Heyyyy, sorry for the delay in updates, I won't bore you with the details, but I am sorry and hope you're all still interested?
It's shorter than I would've liked but I really hope you enjoy it.
Please leave a review once you're done reading, it would truly mean the world to me.
Dean chewed his thumb nail anxiously, his eyes staring down coldly at the marble bar before he twisted in his seat to glance at the entrance, turning quickly back to the bar within seconds.
Initially, when Dean had heard that Roman was injured and he'd immediately decided to return to the WWE, he'd had no intention of trying to make things right with Athena, but he wanted to be there to look out for her from afar if Seth was still up to his old tricks. He'd had a month to think about things and he'd accepted that she would probably never forgive him, and he'd accepted that he would never be able to run his hands through her soft hair that reminded him so much of the fall. Dean knew he'd probably never get to see her smiling eyes light up at something silly he'd said; he'd never watch her ramble on excitedly about some book he'd never heard of before, he'd never hear her sigh his name in the darkest hours of the night ever again.
He'd accepted that he'd never have those things again. He'd even accepted that he'd probably never have a pleasant conversation with the small red head again, until she'd punched him.
Dean had been punched a thousand times harder in his life. He'd had steel chairs repeatedly smashed to the back of his head, he'd had his own forks stabbed at him, he'd been cut a hundred times and once even had salt thrown in his bleeding wounds. But Athena's punch had hurt the most. The force had jabbed him, more strength behind it than he would have expected, but it was the emotional attack that had hurt the most.
He couldn't let the last time Athena's smooth skin brushed against his own be when she was punching him. Dean couldn't let things end that way between them. He didn't want things to end between them, period. Dean knew he had to at least try to fix things with Athena or at least let him give her an explanation for his awful actions; she deserved an explanation even if she'd rather never speak to him again. He had to get her to listen, and then maybe she'd be more open to his attempts to at least salvage a friendship between the two of them.
Dean loved her. He'd never felt that way about anyone before in his life. She made it easier to get out of bed in the mornings and he swore her smile could fix all the problems in the world.
She was going to stand him up, he just knew it, he thought as he continued to chew greedily on his thumb. Letting out a frustrated sigh he ran his hand over his messy curls and then finished his beer certain that she'd only agreed to meet him to shut him up. She was never going to show up and he was never going to be able to explain and apologise fully.
"Hi," a small voice he'd recognise from the other side of the ocean pulled him from his stressful thoughts.
Athena stood fidgeting, her eyes flickering everywhere as she twisted a dark green mood ring on her thumb. "Do you mind if we just go for a walk?" Athena asked, not really looking at Dean. "Everyone's staring."
"Sure," Dean said immediately scooting off the high bar stool he'd been sitting on, trying to contain the huge smile that was gracing his features. He was ecstatic that she'd turned up to the hotel bar but Athena was right, the majority of the bar were staring at them; some kept glancing at the pair whilst others just flat out stared. Trinity and her husband Jon sat open mouthed and wide eyed watching Athena and Dean from afar.
He walked beside her as they walked through the bar and once his hand reached out to brush her lower back but he held back at the last second, knowing it would be inappropriate and unwelcome. They walked in silence as they exited the bar and headed aimlessly out into the hotel gardens; Athena's arms were folded across her chest and her vibrant hair was plaited to the side falling down her front. Dean looked down at Athena as they walked, noting her lips were pouted in an anxious nervous way, how she dragged her feet, her shoes skidding across the concrete with every step.
"You look great, Red," Dean said, breaking the silence.
A small frown formed between Athena's round blue eyes. "Thanks, I guess," she mumbled.
"It was a great show tonight, don't you think?" Dean spoke, not wanting it to fall into an uncomfortable silence again.
Athena stopped and turned to face him, her eyes staring harshly at him and her lips pursed. "Maybe we should get right to it, stop with the small talk," Athena suggested, nodding her head as her lips reformed into a tight line.
"Okay," Dean agreed, his hand falling to his hips. "I'm sorry."
"You said," Athena responded quickly, her face remaining neutral. "I don't want apologies Dean, I just want an explanation."
