Disclaimer: All characters used are property of the WWE, and I do not own any of them. This story is one of fiction and has never, nor will ever, happen. This was not created with the intent to harm anyone.

Warning: implied/referenced homophobia, insecurity, self appreciation issues, pining, infidelity, Implied/referenced child abuse/neglect, implied/referenced abuse, implied/referenced alcoholism

A/N: So that last chapter was kind of... eh. Not real happy with it, but my mind has been jumping around everywhere lately, which has made this harder to write that I had originally expected. But I want to focus on this as my number one project, because it's my baby, and I'm not going to just drop it like that. Still, I hope you all enjoy this and continue to read and leave feedback. I have a funny feeling things will be getting a little.. steamy here soon.

Chapter Six:

WRESTLEMANIA 32

The whole experience - from sitting in the stands with Xavier and Tyler playing games on the humongous Tron watching the arena get out together to actually walking on to the ramp in front of over a hundred thousand screaming fans - was so surreal, AJ can't believe this is his first WrestleMania. The fact that he lost can't even bring him down right now. He's in such a good mood he even agreed to go out on the town with Karl and Doc, something he rarely does.

He just made his 'Mania debut in one of the best matches in his career, and Vince told him something really big would be happening to him at Raw. He assumes it has something to do with Karl and Doc - a possible formation of a condensed Bullet Club? Maybe Finn will get called up to the main roster to join them? - or a shot at a mid card title. It's unlikely he'd win since he's still need to the company, but just getting the shot would mean the world to him.

AJ just finished up getting dressed, which proved to be harder than he thought when he refused to take his eyes off the screen during the main event, when Roman pins Triple H. He clamps a hand over his mouth to stop a rather unmanly squeal from coming out while his heart beat speeds up ten fold.

"You okay?" Karl asks, putting his hand on AJ's lower back.

"Yeah," AJ breathes, "I just - I'll be right back."

He's out the door before either of them question where he's going or why.

He knows how much this means to Roman, and he wants to let him know how much this means to AJ, too.

Last year, after he had lost in the main event, Roman was afraid he'd never get an opportunity like this again. Sure, he's still young and has about a decade, give or take, left in him, but that doesn't mean he'd ever get the chance to main event WrestleMania again.

Yet here he is. Not only did he do it again, but this time he actually got to win, and he beat the COO of the fucking company.

Not to mention he won the world championship. Just, wow.

Roman unbuckles his vest and tosses it.. somewhere. They'll find it later.

He hoists the title up onto his bare shoulder as he walks through the curtain. A smile is etched onto his face, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

It gets bigger once he sees AJ standing there. The brunette spots him at the same time, a grin breaks out onto his face that reaches all the way up into his eyes. Roman doesn't realize either of them are moving until a pair of muscular arms wrap around his neck, his own arms instantly wrapping around the older's waist.

"I'm sorry to just.. attack ya like this, but I just wanted to come congratulate ya before your family got here," AJ says into his ear before leaning back, his hands on Roman's jaw, "You've worked so hard for this, and ya did so good out there. I'm... I'm just so proud of you."

Roman's heart flutters. He didn't know how much he needed to hear AJ's praise before, but now that he has he never wants to hear it from anyone else because it won't be nearly as important.

Except his daughter, but that's a different story.

AJ's hands slide down to rest on the younger man's shoulders, looking up at him with awe in his eyes, "I know that there are people out there who think you haven't worked for this, but you shouldn't listen to 'em. You earned this, you deserve this - not just the title, but the moment, too. You're the guy now and that's... that's all that matters."

The country man pauses, shaking his head, "I'm sorry, I know I'm just yappin' my gums right now, and I probably don't make much sense, but I - I -"

"AJ, is, um, everything okay?"

Roman's eyes narrow at the sound of short, bald fuck face's stupid voice. They're having an intense moment right now, and this asshole just has to ruin it. As if Roman didn't have enough problems with him already...

"Yeah," AJ replies, turning his eyes back to Roman, "I should let ya go now, family's probably dyin' to see ya. I'll, um, I'll see ya tomorrow though, right?" He gives a small smile, stepping back, "You enjoy that win 'cause ya deserve it."

AJ takes a few steps back, nodding his head, as he turns around and -

Roman doesn't think, he just reaches out and grabs AJ's hand to pull him back, their bodies pressed against each other's again. He dips his head down so their lips are almost touching, "If there's ever a time when you decide you want more than what he's willing to give you, you know where to find me."

He presses a soft kiss to the corner of AJ's mouth before stepping back, releasing the smaller man's hand to turn away and find his bosses, then his family.

Roman glares at Karl as he passes by the two, his heart beating a mile a minute.

