Roman picked up his cell phone and listened to the message Seth sent to him. He sighed out loud, looking at the hotel room wall. The Samoan rubbed his face, all his mind had been consumed with was hoping he would be able to see Joelle. It didn’t hurt him so bad that he was getting the divorce. The whole event was a long time coming, but his daughter? She’s his whole world. He could use the time to relax. The Samoan got himself together with all of his belongings, going all the way to the bar. Upon entering the room, he could see Seth there and he gave him a weak smile. He approached him and gave the male a big tight embrace, once again sighing before pulling away.“Hey man. I’m here….I just need to not think about this. I’m sorry for not textin’ ya, or callin’ ya back or anythin’.’
Seth smiled softly at his friend, knowing that he couldn’t possibly be mad at the older man for not calling or texting. Roman had a lot on his mind, and Seth knew and understood that. He took a drink of his own drink, hitting Roman’s shoulder with his own as the man sat down, trying not to remember the feel of Roman’s arms around him in the hug. “Man, it’s fine, I don’t mind. I’m here for ya, remember that, alright?” Seth responds, ordering a drink for his friend and passing it to him.
“Hey man. Listen, you’ll see her. She’s your baby girl, there’s no way you won’t be able to see her.” There’s a pause here as he chews on his lower lip, knowing that Roman can’t see him but – “And really, I’ll be there to help you see her, okay? So like, don’t worry ‘bout it. But hey, I’m headin’ to the bar right now, if ya wanna meet me there. If not, just text me back. You have my number.”
Ever since the moment that Roman referred to in the back of his mind with Seth as the ‘incident’ the two men have not been on speaking terms. Roman’s been intently focused on going after Rusev. In the back of his mind, the Samoan’s known of Seth’s intent to speak to him. He had this sense about it. He could not bring himself to really say more than two words to the male. Even after Seth leaped off the top of the steel cage to save him, he didn’t say much to him.He walked down the hallway, just when the Samoan was about to put his headphones on his head he could see Seth standing there. He stopped where he stood and looked at the Iowa native. “Hey Seth…..” Roman said softly and breifly pausing. He knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. “You ready for your title match, my man?”
Seth found himself blinking, surprised that Roman decided to bite the bullet and speak first. It shouldn’t surprise him, of course, but he always believed, at least a little, that it would have to be Seth who made the first move. He remains quiet for a little too long before stuttering slightly, running his fingers through his hair. “I’m always ready,” he answers quietly, biting on the inside of his cheek before eyeing the older man.
For the longest time
Roman wanted to get some sort of revenge on his former Shield brother for what
he did simply because he couldn’t believe the younger male would do such a
thing. During their time in the Shield the two men along with Dean Ambrose
dominated the roster, everything was going their way, and just like that in the
blink of an eye Seth ruined it. The
truth was there was still part of him that wanted to hurt the Iowan, but then
that was a part of him that was proud of everything the younger male had accomplished
since the split.
Truth be told he
thought their friendship was over, beyond repair, that was until he heard the
man mention someone having his back. Was it him? All he could think about were
the recent times where the male came out to help him. He stood back watching
everything take place on a monitor backstage, eyes glancing toward the curtain
once Seth stepped toward the back, hands going up slightly at the sound of the
other’s voice. “Ay, man I didn’t say
anything. Calm the hell down.”
There it was again,
that want to be there for the other. But instead of saying anything he remained
silent.
He arches an eyebrow, not expecting that response. It catches him completely off guard, so much so that he opens and closes his mouth a few times before turning his head and beginning to jump on the spot. He’s nervous, something he hasn’t felt in so long, and that’s probably because he doesn’t know what’s going on,or what could happen, and it’s a feeling he’s beginning to hate after pretty much being spoon-fed by The Authority.
“But you were going to right? Say something? Because like, I would deserve it,” he adds, eyes widening slightly before he groans and begins to smack his head against the wall in frustration with himself. After a few moments, he stops, looks back towards Reigns and frowns, wanting to know why the man was still here, not kicking his ass just yet or even walking away in disbelief.
With the ebb and flow of nervous energy going through him, Seth looked around the hall and continued to move his legs, waiting as patiently as he can for an answer, even if it’s one he does want. He can hear the noises of the stadium surrounding them but at the same time, it almost seems more muted than ever, and he can’t help but wonder why, not willing to loo at the older man just yet.
