Greetings, readers! I hope you all had a warm, safe, merry holiday. I'm finally home from my vacation (I uploaded a notice about it, but I had to take it down because apparently that's against the rules and I'm a good girl like that. :P) But I'm back now, ready to bring you all sorts of updates! Starting here! Enjoy! Hope it was worth the wait~

Roman and Dean had both been asleep on the couch when Seth got home from work. He quietly prepared a sandwich as a late dinner and retired to his room alone for the rest of the night. It didn't take him long into a Pokemon battle on his DS to pass out. Long night at work, long week at work…long month at work…

Something had to change soon before he lost his mind.

He was awoken in the morning by gentle rapping on his door. "Come in," he mumbled only partially audibly, blanket still pulled up to his chin.

Seth heard someone creak his door open. Move onto his bed. Rub his leg through the comforter. He expected Dean, so what a surprise it was to hear Roman's low voice. "Sorry. I hate to wake you up, but I wanted to talk to you about something before we both got busy today."

Seth's eyes drew open. Sure enough it was Roman, dressed for work, perched on the foot of the bed.

"Morning," Seth said, mouth stretching into a great yawn. "What's up?"

"I need to ask you something."

"Alright." Seth shifted in bed. His brain was still trying to stir. He'd been having nice dreams until this not-so-bothersome interruption. So long as Roman didn't peep at him under the blanket, he was good. "Go for it."

Roman pressed his fingers together. "So, you know the issues we've been having with money lately."

"Mhmm…"

"I'm sorry, you're tired, and I don't want you to make any calls when you're not even fully aware of what's going on…"

"No, I'm fine. I'm good. See?" Seth pushed himself to sitting up. Proof of just how nice his dreams had been was still tucked away safely under his thick comforter. "Tell me. Money issues, right."

"Right." Roman rubbed his lips together. "Well…I was on craigslist, kind of looking for side work, you know, something small that could get us through this rough patch."

"Not a bad idea." Leave it to Roman to go the extra mile like that. What a guy. What a leader.

"And I found an ad asking for an assistant at a, um…publishing company."

Publishing company? Surely…surely he didn't mean…no, it couldn't be.

"It was posted by your dad. Er, your dad's company," Roman went on, confirming Seth's intuition. "He's looking to hire someone to work for him. Office stuff. Emails, paperwork, editing, that sort of gig."

"My dad wants to hire an assistant? Why? What happened to the other guy? Never mind, who cares." Seth was a bit more awake now, his mind active.

Roman's expression was tarnished with guilt. "It's good money, and the work seems easy enough, but I didn't want to accept anything until I got the chance to talk to you about it. Ask you how you felt about it."

"He offered you the job?"

"He said he could use me, but nothing's set in stone. Not until I talked to you."

Seth sighed. This wasn't anything he'd been expecting to wake up to, not in the slightest. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd spoken to his father, or his mother for that matter. He'd seen his brother Kane just once after Christmas, and that had been that. He thought he was done with that family. He hadn't even told his dad he'd gone back to school, something Seth knew Hunter would be proud of—yet still find a way to lambaste him for. "You're trying to go back to school with money issues? What's wrong with you? Can't you think straight for once?"

"The fact that you're talking to me about it," Seth spoke, "instead of going behind my back, or even taking it and telling me you've got this spanking-new job no matter how I feel about it…well…that's really admirable of you, Roman."

Roman half-smiled. "I just figured, I knew you've had—you have—a lot of issues with your dad, and to work for him without your consent…it felt dirty."

"You don't need my consent, Roman. Job's a job. If you feel this is how we get out of this hole, then go for it."

"You mean that?"

"Yeah. If it means I don't have to work fifty hour weeks anymore." Seth smiled.

Roman didn't. "You're not happy about it."

"Well, I'm not happy about him. I don't like my dad. I love him 'cause he's my dad and all, but I have no respect for him, especially after all that crap he said about Dean on Christmas Eve. But he likes you. And I like you. And I trust you not to turn into him while working under his wing."

"Trust me. There's nothing personal about this. It's strictly business."

