Warnings: Slash (Stone Cold Steve Austin/Dean Ambrose), Mild Slash (Stone Cold Steve Austin/CM Punk), Smut, Mild Profanity, AU.


Monday goes by in a slightly smug daze for Steve. Phil keeps looking over at him with a timid, little smile, and a soft blush on his cheek. Dean sits at his desk, his fingers clattering noisily, radiating annoyance. Steve almost feels guilty, but Dean's done this to himself. Sure he read what Steve said in the way Steve had wanted him to, but Steve hadn't intended for Dean to see it as an open challenge. He apparently has, but there's nothing Steve can do about that.

Did Dean seem off to you as well today? - Phil Brooks 11:46pm

A little... I'm sure he'll be back normal tomorrow. - sent 11:47pm

I hope so. :) - Phil Brooks 11:47pm

I just noticed how late it is! I'm sorry for texting so late. -_-; - Phil Brooks 11:48pm

I was awake, don't worry about it. Why are you up so late? - sent 11:48pm

Ah... Colt was test running a bit by me. It wasn't funny enough until I couldn't breathe apparently. - Phil Brooks 11:49pm

Oh! I'm looking forward to seeing in his next set then. :D - sent 11:50pm

Yup! We could go together. - Phil Brooks 11:50pm

We will. :-* - sent 11:51pm

*^-^* - Phil Brooks 11:51pm

And with that embarrassingly immature emoji, I'm going to sleep. G'night Steve! :3 - Phil Brooks 11:52pm

Sleep well, Phil. - sent 11:52

The next day Dean seems incredibly annoyed once more, but the reason is made clear when the editor shows up to talk about his first think piece. It seems Dean shares Steve's distaste for them. The whole time the old man is talking, Dean's nodding along, but the look in his eyes is thunderous. Steve feels pretty bad for him, but the piece keeps Dean busy, and mostly out of the office. It's almost like it was before he showed up, and was in the way.

"How does tomorrow sound for date two?" Phil's voice coming from far closer than it should startles Steve for his editing. Dean's gone, and whilst he's grateful for that, he's also a little annoyed that Phil's almost pussyfooting around asking him out again. They'd already agreed on a second date, but it might be that Phil's nervous about it being so soon after their first, which is silly, because Steve would have had date two straight after date one happily.

"Sounds perfect. What time?" Steve turns to face Phil, and reaches for his cheek just as he had on the date, once more Phil seems to nuzzle against his palm for a moment. He catches himself quickly, and is blushing lightly as he straightens up.

"Seven. Uh... Where-"

"I'll send you my address, and you can come pick me up like a good date." Steve grins, and Phil nods slightly.

"Alright, seven on Wednesday." Phil's wearing the most beautiful smile for the rest of the day. Dean seems highly confused by it, and keeps shooting Steve sharp looks. Steve's no idea what Dean's planning, because he is planning. Steve's doing well when it comes to he's not happy about it. Dean was a onetime hook-up, so he's got no business being so involved in Steve's life after that one hook-up, which was actually two, if the blowjob at work counts. Phil's the long-term partner that Steve wants, he's been working for months to get Phil into this position, and he'll be damned if he lets Dean mess this up.

The next morning Steve's the only one in the office for at least an hour. He's no idea where Phil or Dean are, though he would like to. He's more than a little bored sitting around on his lonesome.

"Where's Phil this fine morning?" Dean comes wandering into the office looking like he'd just rolled out of bed, and pulled on the nearest clothes he could find. "It's not like little Philly to not be here... Oh well, I guess it's just you and me, cowboy." Dean grins, his gaze never leaving Steve's face. Steve returns his looks blankly.

"What?" He asks, and Dean runs a hand through his hair, his lazy, sexy smirk spreading over his lips.

"I've lube and condoms in my pocket if you wanna take a trip to the closet." Dean winks, and Steve shakes his head once, going back to his work, hoping that his cheeks aren't as red as he thinks they might be. "C'mon, cowboy. You can't tell me you're happy playing a high school dating sim with Phil. You're forgetting that I've already saved a horse, I know how well you fuck."

"Saved a horse?" Steve doesn't look up from his work as he makes the comment. He knows that Dean will be watching him with that damned smirk on his lips, and lust in his eyes.

"You've never heard save a horse, ride a cowboy?" Dean barks a laugh, and Steve chances a quick glance at him.

"I can't say I have." Steve mutters, resuming typing once more.

"I have... Why are we talking about it?" Phil arrives at that moment, and collapses into his chair. He looks awful, his skin pale, eyes ringed in red, his hair in utter disarray.

"You okay?" Steve calls over to him, and Phil nods absently, booting up his computer.

"Was at the vet... It's okay though." He looks up with a smile. "I love my dog, but I may kill him for what he put me through last night." Phil rubs his eyes, and looks like he might fall asleep behind his desk.

