Rehab is progressing well. It looks likely that Zack will be back in time for the Royal Rumble. His eyes still widen in awe whenever he sees the ring on his finger, lips twitching up into a grin. All in all things are going so well, he's almost forgotten about the Authority being back in control of WWE until he turns on Raw that night to find Cena in the ring and the other competitors surrounding the ring, watching closely.
Zack's laying on his stomach, hugging a pillow and watching as Stephanie places Dolph in a match against Wade Barrett for his Intercontinental title. He grimaces, sitting up to get a better view of the TV. Dolph doesn't seem disturbed by the match and he scrapes out a win against Wade... just for Kane's music to hit. Zack's heart sinks as Kane apologizes and explains that the match is 2 out of 3 falls. Zack can do nothing but watch as Wade then soundly defeats Dolph twice in a row after another appearance from Kane, regaining his Intercontinental title. "Damn," he exhales, aware that Dolph's going to be in a bad mood when he comes home, understandably so.
Zack half-dozes as he listens to the rest of the show, exhausted but trying to make it until the John Cena appreciation ceremony, just curious to see what The Authority has up their sleeves. He doubts they really want to show Cena any kind of respect or appreciation. There's a lot of talking that doesn't interest Zack- or the crowd, for that matter- very much, and he falls back asleep... until he hears a familiar name and looks up to find Dolph on the ramp with Ryback and Rowan. Consequences for their actions are discussed- 30 days for Rowan, 60 for Ryback and Dolph suggests 90... but Zack can't help feeling like that's too easy. He watches, tense and disgusted by all of this, when The Authority leaves the ring and stop up towards the top of the ramp.
After a moment, they announce that all three men are officially fired. Zack feels ill and hugs his pillow tighter as Dolph's plumbstruck face is shown to end the night. As much as Zack's dream has always been wrestling, it was always more for Dolph, somehow. His goal, his inspiration as far back as wrestling in school. Sure, the company had ate at Dolph's love for the business steadily over years, but he'd always stayed, fought through it, found some success that made the bitterness easier to swallow down. Now... it's all gone, taken away by authority figures who were out to be as vicious and evil as possible, and not do what's best for their fans or their roster. Zack suddenly doesn't feel that positive about returning so soon, especially if Dolph's not there, but it is what it is.
Zack finds his phone before returning to the couch, trying to call, to text, anything and everything. Dolph ignores all of it, however, and Zack grimaces, feeling worse and worse as more time goes by without a word from his significant other. When he falls asleep, he's not sure, but he wakes up on the couch to find Dolph kneeling in front of him, staring quietly at him. It's still dark outside so Zack frowns, wondering if maybe he's dreaming. "You're home?" he mumbles sleepily, reaching out and grazing Dolph's arm. His skin is freezing and, when Zack blinks a couple of times, he realizes Dolph is shivering. "Hey, hey, c'mere." Sitting up, he leans forward and pulls Dolph into his arms, holding him. "Why are you so cold? Huh?"
"I flew in," he mumbles. "Got a red eye from Texas to New York, but I... I didn't want to come in yet, so I went for a walk."
"It's January, bro," Zack responds softly, rubbing his arms and trying to share some of his warmth. "In January. What were you thinking, huh?"
"I wasn't," Dolph snaps, trying to struggle free and failing as Zack holds onto him tighter. "It's hard to think about anything when you had the world in the palm of your hand one minute and the next, you've lost your title and been fired." Succeeding this time at pulling away, he stares angrily at Zack. "You might as well just get it over with and leave me too. Who'd want to be engaged to some loser without a job, anyway?"
Zack gapes at him in disbelief before gripping his face, staring deep into his pained blue eyes. "You're not a loser. The Authority took your title and your job, none of it was your fault."
"I purposely went against them, what the hell did I honestly think was going to happen?" Dolph demands. "That they'd pat me on the head and give me a raise? Please." He shakes his head and pushes Zack away, getting back to his feet and turning away.
Zack cringes at the pressure on his arm, which is still a little tender, especially after laying at an awkward angle on the couch, but he shakes it off and gets up, needing to figure out some way to get through to his fiance. "Come on, bro. You thought they were gone, we all did. No one foresaw what was gonna happen last week with Edge."
He rests a hand on Dolph's shoulder, trying to stop him, but then Dolph spins around and slaps his hand away, sending his arm aside in an awkward angle. It registers as soon as he does it that it was Zack's still healing arm and he immediately blanches, rushing forward. "Kid, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
Zack presses his good hand to Dolph's chest and exhales, inhales as evenly as he could, eyes closed as he digs his fingers into his shoulder, trying to document the discomfort, seeing if it was just from moving in a direction he was unaccustomed to or if it was actual pain. As he stretches his arm out a moment later, feeling the range of motion that had become normal for him lately, he sighs slowly and opens his eyes. "I'm fine," he says faintly. "My arm's fine, I just haven't moved it like that since my injury. Don't worry."
Dolph sags down, resting his hand on Zack's against his chest. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you. I'm just so pissed off. Things shouldn't be like this." Lifting Zack's hand, he kisses his knuckles, staring down at the ring. "Nothing like this."
Zack pulls Dolph closer and brushes his hair with his fingers. "We'll work it out," he promises. "I'll be done with rehab soon, and I'll be back to work, so money will be a little tight but not awful. It'll work out. I promise."
"I'm not taking your paycheck while I figure things out," Dolph sighs. "I have savings, and I wouldn't want to keep you from your toys collection." He smiles as Zack rolls his eyes, leaning up to kiss him. "Besides, maybe a miracle will happen and The Authority will bring us back." This doesn't seem to thrill him either and Zack hugs him tighter, still displeased with how cold he feels. "C'mon, let's go to bed, kid. I'm sure it'll feel better to you than that couch."
"You know it, bro," Zack says with a small smile, letting Dolph lead the way. He sinks into the blankets and rolls over, hugging Dolph tightly. "We're gonna be fine, bro."
Dolph stares at the wall for a moment before twisting around and burying his face into Zack's chest, listening to his heart beating steadily. "I almost believe you," he whispers. "Thanks, kid, for always having my back."
"That's what people who're about to be married do, right?" Zack asks with a soft laugh, looking down at his ring as it gleams in the faint light coming from the drapes.
"Right," Dolph murmurs, thankfully already dozing off now that he's warm and comfortable. "I love you."
"I love you too," Zack whispers to him, kissing Dolph's forehead and closing his eyes.
