Author: Rebellecherry

Title: Hello Heartache

Summary: The ink just has dried on John's divorce papers and he can no longer deny the secret that he's hidden his entire life. His best friend Nikki pushes him closer to CM Punk an equal in the company a friend sometimes adversary, always an attractive distraction and he just might be the best heartache John has ever had.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything! I don't know these people, and I am in no way affiliated with this NYSE traded company. I am not saying that this has or will ever happen this is just an artistic release. And expression also when ever I get into a new slash pairing I have to write once I've run out of reading material, my way of giving back to the fandom.

Chapter 1

I don't want this night to end

It was another RAW house show in yet another arena, John Cena was so tired he couldn't care less where they were. He was continuing his feud with CM Punk and the reason for Cena's many sleepless nights. Even a text from his best friend Nikki didn't cheer him up, most of the world thought they were in a relationship, and leading everyone to believe that was something they were both to blame for. Since the destruction of his marriage he had swore off women.

And the reason he got married in the first place in hopes that it would do something to dissuade him from his attraction to the male sex. He'd never been with a man, and he hated that he wanted to. He craved it, and his job put him in close contact with the hottest and hardest male bodies in the world. He hoped he wouldn't get carried away in the ring, an erection in those jean shorts he wore would stand out like a sore thumb. With some competitors it was easier than others. He hated his feud with Big Show didn't last long, he wasn't going to pop wood for the giant. CM Punk was another story, he was flexible tattooed and mouthy.

Punk walked by him at that moment it was almost time for his start of the show rant before he'd be baited into a match with Zack Ryder.

"Hey," Punk said.

They were amicable backstage, Cena made it a point to be friends with the whole roster. Punk was no exception they'd shot hoops the day before during a bit of their downtime. He hadn't seen Punk in the locker room the tattooed man had been late. Punk dropped into a crouch stretching a bit before he went on. John got an eyeful of that pert little backside if Punk's trunks got any smaller they wouldn't be visible under the t-shirt he wore so much of the man's smooth thighs were on display. Punk had been generous with the oil that coated his tanned skin making it a truly mouth watering sight for Cena.

There was no denying the attraction he had for Punk, even if he wouldn't act on it. Punk went lower stretching like a cat presenting Cena with that gorgeous ass. He wondered if he had any clue what he was doing to him.

Punk's music started and Cena watched as he rolled his shoulders and sauntered out. Cena was definitely in trouble. He had two options, to beg McMahon to let him out of the storyline with Punk, forfeiting any chance of credibility and probably having the title forcibly removed from his waist or he could do what the script called for him to do. Harass and taunt Punk live in the ring leading up to their paper views.

"You could be a little less obvious, you know," a voice said from behind Cena.

He turned to face Randy Orton who was leaning against some equipment, John hadn't spotted Randy in the locker room this afternoon and it didn't look like Randy had been in there. Randy was dressed in a tight white tee shirt and a pair of the flashy designer jeans the third generation superstar always wore outside of the ring.

"What?" Cena asked his throat suddenly tight.

"He does have great ass," Randy taunted, "plump in all the right places. And wouldn't you know it's tighter than you would ever believe. He's not boasting just about being The Best in the World and we aren't talking about his skills in the ring."

John's cheeks reddened and he balked, "I wasn't checking him out."

"Keep telling yourself that John Boy," Randy said before stalking off.

John was stunned by what Randy had said. Zack Ryder passed him heading out to his match with Punk. John didn't return the young man's hello he headed to the monitor bay finding AJ Lee there.

"Hey John," she said eagerly her brown curls bouncing making her look innocent and he knew she was.

But she was letting the creative team put her in the hunt for Champions rather than Championships, and her wrestling ability was being ignored due to her marketability as a siren. He felt bad for the girl, she didn't even know it.

"Hey AJ," John smiled easily at her before turning his eyes to the monitor.

He watched as Punk got close to defeating Ryder, and he knew that was his cue, his music hit and he ran down the ramp distracting the match.

Punk turned to regard him and received a Broski boot for his trouble and was effectively pinned by Ryder who dashed off after a small celebration.

Punk was sitting in the ring panting and glaring up at him, those sexy thighs spread. John noticed handprints on the right thigh and he wasn't sure if they were from Ryder or Orton. He ignored the marks marring the man's skin choosing to pretend that they were from the match with Ryder not from some romp with Orton. He hated the idea of Orton touching Punk, and he wondered why would Punk let him.

The road was lonely John knew that for a fact, but Punk seemed to like his solitude, he rarely dated, and when he did it was usually women. The tattooed man kept to himself mostly and from where Cena stood he seemed to hate Randy Orton why would he let him touch him.

Once they were finished and safely backstage, Cena tried to apologize.

"It's cool," Punk said, "it was in the script. Though it was embarrassing to lose to Ryder."

Punk took off then Cena didn't follow for a while after a moment of indecisive debate longing to get more answers on whatever was going on between him and Randy Orton. He had effectively lost Punk in the backstage maze.

