflection looked amiss. There was something not quite right with him. Seth tried to tell himself that it was just chemical. His diet, or something. No way was he this put off by the new guy. Well, not 'put off' really. It was something else. He lost his confidence around this guy, and it was because Seth wanted to sleep with him so bad.

Seth was nothing but confident when it came to flirting. He never had a problem getting laid. In fact, it was pretty easy for him, but lately… He didn't want to just sleep with someone. He would. No doubt he would. But lately, he wanted more than just someone to sleep with. He figured he was getting soft in his old age, and dismissed it at the time. Then he met Dean Ambrose.

Seth sighed heavily just thinking about the guy. Not a dreamy sigh. A 'my tortured soul is giving me heartburn' sigh.

Dean was quick witted, disarmingly funny, charming when he wanted to be, and had a gritty sort of charisma that Seth couldn't resist. Dirty jokes and half smiles seemed to be Ambrose's specialties and they drove Seth crazy. He was about the same height as Seth and just as in shape. When they would talk at work, Dean in just his undershirt, Seth would stare at Dean's chest, arms, abs. wondering what it would be like for Dean to fuck him.

It was more than that though. Seth wanted Dean to like him. He wanted to hang out with him, make jokes with him, kiss him, impress him…

Standing there, looking in his bathroom mirror, Seth realized he had a crush. A full on teenage-girl-writing-about-you-in-her-diary crush. What the hell? Old age had made him soft.

"This is fucking stupid," Seth said, taking off the sport jacket he had put on over his t-shirt. He meant the jacket, and he meant his feelings. "Are feelings really fucking necessary?"

The cursing was making him feel better. It always did. Looking in the mirror, he decided to leave his hair down. Walking out of the bathroom, he picked up the sport jacket and put it back on the hanger. His apartment was generally clean. There were stacks of junk here and there, but nothing ever stayed on the floor for long.

"Time to go." With that he picked up his car keys and left for the sports bar.

Dean sat alone at the large table reserved for their party. He was the first one there. It wasn't usually his style, but he wanted a beer or two before the others got there. He sighed and took another gulp from the frothy glass and looked out into space. Why was he so nervous? It was just a work function.

He had made friends with nearly everyone there already. There was Punk the owner, Punk's wife and business manager AJ, the other mechanics Jimmy and Jey, the other new hire Roman, and the office manager Seth. Seth was the one who had introduced him to everyone and made him feel welcome. It was really nice of him, but Dean could feel Seth's interest in him growing.

Dean had been in a long term relationship up until about a month ago. Right around when he got hired by Punk, his girlfriend had left him. She had taken off in the middle of the day and left a note on the kitchen counter. He came home from work and she was just gone.

Gazing down into his beer glass, Dean remembered running to her closet and opening it to find- nothing. The memory was painful, but even more painful was that she hadn't said goodbye. Not even in her not. It just said, 'I can't do this anymore' in her pretty little script. Dean had known thing were bad, but he was ready to work on them again since he got a job. One thing at a time, you know?

Dean wasn't ready to admit that their break up was his fault, but he knew it wasn't hers.

"Hey, Dean!" It was Roman. He was the new mechanic that specialized in motorcycles. Dean's specialty was obsolete models. The shop had been doing well enough to hire new guys that specialized.

"Hey, what's up?" He asked as Roman sat down.

"Not a lot. I'm looking forward to the game, though," Roman commented. It was the first Bears game of the season and all of Chicago was getting ready.

The waitress stopped by the table and took Roman's drink order. The two sat in comfortable silence while the pre-game commentators speculated wildly.

"Guess who's here!?" Punk said, throwing an arm around Roman's neck. He was in a good mood, which was rare. "It's me!" The tattooed man pretended to put Roman in a head lock.

Roman smiled and pushed Punk away more gently than Dean would have. "Where's AJ?" Roman asked as their boss took a seat at the head of the table.

"She's closing up with Jey. Jimmy and Seth are on the way. Jimmy's bringing his wife Naomi." Punk said, eyeing the waitress. Punk was married, but he wasn't dead. Knowing Punk and AJ, and their relationship, Dean knew Punk would never stray.

Next to arrive were AJ and Jey, having driven there together. Then Jimmy and Naomi were next. As the table filled up, Dean realized that the only seat left was for Seth and it was the one next to his. Dean was gonna need another beer.

It wasn't that he didn't like Seth. He did. That was the problem. If he thought he could have casual sex with the guy and move on, then it would be fine. No problems. But… Dean had to admit, he liked Seth. He was funny, interesting, and attractive. He was very attractive.

Dean wasn't attracted to men in general. They had to look and act a certain way. Most of the men that Dean wanted to sleep with were tragically straight. He would have slept with Roman in a heartbeat, unfortunately Roman was heterosexual.

Dean eyed the man on his left. Yes, he would indeed sleep with Roman.

