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ONE!
No-
TWO!
No!-
THREE!
The bell rings, nearly inaudible under the roar of the crowd and the rush of blood in Roman's ears. Get up, he tells himself, unable to get his limbs to work. He can't tell if he's genuinely injured, or if the shock of being pinned by Jimmy has momentarily paralyzed him.
Jimmy, who he had been told literally an hour before the match, was still in the hospital, recovering. Jimmy, who stared down at him with dark, angry eyes.
No.
Hate-filled eyes.
It wasn't the first time Roman had seen that expression on an opponents' face. Hell, it wasn't even the first time he'd seen it from his own family. But the expression on Jimmy's, added in with the sting of betrayal of Solo walking out from ringside, barely a glance back at his cousin as Jey attacked him early in the match... The slap in the face that came from Paul setting his belts - his titles - down on the filthy floor and escaping, waddling as far away from the losing side as fast he possibly could.
Jimmy is hauled off of Roman by a ref, a swarm of them descending on the cousins. Clearly trying to separate the Usos from Roman, so the Tribal- the former Tribal Chief can catch his breath. He sits up slowly, his body finally responding to his brain's demands. He stares at the Usos, Jey and Jimmy embracing, the two brothers hugging as the crowd chants their names. Roman looks back at the commentary desk, and finds no friends there either. He can only imagine what they're saying about him, about the Great Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief, finally tasting defeat.
Roman's stomach churns and he buries his face in his hands. He needs to get out of here.
He hears shouting, chanting, cheering and looks up. Jimmy is standing with the Ula Fala in his hands, holding it high for the audience to bask in. Roman's eyes go wide as he turns to Jey, who bows his head, failing to keep the smug smile off his face as his twin places it around his shoulders.
The crowd goes nuclear. Chants of "You Deserve It" and the Usos' names threaten to deafen Roman. Jey shoulders the belt - Roman's belt - and both brothers turn to face him, smiles falling off their faces.
Roman is bleeding, he can feel it running down his chin. His body aches with the beating he took from both Uso brothers and he wants nothing more than to slip out of the ring and escape up the ramp. He can't take the crowd, can't take the hatred in the eyes of his cousins, can't take the vitriol from the crowd.
Jimmy and Jey begin to approach him. Slowly. It's horrible, almost teasing him with escape. For the first time, he feels like a prey animal.
For the first time in a long time, Roman is alone.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on."
If the crowd went nuclear earlier, it goes ten times that when the familiar voice fills the arena. Roman feels like his day just got a lot worse.
Seth Rollins stands atop the ramp, still in his ring gear. A bandage is wrapped around his chest and shoulder from his earlier match against Finn Bálor. Roman shifts uneasily, not liking how both Usos refused to take their eyes off of him.
Did they plan this? Call on Seth to be one last slap in the face, one last nail in the Tribal Chief's coffin?
Roman scowls. Seth lost to Finn tonight (who then went on to get challenged by Señor Money in the Bank himself. It seemed loyalty had always been in short supply in this company); Roman would bet good money that this was a pride situation for Seth, making himself feel better after a devastating loss. And what better way to lick your wounds than to spit in someone else's?
Seth stands atop the ramp. He looks confident, but there's a stiff line to his shoulders that Roman hates himself for recognizing. Jey finally takes his eyes off Roman and motions for a mic, turning to face Seth. Roman considers rolling and running, but Jimmy's eyes are still burning into him.
"What do you want, Rollins? This ain't your fight, man."
Seth smiles wide. It's strange to see him without all the glitter and over the top outfits - just plain black tights and his boots. Roman hates himself for thinking of the old days. "Listen, I'm always ready to watch someone like the Tribal Chief get humbled." The crowd cheers. Seth's smile gets a tiny bit tighter.
Jimmy laughs, Jey echoing his sentiments. "What, you want in on this? Maybe you can have him after. Or it can be a losers' fight on Monday Night."
The crowd ooo's. Roman can't even bring himself to grin at the salt in Seth's wounds when his own are stinging just as harshly.
Seth looks unimpressed. "Nah. I just figured it wasn't a very fair fight."
Jimmy and Jey both go very stiff. Roman freezes, looking past his cousins at Seth in disbelief. There's no way he's suggesting-
Jey recovers first, forcing a laugh. "What, you think we need your help? Three on one is more fair?"
