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“House rule number one: don't ever go into my room unless I invite you.”
Nathan and Axiom have been friends for a while now but their tag team partnership is still pretty new, so it was decided that Axiom's apartment was going to be the de facto hangout place when they weren't in the performance center. Even when they were technically off the clock, they still needed to do things like watch tapes to learn and strategize if they wanted to go far in the Dusty Cup and beyond. And so the decision came to be — since Axiom had a dog to look after, it made the most sense to meet at his place so he could take care of his canine companion.
His house, his rules and all that– Axiom is within his right to set restrictions, but still this particular rule didn't sit well with Nathan. Weren't they friends? Partners now, even?
“What the hell amigo, you don't trust me?”
“It's not a matter of trust Nathan, it's a matter of privacy.” Axiom says in a neutral tone. And because of the mask he wears, Nathan can't tell what kind of expression he's making.
Nathan still isn't quite buying it. “Are you hiding something from me?” He squints for added suspicion.
“I'll tell you what, you can ask any questions about me or my room and I'll answer honestly.” Axiom barters. “At any time.” He adds.
“Hmmmmm…” Nathan gives the idea some thought. “Alright!” He concedes with enthusiasm. “Tell me, you got any pin up posters on your walls? Is that why you don't want me in there?”
Axiom just chuckles and shakes his head.
—A few months later—
Nathan and Axiom had finally accomplished what they've longed to achieve, it was what had made them team up in the first place. They are now tag team champions. By now Nathan's been to Axiom's apartment so often that the Spaniard’s dog, Gandalf, greets the English man like he would his actual owner. But he's still never gotten to look around Axiom's room. He's taken quick peeks whenever Axiom goes in and out for whatever reason but Axiom always makes sure to keep the door closed when not in use. Despite the jokes and out of pocket questions Nathan has thrown out, from what he can tell, the room looks to be just a regular bedroom.
Still, Nathan can't help but stay curious about the mysterious Spaniard. Axiom doesn't take off his mask even when they're alone!
He doubts the other Spaniard Nathan has befriended, A-Kid, would have been this secretive. Then he thinks about how A-Kid dropped off the face of the Earth to work at the orphanage that El Genérico owns and it makes him sad… they're nearly the same age, how could he just retire so young? He was so athletic, talented, accomplished, handsome… Nathan shakes his head to rid himself of any more thoughts of A-Kid before he embarrasses himself in front of Axiom. God, Axiom… he's practically got the same body as A-Kid, same kind of voice, probably just as handsome– though Axiom is very insistent that he keep his mask on.
“Why don't you take off that mask, amigo?” Nathan asks for the umpteenth time throughout the entire course of their friendship.
They're chilling on Axiom's living room couch, having already watched the tapes for their next title defense and now simply chatting like they always do.
“I already told you Nathan.” Axiom shakes his head. “I have to commit to the bit.” What he doesn't tell Nathan is that there are some perks to keeping it on, namely to hide his expression and blush whenever Nathan does something that stirs his heart… which is a lot of things, considering Axiom is pretty weak when it comes to Nathan. He's just so… smiley when he looks at Axiom, he doesn't think he's ever seen the man smile with any other person as much as he does with him, which does make Axiom feel some sense of accomplishment. Nathan likes him, though he doubts it's to the same level Axiom likes Nathan. After all, Nathan's smiles have been a constant since the beginning of their friendship all the way back in NXT UK.
“Oh come on, aren't we past that already? We're NXT tag champs now! And quickly becoming the best to ever do it, I might add.” Nathan can't help but brag there at the end, feeling proud of the work they're doing.
“We became champs without me showing my face, I think we can retain just as well if I continue to not show it.”
“Man, but I haven't ever seen your face! Isn't that crazy?”
Just before Axiom could interrupt to remind Nathan that he had definitely seen his face, just before he became Axiom, Nathan continues.
“Okay fine! Final offer, you show me your room!” Nathan crosses his arms trying to look tough but the pout on his face ends up making him look…cute, Axiom thinks.
“Nathan–” Axiom wants to rebuke him out of habit, but thinks better of it. They have been partners for some time now, and good ones at that. Nathan does seem peeved that Axiom is so private, but that's just how he is. But Nathan bares so much of himself to Axiom– wearing his heart on his sleeve, that Axiom decides to concede on this one thing.
“Okay fine, but I don't see why you're still so hung up on all that, it's just a regular room.”
Nathan beams, arms raised as he does a little whoop. “Yes! Okay, give me the tour.”
“Tour? Amigo, it's a room .”
Nathan doesn't hear him as he hurriedly runs up to the bedroom door and waits, bouncing on his feet in anticipation.
‘At least he still has the decency to not just barge in.’
“It's really nothing too special Nathan.” But Axiom knows he's falling on deaf ears as he joins Nathan at the door and places a hand on him to stop his bouncing.
“Relax amigo.”
“Alright alright…” Nathan deflates, but as soon as Axiom opens the door, Nathan speeds in and is whipping his head around wildly.
