Chapter Text
Cash is sitting next to Dax watching the match closely. Cash instantly looks away when the fork is brought out. Dax puts a comforting hand on Cash's shoulder. Dax could tolerate their lover getting hurt more than Cash can.
"Is it over yet?" Cash asks.
"It's over," Dax says. "At least there aren't any glass tubes involved." Cash just looks at him.
"Barbed wire, Dax! Bricks!" Cash yells.
"Okay, okay," Dax says. "You are right. But we're here aren't we?"
"We're here," Cash echoes. They both look over when they hear familiar voices.
"You can stay here and watch," Bryan says. "Best not to crowd the entrance ramp area. I'll see you after the show."
"Good luck, Bryan," Brie says. "Be safe." Bryan just chuckles, kissing her on the forehead.
"I'll try," Bryan says.
"Kick his ass," Nikki says.
"Will do," Bryan says, waving goodbye to them. When Cash turns back to the match, Page is in a submission hold on the barbed wire chair.
"How many wounds are we gonna have to treat?" Cash asks.
"At least we don't have to worry about his legs," Dax says. Cash narrows his eyes at him, scowling. "Hey, just looking for a bright side here."
"I don't know if there is one with this kind of match, Dax," Cash says.
"Hey, guys," Nikki says.
"What a match, huh?" Brie says. "No matter how many matches you watch, you still worry."
"Fucking always," Cash answers. "What…what's he doing now?! That's gonna hurt him just as much as it is going to hurt Mox!" Cash shouts watching Page wrap the barbed wire around his waist.
"I'm starting to think Hangman doesn't care," Dax says. "You remember what he said to us?"
"Win at any cost," Cash says. "This better not be a recurring thing. First with Archer, now this. There's only so much of this I can take."
"You guys just here for the match?" Nikki asks.
"Nah, we're returning tonight," Dax says. "We wanted to be here for this, you know, just in case. He warned us what was coming beforehand, the bricks, the chain."
"Still doesn't make it easier," Cash says bitterly.
"When…when did this relationship start?" Nikki asks.
"Like, almost right when we got here in AEW," Cash says. "Started off as friends, but feelings developed pretty quickly."
"Huh, it's been that long?" Brie asks. "Seems like yesterday when you guys debuted!"
"I think it'll be three years in June," Cash says looking at Dax.
"June 25," Dax says.
"The match is almost over, I'm going to go wait for him," Cash says.
"Hey, now, wait a second," Dax says.
"No, no," Cash says, pointing his finger at Dax. "I'm not fucking waiting. We still got the TNT championship match and the full tag match at that! We got time to sit with him in the trainer's room." Dax just holds his hands up, nodding to signal he is with him.
"I'll meet you in the trainer's room," Dax says. "Sorry we can't stay longer, Cash gets kind of…anxious when worried about Hangman."
"You must really care about him," Brie says.
"Yeah, we love him," Dax says. "It was nice seeing you guys again."
"You too, Harwood," Nikki says.
Cash makes his way to the entrance ramp area. He just couldn't watch any more of the match. What he saw was enough. He loved so much about the younger man, his passion, his drive, his compassion, his humbleness. But he hated just how spontaneous he was. He never knew what the man was going to do and that worried him. Cash finally makes it to the entrance ramp.
"Thought you might be here," Tony says.
"Yeah, crazy match," Cash says. Silence fills the air, Cash wasn't much of a talker, to begin with but when he's focused like this, he just wasn't interested in small talk. He perks up when he hears the bell ring and the announcer saying Hangman had won. He nervously watches the entrance, finally seeing his lover walk down the steps. It takes Page a few minutes before he spots him, Page excusing himself from the trainers. He slowly approaches Cash grinning from ear to ear. Cash just shakes his head.
"How was I?" Page asks.
"Perfect as usual," Cash says. "Come on, Dax is waiting for us in the trainer's room."
"I'm really not that hurt," Page says. Cash just gives him a look and Page knows to drop it. "How much of it did you really watch?"
"I watched enough," Cash answers. "Some spots had me worried. Wrapping yourself in barbed wire, Adam? Seriously?"
"Eh, it worked didn't it?" Page says, shrugging.
"Yeah, but at what cost?" Cash asks. "Look at you." Page just links arms with him laying his head on Cash's shoulder.
"Didn't mean to worry you," Page says. Cash ushers him into the trainer's room. Dax stands up, putting his hand on Page's shoulder and looking him over.
"Hop up," Dax says. Page just does as he's told. The head trainer comes over to him.
"We'll take care of your head," The trainer says. "I expect you two want to deal with the rest back at the hotel?"
"Yeah, they don't look too deep or anything," Dax says. "Might be good to maybe rinse off? Ask the Buck's if you can use their locker room showers?" Dax sighs, seeing the absolute fear in Hangman's eyes. "Okay, okay, we'll wait until the hotel."
