i just keep thinking about og bloodline zakoa. all the headcanon possibilities.
sami sees solo and he sees someone quiet, someone strong, someone loyal, someone inexplicably sad all the time. that's what he sees first. but with the sheer amount of time sami spends with the bloodline, he sees so much more than that.
he sees the usos picking on solo every chance they get, he sees roman ordering solo around like a bodyguard, hears them all barely ever acknowledge that solo's a part of the family and not just the guard dog. he also sees solo's sarcastic side, the little jokes he makes when he's only trying to make himself laugh, the way he clings to everything he owns like it'll disappear any second now, the way he doesn't even bother asking for help, the way no one offers it. he sees the snacks solo prefers, the way he frowns when he tastes something he doesn't like, the way he clings to his own clothes every time the lights go out, as if resisting the urge to cling to someone else. every subtle gesture of distress, hidden to near perfection as if he's afraid of his own family exploiting any potential weakness.
sami notices the small things. he can't help it. and he does what he can. he mentions solo whenever he can, tries to include him in the conversation. checks in on him after fights. buys the snacks that he likes, quietly reminds him that he doesn't have to eat the ones he doesn't. asks roman if he can keep a small light on, y'know, just because he wants to read before going to sleep. but he feels solo's gaze on him, finding that light like a moth, staring at it when he drifts off, the image of sami zayn comfortingly visible.
[[GIF NOT MINE! ALL DIVIDERS MADE BY CAFEKITSUNES]]
Warnings: family drama, mentions of samijey, angst (Sami is torn between Jey and Solo), past relationships, first kiss, and hurt comfort.
Word count: 2,468
Authors note: uhm, because of the lack of any content? I thought their dynamic was always cute and now with Solo as tribal chief I'm even more curious to explore it.
Summary: After an intense confrontation with Jey leaves Sami reeling, he seeks out to play his ever present peacemaker role. And meeting Solo again in his new tribal chief role brings up unresolved and old emotions for both parties.
“Well Sami, you wouldn't understand. ‘Cause you're not family, uce.”
Those words stung worse than any hit he had ever taken, like a knife had been dug directly into his heart. It burned his soul and brought a downcasted feeling to his very being like Jey had spit on everything the two of them had created. Just months ago they were teaming with each other to face common threats. The weight lifted from their shoulders with the departure of Roman and Sami had proudly watched the color return to Jey's face as he flourished without his cousin.
It had positively elated Sami like no other watching him holding aloft his first singles championship after defeating Bron. He remembered how enthusiastically he had embraced and eagerly calmed down Jey from the overwhelming emotions of winning. He remembered holding him and getting lost in joy seeing the light on his eyes. Jey was happy.
And so was he.
But as Roman and Jimmy slowly began to make their way back into the picture it almost felt like a switch had been pulled in Jey. To Sami he had a hunch that even with months away from Roman there was a part of Jey who still lurked with those old right hand man tendencies. The aggression, the hatred, the compliance, and the cruelty that Roman had groomed. All of it was still there even under the fact Jey had gotten away.
Perhaps he was being a bit quick to pin the blame but he wouldn't be all to surprised if Jimmy's presence and influence was already weaseling its way back into Jey's mind. He knew his twin was temperamental and sometimes didn't always think with his head before doing things, but even more so now it seemed the older Uso’s hostility had gotten worse. Could you blame him for not trusting Sami after he betrayed Roman? It was only fair it seemed like he had spit on the family that he had been let into.
A part of him believed that perhaps Jimmy may never understand the full layers of trauma inflicted on him and Jey by staying in Roman's presence. A part of him wished he could see under the armor and hoped a part of Jimmy knew everything Roman had done was wrong even if he was to hard headed to see it now.
But now after fretting his very well intentioned worry to Jey over the situation he was instead met with aggression and hostility where there had been none for months. And it had scared him into silence even staring as he saw the flicker of regret linger on those hazel eyes before he was left reeling. His relationship with Jey since leaving the Bloodline had really been up in a debate due to his friendship (fragile) with Kevin and Jey's independence now trying to solidify his singles career. They had been on and off dating? If you could call what they did dating due to their schedules and now the current family situation that had been boiling since Bad Blood.
They had always been super affectionate whether it being hugs or kisses. He knew Jey was still recovering just as he was from Roman's hold so they had been taking it slow and when Jey had requested he needed time he had respectfully agreed. Both of them in stress for different reasons but reasons all the same with people they cared about.