Punk wanted to be anywhere but here, he knew Orton was watching him and waiting, he should have stayed close to Cena, but it was Cena who got him in this mess as it was. He went into an equipment room to fume. Why in the hell was he letting this happen? What in the hell happened to his morals that he was proud of? Why was he letting Randy do this to him.

A sharp sound and the Orton's voice got him back to the present. Randy was behind him.

"You've got what you wanted, why can't you leave me alone?" Punk said sounding quite defeated.

"You're right I have what want," Randy said hooking his index finger in the back of Punk's trunks and snapping the band against him.

Punk groaned and turned around with fire in his eyes, "I'm not letting you hold this over my head."

"You don't have a choice," Orton sneered, "either you keep giving me what I want on the regular or I let your dirty little secret out."

"You know what I don't care anymore," Punk snarled, "I am not letting you touch me, asshole."

"Come on, you'll like this once we get started," Randy said effectively backing Punk into a corner his hands settling over Punk's hipbones.

Randy was leaning close, Punk moved to avoid the Viper's lips.

"No kissing on the lips," Punk said.

"You don't make the rules here," Randy said.

"Please," Punk said, "I'm doing this so you shut the hell up and leave me alone for a while. Not because I want to, there is no intimacy between us."

"He's never gonna kiss you," Randy told him, "the big goon doesn't even know he's gay. And old Daddy Warbucks doesn't want you back. So who do you have to turn to but me to give you what you need?"

"I don't care!" Punk snarled, "it doesn't mean I want to kiss you."

"You'll go down on me but you won't kiss me?" Randy snarled fuming.

"Exactly!" Punk said, "for someone who thinks he's so smart you sure catch on slow."

"Well, get to it," Randy said.

Punk didn't say anything he just shot the Viper a glare.

"On your knees then," Randy said.

Punk did what he was told.

"Well, go on," Randy said.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Punk swore taking the Viper out of his jeans.

"I know that you secretly like this otherwise, you would have never been so obvious," Randy said before an obvious shudder took his body as Punk's lips closed around his erection.

"You're too fucking good at that," Randy whimpered after Punk had made short work of getting the Viper to come.

Punk didn't swallow and in his defiance he had Randy's release all over him.

"Next time you'll wear the tongue ring," Randy said, "it's fucking hot."

"Fuck you," Punk swore, "you're not the boss of me."

"I know your dirty little secret remember," Randy reminded him, "If you don't be nice to me I'll let the whole locker room know what you really are. A kept boy."

Randy put his now soft cock away and stalked out of the room leaving Punk alone. He wiped Randy's cum off him with his clean shirt and threw the shirt in a corner, then he started to dismantle the room he lost momentum his anger washed out and he was back to hating himself for letting this happen.

"What's going on here?" a voice said from the doorway

John pushed the door open, and Punk met his eyes.

"You okay man?"

"I'm fine," Punk said wiping away his tears violently.

"I heard the noise and came to see what was wrong," John said before Punk could ask him how long he'd been there.

"Just pissed because I had to lose a match to Zack Ryder," Punk said, "Another way for the upper management team to fuck with me. Ryder couldn't beat me on his best day and if I had my hands tied behind my back."

"I know that and the whole locker room does too," John said, Punk hoped he didn't notice the shirt in the corner of the room.

"Why are you being so damn nice to me?" Punk asked.

"Because, I'm John Cena, I'm nice to everyone," he grinned.

Punk looked at him trying to gauge what to say next, but John just sat down beside him on the floor. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Punk tried to control his breathing but the broken sobs started up again and John put his arm around him and Punk let himself sink into the touch. Resigning himself to this being as close they were going be. That a friendly hug was as far as things were going to go between them, because John was straight.

"I know this isn't about losing to Ryder," John said, "You don't have to tell me what it's about if you don't want to. If you did I might be able to help you."

"Nobody can help me," he said, "Even if I told Vince about what was going on not a damn thing would change. He's Steph and Hunter's golden boy, and I'm just collateral damage."

John pursed his lips and stared at Punk levelly, "is that anyway for the Best in the World to talk?"

"We're not talking about wrestling or being a straight edge badass," Punk pointed out, "We're talking about other aspects of my life, and let's face it, it's a train wreck of epic proportions."

"Tell me about it," he said, "it's not like we don't have another two hours of pointless feuds and screeching Vickie running around."

Punk laughed, "You're right about that. You know for what it's worth, thanks for checking on me and being your usual boy scout self. It was really bad there for a few minutes."

"It's cool," John said, "I keep wondering though what this innocent supply room ever did to you."

He laughed again, this time it wasn't a bitter laugh but a genuine one, "How do you take me from tears to laughter in just a few minutes?"

"I like seeing you smile, especially when you're not standing over an unconscious body, or after making a vindictive threat," John said.

"What can I say, I'm good at being a bad guy," Punk said.

"Bad guys are sexy," John conceded with a blush.