Seth walked in the bar to see everyone was waiting for him. He had really tried not to be late, but he was too nervous to focus on time.

He walked toward the table and almost stopped in his tracks when he saw the look Dean was giving Roman. It was an appraising look. Like, Dean was checking out the tall, muscled Samoan. That boded both well and terribly for Seth.

Dean might be into men, but if he was, he might be interested in Roman.

Seth knew instantly why he was so nervous about this particular guy. He didn't know for sure if Dean was gay. It would crush him if he got rejected just because he was a guy. If Dean was gay and rejected him anyway, that would be the worst. But for tonight, he just wanted to know where Dean fell on the Kinsey scale.

It would be tricky, but then he would have some answers. "Is this seat taken?" He asked, surprising Dean.

Dean shook his head. "It's all yours."

Dinner was ordered 'pass the plate' style. Large plates of chicken wings, potato wedges, sliders, and coleslaw were shared among the table. Everyone had eyes on the game here and there, but conversation was good.

"I bet you're all wondering why I'm treating you to dinner, and why I'm in a good mood," Punk announced to the table.

"Yeah, we're all a little concerned," Seth commented. Everyone laughed. Punk was notoriously moody, but tonight he was chipper as hell.

Punk smiled at AJ and said, "You tell them."

AJ gave a brilliant smile back and then turned to the table. "Last quarter our business hit a big milestone. As of last month, Straight Edge Auto has made a million dollars in profit!"

The whole table cheered and toasted. Dean and Roman exchanged a look that said 'all-fuckin'-right'. Clearly they had chosen the right company to work for. SEA had only been open for eighteen months, but their business model was excellent. It was part of the reason Dean had applied in the first place.

They continued to celebrate, watch the game, talk about work, and tease AJ about giving out raises now that the company had a million dollars. Eventually things began to wind down and folks started discussing their personal lives. Seth listened to everyone chat. He didn't like commenting without being asked. The Naomi turned to Dean.

"Hey, Dean. You should go out with my friend Cameron." She said, rather unhelpfully. Cameron could be a man or woman's name.

Seth watched Dean stiffen and consider his answer. It occurred to Seth that Dean was quite private. All they knew was that Dean was single, and they only knew that because a customer asked him. No preference mentioned, no dating history; Seth didn't even know where Dean lived.

"I'm not looking for anything serious right now," Dean said, setting down his fork. It was as if he was preparing for…

"Why not?" Naomi and AJ asked at the same time.

"I just broke up with my girlfriend a month ago," Dean replied. Seth's heart sank. Girls then. There was still hope, but it wasn't much.

"How long were you together?" AJ asked. Roman was paying attention now too.

"Um, two years," Dean sounded unsure. Roman put a hand on Dean's shoulder, a comforting touch. Seth felt a wave of jealousy he didn't want to feel. Jealousy was for other people. It was a childish emotion.

"What happened?" AJ said, looking a bit sheepish for asking.

"Oh, you know. The usual." Dean said, going back to eating, assuming the questioning was over.

"So, are you looking for something casual?" Naomi asked, raising an eyebrow. "I have a feeling after taking one look at you, Cameron would be cool with it."

"Are you saying I'm hot, Naomi?" Dean asked, smiling that lopsided smile that made Seth swoon. God, he hated himself right now. He was so embarrassed with himself. Jealousy, weak knees. It was revolting.

Naomi rolled her eyes and blushed as Jimmy gave her a playful shove. "I am!" She said, shoving Jimmy back. "I got eyes, baby!"

Now the whole table was paying attention and Dean was the only one looking at his plate. Was he embarrassed…? Or hungry?

"I don't want to date right now," Dean said quietly, ending the conversation.

Dean could feel a blush burning his face. He hated talking about his personal life with people he didn't know. To make it worse, Seth was hanging on every word.

Dean could feel the other man's attention like something palpable. It made him uncomfortable. Seth was a cool guy and all, but Dean needed him to back off right now. He also felt bad about lying.

He hadn't broken up with his girlfriend. She had broken up with him. He knew it was dumb to lie, but these people didn't know him and a man has to protect his pride. That, and saying he got dumped would bring on that odd sort of empathy strangers give out.

Yeah, everything about this was icky. Seth's attention, near strangers getting into his personal business, and lying just to protect his pride. He felt gross.

"Hey, you okay?" Seth asked as everyone else went back to talking.

"Yeah. Wanna get drunk with me?" He asked, turning to face the other man fully. Damn, Seth was good looking.

"Right now?" Seth inquired, eyeing their boss at the end of the table. Punk wouldn't approve of them drinking to excess. It was Friday, but Punk was straight edge and Seth didn't want to piss off the older man.

"Nah. In a little while. There's a bar by my place. We can park at my house and walk there."

"Okay," Seth agreed. He didn't know why Dean had asked him instead of Roman, or even why Dean wanted to drink. But he wasn't about to say 'no'.

A/N: Leave a review. Or don't. End of chapter.