However what he couldn't wrap his head around was Jimmy and Roman spewing and hammering the idea that Solo was the worst. The more or less lesser of evil as Sami saw it. He wasn't stupid or blinded by his past with Roman nor as much as he loved Jey would he allow it to cloud his judgment. He knew Solo was far from being worse than the treatment that everyone in the Bloodline had received by the hands of the OTC. Solo never used his power to manipulate, he didn't rule through fear for his Bloodline, he didn't cheat much, never gaslighting, and he never treated anyone with less respect than he expected to himself. Yet he was the bad guy here.
Sami and Solo had been close in the original Bloodline during his time teaming and becoming close with the rest of the men. He had always known Solo as the quiet guy only ever being the one to carry out the dirty work. Though he knew Solo was destined for greatness the moment he came to NXT. He remembered how delighted he was just to see the smallest quirk of his lips from his silly quips or jokes and how excited he had become when Solo called him, ‘his dawg.’ If anything to Sami he knew somewhere in that cold demeanor that Solo cared maybe even had loved him as family too.
But now standing backstage aimlessly walking he felt lost in what to do in the midst of what seemed like the reforming of the original Bloodline. It all felt surreal and to him he was frustrated, so frustrated. He was afraid even for Jimmy because for the past few SmackDown’s and PLE’s Roman had shown no changes let alone uttered the word ‘i’m sorry’ to either Jimmy or Jey. He wanted to shake sense into the younger twin because he saw how unapologetic Roman remained on not being any different then the man that had caused so much heartache.
The man who drove away his own family.
Sami was so lost in his own turmoil and mind that he hadn't processed the fact someone was calling his name till now. He slowed his pace and blinked back the raging storm in his mind as he turned to gaze behind himself and frowned. And to his surprise there was the man himself, someone he hadn't talked to since he had betrayed the Bloodline.
Solo.
To his surprise it wasn't an aggressive or hostile approach like his brothers and cousin, it was open and relaxed. His stance comfortable and radiating a confidence Sami had never seen in his time as the enforcer. It was pleasing to see how much Sikoa had grown into his own as the new Tribal Chief and even more so to see him free of the position that he and previously the Uso's had believed was holding him back.
“Solo, hey man.” Zayn chuckled feeling a bit awkward at first as he ran a hand over the neck of his neck and gave an apologetic smile as he shifted to his feet. “Listen, about Roman and the betrayal I-” He had began feeling the need to bury the hatchet and give an apology that was needed or so he felt was. But to his surprise he was cut short by Solo holding up a finger to quiet him as he shook his head.
“No Sami, that's not necessary.” Solo started with a monotone tone that wasn't rude, just a bit firm in the way he said it. He raised a hand to rub his jaw as he stepped forward and gazed up towards Sami with a serious look. “I don't care about what you did, I understand.” He added calmly and gave a half smile as he lowered his hand back to his side.
Sami felt a bit of relief tug on his heart but his nerves still danced at the sight of the Tongans and especially from the intense almost feral stare down from the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu. He was still wary about Solo's new Bloodline despite the non aggressive (mostly) way they handled themselves and the unfamiliarity of the cousins Solo had brought in.
Solo, having caught on to the unease and slight fidget under the gaze of his Bloodline, gave a short chuckle. He turned his head and gave a small gesture to Jacob who lessened his murderous stare and opted to look on readily. “Hey, don't let them intimidate you, Sam. They are harmless and they're with me.” He reassured him holding a hand in a dirt of placating gesture. “These are my cousins, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.” He stepped slightly to the side and gestured a hand out.
Tama nodded his head in response and grinned widely as he kept his hands folded in front of himself while his brother Tonga simply nodded. The pair of them a famous tag team Sami has heard of a few times from NJPW and from Cody from time to time. They were mostly quiet and just there it seemed, so unlike the energy he had felt from Jimmy and Jey constant almost bubby energy. They were calm and focused nothing to out of note except the odd growling and sounds Tama occasionally gave out.
“And this.” Solo smiled proudly and placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder as he looked at Sami. “Is Jacob, he's my enforcer and another one of my cousins.” He nodded and patted the tense man with a proud look.
Jacob flipped his dreads out his face almost too aggressively and gave a small grunt of acknowledgement as he stood there. Seemingly always on edge or ready for a fight as he moved his leg slightly restlessly at his side as he eyed the Canadian with an underlying suspension but made no comment.
