14th August 2017

Seth wasn't dragged against his will, kicking and screaming like an inmate on Death Row. On the contrary, Seth was filled with a potent mixture of curiosity and trepidation that he was heading towards something awful. As they rounded a corner the black curtain of Gorilla position loomed closer. The floodgates opened, sending a tidal wave of dread flooding the pit of Seth's stomach.

Dean Ambrose wanted to talk.

"Did he say what he wanted?" Seth asked tentatively. Already pretty sure he knew the answer. But with no surprise, Roman shook his head.

"He just told me to come get you."

Seth really wasn't overly happy about confronting the man he had been ignoring for the past 7 days. He was more than convinced that this was some kind of retaliation for leaving him 'hanging' in the ring last week. But Seth was done. Done with his games, chasing after him, doing everything he could to get back in his good graces. Surely refusing the fist bump would have been the end of all this. But apparently not. Dean suddenly had a 'change of heart' and now wanted to talk. Seth knowing all too well under these circumstances, the only talking Dean ever did was with his fists.

"Well…If he's going to kick my ass, it's better to do it out there where it's safer" Seth said with a false light-hearted chuckle.

"He's not gonna kick your ass," Roman muttered but his tone didn't fill Seth with confidence. He was pretty sure Roman didn't even believe his own words.

With a dejected huff he folded his arms across his chest, coming to a stop outside the black curtain. A small monitor sat perched atop of some production crates, casting a dull light around the small darkened entryway. Dean stood agitated in the centre of the ring, microphone primed in hand. "I know a lot of people are wondering after last week…" his familiar gravely tone echoed around the vast space. "What in the world is going on with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose." Seth scoffed, 'Was wondering that myself.'

[I'm an ass hole, I'm sorry]. Dean's last text message imprinted in Seth's mind. He had been so adamant on not wanting anything to do with him, but now he wanted to talk? Was this Dean offering an olive branch of peace, or, is this just some horrible humiliating plan conjured up by a Lunatic. Either way, Seth never imagined this 'talk' would be in the centre of the ring, in front of the entire world. 'Typical Ambrose'

Swiping a bottle of water from a nearby table, Seth released his bun, letting his dark hair fall to his shoulder before dousing it with the water. If he was going for a fight, he better look the part. The heavy metal guitar riff of his entrance theme echoed the vast arena. Seth took a deep steadying breath… 'Here goes nothing.'

"BURN. IT. DOWN!"

He stepped through the curtain onto the entrance ramp. The crowd deafening as he walked with his head held high, full of determination. However, deep inside he felt uneasy. Dean prowled around the ring like a caged animal ready to strike. Not looking like a man who wanted to bury the hatchet. (Unless the hatchet was going to be buried in Seth's face.) Dean didn't break stride as Seth stepped gingerly through the ropes

"Is this your idea of a talk?" Seth called over the music as he gestured to the hundreds of rowdy WWE fans, all watching there every movement.

Dean shrugged "You've ignored me all week. Needed to get you somewhere you couldn't escape."

Well, that didn't feel Seth with hope. He gulped a large throat full of fear down as he was handed a microphone as Dean raised his own to his lips.

"All right… I am sick and tired of playing these games. I'm just gonna ask ya, what you doin'?!"

"ME?! My games?!" Seth's incredulous tone echoed around the arena. "What about you?! You're the guy that's coming out to save me one week, then the next week you disappear?!" Dean jaw flexed as he stared displeased at Seth, almost transfixed. Like the calm before the storm. "You say that Kurt Angle made us team together and that's the only reason you'd do it. Yet you keep showing up." Dean snorted with a shake of his head, as he cast his gaze out over the crowd. "You say you can't trust me. But a single look in your eye tells me that your lying." Seth's body buzzed with adrenaline, overcoming every last drop of fear in his system as those eyes fell back on him. "The truth is Dean, I know you care." Dean cast his gaze to the mat, running a hand over his stubbled chin. "So, if you're willing to let bygones be bygones. I'm done playing games." Seth lowered his mic and raised his balled fist. The crowd was deafening as Dean took a few steps back, that uneasy swagger returning as he paced the ring again. The moment between them felt like an eternity, who knows what ticks through that Lunatics head. The longer each second passed by, Seth's guard grew. This was it, if he was going to strike it would be now. Dean took a few deliberate threatening strides towards Seth.

