Small, scrawny trees were bending precariously under the heavy load of fallen snow, and now and then he could make out a broken road-sign, but it had been a while since he�d seen anything remotely resembling civilization. He knew deciding to travel by car instead of paying for an expensive plane-ticket had been a mistake. They�d left early, but even with those extra hours they would never make it. Not now, not after being obstructed by massive amounts of powdery white.
He eyed his travelling companion, still snoring softly in the seat beside him. He should have woken him up ages ago, asked him to check the map, but he just couldn�t. Sabu had looked exhausted, as usual, and it didn�t often happen that he felt comfortable � or tired � enough to fall asleep in the car. His friend had had quite a few tumultuous days and, like with everything he did, his body had taken the brunt of it all. Rob had caught the pained expression on his face every time he moved, no doubt due to cramped muscles and a sore back, and had insisted he drove and Sabu relax. It wasn�t like Sabu usually sat behind the wheel, in fact Rob did all the driving, but he�d meant it more as something out of concern than anything. The slight nod of appreciation had made him smile, glad Sabu had perceived it as exactly that; concern.
Taking his eyes off the road again momentarily, his eyes glanced to the side to rest on the peaceful expression on the man�s face. Now that wasn�t something he saw often, especially during travel. Usually he�d just sit there and brood, occasionally making a sarcastic comment about something Rob said or did. It was quite refreshing to see him like this, leaning against the window, his hair the only thing keeping the cold glass from chilling his face. Scarred limbs were wrapped in the thick blanket Rob had thrown over him, his head the only part of his body that was still visible.
It was hard to blame him for burying in the blanket like that; it was frighteningly cold, and even Rob could feel the chill work its way up his spine through the thick coat he wore He usually didn�t care much for snow and its tendencies to freeze people�s limbs off, but right now he was cursing it in various made-up languages. Hey, if Sabu could mutter indistinguishable things in his sleep, then he was allowed to use words that didn�t exist. Besides, it amused him, and right now that was all that could.
It reminded him of last night, when Sabu had fallen asleep only to wake up in a frenzy minutes later, muttering in a language Rob did not understand. He�d asked if something was wrong, as any good friend would, but was snapped at and eventually left in the hotel room, alone. By the time he came back, Rob had already fallen asleep.
He didn�t want to worry about what that meant, so he chose instead to focus on glaring holes in the malfunctioning heating-system. It was happily blowing hot air at Sabu and giving Rob the lovely sensation of exactly the opposite, causing Rob to wonder whether or not Sabu had chosen this particular rental on purpose. He tried switching on the radio again, cringing slightly at the raspy sounds that it emitted. Cautiously eying Sabu, the road, and the radio alternatively, he tried to make heads and tails of what would make the scratching sound stop, but found out he couldn�t. Eventually he gave up, deciding that driving across slippery roads while having an internal argument with a busted radio was not a good idea.
Drumming his fingers on the steering-wheel, ignoring the tiny pricks of pain shooting through them due to the cold, he stared ahead dully. This was the part of a wrestler�s life that he hated. He was good at being the silent type, the loner, but there were times when he just needed someone to talk to. Sabu, while the obvious choice, was also the most impossible one. They could have fairly sane conversations, but that usually was before or after a match, not after he�d rudely woken the guy up. No, just the thought made Rob shake his head.
It was only after focusing completely on the road again that he noticed that they were going slow. Checking the meter to see if they were out of gas, or something equally as stupid, he only barely caught the weird scratching sound that was coming from somewhere in the car. Hoping against hope, he pushed his foot down, feeling the car speed up slightly before continuing to slow down. Muttering obscenities under his breath, Rob could hear that the scraping sound had increased in volume and they were now close to standing still. He turned the wheel, aiming for what looked to be a safe spot to park the car, only barely making it before the car gave a resounding huff and died completely.
Rob sat there for a moment, staring at his hands before looking to his right. Sabu was still snoring softly, contently huddled up in the blanket. It was a sight that would have been quite endearing had it not been for the worrying sensation in the pit of Rob�s stomach. He felt the urge to reach out and pull the blanket up higher, shielding his friend from the cold, but he didn�t want to tempt fate. He should be lucky that Sabu didn�t seem to have noticed them stopping, because he wasn�t ready for an earful yet.
