Zack gets lonely easily, bored and anxious. It's a waiting game to see if he'll recover well enough, if surgery will be avoided. Dolph wishes he could do more for him but, with his travel schedule, he's lucky if he can sit with Zack through one rehab session every week or so. So, when Dolph does Q&As on twitter, if he sees a question mentioning Zack that isn't too far out there, he responds. A little callous sounding to those on the outside, but he knows if he oversteps, Zack would let him know. Nine times out of ten, it just makes Zack roll his eyes and huff helplessly the next time he and Dolph see each other.
Which is why Dolph worries when Zack calls after he tweets that the Social Media Slammy should be named after Zack, but that he wouldn't want Zack in harm's way on the stage. It's a small poke at how things had gone with Kane years back, and he knows it's still a sensitive subject for Zack, understandably so. "Hey, kid."
"Hey, bro." Zack actually sounds almost cheerful, like he's close to laughing, and Dolph relaxes a little. "You're such a jerk," he says.
"You know it," Dolph smirks, his teeth flashing when Zack laughs for real this time.
"Thanks though. At least someone is making sure the WWE Universe doesn't forget about me," he says, Dolph closing his eyes as warmth suffuses him.
He'd noticed. Dolph hadn't doubted that he would but Zack gets lost sometimes, trapped in his own worries and uncertainties a lot, so for him to actually mention it... he smiles softly. "Well, of course, kid. How else am I going to distract you when I'm hours away? Hmm?"
Zack chuckles. "Well, it works," he says quietly. "Anyway, I just wanted to hear your voice before the Slammys. But it's almost start time so I guess I should let you go. Kick some ass out there, bro."
"Planning on it, kid. I'll send you a picture of all my awards later."
Zack's huff and eyeroll combo is back with a vengeance, Dolph laughing this time. "Whatever you say, bro. Talk to you later."
"Yes you will," Dolph says simply. "Bye, kid." Adjusting his wrist tape, Dolph looks up at the nearest clock. "Show time," he murmurs to himself before getting up and walking out of the room.