"You have got to be KIDDING ME!" Not the retort Seth had expected as he lowered his fist with a small shake of his head. "Last week I stuck my hand out for you, and I get nothing. I apologize, and I still got NOTHING! I stuck my ass out on the line there last week and you made me look like a fool, practically spat in my face!" Dean's fiery eyes bore holes into the side of Seth's head matching the intensity of his words. "I thought for just a teeny second that maybe, maybe I could trust you again"

Seth's jaw clenched, sick of hearing the same old shit spouted from his mouth. "You have a hard time trusting me?" He yelled back "You know what? I can't even trust myself!" There was a pause as Seth's own words dawned on him. He couldn't trust himself around Dean. A cold flash of panic swept through his body, sending chills down his spine. The thoughts he had about that man, the things he secretly longed. Seth would do anything for him, would never say no. He was completely under his spell. The way Dean looked at him right now, his eyebrow arching up suspiciously, jaw flexing. How he stopped pacing the ring just to watch the man in front of him sent that pleasant heat through his body. Seth ripped his eyes away and leaned against the ropes staring out into the audience. His palms were clammy, making the microphone he held slippery. Breath short as his throat constricted, the pounding of his heart thudding in his ears, drowning out the call of the crowd. How could he still be so attracted to someone after all this time.

"Y'know what" Seth's voice sounded alien to him, small, timid. "Maybe – maybe this will never work." He turned to Dean, that eyebrow still raised, but all traces of anger vanished from his posture, "I can't do this. Your right, too much has happened. I'm done." Seth dropped the mic and tried to exit the ring, needing solace. Deans cool hand clasped his warm skin, causing him to stop and look. He threw the mic to the floor. A look of torment and sorrow battling across his face as he pursed his lips. His chest rising and falling heavily as he stood, his arms matching the weight of his breathing as they hung limply by his sides. "What do you want from me?" Seth pleaded but his question was drowned by the thousands of screaming fans. Dean fidgeted as he tried to say something over the crowd but his words were lost in the cacophony of the audience.

Dean rose his fist.

If the crowd were loud before, they were near deafening now. But all Seth could concentrate on was the pale hand that hung in the air in front of him. Following his gaze from the balled knuckles that turned white under the clenching strain, he trailed his gaze up the muscular fair-haired arm, to the bulging bicep that looked constricted under the sleeve of his merchandised t-shirt.

"Davenport." His nickname, breaking through the crowd's noise like a homing beacon. He finally landed on his eyes. Those powerful blue eyes that almost looked like they were pleading. Dean had never been great at expressing his feeling, but his eyes always spoke what his heart wanted. His shoulder rose and fell with every breath, his lips a soft line. "I'm sorry."

Seth felt his own jaw tremble as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Clenching his own fist, Seth stared at his knuckles, a wispy covering of dark hair masking his tanned skin. But Seth had made up his mind, as much as it pained him, he lowered his fist and turned his back on Dean.

He didn't make it far, Dean grabbed his arm and forcefully spun him. "The hell's your problem!"

"My Problem!" Seth bit back as he pressed two flat palms against the curve of Deans chest shoving him hard. "You're the one who won't drop it!"

Dean shoved him again, this time a lot harder, the muted slap matching the sting he felt "You're the one being a fucking baby about this shit"

Seth matched the ferocity of his slap as his retorted "At least I don't pretend to care!"

That did it. Dean lunged spearing Seth to the matt, laying fists into his forehead. All the while Seth doing his best to shield himself from the onslaught of blows. Fuelled by adrenaline Seth managed to flip Dean as he lay punches to his face, Dean not doing anything to hide away. The look of hurt/ anger and betray lingered in those blues, causing Seth to have a momentary lap of judgment. He paused just for a split second, just enough time to let Dean pick up the offense again. Fists harder and faster laying into Seth's head and torso. With a final kick, Dean stood.

"What's your problem?!" he asked with all the venom he could muster as he towered over Seth. But he made the fatal mistake of turning his back. Seth leaped to his feet with a growl, springing up and clinging to Deans back, pushing him into the rope and tossing him to the matt as their ice hockey like fight continued. Seth grabbed him in a headlock laying fists to his head, Dean managed to overpower him pushing him to the ropes, the pair tumbled through hitting the padded mats outside. Breathless, the pair sat staring each other down, Dean wiping away the spit from his mouth as he considered Rollins. With this tension boiling between them this was bound to happen eventually.