"I say go for it. Make that cash. He's a rich bastard. He'll pay you well, knowing how much he worships you."

"Seth, I can always keep looking—"

"Roman, we don't have a lot of time to keep looking. Things are only going to get worse for us if we sit on our asses and wait for the 'perfect' way to solve all our financial problems. Take the job. Let me work on my issues with my dad; that's between him and me. I'm really happy that you came to me about it first, because it's proof you respect me and care about my feelings. But this isn't the time to get sappy or petty or spiteful. This is a really low point for the family, and we kind of need whatever we can take. This is a good opportunity, regardless of how I feel."

Roman assimilated everything Seth had said. Mulled over it. Then reacted.

"You're sure."

"Absolutely." Seth couldn't have been more sincere.

"Alright. I'll take it. I'm hoping he can find a way to have me work around my hectic schedule."

"I know he will. He'll take care of you. He's probably ecstatic about having you."

Roman patted his leg. "You're a good guy, Seth Rollins."

"So are you, Roman. So are you."

"You work today?"

"Yep. Mid-shift. Eleven to four."

"You better get moving then, bro. It's almost ten."

"Shit." Seth rolled out of bed. His pants weren't so tight anymore. Conversing about his father had helped. "I take it you do, too? Or are you just dressed up all nice in slacks for a date?"

Roman smiled. "I wish. No, I work today, and Dean does, too. But he and I are going to his brother's house tonight for dinner."

"That so?"

"Yeah. He's slowly working Cesaro into the madness that is his Colorado life. I'm guessing you haven't met him yet?"

"Nope." Seth moved towards his closet, not wanting to undress quite yet. Not in front of Roman.

"I'm sure you will. It'll be a special night, just you and him and Dean."

"First comes meeting the boyfriend, though. That's way more special than meeting the best friend."

"Don't make me feel all guilty and despondent before work, Rollins."

"Oh, I will." Seth beamed at him. "Nah, you guys go and have fun tonight. I'll think of something to do. Probably school related because I'm so lame."

"I'm proud of you for taking your education seriously."

"Things change when I know what I want to do with my life, and actually enjoy it."

"And when you're the one actually paying for the courses."

"True." Seth laughed.

Another knock on the door. Dean poked his head into the room. "Hey, sorry to interrupt what's probably a tender, touchin' moment, but we have a visitor." His eyes were on Seth.

"Who?" Roman asked. Seth hadn't even heard the doorbell buzzer.

"Reigns! Get your ass out here and hug me."

Seth's heart lifted to his throat. Was that Randy?

Dean was smirking now. No wonder he had that look to him.

Roman followed Dean out of the room and greeted Randy. Seth waited for a moment, hurrying to get dressed, not wanting to dash into the living room and risk tripping over himself in front of Randy. He yanked a shirt off a hanger and nearly tripped over himself anyway, jumping into his work pants. Then he brushed his hair with his fingers, smoothed out the fabric of his shirt, tugged the door wide open, and sauntered into the living room as casually as he could pass for. Oh, hi, Randy. Didn't know you were here. Yeah, how's it goin'? Good to see you again so soon…after waking up from a dream all about you.

"Came by to give you this," Randy said, handing a folded shirt over to Roman. "I cleaned it and everything. Sister even let me use her iron on it. Looks crisp. Good as new."

"Thanks. I, uh, didn't even know you had it." Roman chuckled.

"I had a little barbecue mishap, so I stole one of your shirts to wear to Zodiac."

Dean, standing in the kitchen with a coffee cup in hand, wouldn't stop grinning in Seth's direction. Seth wanted to slap him as badly as he wanted to take Dean into his arms and squeal over the surprise visit of his crush.

Randy's brown eyes moved to Seth, regarding him affectionately. "How you doin', man? You doin' alright?"

"Another day in paradise," Seth answered, referring to the golden tire stitches on his shirt just beneath the space for his name tag.

"Ah, fuck work. Call in sick and take some time for yourself."

"Quit being such a bad influence on him," Roman said, giggling.

"You know I'm just playin'. Gotta pay them bills somehow."

