Flames

Lemons and Lumps, part 2

If you can't be on last, go out first. Seth had heard so many incarnations of that advice that he had forgotten most of them, but that didn't make it any less true. Everyone wanted to be in the main event slot, but if you couldn't be, the next best one was the first match so you could set the tone. At Payback, he and Becky would be bookending the event, with her cage match against Trish opening the night and his championship match against Shinsuke closing. "Take some pity on an old man, would you?" he quipped as he gave her a parting kiss backstage. "Don't set the bar too high for the night."

"You're tall," Becky replied, letting the kiss linger. "You can clear it, I'm sure."

Shinsuke, naturally, picked just that moment to turn the corner. "I'm even taller," he pointed out with a cheeky grin.

Becky waved a warning finger at him, but paired it with a wink—or at least her approximation of one—so Shinsuke knew she was only having fun. "You watch yourself," she warned playfully. "You know Roux has pull backstage."

"Indeed." Shinsuke gave a little bow. "I wouldn't want to upset the little queen."

"Or the big one," Seth advised, giving Becky one last kiss before stepping back. "Have fun out there."

"Always do." Then she turned and smiled at Shinsuke. "The little queen isn't here," she said, "but it's best not to mess with the big one either."

Seth pointed to his chest. "I just said that. Trust me, I know. I've learned." He watched Becky head for Gorilla and then turned to Shinsuke. "I'm looking forward to this, man. It's been way too long since you were in the title hunt."

Shinsuke nodded. "It's been too long since some titles were defended." Then he quirked an eyebrow and bowed again, continuing on his way.

Uncharacteristically alone, Seth looked around the backstage area. What the hell did I used to do before Becky and I got together? he wondered as he headed off to one of the viewing areas. He would go meet Becky after her match—especially since she would probably need to visit Medical and not want to go—but he didn't want to get in the way in Gorilla. I know I didn't sit around chatting in Catering, so how the fuck did I pass the time?

He wasn't surprised to see most of the viewing areas were full, reduced to standing room only. The decision to leave Becky and Trish off the SummerSlam card hadn't been a popular one, and women's cage matches were still a rarity; back in Trish's era, they hadn't really happened at all, so the veteran was both grateful for the opportunity and understandably anxious. Raquel turned to say something to Rhea and noticed Seth out of the corner of her eye. "Hey, Becky's husband," she grinned, starting to rise. "Want a seat to watch your wife tear it down?"

Seth shook his head. "I'm good, thanks. I need to stretch my legs out anyway." He leaned against the back wall and politely refused a few more offers for seats. Even after people got the hint, though, they were turning around and asking him questions or coming over for a quick chat. The Becky Factor strikes again, he marvelled. She was such a natural at dealing with people, and somehow just being with her made him more approachable in others' eyes. He didn't quite understand it, but he found he didn't mind; now that they had Roux, he was going to have to deal with a lot more people anyway—the nanny, teachers, parents of her friends. Practice makes perfect, he thought as he chatted with a referee about his favourite cage match while keeping his gaze on the viewing screen.

Becky had been so upset when her match with Trish wasn't on SummerSlam, so concerned that yet another women's non-title feud—one with a legend, no less—was being swept aside. Now their match was kicking off an event and was in a cage—something Trish had never done. He understood her frustration with the stagnation in the division, but hoped she was able to see the progress she was helping forge. She was usually her own worst enemy in that regard, though.