Chapter Twenty-Nine: Path of Roses

A/N: And the onscreen madness continues. Just a few more chapters… Just a few more weeks… And who's freaking out after hearing about all three Shield members being on the Ambrose Asylum next week on RAW?! ME! Not much else to say, so here's chapter 29.

"Rome, have you talked to Dean lately?" Seth asked. Last week was still bothering him, and he was wondering if Roman had noticed Dean's strange behavior as well. They were walking into the arena, just the two of them, a few hours earlier than everyone else. Dean had said something about getting ready for something and that he'd catch up with them later.

"So you noticed it too. He's been pretty off since last week, hasn't he?" Roman replied. They stopped by his locker room and dropped off their stuff before heading to catering, keeping their eyes out for anyone watching them. "What'd he take you out to eat for?"

"He said he wanted to try something different. An actual date instead of us doing whatever we usually do. All we ended up doing was stuffing our faces though, so I guess that failed. He didn't seem to mind too much. I know I didn't."

"So… he took you on a date? Well, tried to, at least. Was he acting strange then?"

"Yeah, he wasn't his normal self. He was all nervous and serious. He wasn't Dean at all. Remember in high school when we first all three became friends and he was never comfortable around us? *Roman nodded* It was like that." Roman pondered over this while eating his slice of red velvet cake. Dean acting like this could mean a few things. He was either: pulling a huge prank on them, actually trying to be nice and treat his boyfriend, or had something up his sleeve. He highly doubted the first option. Still, the Dean that Seth was describing was a Dean he didn't want to get used to again.

" *sigh* As much as it's bothering me, we have to stay focused. Our match is just around the corner, man. Are you ready for Money in the Bank?" Seth slowly finished his salad (of all the things he could eat…) before replying.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my entire life."

XxX

Dean was fuming. How dare he? Kevin Owens never knew when to stay away, did he? Guess there was no escaping him. Sami Zayn would also be a thorn in his side in the upcoming match. Actually, everyone in the MITB match was someone that Dean just didn't get along with, Sami Zayn aside. No, no, focus. Seth, the surprise for Seth. He got twitchy and nervous again. Seth seemed to like the date idea. Now, how would he react to what was awaiting him at the hotel? Dean had begun brainstorming and didn't notice what he was about to walk into until a moan echoed around the hall. Dean's eyes snapped up and his jaw fell open. Just when he thought he'd gotten those two off his mind… Kevin Owens had Sami Zayn wrapped in his arms, kissing the life out of him, belt half unbuckled. They were in the middle of a hallway for God's sake! Even he and Seth weren't that reckless. He slowly backed away, turned around, and took the other way out of the arena. "Kev!" he heard from behind. He increased his pace, mood even worse than before he tried to leave the first time. He needed to see Seth. Now.

He texted to Seth: meet me back at our room. alone. i've got a surprise for you. 'You ready, Mox?' he asked his alter, who seemed to be bouncing off the walls of his mind with excitement.

'Born ready, Dean. Let's do this.' Dean hoped that this would turn out okay. MITB would be the night that their lives would change forever. When he won the ladder match for that contract, he'd finally have a chance at both if his brothers in the ring. He wanted the weeks building up to that to be absolutely perfect. Dean drove in silence back to the hotel, trying to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand. He stepped around his hard work when he got into the room and took a quick hot shower. He didn't bother getting dressed as he practically collapsed spread eagled on the king sized bed. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breath, then opened his eyes and looked around the room curiously. Dean had done a pretty good job arranging everything. He flexed his fingers, popped his back, his knuckles, and mentally prepared himself for what he was about to do. Seth was about to have his mind blown.

XxX

Seth had read Dean's text and shown Roman immediately. So that's why Dean stayed behind earlier. "You gonna go?" Roman questioned.

"Of course I am! He's tryin' to do something nice, Rome. I'm not gonna turn him down."

"You still don't know why he's doing all this though?" Seth sighed. He knew Dean was planning something, he just didn't know what. It was something serious if he was acting like some shy schoolgirl, planning things behind his back and keeping secrets from him.

"I know he has good intentions. I don't know what they are." He dropped his bag and gave the champ a long, emotion filled hug. "I will find out what's going on, but I can't do it on my own."

"What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to just demand to know what's going on in his head? I'll help, but I doubt I can do much. Still, *slaps his shoulder and grins* go get him, tiger."

"You're helpful," he mumbled teasingly as he grabbed his things and hopped into his car. He tried not to speed to meet his boyfriend, literally on the edge of his seat as he rushed through the hotel lobby, waited impatiently in an elevator that seemed to stop on every floor that wasn't his, and struggled to get his key card to work properly before finally getting into his room. The sight that met his eyes made him wearing skinny jeans a lot more painful than it should have been. The lights had been dimmed almost completely and he could smell the barbeque from there. A trail of red and white rose petals along with scented candles were scattered across the floor in a winding path and led to the large bed on the far side of the room. A moan was ripped from him when he looked at it. Dean, in all his naked glory, lay waiting for him on the bed, limbs spread out with a content smile gracing his lips. And when his eyes traveled lower… Seth was surprised his knees hadn't given out yet.

"So, whatcha think about all this, hot stuff?" the sapphire eyed wrestler inquired. The former two toned man didn't give a reply. Instead, he dropped what he was holding and made his way over to him, leaving a trail of clothes in his wake. Seth's eyes were completely clouded with love and lust by the time they were face to face. He dived in for a fiery, breathtaking kiss before saying, "I fucking love it, Mox." The alter chuckled at the blunt response.

