Aiden English sits outside of a room, head resting against the wall, listening to Rusev talk, and laugh, and sometimes yell at the video game he's playing. They both have their space, and their schedule, and know when to come in and see each other, and when not to bother the other. It's an interesting life they've eased into post-WWE, with Rusev making gaming more of a priority and Aiden still trying to find his footing in the wrestling world's indy scene, especially while trying to remain safe from the pandemic.
He closes his eyes, humming quietly to the music echoing from Rusev's room. Checks the time on his phone and exhales, aware that it's well past the time Rusev had said he'd be playing this evening. He's lost himself in games before too, too wrapped up and excited with the going ons in his chat to care about the real world, but it's Christmas week, and he's feeling a little maudlin with the end of the year inching ever closer, lost in his own head about everything that's happened this year. He's still sitting there, waiting, when he finally hears Rusev signing off for the evening, and he checks his watch. Waiting for half an hour had felt like an eternity and he slowly gets to his feet, stretching and stepping back, not wanting to seem too eager whenever Rusev finishes turning everything off.
He looks surprised when he finds Aiden standing there, reaching back to turn off the lights in the room. "What's up, Aiden?" he asks, turning with a small frown. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah," he says with a faintly embarrassed laugh. "I... I guess I was just getting lonely out here by myself." He scrapes his hands over his head and shrugs. "Kind of creepy, huh?" Turning, he starts to trudge out of the hallway, eager for something to drink, maybe a chunk of the fudge they'd awkwardly made together the other day, tripping over each other in the small kitchen and laughing ridiculously every time they'd messed up. How, exactly, the two of them had ended up with serviceable dessert is still a mystery to Aiden, but it really was pretty good.
"No," Rusev says slowly, following him out. "I... It's kind of nice." He stands at the counter and watches, clearly waiting for Aiden to cut him some as well, which he does, laying matching pieces side by side on the same plate. After pouring glasses of milk, they just chew on them at the counter, eyeing each other quietly while Aiden waits for Rusev to clarify. "I miss you too," he confesses after a few minutes. "When you're at these indy events. Or when I'm in Florida." He picks at some of the chocolate clinging to his fingers and smiles wearily. "I suppose it reminds me a little too much of how suddenly Rusev Day fell apart."
Aiden's face falls, a little, and he exhales. "I'm really s-"
"You don't need to apologize again," Rusev interrupts him. "That's not what I'm- that... I don't need that from you, not again. It's... ancient history? Right? Just... how we went from spending so much time together when we were in Rusev Day to just all of a sudden none, reminds me of this. Being quarrantined together for months, and then... then things begin to happen, and... now we're not together as much, so yes, Aiden, I understand. It's fine. Not creepy."
Aiden ducks his head, smiles a little bit. "I should've known you'd understand," he murmurs, and Rusev is grinning at him when he looks back up, even winks at him.
"Of course I do," he says, popping more fudge into his mouth. "Because I'm a genius. And you love me."
He smiles softly. "I really do." It's then, looking away to ease some of the heavy emotions leaving him breathless and heart pounding hard in his chest, that Aiden realizes his fudge is gone as well, Rusev looking oddly pleased with himself, and his jaw drops. "HEY!"
Rusev's laugh is loud and boisterous and makes it all worth it.
"Jerk," he laughs with him, eyes unbearably fond as they look at each other.
"Come on," Rusev says, grabbing the knife and slicing some more fudge for both of them. "Let's go." Aiden doesn't ask, and it's not much of a surprise when Rusev grips his hand and drags him and the plate of fudge into the living room, tucking them both onto the couch, where they sit and eat fudge and talk quietly, the glow of the tree the only thing illuminating the room.
It's going to be a different sort of holiday than either are used to, but, Aiden thinks, looking up at Rusev and watching how the lights reflect off of his eyes, casting an almost etheral glow over his skin, they're going to do what they always do, and make the best of it. And their best is always pretty damn good.