It's been a quiet night. Orange is at the arena, but he's not booked in any matches and because of travel issues and other things going on, the locker room is a lot quieter than usual. Hook is here, of course, but he's been lurking around the main hallway towards the entrance of the arena, watching for any potential leads towards who attacked Taz the week before. Not getting too far either by what Orange can tell, but he's trying to be patient and give Hook the space he needs to do what he can to get answers the best way he knows how. Not that Orange has had much luck either- no one really knows anything, or they're just not talking if they do.

It's a boring couple of hours without the Conglomeration to hang out with. Rocky is around, but he's still adjusting to being part of the group and Orange doesn't want to push anything, especially after he'd gotten ambushed by Jericho's group in the hallway. So he sits by himself in the locker room and watches the show carry on until towards the end of it when commentary begins talking about Hook. He sits up a litter straighter and watches with a frown as Hook is shown, angrily addressing whoever the attacker is, demanding their presence. It's a step above punching trunks, sure, but it's still risky, and Orange doesn't really like seeing Hook out in the open, just waiting for the people vicious enough to send Taz into knee replacement surgery faster than he'd wanted.

Kip Sabian runs by, and clearly knows nothing, so Hook lets him go, but then Christian, Nick Wayne and Shayna Wayne are right behind him, and Orange frowns, watching their interaction. Christian is his usual smarmy self, but still, it makes Orange wonder if maybe there's something more there. By the suspicious look on Hook's face as he watches them go, Orange thinks maybe he senses it too.

Thankfully, the main event starts not long after that, which means it's about time to go back to the hotel. Get a few hours of sleep, then head home. Orange watches a few minutes of the match, but it's still nagging at him, Hook alone and at risk in that hallway, so he grabs his things and heads out to find him.

When Orange finds him, Hook has his back to him, staring into the shadows leading to the exit, but Orange's barely made it past the camera crew still lingering, waiting for something to happen, when Hook twists around and grabs him by the jacket, slamming him into the wall. "Whoa," Orange says calmly, bracing his hands against Hook's chest. "Just me. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."

Something clears in Hook's eyes and he focuses on Orange's face, blanching. "Shit, sorry," he mumbles, loosening his grip on Orange's jacket, smoothing his hands down Orange's chest. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," Orange says. "I'm fine. Are you?"

"Fine," Hook says, turning to look back down the hall, still waiting, still determined one way or another to see this through.

"Hook," Orange says, reaching out for him. "The show's almost over. No one's coming."

"They might," he mumbles. "I can't leave until I know-"

Orange exhales, pushing himself away from the wall. Turning his attention onto the camera crew, who are looking very weary of standing here for however long Hook's commandeered them, he says, "Guys, you can go. We're done here."

They scamper quickly back the way they came, and Hook spins around, a scandalized look on his face. "Hey!" he snaps, but the crew is already out of sight. "Why did you do that?" he demands, staring at Orange. "If something happens-"

Orange rests his hands on Hook's shoulders and stares into his face. "Nothing's going to happen, Hook. The main event is wrapping up right now. No one's coming. You've done all you can tonight. Come on, baby. I'm worried about you, hanging out alone in these hallways, confronting everyone who dares to walk by. It's just asking for trouble."

"Of course it is! Do you think I've been standing here all night expecting something good to happen?" Hook demands. "I want trouble, I want those assholes to come after me too. I want to destroy all of them. I thought you understood that."

"I did," Orange says. "I do. But the way you feel about Taz getting attacked is how I'd feel if something happens to you. You get that, right? Especially so soon after your eye injuries?"

Hook's shoulders slump under Orange's hands. "I guess," he mumbles. "But I don't know what else to do. No one knows anything, or will tell me if they do, I'm back at square one. And I can't let it go, not after... not after everything this summer. I don't have anything left. The FTW title is gone, Dad's going to be recovering for who knows how long, and I-"

Orange moves his hands, cradling Hook's face, staring into his eyes. "You have me," he says. "You have the rest of the Conglomeration. We're here for you. Please let us help you. Please."

Hook exhales shakily, searching Orange's face. "Fine," he says softly. "I'll try. You know it's not my strong suit. I... I'm used to handling business on my own."

Orange nods. "I do. Yes, I know that. But we've always kind of blurred those lines, and everything's worked out so far, so why stop now." He rubs Hook's knuckles. "Please, come with me. The show's all but over. Let's go get some sleep at the hotel. We'll fly home early and check in on Taz. See how badly he's tormenting his nurses. Huh? That alright?"

Hook rubs at his face, looking helplessly around the hallway. "This was supposed to be it," he mumbles. "I was supposed to finally get answers... but here I am failing my dad yet again. Fuck."

Orange pulls Hook in and hugs him, tangling his fingers in Hook's curls slipping out from the edges of his beanie. "You listen to me, you're not a failure. And you know Taz would be telling you this exact same thing. You're trying your hardest to get answers, no matter how risky it may be. He knows this. I know this. Everyone knows this. Besides, it was one night. I know you, you're not going to give up. You'll figure it out, one way or another. And I'll do all I can to help you find answers in the meanwhile."

Hook exhales, resting his forehead against Orange's. "I don't know what I did to deserve you," he mumbles.

"Just being you was enough," Orange tells him. Hook scoffs, about to say something, but Orange presses a finger to Hook's lips, shaking his head solemnly. "If you say something insulting the man I love, I'm going to call your mother right now and get her opinion on what we've been talking about."

Hook groans. "You're an evil man."

Orange smiles at him. "Only when I need to be."

Hook rolls his eyes, then leans into him. "I love you."

Orange wraps an arm around him, holding him close. "I love you too."

Hook sighs, casting one last, longing glance down the hall, as if now would be the moment when the cause of his latest nightmare would appear and he could finally just deal with it and move on. "Let's get out of here," he says. "I'm sick of staring at these walls."

Orange feels a rush of relief. "Yessir," he says, kissing the side of Hook's face. "Let's go." Lacing their hands together, they walk side by side out of the arena. Orange pauses at the car and looks over it at Hook. "You're going to do all of that again at Wrestle Dream, aren't you?"

"If I have to," Hook says.

Orange grimaces. Not really a surprise, but still. He sighs. At least I don't have a match that night so I can be there for him, he thinks, unlocking the car and sliding into the driver's seat.

"But I remember what you said," Hook murmurs once he's settled in the passenger's side. "If I need help with anything, I'll let you know."

Orange stares at him, surprised. "Alright," he says. "I'll always have your back. You know that."

Hook nods, lips twitching up faintly. "Yeah. And same. Whatever you need."

Orange reaches over and squeezes his hand, before pulling out of the parking lot, eager to get to the hotel so they can get some sleep.