This night is definitely in his top five favorite.

"Roman, I have to say, that was mighty impressive," Vince said, clapping the Samoan on the shoulder before pulling him in for a hug, "I always like watching my son in law get his ass kicked, but seeing my own daughter get speared was a joy I didn't expect to have."

"What was that about?" Karl asks, raising his eyebrows.

AJ shakes his head, "I don't.. I don't know." He leans onto one of the crates because his legs are shaking so bad.

"Well, there's still a couple of beers at a bar down the street waiting for us," Doc says, gesturing with his head for them to get a move on.

Karl puts an arm around AJ's shoulders, letting the older man lean against him as they walk to the parking lot. AJ vaguely hears them talking, probably having another meaningless debate.

His mind is reeling, wondering what that was supposed to mean and if.. if it's supposed to mean what he thinks he means, then.. It's ridiculous, right? There's no way that Roman would..

But there's nothing else that could mean besides Roman wanting to be with him, which is exactly what he wants it to mean. Not that that option makes any sense because Roman is straight, and AJ doesn't just get relationships with genuinely good men. Every boyfriend he's ever had - which is technically only three but he's slept with more people than that, a fact he's not necessarily proud of - has had a serious case of narcissism and tended to put him aside to better themselves or, more commonly, their own career. Roman isn't the type of person to do that. He's always put family first - a family in which he already considers AJ a member of.

That makes Roman the kind of person who would not want to date AJ, no matter what his sexuality may or may not be. And -

"Stop thinking about it, we're supposed to be having fun. Talk to him about it tomorrow," Karl whispers, putting his arm around the smaller man's shoulders, "Don't be a party pooper now."

AJ smiles up at him, "You know I'm the life of the party."

"Only if you dance on the table," Karl matches his smile, "or strip. Possibly even both if you're up to it."

"Please don't, I don't want to see either of those," Doc groans, tossing their bags into the back of the rental.

"Don't worry, I won't be," AJ flicks Karl's ear. If Roman asked him to do that, especially the latter option, he totally would, but.. "Stop bein' so weird."

Roman hugs his mom goodbye, wishing her a safe trip back the hotel, before picking up his daughter and giving her a kiss. She protests spending the night with her grandmother when she'd rather be with her dad, but he explains he has a Talk Show early tomorrow morning and they have a flight home.

Also Jimmy and Jey want to celebrate "grown men style", whatever the hell that's supposed to mean, and he has a feeling JoJo doesn't need to see that.

"Dean and Seth are already at the hotel with, as Deano described it, a shit ton of alcohol and fried chicken," Jey says as they get in the car.

"I hope you guys plan on drinking all of that, because I really do have a talk show with Charlotte tomorrow and I'm not showing up hungover or wasted," Roman replies, getting comfortable in the back seat, "I will take the fried chicken, though. Y'all are gonna have to fend for yourselves."

"Your boyfriend ain't gonna be happy to hear that," Jimmy teases.

"But I don't have a boyfriend, genius."

"And who's fault is that?" Jimmy asks, turning around in his seat to look at his cousin, "Didn't Naomi tell you to just tell him how you feel?"

"I did!" Roman counters. It much later than she had told him to, but he did it.. kind of. He made his desires clear, hopefully, while giving his crush an ultimatum to never act on it unless he wants to. Even though he hadn't meant to do it, and he's in such a good mood that he hasn't started to freak out over the consequences, he isn't going to take it back. Who knows? Maybe Naomi was right after all. "Nothing's happened, yet, so give me a break."

"You're the only one who's not married, man. Family's tired of waiting for it to happen again," Jimmy smirks, "'sides, you should fuck him with the title on while -"

"Shut up, uce," Roman kicks the back of his younger cousin's seat, his face heating up. If he's being honest, he's thought about that before.. quite a few times actually, but they don't need to know that. No one does.

But his mind is stuck on what Jimmy said before that.

Sure, he married Galina because he loved her, but he always knew she wasn't The One. He had a feeling his family did, too, especially his mother. They welcomed her, of course, but its like they knew it was never going to last.

His mom comforted him when the divorce was finalized by telling him he'd have another one, he'd find his soulmate. That or she would find a billboard and write "marry my son" on it and glue down a picture of his face.

With a family like his, it was basically a requirement that everyone had a significant other to show embarrassing baby pictures to and that'll get smothered during family get-togethers by their new mother-in-law and aunts alike. Unless you're like his sister, whose boyfriend got interrogated by their father the first day they met and everyday after.

He's never brought home a guy before, and he's curious as to how that would work.

"Dude, I swear to God I have never looked at you naked!"

"What?" Roman asks as he loses his train of thought, eyebrows drawn together.

