Chapter 4
April 22nd, 2014
"Syd, wake up," Colby gently shook her shoulder, ducking when she swatted at him.
"I don't want to go to the gym, Colby. I just want to sleep," she sighed into her pillow.
"No gym today, sweetheart. I just want to take you to breakfast. Look, I even brought you coffee to chase off the demon while you get ready," he held out her mug and grinned when she snatched it up like Gollum with the One Ring. "Dress comfy because we're walking to a nice place around the corner. I'll wait for you in the den," he kissed the top of her head, chuckling when she nursed her coffee and half expected her to call it 'my precious'.
"I think I got screwed in this deal," Joe frowned when Colby emerged from her room. "You get her in public while I'm stuck here with him. Couldn't we have drawn straws? Rock, paper, scissors?" he asked with his hands on his waist.
"You have a bigger role to fill with her, big man. I'm going to explain him to her. You are going to use that voice, smile and gentle nature to get her to open up about herself. You definitely have the easier job," he pointed at the Samoan, patting his arm. "She and I are tight but not like the two of you are. You're in tune with her feelings, Joe, and she really values your friendship," he smiled softly when the big man blushed.
"She worries about you more than the rest of us, Colbs. I think it is safe to say we're equals in her heart and life. Although I think our friend in there has taken top spot. Now we just need to get her to see that before he self-destructs," Joe took a drink of his coffee and turned his gray eyes to Syd when she entered the room; her hair wet from a quick shower and dressed in a tank, shorts, sandals and Jon's hoodie. "Morning, baby girl," he said softly, taking in her withdrawn mood.
"Morning, big man," she hugged him from behind. "Are you joining us?"
"No, it's just you and the Pup. I'll see you when you get back," he nodded; sitting down with the morning paper and his coffee.
"Make sure you eat something, Joe. You need to keep those muscles fed," she patted his head, pulling a face at him when he gave her a playful growl. "Don't make me roll up that newspaper, big man," she growled back.
"I will, mama bear; I'm going to drag Grumpy downstairs when he wakes up," he squeezed her hand, seeing the ghost of a smile fade from her face.
"Come on, sweetheart," Colby stepped forward, taking her hand in his and walked them out the door. "Are you okay?" he asked; wrapping his arm across her shoulders while they rode the elevator down.
"I'm fine; just tired," she leaned into his side, resting her eyes until the elevator dinged their arrival in the lobby. "Pull that cap down, Pup. I'm liable to hit the first fangirl that comes up, creaming her panties and begging for a photo with you," she plastered on a fake smile and batted her eyelashes at him while he chuckled.
"For someone who keeps my body together, you sure are damaging to my career, sweetheart," he pulled his hood over his baseball cap before taking her arm and leading her out onto the street. "I don't think it would go over well with the bosses if you shove an iPhone up some chick's ass," he leaned and chuckled in her ear.
"It's nothing Vince isn't used to already and, if done at the right time, he might even get a good laugh out of it. I've pulled some wild shit in the past trying to keep the vultures away from my brother. An iPhone up a girl's ass is pretty tame in comparison," she grinned when he clutched his stomach with his free hand. "Happy that I can entertain you," she laughed; giving his arm a squeeze with her free hand before returning it to the pocket of Jon's hoodie.
"Syd, I can honestly say you are one of the bright points of this job," he said with sincerity reflecting in his chocolate orbs. "Not only do I get to live my dream but I get a great friend and protective sister to take care of me while I do it. I couldn't ask for more," he smiled down at her.
"I appreciate that, Colby, but for my own sanity, we really need to work out some sign that you aren't dead in the damn ring. I swear you sell shit so damn good, you make my heart stop at times. Tap your pinky or something so that I know not to fly into the ring, and kick everyone's ass to get to your side to make sure you're alive," she glanced up at him with a smile but he could see she was serious.
"I promise, and thank you for the compliment and the worry," he planted a kiss on top of her hood.
"I have something else that should make things easier for all of us," she gave him a secretive smile, seeing his eyes light up in curiosity. "I've arranged for a bus for us. We can sleep, eat, watch TV and you and Joe can play your damn video games while someone else drives us from city to city," she was pulled back when he stopped dead in his tracks, not releasing her arm.
"Are you serious? You got Steph and Paul to give us a bus?" he looked at her with wide eyes. This was big; major even, since stars of Randy, Cena, Punk and Big Show's caliber were given this kind of VIP treatment.