Punk had no time to process what the other man had just said, the sound of heels clicking across the linoleum made John tense, Punk too was hoping it wasn't Vickie. She and Ziggler had been let off the leash and they were fond of provoking both Punk and John.

The sound reached them, then when John saw his best friend stomp by do a double take and return.

She giggled leaning on the doorframe, "Did I interrupt anything?"

"Nope," Punk said, "Thanks for the talk John, I'll let you hang out with your girlfriend."

Punk passed Nikki and exited the room.

"She's not my girlfriend!" John called after him.

Nikki laughed, "I am so sorry. I just wanted to bring you your phone, how was I supposed to know that you were flirting with Punk."

John snatched his Galaxy Note from the woman's manicured grip and glared at her, "I shouldn't have been here anyway, nothing can come of it."

"Why are you making such a big deal out of this?" she asked, "you like a guy. It doesn't change the fabric of who you are."

"I've always liked guys," John said, "the fact that I married a woman to escape that changes the fabric of who I am. I don't want to be that way."

"Nobody has to know about it," Nikki replied, "do you know how many same sex relationships the locker room has seen?"

"I don't want to do anything that I can't be open about, and even if I could get over what it means to be open in this business is suicide," John said, "he deserves someone to be open with and he's just ballsy enough to be open."

Nikki said, "he might understand."

John realized he shouldn't have told her that because the wicked gleam in the eyes of his best friend told him that he was about embark on one of Nikki's disastrous matchmaking schemes.

"Nik-" he began before he was cut off.

"I have a plan!" she said triumphantly holding up a manicured hand, "C'mon, seriously John move your ass."

She all but dragged him from the supply room she led him down the series of winding hallways.

"I know how your plans usually end up," John said.

"My plans are beautifully flawed and I have great results," she pointed out, "Look at Brie and Bryan. And I even got Jon together with his little referee friend."

"What about Celeste and Stephan?" John asked.

"Recreating the scene from Lady and the Tramp did kind of screw things up but they are speaking to each other now and she did get that spaghetti sauce out of her hair," Nikki shrugged, "Though I wouldn't score that in the win column I would say it was a lesson on what not to arrange for a blind date. You do have to give me credit, fixing up Colby with JoJo was brilliant."

John shrugged shaking his head trying not to think of what matchmaking disaster he'd be thrown into this time.

"Don't look now, but Joe is totally checking you out," he whispered to his friend as they past the monitor bay.

"He is not," she said turning her head to look behind them, "John, if you're trying to throw me off my plan it's not gonna work. Hot Samoans won't deter me from getting you laid."

Nikki entered the men's locker room not really giving a shit, "Nothing I haven't seen before boys."

Kofi, shook his head and pulled his towel tight around his waist heading for the showers. Glenn glared but dropped his towel anyway. John watched his bestie incredulously as she checked out the big red machine's big red machine.

"Oh, nice package," Nikki said grinning.

"Stop doing that you're making the guys uncomfortable," John said spinning her around so she was facing a row of lockers not the half nude or completely nude men in the room.

John stared into his locker not really wanting to shower there. He really wanted to cut out early, but he couldn't.

"Oh holy fuck it's even worse in there," Kofi returned to sit heavily on the bench hanging his head in his hands.

"What is it?" John asked.

"They're singing," Ryan better known as RyBack walked briskly in in his shower shoes, "again."

"They always do this," Kofi said, "I'm actually more comfortable right here with John's girlfriend inspecting my ass rather than listening those fools singing."

"It's a nice ass," Nikki said, John hadn't noticed she'd turned around he spun her quickly.

"They are going to ban you from the men's locker room," John said, "Ease off Sandusky."

"Why is she in here again?" Ryan said, "Not that I mind her getting a look at all this, maybe she'll find out what a real man looks like and drop your sorry ass."

"Ha ha," John flipped him off.

"If only your fans knew what a naughty boy you were John," Nikki said sitting on the bench and crossing her legs as she looked at her phone, "I am actually here for moral support."

"Moral support my ass," Kofi said.

"And oh what an ass it is," Nikki gave him heated gaze.

"Would you put some ice on it Nik?" John said.

Nikki threw up her hands, "I'm just saying."

John went behind the row of lockers to the shower, Nikki was hot on his heels.

He could see three men in the steam of the shower, and he could hear two of them sing and other was making beats with his mouth.

"On your video phone…" Bryan was singing with Punk.

John was quite sure he was going to pass out any second, Punk naked and writhing in the shower to a Beyonce and Lady Gaga chart topper with #Goat face and the Big Red Machine. It was too much to handle especially up on discovering Punk knew the entire Gaga verse, be still John's jorts because there was definitely something going on south of the equator upon hearing that verse. And the dude had some pipes, who knew.

"Holy-" he quickly covered Nikki's mouth and pulled her behind the row of lockers.

He reluctantly led them in the main part of the locker room. He looked into Nikki's wide brown eyes she was too shocked to form words.

