Eric Young fidgeted. His suit really hasn't been tailored correctly, and it was uncomfortable. In his attempt to shift it so it sat more bearably, his eyes glanced down the hall - and saw Rhino approaching. He froze, his gaze darting around to see if there was a nearby locker room he could slip into.
There wasn't.
Rhino, one of the sexiest men in TNA, was heading right for him, and he was wearing a turkey suit. He cursed his damn luck, but pasted on a smile as Rhino stopped by his side. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hey." Rhino looked him up and down, grinning his quirky smile. "Love the outfit."
"Thanks." Eric fidgeted, this time from nerves. He hoped Rhino wasn't going to ask him if he liked to get stuffed, like some of the other guys jokingly had earlier. Rhino, however, was gazing at him with a look that made his heartbeat quicken.
"So," Rhino drawled, "what're your plans for tonight?"
"Oh, I faced Bobby. Robert. Well, you know," Eric answered awkwardly. "It was kinda tough, in the suit, but I did it."
Rhino chuckled. "I meant, what're your plans now?"
Eric blinked. "Getting out of the suit. As soon as one of the production assistants can come and help me."
"I can help," Rhino offered. He grinned, winking at Eric. "You are wearing something under there, right?"
Eric flushed. "Yeah," he stammered. "Uh. Ok, thanks." He turned around, letting Rhino reach the suit's zipper. Rhino unzipped it fully, then helped Eric slide the suit forward off his shoulders. "Thank you," Eric told him again, slipping off the feet and stepping out of the ridiculous outfit. "Well, uh, see ya." He turned to leave, but Rhino's voice stilled him.
"Eric."
He liked how the burly man said his name. It just sounded...nice. He turned around, swallowing as he met Rhino's gaze. "Yeah?"
Rhino ran a hand through his long, curly hair. "You wanna grab a bite to eat?" he offered. "On me tonight."
Eric froze, then he realized what Rhino actually meant. "Oh. You're paying?" he stammered.
"Yeah." Rhino offered his arm, Eric smiling at the polite gesture. He was about to take that arm, when a whirlwind seemed to strike them.
"What the HELL you think you're doin'?" demanded the cross Southern voice.
Both Rhino and Eric turned to face AJ. Eric eyed him warily, Rhino just looked annoyed. "I just wanted to congratulate you guys," Rhino explained. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd have a problem with it."
"It ain't that!" AJ threw his hands up in the air. "I know you been fuckin' my an-" He stopped himself, quickly starting again. "You been fuckin' Christopher, and pretendin' it ain't even happenin', like he's the locker room whore!"
Rhino was floored by this unexpected accusation. "AJ, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, so you ain't been fuckin' him?" AJ demanded.
Rhino was silent, glancing over at Eric. The Canadian was looking increasingly worried and uncomfortable. "AJ, can we talk about this later?" he asked softly.
"Why?" AJ snorted, his gaze falling contemptuously on Eric. "Don't wanna scare off your new little trick?"
Eric huffed, crossing his arms and pouting in the way that Rhino found so adorable. "AJ," Rhino growled, his brows drawing together, "This isn't the time or the place."
"Oh it isn't?" AJ's voice was scornful. "What is the right time? Do I have to walk in on ya fuckin'? Then will ya stop pretendin' ya wasn't usin' him the second we broke up?"
"AJ," Rhino growled warningly, looking up quickly when Eric stepped away from him.
"Look guys, I gotta go," the blonde stated, inching away from the quarrelling pair. "I - uh - I gotta return this." He snatched up the turkey suit, scurrying away before Rhino could stop him.
Rhino sighed, covering his face with his hands. "Thanks. Thanks a lot."
"You’re welcome." AJ smirked momentarily, then his face was overtaken by a frown again. "Look," he stated, pointing his finger in Rhino's face. "If ya gonna be with Daniels, ya damn well better treat him right! And that don't mean pretendin' that ya ain't even with him!"
"I'm not with him!" Rhino groaned. "AJ, we're friends, don't you get that? I'm sure Christopher told you that!"
"What I saw didn't have nothin' to do with friendship!" AJ insisted.
Rhino winced. "That time in the locker room?" he questioned, embarrassment sweeping over him at the idea of that having been witnessed. AJ's eyes narrowed, and he nodded. Rhino swallowed, not quite sure what to say in response to that revelation. "AJ, it was just - just something between friends," he tried. "I know it's not the norm, but it happened, and we needed it."
"Right." AJ shook his head, his eyes still narrow. "I don't give a damn about your shit excuses. You start treatin' him right, or you're gonna hear from me."
With that, he turned and stomped off down the hall, leaving a
flustered Rhino scowling after him.