"Fuck no, hon," she waved him off, seeing his face fall in an instant. "I got Vince to give us one. I don't work for the junior league. If I want something, I go to my boss and he agreed that not only do we need it but you guys deserve it," she glanced between his eyes, watching his face light up and an instant later; she found him spinning her around in a circle. "Stop! I'm not into the reverse Cesaro Swing!" she shouted; smacking his shoulder and earning laughs from passersby.
"Oh my God, I love you!" Colby shouted; grateful as hell for this angel in their midst.
"I love you too but you have less than five minutes to get coffee in me before I kill you," she wheezed out when he crushed her in a bear hug.
"Coffee, coming up!" he moved her over his shoulder and laughed when she squealed out; sprinting down the street while she giggled like a kid.
Joe quietly read his paper, glancing over the top of it when Jon crossed the den and fidgeted at Syd's door before finally knocking. "How do you know that's her room?" he asked inquisitively; taking a sip of his coffee.
"I checked an hour after we got in, and Colby really needs to wear boxers or something if he plans to sleep on top of the covers," Jon shuddered before pressing his ear to the door.
"She's not here," Joe pursed his lips, raising a brow when Jon shot a glare at him over his shoulder. He opened the door to her room, walking in and checking the bathroom before he came back out. "Where is she?" he ground out of clenched teeth.
"She went to breakfast with Colby," Joe hid his smirk behind his mug, rolling his eyes when Jon threw a mini fit. "He's trying to help you, Jon. We both are so come here and sit down," he folded the paper, setting it aside and crossed his big arms over his chest to stare at his friend across the table. "You really turned her upside down, you know? One minute you're having sex under the ring during a live show and the next you're treating her like a leper. No, worse than that; you treated her like one of your flings. I know you're having trouble getting your feelings for her sorted out, bro, but you can't just hurt her feelings like that," Joe furrowed his brow, doing his best big brother imitation.
"I know; I feel like shit for it. That's why I went to her door; to apologize," Jon placed his elbow on the table, resting his forehead in his open palm.
"Jon, you might as well have punched her in the damn chest; she probably could have taken that pain better than how you hurt her. I've never seen that look on her face before and I never want to again, so what are you going to do about it?" Joe's voice went louder and deeper with every passing word and his only response was silence. Sighing loudly, he decided to try a different tact with his upset friend. "Jon, tell me what you want from her and I'll try to help you get there," he leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table.
"I want to keep her, Joe. I don't want to be a job. I want to wake up with her in my arms. I don't want her brother to look at me like I'm a piece of shit that doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as his sister. I want to be her only thing," he said softly, clearing his throat when he was done. "I want her to love me too," he darted his eyes up to his friend; his vulnerability plain to see. "No one has ever loved me. I've never loved anyone before. I mean I love you and Colby like family but I've never been in love. I know I'm fucking things up with her by letting my possessiveness take over but I can't stand the thought of someone taking this away from me. I just want the person I finally managed to find love with to love me too, man," he whispered; deflating into his chair like a beat man.
"Okay, let's work on that, but in the meantime, no more cold shoulder treatment or running away from her like a little bitch," Joe pointed a hard finger at Jon with a stern glare.
"I promise," Jon raised his hands in surrender, letting a smile bring his dimples out. He was damn lucky to call this man his friend or he'd be completely lost right now.
"Let's grab something to eat; I promised Syd we would and she was grumpy enough when Colby woke her up," he stood, waiting on Jon to grab his wallet and key card before they headed out.
"So how are things going with Jon?" Colby slipped into the purpose of this private breakfast after a good twenty minute conversation about their new bus.
"Don't play coy with me, pup. You were there last night to see him blow me off like I was one in the long line of his sexual conquests," she snapped with a dark glare. "The only difference was he fucked me more than once before he moved on," she let the anger bleed out of her tone, to be replaced by hurt while she lowered her eyes to her meal.
"Syd, it isn't like that at all," Colby reached across the table, taking one of her hands in his. "I'm going beyond what I brought you here to tell you because you're thinking the absolute worst about this. The truth is Jon is in unfamiliar territory with you. Sweetheart, you aren't just a fuck to him. He has real feelings for you and isn't quite sure how to deal with them," he bit his bottom lip, letting her absorb that for a moment. "I think his biggest hang-up is that he's worried he's just a fuck to you. Admit it, Syd, it might have been that the first time but he's wormed his way in, hasn't he? If he didn't, you wouldn't be so hurt by his actions last night," he said leadingly, dipping his head down to get a look at her eyes.
