Rating: T – for language and mild adult content

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it. This is completely fictional and these characterizations in no way represent the actual people playing them (this is NOT kayfabe-compliant). This was initially inspired by the plot of episode 10 of Selfie, titled "Imperfect Harmony," though this fic has changed a lot since its original conception. You don't need to know anything about Selfie for this story, but if you're into romance, I'd recommend checking out that particular episode on Hulu.

A/N: This was supposed to be a one-shot initially, but it became so incredibly long that I felt like it had to be broken up. So it's now technically a three-parter with breaks I'm not exactly fond of. I also started writing this about a month ago, so the details about Orton's return to the ring is incorrect (in this fic, he comes back for the Rumble).

After Seth joins the Authority onscreen, Hunter tells him that it's best to stick with the kayfabe heels anytime he has to be out in public for the cameras. Seth's heel turn is a huge deal and he couldn't be caught carpooling or working out with Dean or Roman anymore.

So the first person Seth thinks of is Randy.

He's heard some not-so-pleasant stories about Randy, but he doesn't take much stock in them. There's been stories about him too. Randy's been in the business for years and Seth is sure that he could learn a thing or two from him.

Randy makes it pretty difficult to strike a conversation with him though. He's always trying to get away from everything – everyone, really – as quickly as possible after shows. So it's surprising, to say the least, that Randy is the one to approach Seth with seemingly genuine praise after one of his matches with Dolph.

That starts up an easy rapport loosely based on shared transportation from one city to the next. Outside of their work and storylines, Randy and Seth start talking about training and the types of sets they do. Randy's workout regimen is just as insane as his own and he can respect that even if he's not bench pressing several times a day.

He concludes that Randy's a nice guy for the most part. Once you get to know him, at least. Don't piss him off and he's cool.

Eventually, they start hanging out backstage too – even when there are no cameras around – talking about stupid things and random stories from home. They're not social pariahs, but they have few close friends and few people they really trust, and they begin to realize that they might not be so different after all.

So it isn't exactly a surprise that all that time together on the road and their loosely-defined sexual orientations lead them to take their relationship to a more physical level one night.

"Hey, you free tonight?" Randy asks, his voice low as he looks over towards Seth. Seth throws a towel over his shoulder, unaware of Randy's predatory eyes. They're alone in the locker room and they're not in a rush to get to the next town.

"Yeah why?" Seth asks, not bothering to look up as he digs through his bag for something.

Randy takes this moment to slide towards him. He crosses his arms over his chest as he leans on the locker next to Seth's.

Seth looks up, finally noticing Randy's proximity, and raises an eyebrow in question.

"I think tonight calls for a little celebration, don't you think?" Randy just smirks a little and tilts his head ever so slightly. Because really, that's all Randy needs to do to seduce anyone, Seth supposes.

Seth should be taken aback by his forwardness, but he's not. He knows what Randy is suggesting, and honestly, he can't blame him.

It's been going on for a while now.

Seth swallows.

Seth's not going to lie and say that he hasn't caught Randy staring and licking his lips after a sweaty workout or that he hasn't noticed all of Randy's late-night texting that can only be construed as highly flirtatious recently.

Seth's also not going to lie and say that he doesn't encourage him.

So Seth gathers his courage and just shoots Randy a half-smile over his shoulder as he walks out the locker room.

That's all that's needed.

When they get to Randy's hotel room that night and strip off each other's clothes, they understand what this is – all that it will ever be. A physical relationship. A relationship based on base attraction and need.

Because the next morning, Randy's gone, and that's okay.

Seth's increasing amount of time spent with Randy also seems to coincide with Roman's injury.

While Seth can no longer spend as much time with Roman in public, there's certainly no steadfast rule against just hanging out and watching movies in a friend's hotel room in private. Dean is always off entertaining some Diva, while Renee, Roman's girlfriend, occasionally stops by to join them for a casual night in.

Sometime in early August though, Roman starts to notice a pain in his abdomen as he lies down and even though Seth pushes Roman to go see a doctor, Roman chooses to grind it out. When Roman starts to make excuses to retire to bed early, Seth reluctantly accepts it.

But it also causes him to gravitate towards whatever Randy's doing that night.

And Randy's not usually shy about what he wants.

Seth doesn't mind his relationship with Randy. It doesn't interfere with work, but they're not strangers either.

Plus, in all honesty, Randy can charm the pants right off of him. Literally.

A sly, seductive grin and a crooked finger motioning him to come over are all it takes to make Seth practically fall to his knees.

It's about an hour after another rendezvous with Randy when Seth's phone starts buzzing on the nightstand. He reaches for it and squints as he reads the number.

It's Roman, and Seth immediately pushes the covers off of him and jumps out of the bed. Roman never calls him this late unless there is something very wrong. He grabs a pair of shorts and looks over to Randy's still soundlessly sleeping form as he quietly opens the room door. He starts calling the number back and leaves the door slightly ajar behind him.

"Hey, man," Roman greets, his voice strangely quiet.

