"I was sort of worried you weren't going to show," Roman commented lightly.
Dean shrugged noncommittally and began to pace. They were in the backstage area of the arena later that night listening to what Roman had to say. The house show was running smoothly, and he could hear the crowd cheering in the background. He didn't particularly want to have this conversation, but he knew Roman too well. The more he dodged this, the more the other man would pursue him until he could take no more and give in anyway. He opted for the less annoying of the two scenarios.
Bray, of course had not been all that pleased he was doing this. He wanted to at least be there when he conversation took place, but Dean had put his foot down. He begrudgingly agreed to leave Dean alone with his ex only after Dean swore he would be careful in case the "brute got any ideas". He could only assume that Bray was sulking in the boiler room, his usual haunt during shows as it afforded him privacy. His thoughts of Bray were shaken when Roman continued to talk.
"I've been wondering how you've been doing the past month. We've always been able to talk, Dean. No matter what's been going on in our lives that hasn't changed. What's happening with you, man?"
"We still have each other, Ro," Dean said with another small shrug. "It's just that we aren't together like that anymore. Don't you think I have the right to move on?"
"Of course you can move on, Dean," Roman walked up to Dean and held his shoulder firmly. Their eyes met for the first time in a while. "But, Dean, It's fucking Bray Wyatt. What the hell are you doing with this guy? He tried to wipe you off the fucking planet not too long ago."
"We go well together," Dean said with a small smile on his face. "He's not the crazy we see out in the ring, man. There is this, like, whole other face that he shows when no one else is looking."
Roman was not impressed and said, "I've seen what he's like when he's not trying to destroy people, Dean. He demands obedience from whomever he associates with. I'm telling you, maybe he's not like that now, but it's only going to get worse the faster you let this go."
"How would you know, Roman?" Dean snapped. "You haven't spent time alone with him."
"I've seen what you look like when you do shit he doesn't like!"
"You have no idea what you are talking about."
"Then explain the bruises! Explain why I can't say two words to you without him glaring at me and acting like you're his fucking property!"
"Oh, will you quit blowing shit out proportion? He's never really liked you, OK? He happens to only see you when you talk to me. And the briuses-"
"Did not come from accidents, Dean. Don't act like that's what happened." Roman cringed when he remembered the black eye that graced Dean's face a little over a week earlier. "And you never did explain why you had that bandage on your chest."
"It wasn't anything worth talking about is all," Dean said dismissively. "What are you getting so damn worked up about? Bray and I have our little thing going on right now. Who knows how long it will last?"
"Does he hurt you, Dean?"
"Roman, for fuck's sake-"
"Does he hurt you?"
"No, man. I told you it's not like that. Just because he's a little out there and does this own thing doesn't mean he wants to skin me alive and wear me as a jacket or some shit." Roman studied Dean for anything that would indicate he was lying. When no sign was showing, he nodded and pulled Dean into a tight embrace.
"Just remember I'll always be there for you, Dean." he said as he held his brother tight. "No matter what happens you will always have me." He pulled back and smiled sadly. "And please try to make shit right with Seth. I know it'll never be what it used to be, but he still cares about you, too." He leaned in and kissed Dean on the forehead unable to stop himself if he wanted to. A voice clearing in the background made them both jump.
"I need to speak with Dean for a moment, Roman," Stephanie said from a nearby hallway. "It's a pretty urgent matter.
Meanwhile, Bray paced sat in the corner of the boiler room, waiting for Dean to come find him. As the moment's ticked by, he found himself becoming more and more agitated. It didn't matter how much Dean said he loved him. Having him speak to the brute alone was enough to make him want to set the whole building ablaze. And it didn't seem that either of his former companions seemed to know just what went on when no one else was looking.
Why didn't Dean simply tell the two imbeciles that they were promised to each other, and that would be the end of it? There would be no more games and secrets and Dean would be his to have and hold everywhere they damn well pleased. But that wasn't the case, and it didn't look as if that was going to change anytime soon.
He wondered for a moment if he should venture outside and find him already. The walls that normally provided comfort for him seemed to be closing in on him, and he desperately needed to breathe. The sooner Dean was back by his side, the better. He went for the door, but it seemed to open by itself. In stepped none other than Seth Rollins. Well, one didn't see this sight every day. Not since before the Shield had moved up to the Authority had Seth set a boot in these spaces. Of that, Bray was sure.
"What brings you to my little neck of the woods, Mr. Rollins?" he drawled.
"I just wanted to have a little chat with you regarding Dean, that's all," Seth said calmly.
"And what would you have to chat about regarding him? "Bray kept his voice light; there was no reason to make the already excitable man scared.
"It's just that Roman and I can't quite figure out what a guy like you," Rollins gestured at him vaguely. "would want him someone like Dean." His eyes narrowed as he studied Bray intently.
"I'm not sure how any of this is your business," Bray said slowly. "Considering he has barely spoken two words to you since you went your separate ways. Even before you changed your allegiance publicly, you all had never really been the same, have you? "
"I still care about him, OK?" Seth snapped. "Maybe we weren't meant to be one big happy family, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about what happens to him."