"I admit I thought the first time was just a friends' with benefits fuck. He'd been trying to get in my pants forever but I didn't want to fuck up our friendship by giving in…" she drifted off, taking a deep breath before glancing up into Colby's serious chocolate browns. "That first night; with a simple act of caring and kindness, he bypassed my concerns and just made me crave him, Colbs," she whispered with a flush in her cheeks.
"What did he do? Don't tell me if it's anything too graphic though," he scrunched his nose before laughing at her amused smirk.
"He came into my room and massaged my hands," she giggled at the confused look on his handsome face. "I soak my hands in ice and cold water if I have to rub all three of you down. They hurt after working so long on you guys and when Jon found out, he cared for my hurts and pains," she shrugged her shoulders with an impish grin.
"That is cute. Is that all it really took to get into your panties though?" he laughed, moving back in his seat to avoid her swinging arm before catching both of her hands. "I've known Jon a long time, Syd, and he doesn't do simple acts of caring and kindness unless he's invested in that person. Aside from Joe and me, he has no family to speak of and very few friends. He's never had a single person on this planet that showed him an ounce of love so he's never given it to anyone before. It is why he's never been in a relationship and has the one night stand track record. Jon doesn't give his trust to anyone who doesn't earn it first. His childhood was bad and he was treated poorly through most of his life but he came out this end of it with his heart intact; hidden and well guarded but intact. You're the first woman I've seen to make it past one night with him. You're the first woman I've seen that he keeps going back to. You're the first he wants to let in, Syd. He's a possessive, cranky, moody fucker but then so are you," he smiled brightly, keeping a tight hold on her hands to avoid getting hit. "Personally I think you found your other half in him and think you should give him a shot. The two of you might just bring the world to its knees," he winked at her, waiting to hear what she had to say.
"What do you want me to say? It makes me feel good that he cares enough to allow me behind the curtain. I never knew details about his past but I knew it had to be bad for him to be so guarded. He was leery of me when I took you guys on but covered it up behind that quiet yet macho bravado act. What surprised me even more was that he seemed to shy away from a gentle touch for a long time before he finally stopped flinching. I think I took him by surprise when I wouldn't let him intimidate me," she chuckled; grasping on to Colby's hands when her mood changed. "I didn't have his past, Colby. I had family that loved me but we were a fucking strange bunch. Growing up in a house with Dad on the road and Mom dealing with mine and Randy's bullshit wasn't ideal. I think it is part of the reason us second gens stick together. We understood how it felt to come from a broken home even though we didn't, you know?"
"I can only imagine, Syd. It is one of the reasons I've been holding off on proposing to Leigh," Colby said with sympathetic eyes.
"At least you're loyal, honey. Leigh doesn't know how lucky she is to have you. I know Dad wasn't faithful; I could see it on Mom's face every time he left the house. And Randal! I think he tried to buck the odds and change fate by marrying Sam early in his career but that was an exercise in futility. He was the biggest man-whore I've ever seen. It made me sick to see him do that shit to his family like Dad did to us, but I found myself just as angry at Mom and Sam for putting up with it. I just don't believe love, years of your life or any amount of money is worth your self-respect. I would have divorced either of those assholes in a split second if I was their wife," she choked out, pulling a hand free to wipe a solemn tear from beneath her eye. "I'm not trying to put you off of proposing to Leigh, pup, but you know the success rate of marriages and relationships in this traveling freakshow is very low," she squeezed his hand, seeing his sad expression.
"I know it's bad; it's why I've waited so long," he pouted, repeating himself while staring at their joined hands. "Is that why you're so against relationships?"
"It is part of it; the biggest part. I cannot abide a cheater," she lowered her eyes to the table; getting herself together before returning her gaze to his. "Notice how many marriages and engagements we're having within the company these days? I guess they're trying to find happiness within our species instead of rolling the dice with normal humans," she giggled; giving him a little shake to snap him out of his reverie. "Oh honey, it won't be any easier for them either except they have seeing each other every day as a positive and a negative. Can you imagine being with your spouse 24/7? I'd go fucking mental," she shuddered and smiled when she got a genuine laugh from her little brother. "I feel like shit, pup. You brought me here to talk me out of my funk and instead, I put you in one. The Orton curse strikes again," she rolled her eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.
