Chapter: 12: About You Now
Author's Note: Holy shit! Look what I've finished! If it seems kind of rushed, I apologize. Totally wasn't my intention. Either way, hope you enjoy the conclusion of Landslide. =)
The second the door closes behind the two ex-lovers, Chris is turning to face the two in front of him, forlorn expression set on his face.
"Shit. Look, I know Alex will probably talk some sense into him...err, I hope...but look, I'm really sorry." he tries, feeling like an ass for not making more of an effort to stop his rather bull-headed friend.
Heath just rolls his eyes, shoots the blonde a, "yea, whatever," as he leads Justin out the door. The high flyer rolls his jaw around a few times experimentally as they walk, wincing as he runs his hand over it as well. He catches Heath frown out of the corner of his eye. The redhead scowls when he catches the staring.
"Well, it's gonna hurt, you moron." he almost snaps.
Justin frowns as well, turning away from his friend.
"Yea. Thanks for pointing that out. Missed it." the older responds, sarcasm dripping from his tone. He winces again at the way speaking sends a sharp pain straight up his jawline. "What the fuck is his problem, anyway?"
"Maybe he thought Alex was gonna keep it in his pants...unlike some of us here." Heath replies almost snidely.
Justin pulls to a halt, rolling his eyes and throwing his hands up.
"Oh, are we really going back to this shit? Seriously, Heath?" he asks angrily, full on scowl across his face.
Heath whirls around to face him, frustration evident on his features as well.
"Well, what the hell did you think was going to happen? Mike was gonna come in here and congratulate you two? Shake your hand? God, Justin, sometimes you're such a fucking idiot!" Heath exclaims, throwing up his own hands in exhasperation.
"That makes two of us, then." Justin hears himself say under his breath. He instantly wants to retract the statement when his friend's eyes narrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the redhead questions.
"What do you think it means? I think you're being a moron!" the high flyer snaps back, finally so fed-up with the whole situation that he can't even stop himself.
"Me?" Heath demands indignantly, slapping a hand against his chest as if to reaffirm his friend's accusations. "How am I being a moron? I'm not the one becoming his friend's rebound fuck!"
And Justin has to admit, that one stings a little. He almost corrects Heath, even, because he's very aware of just how much of a rebound fuck it wasn't, but at the last minute, his mouth decides to say something completely different.
"Well, maybe I wouldn't have to be my friend's rebound fuck if you'd get your head out of your ass and stop wandering around in denial all the goddamned time!"
The second it's out, Justin feels his stomach hit his feet. He stares wide-eyed at Heath, so nervous he can hardly see straight. Although, upon further inspection, the high flyer realizes that maybe he shouldn't be. Bewildered is the only word Justin can even use to accurately describe the look on the redhead's face.
"What are you talking about?" Heath asks slowly, pronouncing each word like Justin's the one being stupid. It makes the older scoff and roll his eyes. He's had it, so done with this back and forth game, these circles they keep dancing in that, no matter what, always seem to come back to Justin getting hurt. Well, he thinks, if he's going to get hurt either way...
"Oh, for God's sake..." he mutters, reaching out and grabbing his friend by the back of the neck.
When Justin drags Heath into a messy kiss, right there in the middle of the hall, the younger is so shocked he makes a noise. Justin smirks inwardly, though, using the opportunity to swipe his tongue just once across the redhead's teeth, tap his tongue before retreating almost entirely. He does tilt his head, though, threading his fingers into Heath's hair and pulling him ever closer as he deepens the kiss. Neither of them is certain which of them moves first, but the next thing Justin knows, he's pressing Heath into the wall, holding him there with strong hands on his shoulders.
At some point, Heath's hands drift down to clutch near desperately at the older's hips, and when Justin finally pulls back to catch his breath, he feels the redhead start to rub slightly at his skin just above his jeans. It makes him smile when he meets his friend's eyes, mere inches away from each other as they try to catch the breaths that just keep getting stolen away. Justin laughs lightly when he notices the light blush spreading across Heath's cheeks, ducking his head away just a bit. When he flicks his gaze back up to look at his friend, he realizes Heath still looks almost...shocked. Suddenly, Heath's eyes fix themselves to Justin's own, and the older feels trapped, lost in the redhead's stare for a moment. Heath is the first to find words.