Pulling his coat tighter around his shoulder, he opened the door, shivering at the wind that attacked him immediately. He carefully closed it after he got out, shielding his eyes as he moved to the front of the car. Popping the lid, he cringed at the small wisp of smoke that floated upwards. He wasn�t that car-savvy, so he had very little hope of repairing whatever had broken down, but he was well aware that smoke of any kind was never a good sign.
�Great. Guess I�m getting my ass kicked, because I just know he�ll find a way to blame this on me,� he thought to himself.
A quick glance on his cell-phone told him that calling for help wasn�t going to happen. Of course it had no signal, because that would have been convenient, and right now whatever was up there was toying with him. With his luck they�d freeze to death, Sabu dying last only because he kept warm by insulting Rob in various languages. He could just see it now, himself desperately trying to apologise while Sabu called him things he had never heard of before.
Shivering, he considered his options. He could either go back to the car, wake Sabu up, and ask his opinion on things, or he could try and find a solution on his own and at least be able to present his travelling companion with an idea of how to get out of this. The last one sounded like it would result in the least bodily harm, though he�d need some more clothing to keep him warm while he dug through the snow. Luckily he had a vague memory of having seen another blanket on the backseat of the car, which would do nicely. Cautiously he moved to the side of the car, almost falling down as he miscalculated his steps. Really, he wasn�t usually this clumsy.
He calmly grabbed his blanket and was fully ready to brave the storm, when a gruff sounding voice startled him, causing him to bang his head on the roof of the car.
�Rob, what the hell is going on? Why is it so damned cold in here?�
The way Sabu was looking at him, eyes dark and annoyed, made Rob feel very uncomfortable, but he managed to give his friend a weak smile.
�Uh, the car broke down?�
�Shouldn�t we have been there by now?� Sabu asked, completely ignoring the fact that their car had given up all hope.
�Yes, but, you see, I think�� He paused, cringing slightly before continuing in a rush, �Well, we�re lost.
Usually the mere image of Sabu blinking frantically and moving his mouth like a fish, would have made the wrestler laugh in amusement. Right now he just wished they were somewhere else, somewhere warm. Preferably with a big metal door separating him from his soon to be very angry colleague. It seemed to take Sabu all but a minute to get his mind around the fact that Rob had gotten them into trouble, again, before angry words filled the car. If his backside wasn�t damn near freezing off, Rob might have felt his whole body heat up in embarrassment.
�I told you this would happen! Of course you got us lost! You fucking clown! Rob van Dam, the man who manages to drive to an entirely different state! Rob van Dam, the man who manages to get us arrested for speeding AND drugs possession! I can�t believe you actually managed this! How much of a moron are you, Rob? Eh? Why didn�t you wake me up? But of course, I should have been awake, checking your every move, because you�re that big of an idiot! You can�t even follow simple directions!�
Well, he�d deserved as much, though it still hurt like hell. It must have registered on his face, because there was a slight sliver of remorse in his friend�s dark eyes. Rob wasn�t going to reply, knowing he wouldn�t be able to mask the hurt in his voice. He should have been used to his friend�s ways by now, but every time he thought things had changed between them, that Sabu could drop the fa�ade he maintained in public, something like this would happen and cause Rob�s hopes to crumble.
He knew this was who Sabu was. He had a tendency to be grouchy, and being cold didn�t help any. In fact, Rob had been his scapegoat more than once. Nothing seemed to amuse Sabu more than take his frustrations out on Rob. Nothing quite as severe as this, but it had happened before. Rob knew that the backstage drama and Sabu�s failing body had impacted the man a lot, and he kept telling himself that that was the reason why his friend was yelling at him.
Regaining his composure, and throwing the blanket over his shoulders, he straightened up; ready to trudge down the abandoned road in search of something that resembled a house.
�Where are you going? We�re in the middle of a snowstorm, dickhead.�
�I thought I saw some signs a while back, I�m going to see if they�ll give us a clue.�
�Rob, get your scrawny ass back in the car. You�re going to get lost and when they find your frozen body you know they�ll blame me for it.�
�I fucked up, I�ll fix it. Besides, have you seen my ass?! It is anything but scrawny!�
Trust him to try and lighten the mood. He�d have hit himself over the head about it, if Sabu hadn�t been here. He could just see Sabu�s scowl now, all rightly annoyed and barely suppressed anger. He turned to be treated to just that. Sabu gave him a pointed look as well and then shrugged.
