He paced anxiously at the door to the other mans bus, waiting for him to arrive and wondering what on earth had led him to believing this idea would be okay. After five minutes he was starting to believe that he wasn't going to show up, even though this was his bus, or that he regretted his decision, but just as he was about to give up, the familiar tattooed man approached, giving him a small smile and walking straight onto the bus and just expecting him to follow. And he did, following him onto the bus and watching as Punk wondered around the familiar territory, having never been in one of the buses before he hesitated in the doorway before taking a seat on what looked like a sort of couch. Punk turned to look at him. "I didn't think you'd turn up, Blondie." It was a blunt statement and he didn't even think he thought he's get a response. "But I did, don't exactly have many options right now." His voice was flat and Punk frowned and joined him on the couch, although he kept a distance, probably wary of making him freak out again. "I'm glad. You shouldn't have to take the bus again...well the public bus." His eyes bored into him and Dolph didn't manage to keep the blush down, not actually very surprised that Punk knew that. Dolph shrugged. "Mans gotta do what a man's gotta do." He dropped it and fiddled with the bottom of his shirt, anxious in the following moments of silence as Punk watched him curiously. Then the bus started up and it startled both of them and Punk got up and wondered into a more closed off area that he presumed was the bedroom area to ditch his bag he thought. He reappeared a moment later and took a seat on the other side of the bus, but still close enough for talking. And for a while they travelled in silence.
"You can have the bed if you want." Punk's voice startled him from his thought and he looked at the straight edge superstar, shaking his head, he couldn't and wouldn't do that. "No, it's alright." Punk nodded and looked at him a moment. "I'm sorry about the comment earlier, really, I have a terrible sense of humour...I need to work on being more sensitive." Dolph didn't answer and instead turned his attention back out the window, watching as the landscape passed by. "Really, Dolph, I-" Dolph cut him off. "It's fine." He just wanted this conversation gone, didn't want to think about it. He could feel a question burning to be asked by Punk, but he just looked out the window again. "You alright there, buddy?" he asked, his question being ignored for the time being. Dolph shrugged. "Fine, I'm fine, completely dandy. Peachy, on top of the world..." he could feel Punk rolling his eyes. "Sarcasm suits me better, Blondie. What's up?" Dolph looked at him and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Sarcasm can suit me just as well. And what makes you think I wanna talk to you?" he snapped at him but instantly regretting it, not really wanting to piss him off, but much unlike the Punk everyone knew and loved he just took it and shrugged, not letting himself get insulted and angry. "Well you're on my bus right now, if you really didn't want to talk then you would've found another form of transport, but if you don't want to talk about it then fine. By the way, you should probably stop your hands from shaking; some people will look at you weird if they see it." He looked down at his hands and they indeed were shaking, he hadn't even noticed. He struggled to stop them and instead just let them shake, whatevs. "They can shake if they want." He mumbled, looking down at the ground, avoiding his gaze. Punk left it for a little while, looking around and letting Dolph think that he'd dropped it. "How long have you had anxiety?" the question startled him and he stared at Punk with an open mouth, dumbfounded on what to say. "I don't." He said cagily, refusing to look at him, although he honestly didn't think he did. "Oh, not having anxiety explains the anxiety attack last night then." Dolph stiffened. "That was nothing." He tried to brush the topic off, the mere thought of it making his palms sweaty and the shaking get worse. "You have them often?" he asked, clearly not going along with Dolph. Defeated he shrugged. "Sometimes. Usually when I'm alone at night." He tried to speak like it didn't bother him when in reality they did, they scared him, he couldn't control them and they usually brought memories of him. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you should probably get the checked out, it can't be good for your health." He sounded concerned again and he was still puzzled as to why, it just didn't make sense to him, why the hell would Punk care if he was alright or not, why would he care about those stupid fucking anxiety attacks? He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He mumbled, still trying to brush him off. "Seriously, Dolph, go see a doctor or something, they'd be able to help. Why be so against that idea?" he frowned and he could tell the other man wanted to reach out somehow, try get him to see reason, but Dolph shook his head and kept staring out the windows. "Because they'll ask questions I don't want to answer, just like you, so drop it. Please." Punk narrowed his eyes but then just left it, turning on the tv and flicking to some channel, but Dolph payed no attention.