Roman's heart sinks. Of course that's what Seth was suggesting. This wasn't planned - Seth just wanted an ego boost. Kicking him when he was down. An easy match in front of the biggest crowd besides Wrestlemania. His back stings with the old feeling of steel in his spine. He closes his eyes and lets his head fall back against the ring rope. Maybe they would be quick about it.
Jey's voice rings out again. "Look, if you're so worried that the ex-Tribal Chief could beat the both of us, we'll just invite our blood back out here. This is a family matter, Rollins."
The crowd shouts, and Roman can just barely hear Jimmy shouting "Take your ball and go home, Seth!" over it.
"A family matter, huh?" Seth says, and the audible smile in his voice makes Roman crack his eye open. "Well I see no reason for me to leave then."
"You deaf, Seth? Family matter. You ain't family," Jey says, stepping closer to the ring rope. Roman is so used to hearing the venom in Jey's voice aimed at him that it startles him to hear it aimed at anyone else. "You'd better get out of here, or we'll turn this into a two-on-one match against you."
Seth laughs, his actual laugh, not the grating, annoying in-ring laugh. Roman sits up straighter. Seth seems to look right at him, grinning. "You're right. A two-on-one match, Usos versus Seth Freakin' Rollins would be fun to watch, huh Detroit?"
The crowd roars its approval, Seth's grin growing wider. Jey shifts uneasily, Jimmy shooting him a glance. Roman is as clueless as they are, unsure of where he's going with this. "Too bad it would be insanely uneven. I mean, I should get a partner, right?"
The crowd is mixed, but those in agreement with Seth are the loudest and he laughs his real laugh again. "I'm glad you agree, Detroit."
Jay turns to face Roman again. "You hear that, uce? Seth wants you as his partner. So we can beat both of your asses, really embarrass you in front of everybody."
"Now hold on-" Seth looks downright gleeful, and Roman realizes the situation, even if his cousins haven't.
Seth plays human chess like it's going out of style. He is 3 moves ahead of everyone at all times. Roman loved this about him at one point.
The Usos have walked directly into his trap.
"-I brought my own partner, boys. I hope it's alright with you, I just can't say no to him."
Jey opens his mouth to speak when a song fills the arena. A song that Roman can't comprehend.
He knows this song, of course. Has heard it every Wednesday for the past however long, whenever he can tune in. Hums along to it in the car, ignoring the ache in his chest. But... That song doesn't belong in the WWE. The man it's attached to left long ago, taking a piece of Roman's soul with him.
WILD THING!
Roman whips his head around, hearing the gasps and cheers from the audience behind him. Everyone is on their feet, screaming and finally, Roman spots him, making his way through the crowd.
YOU MAKE MY HEART SING!
Jon Moxley looks... Good. Too good to be true, in fact. Leather jacket concealing his broad shoulders and the thick, corded muscle of his arms, black tank top hugging the strong muscle and fat of his torso, black tactical pants - and God isn't that just one more slap in Roman's face. In front of him, one brother who stabbed him in the back. Who laughed in his face. Who entered their fight wearing their old uniform, who mocked everything Roman had ever loved with a cruelty that still hurt, even after everything he had done. And now behind him, hopping the barricade easily, practiced, his other brother looking like a dream come true.
Seth tosses his mic and sprints down the ramp at the same time Mox climbs onto the ring apron, tossing his jacket behind him and cracking his knuckles.
Jey and Jimmy share a glance, and the second Seth's feet touch the ring apron, they're dropping and rolling out of the ring, brandishing the belt and waving to Seth and Jon, standing in the ring shouting at them to come back and fight, cowards! Roman watches his brothers shout at his cousins, feeling more dazed than he was taking repeated kicks to the head. The Usos make their way up the ramp and disappear, and Wild Thing echoes around the arena again, harder to hear this time from the 20x the sound of a nuclear blast sound of the crowd.
Seth elbows Mox who punches his arm right back, the two laughing, much easier than Roman ever would - or could. They turn to look at him, and Roman suddenly wants to flee. To hide. To be seen by thousands of people when he loses? Fine. No skin off his back. They'll boo him anyways. But to be seen by his brothers, he feels naked - laid bare, stripped raw in front of them. Every mistake he made, every promise he broke, every failure he had rises up in his throat and he feels like he's choking.
Strong hands grip his arms, and he's slowly hauled to his feet. The crowd sounds muted now, and he feels the scratchy bandages from Seth's shoulder tickling under one arm. On the other side, the firm, always solid shoulders of Mox hold him up. His brothers, supporting him.
He wants to throw up.
