#2point0

It was as if Angelo Parker's entire life was flashing before his eyes as he cradled the body of Matt Menard to his own. The blood from the wound to his forehead and Matt's broken nose stained both men's chests, but Angelo knew that if this is what it took to protect the love of his life, he would do it again and again. It hadn't been the first time the two had stepped into the ring with opponents' intent on taking everything from them.

It had been a different time, and they had technically been different men, Jagged and Shane Matthews. The world hadn't been as open to two men who were so dedicated to one another. Angelo had barely been open to realizing just how much he loved Matt in those early years. What had started with late night hotel room conversations and meals split between one another because the pay out from the booker hadn't been what was promised had turned into holding each other for warmth or holding hands in the face of nerves about a big match. Matt, who was always open with his emotions and better with his words, had been the first to make that admittance. 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, Matt had whispered into the sound of a silent car on the road to the next town.

Angelo, always better with his actions, had simply gripped the steering wheel tighter with one hand and took Matt's closest hand into his own in response.

Those early days had been some of the happiest Angelo could recall. The hotel room meetings had evolved into having their own apartment together. The solitude of his young men trying to make it by themselves in the world had soon evolved into a family of three when Daniel had come into their life. Daniel, as bright and bubbly as could be. Angelo hadn't been sure that he would be a good father in those early days. It had been a test of wills, a test of what he was willing to let go of and what he was willing to accept.

Judging by the man who had just thrown himself at Dax Harwood with a harsh fist, Angelo and Matt had raised a fighter of a family man who wouldn't let the ones he loved down.

"They'll batter him…" Matt croaked out as he tried to push himself up and away from Angelo in an effort to defend their son. Angelo cradled him tighter, refusing to let the injured man get up. He was in no condition to try and fight alongside Danny, but Angelo knew he could stop Matt from doing something stupid to get himself hurt worse. Stopping Matt from doing something stupid was one of Angelo's specialties.

"You stay right there, Matty," Angelo admonished with a shake of his head.

"Ange, they'll…"

"Tell me about our wedding vows," Angelo whispered, watching as Matt's eyes started to flutter closed. Angelo let out a little curse under his breath, before poking Matt directly in the wound on his forehead. He could feel the warmth of the wound, practically feeling the pulse of Matt's heart. The larger man's eyes popped open as the prodding elicited a moan of pain. "Tell me about our wedding vows, Matty. What did I promise you?"

"You…uh…" Matt blinked away his confusion as he tried to recall the vows both men had taken in front of their friends and family, in front of Daniel in his tux. "You promised to always look out for me and Danny. To protect us."

"What if I'm bad at it, though?" Ang asks, for about the millionth time. Usually Matt starts getting a little testy when Ang gets like this. Purely for practical reasons, the easiest way to get the guy out of a loop is to call him out on being an idiot, Ang does the same thing to him. But he holds back this time, on account of the spirals about something important for once.

You only have your first kid (well, first kid that you didn't meet when he was already a grown man) once, after all. And he'd rather Ang bitch to him than to the woman having that kid, to be fair. Hell, maybe this was just a case study in the value of having two partners - if you're stressed about shit like your baby being born you've got somebody to annoy other than the lady that's busy having a fucking baby. Ruby certainly didn't need that, in fact she'd outright said it when she told Ang she didn't want to see him until she'd finished with her business and he'd calmed down.

So Matt opens his mouth to say you'll do fine, for the millionth time, instead of complaining. Then he realizes that's the equivalent of bashing his head into a door until it makes the thing open and rethinks his approach. Stands up from his chair and intercepts Ang's pacing with two firm hands on the man's shoulders. He leans forward, putting his forehead against Ang's.

"We've fucked up a lotta things, Matt," Ang says, already ready to continue the back and forth they've been having all day.

"Yeah," Matt agrees, instead of his usual reply. He leans in and kisses Ang, the man's shoulders relaxing into it on instinct. "But if you start doing a bad job at this, I'll kick your ass. And then Ruby will kick your ass," he says, gently.