Somehow, Seth thought. He figured Roman was thinking the same thing.

"What about you?" Roman asked, beating Seth to the question. "You got any fun plans for your Saturday?"

"Nah. Got the day off of work, though."

"Nothing going on with Nikki or Brie Bella?"

Brie. Seth hadn't thought of her yet today. His phone was still in his room, plugged into the charger. He wanted to check it for messages, not that she'd texted him yet. Still. It was bound to happen sometime, right?

"Nah," Randy answered. "She and Brie are in Denver today. They've got some concert up there tonight. One Direction or some shit like that? I told her no, ain't my scene. She said good, because now she can have Harry Styles all to herself. Whoever that is."

Seth processed the information. Randy would be alone tonight. He'd be alone tonight, with Roman and Dean gone…

"So you're saying you're available," Dean said after a slurp of sweetened coffee.

Dammit, Dean, let me instigate. I don't need your help. Yet perhaps Seth would have continued to stand there in silence, awestruck at Randy Orton there in his tight jeans and baggy shirt, until Randy left and Seth was stuck with zero potential.

"Yeah? I am, I guess. Why? You guys got something going on?" Randy asked.

"Dean and Roman are going to dinner tonight," Seth interjected. Thanks for the push, Dean. I can take it from here. "So it's just me here by myself."

"Ah. Unacceptable for a Saturday night, my dude. We should hang out."

Yes! Seth celebrated inwardly. Dean beamed, proud of his best friend.

"What time are you off work?" Randy asked.

"Four."

"Alright. Let me know when you get home. I'll swing by and we can work something out."

"Sure."

"You got my number? You can text me."

"Not yet. Hang on, let me get my phone…"

Seth disappeared to his room to fetch the device. No texts. He returned to the living room with an empty contact pulled up for Randy's number. Was this for real? As far as Seth was concerned, a night just the two of them playing video games or watching a movie would suffice. So much for finding a way to get over this…

"He'll see you then," Dean answered for Seth. "And he's pretty excited about it."

I'll slap you.

"I'm looking forward to it," Randy said.

Never mind, I love you, Ambrose.

After Randy left, Seth was still on a cloud. He cavorted into the kitchen on nimble feet. It didn't take looking at Roman to know he was staring at Seth.

"You wanna tell me what that was all about?" Roman asked.

"Oh, it's not my business to disclose," Dean said.

"Oh, now it's not your business," Seth voiced aloud, but he was smiling.

"Seth, are you…are you into Randy?" Roman quizzed.

"Maybe a little," Seth revealed, timid.

"Don't you think they'd make a cute couple?" Dean asked.

"Well…" Roman started. "I mean, that's nice and all, but Seth, you know he's—"

"I know, Roman," Seth interjected. "I know. You don't need to remind me."

"Sorry." Roman shrugged one shoulder.

"I'm just going to enjoy it for what it is. Yeah, he makes me feel…out of my element. In the best way possible. But he's growing on me as a good friend. I can appreciate that. We have fun together."

"I'm glad you're not letting it get you down, brother."

I'm doing my best.

Seth left for work before Roman and Dean. He wished them a good time at Cesaro's house. As predicted, his shift dragged on and on and on. It was Saturday afternoon, business was flourishing and customers came in copious amounts, yet Seth found himself staring at the clock more often than he did on a normal day. The busy shift did not make the day go by fast. It was hell.

At least it was the mid-shift, and Seth could clock out on time at four o'clock instead of staying an extra hour or so to close up shop.

He texted Randy as soon as he had access to his phone. [I'm off work. Heading home now. Gotta get my stank ass in the shower before u come over ok?]

The reply came on the drive home. Seth read it over in the parking lot. He couldn't help but smile. His very first text from Randy.

[Ur ass gonna be stank no matter what. ;) See u soon.]

Seth kept his shower short. His hair was growing out long, and the blonde patch in his mane was starting to fade. The brunette was dominate in his locks. He wondered if it was worth it to dye it again. How many people in his life actually liked his crazy hair.