Heavy brash bagpipes filled the air. Confused, Seth turned just in time to see a knee collide with his cheek slamming his head into the crowd barricade. Sheamus and Cesaro. Coming to finish the job. Seth slumped against the barricade as The Bar advanced on Dean. Dragging him to his feet and laying blows into his back, before tossing him over the barricade into the crowd. The pair turned quickly onto Rollins. Picking him up only to throw him into the barricade, chest first. The wind-driven out of him they picked him up and roll him into the ring. Not satisfied with there work. Seth crawled, attempting to get away but the numbers game was too strong. He was dragged defencelessly across the ring and throw into the corner, stomps collided with his chest, as a second foot trapped his throat in the corner, choking the air out of him. Through the small amount of space that Seth could see, he watched Dean slide his way into the ring and charged at the Bar. Springing and colliding into the backs. Seth gasped as he managed to regain a lung full of air. Watching from his corner as Dean got pummelled by The Bar. He came to his rescue. And now he was paying the price, dragging himself to his feet he hopped onto the turnbuckle, waiting for the perfect moment. As Cesaro dragged Dean too his feet, Sheamus took a step backwards, lining Ambrose up to receive a Brogue kick. This gave Seth the perfect chance. He leapt, flying across the ring hitting Sheamus with a cross body. The pair clattered to the matt with Seth laying punch after punch into the Irishman. Cesaro joined the fray, dragging Seth off his partner and tossing him with ease across the ring. Seth rolled and came to a stop next to Dean. Panting and battered they shared a look, and a single nod. But before they could make there move The Bar were back on them, dragging them to their feet. Seth broke away finding a new lease of strength and lay fists into the Swiss Cyborg, shoving him into the turnbuckle. Dean managed to get the upper hand on Sheamus too. Laying fists into his face but a sucker punched to the gut sent Dean staggering backwards. Taking a nanosecond of a breather he dodged a clothesline, ducking swiftly under Sheamus's arm. Instinct kicked in as Seth charged to his side. Locking arms with Ambrose, the pair drove a double clothesline to Sheamus's chest, sending the Irish Cockatoo over the top rope and crashing to the mats outside. Seth turned to see Cesaro approaching, but momentum was on his side. A swift kick to the gut bend the Swiss Cyborg in half, clutching his stomach in winded agony. Seth sent another kick this time colliding with his chin, staggering the large man backwards. From the corner of his eye, he caught Ambrose running and landing a dropkick to his chest sending him flat to the mat. Staggering to his feet he clung to the ropes for support, but he had very little time for a breather as Seth and Dean struck him again with a double clothesline, sending the Swissman over the top rope. Just like his partner.

Adrenaline seethed through Seth, his whole body on literal fire. Ripping off his t-shirt and tossing it into the crowd. He watched Dean pace back and forth as he came down from his adrenaline high. Looking every bit as pumped up as Seth did, because he knew it too. Separately, taking on The Bar was impossible, but together they sent them packing. Running with their tails between their legs. They were unstoppable together, and Seth was willing to give all this up. Dean stopped pacing as he caught Seth's eye. The crowd cheering, screaming and chanting one word. "Shield." Emotion coursed over Dean's face as he battled internally what to do. "Fuck It!" He raised his fist. Seth stared dumbfounded at it for a moment Dean pulling it back almost as instantly "What? You're not gonna do it? After that?!"

Seth balled his fist, and raised it to the middle, of course, he was going to! But Dean was having second thoughts. Seth shrugged 'What the hell,' but a small smug grin crossed Deans face. "Together." The pair bumped fists. The joy of the crowd echoed that of what Seth felt inside. This was awesome.

…::::::…

"Sheamus and Cesaro you will defend your tag team titles at Summer Slam. Against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose!"

"Jesus Rome! Let go!" Dean wheezed. Seth couldn't even speak. His face crushed so tightly against Roman's peck he thought he might suffocate. The pressure of the Roman Reigns bear hug subsided, as the pair pushed back gasping for air like fish out of water. The locker room was deserted now, the nights show in full swing. Superstars were either gathering around TV's watching the action, stuffing their face in catering, or preparing for their part in the show. Seth was grateful for the solitude. Sauntering over to his bag, unable to wipe the smile from his face, he sat on the wooden bench beside his belongings. He watched Dean and Roman for the briefest of moments when an odd sensation of feeling whole again overcame him. The team was back together.

As he unzipped the fabric of his duffle bag he caught sight of his cell phone first, with a new notification. Pulling out the blue fluffy towel that sat underneath he threw it over his shoulders before scooping up his phone. His smile broadening even more as he recognised the small flame icon. A New Message, from Daniel.

[Good luck tonight 😊 if I can get to a TV I may just sneak a peek 😉]

It turns out that Daniel wasn't some crazy stalker ex or a computerized robot. He seemed like a decent guy. He was new to Tinder, wasn't sure how the app worked or even what to do. The pair had spent the whole week conversing back and forth in a majority flirty manner, but never once did he seem lude or demanding. Seth found it refreshing to talk to a guy where sex wasn't the first thing he asked for. From there short conversations together he had learned that Daniel was recently single, after breaking up with his long-term partner, now lived alone in Tampa, loves animals as much as he does and worked for a big company who spent most of his life traveling around America. Something that Seth could really relate to.

[Thanks. 😊] he hammered out a reply

Roman groaned "Can we have a conversation without you on your damn phone… Seth?!"

