A/N: Hello again, I hope you're all doing well! This is a fun little multi-chapter story I came up with after receiving challenge words from ChelleLew (thank you again ^^)

The five words I had to use were: popcorn, classic English Literature, swings, Seth, and volcanic rock.

Hope you all like it and have as much fun reading it as I had writing it :)

P.S. If you'd like to issue me some challenge words for a future story, feel free to contact me either through a review of a pm.


The trip to Hawaii had been a spur of the moment idea. Having just finished a show in California, it was a quick flight to the laid-back islands. As a result, what had started off as an offhanded suggestion by The Usos, about taking a little break, had turned into plane tickets and hotel reservations for a weekend getaway. A small group of them had traveled together: The Usos, Daniel Brian, John Cena, The Bella Twins, and a few others. During the day, they figured it'd be fun to do activities together–the girls' idea really–but at night, they all went their separate ways, which suited everyone just fine.

Now, Seth found himself snuggled in bed with a bowl of popcorn as he turned on the television. He'd been more than content to stay back at the hotel while Dean and Roman explored the local nightlife. It wasn't often that he got time all to himself, so given the rare occasion, he planned to sit back, relax, and make the most of it. After all, he could find nightlife anyplace, but it was rare to be in such a peaceful place for a whole weekend, and he planned to take advantage and recharge.

Given that they were in Hawaii, most channels highlighted some aspect of island life. Seth paused his flipping when he saw a volcano erupting. The makeshift group had gone to see a volcano earlier in the day, and if he had to guess, that same volcano was now erupting onscreen. Throwing down the remote, Seth watched as the program told him more than he'd ever wanted to know about the workings of volcanoes and their byproducts. However, the show ended on a disturbing note. The last segment of the program was dedicated to superstition. According to legend, people who take volcanic rocks home, die because of it; the show even provided "evidence." Seth chuckled to himself as he changed channels. Good thing Dean and Roman didn't see this. Rome would freak out, and Dean would want to test it out...Seth thought.

Seth had never really been a superstitious person, but he had to admit, being around the very superstitious Roman Reigns for so long was starting to rub off on him. Seth however, did not think of himself as "superstitious" per se; he preferred to think of it as: "being safe, rather than sorry." Dean, on the other hand, was the polar opposite of both Roman and Seth. If he knew of a superstition, he was guaranteed to try it out. He spilled salt on tables with no fear, he walked under ladders without a second thought, and Roman never tired of scolding Dean for purposefully stepping on whatever cracks he could find when he knew the larger man was watching. Roman swore that Dean must have a death wish. Seth swore that Dean did it for the pure enjoyment of pissing Roman off. Regardless who was right, in Dean's mind, no superstition was off limits for testing.

Thus, hanging his head as he thought about their contrasting views on the issue, Seth realized what he had to do. He'd been around his brothers long enough to learn that he should never second guess any suspicions he had about them, and that went double for any suspicions he had where Dean was concerned. Thus, getting out of his now exceedingly comfy bed, Seth walked over to Dean's bag, pacing in front of it. Taking a deep breath, he made up his mind; God only knew what he'd find, but he was willing to take the risk if it meant saving his friend.

The search started off well enough, just a few t-shirts and some underwear, nothing special. However, as he dug deeper, Dean's bag became more...well, Dean-like. The first weird thing he found was an old switchblade with the initials SC engraved on the handle. Seth wasn't sure what the letters stood for, but since it was hidden away in a rolled up pair of socks, Seth figured it was something important to his friend. Then, for some strange reason that Seth couldn't even begin to fathom, he found that Dean had an old, silver fork in his bag. Setting aside the rusting eating utensil and digging yet further into the bag, Seth's hand suddenly clasped something that he would have never guessed would be in Dean's bag: The Anthology of Classic English Literature, Volume B. Seth knew Dean loved to read—it was, after all, the only activity that lessened Dean's constant movements—but he'd had no idea that Dean was such a serious reader. Huh, you learn something new every day, Seth thought to himself. He had to admit, upon seeing the hefty book, his respect for his brother had, if possible, risen just a bit higher. As Seth went to put the book aside, the edge of a photo sticking out from it caught his attention. I shouldn't look at it, Seth thought to himself, God only knows what weird thing it could be...

Putting the book on the ground beside him, Seth resumed his search, but a minute later, found the book back in his hands; he'd been unsuccessful at staving off his curiosity. Opening the book, Seth was shocked to see that what he'd assumed would be some vulgar photo, was actually a picture of the three of them holding their fists together in the middle of the ring, each man toting championship gold. On the back of the photo was simply written: my brothers. Seth smiled warmly–he was learning so many new things about Dean Ambrose today.

Seth's leisurely rummaging was brought to a halt when the news anchor, who had appeared after a silly sitcom on TV, reported that it was nearing two thirty in the morning. "Aw man," Seth said anxiously. The local bars would all be closing soon, which meant that Dean and Roman would be back any minute. Needless to say, there was no way he wanted to get caught anywhere near Dean's bag; Dean was about as protective over his bag as he was over his brothers. Thus, setting the large tome aside once more, Seth quickly resumed his search with new haste and determination.

Suddenly, Seth smiled triumphantly as his hand finally brushed against his quarry tucked away in the bottom of the bag: Dean's stash of volcanic rocks. Seth shook his head, always amazed at just how well he'd come to know his two best friends. Hurrying to hide the evidence of his search before his friends came back, Seth quickly set about returning the contents of the bag to look as untouched as possible. Once assured that he hadn't forgotten to put anything back, Seth walked over to his own bag to find a hiding place for the rocks in case Dean decided to snoop in Seth's bag, as he'd been known to do when boredom overwhelmed the frigidity man. Seth decided that instead of approaching Ambrose on the subject, he'd just sneak away tomorrow morning and dispose of the rocks before they left the island. He had no problems simply letting Dean ponder how the rocks had gotten out of his bag once he began searching for them when they returned home.

As Seth searched his own bag for a good hiding spot, he heard the hotel room door swing open, admitting an obviously drunk Dean, leaning against an amused Roman. "Sethie, we're home!" Dean bellowed happily as he flung his fanny pack onto the nearest bed.

Dean tried to duck, but in his drunken state, the action almost amounted to a face-plant as he tried to dodge the pillow Seth launched at him. Seth, who immediately turned back to his bag after his attack, didn't notice the pillow colliding with Roman instead, who was struggling to keep Dean upright. "Hey!" Roman exclaimed as Dean laughed, supported by the Samoan's steadying grasp.

"Sorry, I was aiming for Dean's head. He knows better than to call me that..." Seth said over his shoulder as he pretended to be rearranging his duffel for the trip home the next day.

"Aw, Sethie, I tease 'cause I care," Dean said with a sincere smile.

"You're lucky The Shield needs you, or else it would be death by pillow beating for you," Seth said in annoyance, becoming further agitated as Roman's laughter joined Dean's. Turning from his bag and squaring his shoulders—drunk or not, his friends were about to get a beat down—Seth paled as he finally got a good look at the two, taking in their assorted bruises for the first time. Brow furrowing, Seth asked, "What happened to you guys?"

"Food first, then story," Dean chided playfully.

Seth rolled his eyes, suddenly missing Dean's normal, morose drunkenness instead of the rare, happy form of drunk Dean Ambrose. "You ate all the food before you two left, remember? All we've got is some of my leftover popcorn by the TV, but–" Seth couldn't get the rest of the sentence out fast enough before Dean had pushed past him, helping himself to the buttery snack as he began explaining their "adventure."


Please continue on for chapter 2.