Post break-up, the one thing Trevor was concerned about the most was what happened between he and Adam interfering with his job. They wrestle each other endlessly and Trevor could probably book a match with the man in his sleep. So, of course, them being broken up shouldn't have changed their work relationship, right?
Trevor should've known by now it wasn't that easy.
"Stop, stop, stop," Hunter calls out after watching Trevor and Adam, the first two participants in the WarGames match, botch a sequence for the third time. "Do either of you remember what's supposed to come next?"
Trevor rubs the back of his neck, glancing at Adam. "It was a hurricanrana, yeah?"
Adam meets his eyes briefly, then looks down at his feet. "No, I think it was an arm drag."
Hunter pinches at the bridge of his nose, then signals for them to come over with the clipboard in his hand. The rest of the guys in the match are already in their cages on the stage, and Trevor's glad they're not here to witness what has to be the equivalent of a parental scolding.
Trevor gets out of the ring through the middle ropes as Adam slides underneath them, sitting on the apron while Trevor hops down to the floor, crossing his arms over his chest. Hunter looks in between them with a furrowed brow. "What's going on," he asks, sounding every bit like a concerned dad. "Usually, you two are raring to go when you step in the ring with one another, and now it looks like you're not even trying to half-ass your way through it."
"That's on me," Adam speaks up, a hand to his chest. "I'm just having an off day, but as soon as you put me in the ring, I'll be ready. Promise."
"It's not all on Adam," Trevor says, because even though he's still hurt, it doesn't seem fair to heap all the blame on him. Trevor can feel Adam's eyes on him, but he keeps his gaze trained on Hunter. "I keep forgetting certain spots, but that won't happen in the match."
Hunter sizes them up for a moment, then catches Trevor completely off guard with what he says next. "Listen, I know this isn't my place, but I've been hearing some rumors that you two may have broken up. Any truth to that?"
Trevor opens his mouth, but snaps it closed subsequently. Hunter's right, it's not his place. But Trevor's not gonna be the one to tell him that, so he opts to say nothing at all. Man, when did he turn into a petulant teenager?
When it's clear that they aren't going to respond, Hunter says, "Okay. I respect you choosing to stay silent, as it is your business after all. But this match has to be booked. So, whatever's going on, it needs to be worked out by tomorrow, understood?"
"Yes, sir," the two men echo.
Hunter nods, glancing down at his clipboard and releasing a sigh. "Until then, I'm calling an audible. Trevor, I'm taking you and Kyle out of tonight's six-man for a singles bout."
Trevor would object, but he could use the break to get his head on straight if he's being honest. Adam, on the other hand, looks utterly disbelieving. "What?" He slides off the apron with wide eyes. "Hunter, Trevor and I can wrestle each other just fine with no problems."
"Then prove it tomorrow," Hunter retorts, leaving no room for argument. He starts heading towards Kyle to inform him of this change, throwing over his shoulder, "You'll thank me later."
+
Trevor's a professional. He's a professional and he wants this match to go well, so he refuses to let his and Adam's break-up get in the way of everyone shining in the main event of this Takeover.
It's why he's the one to reach out to Adam and has him meet him at the arena so that they can work out their first sequence. Everyone else should be here soon, but as it stands, it's just the two of them. Trevor chooses to skip the pleasantries and get straight to work and what they put together is a lot better than the clumpy mess they were involved in yesterday.
Their in-ring chemistry isn't going away any time soon, even if Trevor's still hurting and looking at Adam only reminds him of what he's lost. Adam himself is noticeably quiet through it all. He gives some input here and there, but it's nowhere near the level of involvement he usually has when booking their matches. The way he always taps into this creative part of his mind is like—Trevor realizes the road he's going down and puts a stop to it.
When every move has clicked into place as well as it's going to, Trevor goes to the opposite side of the ring, his back to Adam as he catches his breath. "That was good," Trevor says, stare focused on the crew finishing up the set design. "Should come together nicely with everything else, huh?"
Adam doesn't answer right away. Then, "I'm sorry, Trevor."
Trevor debates on pretending he doesn't know what he's talking about, but ultimately decides against it. He's tired of the games. Especially since they got them in this shit. He sighs deeply, turning around to face Adam and leaning casually against the ropes, even though his heart is beating a mile a minute. "You said that already."
Adam's head bobs as he wrings his hands, but he doesn't break eye contact. "I know, but it doesn't hurt to say it again." Adam huffs out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "The bet was stupid and childish. I should've asked you out from the start. If you had said no, that would've been fine. But I manipulated you into saying yes, which was shitty and wrong, and I wish that I could take it back."
"I broke your trust," Adam continues. "And you're right to be angry with me, but I just want you to know how sorry I am."
A chuckle leaves Trevor's mouth, dry and humorless as he shakes his head. "It's not funny, but I've been down this road before. And Johnny tried to tell me for the second time not to go down it, but I didn't listen. I guess that's what I get."
With his head tilted to the side, Adam's eyes are questioning as he stares at Trevor, who finally decides to come clean. "Back in PWG, around 2013, I was pathetically in love with you."
