"Up for round two guys?"
"Hit us up man!"
AJ laughed at his friends as Karl Anderson tried getting another round of drinks. The two and Luke Gallows decided to celebrate a…somewhat successful night. AJ beat up John Cena which was good, and Karl and Luke technically beat the New Day thanks to Big E causing a DQ, but no titles. They're hoping for a rematch on Raw and with no crap from John Stewart and knowing a way to neutralize the third New Day member, they can win the gold.
As much as AJ tried keeping the mood light, his thoughts kept going back to Dean. He couldn't help it; he was worried about the Lunatic champion. Seeing him fall apart after Battleground, where he should have been on top of the world from beating his two former brothers, broke AJ's heart. Realizing that not one, but both men you once called brothers now want nothing to do with you, he can't even imagine the pain Dean's going through.
Dean's been doing a lot better since then. But…would this encounter set that progress back?
"Dude, he's going to be fine." Karl assured, almost as if he read his mind.
"Still, don't want this to push him back you know?"
"He deserves to know why." Luke pointed out. "He needs closure. You're such a mom dude." he chuckled the last sentence.
"Shut up!" AJ laughed, playfully shoving the other man's arm. "I'm just worried okay?"
"Whatever you say…mom." Karl laughed.
AJ playfully shoved him next, laughing with them as the drinks arrived. As they talked more, AJ hoped that Dean was safe.
Please be alright Dean.
Another ten minutes later and the three men are finishing up at the bar, paying for their drinks and heading back to the hotel. Wasn't far from the bar, a few blocks at most. As they turned a corner, AJ's phone chimed that a call was coming in. He quickly took it out of his pocket, heart dropping at the caller ID.
Dean Ambrose
He swiftly answered, Dean's fearful voice cutting off his worried greeting before it even started.
"The fuck is going on?!"
"Awww, little hero in trouble?"
AJ froze dead in his tracks, sensing Karl and Luke coming closer to hear what's going on.
This is not good.
"R-R-Roman? Wha…what's going on?"
"I'm extinguishing the light."
Following that was a lot of fighting sounds, and Dean yelping in pain. AJ's feet were frozen in place, why couldn't he move?
"Why do the fans love you and not me? We were both fighting the Authority, we were teammates. And yet I'm booed out of the building while you get a hero's ovation!"
"Roman, let me go.."
AJ noticed Dean sounded…terrified. Like he was pleading for Roman to stop.
His feet need to work right now. Why aren't they?
"Why? Why can't I get their approval? Why are you ruining my career?!"
"Roman…please…"
There was a loud smack, causing Dean to cry out in pain. There were more fighting sounds and more Dean screaming for Roman to stop and to let him go. The screams soon became muffled, maybe Roman gagged his mouth or something.
The fucking bastard.
Anytime feet.
"Think you can steal my spotlight? Think you can shove me aside and become the next face of the company? That spot is MINE Dean, I was handpicked for that role. You, little pup, need a lesson from the Big Dog. Don't take what's mine."
There was a sound of something being thrown, a door closing and locking. Then…loud banging and muffled screams.
His feet FINALLY unfroze and the three bolted the rest of the way.
The Club finally make it to the hotel lobby, rushing to the front desk. They all leaned over the desk and panted heavily as the woman looked at them curiously. AJ was still on the phone with Dean, who was still banging on the door and his screams muffled.
"Please, we need a key to Roman Reigns' room." Luke panted as politely as he could. "It's an emergency."
"What kind of emergency?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow at the men.
"A friend of ours who went to see him is in trouble." Karl added, motioning for AJ to hand the phone to the woman.
As she listened to the sounds, she still wasn't convinced. "I'm sorry I-". She was cut off when Dean's screams…weren't muffled anymore.
"Let me out Roman! Let me out!"
Dean's voice was full of panic. Fear. His sobbing pleas were breaking AJ to pieces.
The woman was now convinced, searching on her computer for Roman's hotel room and handing the men the key card.
"I'll send the manager up as soon as I can. Just…get to your friend.."
AJ nodded and the three ran, practically tripping over their own feet heading for the elevators.
"Let me out…let me out…"
Dean was softly crying now as the three got to the room. Karl waved the card in front of the sensor, waiting impatiently for the light to turn green. Once it did, they burst into the room, flicking the switch for light. AJ ended the call and was about to say something, but stopped when he noticed a phone on the ground near the closet door. Luke picked it up and slid it unlocked.
A recording thing was up. And the time counting up.
The fucker was recording Dean's meltdown.
Luke stopped the recording and turned to his friends.
"Send it to your phone." AJ said. "We'll need the evidence should Roman delete it from his."
Luke nodded and did as told as AJ and Karl focused on Dean. AJ talked to Dean and Karl was working on the door.
"Dean, it's AJ. It's going to be okay. We're getting you out now."
Karl got the door open, both seeing Dean's state. He was on his knees, head bowed and body shaking as he cried. AJ quickly pulled Dean close to him and Karl worked on untying Dean's hands.
"You're alright Dean, you're safe now."
He gently rubbed Dean's back as the other man continued to sob into his shoulder.
AJ vowed then and there he was going to get Roman for this.