"This happens every night?" she demanded of the men.

"Pretty much every time they end up on the shower," Ryan said, "turns into an episode of the Singing Bee gone horribly wrong."

"Bryan is doing Beyonce wrong," Kofi said shaking his dreadlocks.

"Punk does a good Gaga," Nikki said, "why is he wasting his time in non main events when he could be doing something like that."

"I don't look good in drag," Punk said emerging from the shower completely nude, using his towel to dry his close cropped hair.

Nikki's eyes as well as John's were glued to his perfect ass, he nudged his friend covering her eyes.

"Why do you bring your girlfriend back here?" Punk asked getting his clothes out of his locker, "All she does is peter gaze, is this a weird form of foreplay for you too?"

He covered Nikki's eyes as well as her mouth keeping his front flush to her back, knowing that she could feel his erection, but he was getting them the hell out of there before someone noticed. She licked his palm and he removed the temporary gag.

"You're looking especially fine tonight Punk," Nikki said, "Don't you think so John?"

John blushed.

"Is that a proposition for a kinky three way tonight?" Punk asked, "If so you could at least take me out to dinner a couple of times before expecting me to put out."

"Always so classy, Punk," Kofi said dryly.

"Don't I know it," Punk said rummaging through his locker and pulling on basketball shorts sans boxers and pulling on a wrinkled t-shirt.

John managed to herd Nikki out of the room and drag her down the hall away from the busy locker room.

"He really gets your engine revved up, doesn't he?" Nikki pushed off him leaning on the wall eyeing the tent in John's jorts.

"Do you even need to ask?" John demanded.

"Nope I have the indention of it pressing against my back," she said, "too bad you didn't pop wood for me. You wouldn't even have to buy me dinner."

Before he could respond Stephanie McMahon came striding up, "Nikki did you just come out of the men's locker room?"

"Yes, yes I did," Nikki said pretending too sound sheepish.

"Why were you back there?"

"I was offering moral support to my best friend," Nikki said, "John-Boy is going through a rough patch, with the divorce and all I was offering a helping hand a shoulder to cry on."

"I'm sure that's what you were offering," Stephanie sneered before stalking off.

"Nice talking to you too Boss Lady," Nikki called after her.

"You are incorrigible," John said.

"Does that mean pretty? Because yes, I am," Nikki said.

"Nik…" John said exasperated.

Punk was feeling better for the first time since all the shit with Randy started. He was actually playing and singing with the guys in the locker room. John had brought Nikki in, which he knew made some people uncomfortable, but Punk didn't care. If John wanted to bring his girlfriend in the locker room and let her eyes crawl over every male player in the locker room he could. Was it some type of kinky foreplay or something? He left the shower sans his towel, not wanting to stick around for Bryan's next song.

John and Nikki both were looking at him a fact that made him smirk, John was pulling his girlfriend tight against his body almost as if he were afraid that one of the guys was going to grab her and fuck her.

Punk exchanged comments with the woman, which scandalized Kofi and John as well because he dragged the woman out of the room.

Punk grinned dressing not bothering with underwear in the slightest, he very seldom wore any. Not because he was about the easy access, no one had had any access in a while though the whole locker room knew about his equal opportunity sexuality. It had been too damn long if he was offering himself to John and Nikki for a kinky three-way in lieu of a few dinners. Delivering Randy's "payment" as the Viper called it wasn't cutting it in the least. Blowing some asshole in a parked car or in an empty supply room wasn't what he was looking for in the slightest and then losing matches left him horny and hungry, so sue him. He headed to the monitor bay dressed in one of his tees and a some basketball shorts and sneakers.

He took a seat next to Truth who was in full gear, waiting to interrupt on John who was out there talking to Kane who'd gotten dressed in record time, Punk questioned why the big guy had showered before his match rather than after probably because he wanted to sing with them or peter gaze, it seemed to be number one thing to do in the locker room these days all the cool kids were doing it. Truth disappeared when Miz came up leaving Punk alone, it seemed that just when he did that someone came a situated themselves on his lap.

He was thankful that it was just Nikki.

"Hey," she said curling her arm around his shoulders, "You know I was serious about what I said. You are looking good."

"Thanks," he said trying to pretend he wasn't bothered by having her on his lap, he had barely covered surgically enhanced cleavage right in his line of sight and he couldn't help but think of what he'd said to her earlier, "I wasn't serious about what I said. It takes more to get me than dinners and shoving your breasts in my face, and you can tell John I said that."

He transitioned her so she was sitting in the chair next to him. She was now dressed in her ring attire and she was set to take on Eve for number one contendership for the Diva's Championship.

"I wasn't propositioning you," Nikki said, "it seems like you could use a friend."

"You have plenty of friends Nikki," Punk said.

"But you don't," she said, "the only people you talk to around here are Kofi and sometimes Stephan."

Punk shrugged, he went way back with Kofi, and he liked talking to Stephan, and sometimes he talked to Truth when the rapper decided to make sense, "People get on my nerves, those two don't."

