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Yuta forgot his boots.
They’re at home most likely.
Well, wherever home is now.
He and Bryan setup shop in a hotel in Chicago. Yuta didn’t think that Bryan could withstand the plane ride back to Claudio’s.
And he thinks that he would internally combust if he went back there right now.
It’s all too much.
To be honest, he didn’t want to be wrestling tonight either. Bryan had to practically drag him out of bed and shove him out the door.
He didn’t want to leave him alone.
What’s stopping Mox and the others from showing up and trying to murder him again?
So that’s where Yuta currently finds himself- wandering the halls of the arena looking for a pair of boots his size and mulling over his worries.
He just turned a corner when a voice shouts his name.
“Yuta!” The person says and he turns around, vaguely recognizing her from wardrobe. “I heard you were looking for boots. I found these stashed away in a crate.”
She extends her arm and Yuta swears that he feels like he’s been stabbed through the heart.
They were his BCC boots from when he first joined.
“Thank you.” He tries to smile and takes the boots gratefully.
Yuta continues his way back to the locker room, hoping to shake the dark cloud that has been following him.
— — —
That was awful.
He tried so hard to put on something decent for the fans.
But for a majority of the match, he was unable to complete basic maneuvers.
Things that have been ingrained in him since day one.
Day one.
And he couldn’t even do that.
Yuta knows that something must’ve changed at some point- considering that he won the match.
Anthony Henry mentioned Bryan and he just saw red.
He looks behind himself to make sure that nobody is following him and ducks into an empty locker room.
Or so he thought.
Yuta lets the door click shut and sighs, not yet seeing the figures moving behind him.
“Yoots?”
He freezes, very tempted to run out the door and take off down the hall.
Yuta turns around slowly, taking a deep breath.
Chuck and Orange were sitting on one of the benches in the back of the room, the lights slightly dimmed.
No wonder he didn’t see them.
Chuck seems to sense the gravity of the situation and stands, approaching slowly. “I saw what happened last week. Are you alright?”
Involuntarily, Yuta backs into the wall- his heart beating fast and his breathing even faster.
Chuck’s eyes widen and he stops in his tracks.
Orange is at his side in an instant.
“Wheeler, c’mon- it’s just us.” Orange speaks, removing his sunglasses and placing them in his front jacket pocket. “You’re safe here.”
Yuta knows that.
God, does he know that.
But his brain just won’t-
“You’re safe.” Chuck repeats. “Look at us. Try to copy our breathing. Remember how we used to do that? Just look.”
“Mox and Claudio loved us.” Yuta chokes out, still keeping his distance. “You love me… after- after everything. How do I know that you guys aren’t going to do the same?”
If Yuta didn’t know that you could break somebody’s heart without laying a single hand on them before- he certainly does now.
He can see it in Chuck and Orange’s eyes.
“Yuta, how long have we known each other?” Chuck says, taking a cautious step forward.
“Years. Almost too long to remember.”
Chuck smiles. “And how much shit have we been through together?”
“A-a lot…”
“Exactly. We’ve never turned on each other. Not once.” Chuck reaches out and takes Yuta’s hand carefully.
“That’s not-”
“You grew up.” Orange interrupts, taking hold of Yuta’s other hand. “Could the transition have gone a little smoother? Sure. But you did what was best for you. And we’re proud of you for doing that.”
“Yeah.” Yuta smiles sadly, the tears that were gathering in his eyes now spill over. “And where did that get me?”
Chuck was the one to move first, pulling him into one of the tightest and most comforting hugs Yuta’s experienced in his life. Nothing is said between the three of them for a few blissful moments.
“You and Bryan will make it through this.” Orange was the one who finally broke the silence. “It might not seem like it now- but you will.”
Yuta pulls away a bit and Chuck lets go. “I just- I don’t understand… It’s like I don’t even recognize them anymore.”
“People change. And sometimes it’s not for the better.” Chuck smiles a bit and smooths back Yuta’s hair. “Maybe you’re just seeing them for who they really are.”
The words don’t heal his broken heart but they sure do lift a weight off of his shoulders.
“Where are you staying?” Orange asks.
“A hotel in Chicago.” Yuta sighs, looking away. “I didn’t want Bryan to fly. And I couldn’t even bring myself to think about going home.”
“Stay with us.” Orange blurts out with zero hesitation. “We have a spare bedroom.”
Yuta’s eyes widen. “Are you sure? You guys and Bryan haven’t exactly-”
“We’re sure.” Chuck speaks up. “We wouldn’t have offered if we weren’t.”
“I’ll go with you to pack up yours and Bryan’s stuff from Claudio’s.” Orange says, placing his sunglasses back onto his face. “Just tell me when you’re ready.”
“I love you guys.” Yuta wipes at his face, hoping to catch stray tears. “I don’t know if I've told you that.”
“Yeah, we know.”