�I have no interest in your ass.�
�I�ll have you know that my ass has its own following!�
There was a particular whine to his voice that he wished he could have prevented, but Sabu didn�t seem to care. Rob wasn�t exactly sure why he felt offended by the fact that Sabu had not taken the time to check out his behind, but then he wasn�t given the chance to reflect on that either.
�Rob, I am not going to have a conversation about your ass. This has gone on for long enough and it is friggin� cold out there, so if you�re really hell-bent on killing yourself, at least close the door.�
The man�s tone was harsh, biting even. Rob would have been surprised at the lack of concern for his well-being, had it not been for his own refusal to do as Sabu said, and his friend�s longstanding habit not to care for anyone�s well-being, not even Rob�s. It wasn�t as if he didn�t expect this, but the acknowledgement that Sabu didn�t care did hurt. Shivering despite the added warmth of a blanket, he backed away from the car and slammed the door in frustration.
--------
It didn�t take him long to realise he was being followed. Sabu had left the car; a small bag slung over his shoulder, and was stubbornly walking a few feet behind him. They walked like that, ignoring the other, for about ten minutes, when - to Rob�s utter amazement � they came across a desolate-looking hotel. A hotel, in the middle of nowhere! Rob would have assumed it was closed down had it not been for the bored desk clerk staring at them with unblinking eyes.
Nothing was said to or about Sabu as Rob booked a room for the night, the money he�d found in his pocket only barely enough to pay for the no doubt overpriced accommodation. He stalked upstairs, feeling the eyes of the man following him burn holes in his back. His room was soon found. It was a messy one, complete with movie-like green walls and a small, shaky bed. The window was open, leaving the room freezing cold. It wasn�t pretty, but it would do.
Sabu walked past him, closing the door and dropping his bag on the bed. It would fit the both of them, if need be, but Rob wasn�t in the mood for sharing.
�Oh, you want this room?� he asked casually. �Fine, I�ll go down and book another one.�
It was childish, but Sabu deserved it. Rob made to turn, but annoyed words stopped him.
�Rob, don�t be an ass.�
�I�m not being an ass!� He huffed indignantly. �I�d just prefer my own room right now. It�s obvious that you�re having one of those days in which nothing I say or do can please you, which happens way too often. I�m not some toy you can release your frustration on, Sabu.�
Sabu blocked the door with his body, halting Rob by placing a hand on his chest. The other man sighed, feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. This wasn�t a situation he�d been in before, and Sabu�s gruff nature did nothing to alleviate the stress he was feeling.
�You are not a toy and I definitely do not treat you as such. You�re my friend,� Sabu muttered, causing Rob to roll his eyes. Right.
�The hell I am. How can we be friends when you can�t even talk to me calmly unless it�s about a match? The moment things get personal you shut me out, throwing insult after insult at me. I try to ignore it, because that�s just you, but that doesn�t mean it�s doesn�t hurt! We travel together, we room together, but damnit, Sabu, I don�t even know when your birthday is!�
The palm pressed against him kept a steady pressure, almost daring him to try something. The hairs on his arm stood on end, his breath quickening as Sabu edged forward, staring steadily at him. The man had never been one for too much physical contact, so this particular action startled Rob. Strong fingers dug into the material of his jacket, through the thin clothes beneath, and lightly scraped his skin. He felt the urge to pull them off of him, but the strange emotions in his companion�s eyes made him stop. He wasn�t quite sure what he was seeing - he�d never been able to read his friend all that well - but there was a slight sliver of�something. The fact that he couldn�t place it unnerved him, because it seemed that this time Sabu wanted him to understand what glimmered beneath the surface. The look on his face was a mixture of a lot of things. He looked slightly worried, somewhat hopeful, but mostly confused. If only he could read Sabu�s eyes that easily.
�It�s not like that.�
�Then explain it to me,� Rob whispered, momentarily amazed by the open display of pain on his friend�s face. It pulled at his heart to see him in such emotional confusion. He desperately wanted to know if he could do something to take that pain away, as corny as it sounded. He fought the urge to hug him, knowing he�d probably end up severely concussed. He knew what the man could do, and while he wasn�t as big and broad as most people Rob faced, he was definitely the one he feared the most. No, fear wasn�t the correct word. He trusted Sabu; would never fear him. Fear his tendency to botch moves in the ring, maybe, but not Sabu himself. Though that didn�t mean Rob didn�t want to piss the man off - Sabu had a vicious mean streak when he got annoyed.
