The sunlight beamed through the shitty curtains in the hotel room, the curtains really were shitty, they didn't keep the sun out at all and it was slowly starting to irritate his sensitive eyes. Grumbling he got up and try and get into some place they wouldn't hurt his eyes but he stumbled and fell, a loud curse leaving him as he was left on his now sore butt on the ground. He'd been drinking all night, so it was no wonder why he was struggling to move right. He'd been sitting there since he'd stumbled his way home after his panic attack had finally gotten a little better and had instantly hit the whiskey, curling up in the corner of the room and trying to drown his sorrows, knowing that sleep would only bring the nightmares that would no doubt have been made worse by the nights events. He shuddered, not wanting to remember and curled up even tighter, his attempt at getting up forgotten. He just wanted to stay here forever.
From inside his pocket his phone made a tone, indicating he'd gotten a message. After he'd considered ignoring it for a couple minutes he pulled it out from his pocket, glad to see that it didn't appear damaged, he opened the text and he winced. Jack. All but disowning him, telling him to find another travel partner for today and to leave him alone forever. He groaned, his head pounding too much to be want to be thinking about this right now. But he needed to, they had a show tonight, he needed to get there, his work was important, the most important thing in his life and like hell he was going to miss even one show because he was being pathetic. Learning from his previous mistake, he took a hold of a chair next to him as he got himself to his feet, keeping a tight hold as he swayed and threatened to go back down. He had to think, because he needed to be leaving for the show now. He couldn't go with Jack that much was obvious, he didn't want to take a plane because that would mean waiting around in his thoughts for a few hours, and mostly, he didn't want to travel with anyone else. Half the roster had been at that bar last night, he didn't exactly want to be showing his face anytime soon. That didn't leave him with many options. He could rent his own car, but he doubted they would give it to him seeming as he could smell the alcohol on his own breath. He was stumped. He sighed, he guessed he'd have to take a fucking bus and hope no one recognised him.
He padded over to the bathroom and inspected his face, wincing at the black eye and bruise on his cheek that had already formed overnight, he hated seeing himself like this, he'd only recent grown accustomed to being relatively bruise free again, only getting them from work rather than anything in his personal life, but he figured some things were destined to never change, right? He sighed and abandoned the mirror, quickly getting ready and heading off to the nearest bus station.
When he finally arrived at the arena he was dead tired and feeling even worse than when he had woken up this morning. He entered the building managing to go unnoticed and he snuck around the halls, finding the board to see if he had a match tonight and when it was and he sighed and headed toward the locker room and towards his embarrassment. As soon as he opened the door it went quiet and he looked down, not wanting to meet anyone's face. It felt like everyone was staring at him and when he risked a glance up they were. Desperate he looked for a free space and took the one that was further away from Jack. After a moment people began to talk again, although he could still feel people looking at him and he could hear the hushed whispers about what had happened last night. His hands were shaking too much as he stumbled to even undo his bag and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, deciding to just leave it. His match wasn't for a little bit anyway, he could afford to wait. He sat himself down on the floor, his back against the wall, knees to his chest and shoved his headphones in, loud enough to sooth him a bit, but quiet enough that he could hear his surroundings. He closed his head and rested his head against the wall, willing his body to relax at least a little.
The door opened once again, and like when he had entered the room went quiet, it was that, that made him open his eyes and see what was going on. Hunter. He was searching the room for someone. Hunter frowned when he didn't seem to find them, but then their eyes met and he knew who he was looking for, but he remained where he was, waiting for him to come to him first. A fleeting wave of panic washed over him, what if he was going to lose his job? What if he was in trouble? Hunter approached him and tapped him on the shoulder, Dolph's hands shaking so much he struggled to get his headphones out. "I need to talk to you." Hunter said simply, as if that wasn't obvious, but Dolph nodded and got himself to his feet, following after the larger man obediently, leaving the locker room and walking down to an office, presumably to get away from people who weren't supposed to hear, even though they always did. He was offered a seat and meekly he took it, sitting on the edge and fidgeting with his still trembling hands. He refused to talk first.
