"I'm hungry!"
A familiar voice called out from outside his room, disturbing whatever little sleep he'd managed to get.
"Lianne! I am hungry goddamn it!"
Small, rushed footsteps followed, old wood creaking under them.
"What do you want for breakfast?"
A man. Light southern accent, raspy voice. His tone was angry and he appeared to be banging on something, the table maybe, fists thumping loudly against the wooden surface.
"You should've been up more than an hour ago cooking for me! For fucks sakes, can't a man get food on time in this shithole?" His calloused hands landed in tune with the words, "I've been sitting here for motherfucking twenty minutes and you still couldn't get your lazy ass out of bed!"
"I'm sorry- I overslept-"
"Fucking obvious! I am starving here and this no good, lazy woman can't even get a stove started! The most simple fucking thing in the universe you know that Lianne! You know that right?"
More wood creaking. The boy getting out of bed at the first sound of a smack, rushing out to the kitchen.
"Let go of me please Johnny. You're hurting-" Her voice was pleading.
"Oh but you love it when I treat you this way don't ya? Stupid fucking whore."
"John please! Ow ow ow!"
He sprinted, nearly tripping over his own two feet. The scene his gaze followed being one he'd seen too many times before.
A man.
A woman.
Both too damn familiar.
His mother.
Unfortunately, his father.
They were fighting again for probably the thousandth time, or at least it felt like a thousand to him. Both leaning on the sink, their backs to him. He had his hands on the back of her head, fingers tangled on her unruly light brown hair; the boy catching a glimpse of her reddened cheek.
"Good morning. Things are starting out already today I see." He walked over to the fridge as the words came out, quickly filling the small, tight space.
The man looked back at the figure walking past him, "What the fuck you doing up this early?"
"Early." The teen scoffed.
"What's so fucking funny eh kid?" Johnny let go of the woman who immediately grabbed at her neck, massaging the sore spot. He walked over to the fridge, each step more taunting than the last, each word slow and deliberate, "Am I... fucking... funny... to you?"
"No, of course not. On the contrary I think you are delightful." He rolled his eyes, lucky the man could not see his expression.
His son's sarcasm was, however, not lost on him, "Fucking lie." At this point, the much stronger individual was right behind him, eyes meeting the back of his shaggy hair, "Don't use no damn big words on me."
He could feel the alcohol-infused breath right on the nape of his neck, making him shudder a little, careful enough not to be noticed by his father, "You wanna know what I think?"
"Surprise me junior." Even as he could not be seen, the boy sensed his father's smile eerily forming, flashing a line of small, yellow teeth.
He turned around to face the mocking male and what came out next was done so in a way that was as nicely said as possible; he wasn't stupid after all, "Truthfully, I think you're a piece of shit."
Johnny's smile did not fade, on the contrary became bigger. He let out a chuckle, the smell of alcohol invading the room, "Now you're talking, Dean."
Dean smirked back and made his way out of the kitchen.
His father continued to call out proudly, "You would be my son! Of course you're my son Dean Ambrose!"
Those words made him shudder, shook his very spine.
"Son."
John "The Bite" Ambrose, know simply as Johnny. One of the most feared individuals in town and equally despised by his own family, all this being something the man proudly flaunted.
Did he want to be the offspring of someone like that? The product of pure hatred?
He made way to his room shaking his head, immediately knowing the answer.
"Wake up Max." He sat at the edge of the bed and called out to a small bump underneath the covers, "Max." He shook the small figure and rolled his eyes at the fact that he probably wasn't going to get much out of a simple shake. With a smile, he stood up again and launched himself on top of the bed, careful not to place his whole weight on Max.
"Uuuuh." A small, lazy voice called out in protest.
"Come on wake up."
"Whyyyyy?"
"Because you have to come on."
"Nooooooo. What is school?"
He caught glimpse of the small arm hanging off the side of the bed. He gently tugged at the extremity, applying a bit more pressure after the tenth pull, "Come on Max, you have school today remember."
"Can't it wait until tomorrow? I'll go tomorrow I swear." The young boy pulled his hand away, tucking it under the covers.
"You always say that now come on."
"No."
With that simple answer, all he had left to do was pull the covers, something he knew Max despised.
"Hey!"
"I warned you."
"Oh I'm gonna kick your ass Dean!"
The teen did not have enough time to answer when he felt the weight of the boy come on him. Both wrestled a bit before finally setting on the bed, Max dropping onto the hard mattress, Dean pinning him for the count of three.
"I win!" He jockingly pranced around whatever amount of space he had, making up little dances in the process.
"Whatever." Max rolled his eyes at his brother's ways, frustrated at the loss, "You're a clown."
"Yeah the clown who just BEAT YOU." He continued laughing some more while the child walked over to the bathroom, "Hey don't take too long in there!" To that there was no reply and Dean was now left talking to himself, "I don't wanna be showering last minute."
An hour passed and they both got dressed; Dean in dark blue jeans and a white cotton shirt underneath the black leather jacket he usually wore, a pair of heavy-looking boots near his closet. Max in whatever his older brother had picked out for him.