Randy was on his way, and he had to get ready. He didn't stress too long over what to wear. He'd been wanting to show off his black and red Disturbed shirt ever since he discovered Randy was a fan of the band.

As he brushed out his drying hair and dabbed a bit of cologne behind his ears, his phone buzzed. Another text? From him? Seth's breath latched in his throat as he picked up the device.

It was from an unknown number, but the message gave away the sender.

[I PASSED MY BIOLOGY TEST! Grades were posted on the website this morning. 94%! *happy dance* Nikki and I headed up to Denver to shop for a bit before a concert tonight. We're gonna see One Direction. You probably don't like them, but I s2G Liam Payne is my everything. Maybe you and I can hang out when I'm back in the city? It's Brie btw. Don't be confused. ;) Text me back when you can!]

Seth loved how he could read the words in her exact voice, like she was speaking to him directly instead of virtually.

[Congrats, Brie. I trust that u busted ur butt over that test, and u earned that grade. Have fun tonight, blow Liam a kiss for me, and I'll see u around.]

Someone—Seth was certain he knew who—pounded on the door.

Heart ramming into his ribs, Seth gave himself one more inspection in the bathroom mirror, then crossed the floor and opened the door with a slight quiver in his hand.

Randy Orton still managed to catch him off guard with that devilish smile. "'Sup?"

"Gas prices?" Seth tried.

Randy hollered laughing. "That's a good one." He moved past Seth in the doorway.

"So," Seth said, clearing his throat. "What did you have in mind for tonight? Wanna head out somewhere, or just chill here? Either way works for me."

"Well, I think we're two studs who look way too good to stay in. Love your shirt, dog."

Seth beamed. "Thanks. I love Disturbed."

"Same. I saw them live a few years ago."

"No way!" Seth was ridden with envy.

"Yup. Saw 'em on their Asylum tour in Corpus Christi. Drove fifteen hours with my sister for that concert. It was worth it."

"You're so lucky, dude. I haven't seen them live yet."

"It's a fantastic experience. We need to catch them if they ever come up to Denver or something. But anyway! Enough playing fanboy. Did you wanna head out anywhere in particular?"

Seth had been fantasizing about what he'd wanted to do with Randy all day. Only part of the fantasy depicted actually going out. "Well, there's a couple of bars in town we could hit up. We could catch a movie…" He racked his brain for a third suggestion. Movie theaters weren't the greatest place to socialize. "There's also that bowling alley up north, by Summit Community College."

"Bowling?" Randy asked, intrigued.

"Yeah. It's a decent place. Not too sketchy, but not a kids' zone since there's a bar."

"There's a bar?"

"Yep."

Randy clapped his hands together, then lifted his arms in the air. "Sold."

Seth laughed. "Am I gonna drag your ass out of there again tonight while you're crooning Neil Diamond?"

"Not this time. If I'm gonna be a drunk, singing bastard again, I'll be rocking Sinatra or something."

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Though Seth certainly wouldn't have minded if it did. If it meant Randy got to spend the night again.

Lightning Bowling Alley was swarming mostly with older men and their dames, the air tinged with smoke, the aura relaxed and lively with roaring laughter, smashing pins and generic pop blasting through speakers on the ceiling. Randy paid for the alley, and Seth offered to buy the drinks. He added an order of nachos to the beer pitchers, and he carried them steadily to a table Randy had claimed.

"You know what the worst part about bowling is?" Randy asked.

"That you're about to get licked?" Seth guessed with half a smile. Maybe I should have used different slang.

But Randy didn't read it any differently than Seth meant. "Oh yeah? You think you're gonna kick my ass in here tonight?"

"Enjoy that chair while you can, dude, 'cause your ass is gonna be too sore to sit on later on." God. I'm just full of good ones tonight. He's gonna think I'm sick.

"Well, bring it on, little buddy! I hope you can walk as nicely as you talk." Randy used his big toes to rake his shoes off his feet. "But I was gonna say the shoes. Look how hideous these things are." He moved his socked feet onto the table, on the opposite end from the food, as he fiddled with the tight knots on the brown and orange bowling shoes. "I feel like these are the corporate sponsors for the walk of shame."