"I, uh-" Dean began his mouth suddenly going dry. He'd practiced what he was going to say all day in his head, he'd had almost every word planned perfectly in his mind, but his mind had gone blank. Opening and closing his mouth several times Dean was fully aware he probably looked like an idiotic fish and knew that if anyone were to see him they would struggle to believe the King of promos was speechless.
Athena pursed her pink lips and stared up questioningly at Dean, her eyes were wide and grieved.
Dean ran a hand across his mouth as he took a breath. "I know you always thought I hated you when you were with Seth and at the time I thought I did too," he began. "But I think I just hated the idea of you taking my friend away," he spat the word 'friend'. "When Seth became the Authority's lap dog and you kept coming around to hang out with Roman I was pissed because you reminded me of that weasel Seth-"
"Sorry," Cesaro mumbled as he jogged past interrupting Dean.
Dean threw Cesaro a deathly look before turning back to Athena. "And then when you kissed me to piss Seth off, it gave me an idea."
"Are you saying this is my fault?" Athena asked quietly, a distressed crease forming between her eyes. "That I gave you the idea?"
"No, no," Dean exclaimed shaking his head before stretching his arms behind him, clasping his calloused hands together, cradling his head. "I just got the idea and I knew it would kill Seth to see you with anyone else, especially me," Dean paused, licking his lower lip. "I'll be honest with you Red, I didn't consider your feelings at first, and I saw you as collateral fucking damage. I didn't care if you found out or got hurt." Athena's eyes were simmering with tears and Dean's coarse voice was filled with remorse. "But then I started to love you being around and I started having feelings for you, and I realised I didn't want you to find out about my plan to hurt Seth. I was happy for the first time in a long fucking time because of you, for the first time in my life I was happy being in a relationship. You made me so happy, hurting Seth just became a perk of being with you."
Dean watched as Athena let his words sink in. Her eyes were downcast and her long lashes fluttered across her skin silkily, she opened her lips partially before smashing them back into a tight line whilst toeing the hard ground with the tip of her white converse. He wished he knew what she was thinking or that she would open her soft mouth and speak. He wished she'd proclaim her forgiveness and he could wrap her in his arms.
"Athena?" he groused, reaching forward placing her his hand under her chin, gently guiding her eyes to his. His stomach knotted as a salty tear spilled from Athena's wide doe eye; Dean moved his hand slowly across her jaw line wiping away the tear wishing he could wipe away his actions just as easily.
As if coming to her senses, Athena took a step back forcing Dean's hand to fall from her face. She sniffed once and wipe under her eye quickly before finally speaking. "You lied to me,-"
"I know," he grumbled regretfully, scratching behind his ear, never being able to stand still.
"No, you lied when I asked you if you were using me," she stated. "It's one thing coming up with some sick and cruel plan that disregarded me like I'm trash, but it's another thing to lie to my face when you apparently had feelings for me," Dean opened his mouth to speak but Athena cut him off. "Or hadn't they kicked in yet?" Her voice was choppy as if she was desperately trying to remain calm. Dean didn't know if she was trying not to lose her temper or not to cry. Maybe both.
"I know I did, but what could I do babe?"
"Tell the truth!" Her voice rose irately, her palms becoming outstretched in front of her. Dean was beginning to think she was trying to hold in her temper, not tears.
"I didn't want to hurt you by telling you, I care too much to hurt you," Dean said, immediately realising how ridiculous his words were after how much he had hurt her.
Athena scoffed. "You could have told me the truth," she said slightly calmer, every word coming out slower as if she had to concentrate on every syllable. "You could have told me the truth and apologised and told me your real feelings and I would have forgiven you."
Dean rolled his tongue over his lower lip as he closed his eyes, one hand resting on his forehead and the other on his hip. "Does that mean you won't forgive me now?" He spoke with a taught jaw, his eyes still closed.
"I can't," she spoke, her voice already sounding distant though she hadn't moved an inch.
Dean didn't open his icy blue eyes. "Never?" He questioned, his heart thrashing within his chest.
"You humiliated me," he opened his begging eyes watching her intently. "You used me, my career might as well be over. I don't know anything anymore."
"I'm not giving up on us, I love you," the words slipped from his rosebud mouth without thinking.
Athena sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes fluttered. "I don't want you to."
She turned and walked away quickly, leaving Dean standing alone, unsure of what she meant.
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