The walk out of the ring and up the ramp is a blur. He focuses on the quiet words from Mox, focuses on the feeling of Seth pressing into his side. The ache in his body becomes stronger with every step, and he can't tell if its legitimate injury or his inner turmoil manifesting itself as physical pain. Whatever it is, it makes him close his eyes and hope his brothers just leave him in a corner somewhere.
"You with us, big dog?"
"Here, hold him. I got the door-"
"I got him, I got him-"
"C'mon Ro, inside. Lets get you comfortable."
Roman opens his eyes when the back of his knees hit something solid. They're in his locker room, Mox is gently lowering him to sit on the bench as Seth pulls his bag from the shelf. Mox pushes Roman's hair out of his eyes. "You with us?"
Roman nods, Mox smiling in response. It fills roman's gut with acid. Seth sets his bag next to him, wincing as he extends the bandaged arm.
Mox notices. Because of course he does. "You okay, man?"
Seth shrugs, mostly with the uninjured shoulder. "I will be. Kinda ran out of medical when I saw what was going on."
Mox raises an eyebrow. "And you get on my ass for being reckless."
"I don't bleed every single match, Moxley."
The bickering, the fondness, the worry from Mox - it's all too much. Too familiar. Too much of an echo of the old days - before the bloodline, before repeated betrayals, before Roman needed to be anything besides "The Muscle". It's stifling, and he desperately wants to leave, to be alone.
But the fear of being alone turns his blood to ice.
So he sits on the bench, reaching for his bag and taking out his post-match clothes as Mox steps over to look at Seth's shoulder.
"You playin' doctor now, Jon?" Seth teases. Mox makes a big show of rolling his eyes.
"You got your shit?"
Seth shakes his head. "Still in my locker room. I was gonna grab it on the way to get a medic for Ro."
Roman flinches. "I don't need a medic," he says, voice rough from disuse.
The other two men give him a Look. Roman refuses to meet their eyes. "I'm fine. I don't need a medic, and I certainly don't need you."
Seth inhales sharply through his nose and looks like he's going to say something when Mox places a hand on his side, placating him. "Seth, go grab your bag. And get someone to check that arm out."
Seth's mouth turns into a straight line, but he nods, stiffly. With one last look at Roman, he exist the locker room. Mox waits until the door clicks shut before sitting on the bench across from Roman's. "Okay. Let it out."
"Let what out?"
Mox shakes his head. "I know you Roman. I've known you better than anyone else in this company. You got a lot on your shoulders, and I ain't talkin' about just this Bloodline crap."
Roman stiffens. "You've been watching?"
Mox snorts. "Course I have. You think I'd ignore my brother becoming the baddest man in the game? Just because I say I don't wanna be compared to you don't mean I don't keep up."
Roman feels bile rise in his throat. "So you've seen... All of it."
Mox nods slowly, arms dropping from where they were crossed over his chest. He leans forward on the bench.
One of the things Roman loves about Jon is that Jon will never look at anyone with pity. Even vomit soaked bums outside of the bars they used to go to, Mox looked at them like he did anyone else. Even now, at Roman's lowest possibly moment, there's not a trace of pity in those blue eyes.
"Yeah. I've seen all of it."
Roman swallows, with great difficulty. He appreciates Mox giving him space, but a part of him feels like the 4 feet between the benches is the length of an ocean. He remembers how it felt to be held by Jon, to be pressed against each other so tightly, you can't tell where your body starts and ends.
"I've burned every bridge I possibly could have, huh."
Mox snorts. "You think you burned bridges? You should have seen people's faces when Seth was walking me to my seat earlier. And when he took me running backstage before we came out. I was expecting Vince McMahon to jump out at any second and get me to run a hot dog cart down the ramp."
Roman chuckles, the sound and sensation startling him. He stares at his hands, trying to stop them from shaking. "So, Seth got you a seat?"
Mox shrugs. "I was gonna watch anyways. Seth offered to get me a box. Living the high life, not like the old days, huh?"
A spark of jealousy stabs at his heart. "You and Seth have been talking then?"
"Yeah," Mox says, carelessly. Roman's heart clenches. "Hey. C'mon. Don't do that."
"Don't do what?"
"Don't act like Seth is still our enemy."
Roman laughs again, this time it's hollow. Humorless. "Well of course he's not your enemy anymore. You left. He's been tormenting me ever since. He came out to the SHIELD theme - in our gear!"