"You're not cursed, Syd. You're the only Orton I know that makes people feel good, has respect for herself and isn't a slut puppy," he laughed; his eyes crinkling at the sides from his genuine amusement.
"And you can say all of that after I've had a sex-fest with your stable mate for the past week? Wow, the rest of the Ortons must suck," she laughed heartily, almost to the point of tears.
"You've been with us since almost the day we stepped up to the main roster, Syd. I can't recall a single time you've ever disappeared for any amount of time to get laid…or to get laid properly at least. I have heard the buzzing sound coming through the wall every once in a while. Your vibrator is really loud. Do they make silencers for those things? Ow!" he laughed, rubbing the back of his head when she pulled him forward to smack him one. "Come on, Syd! Why do you think I always take the room next to yours? I'm protecting you from the nonstop ribbing you'd get from Joe or Jon if they heard you plowing away with that thing," he hummed in various octaves, going lower to signify when it would be buried deep within her. "Ow! Stop it!" She smacked the side of his head again and he clutched his stomach, near hysterics while pointing at her red face.
"I swear I'm booking a single in the next city," she shook her head, covering her face with both hands.
"If you did that it would make it more difficult for Jon to sneak into your room and that is entertainment that Joe and I can't live without. You are one bossy wench in bed, sweetheart. We almost died when you told him not to talk and just fuck you. Oh my God, I'm fucking dying over here," his voice went up in pitch while he wiped his eyes.
"The man doesn't stop! I feel like he's cutting a promo while we're having sex. What?" she asked when he furrowed his brows and shook his head.
"TMI! Now I'll have that image in my head every time he picks up a mic. 'You love this cock, don't you, Kitten?'" he imitated Jon's voice and they both broke down in hysterics when the waitress came back with his credit card and receipt. "Thank you," he nodded at the woman, who lingered a tad too long for Syd's tastes.
"Ready to go, handsome?" she slid out of the booth, pulling him along by his hand and flashed her cold eyes at the drooling female on their way out. "I just can't take you anywhere, pup," she sighed once they were outside.
"At least she didn't have an iPhone," he chuckled, draping his arm around her neck.
"Give me a ride back to the hotel," she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Syd, you're almost as tall as I am. You should give me one back since I carried you here," he crossed his arms over his chest, standing his ground.
"But I got you a bus," she said softly, keeping up with the eyes and throwing in a sad pout.
"Don't even pull the Puss in Boots eyes on me, woman! That is a low blow!" he stomped a foot, trying to hide his smile.
"Bus."
"Syd, that's not fair…"
"Bus."
"Fine just stop with that look; that shit is my kryptonite and you know it! Get up here, wench," he turned; holding on to her thighs once she jumped up on his back. "At least you can fix my back after putting it through this. Ow!" he grumbled before laughing when she pinched his side before tickling it.
The two of them continued down the street; so engrossed in their humor that they didn't notice Dave Batista exiting the diner a few seconds later.
Smackdown
"You can watch us from back here until the main event, baby girl," Joe smiled at Syd; who had been in a good mood since returning with Colby to their suite. She still hasn't exchanged a word with Jon today, and he'd suddenly gone shy on them, so it was still awkward for him and Colby around the potential couple.
"Guerilla tactics on most of your opponents for tonight?" she flopped down on the small sofa in their Skybox, crossing her arms behind her head while reading the script. "Holy shit, this sounds hilarious!" she chuckled; reading over their spots.
"Yeah, Swagger is first in the ring and some are backstage so you can see it on the monitor. This will be a fun night," Colby said with a big grin while fastening his vest. "We'll be in and out so no buzzing around in here, okay?" he leaned down, smiling in her face before she smacked the back of his head so fast he didn't have time to react. "Damn it, Syd, stop beating the shit out of me today," he pouted; laying the biggest boo boo lip on her.
"Stop talking shit about BOB," she pointed at him with a grin.
"Bob?" Joe asked with a tilt of his head.
"Don't ask! Let's go," Colby laughed, pushing the big man out the door.
Sydney closed her eyes; thinking they had all left until she felt a hand gently run over her hair while a pair of lips kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry," he mumbled against her flesh. She gasped; opening her eyes to find a beautiful set of baby blues staring into her obsidian. "See you in a few minutes, Kitten," Jon gave her a soft smile before leaving the room.