"You guys ready for tonight?" Page asks.
"Hell yeah," Dax says.
"The Gunn's have it coming," Cash says. "Cocky little bastards."
"Hey! Watch your mouth," Moxley says, coming into the trainer's room escorted by Renee.
"I'm sorry, but your brothers are full of themselves," Cash says.
"And for good reason," Moxley says. "I still think they are underestimated and underrated."
"Don't you have to say that as their older brother?" Page asks, wincing when the trainer starts to bandage him up.
"I mean, I don't…HAVE to," Moxley says. "But I like to whenever I get the chance."
"At least they know they always have a fan in you," Dax says. "Even if they are attacking your dad any chance they get."
"Makes them good fucking heels," Moxley says, proudly.
"You should get out there," Page says. "I'm good. I'll stay here until you are done."
"I'll keep him company," Moxley says. Dax nods, kissing Page on the forehead, Cash kissing him on the temple.
After the PPV had ended, Cash was the only one not bandaged up. Dax had insisted on not needing his eye looked at, but Cash wanted to be sure. Once they got into the hotel room, Page headed for the shower.
"I think it might be about time we talk to the Bucks about this," Dax says. "He can't be afraid to fucking shower, he can barely even change."
"We have to do this without tipping them off," Cash says. "Adam already said that he doesn't want to tip the boat."
"Oh, so we just allow him to share a fucking locker room with two of his abusers?!" Dax asks.
"Mike is barely even there," Cash says. "He's got us there now. And when we aren't there, Cole will be. He isn't coming near him, he knows what happens if he does."
"Right, beat his fucking skull in like last time," Dax says. Cash sighs, hugging Dax tightly. Dax returns the hug before pulling away to get the supplies ready. Cash hears the shower turn off, Page exits the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
"Well, you were wrong, David, his legs are scratched up," Cash says.
"Think it is from me wrapping the barbed wire around my leg," Page answers.
"Sit on the bed," Cash says. "We'll start with your chest and stomach. How are you feeling?"
"I'm not terribly sore," Page says. "Think the shower helped. Is your eye okay, Dax?"
"Yeah, just a scratch," Dax says. He comes over with the first aid bag, placing it on the bed. "You took a hot shower, right?"
"Yeah," Page says.
"Then we won't need to put anything but the antibacterial stuff on it. You want the spray or the ointment?"
"Which do you think? Which would be better?" Page asks. Cash sits down on the bed looking at his back.
"His back is still real red, the wounds seem worse back here than in the front," Cash tells his tag partner.
"I figured," Dax says. Cash sighs being handed a bottle of ointment and gauze.
"Can I ask for a favor?" Cash asks. Page looks over his shoulder at him. "Cool it with the hardcore shit for a bit?"
"What are you thinking? Once a year?" Page asks.
"I guess, I can live with it once a year," Cash says. He gently kisses Page's shoulder. Page lets them patch him up. He sighs deeply, putting his hand behind his neck. Both Cash and Dax stop what they are doing, focusing their attention on him.
"I didn't mean…it's still real fucking hard," Page says. "Especially with him there. But I've never been one to cause problems, you know? I'm sure the Bucks are still trying to cope with the whole Punk thing. I just don't want to cause any more problems for anyone."
"Hey, Adam, what did we say about that?" Dax asks. Page sighs yet again.
"It doesn't matter because at the end of the day, what I said caused him to go off on me," Page says.
"His ego had a lot to do with it too," Cash says. "You were just doing your job. Maybe a little too well. You can't keep dwelling on it. You don't feel safe, that should be the only thing that matters."
"I'm just hoping that maybe this is it for them," Page says. "Maybe they'll go back to ROH. I can handle them when it is here and there but when he's there all the time and then Mike is there…"
"We are here now," Dax says, taking Page's hand. "He won't try anything when we are around. I'm sorry we even left in the first place but we had to."
"That doesn't matter," Page says. "I just am glad you are back. You really think I should say something?"
"That's up to you, we can't force you to do anything," Cash says.
"And we don't want to," Dax says. "But when you don't feel safe to shower or get dressed, could be considered a non-safe working environment. And trust me, I've been there. It makes wrestling not as enjoyable because you are too busy walking on eggshells in the back."
"I'm real lucky I got to meet you," Page says.
"Us too," Cash says. "Can't imagine life without you in it."
"If I could marry both of you, I would do it in a heartbeat," Dax says.
"Well, maybe we can get something to symbolize our bond," Page says. Cash sits up, looking at Page.
"What do you have in mind?" Cash asks.
"It can be anything," Page says. "Tattoos, rings, necklaces?"
"Rings sound good to me," Dax says. Page smiles, turning to Cash and kissing him hard on the mouth.
"I love you," Page says. He leans down to kiss Dax on the mouth. "And I love you."
"Love you too," Cash says. Dax smirks moving Page's hair out of his face.
"I love you both," Dax says.