Silence crept into the room and Dolph turned his gaze downwards, just waiting. Hunter sighed and relaxed into his own seat, looking at Dolph, staring into him enough that Dolph squirmed uncomfortably. "Some of the guys told me what happened last night." The panic swelled, he was going to be in trouble... "I wanted to talk to you about it." Meekly, and still not looking at him he nodded, implying that he would comply, even if it was a little unwillingly. "Are you wanting to press charges?" he certainly hadn't expected that, his head snapped up a little confused at the thought, he shook his head. "...No, why would I do that?" he asked, his voice much shakier than he would like it to be. Hunter gave him that look again, and it was made even worse since Dolph was looking at him now. "It would be completely understandable if you did, the company would back you 100%, and we're going to suspend Jack for a while, that's intolerable behaviour and we won't have it. If it happens again, with any of the Superstars, staff, anyone, you let me know and there will be action taken, okay?" Dolph stared at him bewildered. "...O-okay, but you really don't have to suspend Jack, it's okay...really." that would just make him feel guilty, even more than he already did. Hunter raised an eyebrow but made no comment on not wanting punishment for Jack. Silence surrounded them for a moment. "Dolph, if you want or need some time off, you're more than welcome to have it, that wouldn't be a problem, we'd all understand it wouldn't be a sign of weakness or any of that crap, if you need time to recover from a physical injury no one questions it, but you need time for mental and emotional health too." Dolph stared at him with an unreadable expression. "I'm not taking time off, and you can't make me, if you give me time off I'm going to come to every single fucking show no matter what you do. I need my job, I love my job, I'm not taking time off." Hunter just nodded and accepted his words, throwing his hands up defensively. "Okay, that's fine, no one's forcing you to take time off, but it's there if you ever want it, alright?" Dolph looked at him and gave a tense nod, relaxing a little to know that at least he still had his job and no one was forcing him away. Hunters gaze locked onto his, and he felt uncomfortable but couldn't look away. "One more thing. Are you alright?" the question threw him off and he had to think on how to answer for a second. "I...I will be." He nodded, content with his answer even though he was fairly sure it wasn't true. Hunter inspected him for a few more moments before giving a tense nod. "Okay, but if you ever aren't, you know where to find me, the same goes for if anyone bothers you." He waited for Dolph to nod reluctantly. "Okay, you can go...oh, and also, I know you're not taking time off, but I've taken you off the show tonight." At the look of panic on Dolph's face, Hunter sighed "Don't worry, it's only for tonight, I'm not taking you off other shows." Dolph nodded and quickly said thank you before slinking off back to the locker room where he would have to figure out what to do for the rest of the night and not to mention finding a ride.
There were a considerably less amount of people in there when he went in again, and he almost sighed in relief. Almost. If Jack hadn't been standing next to the person next to his spot. And Jack was glaring at him. The panic threatened him again as he approached, carefully sitting down, resuming his position from before and hoping the man would leave him alone. It had been terrible enough the first time. He sighed in relief when he moved away, being called off to go get ready and he let himself relax a little more. "What did H want?" Miz's voice next to him sounded, and he looked at him and gave a shrug, not even having realised he'd been next to where his friend was. "Nothing much. Telling me I've been taken off the show tonight...not much else." He refrained from telling the whole truth, not really wanting to talk about it. Miz nodded and gave him a pitied look he thought he wouldn't see. "Sucks man." Dolph nodded to the comment and watched the man obviously struggled for words and what to say. Saving him the pain Dolph stood up, "Well...I'm going to find catering, see you later." Miz looked relieved and Dolph missed his parting words as he entered the hallway again.
It wasn't hard to find catering. Once he did he found a seat and curled himself up on it, knees up to his chest and all but hiding from the world. The room bustled about around him but for the first time today left him alone to his own thoughts, not paying him too much attention. But it was soon broken when he felt a tap to his shoulder, making him jump out of his skin in fright, eyes frantically looking at whoever had touched him. A slightly concerned pair of hazel eyes met his. "Geez, Blondie, I'm not that terrifying." A smirk flashed at him and he just stared at the man in front of him, blinking and then turning away again. "Look...I'm sorry for scaring you last night, had no idea you were going to freak out on me like that, okay?" he turned back to look at him, confusion clouding his face before he suddenly understood. He'd been the one to get Jack away from him. "Wasn't your fault...should be thanking you...so...thanks." he muttered. "Still feel guilty though, and hey it's no problem." Dolph laughed, a sad half mocking sort of laugh. "The mighty CM Punk feeling guilty about something? Stop the fucking press!" he snorted and made a move to find somewhere else to go but the hand on his shoulder tightened and kept him in place. He was expecting anger and possibly a punch to the face, so he shut his eyes, only to reopen them a moment later when nothing happened and was greeted with concerned eyes. "You don't have anyone to travel with. I overheard Jack talking...my bus has plenty of room for you, join me?" and for another time that day, Dolph was surprised at an offer, he desperately tried to come up with excuses not to, he was sure the other man would try to pick him out on his behaviour last night, but he didn't have any other option. He needed a ride, and having one offered up to him from a person he found at least a little tolerable shouldn't be turned down. Beggars can't be choosers. He nodded at him warily. "...Okay." He sighed and Punk gave him a small smile. "Good, and don't worry, I'm not going to molest you in your sleep." Dolph froze, tensing up, he knew it was a joke, but that hit too close to home right now. "That's not funny." He spoke flatly and Punk seemed to realise it was the complete wrong thing to say and raised his hands up defensively. "I meant no harm, trying to joke, lighten the mood." Dolph stared at him a moment before nodding, looking away. Punk patted him on the back and gave him another smile. "I'll see you at my bus after the show, Blondie, you better be there! I have to go get ready." Punk didn't seem to want to leave, but Dolph just nodded at him and put his headphones back in, shutting out the world until he would have to resurface his head for the person who saved him the night before.
