Flames

Auntie Up, part 1

"Are you sure?" Seth kept his voice low so Roux wouldn't hear, but she was busy trying on some of Becky's sunglasses and making faces at herself in front of the bus's standing mirror. "You and Char haven't really been talking again for all that long. You don't want to get Roux's hopes up for another auntie—"

He stopped when Becky raised an eyebrow. She had been cautious about the reconciliation from the start and Seth still had doubts—a lot of them—but they were both adults and could deal with rejection. It would be harder for Roux to undestand why she didn't get to see a former auntie anymore. "Weren't you the one suggesting having her and Andrade over during the holidays?" she pointed out.

"We have a lot of people over, though. Well, not a lot," Seth amended, "but enough, and they aren't always close friends."

"I know. But it's... a gesture of good will, I guess." Becky looked past him to Roux and smiled. "I'll talk with Charlotte for a bit first, and we'll be right there if things don't go well. It's not like Char's going to try running off with her or something."

Seth rolled his eyes. "Mostly because she knows there are too many aunties here who would stop her in her tracks."

"And uncles." Becky wrapped her arms around his waist and beamed up at him. "And one wonderful, amazing, protective father. So there's nothing to worry about. Give me ten minutes or so. I'll text you if I don't think you two should come."

"Okay." Seth kissed her before she stepped back and went over to Roux. He might have said he didn't want to get Roux's hopes up, but he didn't want to dash Becky's either. She had a ton of friends on the women's roster, but the rift with Charlotte had cut deep. If she had a healthy chance of repairing it, Seth knew he should support her, even if he didn't completely agree. "So if I don't hear from you in ten...?"

Becky nodded. "Then come down." Kneeling beside Roux, she kissed her daughter's cheek. "I have to go talk with someone, okay? You and Dada can play Models and I'll catch up later."

"Okay. Wait!" Roux rummaged through a pile of sunglasses and held out a pair. "Wear these ones!" She dutifully unfolded the arms and slid them over Becky's ears.

"Now I'm ready to go," Becky declared. "Excellent choice, sweet girl." She hugged Roux and stood. "Have fun! Make sure you give Dada a good pair too!"

"These ones!" Roux tugged on Seth's hand until he crouched down beside her. Some of Becky's sunglasses didn't fit him very well, but luckily Roux had picked out a big blockish pair that he secretly liked. He suspected Roux liked them because they were mirrored and she could see herself in them. "Look, Dada!" She gestured at the big mirror. "Now you're shiny again!"

"That I am." Seth preened in front of the mirror to make Roux giggle. Becky wore outlandish things outside the ring as much as inside, but Seth still tended to default to shirts and shorts when he wasn't performing. Roux liked the flamboyant outfits, though, so he was trying to mix it up a bit. "Want to help me pick a suit to wear?" He would only be wearing it for an interview segment that night, but Roux always had fun riffling through the outfits.

"You should wear yellow," Roux declared, "for Mama."

"Let's see what we got." Picking out clothes always took a while when Roux was involved because she liked looking at all the colours and feeling the different textures, and it didn't matter whether the outfit was for herself or someone else. Seth set a ten-minute alarm on his phone just so he couldn't lose track of time and then he opened up his gear closet. He didn't keep too much on the bus, but he was bound to have something yellow in there, if only to make Becky smile. "Here's a sparkly jacket...."

"Sparkles are good." With the utmost seriousness, Roux browsed through his clothes and assembled an outfit that was surprisingly cohesive. He was changing and waiting for her to pick out shoes when he heard his phone alarm go off. "Dada! Dada! Your phone's screaming!"