"Noted," she said, "Why don't you hang out with me tonight?"

"Won't you be hanging out with John?"

"He's got a date with some Icy Hot," she said, "and besides, John's not my boyfriend, just my best friend. Brie is going to be all over Bryan, Nattie is going to be holed up with TJ and that will leave me hanging out with April."

"She's not so bad," Punk said, "she's got a decent comic collection for a girl."

"Comics?" Nikki said blinking incredulous, "Meh, I like graphic art as much as the next girl but I'm not into collecting comics I like collecting shoes. Though my grandpa had a stack of first edition original Superman comics in the basement I read them as a kid I haven't got around to reading many as of late."

"I bought a couple of new ones last week you can come by my room and check them out," he shrugged, he needed an excuse just in case Randy wanted more "payment."

The thought made him scoff.

"That was low blow," Nikki said her eyes on the monitors as she watched John be all but dismantled.

Punk shrugged, "Why don't you go down and offer a distraction? Flash those big titties at AwesomeTruth and get them salivating John will catch one in a AA on top the other."

"FCC rules and the morality clause in my contract prevent me from doing that," she smirked, "you seem to be pretty interested in my titties."

"Those things are awesome," he leered at her.

"That makes them worth every penny," she grinned.

"We're not hooking up tonight," he said, "as pretty as they are I'm actually leaning toward cock these days."

"As it just so happens I have a vibrator," she said.

Punk blushed at the thought of the small dark haired woman using her toy on him. He blushed harder when he thought of John watching as she used to the toy on him. Damn his loose shorts, he was getting hard at the thought.

"Sorry I didn't mean to go all freaky fan girl on you," she said, "you know in this light I could swear you were blushing."

"I don't blush, it's got to be inconsistency in the lights from the screen," he lied.

"Riiiiiiight," she replied.

Punk bit his lip and watched the match, it was true the whole locker room was drenched and thirst, but today had started out like an episode to an extremely new reality show called the young and the thirsty because everyone was throwing out definite vibes of sexual thirst. First Randy's accusation a couple of weeks back, and then Randy walking in on him when he was the last to shower, right after he decided that jacking off before he had to ride a shuttle bus with twenty other superstars and divas would be better than sporting his obvious erection in his loose shorts. He was going to have to learn to wear underwear. His mother had lectured him for years.

John had taken to sitting next to Punk on the shuttles and striking up conversation, because no one else would. Kofi, who appointed himself therapist to their group egos had taken to sitting with Stephan following his failed attempt and getting with Celeste, and trying to talk some sense into the Irishman. Celeste would be seated with April, the twins would be together and Bryan would in the back cutting up with Truth and Santino.

Being next John in truth was like asking for an inappropriate reaction in Punk's nether regions, John was like a walking talking wet dream. He didn't know how he'd survive their feud and having John's hands on him without getting a boner, his trunks were quite small, and he liked them that way, he was able to keep his opponents distracted and his fan girls entertained. Not to mention he had a great ass and he was well aware of it.

He gnawed on his lip ring, and tried to think of anything to will the feeling to pass, Randy's merciless teasing this afternoon had gotten to him more than he would admit, he would pay the Viper for his silence but he wouldn't get off on what they did together. He'd made that explicitly clear.

When the night was over and Raw went off the air, he was getting ready to catch a cab to the hotel, Kofi and Stephan had left without him again. He was texting Scott who was pestering him about going on a double blind double date with him. Scott Colton was the one person who'd had less success in relationships than he had and that was saying a whole hell of a lot, without a date the girls would probably be blind and be so unattractive that he and Scott would wish they were blind. Probably something he'd run across online and decided they should give a try, Punk was usually pretty supportive but this time he was going to have to give it a big fat hell to the no.

John and Nikki sidled up beside him. The woman had wet hair and John was carrying her things as well as his.

"Oh good you're still here," she said, "Wanna ride back to the hotel with us? John has a rental."

"You don't mind?" he looked to the big guy who smiled genuinely at Punk, it seemed more toothy that what he offered most people, Punk wanted to believe no one could be that good natured, but John always pulled out the full wattage smile just for him.

"Of course not," John said, "I insist."

Nikki skipped ahead of them into the back parking lot Punk tried to ignore that she had something written on the back of her sweats right over her ass. He didn't understand this latest trend in women's fashion. His sister had explained that it was for women who possessed no ass at all to lure a man's eye in that direction. Nikki didn't need any help drawing men's attention to that particular part of her body. It looked like her ass was fighting with the letters. He imagined Scott's commentary on her outfit and smiled thinking of his friend.

Next time he had Scott come out with him on the road, he would introduce them especially if he found out nothing was going on between John and Nikki. She'd almost had him convinced but even though they might not be dating they might be fucking behind the scenes.

Nikki came to a stop at a non descript blue Subaru it wasn't the fancy ride he'd expected John to have rented, they would draw a lot less attention in it. John tossed Nikki the keys she unlocked the car and popped the trunk and cranked the car, John was loading their things into the trunk, John reached from Punk's gym bag. Green eyes met kind blue.