The expression on his friend�s face had changed, from the things he had seen earlier back to the stone mask he had gotten used to over the years. Annoyance crept to the surface, but Rob forced it down. Now was not the time to fight with him. That could wait for when Vince fired them.
�You�re doing it again. That �let�s hide behind the mask that is Sabu� thing. I think you�re a coward,� Rob said calmly, directly staring into the eyes of the man in front of him.
�Excuse me?� came the incredulous question from the owner of those dark, glittery eyes.
�I said that you�re a coward. You hide behind a gimmick. You force it upon others because you don�t want us to see the real you. You�re not a scarred freak that likes to put people through tables, Sabu, that�s not who you really are. No matter how easy a gimmick is to hide behind, that just isn�t you.�
�I am not a coward!�
�Yes, you are,� Rob stressed, seeing the anger boiling in his friend�s suddenly expressive eyes. So this was what he needed to do to see what the man was actually feeling? Interesting.
�You take that back, Van Dam, right now!� Sabu hissed, the hand fisting Rob�s jacket pulling him closer. Rob knew he should back down, not anger the man further, but here he was, in a fucked-up hotel room, just having fought Mother Nature, and now being threatened by someone he wanted to punch and take care of at the same time. He was beyond being reasonable.
He stared directly into the man�s furious eyes, the air of cocky arrogance that he used in the ring surrounding him, before shaking his head.
Seconds after that he found himself on the floor, his back roughly shoved down on old, creaky floor-panels. The wood was like a cheese-grater beneath him, but that wasn�t what concerned him most. The weight on his chest was significant, Sabu leaning fully on him as one hand closed around his throat. For a moment Rob thought Sabu might choke him, but the expression on the dark haired man�s face changed from anger to shock to�lust?
Rob reached up the moment Sabu made to get away from him, quickly grabbing a fistful of hair and pulling the man back down. Suddenly all of it made much more sense to him; especially when he felt the beginnings of an erection rub against his leg. He grinned slightly at the look of terror and arousal on the other man�s face. How had he missed the signs? He�d always prided himself on being able to read people better than most. He was the guy that sat there, calmly regarded everyone, noticing things others did not because they were too busy with themselves. This, whatever it was, was most surprising, though not unwanted. It explained a lot of things, including Sabu�s reluctance to �get personal� with him. Stupid, ignorant excuse of a man.
�I know your secret,� he whispered, nipping at the man�s ear, relishing in the shudder that went through him. So, yeah, he was a tease, but then this wasn�t at all what he had expected. There was something akin to terror, probably about being found out, in the man�s dark eyes. Rob considered him for a moment, his hand relaxing in the man�s hair and sneaking down his neck to rest on his shoulder, agile fingers lazily brushing muscle and bones along the way. He could feel that Sabu was breathing in short, hasty breaths, and he sat up a bit. He looked at his friend, his hand still continuing its stroking motion.
�Rob, don�t�don�t tease unless you��
Now this was different. Sabu for a loss of words, shivering because of something Rob had done. He could most definitely get used to this.
�I wouldn�t dare.� He chuckled, pressing a kiss behind the man�s ear, the mere touch eliciting a breathy sigh. Sabu�s dark eyes stared at him through the dark mane of his hair. Something was going on in that sharp mind of his, something Rob wasn�t sure he was happy with. Thinking was overrated, especially when it came to Sabu. He could come to the most ridiculous conclusions. Like that one time when Rob had refused Sabu�s offer of taking the blame for getting arrested. The man had been furious, calling Rob selfish. He hadn�t understood it then, but right now it made a lot more sense.
�Don�t think,� he warned, catching the way Sabu now kept his body from connecting with Rob.
�You�re on the floor. It�s cold and rough.�
Ah, so that was what the silly man was worrying about. He licked the man�s neck, tasting him, savouring the fact that he hadn�t moved away completely yet.