“Nice room you got here amigo– holy shit you got a Heritage Cup in here?”
Nathan zooms to the shelf Axiom has his replica Heritage Cup displayed and grabs it to take a look.
“Yooo, it only has A-Kid's name on here, how did you get this?” Nathan beams.
“Well they–” Axiom tries to explain that NXT UK gave him one for being the first ever Heritage Cup champion, but Nathan again cuts him off.
“Are you an A-Kid fan? You must be, you practically got the same move set as him– he was so good…”
Axiom scoffs, thinking this must be another instance of Nathan pretending he and A-Kid aren't the same person for a laugh, and plays along. “Yeah man, first Spaniard to ever win any type of championship in WWE.”
“God, I miss him, we were real tight…” Nathan trails off, sounding convincingly wistful as he stares at the A-Kid name plate on the cup, Axiom thinks. “Say, can I confess something to you?”
Axiom raises an eyebrow before remembering Nathan can't see his face. “Um, sure?” Nathan is the exact opposite of Axiom in that he is an open book, so Axiom doesn't know what Nathan could possibly have left that could surprise him.
“God, it's kind of embarrassing but I trust you– um, how should I say this…” This is odd, Nathan's never been this flustered sharing any old stories, and Axiom’s heard some real embarrassing stuff about Nathan.
“I used to have a crush on A-Kid.” Nathan says so hurriedly and in such a quiet voice that Axiom almost doesn't quite catch it. But he does, and he can't quite believe what he just heard.
“You– what!?” Axiom is normally not one to be at a loss for words, but he should have known that Nathan Frazer would test his every limit.
“I had a crush on him on NXT UK! I didn't ever tell him– because I didn't know if he swung that way, but yeah.” Nathan sheepishly reiterates.
Axiom feels like he is completely lost here. Is this a joke? Does Nathan genuinely not know he was A-Kid? Nathan can be pretty feather brained at times but there's simply no way, Axiom and A-Kid have the same tattoos for fuck’s sake!
Deciding this must be a joke, for his own sanity, Axiom decides to dig deeper. “Yeah, what did you like about him?” Thinking Nathan is gonna let the joke go, that he doesn't actually like him– A-Kid.
He does not. “I don't know, a lot of things!” Nathan puts the cup back on the shelf and crosses his arms as he visibly thinks to himself. “Um, he has um. A nice body? He’s got a handsome face… hah, a really nice voice…” Nathan doesn't even look to be talking to Axiom anymore, eyes closed as he reminisces on A-Kid, hand on his chin rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
Axiom might actually be going insane. And while he should have expected Nathan Frazer to be the cause of a mental breakdown, he never would have thought it would be under these circumstances. His brain is rapidly trying to compartmentalize this information so he doesn't just snap . One, Nathan actually believes he and A-Kid are separate people, which must make his character work the best in the business if he's fooling a fellow peer and closest friend. Two, Nathan says he had a crush on A-Kid. Past tense. Which means Nathan must have gotten over these feelings. Though from the blush on his face, and the way he's talking about A-Kid all flustered, he may not be as over his crush as he thinks he is. Three, Axiom is in love with quite possibly the dumbest man alive.
“Nathan, you can't be serious.” Axiom starts rubbing his head through the mask, feeling a headache coming on.
“What? Can't a guy have a crush?” Nathan starts to actually look embarrassed now.
Axiom obviously wants to break the news, but given the mental strife Nathan has just inflicted on him, the Spaniard decides to have a little fun with it. “Nathan, you don't think all those qualities A-Kid has are similar to mine?”
Nathan, as Axiom expected, starts to get defensive. “Pffft, no… you two are completely different! You, um…” Axiom can see the gears turning in Nathan's mind as he realizes that there isn't really much difference between Axiom and A-Kid. “You probably have a completely different mug under that mask!” Is what he eventually lands on.
Axiom walks into Nathan's personal space real slow so Nathan could move away if he so chooses. He does not. “...you want to bet on that?” Is all Axiom says.
It must finally hit Nathan because mortification is painted across his entire face, his blush spreading and making him look like a tomato. “Please tell me this is a joke.” Nathan pleads.
“That should be my line.” Axiom retorts, and finally pulls off his mask.
Nathan takes one look at Axiom's face and immediately ducks his head in shame, but Axiom’s close proximity makes it so he just bumps his head on the Spaniard’s chest.
“You're never gonna let me live this down huh?” Nathan mumbles into Axiom's chest.
“Never. It's honestly quite astonishing how far you got thinking we weren't the same guy.” Axiom comments.
“But you–” Nathan suddenly lifts his head and accidentally headbutts Axiom's jaw. Nathan can already hear Vic screaming: ‘Miscommunication!’ in his mind.
“Sorry– but you never said anything! Any time I mentioned how you– Axiom, whatever– weren't in NXT UK or had any talk of A-Kid, you didn't correct me! A-Kid said– you said you were going to work at the orphanage that El Genérico runs!”
Axioms regrets moving in so close and taking off the mask already because Nathan's face is right there. Curse Nathan and his big brown eyes that are staring right into his own.