"Let's have some fun then. You can do whatever you want to me. Plus, *reaches for something on the nightstand* I even bought you some whipped cream." Moxley told him in a low voice. The thought of a pliant and willing Moxley, of all people, was almost too much for Seth. Oh the things he could do to him… He shifted and crawled to the other side of the bed where he found: a pair of handcuffs, leather straps, a tie, a belt, a blindfold, a few sex toys that shall remain unnamed, lube, the whipped cream, of course, and a few things the champion didn't recognize that Moxley gladly, almost over enthusiastically, explained.

"Won't that hurt you?" Seth asked skeptically. He knew the alter could take a lot of abuse, but some of this was just borderline… He shuddered just thinking about it. Moxley scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Seth, I'm Jon Moxley. I live for pain, it's what I crave. I love pain mixed with pleasure, always have. Don't worry, Dean does too. 'Course, you already knew that though, didn't you?" Seth laughed nervously. "Don't worry, seriously. We'll be fine."

"Is he… you know…?"

"Probably not. Maybe, but probably not. It is my show tonight. I'm running this body at the moment."

The thought of Dean tuning into what was happening was both creepy and a tun on for him. "Why is he doing all this? Do you know? First the note, the date, then this. He's been acting like some nervous teenager with a huge crush these days," he said, peppering the alter's neck with light kisses. Moxley tried hard to hold back a groan to answer his question.

"Because he *gasp* loves you, you idiot. And it all leads up to that one moment. You'll see…" The alter closed his eyes in pleasure as Seth's lips traveled lower and lower, eventually reaching… "Seth, sweetness!" he practically screamed. Seth smirked and continued his task. Unbeknownst to them, Roman had decided to sneak back to see just what Dean had planned for Seth. Silently, he opened the door and tiptoed a few steps into the room. His eyes widened at the path of rose petals and candles leading to the other side of the room where… The oldest brother smiled softly and quietly retreated out of the room. He could always room with AJ (who he'd grown closer to during their feud, strangely enough) or his cousins anyway.

The two lovers continued this ritual into the early hours of the morning, having used every object to do just about anything imaginable to each other. Dean came to first, feeling like he was on cloud nine and, dare he say and remember, high almost. He didn't know what went on last night, but he felt amazing, like he was experiencing a never ending afterglow. He grinned when he saw a content and adorkable Seth curled up in his arms, smiling like there was no tomorrow. His guardian angel, his soulmate, his one and only, slowly stirred, eyes straining open. He looked over at Dean and pressed a tender kiss to his lips. "Did you enjoy the surprise?" the older man asked.

"Is enjoy even a strong enough word? Nope, I don't think it is. It was so… just… amazing isn't even good enough to describe…" The brunette snickered.

"Are you still feeling it too?" Seth nodded, snuggling into Dean's chest like a cat. There was a knock at the door followed by an electronic beep! as the door swung open.

"Morning lovebirds. You two have a good time last night?" Roman's disheveled hair indicated he'd awoken not too long ago. He usually fixed his oh so perfect hair before leaving their room in the mornings. He'd come over in a hurry. Dean and Seth began to feel worried.

"What is it, Ro?" Roman fidgeted a bit.

"I just got a call from Shane. Apparently, the Ambrose Asylum is back next week." Dean pumped his fist in the air and Seth shook his head in amusement. "But," he continued, "the guests are…" He didn't want to finish that sentence. Everyone but Shane thought that he and Seth had gotten into a fight that once again put the Shield on the edge of destruction. They couldn't be seen together, couldn't really talk to each other unless it was after a show, had to try and not break kayfabe. Shane had convinced Stephanie and the rest of the world that they were on opposite sides again, and they couldn't ruin it.

"Don't leave us hangin' here, Rome. Who are they?" Roman cast his eyes downward and sighed, defeated.

"The guests… They're us." Both lovers froze and tried their best to process the information. Roman and Seth… in the same ring… with Dean… Lord help them all.

"According to the current storylines: You two hate each other, I haven't been in touch with either one of ya, and we never made up, reformed the Shield and all that. How are we gonna work this out?" Seth kept opening and closing his mouth. He had great ideas, until he actually thought about them and knew they were all a steaming pile of crap. How were they going to work things out?

"We'll figure it out as we go. We'll think of something, wow the fans. We always do." Dean feigned shock, hand over his chest, breathing all hard.

"The mighty Architect doesn't have a plan? What's gotten into you these days?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Seth replied, harsher than he meant to. Roman gave him a scolding look that he ignored while Dean just kissed his cheek like it was the most casual question in the world.

"I love you, and I haven't shown you that enough. That's what's gotten into me. I'm tryin' to express my feelings. You know I'm not good with words. There a problem with that?" Seth believed that statement, but at the same time he didn't. It was true, but it wasn't the whole truth. He could feel it in his gut. There was something more to the story here, a missing piece of the puzzle.

"No, it's just weirdin' me out."

"I can stop if you want…" Dean's voice was sad and held a hint of guilt. The last thing he wanted to do was get on Seth's nerves when he was really just trying to make him happy. Seth heard the tone of his voice and immediately apologized.

"No, no, it's fine! I'm sorry! It's just… you haven't been you lately, and I was worried."

"Am I being overly affectionate?" the brunette asked in a lower voice. Seth smirked.

"There's nothing wrong with that. I actually like it." Seth started tracing patterns across Dean's back as the two slowly kissed. Roman gave an exasperated smile.

"Get a room you two!" Roman exclaimed. "We have bigger issues to worry about here!"

"We did get a room. You're in it. And we know that we've got bigger issues. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, hmm?" The raven haired man sighed.

"I guess… So, who's up for breakfast?" All three men's stomachs growled at that question. They all shared a laugh at that. "I'll take that as everybody."