"Oh," he breathes out, almost like he's realized something. Then, slightly louder, firmer, "Oh,"
Justin waits anxiously, staring on as the younger seems to process the situation. Heath looks his friend carefully from head to toe and back again, as if he's really and truly examining the high flyer. Justin's unsure if he's ever been so nervous in his life. Suddenly, his gaze slides back up and locks onto Justin's once more.
"Oh." Heath eventually repeats, something in his eyes having changed dramatically from earlier. Then, he sighs out almost fondly, "I'm an idiot."
The high flyer almost laughs, opening his mouth to respond, but instead, he finds his breath stolen once again by his friend's lips on his own. He sighs into the kiss, relaxing immediately in Heath's hands as they make their way up his rib cage, dragging his shirt up just a bit in their wake. He moves his arms to wrap around the younger's shoulders, allowing Heath to lean in a bit closer, tug Justin's hips to rest against his own. As Heath kisses him, finally letting out everything he's apparently been holding in so deep even he, himself, couldn't find it, Justin can't help but moan, leaning into Heath even more. The redhead takes it as an open invitation, sliding his hands up to grip Justin's face, deepen the kiss ever further. Unfortunately, he forgets about the knot steadily forming on the high flyer's jawline until right about the time that Justin accidentally bites down on his lip when he winces and pulls away. It makes Heath's grip on Justin's face tighten in reflex, and they both cry out in pain, hands flying to check their own wounds automatically. The second Heath's been reassured he's not bleeding, however, he's pulling Justin's hand away, looking over the older's bruise himself.
"Shit, I'm so sorry, man. I totally forgot." the younger rushes out, running a careful finger across Justin's jaw. He winces for his friend, leaning back a bit. "Man, that looks rough. We should really get you to the trainer."
Justin lets out an almost aggravated groan, slumping forward towards Heath the slightest bit.
"Can't we just stay here and make out?" the high flyer asks, looking up at the redhead with the best puppy eyes he can muster.
Heath just laughs, running a hand lightly through the older's hair and pulling him into a hug simultaneously. After a moment, he meets Justin's eyes again.
"How long?" Heath questions, and Justin's suddenly strikingly aware that he's not asking about the duration of a make-out session. He blushes, turning away a bit.
"I dunno." Justin eventually mumbles. He tips his head back to lock eyes with Heath once more. "Forever?"
"For real?" Heath breathes, almost in awe, and Justin immediately back-tracks.
"Well, I mean, if you wanna get technical, I wasn't completely certain until the Nexus stuff, but...basically since FCW?" Justin says, trying desperately to keep the nervousness out of his tone.
"Wow." Heath replies, really letting it settle on his brain. Then, he's pulling Justin back into another tight hug, tilting his head down to speak directly against the older's ear. "I really am an idiot. Why didn't you say anything?"
"And risk losing you for good? No way." It's Justin's turn to lean back, now, nervously spilling everything he's been fearing all this time. "You were way too into girls. I wasn't going to be the one to try and convince you otherwise. You would have hated me."
"Are you serious? Justin, I could never hate you. You're crazy." the redhead jokes, ruffling Justin's hair. He smiles softly at his friend. "Honestly, though, I get it. I'm just glad you said something now. Just...sorry it took all this."
Justin nods a bit, looking away once more. The two stand in the hallway in silence, still touching, for several long moments. Justin rocks back and forth awkwardly on his feet, unsure of how to approach the subject he's been dying to talk about for what feels like years. Eventually, he looks up at Heath, still trying to find the words, and something just clicks, the question tumbling out all at once.
"So where do we go from here?"
Heath meets his eyes instantly.
"Where do you want to go?" the younger replies, seemingly just as nervous as Justin is of the response he's going to receive. Now or never, Justin thinks.
"I want to be with you, Heath." the high flyer says firmly. "I want you to stop being in denial. I want to stop walking around pretending I don't care this much about you when I'm actually fucking crazy about you. I want you."
Heath's eyes have grown wide the more the older speaks. Justin knows he's spilling it all, but once he started, it had felt like he hadn't been able to stop. It's out now, though, and he can't take it back. Just as the redhead opens his mouth to respond, however, another voice rips through the silence, making both of them jump.
"Justin! Hey! I need to talk to you!" Mike's voice calls out, and they turn to see the ex-champ striding towards them with a purpose.
Despite that Alex is directly behind Mike, Heath takes a step in front of Justin protectively as they approach. Justin looks up in shock at the glare on the redhead's face when Mike stops in front of them.