Mox leans back, frowning. "Man, I forgot that you hold grudges 'til they tear you apart." He sighs. "Seth and I figured out our shit years ago. We fought in the ring, outside the ring. We talked it out in between bouts of extreme violence." Roman's lips twitch without his consent. Mox sounds a bit smug as he continues, "'sides. You and I kept contact for a while."
Roman shifts uncomfortably. "Look, Jon-"
Mox stands. He looks tired. "I'm not here to fight with you, Ro."
"Then why are you here?" He doesn't mean to sound so angry, doesn't mean to stagger to his feet and get close to Jon. To tower over his brother and stare him down. This isn't what Roman Reigns would do. This is what the Tribal Chief would do. Roman feels the weight in his stomach get heavier.
Mox stares him right back down. "That's up to you," he says.
They glare at each other for a moment too long, and Roman is the one to look away. "I'm gonna shower," he says, snatching up his bag and clothes and storming off into the bathroom area of the locker room.
Behind him, he hears Mox sigh. He forces himself not to look back.
Roman steps out of the shower and quickly towels off. He hears the murmur of conversation from the locker room and hates how his heart softens at the realization that his brothers didn't leave. He combs through his hair and pulls on a pair of underwear and sweats. He drapes the towel around his shoulders and packs his shower stuff and sweaty ring gear into his bag, before walking barefoot into the locker room.
Seth is sitting on the bench Roman vacated, wearing black skinny jeans and a t-shirt of some band Roman's never heard of. His wet hair is pulled back into a bun, and he's mid sentence as Jon stands behind him, checking the bandage under his sleeve. Jon's jacket is sitting next to Seth's bag. If Roman closes his eyes, he can imagine it. Seth with a blonde streak, Jon without a beard and a different name. No Bloodline, no titles, no other company. Just the three of them, about to get in their shitty rental car to drive to a house show.
He can practically hear Seth complaining about Dean's music choices in the car, Dean begging to stop at every McDonalds they pass on the highway. His heart clenches as he tunes back in, opening his eyes.
"-and she wishes she could be here, but her friend had been planning it for months and-" Jon shrugs, rolling Seth's sleeve back down. "I don't know. She deserves a girl's trip with her friends, y'know? No wrestling talk."
Seth laughs. "That's too bad. I know Becky would have loved to catch up with her."
"What's she up to tonight anyways?"
"A few of her friends are in town tonight to watch the show. Getting drinks with them now, I'm sure. I was invited but-" Seth shrugs. "Y'know."
Roman feels guilt mix with the weight in the pit of his stomach. He clears his throat, both men looking over at him. "You guys don't have to stick around. You can go get drinks with your wife, Seth."
"I can get drinks with my wife anytime, man. That's the cool part about being married." Jon laughs, trying to cover it with his hand. Seth continues, "I told her I'd rather hang out with you guys tonight. She's cool with it."
"Renee says hi, by the way," Jon says. "She misses you guys."
"Does she now?" Seth asks, turning back to face Jon. "They not treating her right in AEW?"
Jon smacks the back of his head, Seth cackling. "She misses you and Roman, not the WWE."
Roman watches them bicker, unsure of himself. He's had a very impressive track record of chasing off everyone he's ever cared about. He's not sure if he can deal with doing it for the second time with these two. "Look, I-"
Both of their attentions snap back to him, and Roman shifts uncomfortably. "I-"
"Whoa, hey, c'mere big guy. It's okay." Jon steps forward and puts two warm hands on his bare shoulders, guiding him to sit down next to Seth. Seth reaches and Roman flinches on instinct, but Seth continues, until he's brushing his fingertips against skin and oh, would you look at that. Roman's crying. He does that a lot, these days.
"Roman, I'm gonna hug you now." Seth says, and normally Roman would laugh at the tone, the way he's talking, like he's a scared animal. But he truly feels like one, and appreciates the warning before Seth wraps his arms around Roman, pulling his head until he's resting on Seth's shoulder. He shifts to hide his face in Seth's neck.
He feels Jon sit next to him, his hands on his bare skin. Rubbing smooth circles, stroking over his skin much more gently than Roman deserves.
"I just-" His voice cracks. He tries again. "I wanted to protect my family. Keep them safe."
"We know," Jon says. He's so understanding. Sounds like he really does know. It infuriates Roman.
"You don't know. You don't know what it's like to have a whole family's legacy resting on your shoulders. To be forced to be someone you hate. Someone you don't wanna be." Roman sits straight up, then stands, pacing as Seth and Jon watch. "Forced to be strong when everyone fucking hates you."