"He apologized," Joe grinned with a shake of his head when Jon walked ahead of them with a dimpled smile on his face.
"Good because that shit was painful to see on her face. He really hurt her, man. She'd never admit it but I saw it; heard it in her voice this morning," Colby told the quickly frowning Joe while they walked towards their crowd entrance spot. "It is obvious she's developed feelings for him too but she has her issues with relationships too. I'll explain everything before you work your mojo on her," he mumbled quickly before they joined their third mate.
She watched with a smile as Roman took down Jack with a perfect Superman Punch and giggled when he pumped himself up afterwards; preparing for the Triple Powerbomb. He did his war cry while Dean and Seth hefted up Swagger, placing him on Roman's shoulders and the three of them drove him into the mat.
"Fuck, that is sexy and I've been in this business too long if that is my definition of sexy," she sighed, watching the monitor while still stretched out on the sofa.
Not long after, the cameras shot from backstage and Seth appeared behind 3MB; the three of them finding humor in him being alone until Dean came to stand beside him. Thinking they still had them outnumbered, they continued to talk trash until Heath turned around to find Roman behind him. Slater kept his focus on Roman while Seth and Dean took out Jinder and Drew; telling him they could wait until later. He turned to walk to his teammates; taking a shot from Dean that spun him back towards Roman, who delivered his second Superman Punch of the night.
"Yep, I think I'm in heat and having my first fangirl moment," she fanned herself while the three stallions walked off; leaving destruction in their wake.
The next time they appeared was with Brad Maddox. Seth snatched his phone out of his hand, passing it to Dean; who tossed it over his shoulder to the floor. Brad tried to talk his way out of an ass-kicking, stalling his words when Roman took his tie in his hand, rolling out around his big fist. Seth patted him hard on the back before Roman hefted the GM up and tossed him into the wall above his sofa. Seth pulled the sofa away from the wall, which allowed Brad to fall to the floor. Dean held his questioning stable mate back before he dived over the sofa; all you saw was his elbow coming up before each delivered punch and all you heard was his garbled grunts while he unleashed his inner animal. He stood up, stomping on Brad once before doing his shoulder quirk and leaving with his amused brothers.
"Oh my God, I love that crazy man!" Sydney laughed nonstop through Dean's entire tirade, shaking her head until the camera faded to black. "What the fuck did I just say?" she arched a brow in surprise.
Fandango came out with his new partner, Layla; who didn't have an ounce of Summer's dance ability, and Syd secretly wished for filming on the new Marine movie to end to spare her vision more of this torment. She grinned when her boys beat him down on the stage; Dean and Seth dragging him to the edge while Roman did a little dance step of his own before releasing his war cry.
"That would be a Triple Powerbomb, Fandango-ate-my-baby-o," she chuckled; thinking fondly of Jericho's play on his name.
"You ready, sweetheart?" Colby asked when a PA poked their head in, alerting them to the five minute mark before their handicap match.
"I'm ready, pup," Syd rose to her feet with a hand up from Jon; their eyes holding the other in place before Joe cleared his throat. "I'm on my way, big man. Be safe," she told them but kept her gaze on Jon for a moment more before heading to the door.
"I have an angel there, watching over me," Jon said softly; glancing between his smiling friends who happened to notice that Syd caught that before the door closed.
"Man, love makes you a cheesy fucker," Joe laughed; slapping a blushing Jon on the back.
"He's completely pussy-whipped, bro," Colby shook his head, looking at his friend like he was a sad, pathetic creature. "Oh! Syd has a surprise for us when we get back to the hotel! I can't wait for her to tell you but she said she'd kill me if I didn't keep my mouth shut," he gave his best duckface despite the fact that he was bouncing on his toes.
"I wouldn't ruin it for her then. She knows how to take a man apart and put them back together afterwards," Joe shot a beaming smile at his younger partner; Jon nodding his head with a smirk before walking out the door.
'They look like hungry wolves,' she thought; observing their amped up steps while they awaited their remaining five opponents.
Ryback, Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, Titus O'Neil, and Damien Sandow made their way down the ramp, took the far corner closest to the announce table before Seth started off the match against Ryback. They handled him with the usual quick tags while keeping him isolated in their corner before Seth pulled a crossbody from the top rope, getting caught and slammed to the mat. Ryback tagged out to Titus; who managed one scoop slam before Seth regained his feet, chopped him across his chest and Dean tagged himself in.