Seth was paying no mind to the shoes or Randy's quips. His breathing had wobbled unsteady. Randy's feet were model—size elevens, straight toes between his silky black socks. Seth had recognized his foot fetish when he was a teenager, but it had never really applied to his life, in any way he'd ever discerned. There weren't a lot of guys sticking their feet in Seth's face. He'd seen Dean's feet plenty of times. He'd rubbed them. He'd probably tickled them. But they didn't turn him on, because Dean was more like a brother to him now, not to mentioned they were calloused and dry with stubby nails, much like his hands. Seth was picky about his fetish.

But Randy? Randy fit the bill.

Even black socks did something to Seth that made him have to sit down and concentrate on not getting aroused in this bowling alley. It didn't help that Randy couldn't seem to unfasten the knots on the bowling shoes quick enough, leaving his feet on the table—in Seth's view—for far too long. Seth almost offered to do it himself when Randy finally announced, "Ah, there we go."

The repulsive "walk of shame" shoes hid away Randy's sexy, sexy soles. Seth could breathe again.

"Ladies first," Randy said, gesturing towards the lane. Ten pins were situated at the very end.

Seth just simpered at him. He didn't have to say a word. He'd let his skills speak for him.

He lifted a heavy purple bowling ball into his hand and stared out at the pins. He positioned himself correctly from head to toe, poked his tongue through the very end of his lips, strode forward, and pitched the ball with a grunt. It spiraled down the lane in an undeviating path, colliding with the pins all at once in a blink. Not one was left standing.

Satisfied, he twisted around to face Randy, whose bottom lip jutted out over his chin. "Huh. You're not too bad at this."

Seth beamed. "It's one of my bizarre hidden talents."

"Really? All I have going for me there is my ability to juggle devil sticks."

"Hmm, riveting. Let's see you bowl."

Randy swiped his thumb over his nose, then gathered a bowling ball much heavier than the one Seth had used. He'd learned over the years size mattered here: scoring high with a heavy ball was impressive enough, but he performed much better with a lighter sphere. Randy wanted to be a show-off and select the heaviest ball, which probably wouldn't work out well for him.

Sure enough, no sooner had he ejected the ball from hold than it was coasting off to the right, straight into the gutter.

Seth stifled laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, yuck it up," Randy told him. "We'll see who's laughing once I get my come-from-behind victory."

Randy's second attempt was a bit more successful. He managed to knock down two pins after a gentle roll forward.

"Shit," Randy said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Seth didn't say anything. All he could hope was Randy wasn't a sore loser.

Seth retrieved his ball. Took his stance again. His tongue poked out. He rolled the orb down the lane. All ten pins clanked against the slick flooring.

Randy was shaking his head. He took a swig of beer straight from the pitcher. "Well, then. Guess I'm fucked."

"Want me to tone it down a bit?"

"Nah, dude. You may take me down in bowling, but you can't take away my pride."

But Seth felt he was stripping that away, too, one fine layer at a time. They bowled for a couple of hours, Seth leading by nearly two-hundred points. He finished the game with two-hundred and twenty, while Randy was nowhere near breaking a hundred.

"Alright, I give up," Randy said, throwing his hands into the air. "You win. Stop hurting my pride. No mas, no mas."

Seth giggled. He couldn't help but feel a little bad for smoking Randy in the game. Even with half a pitcher of crappy beer in his system.

"I can show you the proper stance, if you want," Seth said, his heart fluttering at the prospect. His hands on Randy, touching him, moving him into the correct position…

"Eh, I'd probably find a way to mess it up too. Especially cause I'm a little woozy."

"Beer?"

"Yeah." Randy reached a tottery hand towards the pitcher.

"Just be careful, or else you'll end up waking up on my couch again," Seth said. He blabbed a lie: "We don't want that."

"We don't?" Randy asked, brow curving above his eye.

Seth was flustered. "W-well, I mean, I didn't know what you were up for. I mean, my place is open, by all means, but I'm not about to interpose if you have anything else going on tonight or tomorrow."

