Raw had been a one-two blow for Dolph. Not only had Rusev attacked Dolph, locking him up in the accolade for an extended period of time like he had Zack when Zack's arm had blown apart, Seth had threatened Edge until Cena had given in and brought back the Authority, taking away everything Dolph had accomplished in one night.
Once Dolph's home, Zack sits with him, stroking his hair and listening to him breathe. It's not easy, he knows. The trainer had promised that Dolph's arm was fine, but Zack can't quite bring himself to believe it. Either way, he knows it has to hurt. He continues to stroke and console Dolph as he presses into Zack's side, clearly trying not to lose it emotionally. "It's ok," Zack whispers to him. "It's gonna be ok."
Dolph shakes his head, biting his lip and Zack quiets, not wanting to say the wrong thing and make it all worse. "I hate all of it. Cena, Rusev, The Authority, Seth. Everything. It all sucks. I can't believe how shit everything went in a couple of hours."
Zack kisses his temple and waits until Dolph calms down once more, his mutters fading into distant huffs and exhales. "Bro, can I do something?" he asks. Dolph's barely with it as he nods unhappily, pliant under Zack's arms as he pushes Dolph down onto the couch and starts feeling around his arm, exploring his muscles and shoulder joint. "Tell me if anything hurts."
Dolph closes his eyes and grunts. "The trainer's already done this."
"I know," Zack murmurs. "But I know better than most what an arm injury feels like, and I want to make sure you're ok, that nothing was missed." He presses his fingers into the dip by Dolph's collar bone, listening to Dolph's steady exhales and inhales. "Nothing?"
"It feels sore, but not pain, you know, kid?" Dolph murmurs. "I remember when you explained how it felt for you. This hasn't felt like anything resembling that. I'm going to be fine."
Zack exhales and leans over, pressing kisses that grow in intensity along his shoulder up his neck to his lips, cupping the back of Dolph's head and sighing into his mouth as Dolph clings to him. Finally pulling away reluctantly, Zack nips at his lips before winking at him. "C'mon, let's order something for supper, bro."
"Pizza," Dolph immediately says. "With cheesesticks."
"Again," Zack sighs, relenting when Dolph stares up at him hopefully. "Fine, I'll find the menu."
Dolph watches him go, sitting up from where he's slouched on the couch. "Hey, kid?" Zack turns back towards him in the doorway and Dolph smiles. "I dunno what I'd do without you, you know? Thanks for all of this."
Zack grins. "I love you, bro."
"I love you too," Dolph responds, his heart fluttering- even after all of these years- when Zack's grin grows even more and he disappears into the kitchen. As he settles back comfortably, Dolph rotates his arm and finds that, after Zack's gentle ministrations, it feels better. He smiles.