"Ro-"
Roman yanks his arm away, glaring at Jon. "Don't."
Jon pulls his own hand back, putting both of them up in surrender. He looks tired again. "Like I said, I'm not here to fight with you."
"What are you here for then? Fucking- SHIELD reunion? To feel better than us because you made it out unscathed, made it to the other company where you don't have to take on the world like I did? Why, Jon?"
Jon frowns deeply. "You want to ask me why I left."
Roman reels back, like he's been slapped. "I know why you left. You were hurt. You were ignored."
Jon shakes his head. "Not why I left the WWE. Why I left you."
Roman opens his mouth and closes it. Seth stands too, looking between them, unsure. Jon doesn't back down, keeps looking straight into Roman's eyes. "When I left, I didn't mean to leave you, Roman. Or Seth. I thought we could still stay-" he waves his hand and Roman Gets It. Because there wasn't a word for the three of them. There wasn't an easy way to explain the camaraderie, the love, the hatred they all had for each other. The hurt feelings, the loyalty, the unconditional support they would always have. Or so Roman thought.
"But it got hard," Jon says. "I stopped drinking. We traveled to different places. We were in different time zones. You and Seth started fighting again. You took on responsibility you didn't need to be burdened with. You stopped answering your phone. And eventually, I just stopped texting."
"But you didn't stop texting Seth," Roman points out.
Jon tilts his head. "Every once in a while. Checking in. Talking about the girls. Catching up about Renee and Becky. Busting his balls about his outfits." He turns to Seth. "Seriously man, you need to stop raiding your wife's closet."
Seth shrugs, trying to smile but still looking uneasy. Usually it works, Jon defusing things with a joke. But Roman is licking his wounds from earlier, still feeling the snap of the double kick from the Usos. Still feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
And isn't that funny. Trying to carry the weight of the world was what started all of this shit. But instead of his shoulders, it all weighed on Seth. And instead of talking about it, Seth chose to leave. Chose to betray them. Roman feels where the chair hit his back like it just happened that very night instead of nearly ten years ago.
Jon's still talking. "I'm sorry. For what it's worth. But this-" he waves his hand around again- "is a two way street. Three way. Whatever. You gotta give us something, man."
Roman wants to give him a piece of his mind, wants to yell at him, wants to turn to Seth and shake him violently until he stops staring at him like he used to, and stares at him with the gleeful vitriol he was used to from this new, current Seth.
Instead, he opens his mouth and says, "I don't want you to hate me."
Seth's face crumbles and Jon looks heartbroken. "Oh, Roman-"
And that does it. Roman sinks to the bench and buries his face in his hands, tears falling freely now. He hates what he's become, hates the weight of the world. Hates that what turned Seth against them years ago was the very thing threatening to tear him apart.
All of this started because Seth turned on them, and unlike Jon, Roman never got to heal.
Two pairs of arms wrap around him, and that just makes him cry harder. Jon is whispering soothing things against his hair, running his hands up and down his back while Seth just rests his head against Roman's shoulder.
"For what it's worth," Seth says. "I am sorry. I know I've said that a lot, and I haven't... Haven't always meant it. But I do mean it. I'll always love you, Roman."
Jon presses a kiss into Roman's hair, and if that isn't the most heartwrenchingly familiar thing Roman's felt in a long time. "He knows we can't forgive him, Ro. Not fully. He knows that."
"And I accept that," Seth says quietly. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I just- I don't know. All I can do is say sorry."
"And be better," Jon says pointedly.
"And be better," Seth repeats, and to his credit, does sound sincere.
But Roman wasn't about having friends anymore. Forgiveness in the past, team-ups and reunions in the past aside - The Tribal Chief demands absolute loyalty. And Seth was the first real betrayal he ever felt.
"I don't know how to forgive you," Roman says, pulling his hands from his face. He stares at his shaking fingers. "I love you. And you'll always be my brothers. But I don't know how to forgive Seth for what he did, or Jon for leaving."
Silence.
Roman fears he fucked this up. He is about to apologize when he feels Seth press a kiss to his shoulder. "You don't have to forgive us."
"Wh-"
Jon interrupts. "We stepped up tonight to save you from your cousins brutalizing you. We didn't do it to have you owe us or some shit."
"No debts between us, Ro. Remember?"