It shouldn't be that easy to confess something that heavy. But it's like ripping off a band-aid and Trevor feels a little bit lighter. Like the hurt weighing on him is lifting, albeit slowly.
Adam, however, looks like his world has come crashing down. "You..." he trails off, eyes searching Trevor's face. When Adam finds what he's looking for, his shoulders slump and his eyes lower to the mat. His voice is barely above a whisper when he speaks. "I never knew."
"Maybe that was for a reason," Trevor insists, hands slipping into the pockets of his basketball shorts. "Maybe it was a sign that we shouldn't have tempted fate because it leaves us like this."
Adam picks his head up, stare forlorn as he holds his arms out to the side. "What is this, Trevor?"
Trevor lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "This was a misunderstanding."
"Please don't say that," Adam pleads quickly. "That would imply that the way I feel about you is a misunderstanding and it's not," he assures, closing the distance between them, careful not to reach out. "I know it's not, because I felt this way before the bet. Before the game, before all the other shit I screwed up."
Trevor removes his hands from his pocket, crossing his arms over his chest as he watches Adam curiously. "What are you talking about?"
Adam looks around frustratedly, before cutting his eyes back to Trevor with a determined gleam in them. "Do you remember in May when I came to you and Akira's apartment for the first time?"
Trevor nods through his confusion, saying nothing as he waits to see how this will play out.
"That day, after Akira let me in and directed me to your room, you didn't know I was there because your back was to me," Adam tells him. "You were unpacking, so I leaned against the door frame and debated whether I should mess with you or not. Then you started singing."
After he says this, a fond smile spreads across Adam's face. "There was no music playing, but you were singing 'The Way You Do the Things You Do' by The Temptations. I remember thinking in that moment how cliché it would've been for me to tell you that, even though you hadn't put a light bulb in yet, you lit up the room just fine."
Hearing Adam describe something Trevor has a vague recollection of so vividly is jarring in the best way. Adam clears his throat, trying to suppress his grin. "When you glanced over your shoulder to spot me, you weren't embarrassed that I had caught you singing. In fact, you put me to work opening the pack of light bulbs."
"Then I asked if you needed help with anything else. I'll never forget that you told me I could touch anything in the room expect you and your music. And even now I can't explain it, but that's when I knew." All traces of amusement have faded from his face as Adam confesses, "That's when I knew I loved you, Trevor."
"I..." Trevor starts, but words escape him. Years ago, hearing that would've been music to his ears. Now, his mind is still conflicted, and he doesn't know what to say. I love you, too. I want to be with you. No. Trevor's got more things to work out and he can't just declare something like that. Even if it may very well be the truth.
So, Trevor lies. He's not sure if it's because it's easier or he's a masochist. Maybe a little of both. "I can't be sure of my feelings right now." With an awkward bow of his head, Trevor adds, "Good luck tonight."
Trevor doesn't allow himself to wait for a response as he slips out of the ring to leave, but the way he catches Adam's entire face fall is something that'll stay with him for a while.
+
The WarGames match isn't flawless, as no match is, but it comes together better than Trevor could've ever imagined. The crowd eats it up and Hunter is pleased, so that's worth noting. Trevor is too, even as he gripped his title in one hand and held his surely bruised ribs with the other while he and Pete celebrated on top of the cage.
Backstage, battered but victorious, Trevor lets his friends crowd around him, alternating between congrats and worry. He assures them he's okay as they take turns hugging him close and scanning him for signs of injury. As Trevor's moving his chin out of Johnny's doting grip, he locks eyes with Adam across the room, sharing an embrace with Undisputed Era.
Adam looks so tired and shaken, and Trevor can imagine just how hard it must have hit him when Trevor performed that double rotation moonsault off the top of the cage. Even from here, he can swear he sees the fear etched into Adam's eyes. The ghost of worry slithering across his face. And Trevor is still unsure of where they should stand and he's in so much pain, he just wants to sink into his bed and sleep for days.
But he can't deny that despite everything, he still loves Adam. Trevor doesn't want him to suffer any more than he would want to.
With one more nod of reassurance at his friends, he pats Johnny's shoulder once before moving over to Adam at the slowest of paces. Adam's eyes widen slightly upon seeing him approaching and he lets his hands drop from around Kyle's waist. When the rest of the guys notice him, they back up to give them some space.
Trevor stops a few aching feet away from Adam and longs to close the distance. There are so many ways this could go, Trevor realizes, but for once he doesn't want to overthink things. Especially when the overthinking involves something as harmless as a hug. So, he saves himself the mental gymnastics and tiredly falls into Adam's arms.
It takes no time at all for Adam's arms to slip around Trevor's waist, and he relaxes in his embrace, squeezing him gently. "Fuck, I thought I was gonna lose you," he confesses with a whisper in Trevor's ear.
"Hey, my heart's still beating, baby," Trevor replies with a tired chuckle. He lets his eyes close, resting his head against Adam, who's still shaken, as he exhales deeply. Trevor's voice softens with his next words. "Don't worry. I'm still here."