�I�m not complaining,� he murmured. That didn�t quite do it, though. While he sure seemed to enjoy Rob sucking on the side of his neck, Sabu still wasn�t being very responsive. Growling in annoyance, and telling himself that he wouldn�t have given in if he didn�t know that Sabu�s muscles hurt to start with, Rob got to his feet. He wasn�t quite sure how he�d done it, but they were both on their feet now. Hurried hands grabbed hold of him, holding on for dear life. Control had shifted now that Sabu finally allowed himself to touch something other than the harsh wood that was supposed to pass as a floor. Rob�s breath hitched as the man�s tongue made patterns on his neck, doing exactly what Rob had been doing moments before, only Sabu was so much better at it. For a moment he cursed Sabu, and then he was mentally begging him to continue.
The first time their lips met was sloppy. Teeth crashed together, lips missed their target completely, and tongues desperately fought for dominance. The force of it caused Rob to stumble backwards awkwardly. He could feel the bed behind him, cheap wool brushing against his legs. They broke apart, breathing heavily, and allowed themselves to sit down on the bed.
Both were seated now, staring intently at each other. Rob took in the dishevelled appearance of his friend, all flushed and heaving. It was strange to finally really look at him. He wasn�t considered a physically attractive man, by a long stretch. The years in the business had done their damage, to him more than most others. There was something about him, though. This strange appeal that he couldn�t explain. A pull he had felt the first time they met all those years ago and still felt today. He�d not realized it then, not realized it until today even; that pull had been a mind numbing attraction lying dormant.
�This is not one of those moments where you turn into mister suicidal, homicidal, genocidal and decidedly uncooperative, right?� Rob asked cautiously.
�No.�
�Good, because I want you to fuck me. Oh, and I swear to God I�ll kill you if you mention my flexibility in any way.�
�Damn, you�re a tease!� The groan sent shivers up Rob�s spine, but he continued nonetheless.
�I�ve heard those backstage rumours�� he started, only to be roughly interrupted.
Rob didn�t have much choice but to shut up as Sabu�s lips covered his own. He was immediately lost in the sensation, the hot warmth of Sabu�s mouth a welcome distraction. It was a clash of lips, teeth, and tongue as Rob was roughly pushed down on the bed. He could definitely get used to this dominant side of Sabu, especially the particular fascination he seemed to have with his neck. This time his weight was cherished, the possessive side of Sabu invigorating, even though no one was here to steal Rob away. Not that he would ever let them. Rough hands worked their way under the hem of his shirt, stroking defined abs and continuing their sensual path upwards. They rubbed together as they moved, Sabu pausing his ministrations momentarily to let out a restrained groan. Urged on by this, Rob bucked upwards, causing a delightfully whiny moan to leave Sabu�s lips. Oh, he�d definitely have to tease him about that later.
Hands fought through layers of material, stripping, tossing, and eventually resting against bare skin. Rob could feel the various scars on the man�s back and took the time to map each and every one of them. He continued to trace them, his fingers caressing, his lips doing the same to the scars on Sabu�s torso. Broken, Sabu had called himself once. Rob had disagreed then, and he disagreed now, nothing broken could be this beautiful.
A moan spilled from his lips as their free erections bumped together, his face now buried in the crook of Sabu�s neck. Dark hair obscured his vision, but he knew exactly what Sabu was doing. He could feel those wonderful hands sliding along the lines of his body, encountering nothing but hot flesh. Eventually they reached Rob�s inner thigh, stroking, teasing, before closing around his throbbing erection.
�Fuck!� Rob ground out, bucking slightly as Sabu sat up slightly, his cock resting against Rob�s leg.
�You like that?�
He shouldn�t be able to ask such a question. No, he should be busy making Rob feel tingly all over and equally as distracted. He was managing nicely so far on the first part, but he wanted Sabu to be out of breath, quivering in anticipation, just like he was. So he mustered all his mental strength, focused on something other than the hand stroking his cock, and brought his lips to Sabu�s ear.
�That�s nice,� he hissed. �Now fuck me.�
A throaty chuckle, then a reply. �I plan to.�
Tongues entwined again as Rob�s arms closed around the smaller body lying on top of him. Sabu�s taste was unlike anything he�d ever encountered, but he was too far gone to get all poetical about it. It was addictive, though, and he barely noticed Sabu reaching over for his bag. Strong legs closed around Sabu as well, more in an appreciative and encouraging gesture than a possessive one, bringing them even closer. Rob sucked in a breath as he felt Sabu�s cock brush against his. He wasn�t sure what Sabu was doing with that bag of his, but it better be good.