"Roman, what's wrong?" Seth asks right off the bat. He can hear the discomfort over the phone.

"I'm at the hospital," he tells him.

"You're what?!"

"I couldn't- " Roman groans, as if he's shifting his weight to find a more comfortable position in which to talk to Seth. "I couldn't walk and it hurt to move," he confesses.

"I told you- " Seth starts before Roman interrupts.

"I know you did," Roman sighs.

"Where are you?"

"Seth, you don't- " Roman dissuades.

"Where are you?" he repeats, in a tone that tells Roman not to fight him on this.

"My family's here and Renee's coming soon," Roman says.

"Roman, I swear to you that I will fucking call every hospital in this state and I will find you. You might as well tell me now and stop wasting your breath and my time," he raises his voice. Roman sighs again audibly, but grudgingly gives Seth the hospital name. Before Roman can say anything else though, Seth promises him that he'll be there soon and hangs up.

Seth grabs his stuff out of Randy's room and doesn't bother to leave a note.

Randy never does anyway.

Things change with Randy sometime in those next couple of months while Roman is out for some recovery time though.

It gets increasingly difficult trying to find the time to visit Roman now that there's one less man on the roster. If Seth's not at tapings or house shows, management asks him to make the rounds for media and press. It's exhausting and by the time he's finished everything that's asked of him, he just wants to collapse into bed and find release.

Randy is more than willing to oblige, of course.

The difference is that more often than not now, Seth wakes up to Randy's arm draped around his waist and the smell of his extremely intoxicating cologne permeating his hotel room.

This morning is no different.

Seth opens his eyes to a barrage of harsh sunlight and rolls his shoulders back to stretch them out a bit. Randy shifts suddenly and groggily mumbles out an almost incoherent "Bright…early…sleep." When he presses a soft kiss on Seth's shoulder and buries his head into Seth's neck, Seth knows he's in over his head.

They're way past being "casual."

And even though he feels safe and wanted in Randy's arms, for some reason, it just doesn't feel right.

But when Randy goes off to shoot a film for WWE sometime in November, Seth can't say that he doesn't miss Randy's presence.

Perhaps it's the companionship…the warmth of someone waking up next to you.

The feeling of being loved.

It's selfish of Seth, he's well aware, but close relationships are hard to come by for him, and even harder in a business like the WWE.

Seth never visits the movie set though – even though he could if he really wanted to – because Randy calls him a few times a week anyway.

The conversations are always trivial and short, and Seth initially thinks that Randy just calls him out of sheer boredom.

It's not until the fifth or sixth call that Randy uncharacteristically reveals that he just wants to hear the sound of Seth's voice.

So the next day, Seth picks up his phone and dials Randy for the first time.

And it's not because he feels guilty or anything.

It's because that's what they do.

And as much as Seth may not want to admit it, Randy can be a hard habit to break.

Without Randy or Roman, it's pretty uneventful backstage until the Slammys. When Roman comes back to the roster again after his recovery from surgery, everyone gathers around backstage to welcome him back.

Roman makes a short little speech about how good it feels to be back, before shaking every Superstar's hand and hugging every Diva. Everyone goes their separate ways after a few minutes, but Seth isn't surprised when Roman pulls him aside after everyone else leaves.

"I'm glad you're back," Seth grins lazily, his arms folded across his chest.

"Yeah, you said that this morning already," he teases. "And in those dozen or so texts you sent me last night."

"My phone was acting strangely," Seth says in defense, though obviously lying.

"Mmhmm. Right," Roman says knowingly, his eyes beaming. "Hey, I wanted to tell you something," he begins, placing a hand on his shoulder. "In person."

"What?" Seth asks curiously.

"You know how the guys want me to get a big push, right?"

"You need to practice some moves on me or something?" Seth asks genially.

"Maybe later," Roman smiles at the offer. Roman pauses briefly, trying to gather the right words. "They're actually having me win the Rumble. They want – they want me to hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship," Roman says, as if he is still in disbelief himself.

"That's great, dude!"

"Look man, I know you're probably pissed that you-" Roman begins.

"Shut up," Seth cuts him off, immediately understanding Roman's implication. "I'll have my time. I'll be right behind you, curb stomping your ass to get the title," he smirks.

Roman laughs heartily.

"But seriously," Seth says, his voice softening. He puts both hands on Roman's shoulders and looks him in the eye. "You deserve it."

Roman grins and wraps his arms around Seth for a tight embrace.

"I've missed you," Roman whispers.

"I missed you, too," Seth murmurs into his shirt without hesitation. Seth doesn't have to think about the words coming out his mouth because he did miss Roman.

But it isn't because of the warmth of his big bear hugs or the feeling of happiness he gets whenever Roman walks into the room and immediately comes over to him. It isn't because of some abstract yearning for love or attention or friendship.

He just missed him.

Seth feels Roman's breath tickle the back of his neck and Seth instinctively leans into his warm body and closes his eyes.

Roman doesn't let go.

This feels right.