Pacing from one end of the locker room to the other while waiting for Ethan to finish getting ready Spud paid particular attention to how his ankle felt. With a tag match against the duo of Willow and Angle only moments away he was relieved to find almost no pain. Perhaps he shouldn't have complained quite so much about Ethan forcing him to take it easy, not that he'd admit that out loud … Ethan had enough of an ego as it was.

"Alright, I'm ready. Let's head to the ring before Aunt D sends out a search party," turning to face the other man Spud found his gaze drawn to Ethan's chest, barely hearing his next words under the hot wave of desire sweeping over him. As much as he should be used to how incredible Ethan looked shirtless, the other man's attractiveness still had the power to leave him breathless.

Inhaling Spud's tempting scent, deeper now with a musky hint of arousal Ethan couldn't resist teasing even while fighting his emerging fangs, "my eyes are further up tiger." His mouth twitched into a smile at the bright red blush blazing across Spud's face, the smaller man looking away hastily and scrambling for an excuse.

"I … I wasn't … I," stopping to collect himself Spud forced down his need to make excuses, looking up at Ethan's amused and very smug smile he knew it would be useless anyway. "I'm sorry I didn't catch what you said, could you repeat it?"

"I asked if your ankle is okay?" Deciding to let Spud off the hook Ethan repeated himself instead of teasing further, the other man's almost inaudible sigh of relief doing little to soften the edge of hunger.

"Oh," flush increasing Spud let his gaze drop to the floor, he hated the idea Ethan might be worried he wasn't up to the task of fighting by his side, "it's fine Sir. I, I promise I won't let you down in our match."

Frowning Ethan stepped forward and tipped Spud's face up with gentle fingers, determinedly meeting his worried blue eyes, "hey now tiger, I'm not worried about you letting me down. I know I can depend on you. What I am worried about is Willow or Angle trying to injure your ankle. I want you to promise me to tag out when you need to."

Swallowing, very aware of the warmth of Ethan's fingers against his skin Spud nodded, "yes Sir, I promise." It was worth the knock to his pride to see the relief lighten Ethan's eyes.

"Good man," clapping the smaller man on the shoulder Ethan directing him out the door and down to gorilla, despite Spud's assurance he vowed to keep a close eye out. Somehow, he suspected Willow would not be playing by any kind of rule.

A suspicion that proved correct when Willow tagged in the second Spud was in the ring, cackling madly and making repeated grabs for his ankle, the wild spike of fear in Spud's scent enough to send his need to protect into overdrive. Gripping the ropes, the steel creaking ominously Ethan forced himself to simply tag Spud the second he was close enough, tugging the smaller man safely out of Willow's reach and backing the violently grinning madman into his own corner. "Stay away from him," hissing warningly he stepped back as Angle tagged in, glowering when Willow only jumped around madly in response.

Annoyed at Angle's smugness and with his temper dangerously near to the boiling point at Willow's continuous attempts to intimidate Spud he gave the match up as a bad effort. Not even bothering to wait to be counted out he strode up the ramp, tugging Spud along with him he ignored his Aunt calling his name the moment they were through the curtain.

"I don't think your Aunt is happy with you right now Sir," twisting his head to look back Spud winced at the glower on his boss's face, he had a sinking feeling this would somehow turn out to be his fault.

"She'll get over it, I wasn't in the mood to deal with Angle anyway," shoving the door to his locker room open Ethan waved dismissively, locking the door behind him he relaxed at Spud's eyeroll. "I'm going to shower, we'll go once the show is over. No sense in annoying Aunt D even further at leaving early."

"Yes, Sir, I'll pack up," flicking the live feed on Spud slid his bowtie off, dropping it in his bag he changed quickly, well used to needing to shower back at the hotel. It hadn't taken him long to realize how much Ethan loved taking long showers, and how much his mood improved after one. By the time Ethan joined him on the couch he had their luggage packed up and a small plate of finger sandwiches laid out on the coffee table along with a carafe of iced tea.

Accepting a glass of iced tea and grabbing a sandwich Ethan sighed in contentment, leaning into Spud's slight frame, "thanks tiger, I can always count on you to take care of me." Peering sideways he didn't fight the rush of tender warmth at the flush spreading across Spud's face, all his previous tension dissipating completely under his affection for the smaller man.

Clearing his throat Spud breathed in the warm sandalwood scent of the other man's cologne, trying to still the wild beat of his heart, "always Sir." Ducking his head at Ethan's slow smile he forced his attention to the tv, sometimes he half-suspected Ethan said such things to deliberately get a rise out of him. Bully's music playing from the tv shattered the restful mood between them and exchanging a worried look with Ethan he sat forward.

"What is that idiot up to now," setting his glass aside Ethan frowned as Bully started to drag tables out from under the ring. The other wrestler was seriously starting get on his last nerve, his other half stirring at the flicker of promised violence.

"I don't know but I don't have a good feeling about it," clutching Ethan's arm, unaware he had even reached out Spud held his breath as Bully set up the three tables, garbage bags covering the tops. Cursing as the first bag was ripped off to reveal his name dread filled him as the next two turned out to be Ethan and Dixie Carter, knowing without a doubt this little stunt was going to tip his boss over the edge. She was more than half-obsessed Bully already. Turning to Ethan he opened his mouth only to pause, while he wasn't surprised by the furious expression on his face he had to shake his head, for a second he could have sworn the other man's eyes were red.

Catching Spud's slight flinch Ethan suppressed his rage and quickly schooled his expression, forcing his eyes back to normal he grasped Spud's hand and squeezed his cold fingers, "don't worry, I won't let Bully put you through a table." Warmed when Spud's worried expression melted into a grateful smile he had to look down or risk red swirling into his eyes again.

"Thank you, Ethan, I won't let Bully put you through a table either," squeezing back Spud hesitated, teeth digging into his lip, "truth be told I'm most worried about how your Aunt is going to take this. She's been rather … fixated on Bully lately."

Huffing out a laugh Ethan stood, tugging Spud up with him, "obsessed is more like it but Aunt D will do what she wants to do. I learned at a young age not to try and stop her. It'll be up to us to make sure she stays safe." Squeezing Spud's shoulder when he only nodded uncertainly he grabbed their luggage, "come on, let's get out of here and brain storm ways to make Bully regret this stunt."

"Yes Sir," holding back on revealing the extent of his worry Spud followed behind the other man, there was no way things were going to be as easy as Ethan seemed to think. Bully wasn't going to give up, and Dixie Carter would never back down.