"I made a joke on the Edge and Christian Show that Totally Reeks of Awesomeness a while back about how he was the only one I saw naked before I meet Naomi," Jimmy explains, "and he brings it up all the time even though it was a joke."

"I'ma pull this car over if you keep arguing about this," Jey counters, "You said it, we all heard it, now you're just gonna have to man up and deal with it."

Roman shakes his head, "Why would you even be naked around each other?"

AJ giggles, shaking his head, "I don't sound like that, y'all are just bein' a couple of jerks!"

"We're just bein' a couple of frickin' jerks, Karl," Doc imitates their haired friend, "Be careful, he might put us in some frickin' headlocks!"

"Just for that, you get to go back up to the bar and get us more beer," Karl says, pointing to the bar... in its general area, anyways. He actually found the home quite funny - just as he did when they did it on Jericho's podcast - but he wants a couple minutes of alone time with AJ just to talk without leaving Doc out of it.

It'll take the big clutz longer to get up there and back, so this is his perfect chance.

"Be honest with me," Karl says, reaching across the table and grabbing AJ's hands, "do you like Roman?"

The brunette nods, "I do, a lot."

"Then tomorrow I want you to tell him that," Karl says softly, "and don't worry about... about us. I'll still be your best friend, your brother in crime, for as long as you want me to be, no matter what."

AJ smiles, gesturing with his head to the seat next to him, "C'mere."

Karl doesn't waste anytime sliding out of his side of the booth and sitting next to AJ. The older man puts head on Karl's shoulder, and he wraps his arm around AJ's in return.

"I love you, Karl," AJ says, snuggling closer to him.

Karl ignores the way his heart beats faster just having AJ close to him. He's noticed that, no matter how many times they've fucked in the past two years, just being able to hold AJ was enough to make him turn into a schoolgirl with a crush. Then again, AJ always has that affect on him. Whether it be just a simple smile or a laugh, holding hands or leaning on each other in the ring, he gets weak at the knees and he can't stop smiling.

Then his stomach twists hearing those three simple words. Three words they - including the rest of Bullet Club - always passed around in locker rooms and buses after shows or at airports flying home to express the deep appreciation they shared within their brotherhood. Then at night during their post sex cuddling, AJ would murmur it before falling asleep wrapped up in his arms.

To AJ, it was nothing. To Karl, it was everything.

Karl kisses the top of his head, "I love you, too."

AJ says it platonically, but lately, Karl isn't sure if he does.

Sure, he does have a wife and children, all who he loves very much and can't wait until he gets to see them again. But, as AJ sits up to take the beer from Doc, flashing that stunning smile that lights up his already gorgeous face, Karl knows he'd leave them in a heart beat if AJ ever asked him to.

"You are the champion, my friiiiend," Dean sings horribly off pitch, leaning on Roman as they walk down the hallway. He's definitely hammered at this point, but he still has a nearly empty bottle of some type of crappy alcohol in his hand.

Roman chuckles, shaking his head, "I don't think that's how it goes, dude."

"When I get to be champ, I'm gonna be called The Dude," Dean slurs, "You're gonna be the Guy, Seth's already the Man. So I'm gonna be the Dude. Shits gonna be cool."

"The Dude?" Roman questions, putting his arm around Dean to keep him from falling, "That sounds as ridiculous as that new catchphrase they're giving me." Granted, it's a lot better than that one time they made him say sufferin' succotash, but it was going to get old pretty quickly even if it does describe him quite well.

"Do you know how crazy it'd be if I won Money in the Bank, and-and then Seth beats you for the title. Then I.. I cash in on him?" Dean asks, speaking as if Roman hadn't said anything, "Then we could finally have that Triple Threat."

"Yeah, that'd be pretty crazy," Roman props Dean up against the wall by his room, unlocking the door with the key Seth gave him before ditching them to go downstairs to fetch some water, "Remember, Seth will be back in a minute. Try not to hurt yourself or anything stupid like that."

Roman gets the door open and helps Dean sit down on his bed. The younger man flops down on the bed, hands clasped under his head.

"You really gotta stop bein' so uptight, man. Ain't gonna kill ya to live a little," Dean says, looking up at him.

Roman raises his eyebrows, "I live all the time, what are you talking about?"

"Yeah, you breathe and stuff, but you... ya don't live, Ro. Livin' is like, bein' spontaneous and shit," Dean rambles, turning his gaze to the ceiling, "And you should get laid, ASAP. Maybe you'll stop bein' so... grumpy."

Roman opens his mouth to protest that he in the situation he doesn't need to be spontaneous, and the only person he'd even contemplate sleeping with has a not-boyfriend, but Dean passes out, snoring loudly. Roman lifts Dean higher up onto the bed so his feet aren't hanging off the edge. He watches his brother for a moment before heading out the door, sighing as he does.