"You don't have to," Punk relented drowning in the man's eyes as he let him take the bag.

"I wanted to," John told him.

They were locked in the staring contest for such a long time Nikki finally broke it up whining from the backseat, "Guys are we gonna go eat? I'm hungry!"

They made their way around to take their seats in the car, John climbed in the driver's side and Punk sat on the passenger side wondering why Nikki had situated herself in the backseat.

"Where do you want to go?" John asked driving out of the parking lot, "Mostly everything is closing, it's after ten."

"No fast food please," she said, "Let's go to a decent restaurant, like maybe Denny's it stays open a long time or IHOP."

"I've been barred from there," Punk replied.

"How?" John asked.

"Haven't you ever been kicked out of places?" Punk said John shook his head it figured he hadn't, "I was fighting, I'm not allowed to go in any of the fifty states, I was almost arrested but it worked out in my favor. Which is a good thing because I'd never go into one of those willingly, there was hair in my food."

"Gross," Nikki said.

"Denny's it is," John said getting on the interstate.

Punk took a moment to really look at John he was concentrating on driving and Nikki was concentrating on backseat driving, telling the man to make ill advised turns, and giving him shortcut information that was faulty. He'd thought John was striking for a long time, but in the dashboard lights, he seemed more real less like a cartoon hero or some Disney Prince. Punk blushed checking out John and thinking about John was what had gotten him into the whole mess with Randy and besides John was straight he didn't have shot.

He couldn't help it, especially when John's toned body was around. He was thankful that John didn't decide to show it off in a pair tiny trunks like he did or Punk would in serious trouble. Randy's payment was already too much for him to handle. He was getting to the point where he was going to just lay his cards on the table tell John he wanted him and then go to Randy and tell him to go fuck himself because he wasn't going to help him get off anymore then he'd have to do damage control, damage control however meant going to Vince he didn't want to do that. He'd never had to keep his sexuality hidden if he was interested in someone he usually went for it, the results often varied from complete disaster, to mild annoyance, to the success of a first date make out.

He fiddled with the radio desperate to do anything to take his thoughts off where they were heading. It was dangerous to think of John in this way, more so it was dangerous that he'd been so obvious about if Randy had uncovered Punk's true feelings how long would it be before someone else did.

He settled on the slow jams station he was a fan so sue him, he used to stay up late with Scott talking and listening to the Quiet Storm and he was all about some nineties R&B it reminded him of how things used to before they went and changed before he changed.

John was speeding and Nikki called him on it, but John insisted he had it covered and wouldn't be getting a speeding ticket tonight. Apparently those chosen to serve and protect were John Cena fans.

Punk wondered how in the hell did he manage to do that but then realized being Super Cena had its benefits. He was probably a hero to most police officers. Punk couldn't say the same for his own popularity, he'd gotten a ticket on a bicycle.

"John if you go any faster we'll get a ticket," Nikki scolded.

"I'll get out of it," he promised winking at her in the rearview, "I always do."

Punk was humming along with the radio when they arrived at Denny's.

"I'd like to hear you really sing sometime," John said parking the car and fixing Punk with an intense stare.

He shrugged, "I'm not that good, it's just something I do to keep from being so pissed off all the time."

"Think about it alright?" John said, "and next time wear your seat belt."

"I'm a rebel what can I say," Punk said.

"You've still got to take care of yourself," John said.

"I'm going in to get some food, if the two of you want to stay in the car and flirt, it's fine with me," Nikki said and with that she was gone from the backseat.

"Why do you care so much?" Punk said it was unusual to have someone take a vested interest with him Kofi pestered him more than once about using his seat belt and then dropped it.

Scott could get like that sometimes but then again they'd been friends most of their lives, and he'd seen Punk in a many scrapes, some he nearly didn't make it out of. John had sounded so sincere and Punk was even more confused, the bad boys comment had been confusing, and he was probably getting mixed signals or reading to much into it.

"We haven't even had a chance to be real friends yet," John said shyly, "I don't want anything to happen to you while I'm driving, it would be a damn shame, I haven't gotten to know you at all."

"Who says I want any friends?"

"You might not want any but you could use some," John said.

Punk rubbed his face, he was so in over his head. He got out of the car as did John and they went in and found Nikki seated at a booth chatting with a waitress. The woman who was in her mid thirties, plump and kind-faced cooed and fan-girled over John. Punk pulled his hoodie up and slid into the booth. John slipped in beside Nikki, and they were given menus.

"So what's on the agenda for the rest of night?" John asked

"Punk and I were going to hang out," Nikki said never taking her eyes of the menu, "figured you were going to get cozy with some muscle rub."

"Nope, I'm all good," John said, "Got room for one more?"

"Sure why not," Punk said, "we're going to be watching movies and look at comics."

John tilted his head toward Nikki, "Didn't know you were into comics?"

