Spud loses decisively to Rhino. It's no real surprise, he'd been floundering before Ethan had given up on him and left. Afterwards, two gores later, he's laying in the ring, motionless and entirely out of it. Rhino stands outside of the ring, watching him with a frown, before realizing that Spud's mumbling under his breath, his voice lifting until Rhino realizes he's calling out for Ethan. Voice weak, body trembling from the force of the offense he'd taken the last few minutes, but still... begging for Ethan to help him.
Shaking his head, the former enforcer slips back into the ring far enough to grab Spud's hand and pull him out towards the ramp, lifting him up onto his shoulder and carrying him out. He keeps a stabilizing hand on Spud's back, not too surprised to find Ethan standing near the curtain, shifting awkwardly and trying to look disinterested when he realizes Rhino is with Spud. Rolling his eyes, Rhino walks up to him and drops Spud into his arms, stepping back with an unimpressed glare. "Here, I think you left this behind."
Ethan grits his teeth, instinctively holding onto Spud's lax body, relieved when Rhino leaves the area. Brushing blond strands out of his eyes, Ethan peers down at Spud worriedly, before hoisting him higher and carrying him down the hall. "It's ok, I'm here now," he mumbles into his neck, hating himself a little more for leaving him behind like that.
Spud whimpers into Ethan's shoulder, his ribs throbbing, his entire body feeling like Rhino had almost cut him in two. "Sir," he moans, fingers digging into Ethan's back.
"I know, I know," Ethan breathes out, kicking the door to his private locker room open and settling Spud on his couch. "It's ok, we're here now, you're safe." He shifts Spud's shirt up and stares at the bruises from where Rhino's shoulder had impacted staining his sternum already, cringing. "Shit..."
"Hurts to breathe," Spud whines, writhing away when Ethan presses down on his ribs.
"Sorry, sorry," Ethan hisses through his nose, letting up and looking at him, troubled. "I need to get the trainer. Something might really be wrong here..." Spud nods, allowing Ethan up. Kneeling down quickly once more, Ethan cups his face and offers him a warm, soft kiss. "It's just an act, never forget that," he pleads with him before leaving the room.
Spud's in pain and confused about why Ethan would tell him that until Ethan returns with a thunderous, impatient look on his face, and stands a few feet away, arms crossed in front of his chest as he watches on, disinterestedly. The trainer confirms he has at least two broken ribs but says unless it affects his breathing, there's not much to be done. He offers Spud some pain medicine before leaving, Ethan taking it from him with a dark look. The trainer reports to Dixie, as does most of them, so Ethan has to be careful.
Despite his warning to Spud before leaving, Ethan can't help but notice the disoriented, sad look on Spud's face that only makes him feel worse. As soon as the trainer stops talking and leaves, Ethan locks the door behind him and rushes back to Spud's side, cupping his face. "It's ok, it's ok," he soothes him. "Just an act, remember? Just an act." He kisses the top of Spud's head and rocks him back and forth. "You're going to be ok."
"Are we?" he asks wearily.
"Of course we are," Ethan murmurs. "Of course." He won't have it any other way. no matter what Dixie might think about it.