"I'll go on the coffee run. You want the usual, Phil?" Dean stands, his back turned to Steve so he can't see the expression he's wearing as he talks, but his tone is soft and gentle. It's far from the usual slightly sneering drawl he talks in.

"Yeah... Uh, do you mind if I come with you?" Phil stands once more, and offers Steve a slight smile. "I'm not sure I'm gonna get much work done today."

"Sure. You wanna come too, cowboy?" Dean turns to Steve with a shit-eating grin, and Steve's tempted to say yes, but he resists. There's not much Dean can pull in the time it takes to get a cup of coffee.

Dean comes back alone, and sets Steve's coffee down on his desk, the lazy smirk on his face as ever.

"Poor Phil... He's pretty worried about his little mutt." Dean sits back behind his desk, his attention on Steve. "He told me to tell you that you're still on for tonight though. Date two already, huh?"

"Yeah." Steve can feel a stupid smile spreading over his face, but doesn't bother fighting it. He's happy to be getting a second date with Phil. He's happy to have had one, but getting a second so quickly after waiting for so long is a pleasant surprise.

"You know where he's taking you?" Dean takes a sip of his coffee, looking like he's settling in for some good gossip.

"No idea." There are two options for how to deal with this situation. One Steve could gush over Phil, and give Dean all the pointers Steve accumulated, or two he could clam up.

"Where did you take him?" Dean sips his coffee again, but his attention is flagging. Steve's simple answers are clearly not the distraction Dean had been hoping for.

"Why?" Steve isn't giving Dean anything, if he's chasing Phil, he's going to have to make his own inroads on him, though Steve would rather Dean just gave up. Steve doesn't want to make Phil into some prize in a contest he doesn't want to be part. Phil's not a prize. He's a person, the person Steve wants to date.

"Why? I'm making polite conversation, cowboy... Though if you'd rather do something else, I'm up for it." The smirk returns to Dean's lips briefly, but he loses interest quickly, and returns to his work.

Steve's been researching his latest article for maybe an hour when his cell chirps with a message from Phil.

Hey! Sorry I bailed on work today. - Phil Brooks 01:20pm

Larry, my dog, was up all night barfing, so I had to take him to the vet, and I know I could tell you this later, cause we are still on, right? - Phil Brooks 01:22pm

YES! We are still on, unless Larry's too sick. How is he? - sent 01:22pm

Steve will easily admit he's a dog lover. He's had many dogs over the years, and fully intends to make a trip to a rescue centre sometime soon to pick his next fur-baby. This time here in Chicago is the longest he's been without a dog. If Phil's pup is still sick, Steve fully intends to show up at Phil's place with a pizza, and spend the night helping care for the little mutt.

He's okay... An idiot, but okay. I've told him a thousand times not to eat socks. - Phil Brocks 01:24pm

EAT SOCKS?! - sent 01:24pm

Yup... They got it all out, and he's home now. Colt's staying on guard to make sure the little monster doesn't get into things he shouldn't while we're out. - Phil Brooks 01:26pm

That's good. I'll see you later, Phil. - sent 01:27pm

You will! :D Phil Brooks 01:28pm

Steve ends up cutting out of work early. One of the best things about this job is the ability to claim almost anything is research for some story or another. Steve's begged out to go to games, or even grocery shopping under the guise that he's actually gathering information for an article.

Guess who has a date, cowboy. - Dean Ambrose 04:44pm

Why are you telling me about your dates, Dean? - sent 04:56pm

Steve has no idea why Dean sending him this message, and he doesn't much care. He's got a date of his own to prepare for. Phil said seven, and it's already five.

I just thought I'd share... You don't want to know who I'm going on a date with? - Dean Ambrose 05:01pm

Unless you're going on a date with Phil, I don't really care. - sent 05:03pm

Steve fires the message off, and heads to the shower. Once he's out, he spends far too much time debating what to wear. Punk had said casual, but Steve wants to strike that sweet spot of casual, but still sexy. Date three is coming up soon, and Steve wants to see what Phil looks like in a suit, so he has to make a good impression here. He's hoping that after three dates Phil might be more open, and less nervous. Steve's not entirely certain that's the right word, tentative perhaps is a better a fit. Phil's ex has left indelible scars, and Steve wants to know what exactly caused them. It'll take time though. Steve's resigned that everything with Phil will take time. It's time he's willing to spend though. He's certain he'll get Phil in the end, and that's the only thing that really matters in this situation.

It's rapidly approaching seven, when Steve gets a text from Phil.

Hey! I'll be there in 5, traffic is still crazy! - Phil Brooks 06:58pm

He about to reply when he notices there's another unread text in his inbox from Dean. He can't really say he cares, but there's no harm in looking, no harm in checking in with Dean's planning. Only, in this instance, there is.

You're surprisingly good at guessing, cowboy.-Dean Ambrose 05:03pm


Thank you to those who reviewed: Guest, Kataiyida, and Brokenspell77.

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Next chapter scheduled for 2016/04/17