Roman remembers, but that was a lifetime ago. "I-"
Seth runs a hand down Roman's side, wincing visibly at the bruises. "I'm just sorry we didn't get there sooner."
Jon snorts. "You think we could've approached the ring during that match? What, and get the McMahon's snipers to take us out in the meantime?"
That startles a laugh out of Roman. Jon and Seth look pleased. "I- Today has been a lot."
"Yes, it has," Jon says politely while Seth snorts at the understatement.
Roman continues. "I have... Nothing. No title, no family, no backup. My cousin is the Tribal Chief now. And I'm... just Roman. I guess."
"Just Roman is still a pretty cool guy, in my book," Jon says, hooking his chin over Roman's shoulder, arms wrapped around his chest.
"And you have nothing? Cool, me too," Seth says, rolling his eyes. "Finn took care of that. I'm just glad the Judgement Day is also falling down in flames."
"Guess you burned it do-" Jon starts, then ends with a cackle as Seth goes to smack him.
"As I was saying-" Seth says, but his fond smile matches Roman's, and Jon's pleased grin is making Roman feel less bad about his shuddering breathing. "We got nothing. We're back where we started."
Roman fake shudders. "No turtlenecks, please."
Seth cackles and even Jon laughs at that. Roman wipes his face, smiling a bit wider. Seth takes his hand. "I know you don't trust me. And for good reason. I've given you no reason to. But... I love you. You're my brother, and you always will be. And we both have the same goal."
"To climb back to the top?"
"Take no fucking prisoners," Seth offers his fist and Roman bumps it.
Jon hums happily against Roman's shoulder. "My work here is done. Friendship wins. Even if it's the worst two bastards in the WWE becoming friends again."
Roman's heart sinks. "Oh, right. You-"
Jon presses an apologetic kiss to Roman's shoulder. "Sorry, Ro. I pulled a favor with Tony to even be able to get here. You don't wanna know what Seth and I had to do to get me in that ring tonight."
"Lots of threats," Seth says breezily, and Roman can't tell if he's joking or not.
Jon continues. "Believe me, I'd be in that ring every fucking night with you guys if I could. Some of the best nights I ever had were with you guys in the squared circle."
"And the hotel rooms afterwards," Roman says without thinking. Seth laughs, surprised and pleased, and Jon pinches his thigh.
"Don't be cheeky."
Roman leans his head onto Jon's, who brings his hand up to card through Roman's hair. "I'll watch your matches. Cheer you on."
"We'll do the same," Seth says. "And we can meet up when we have similar cities. I think we'll be in Texas around the same time-"
Roman lets their conversation drone around him as he relaxes against his brothers. He hadn't realized how much he missed this, how much he missed being around other people. No secrets, no intimidation and manipulation and gaslighting. No abuse. Just Roman being held by two people who genuinely cared for him as a person, not for what he could do for them.
In Jon's case anyways. Old habits died hard when it came to Seth.
"You with us, Ro?" Seth is asking, hand cupping Roman's face.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"Wanna share with the class?" Jon asks, rubbing his beard against Roman's shoulder in a way that sends a shiver up his spine.
"I-" He feels kind of childish for asking. "Will you guys stay with me tonight? Not to do... anything. Just- I don't want to be alone."
Seth tilts his chin up, so Roman can meet his eyes. "Of course. I have to let Becky know, but she'll be cool with it."
Jon shrugs. "I can cancel my hotel. It was a shitty cheap one anyways."
"You can afford nicer, Mox," Seth reminds him. Mox reaches over and pinches his thigh, Roman and Mox both smirking at Seth's yelp.
"I just need a bed, four walls, a roof, and a door that locks. I ain't picky."
"How many times have you gotten bedbugs?" Roman asks.
Jon bites his shoulder in retaliation. "You sound like my wife."
"Well I was your road wife for many years," Roman reminds him. Seth is doubled over laughing. Roman feels very warm and very comfortable.
Which of course, is when there's a knock at the door.
Immediately they separate. Just because the three of them and their wives are cool with it, doesn't mean everyone in the company is. Seth stands and opens the door, letting in someone for the medical team. She greets them and immediately descends on Roman, Jon wisely moving out of the way so she can patch up their boy.
He and Seth lean against the wall, shooting Roman meaningful glances behind the medic's back. Despite being poked and prodded and asked questions he feels like he's answered a thousand times before, he's calm.
After all, as soon as she's done, he gets to go to the hotel and sleep in a real bed.
And be held by his brothers.
And really, that's all he can ask for.