“Well, I honestly thought you knew, and that you were just acting like you didn't because it's funny.”
Nathan pouts, and God is it cuter up close. “Yeah, I totally would do that kind of thing…” Nathan concedes.
“And that last part about El Genérico was me making my own joke, because everyone knows El Genérico didn't retire and create an orphanage, he just got rebranded to be Sami Zayn.”
“EL GENÉRICO AND SAMI ZAYN ARE THE SAME GUY!?”
“Nathan.” Axiom says with all the exasperation of an exhausted single mom, he can’t believe this man.
Nathan flops face first onto Axiom's bed and groans. “God I can't believe how dumb I can be...” he mumbles into the bed sheets.
“Well–” Axiom certainly can.
Nathan turns his head from where his face is squished into the sheets to interrupt, “Not a word from you.”
Axiom raises his hand in surrender, chuckling. “I would never insult my dear partner.”
Nathan, never one to stay down for long, must have picked up the shattered pieces of his psyche because he switches to sitting on the bed now. Axiom decides to join him and sits right next to him.
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment before Nathan's constant need to fill the air rears its head. “Man, I can't believe I fell in love with you twice.” Nathan confesses, purposefully staring at the wall rather than Axioms face.
Axiom's mind nearly snaps again as he stops breathing for a second. Twice? Twice. So he does still like him, thank God. Lord knows Axiom has liked Nathan for some time too.
But Axiom's brain is still rather used to bantering with Nathan. They've done it for years. So rather than responding to Nathan's confession in earnest and with the gravity appropriate for the situation, Axiom replies with:
“Oh good, I was worried you only liked A-Kid.” Axiom hates himself immediately once the words are out his mouth, realizing too late he's not as clever as he thinks he is. God, they're both stupid, he thinks.
“Oh shut up amigo, is that how you respond to someone confessing their feelings for you?” Nathan's voice doesn't sound like he's genuinely upset. They're right back to friendly banter. Back to familiar territory.
“Don't you mean amor ?”
“What's that? Spanish?” Nathan replies, with that cute confused expression that he always gets when he doesn't understand something.
“Yes, it means love.” Axiom explains, voice trying to be as suave as possible.
It doesn't work. Nathan draws his lips thin as he visibly tries not to laugh. “Maybe that line could have worked better if you still had the mask on.” He says tightly.
Axiom face palms. “We are so bad at this.”
Nathan's laughter finally wins out and he bursts out cackling.
Axiom just watches on, a small smile on his face, glad that someone is getting some enjoyment out of this. “We do need to have a real serious conversation here.”
“Y- you started it!” Nathan points out through giggles.
“I did, though I think I should still find a way to blame you. Like we have been around each other for so long, your unserious nature has spread on me like a disease.” Axiom rubs his temple.
“I'm afraid it's only gonna get worse amig– amor.” Nathan says with a grin, leaning into Axiom’s space to rub it in.
Axiom just smiles at the use of the pet name. “You're so cute.” He admits with ease. It feels good to finally be able to let these types of compliments out.
Axiom thinks for a moment of all the other Spanish terms of endearment he can teach him and immediately vetoes the idea because it would be giving Nathan too much power, he blushes just thinking of hearing those words in Nathan's voice. He would mispronounce a lot of it but it's Nathan so it's bound to wind its way back to endearing.
Nathan for his part, blinks rapidly at the compliment, blushing as he registers the word. “C- cute?” he repeats with a dumbstruck look on his face.
“Yeah.” Axiom smiles, heart full of affection for this silly British man. “I have also fallen in love with you, if that wasn't clear.” he clarifies.
Nathan blinks some more, gears turning in his mind. “Can we kiss?” he blurts out after the processing time is over.
Axiom smiles. “ Sí amor.”
Nathan wastes no time and all but smashes their faces together, arms wrapping around Axiom's neck and clinging on for dear life. Axiom tries to slow down the pace with how he reciprocates but Nathan just continuously peppers his lips with small quick kisses, before moving on and pecking the rest of Axiom's face, causing the Spaniard to giggle.
“So eager.” Axiom teases.
“You have no idea how long and how much I wanted this.” Nathan earnestly replies between kisses.
“Don't underestimate me, amor.” Axiom wraps his arms around Nathan's waist. He's wanted this for so long too.
Axiom grabs Nathan's face and brings him in for a nice long kiss. Nathan does not squeak when Axiom's tongue licks at his lips, provoking another chuckle from him. Nathan retaliates by gently biting his bottom lip, Axiom letting out the smallest of gasps in response.
They spend some time just kissing, each of their arms unmoving from where they're wrapped around each other, each afraid to let go as if the other might disappear. At some point they roll over to lay on the bed proper, Nathan straddling Axiom's hips as they continue to kiss, long hair falling forward and blanketing them both.
Nathan must have a light bulb moment because he suddenly breaks the kiss by sitting up. “Wait, so are we now literal partners?”
Axiom just laughs. “Sure thing, partner.”