Both made way to the bathroom to ensure Max brushed his teeth and combed the wild mop of hair.
"Is dad in a bad mood today?" The child spoke as Dean passed the big plastic comb through the toffee colored locks.
"Why do you ask that?"
"Because he's always in a bad mood. Is he mad at us or something?"
The teen scoffed but smiled down at the kid, turning his small body around so he would face him. He went on his knees so they were both now directly in front of each other and spoke as softly as possible, "Max, dad is not mad at you."
"What about you? Is he mad at you?"
Dean couldn't prevent the sigh that now came out of his lips, "He's just a big lemon and is usually hungry but I promise you he is not angry."
"Promise me he will never be angry at me. Promise me please Dean." His voice registered nothing short of concern and Ambrose hated every moment of this already. The fact his own brother had to be reassured his dad would not lash out at him was just infuriating. No child should feel that much fear thinking about their father, their own blood.
"I promise on my life Max. I promise you... dad will never get angry at you. I will never, ever let him." He wrapped the kid in a tight hug and kissed the now tamed hair, "I will always protect you Max, never forget how much I love you okay?"
"Alright Dean."
With those last words, the boys walked towards the front door, away from that place, afraid it might suffocate both.
"Where the fuck are you going?!" Heavy approaching footsteps were heard and Dean tried to rush them both along as much as he could. Despite his efforts, right before reaching the frame, a figure appeared, blocking their exit, "Where are you going now?"
"School dad. We're going to school." A sudden shiver ran up his spine, cold and persistent at the mention of that one set of letters. He rarely called the man 'dad'. The instance that putrid word did present itself coming out of his mouth being solely when Max was around.
The man mockingly replied, "School? What for?"
"Because we have to dad. Now please let us-"
"Maxi... my boy..." He regarded his youngest son, an overly affectionate tone taking place and Dean felt like punching the name right out of his mouth. It was obvious he was being incredibly fake and Max would not know that. The boy was just seven for fucks sake. Seven and easy to manipulate for the better and even more for the worse, "where are you going?"
"Let... us through." Dean had to breathe deeply a couple times to calm down. His father could do whatever to him and mock his mother, that being what she allowed; he would not, however, allow in any circumstance that the same be done to Max.
No. Over his dead body.
"Max-"
"Let us... the fuck through."
This caught John's attention who immediately turned to his firstborn, "What?"
"I will not say it again. We have to go."
"It's always been better to stay independent-"
"Dad-"
"Over my fucking grave would I allow my sons to go to school and kiss ass."
"Well that's not your choice to make, now move."
A laugh escaped John's lips, "Since when did you grow balls my boy?"
"Forget this." Amidst his dad's constant ridiculing laughter, he managed to get them through.
John, however, only called out louder for the whole neighborhood to hear as his two sons walked out, "You are finally growing balls my boy?!"
The unpleasant laughter continued but eventually dissipated as they advanced further away. Who knows how much longer it went on.
"Bye Max!" He called out watching as his little brother went into school, the child turning around once to say goodbye, "Be good okay! I love you!"
Nothing had been said on their way there besides that same, constant thought itching at him to go back home and beat every ounce of mockery out of that alcoholic bastard. His bullshit was becoming too much now that Max was older. He was much more aware and they both knew this. He probably did it all on purpose at this point. He was aware Max loved him because, well, that was his dad, a shitty dad but one nonetheless. It was only natural to love him.
To Dean, nature had not struck those same emotions. He'd despised the son of a bitch as soon as he'd been old enough to talk, to realize what went on. Introduced to hatred at the age of three.
He kicked at the pavement hard, hurting his foot but not minding one bit. Adrenaline coursed through his body, numbing everything in its path; the effects of anger.
He stopped in front of a different type of hell and eyed it a little, breath heavy. Students and faculty made their way in and out but all Dean did was zip up his leather jacket and continued walking past with that one recurring thought in his mind. Slight images of Max floating in the vast space of his brain.
Johnny's voice then filled the crisp fall air and rang in his ears as he recalled what the man had said just a few moments before. He'd not once eyed the heavy door.
School was for the kiss-ass anyway.
A month had gone by.
It was lunchtime and everyone was making their way out in suffocating crowds.
Roman and Seth were seated close in tutoring. Another one of their conversations taking place.
Reigns throwing his head back in laughter, clearly enjoying the current subject of talk.
Rollins smiling and bushing at his teacher's carefree behavior, something he enjoyed too much.
Ambrose yet again, nowhere to be seen.
It was something that at this point did not surprise anyone. It was a lot more shocking whenever he showed up.
And he did show up. Maybe once or twice every two weeks he would grace the classroom with his rate presence but would hardly talk to anyone. Not Seth, much less Roman. A few mocking jokes he would make directed at the younger teen but that was it. In class he would joke around a bit more.
Reigns still hadn't had the chance to apologize. It'd been a while since that talk but he hadn't forgotten. Sure, Dean was very stubborn and whatnot but that did not give Roman the right to talk to him like he knew his entire life. All the kid needed was understanding and he wanted to bring that for him.