"Anything you have to say to my boyfriend, you can say to me first." Heath snaps, and whoa, Justin thinks, That was certainly unexpected. When Alex shoots him a wide eyed expression of his own, he just shrugs, blush-painted grin on his face. Then, Mike scoffs, throwing his hands up in frustration, effectively shattering the moment.
"Really? Really? All of this for an apology?" Mike asks, annoyed look spreading across his features. Alex nudges him angrily, hissing out his name like a warning. It's Justin's turn to stare wide-eyed at his friend, Alex responding much the same way he had. Mike just sighs. "Fine. Whatever. Slater, may I please apologize to your little boyfriend?"
Alex rolls his eyes; this was definitely not how he'd wanted this to go. But, if he's honest with himself, it's going about how he'd expected it would, regardless. A fond smile settles on his face as he watches Mike's features soften, Heath moving out of the way, but still staring the older down angrily. Justin takes a careful step forward, looking directly at Mike as the ex-champ collects his thoughts. Finally, he exhales a deep breath before speaking again.
"Justin, I'm sorry I punched you. I still really care about Alex, and I was angry that you'd slept with him, but that's no reason to hit you. I shouldn't have let him go in the first place. It was my fault. So, I'm sorry." Mike says so sincerely that it honestly shocks Justin. The high flyer can't help but accept it, telling the older that he at least understands. Mike seems to visibly relax at that, a soft smile moving across his face. Then, he crosses his arms over his chest, looking at the Smackdown stars with a smirk. "Now then, I was going to tell you that since Alex has so graciously decided to take me back, that you need to keep your hands off him, but, uh...judging by your little guard dog here, I'd say that warning is unneccesary."
"Very much so." Justin replies, amused grin of his own in place. "You have nothing to be worried about."
"Good. Well, then. We have a segment to go get ready for. Justin, Heath."
Mike nods to each of them, reaching down and lacing his fingers with his no longer ex lover's. He tugs Alex along closely behind him as they retreat back to Mike's locker room. Mike's pace is brisk, as if he's in a hurry. From the ecstatic look that Alex shoots them over his shoulder, Justin thinks he probably is. It makes the high flyer smile. Suddenly, Heath coughs, bringing him back to the situation at hand.
"I, uh. I guess we should get you to the trainer." the redhead mumbles.
Justin nods, content to let the younger drop the earlier question for now. When he reaches down and laces his fingers with the high flyer's as they walk, however, Justin figures he's already gotten his answer. Looking down with a wide smile at their intertwined hands, he knows for a fact he wouldn't have it any other way.
XXXXX
Alex is pretty sure he's never had this much difficulty putting on a suit. This probably has something to do with the fact that every piece of clothing he finally manages to get on, Mike goes right behind him and tries to take it off. The younger keeps objecting, but it's getting harder and harder, what with the way Mike's lips follow his fingers as the clothing is extracted from his skin. Still, he puts forth his best effort, squirming under his lover's hands.
"Mike...Mike, no! Stop it!" Alex exclaims, laughing and pushing at Mike just a bit. The older simply smirks, laughing against his skin. The feel of it sends a shiver up his spine, makes him unable to object for another long moment. Then, he manages to bring himself back to reality enough to finally get the older to take a step back. Alex holds Mike at arms' length as he speaks. "Mike, seriously. We have to be out there in like, no time. And you're not even dressed yet!"
Mike sighs, but takes another step back, allowing Alex to start buttoning his shirt back up.
"What can I say? You're just too fucking sexy in that thing." Mike says, grabbing at Alex's jacket and pulling him close when the younger tries to walk past him to slide into his shoes. Alex leans down, kissing Mike once briefly before slipping out of his grasp once more. Mike frowns, but wanders over to shrug on his own jacket.
"I appreciate it, Mike. Really, I do. But the last thing I need is to be late to the ring now that I'm getting a push. Especially now that we've apparently got to be more careful." Alex reminds his lover, feeling instantly guilty as he watching Mike's face fall. But, the older nods, dropping down into a chair to tie his shoes. Alex frowns as well, walking over and dropping down to one knee in front of his lover, looking him dead in the eyes. "Hey. We just have to go out there and do this one thing. And we'll still be together after it's over, right?"
Mike nods again, his expression lightening a bit this time. "Of course. I'm never leaving you again, Alex."