Seth looked up from the screen to see Roman, arms folded one eyebrow raised but wearing an amused smirk. But it wasn't Roman that first caught his eye…

"Dean's on his phone too." Dean huddled by his backpack at the other end of the locker room staring intently at his phone. Looking up sharply when he realized he had been caught, like a deer in headlights.

"No, I'm not" he lied, pocketing his cell with a big beaming smile. "I'm heading to catering. Anyone want anythin'?"

Roman shook his head as he started his pre-match warm-ups. "Coffee would be great." Seth asked hopefully "Cre-"

"Cream, two sugars." Dean finished for him "Comin' up… partner." He winked. Flashing him a sideward smile and making a gun gesture, he clicked his tongue as he strode across the locker room with that cocky self-assured swagger, the door shutting behind him as he left. Seth smiled feeling the warm hue returning to his cheeks, 'he remembered.'

Returning his phone to his bag he dried his hair with the towel, rubbing it vigorously through his long dark mane. "You sure about this." Romans soft words broke through the scuff and rustle of the towel dragging across his ears. Seth paused briefly to look at him, unsure of the question. "You and Dean… teaming together. Is this a good idea?"

'No.' Is what he wanted to say. Now the dust and excitement had settled Roman raised a good question. Was this a good idea? "Come on Uce this is foolproof. What could possibly go wrong." There was no hiding the sarcasm that laced his tone, making Roman chuckle a deep hearty rumble. Seth finished drying his hair before wrapping it up into a neat bun. Swapping his towel for the t-shirt that lay at the bottom of his bag he slipped it on.

"I just… I dunno," Roman continued in a tone just louder than a whisper. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, either of you."

"What you talkin' about?"

"Seth, you've been crushing on the guy since FCW." Seth's heart sank a little. That was true, he did kind of miss seeing him Dean those tight black trunks. "And the number of times we shared a motel… I always thought I would wake up in the middle of the night to find you guys doing it."

"Dude!" Seth laughed, plucking the towel back out his bag to throw at his friend. Who caught it with ease.

"I'm jus' sayin'," he said in defense throwing the dampened towel back.

"I don't know why your so concerned Ro. He's got Renee, and I've…" Seth was momentarily distracted by the buzzing coming from his bag. "It's not like I can do anything about it." Plucking out his phone, he saw it was another new message from Daniel.

[Holy cow! If I wasn't Bi before… is that what you wear to work all the time?!]

[Mostly :p]

"Brother, you can't live on Tinder the rest of your life," Roman sat beside him on the bench "Eventually you're going to have to find a real-life human being."

"Daniel is a real-life human being," Seth said protectively. Tapping the screen a few times, he brought up Daniels one and only picture, flashing the screen towards Romans face. He hummed in appreciation before scrunching his brow inquisitively.

"Dude looks like Dean. No wonder you liked him." Roman muttered, only to be met with a punch in the bicep from a smirking Seth. "You met him yet?"

"No," Seth sighed, "he's got a crazy hectic work schedule. Travels all over the place"

Roman snorted "Preaching to the choir - Just be careful, alright"

"With what? Tinder or Dean?" Seth scoffed

"Both." Romans tone wasn't harsh, but the warning was pretty clear. Slapping his thighs, he pushed himself off the bench to continue his rematch workout. But Seth never had time to comprehend his words, distracted once again by the buzzing and vibration of his cell:

[Urgh! I should have started watching wrestling years ago! When you took your shirt off I nearly died lol. Kinda jealous these men get to put their hands all over you on a daily basis.]

[it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it 😉]

Placing the phone beside him on the bench Seth bent over to untie his laces. Trying not to think about all the negatives that were swimming around his head, not wanting to break his good mood. He never heard the door to the locker room creak open, nor did he hear Dean walk across the room. Which is why he flinched when a fresh cup of coffee was shoved under his nose.

"Coffee, Cream, two sugars… and a blueberry muffin." The beige fluffy treat suddenly appearing under his nose too. Sitting up he was met with that typical Ambrose lopsided smile and a small shrug. "Peace offering."

Seth smiled a large toothy grin as he accepted the hot paper cup and the muffin out of Dean's hands. "Thanks." Sipping from the cup he watched Dean walk over to his side of the locker room. Slipping his phone out his jean pocket and tossing it into his bag, he grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it up and over his head. Seth couldn't help but stare. Dean wasn't built like he and Roman. He was slender, trim, and seriously toned. Drawing his elbows back he flexed, every outline of muscle across his back and shoulders contorting and tightening as he stretched. His pale skin glinting with sweat under the lights of the locker room. Deans hands lowered to his waist, followed by the unmistakable clink of a belt buckle. Seth hastily averted his eyes. Placing the coffee and muffin beside him on the bench. Bending down to continue untying his boot laces.

There was no denying that he and Dean mad one hell of a team. But this wasn't going to be easy by any stretch.