Sami still felt no more relaxed but in all honesty he trusted Solo’s judgment and that proud smile almost made him want to grin too. It seemed so foreign to watch the stoic former enforcer smile and joke so freely like his brothers. It made Sami wonder if Solo had been keeping a part of himself hidden under the leadership of Roman just to keep up appearances. Though now seeing him so relaxed and happy made him feel the same amount of pride as he had for Jey. At least some more good had come out of his betrayal.
“Yeah well I'm so glad to see you coming into your own Solo. You deserved everything, especially being tribal chief.” Sami smiled earnestly with a heartfelt tone as he gestured towards the ula fala Solo now adorned. “My tribal chief.” He added a bit cheekily as he grinned a bit, feeling his heart race at the way Sikoa seemed to perk up and puff up proudly from the acknowledgement.
Solo nodded in approval and looked to both sides of him, getting a nod from both Tongans as he gave a genuine laugh. “See! It's not hard but everyone seems to think it's impossible. Still acknowledging Roman like he ain't done anything wrong.” He scoffed and shook his head feeling frustrated with people still hating him despite him not doing anything to be hateable in his eyes.
“I feel like I'm in a crazy dream when I heard the others act like you had set the plague or something compared to Roman.” Sami nodded along feeling like he was finally heard as he expressed his frustrations to the younger sibling. His eyes still wary and his tone tired as he sighed, rubbing his temples just shaking his head. “I dunno Solo, Jey is acting all hostile again and Jimmy acts like I'm still the worst..and I just..” He sighed letting his shoulders slump in defeat as he resigned himself to the idea that Jey might just fall back into old habits.
Solo seeing this had softened and sighed as he nodded along with a disappointed yet knowing look in his eyes. His gaze sympathetic as he stepped forward and placed his hands on Sami's shoulders gently but firmly. “You are family to me Sam, my dawg…everything.” He empathized, squeezing his shoulders and ducked his gaze trying to catch Sami's eyes. “I want you in my Bloodline Sami, I know tensions are high and you want to be with Jey when this is all said and done but we both know Roman ain't no different then when you left.”
The sincerity in his tone and words caught him by surprise and he felt the hurt get a bit of balm soothed by the blonde as he was speaking. His logical side screamed to agree and let things play out but still his heart was he might betray Jey worse and drive him more into Roman by joining Sikoa. Though a deeper more pained side of himself reared its head and he felt anger and frustration from the stress bubbling dangerously.
Was this the right call?
Sami ultimately felt his resolve waver and his emotions washed over him as his eyes locked with the intense yet soft gaze of Solo. His heart torn but knowing that he'd only hurt himself more by letting himself be lured back into Roman's Bloodline. The actions to both to Kevin and Jey, three years of trauma and torment. He loved Jey but he was tired and the family drama felt like a weight he couldn't escape even now.
His own body worked accordingly almost on autopilot as he leaned forward and hugged Solo feeling a sense of comfort wash over his battered soul feeling the tight yet real hug given by the new tribal chief. It was full of more love and meaning than Reigns had ever tried to give in the past. Was he really evil? He felt his body melt slightly as he closed his eyes, giving a shaky sigh as he frowned, feeling Solo's gloved fingers thread through his ginger locks.
The warm and firmness of the bigger Samoan was grounding and he felt his stress slowly melting as the ghost of a shiver run up his back when Solo's breath fanned over his ear. His words soft spoken comfort and reassurance as he gazed over Sami's shoulder to share a silent message to the other members of his Bloodline.
Zayn hadn't even registered what was happening till he felt tentative yet gentle fingers running in his beard and cupping his cheeks with the smooth gloves. His eyes flicking to meet the stoic gaze that was Solo and for a moment his heart skipped and he swallowed thickly as the other man leaned forward and ghosted a tentative kiss to his lips before pulling back. It almost seemed fearful and hesitant as if expecting rejection but softening seeing none. Solo was much more soft and affectionate then Sami had expected especially since in their time in the Bloodline there wasn't a lot of tension at least he hadn't felt it unless he never noticed Sikoa’s attraction.
It was wrong but…
It felt nice.
But unnoticed by the group there was a figure standing at the corner of the hallway staring on at the interaction. Their hand tightening into the temple of pink ‘yeet’ glasses making them creak under the pressure till they turned and stalked off silently down the other way.