He glares at the older man, crossing his arms in front of him all while trying to ignore the pounding in his chest. He hadn’t meant to say the words that had come out of his mouth while in the ring, hadn’t meant to say that he had someone who had his back. Because he didn’t have someone, and he was perfectly okay with that. But Kevin kept pressing, and Jericho kept laughing, that it just came out and Seth knew if he took it back, he’d be mocked into high hell. And he should have known, of fucking course, that Roman would mock him, would be one of the first to do it.
Not because Roman was mean, not at all, but because Seth deserved it, for everything he had done to his once best friend. But it had taken him by such surprise, maybe because he had just finished thinking about the old days, when he and Roman were best friends, maybe because that’s what had made him say he had someone who had his back – not that he’d ever admit it – that Roman walking up to him, probably to begin mocking him - well, it brought him back to Earth, definitely.
“What?” He snaps, running his hand down his face as he looks towards the Samoan and tries not to let the goosebumps appearing on his upper arms effect him. He knows his question isn’t as harsh as he wants to be, know he’s unnerved and showing some form of weakness, but he’s surprised, it’s allowed, right?
He begins to get impatient, wants to get out of here and hide and act like he didn’t think about his past friendship with Roman and say someone had his back on national television. Wants to hide so he doesn’t have to face Roman, who probably knows, that bastard.
He tilted his head, narrowed his eyes and licked his lips subconsciously as he eyed the man up ahead. He was thankful that said man was up further in the hall, that he wasn’t paying attention to what Seth was looking at. Or that he wasn’t noticing that Seth couldn’t take his eyes off of him. With a frustrated sigh with himself, Seth shook his head and looked down at his phone, wondering if maybe he should finally delete Roman’s phone number from his phone. They haven’t talked in forever, haven’t even hate-talked since Roman became US Champion and focused on his feud with Rusev. Not for lack of trying on Seth’s part, though. He could just never go through it.
“So, Rusev said something interesting, during his promo against you,” Seth says slowly, rocking back and forth on his heels. He hasn’t wanted to bring this up, but if he doesn’t know, his heart’s going to break even further than it already has. He chews on his lower lip for a few moments, hands placed in the pockets of his hoody as he wonders if Rusev was just blowing smoke with his statements. “He said you and –” he pauses here, removing one hand to run the fingers through his hair, “that you were going to be a dad again. To twins.” He blurts out, not looking at Joe, positive that he’s going to confirm it.
“Okay, so it’s been two months and my knee is completely fine, Joe. What I want is simple and easy, and if you say no, i’m walking out of that door and never coming back.” Colby states, coming into Joe’s home easily as he crosses his arms in front of him, eyebrow arched.
Roman slowly lifted his head, his eyes were on the familiar face of Seth who was only a few inches away from him. He was hot and sweaty, just from appearing on RAW, all worked up from arguing with Steph. And all he wanted was to reach out and touch the hand that twisted his whole world. He slowly reached his hand out and he placed it over the other’s, squeezing softly. “ – What’re you thinkin’ about?” He asked.
Seth looked towards the older man and smiled softly. His entire body was hot, and touching Roman didn’t help but at the same time – gave him a soothing feeling in his core. “At the moment, nothing,” he answers softly, stepping even closer to the Samoan and sighing softly. “What about you?”
Roman stood there, his big hands clenched and unclenched at the words that the other spoke to him. He felt … Rather sick to his stomach .. And if he could turn white as a sheet, he was pretty sure he would do so. He was not .. In any way expecting this from the other. He couldn’t cry, he couldn’t show any hint of weakness. He really wanted to yell at the other for leading him on, for making him feel like he was special, only to be treated like trash in the end. Even his best friend Dean told him not to fall for Seth’s tricks, that he was better off with someone else. Roman now knew that he should’ve listened. “ – I can’t believe you,” He breathed weakly.
Seth wanted to scream. His hands curled into fists and clenched at his side. He hated saying the words, hated even thinking about them but he knew that the older man had to believe what he was saying or his family would be screwed. His nostrils flared as he tried to put on his evil persona, tried to not let Roman see that he didn’t mean a word of it. He tilted his head back, thinking deeply before moving it forward with his mouth set in a snarl. “Well, you’re gonna have to Reigns. Every thing we had done was fake. I don’t care about you.” He ends in a growl, heart pounding as he states those lies. Every moment was special, but he couldn’t let Roman know. Not if Roman wanted his cousins on the road.