Night rolled around pretty quickly and Punk gave him one last concerned look and headed to his bed, and Dolph, having no desire to sleep, stayed where he was, although he was fairly certain he'd be sleeping on this couch anyway. He was reluctant to sleep, but being all alone with his thoughts without alcohol was starting to take its toll too. He closed his eyes but all he saw were those laughing eyes and that smirk, the smell of booze and cigarettes, the smell of his own fear...and his eyes would snap back open, breathing too fast. By the time the sun started to raise he was sleepless yet again and scared out of his mind, he startled when Punk rejoined him, sitting on the other end of the couch, looking all sleep ruffled...or in his case tossing and turning ruffled. Punk gave him a once over and moved over, closer to him to make sure Dolph looked at him. "Calm down, Blondie. Everything's fine." He reached out to give him a reassuring touch, but then thought better; watching as Dolph slowly became a little less tense. "Good sleep?" Punk asked, wanting to start casual conversation and Dolph gave a strangled sort of sound that he thought was meant to be a laugh. "What's sleep?" He shook his head and unstretched his limbs slowly, standing up and getting a small dizzy spell, Punk reached out to help him and he gave him a grateful look. "You?" he asked as he started to properly stretch his muscles out. "Got a couple hours. So it was good." Dolph nodded at him and continued his stretching, guilt setting in that he hadn't had a work out in a few days. "How far still to go?" he asked, wondering how long he'd have to sit around in this bus. Punk shrugged at him, idly watching him. "Dunno, still a while. Why're you stretching and shit? Just relax." He blinked and shrugged at him "I'm stiff, been sitting in the same position for ages, and haven't worked out for a while so...I'm stretching, is that a problem?" Punk idly shrugged and the look he was giving him started to make him mildly uncomfortable. He got uncomfortable enough to sit back down and curl up, hide himself a little. He glared accusingly at the other man. "Why were you staring at me? Makes me uncomfortable." Punk shrugged and flashed him a rather large grin. "Well, you are pretty attractive, Blondie, no issue with looking at you is there? You're the one parading yourself around." Dolph froze and held himself tighter, curling up to make him smaller. The slight fear must have shown on his face and Punk gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, sorry. Won't look at you like that, not gonna hurt you or anything, Blondie. Geez. Calm down." He wasn't quite sure he believed him, and he stayed how he was, he shouldn't trust him, shouldn't trust anyone. A growl rumbled in his throat when he saw Punk reach out to him, suddenly feeling like a caged animal. Feeling his hostility he backed off, leaving Dolph alone and heading back to the bedroom area, leaving him alone with his thoughts for the rest of the trip.
When they arrived at the arena he almost jumped off the bus before it had completely rolled to a stop, this had been...uncomfortable, extremely uncomfortable. He was glad it was over. He was thankful, yes, but that had been too much. He'd have to find some other mode of transport, he didn't want to travel with him again, he didn't want to burden him or...anytime. Too dangerous anyway.
Once he'd ditched his bag in the locker room he decided he'd just wonder the halls, he didn't have a match tonight, but he knew it wasn't because of any alterations, he just wasn't needed at the moment and he was strangely okay with that. Usually that would put him into a huff, complaining about how the company wasn't using him right, but he was alright with it tonight, happy to be moving around aimlessly. He avoided everyone, if he ever heard someone coming he'd turn down another corridor so he wouldn't have to talk or endure the stares, the questions the silently burned from their tongues. It was nice to have some time to just aimlessly do something, although his thoughts were starting to get dangerous again, hands still shaking, but it was much better than it had been. He put his headphones in and smiled faintly as he continued to walk, his head zoning out listening to Britney. He was knocked to the ground as he turned a corner and accidentally walked into a hard body, landing on his ass and ready to snap loudly at whoever had accidentally knocked him down but it got caught in his throat as he saw who it was exactly. Jack. Both remained where they were, staring at each other, both of them feeling awkward and not knowing what to do. They both opened their mouths to speak at the same time so they both shut up and just as Dolph was going to talk again he heard footsteps coming down the hallway and a hand rest on his shoulder. He glanced up to see who it was and wasn't surprised to see Punk, although the expression on his face did a little, he looked murderous and steely, harsh and obviously not in the mood to be fucked with. Jack scowled back, his gaze turning back to Dolph, he looked like he wanted to say something to him, but Punk being there prevented him. "Watch it next time!" Jack snapped at him, bristling and then hurrying away, Punk's cold gaze following him, making sure he went away. Punk's gaze softened a little and he stepped back, offering him a hand to help him up, cautiously he took it and got to his feet. "He push you?" Dolph quickly shook his head. "No, we bumped into each other, didn't push me." Punk studied his face, checking to make sure he wasn't lying. Punk seemed satisfied that he was telling the truth and let himself relax. "Just...stick with me, okay? No one will mess with you or even look at you wrong." Punk offered him another smile. Dolph scowled at him "I'm not a fucking puppy; I don't have to do what you want me to." Punk scoffed and rolled his eyes, his eyes blazing for a second. "I know you're not a fucking puppy, Blondie, puppies behave better. I just want to help, make sure you're alright. You worry me. Don't want anything happening to you." Hearing this Dolph instantly felt bad for snapping, giving him an apologetic look. "...Okay, sorry, I...I actually think I'd appreciate that." He mumbled, looking away from the man. Punk nodded and smiled at him again. "Cool, promise I'll try not to bug you with questions too much." Dolph nodded and followed him as he started to walk away. He still wasn't completely sure about it, after all, earlier on he'd been eager to get away from him and now he was happily following after him, agreeing to spend most of his time with him. He wasn't sure what was going on, but it was worth a shot.