Syd sat back; arms crossed over her midsection with an amused grin on her face, enjoying the fans' cheers and the action in the ring. They worked perfectly together; all their moves in sync without a spoken word. She even clapped when the three of them cleared the ring and apron of their opponents a few more minutes into the match. The first turn in the match involved Dean and Syd lost her smile; moving to the edge of her seat while he was manhandled by first Wade and then Alberto. A couple minutes later, Del Rio tossed him to the floor at her feet and Syd's hands clenched into fists until his blue eyes shot to her face and gave her a wink.
'He's okay, Syd; chill out,' she exhaled slowly. Alberto pulled him up off the floor, tossed him back in the ring and tagged in Ryback. 'Get your hand off his face, bastard!' she growled when he pulled at Dean's upper lip and nose. It took a Spinebuster for Seth to rush the ring, break the count on the pin and attack the men on the apron before Ryback tossed him out of the ring. It gave Dean his opening to distance himself from him; and dispose of Del Rio, before he crawled towards Roman. 'Come on, handsome,' she internally cheered him on.
The big man entered the ring to a huge pop, hitting two fast clotheslines on Sandow and Ryback. A quick fist to Wade sent him off the apron to the floor before Sandow whipped him into the ropes and caught a flying clothesline from the big man for his trouble. Titus rushed in to the same treatment before Roman pulled a Samoan drop to Ryback. 'The big man is on fire,' Syd chuckled; unable to keep the smile from her face if she tried.
It quickly turned into a five on three free-for-all that the Shield won. Roman clotheslined Titus and Ryback over the ropes and Seth and Dean were quick to pounce on them. Roman did that lovely sliding kick along the apron to Sandow before rolling back into the ring and driving his fist into the mat; waiting like a predator for his prey. Alberto and Wade made a move to enter the ring but the big man stood up; inviting them in with a gleam in his gray eyes. They thought better of it; retreating up the ramp.
Seth quickly ran the ropes, flipping over the top and; taking down Ryback in front of the announcers' table, landing on his feet like a cat before joining Dean in the ring. The two ran the ropes together and dove through, taking down Sandow and Titus on the other side. Syd turned her attention to Wade shoving Alberto aside before running off to the right side of the stage. Del Rio watched the Englishman take off before he turned into a Superman Punch from Roman; who appeared from nowhere.
The big man stalked proudly down the ramp; meeting his mates halfway before they returned to ringside as a unit. Dean threw Sandow back into the ring and Seth moved to his opponents' empty corner, taunting him when there was nowhere to go and no one to help him. Ambrose stalked up behind him, whipping him off the ropes only to drive both feet into his chest. Sandow repelled off the ropes from the impact and was met with a spear and a three count from Roman.
Syd had to cover her mouth to hide the laugh when Seth and Dean rolled Titus back into the ring; another victim to a spear from the imposing Samoan. She couldn't hide it anymore when her lover and little brother grinned at her before they rolled Ryback into the ring to be victim number three of the spear. They joined Roman in the ring; choosing among their three fallen opponents and poor Ryback drew the short straw for possibly the hundredth time.
'That would be a Triple Powerbomb, Snaggletooth,' Syd chuckled; shrugging her shoulders at JBL before she watched her boys stand proud in the ring.
"You guys were impressive as hell out there tonight. I've never had so much fun watching you work before," Syd laughed softly while rubbing Joe's shoulders in their suite. "You were definitely strutting like a big dog out there, big man," she ruffled his hair; enjoying the sound of his genuine laugh. "Feel better?" she asked; stepping back to let him stand.
"Much better, baby girl," Joe grinned while stretching his arms over his head without anymore discomfort. "Thank you," he playfully poked her nose, laughing when she swatted at him.
"You're welcome but don't let the good mood carry you away, big man. Randal isn't the only Orton that knows how to RKO," she warned him before a grin overtook her face. "Only in this business," she sighed when her phone rang. "Vince! How are you, old man?" she spoke into her phone with a smile, nodding while he spoke and darted her eyes to Colby; who was practically vibrating with energy on the couch. "It is most appreciated and I'll fly out to meet him tomorrow. No, I'm still on vacation from my brother so it isn't a problem. Thank you, Dad, and give Mom a kiss for me," she blew a kiss into the phone before disconnecting the call and turned to three sets of raised brows. "What?"
