"So," Heath mumbles, not liking this. While he sits at home, fighting to be patient and wait for the conclusion of his trial, Wade is flying off to compete in the holiday tour. He closes his eyes and digs his knuckles into his eye, sighing. "Ya good?"
Wade smiles, slightly, leaning back in his seat as he waits for the notice to shut off all electronics before takeoff. "Yeah, I'm good." He hesitates. "Bloody well miss you, though."
"Prolly nowhere near as much as I'm missin' you," Heath sighs, fiddling with a loose thread on his jacket. "I really do hate all'a this. If I was injured, I could understand, but this..." He shakes his head. "This is just... nothin'. You know? And now Titus is replacin' me with Tyler freakin' Breeze... can't believe it."
Wade does know. And he says as much, aware that it won't be much to help Heath feel better, but at least it's support from somewhere. "Regarding Titus, it's only temporary, you know this. Breeze could only dream of being half as good as you. As for the rest, the judge will quickly realize the case is meaningless and toss it out and you'll be right back here, by my side, where you belong."
"I hope so," Heath mumbles, antsy and frustrated.
"I know so," Wade tells him. "Soon you'll be back on the road with the rest of us, annoying everyone and making us consider assault."
"Haha," Heath says dryly. "Makin' jokes a time like this. C'mon, man."
Wade sighs. "Look, I understand, alright? But this is just... it's not going to last, Heath. I swear to you, I have no doubt. I wouldn't joke otherwise. You know this."
"I do," Heath admits. "It's just... it's rough. Ya know."
"Yes," Wade sighs. "Just... go, get settled in with Boodah, relax as best you can. I'll be home soon, and we can make the most of whatever's left of the holiday then, alright?"
"Alright," Heath murmurs. "That sounds kinda nice, I'll do that." He hesitates. "It's just..."
"What?" Wade asks, dredging up every inch of patience he has for this conversation, knowing his usual caustic attitude will do nothing to comfort Heath right now.
"Titus barely likes me as if it, what if he decides he gels better with Breeze, or somethin'? I mean, I know we were kinda doing alright, but never say never in wrestlin', and- and, I mean, at least if it was someone like Ricardo or somethin', I know I could trust 'em, but..."
Wade almost wants to laugh at the thought of anyone choosing Breeze over Heath. "There's no way, Heath. Listen, I understand your anxiety, I did go through it myself as Nexus leader," he says dryly, remembering all too well how that played out. "But I suppose you just need to trust that ultimately Titus will make the right decision. As you said, you were starting to do alright before this happened. Trust in that."
Heath sighs. "Yeah... Just difficult, sometimes. But I know you're right."
"Well, then," Wade says quietly.
Heath breathes in deeply, and Wade can imagine some of the tension bleeding from him while he sits in the living room, staring blankly at the tree they'd recently put up and decorated. "Thanks, Brit. I know I'm not great company lately, and you've been real patient, probably more than I deserve-"
"Hush," Wade says, no bite behind it. "You've been there for me when I was at my worst, it's just my turn to return the favor." He glances up as the notices begin running and sighs. "We're about to depart, I have to get off the phone." He listens to Heath breathe for a second. "You're going to be alright, right, Ginger?"
When Heath responds, he sounds slightly steadier. "Yeah, man. You go kick some ass on my behalf, don't get kidnapped by Santa or somethin', and me and Boodah'll be waitin' for ya to come home and enjoy this ridiculous tree with us."
Wade smiles. "Alright then, I'll go put all of that into motion. See you soon."
"See you," Heath says.
Wade ends the call and leans back in his seat, exhaling slowly. Everything will be fine, he reminds himself. It's Heath, he always bounces back from whatever mess he usually gets himself in.
And Wade will be there as best as he can to make sure of it.