"Which is why this is the first time we have spoken?" Bray asked still not buying Seth's motives. "Dean and I have been spending time together for a handful of moons, and now you are interested?"
"I didn't see you drag him off until a couple of weeks ago," Seth said. Bray looked at him blankly and then chuckled.
"Ah, and now you show me your cards," he laughed.
"What are you talking about, Bray?"
"You see your chance at being Dean's knight in shining armor. You only care when you think he needs to be saved from some monster. Or maybe even himself?" Bray now narrowed his eyes hand advanced on Seth. "Listen to me,Rollins and listen well. The things that Dean and I do when you two are off playing house is none of your damn business. Dean is free to do as he pleases, and it pleases him to stay at my side."
"What the hell do you mean, at your side?" Rollins was really starting to get on his nerves.
"Find Dean."
"Oh, hell no, Wyatt! You are not going to just zone out into your little la la land! I'm still talking to you, damn it!"
"He needs you now, darling. Find him. Go to him. Do it now."
"If you'll excuse me, Mr. Rollins, I have things I have to do tonight, and none of them concern you. Kindly stay out of my affairs in regard to your former friend. I assure you he doesn't want you involved." Bray left a stunned and slightly reeling Rollins to seek out Dean.
He walked through the corridors with a purpose, and that seemed enough for most people to step out of the way and leave him to his task. All around him, he heard the whispered conversations, although he paid attention to none of them. The fools didn't know what they were talking about anyway. And all he cared about was the voice coming from a hallway near the entrance ramp.
"When did it happen?" Dean sounded unnerved.
"We got word from the hospital a couple of minutes ago.
"Is there anything I can actually do?"
"Not really, no. With overdoses, all you can really do is wait. But if you want to go and see her, we can make arrangements." Stephanie almost sounded like she cared about Dean's feelings. It must have been serious. And who was overdosing that Dean knew anyway?
"That won't be necessary."
"Are you sure?"
"Look, I'm sure, alright? I'll call the hospital and make sure they get a hold of me. Why they contacted you, I have no idea."
"Alright. I'm truly sorry that you are going through this, Dean. If you need anything, let us know, and we will take care of it for you."
"Yeah, sure, thanks."
Dean emerged from the doorway and avoided the looks of concern he was getting from people around the room. He looked somewhere between disappointed and worried, but the moment he saw Bray, his expression relaxed. Bray quirked an eyebrow in confusion, but Dean only mouthed the word "later" as he moved towards him. He walked passed where Bray was standing, and he waited a full minute before walking off in the same general direction. Dealing with questions from the weasel was bad enough. He didn't welcome the inquiries of everyone else in the company, the nosy bastards.
They had decided to drive to the next town and get a room. Dean had been quiet the entire ride, but Bray could tell he was getting restless. No phone call to any hospital happened, at least not that Bray had seen. He sat back on his bed waiting for Dean to get out of the bathroom. When Dean came out dressed in a pair of boxers, he studied Bray before joining Bray on the bed.
"My mom is in the hospital," he said quietly. "again."
"What happened?" Bray asked, even though he knew the answer.
"Overdose. Prescription pills this time." Dean leaned over and rested his head on Bray's shoulder. "I don't have it in me to deal with that shit. It's been six months since the last time this happened. I went to see her all worried. She didn't even look at me the whole time I was there. She just stared at the ceiling bitching that I was rarely there anymore." Bray listened to Dean talking and ran a hand through his unruly hair. He never met his mother, but he knew that he hated the woman.
"The last I heard she found Jesus with some street preacher she managed to hook up with," Dean went on. He laughed bitterly. "I kind of figured it wasn't going to stick, but at least I figured I wouldn't hear from her for a while."
"Oh, how people will cling to any little beacon of light as if it's going to save them," Bray looked down at Dean and continued to stroke his hair soothingly. "Some etherial sky daddy ain't gonna make you all better. All of that is just another pill people take to make the pain go away. But it won't, of course, so they fond their way back to the drugs." He kissed Dean on the forehead gently.
"I'm different," Bray continued as he kissed Dean's face down to his throat. "I can make all the things go away. I can take away your pain, darling. I just need you to trust me."
"You know I do, Bray," Dean said. A goofy smile started to spread on his face as Bray's tongue lapped at his throat. "Let the bitch rot in the hell whole she made herself. She never fucking loved me." He kissed Bray hard on the lips and moaned when Bray skimmed a hand up his thigh.
"You don't have to worry about any of that," Bray whispered. He groaned when Dean wrapped his legs round his waist and ground their hips together. "We have each other, just the way she wanted it.
Dean's giggle turned into a gasp as his boxer shorts were pulled off of his body. All thoughts of Roman and his mom disappeared from his mind at least for the time being.
A/N: Outside forces are going to start coming out of the wood work the more Dean and Bray come together. Who else will stick their noses in, and what will it do the the boys' sanity?