"Dad?" Joe asked with a tilt to his head.
"Please! I call your dad Dad too. I grew up around them, for fuck's sake," she waved him off, moving to sit down between Colby and Jon on the couch. "In truth, Vince was more of a father to me than my dad. He's earned the title and I call him that even when he's being an asshole," she tried for levity but the three of them heard the bitter undertone when speaking of Bob Orton.
"So was he calling about what we discussed this morning?" Colby broke the silence, grinning brightly at her when she glanced at him. She smiled sweetly and nodded. "Come on, Syd! I can't hold it in anymore!" he shot off the couch and paced back and forth before her while she flopped across Jon's lap; holding her sides from laughing. "Can I tell them?" he asked when she waved him with a silent nod. "She got us a fucking bus!" he yelled in relief; finally able to get that out of his system.
"No fucking way! Are you serious?" Joe walked up to Colby, gripping his shirt to keep him from bouncing on his toes.
"Completely serious, bro! We have our own bus with beds, a kitchen, a shower, a bathroom, a fucking TV and a driver! No more bullshit with the four of us cramming into a fucking car and swapping out at the wheel!" Colby pumped his fist into the air, absorbed in his excitement that he didn't see the kiss Jon planted on Syd while she was draped across him. It didn't stop the big man from snatching her out of his grasp to hug her though.
"Thank you, baby girl," he whispered into her ear, dangling her in the air within his big arms.
"You're welcome, big man," she smiled softly, squeezing his hands once he set her on her feet. "I'm spending my days off flying out to meet the driver and riding in the Shield mobile to our next house show. We'll be picking you up at the airport," she wheezed out while Colby hugged her from behind. "Can't breathe, pup," she squirmed in his grasp, taking a deep breath once Jon liberated her from his stable mate's arms. "Thank you," she whispered, allowing him to pull her into his chest.
"No, I should be thanking you. You did a hell of a thing for us," he settled his hands on her lower back, resting his forehead against hers. "It means a lot…to all of us; the things you do for us. We're lucky to have you," he said in a soft rasp, darting his blue eyes between her black.
"You're welcome and thank you," she fought down the blush rising in her cheeks but failed miserably when he pecked her lips.
"So when do you leave to get it?" Colby asked; breaking up the tender moment out of excitement.
"After the gym tomorrow," she answered, unable to tear her eyes away from Jon.
"Want some company?" Jon whispered against her lips; his eyes darting between hers.
"Don't you ever go home?" she smiled; flicking her tongue over her suddenly dry lips.
"Nothing to go home to," he shrugged; breath quickening at the sight of her tongue.
"Then I welcome the company," she pressed her lips to his; parting them when his tongue sought entrance. 'Fuck, this man drives me crazy,' she thought while he lazily explored her mouth. Beyond the pounding of her heart, Syd registered the sudden silence in the room and forced herself to break their kiss. "What?" she asked the smiling, staring Joe and Colby.
They glanced at each other before looking back at the couple; Jon still holding Syd to his body. "Awww," they said in unison.
"Fuck you, I'm going to bed," Syd shook her head, hiding her blush in Jon's chest.
"Come on, Syd; we're just messing with ya," Colby chuckled; the breath rushing from his lungs instantly when Jon took a page from Joe's book and speared him into the couch.
"Picking on Syd isn't allowed, Lopez," Jon ground out, mixing it up with Colby until he had him in a rear-naked choke. "Apologize or its lights out," he cinched it in with his legs wrapped around his waist, leaving Colby with no alternative.
"Sorry, Kitten," Colby cackled; losing his breath when Jon pulled in tighter.
"She's my Kitten, not yours," Jon growled in his ear; chuckling when Colby pushed off of the floor and sent the couch tipping backwards.
"She's my sister!" Colby shouted back, twisting around in Jon's grip.
The wrestling match continued while Joe wandered up next to Syd, draping an arm across her shoulders. "So mama bear, there's your little brother and your lover…my condolences," he chuckled when she leaned into his side.
"I don't know what I was thinking, papa bear," she shook her head, laughing while the two of them rolled around the floor; jockeying for position.
AN: Okay, so no steamy sex in this one but they'll get back to it soon. Just needed to get those mushy feelings out in the open. Review to continue and to any new readers; feel free to add any places you'd like to read Jon and Syd getting…creatively passionate in.