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Even as Cody’s music blared over the loudspeakers, even as the crowd exploded, Seth lay still. The edges of his vest poked at his neck, but that wasn’t what bothered him.
His knee. It felt like someone had taken Triple H’s sledgehammer and Sting’s bat to it. Seth rolled onto his back, the arena swimming in front of him.
He wanted to be in the ring and wanted to celebrate with Cody. When Seth tried to sit up, his entire leg complained. He hissed under his breath.
No. Couldn’t let anyone know something was wrong, this was Cody’s moment. Seth pushed himself up onto his good leg and grabbed the apron, praying no one looked his way.
Just make it to the ring, he told himself. Just get your ass in there and smile in Cody’s general direction. Seth used the ropes to hoist himself up and into the ring. Once he got inside, he sat down on the middle rope and began to massage his knee.
Cena shot a grin in his direction. When Triple H wandered over, Seth forced himself to a standing position. His leg throbbed and the arena dipped in front of him; maybe Cody was saying something, but he couldn’t hear a damn word.
Oddly enough, the person who noticed his pain was Kevin Owens. It happened as the celebration came to a natural end. Seth had the middle rope in a death grip, his bad leg on fire and his good leg shaking like a leaf.
“Seth.” He looked up to find Kevin in his face. “You okay?” Seth cocked his head, unsure what to say. His friend nodded in understanding and gestured to the apron. “Let’s get out of here.”
They slid out of the ring as the cameras remained focused on Cody. Seth wrapped an arm around Kevin’s shoulder and exhaled. A tight hand gripped his back.
“I’ve got you, Seth.” The pair hobbled their way up the ramp. Seth kept his foot close to the ground without actually putting weight on it while Kevin tried to shield him with his body.
To his surprise, Seth waved off the people in guerilla. Kevin took him further down the hall, his hand gripping the younger man’s vest tightly.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Roman,” Seth muttered. “Get me to Roman.” Kevin nodded before resuming their trek, flagging down a staff person on the way.
The tile floors began to swim in front of him. Seth loudly inhaled and tried to fight the growing pain in his body. Kevin whispered something reassuring to him, not that he heard it.
Eventually, they made it to the locker room. Kevin pushed the ajar door open with his foot and there was Roman, talking to Paul Heyman without a care in the world.
“Like I said, man, it was fun.” Roman turned at the sound of Kevin depositing Seth in a chair and instantly blanched. “Shit, what happened?”
“I’m fine,” Seth weakly protested.
“You are not fine!” Roman turned to Kevin and Paul. “Get him some ice at the very least.” They nodded and hurried out of the room to do so.
Ice did seem to help. Paul tried to suggest getting a doctor, only for Seth to shake his head.
“Let the ice do its work,” he muttered. “I’ll let you know if I need anything else.” Roman cracked a grin and shook his head, not saying anything until the locker room door shut.
“You’re a stubborn asshole, you know that?”
“I’m aware.” Seth adjusted the ice pack slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“Eh, it was time.” Roman’s lip curled into a smile, which he didn’t hide fast enough.
“What?”
“I’m just… not used to seeing that gear.”
“Not used to, my ass.” Seth gestured to Roman’s combat boots. “You may be a Tribal Chief now, but you’re still a Hound.”
“Amen to that.” After a moment, Roman checked his watch. “You think Jon’s still awake?”
“Maybe. I don’t know what the hell his sleep schedule’s been like since Nora came into the world.” Roman already had his phone out.
“Let’s wake him up.”
Before placing the video call, Roman turned his chair so Seth wasn’t visible. He got a cheeky thumbs up as the phone rang.
Jon looked jet-lagged, to say the least. Roman nearly giggled at the sight.
“You awake over there, Mox?”
“Barely.” Jon rubbed his eyes with one hand. “The fuck you doing up?” Roman and Seth raised their eyebrows, and then the ginger facepalmed. “Right, Wrestlemania. How’d that go?”
“Well, we’re all on equal footing again.”
“You both fucking lost?” Seth suppressed a laugh, correctly picturing Jon shaking his head. “I leave the country for one day and this happens!”
“I know, I know.” Roman smiled. “But hey, I’ve got a surprise for you.” He turned the camera so Seth was finally visible, iced knee and all. Jon did an overdramatic double-take.
“Shit, Hunter trying to put the band back together already?”
“Nah. We did get to hear the old music, though.” Seth nodded toward the camera. “How have you been, Jon?”
“Oh, you know. Same old same old. What’s with your leg?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“You don’t know yet?!” Roman saw a flash of pain in Seth’s eyes and sighed.
“It might be bad, Jon.” They watched the ginger turn serious.
“Did you hit him with a steel chair, Roman? If you did, I swear to God-”
“My knee was banged up before that,” Seth interjected. “And honestly, I feel better now. I’ve got ice and the two of you.” Roman nodded.
“Very true.” Jon rolled his eyes.
“Get him to the nearest doctor, Roman, or I’ll come through the screen and drag his ass down myself.”
“Love you, Jon!” Seth chirped.
“Love you, too.” Jon went to hang up, then paused. “I miss that gear.”
“Me too.” Seth glanced at Roman. “You feel like reuniting?”
“Let’s see what happens with Cody and your knee first.”