Alex can't even stop the wide grin that spreads across his face. He takes Mike's face in his hands, sealing their lips together carefully. When they part, Mike is finally smiling as well.
"See? We're Gucci!" Alex jokes, and Mike laughs. "Honestly, though. How about after this me and you go back to the hotel and make up for lost time?"
Alex watches as Mike blushes, but agrees, relief spreading through his entire body. Then, he's standing up, pressing a kiss to Mike's forehead before exiting the room, remind Mike he'll see him in the ring. No sooner has the door closed than Mike is pulling his phone from his pocket, finally calling Chris in response to the various text messages the older blonde had left for him. Chris picks up on the first ring.
"I take it everything went well?" the older asks, amusement evident in his tone.
"Yup." Mike affirms. "Just calling to inform you that your services are no longer needed."
"So you finally sucked it up and pulled your head out of your ass, huh?" Chris questions. He figures it must have gone well when Mike actually laughs.
"Something like that. But yes, we are back together." he informs the older. "You were right. I'm an idiot."
"Whoa! Stop the fucking presses! Did Michael Mizanin just admit that someone else was right?" Chris asks, facetious shock in his tone. "Riley really must've done a number on you last week."
"Yea, yea, real funny. I've gotta go right now, though. Gotta get out to the ring and all that." the younger says, smile very evidentially still on his face.
"Alright. Well, I'm glad everything worked out for you." Chris replies. "Be careful, and try not to fuck up this time."
"I won't. He means too much to me." Mike says, almost to himself. Then, "Oh, and Chris? Thank you. For everything."
"Anytime, man. You know I've got you." Chris reminds him.
Mike agrees. He's definitely certain of that, now. They bid each other farewell, and Mike hangs up, setting his phone on the bench next to him. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself not only for the verbal, but also the physical lashing that he's about to receive from his lover. When he opens them again, he's more than sure he can handle it. After all, at the end of the day, he gets to come home to his lover once again. Finally, he thinks. With that thought, he takes another deep breath, pushing himself out of the chair and making his way to the ring.
XXXXX
It's a different Alex Riley that walks to the ring that night, that's for sure. He's pretty sure he's never gotten this large of a pop before, besides the week before when he didn't get to fully appreciate it, too distraught over the loss of his love to even begin to think about anything else. Now that he knows he's going to be back in Mike's arms at the end of the night, he hears it for what it is, and it nearly brings tears to his eyes. It makes him stand taller, smile wider, walk with a bit more swagger in his step (well, that and his new entrance music, which, holy fuck, he thinks, is that ever kickass). By the time he gets to the ring, he can't even focus on Cole, too lost in his own thoughts and the sheer fact that the crowd is behind him for once. It's probably for the best, too, because he knows Cole is berating him for the week before.
It's not until Cole starts talking about Mike's personal life, his personal feelings that Alex actually starts to get angry. Sure, he'd spent the majority of his and Mike's relationship so far barely tolerating Cole and his incessant need to be involved in as many of Mike's affairs as he could possibly manage, but now that the older man thinks the relationship is over and done with, Alex is no longer obligated to be polite. He outright glares at Cole as the man drones on and on, lies pouring from his mouth one right after the other at an alarming pace. For once, Alex can't wait to get his hands on the announcer. He may get in trouble for what he's considering, but it'll be worth it, he knows.
As Cole throws out insult after insult, accusation after accusation, lie after lie, Alex can really only think about all the truth in the matter. He thinks about the night Mike threw him out, how quickly he'd had to learn to re-adjust to life without his love. He thinks about Justin, and how his friend had been by his side from the first moment Alex had needed him, and how somehow, he'd been able to be there for Justin as well. He thinks of Mike, and how the older had cared so much for him, he'd been willing to sacrifice his own happiness just to make sure Alex wasn't made a victim. And finally, he thinks of himself, and how much he's managed to grow in such a short amount of time, how he'd somehow been able to find his footing even after the rug had been mercilessly yanked from beneath his feet. There's something like pride in his heart, and it feels good.
But then, Cole's in his face, asking him to explain his actions from the week before, as if he'd done something so horrible it should never be forgiven. Really, if he's completely honest with himself, he can only think of one thing to say.
"Well, I'd like to say...I've never felt better in my life."
And when Alex thinks about the statement later on, curled around an equally exhausted and sweat-drenched Mike as they half-doze in the afterglow of round four, he knows, without a doubt, he really meant it.