A whiny murmur left Rob�s swollen lips as Sabu pulled back. The man smiled, nudging his exposed neck with his nose.
�The lube is cold; I need to warm it up first.�
So he�d come prepared? Interesting. Perhaps he had chosen that car on purpose. Not that he was complaining right now.
�Fuck the lube! I want you, need you,� he whined, arching his back as one of Sabu�s hands brushed his thigh. It was funny, him feeling so needy. Earlier it had been Sabu that acted this way, and he�d been in control, yet now it was exactly the opposite. Perhaps it was because his lust had been jump-started only recently, whereas Sabu had figured it out a long time ago. Whatever it was, he didn�t want to think about it now. All he wanted to think about was Sabu touching him, brushing fingers over sensitive skin, Sabu shivering under Rob�s hands, his hushed murmurs of appreciation, Sabu kissing him with vigor, eyes dark and consuming. There was something possessive about the way Sabu devoured his mouth, and it was the most wonderful thing Rob had ever experienced. This he could definitely get used to.
He gave something akin to a squeal when a finger entered him, not expecting the sudden intrusion. Usually he would have been embarrassed, but he was too delirious to care. The lube was slick, but above all it was horribly cold. Rob tried not to whine about it, instead focusing on the sensation of the finger widening him, stretching. Whispered words drifted over to him, but he couldn�t make out what exactly Sabu was saying. The sound was comforting, however, and he tried to relax. Another finger probed him, almost taking away the feel of that wretched, icy lube. From the corner of his eyes he could see Sabu coating his erection, the sight sending shivers up his spine, before continuing to diligently stretch Rob. The careful way he prepared him was endearing, definitely something that deserved some attention later, but right now it was also maddening.
Teasingly slow Sabu positioned himself, causing Rob to wriggle and rub against him, urging him on. He gave a strangled cry when the other man entered him, the cold lube distracting slightly from the burning sensation of being penetrated. Unintelligible words left his mouth, turning to gasps as Sabu pushed further. His legs pressed hard against the frame of his lover, lean muscles moving under heated skin.
�You okay?�
Sabu�s tone was filled with concern, yet also with strain. Rob didn�t quite understand why he was holding back, but he decided enough was enough.
�Fuck me already!�
It seemed to spark something in the older man, for he leaned back and set a solid rhythm, head thrown back. Rob could barely keep his eyes open, but he wanted to watch, the sight of Sabu�s relaxed face mesmerizing, the slivers he caught of dark eyes tantalizing. By now the cold lube and slight pain were forgotten, the only things mattering were the whispered words of love and the delicious sensation of his prostate being hit over and over. Sabu�s eyes were burning, rolling back in his head as he thrust deeper and deeper, clammy hands grasping hold of Rob�s cock. Rob moaned as the rhythm increased, the hands pumping his cock working faster. He could do nothing except hold onto the bed tightly and relish the feel of Sabu�s hands on him, his cock giving him such pleasure. He could feel his orgasm building, but he was unwilling to stop it. Murmured words turned to breathy stutters, until finally he could sense the familiar tightening in his balls and felt his release splatter against both their bodies, a strangled scream leaving his lips.
Muscles clenched, and after a few frantic thrusts he heard Sabu cry out in a language he didn�t understand. He did not need to.
Their breathing was heavy as they rested against each other, flimsy sheets thrown over both their bodies. Rob had nestled against the older man, not wanting to let go just yet. Sabu didn�t seem to mind, his eyes fluttering shut and a lazy grin on his face. Knowing his friend�s, now lover�s, habits, Rob knew he would soon be asleep.
�Did you have this planned? What with the lube and all,� he asked softly, feeling Sabu turn his way.
�Planned? No, no, that was just�wishful thinking.�
Rob chuckled, nuzzling Sabu�s neck and closing his eyes. He was a grumpy old bastard, but at least now he knew how to get him to relax. Talking about relaxing, the place he was in right now was most comfortable. In fact, he was almost asleep when he felt Sabu�s chest move.
�December twelfth,� the man breathed. It was barely audible, but Rob heard it.
�What?�
�My birthday. It�s December the twelfth.