... 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍

    oh, he can’t stand him. he can’t stand the smartass commentary, can’t stand the constant contrarianism. he can’t stand it, and yet… he can’t get enough of it, either – especially when sami moves closer instead of further away. it’s a reaction zero doesn’t anticipate, but a reaction he welcomes all the same, even if it pisses him off a little first. but perhaps he’s addicted to the complexity of it all, the inner conflict of whether or not he should keep him whole or tear him to shreds. ( either way, he’ll be thoroughly entertained. )

    ❝ not a chance in hell. ❞ his laughter is quiet, hissing through clenched teeth. his upper lip curls with animosity, yet electric waves of chill-bumps roll down the back of his neck in currents.fuck, could it be that he actually likes the way it feels? could it be that he gets some sort of sick pleasure out of those violent threats? no surprise there, really; they’re practically cut from the same sadomasochistic cloth. for people like them, blood is the only thing that washes away the burden of living. violence dulls the cacophony within, if only for a little while.

    ❝ if i go down, callihan– ❞ zero breathes, head tilting until the corner of his mouth brushes sami’s cheek. without warning, his grip on his chest loosens ( a brief respite to catch a breath ) until he can grab a fistful of sami’s vest instead. he yanks him closer, menacing. ❝ – then you’re coming with me. ❞

         “IS   THAT SO?”            his   smile   is   almost   sweet.   the   way   it   curls,   thinking   about   him   and   zero   locked   in   this   battle   forever.   warmth   blossoms   over   his   chest.   sparks   sprouting   from   where   zero’s   hands   touch   him,   fingers   brushing   against   his   skin.   “if   that’s   supposed   to   be   a   threat,   it’s   not   a   very   good   one,   ‘cause   i   wasn’t   gonna   have   this   end   any   other   way.”   his   hands   rests   on   top   of   zero’s   much   tinier   ones,   smirking   to   himself,   and   giving   them   a   gentle   squeeze.

seth rollins had a big mouth.  arguably so, he’d say.  a matter of convex opinions from differing sides who couldn’t decide if he had the skills to back it up or not.  couldn’t decide if a briefcase in hand amounted to the contract inside.  couldn’t  decide  which side of the fence they wanted to fall on.  and for some, in the midst of their balancing act, they’d come to the bold assumption that he cared.  that their thoughts weighed more than they did, shoved out of the path stomped towards the top.  drowned in the shallow ponds they ought’ve stayed in.  little fish he’d name jealous  if he bothered to do more than stare them down.

if he bothered to…   “ exit’s  that  way, ”   it’d have sounded louder if the bodies  meant  to be flanking him hadn’t branched off for the night.  shooed because their chatter only ever needled a blooming headache toward migraine territory.  worse than the fists he’d tasted.  than the beat of his pulse against his temples.  an echo of steps that’d stopped nearer than they should have.  left irritation to mingle with itself and supplant outward aggression with a grin that bared just enough teeth to know the laughter was coming before it did.  chipped.  short - lived but intending to leave a mark.   “ i know most of the trash that’s rolled out of  ohio  can’t read, so i’ll do you a favor and spell it out for you.  E - X - I —— !! ”

leant down, through the space meant to uphold an idea of security, the sound that left him was strangled.  a wild, choking gag as a lurch in reverse failed to unseat blunted nails and all the height advantages in the world, suddenly, felt negated.  obsolete.  digging heels and the clatter of that falling prize,   “ h - hey ! ”   wheezed, it didn’t sound like him.  lips pulling a grimace beneath too - wide eyes, seth’s thrashing stalled with gloved fingers wrapped ‘round sami’s  (he’d deny knowing his name, later )  wrist.   “ hey hey hey, c’mahn.. ”   quick, the words bled together.  a jumble to suit the panic that cornered his gaze back, down the stretch of empty hall behind him.   “ c’maahhhn… think about this ! ”

          SAMI   STALKS   THE   BACK   HALLS   OF   A   BUILDING                                  he   was   no   longer   legally   allowed   in   to   visit   old   friends.   it   wasn’t   often   the   big   leagues   rolled   through   his   state,   and   he   wanted   to   make   the   most   of   it.   he’d   not   been   paying   attention   until   that   high   pitched,   irritating   ass   voice   ran   over   him   like   nails   on   a   chalkboard                  --                  then   the   insults   come   rolling,   and   he   snaps.   temper   getting   the   best   of   him.   a   bare   hand   wraps   around   rollins’   throat,   squeezing   just   enough   to   cause   pain,   cutting   off   half   of   his   oxygen,   but   not   completely   depriving   him.   not   yet.   there   wouldn’t   be   any   fun   if   he   didn’t   toy   with   the   bastard   first.   chapped   lips   curl   into   a   snarky   smirk,   teeth   barred   in   a   display   of   aggression.   “maybe   you   should   learn   how   to   keep   your   god   damn   mouth   shut,   and   people   would   stop   wantin’   to   beat   your   ass.”   his   grip   lightens   ever   so   slightly,   just   enough   to   let   seth   regain   his   stolen   breath,   but   not   enough   for   him   to   actually   get   away.   “now,   how   ‘bout   an   apology?   hm?   or   did   your   mouth   finally   forget   how   to   work?"