He'd tried bringing the matter to Cena but Randy had been right, Dean was just too much of a favorite and things had not worked out.
After that little encounter in the principal's office it had hit Roman, Dean would just have to come back on his own.
The thought exasperated him. He hated to admit but he was a bit scared the boy would not come around.
He was glad at the sight next to to him though. Rollins had stuck around and tutoring was going better than ever, their bond growing stronger by the day. Any one subject could come up and a near thirty minute conversation would spark of it.
Rollins was also an easy student to work with, always paid attention and was open to any correction. He was truly a dream to any teacher. More than that, however, he was an incredible listener. Yes the boy had remained loyal to his word and would sit minutes without speaking, simply listening to the much older man go on about anything really. Sometimes, something as little as listening to someone could bring more knowledge and satisfaction than the teaching itself.
"Your wife must be proud of you for that one." Roman had just finished telling one of his mischievous bar tales when the remark had come up. The man simply shook his head, "Nope. I am not married actually. She wouldn't be too happy though, if I was."
"Oh." That took Seth by surprise, something the professor quickly caught on to, "Then I mean, um- your girlfriend?"
A chuckle did not pass unnoticed, "Nope. Not even a girlfriend. I am... how do you teens speak nowadays?" He looked up at the white ceiling, a playful banter in his eyes once he'd found the right set of words to play with. The things he'd only heard his students say so many times, "Oh yes. I am single as fuck."
"Wow." Seth whispered, eyes widening in the process not because this was the first time he'd heard the Samoan use that kind of language, but he was genuinely surprised at his answer.
"That shock you?" Roman smiled, waiting for the young boy to come back from his sudden mental escapade.
He shook his head a little, trying to dismiss the clear surprise registered on his face, "Yea- I mean a little. I thought you were married and had children or something like that."
Another chuckle followed, "No- I uh..." The man paused a moment, trying best to ignore the lump now forming on his dry throat, "I am pretty much the most single individual in the world."
"Me too!" Seth exclaimed. Just as fast as the words had come out, he'd absolutely regretted them. What did his teacher care? Of course he didn't.
The boy's sudden response forced a small laugh out of him, "I am uh- shocked to hear that as well actually."
"You're not." Rollins shook his head, "I am the most believable sixteen year old who's single in the world."
"No you're not. I mean- you're good looking and a really nice kid. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding someone."
That one remark made Seth blush uncontrollably, his skin turning hot. Still he did not know how he'd managed to speak, "Re- really?"
Reigns flashed him a reassuring smile, making the small teen melt in the process, "I'm sure of it."
He didn't know what it had been that'd prompted his next question. Maybe it had been the fact that his extremely attractive teacher found him to be 'good looking' maybe not. Still, what came out next did so with the confidence of winning the lottery, "Would you um- would you do something as- as crazy as date... date a..." He could not finish that thought, confidence shrinking as fast as it had inflated. WHAT WAS HE DOING? This was by far the most risky thing he'd ever done.
"A student?" Roman was the one to wrap up that question. He seemed surprisingly unbothered by it along with the small teen's constant shaking and after a bit of thought answered, "I am a very liberal and accepting person Seth."
"So that's a... yes?" He immediately had to ask in hopes his face was not a shade of purple at this point, hands going numb. What he'd started he might as well finish.
The large man smiled, "I guess... depending on the circumstances- you never know what might happen." Despite his positive answer, he was quick to add, "I mean, I know it is MASSIVELY wrong. Not only is it the age that's incredibly different, maturity levels as well. I also don't wanna go to jail for life."
Whatever he said after that passed completely ignored by the teen. He was now on cloud nine all on his own. Whatever other excuse the man had said, it did not matter and it was official: Roman did not view being with a student an impossibility. It could happen and Seth felt every part of his body tingle and glow in happiness. So much adrenaline coursed through him right then and what occurred next was done so automatically without any thought or judgment. Without any notice.
He leaned in, closed all distance available and planted a kiss on Reigns' lips.
A kiss that seemed to have lasted a good minute; Seth enjoying every moment of it, Roman too shocked to even think.
One that sparked.
One that completely erased any doubt in Seth.
One that clouded every corner of Roman's mind.
"Holy shit."
One that had just been witnessed by Dean Ambrose.
Well there it is! Another chapter is in the books and i had one hell of a ride typing this one up. There's no wifi at home right now but i was really anxious to put this up so i had to type everything from my computer on my phone and it was just.. ugh not fun let's just say that.
That being said i hope you all enjoyed this one. Seems like we got a good glimpse of Mr. Ambrose and his ways. Oh! By the way, all of Ambrose family was a product of my imagination. I don't know his real parents' names or how they are as people and don't even think he has a brother so just know it all came out of my imagination.
ALSO WHAT A WAY TO END THIS AMIRITE? Next chapter is still in the works but i will try to make it as cool as possible for you guys.
I am really happy to be back writing this story and as always reviews are welcomed :)