Today has been such a fantastic day - phenomenal, even. Getting to perform in front of a record setting crowd, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, getting to hold his daughter and hug his mother after emerging victorious, and that's all capped off with celebrating with his brothers (the Usos are basically like his brothers anyways) the old fashion style. He's so incredibly grateful for this opportunity, but having a certain someone by his side would've made it perfect.

Or even now, having that same someone in his room waiting for him would've been just as good. Instead, as he walks down the hallway to his room, he knows it'll be empty.

Jimmy and Jey each have their own wives to attend to. Seth and Dean have each other.

Maybe it's time that he does find that person who really is his soulmate. He has a suspicion he already has, but only time will tell how that'll play out.

Or maybe he should just get himself laid like Dean said. It might actually help him stop obsessing over someone he can't have.

Roman runs a hand through his hair - is that moaning?

He stops and stands by the corner. His room is literally right there... but there is definitely someone down there moaning, and that's just weird.

What's with all these people having sex these days? Jeez.

".. So damn irresistible."

Roman shakes his head, more at himself than anything, and decides to just head for his room. It's not like he cares -

"We ain't doin' this out."

That familiar southern drawl makes Roman freeze in spot, right in front of the door. He very stupidly turns his head just enough that he can see what's happening. A very, very stupid decision, of course.

Karl has AJ pinned up against the wall, hand fisted in his hair and yanked to the side. It actually looks like it hurts, but AJ seems pretty into it.

If he's being honest, Roman could be into that, too. Fuck, he's actually getting a little turned on just picturing him pinning AJ against the wall, towering over him while ravaging his mouth with his tongue. His hands gripping AJ's plump ass to lift him up, wrapping his legs around Roman's waist -

He quickly turns his head away, his face starting to heat up. He slides his key to open the door, practically slamming it behind him in an attempt to escape the situation.

He sits down on the bed, trying to ignore the way his cock was starting to harden just picturing.. that in his head.

AJ is his friend, Roman has no right to think about him like that... right? Friends aren't supposed to fantasize about other friends...

Fuck it. Who's gonna actually know if he thinks about AJ like that... Laying on his back, moaning his name while Roman thrusts into him repeatedly...?

No one, that's who.

That sounds good enough for him as he unbuttons his jeans, slipping a hand inside and wrapping it around his half erect member.

RAW

"Uce," Jey grabs onto his brother's arm, jerking with his head to the side, "C'mon."

"AJ! Homie! Wait up!" He calls, pulling Jimmy along.

AJ stops, turning around to look at Jimmy as he and his brother catch up to him, "Hey! What can I do for you?"

"We've been meaning to talk to you," Jey slings an arm around his shoulders, grinning as he does. This conversation has been out back due to Roman's request they not bother the brunette about this, but after the latest development in their ongoing love story has forced them into action.

Well, it's not exactly forced, but. Whatever.

"You have?" AJ questions, raising his eyebrows.

"It's been brought to our attention that you and our cousin have become close lately," Jey replies, "and we've heard his side of the story. Now it's your turn."

"Ro's my friend, the best one I got. Ain't really much of a story to tell," AJ rubs the back of his neck a little nervously.

"Are you sure that's it?" Jimmy asks, raising his eyebrows. "Because we could probably write a whole book based off of the stuff Roman's told us."

Maybe not a whole book, but they could probably write one of those fic things Kevin reads.

"Look, we ain't tryna scare ya or anything like that. We just want to find out some information to protect our boy. Last thing we want is for him to get hurt," Jey says. He puts his hand up at stop AJ before he can say anything. "I know that you would never intentionally hurt him, but I've never seen Ro like someone the way he likes you before. Hell, I don't think he liked Galina this much, and they got married. So, we -"

"Hold on," AJ interrupts, Brie furrowed in confusion, "What do ya mean by 'like'?"

Jimmy smiles, "Like he wants to throw you up against the wall and fuck your -"

Jey clamps a hand over his twin's mouth, glaring at him. That's definitely not how he wanted to go about this, at all. The poor guy is probably embarrassed beyond belief and -

"Really?" AJ questions, looking shocked and far too excited at the same time.

"Oh, yeah. Talks about it all the time," Jey continues, his smile only growing.

AJ rubs a hand over his face, seeming lost in thought, "Okay, I'll.. thanks."

"Glad we could help," Jey nudges his brother's arm, "C'mon uce, we gotta go get ready for our match."

"But, but, that's not -"

"Just c'mon," Jey rolls his eyes and pulls him along, "Poor guy's had enough for one day."