"It's a lot you don't know about me," Nikki said with a wink.

"It's probably for the best that I don't know it," John laughed, the waitress came back and they ordered.

The woman flirted blatantly with John who didn't seem to notice, Punk however noticed that Nikki was playing footsie with him her bare foot was sliding up his calf, her toes tickling his knee. When John excused himself to the bathroom just before their food came.

"Nikki what in the hell are you doing?" he asked.

Nikki grinned, "You know…"

"You know I'm never sure if you're trying to fuck me or fucking with me," Punk said, "I told you before I wasn't really into chicks, and I'm not into the whole peg thing so unless you're hiding a particularly massive cock somewhere it's not going to work. I think you're cool people, and that's surprising in and of itself, but just tone it down."

Nikki grinned, "I was testing you Punk. You were checking out my boobs earlier, I just wanted to see how bi you really were. I know life on the road is enough to drive anyone crazy. Its hard to maintain a relationship and harder to find someone you trust enough to let them touch you. Which leads to extreme sexual frustration."

"Don't you do it with John?" Punk asked taking sip of Pepsi.

"Of course not," Nikki said, "I'm not exactly John's type and he's not exactly mine either."

"Oh hell, what is your type?"

"I like them big but not too big, I have eclectic tastes," she said, "I would totally do Kofi. Too bad he's taken."

"I might know someone you'd like to meet," Punk said.

"Really?" Nikki said, "so you match make too?"

"Hell no," Punk said, "the last time I tried that Vickie and Ziggler got together."

"You're responsible for that hot mess train wreck?" John asked slipping into the booth again.

"Don't worry, she's just his beard," Punk replied, "she totally doesn't know it though."

Their food arrived and Punk picked at his omelet looking longingly at John and his bacon, Nikki ate chicken strips and a salad. He should have gotten something fattening and delicious since he wasn't going to be doing sinful things with John tonight, or ever.

He was glad to find that John and Nikki weren't a couple, he couldn't handle it if they were fucking. He wanted Nikki's friendship, and just looking at John was a treat. They ate and Punk felt full but not satisfied, not in the slightest. John picked up the tab, and Nikki winked at Punk who bit his lip ring and said nothing, he was all about picking his battles, and fighting with John of the check was nothing.

"Let's hit up Wal-Mart we're gonna need provisions for the night," Nikki practically skipped out of the restaurant.

"I can't go in a Wal-Mart in this part of the country," John said incredulously.

"It's after midnight," Punk said, "Most of your fans will be in bed."

"That's exactly right," Nikki agreed waiting for John to unlock the car, she slithered into the backseat with a grin, "Punk will let you wear his hoodie."

"I will," he assured John which seemed to be the deciding factor to make the man give in.

John made it a point to lean over in Punk's personal space and buckle his seat belt with a grin that Punk could have described as sensual but John wasn't into dudes so again he shrugged it off.

During the short trip to Wal-Mart John and Nikki argued, and Punk tuned out their playful banter, he shook his head gazing out the window how could he have mistaken the two of them for lovers, they had an odd brother sister dynamnic that Punk found endearingly annoying.

They even argued about the parking spot John had chosen, it was close to the front and apparently Nikki expected John to park further down to avoid being blocked in by a sedan that was searching for parking.

They got out and Nikki hopped into a shopping cart, expecting to be pushed while John and Punk were trading his hoodie for a denim jacket that was way to big, Punk pulled down his trusty Cubs hat and went over pushing Nikki recklessly in the cart and she squealled.

Wal-Mart was unspirsingly desserted at that hour of the night.

"Where we going?" he asked the brunette in the shopping cart.

"Ice cream!" Nikki said, "get the Ben and Jerry's John loves the fro-yo kind it's called Half Baked. And I like Cheesecake Brownie."

"Me too," Punk admitted grudgingly, he couldn't turn it down.

He grabbed two pints of Cheescake Brownie and one of Half Baked and tossed them in the cart on to Nikki who squealed at the cold intrusion against her thighs.

"What else do we need?" John asked.

"UNO cards of course," Nikki said.

"Do either of you plan to sleep tonight?" John asked.

"I don't sleep, much," Punk said.

"Do you think I'm going to sleep after having ice cream?" Nikki asked, "We need to get some soda."

"I've got Pepsi in my room," Punk said.

"I need Diet Mountain Dew," Nikki said, "And Cool Ranch Doritos. I can feel my thighs expanding but I don't care."

Punk pushed the cart toward the drink section, "You look great. Quit being so down on yourself."

Punk pushed right past an elderly man who was cleaning the floor with a buffer, the man shook his head.

"Fucking college kids," the old man muttered, "I hate this shit."

Nikki burst out laughing.

"Sorry sir," Punk sounded generally sorry, but he still couldn't believe the old ass man thought they were college students, and he burst out laughing immediately after they were out of earshot.

John had sprinted off in another direction only to return with a bag of Twizlers which he dumped into Nikki.

