After their failed attempt at getting a Wrestlemania match, Zack had always imagined what another match against Dolph would be like. The two of them using the things they'd learned the last few years, confident in the knowledge that this time it wouldn't come between them like it had before... So, with these thoughts rattling around in his mind, he fights and tries to win a battle royal for #1 contendership towards the Intercontinental title, but gets eliminated too early.
He curses and angrily throws things in his bag, not caring when his clothes bunch up, or his other things get crushed under the weight of everything else. He's struggling to zip it all up when Dolph's hand closes around his fingers, stopping him. "Bro, let me go," Zack mumbles, not in the mood for his empty platitudes right now.
But Dolph's fingers tighten around his own and finally Zack looks up, glowering in a way that lets Dolph know all of Zack's anger is aimed at himself right now, not at Dolph in the slightest. "Come on, kid. You'll have other opportunities," he says softly, tugging the abused bag out of Zack's grip and letting it drop unceremoniously to the ground. "In the meanwhile, we should find something else to focus on."
Zack frowns and watches as Dolph sorts through his bag, making sense of the mess he's made, and then easily zips it up before turning to smile cheerfully at him. "What are you planning, bro?" he asks dully.
"You'll see," Dolph says. "But we can't talk about it here." Clasping Zack's hand, he pulls him into the hallway and glances left to right before slipping outside, Zack frowning at him. "Trust me?"
Zack releases a breath. Shrugs. "Fine." He allows himself to get dragged away from the arena, along a sidewalk leading to the park that's across the street from the arena. They walk in silence for awhile before Dolph stops by a bench and drops down unceremonously, listening to the wind whispering in trees. Zack hesitates for a moment before joining him, digging his feet in the soft dirt. "Bro..."
Dolph turns and smiles at him. "So here's my idea," he says, whispering in the semi-darkness and watching as Zack's eyes widen, slowly nodding in agreement with what he's suggesting.
"I like it," he mumbles, leaning in and lightly kissing Dolph until it dawns on them both they should be getting back to the arena before their absenses are noticed and they get in trouble. "C'mon, bro."
Barely an hour later, they make their presence felt in JBL and Cole filming and begin to put the pieces in place to take the show over.