Randy cracked a cocky grin. "Believe it or not, I'm not partying it up all day and all night. As much as I wish that was the life. I tend to know when enough is enough."

Seth had no idea what he meant by that, but he nodded like he understood. Perhaps it was the beer taking over.

"You're dishy, Seth, you know that?"

Seth blinked at the unknown word. "Dishy?"

"Yeah, you know. Cute. Adorable."

It came as a surprise. Is he seriously calling me cute and adorable? Oh my God. Be cool, be cool. "Um." Seth cleared his throat, gaze sinking to the carpet. Randy's hideous shoes only reminded Seth of what beauty existed underneath them. "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or embarrassed."

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not trying to call you weak or anything. You're just…you've got this decent vibe about you. It's different than I'm used to seeing, especially against someone like me. It's like, you can take a SnakeBite down like a champ, but you're not the type to get smashed every night. You're the type to take a cute chick out for a drink without asking her back to your place."

Seth's heart was whirring like a motor now. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, I heard. Sly dog." Randy tapped Seth's shoulder with his fist. "Girls tell each other everything, and Nikki's a gossip."

"Ah." Seth's head bobbed. "Well, yeah. It was fun. She's great."

"She is. And if she wasn't leaving, I'd say go for it."

"Well, I don't know for sure if she's leaving yet. She still needs to get her acceptance letter."

"Oh, she will. You don't know her like I know her. She's a genius. She'll get into any school she wants, guaranteed."

Seth bit his lip. Why did it hurt so much to know she had such a bright future ahead of her? Everything she ever wanted? He took a sip of beer, then poured him and Randy another glass.

"But anyway," Randy said, sensing Seth's shift in mood. "You don't get a lot of girls like Brie Bella. And you don't get a lot of guys like you, neither. So don't resort to shit for anyone, you hear me? You stay true to you."

"You've got it." Seth swallowed hard. His heart was trying to tell him Randy was essentially saying, I like you for you. He wasn't hearing it on the outside, but rather within. "Want anymore to drink?" Seth raised the pitcher which was nearing empty.

"Shit, man, are you trying to get me wasted?" Randy laughed, yet he accepted the offer. "Trying to take advantage of me."

"Oh, not even you, man. Of your car. I wanna drive that thing again."

"You're gonna have to at this point."

It was a small victory for Seth. It hadn't been his intention, not any conscious one, anyway. "Am I actually getting your address this time, or…?" The or was eerie. A lingering potential for this night to go any direction fate decided.

"Nope. Can't remember it right now, matter of fact."

"You lying to me?" Seth prayed he wasn't.

"You're not comfortable enough to invite me over on your own, so yeah, I'm lying so that you'll take me home, but not flat-out inviting myself over like a dick. Like I said. You're dishy."

Seth truly couldn't believe what he was hearing at this point. Randy was being so straight with him...in a curiously non-straight manner. Was this flirting? He couldn't be, could it? There was no way...

He needed so badly to play it off slick, before he lost control and said something he couldn't take back if he traded his soul for it. "Dishy. There's one I've never heard before. What's next? Boxy? Plate-y?"

"You're not boxy, that's for sure. And what the hell's plate-y supposed to mean?"

Seth pondered their new word with a finger to his lips. "Amazing at bowling."

"Then you're definitely plate-y." Randy took a final drink of beer, then stood up. His posture was unbalanced, and Seth took his arm in the maternal way he was accustomed to with Dean. He wasn't aware of just how much he liked touching Randy until Randy noted aloud, "Even taking care of drunk old me on the way out. You're a saint."

"Nope, I'm an asshole. This is just for the car, remember?"

"Right," Randy said, wincing as a winter air tore at them outside the bowling alley. Seth was much too warmed by just Randy's touched to pay it any mind. "Whatever you say, Seth."

Next chapter we get to hear about Dean and Roman's time at Cesaro's house. Things don't go as swimmingly as they hope. And we need to figure out what happens when Seth takes Randy home again, right? ;) Ah, so much coming up, so much further for this story to go! I have so many ideas darting about in my head for this project, and I can't wait to bring them all to you!

Review? :)