"What in the hell is this?" she asked, "You don't like Twizzlers."

"But Punk does," John said.

Punk blushed, "You remember that?"

"How could I forget?" John asked, "you hit me with six of them during the feud with the Nexus."

"You spilled my diet soda," Punk pointed out smiling.

"You should do that more often," John said.

"Hit you with Twizzlers?" Punk asked.

"No, you should smile more," John said.

"Most of the time I don't have any reason to smile," Punk said looking through his lashes, John was still watching him.

"Guys!" Nikki called from the cart.

John sighed, "Yes…"

"We got an itinerary," Nikki said, "lets get this stuff and get out of here, it's always cold as hell in the food section and my freaking hair is still wet."

"I told you to borrow Glenn's blow dryer," John said but you don't listen, he had taken over pushing the cart and Punk fell into step easily with the big guy.

They gathered all they needed and made their way to the checkout, again John reached for his wallet. But Punk stopped him.

"I got this one," Punk said.

John smirked.

"I just want you to know that I'm capable of paying for the rest of our night," Punk said.

"Glad to see chivalry isn't dead," Nikki wiggled her eyebrows at John, "Now get me out of this cart."

"You got in there just fine on your own," John pointed out.

Nikki turned her attention to Punk he'd handed his credit card to the cashier, "Help me out Punky pal."

He rolled his eyes and picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, "We ready to move out?"

John grabbed the bags and Punk hid his card under his hat, an ingenious way of keeping his money hidden and they headed out into the parking lot. Punk gave Nikki a much needed swat on her butt and then set her down on her feet. They got in the car and John once again strapped Punk into his seat belt. They reached the hotel quickly, and John was following the appropriate rules of the road though Nikki was convinced he wasn't.

They went up to Punk's room. Mike was in the hallway having a long loud fight with Maryse over the phone. Punk walked past the so called awesome one who was in tears.

Nikki stopped and gave Mike a quick hug and then continued down the hall where Punk was opening the door.

They were watching an old episode of Roseanne which bled into an episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the laughed and shared stories, and John was left wondering what in the hell had been holding him back from trying to start a friendship with Punk. Nikki was there and she was the eternal wing woman until she fell asleep on the other side of Punk.

"I think she's down for the count, even after the ice cream," Punk observed, "You tired? You know you can crash here if you want."

The king sized bed was big enough for the three of them, but here alone with Punk the last thing John wanted to was sleep. He was surprisingly not tired.

"You don't have to try to keep up with me, like you could," Punk said, "I don't sleep for days, and sometimes I grab a few hours on the plane."

"I can keep up," John said.

"You sure?" Punk grinned still holding onto his double enterndre, "I'm a handful."

"If I can deal with that one on a day to day basis," John said, "I think I can handle you."

Punk made a sound somewhere between a shocked whimper and a groan, and John needed to hear it again. He wanted to touch him. He wanted to feel that tattooed skin under his fingers he wanted to suck on that lip ring. He was drowning in green eyes and all he could do was stare.

Punk blushed again, the suspect reddening of the younger man's face John found it quite endearing, he didn't think Punk blushed. He hoped he wasn't making him uncomfortable.

"I just realized that I don't know anything about you," John said, "other than you like music that I didn't expect you to have any interest in, and you like 90's sitcom reruns and Ben and Jerry's."

"That's more than most people on the roster know about me," Punk pointed out, "don't get all sappy on me Boy Scout."

John backed off steering the conversation to a neutral subject, he didn't want to completely freak Punk out or push him into a mood he was doing well with this Enigmatic Punk he didn't want the Pissed off Punk that he dealt with in the ring.

They got silent for a while, John was starting to get sleepy, when he noticed that Punk had fallen asleep he thought the tattooed wrestler was just enjoying the storyline of the episode of the Cosby show that was playing. John allowed himself to really look at Punk, he was so docile when sleeping, innocent almost. That was pretty big almost.

He soon succumbed to sleep as well. Waking feeling too groggy to move, hours later to Nikki cursing and Kofi was standing in the room.

"What in the fuck did I walk in on?" Kofi said.

"Nothing you couldn't be a part of," Nikki said coyly.

"Thanks but no thanks. Would you tell Punk to get his ass up, you two better do the same, the flight leaves in three hours," Kofi said before letting himself out the room.

Punk hadn't stirred during the exchange he had his head resting on John shoulder.

"I wanna cuddle some more," Nikki whined wiggling back into Punk's side.

"I don't wanna wake him," John said softly, "he never sleeps and right now he's so fucking peaceful."

"I was too until Kofi came barging in," Nikki said, "No matter I'll just remember that he and Punk always get adjoining rooms, and I'll pay him a visit next week."

John rolled his eyes, savoring the moment for a while longer, there was no denying what he wanted. One day he was going to say it out loud, he was going to tell Punk what he wanted. One day he was going to confess he was going to shake off the cobwebs and step out of the closet he'd hidden in his whole life.