When it Reigns.♡

Will I ever be ready?..

A/N: FINALLY! Enjoy:)

(Joe's POV)
RAW- Trainers Room.

I made my way down to the Trainers room with the help of some of the EMT workers as my promo didn't go as planned, but I stuck with what I was always told by Creative. Finally making my way to a door that was labeled as "Trainer's room"... I climbed onto the soft bed while avoiding pain from my throbbing back as well as greeting Dr. Heck. I told them the ongoing issues with back pain as they did the best they could to help me out.

Suddenly, a soft knock was heard on the door and I didn't recall having visitors but through the door came Mercedes...she took my pain away as she came in with a concerned look on her face.

"Joe, are you okay?" She asked me as I slightly nodded trying to not alarm her with the crucial pain I was really feeling. "I'm okay, this is what I sign up for as a superstar and I'm sure you know that...Thank you for checking up on me when you didn't need too, that's something I can appreciate from you considering that it shows that you care." I said in response while flashing out a bright smile.

She came over to me and gave me a hug to reassure that I was okay and that gave me a new view to look at. I quietly whispered "Thank you precious." Soon after, she walked out with a blush I noticed on her face while they continued to wrap up my back and ribs with some special treatment.

After RAW ended, surprisingly. . .Vince came up to me with paperwork which had me wondering if I made a mistake or if a punishment was waiting for me. To my surprise, the Chairman offered me the rest of the week off from house shows and special treatment towards transportation which was odd. I asked him and said "Sir, thank you for this kind hospitality but why are you offering me this?" Vince responded and said "Well, a certain someone brought to my attention that you're a major profit and what the way we booked you for tonight was not right due to the fact that you worked your ass off for the last few weeks." He said which made me wonder who that certain someone was. Nonetheless, I thanked him and hurried off in a scurry to the Men's locker room to great Colby and Jon.

"Hey dude! You good?" Jon said in a serious tone which was a rare side shown from him but I told them that I would be fine. "Hey guys, Vince came up to me after I got done with my treatment and he gave me the rest of the week off as well as paid transportation without me spending a dime but what got me curious is that he mentioned saying a person is the reason I'm getting this...it's odd but do you guys know anything about this?" I said trying to solve this mystery on who would do such a kind thing for me. In the back of my mind, never in a million years would I expect someone to risk their job to stand up for me but who? That's all I wanted to know.

"Well, I might've saw something and it might be connected somehow? Anyways, we were all gathered in the gorilla as we watched you do your promo and the beatdown you got from Braun and surprisingly out of nowhere, Mercedes was really pissed off at that for whatever reason and she told us that she had some "business" to take care of but I don't know to the extent of the detail what she was stating." Colby said as I lingered onto every word he said. This only made things harder in reality, what if it is Mercedes? Or what if that wasn't the business she was talking about and if I went up to her to thank her for something she didn't, I would probably embarrass myself.

"Although that helps Colby, that still doesn't clarify it fully but thanks for helping." I said before John Cena overheard us and walked towards our direction.

"Joe, what Colby is saying is accurate and I think I can help you out with this. You see, I watched your promo and left the gorilla position to go to catering and as I was making my way back to the gorilla, I took corridor B so I could make it here faster for my match and as I was walking I spotted Mercedes walking into the Chairman's office, so to my guess. . .I'd say that Mercedes is the one that did you the deed." He said while leaving the locker room with his luggage.
Jon then chimed in with a stupid remark and said "Duuuudeee! This is the most cheesiest thing I've ever witnessed, I have a feeling that Mercedes wants some desert from you! I mean look at you, who wouldn't want the Big dog to eat them out?" He said while I shook my head in disgust and Colby happily slapped him across the head.

Meanwhile, I said my goodbyes to my brothers as I would be going to the hotel earlier than expected due to Vince's offer but before I could do anything. . . . I had to say a thank you to Mercedes.

In a quest for a woman who had magenta hair, I didn't think it would be hard to spot her as I started to search for her, heading into the Women's direction. Once doing so, I spotted her sitting on a crate while it seemed like she was using her phone which was a perfect moment to scare her and have some alone time with her...I silently made my way to her and said "Boo!"

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(Mercedes POV)

"Okay....I totally blushed in front of him!". I said being such a fan girl as my friends, Becky and Charlotte continued to bother me with questions about Joe and my encounter with him in the Trainer's room.

It was mainly Becky asking all the questions about if we were ever going to be together but my suspicion grew as Charlotte remained slightly silent but still chimed in every time she could. "Sash'! Roman is like a cyborg....I mean like a beast! Have you felt his muscles yet? Have you touched his hair...wait! You could just take a specimen of his hair and we can clone him! Haha, just kidding....or am I? Ahh! I know he's the one for you". Becky said while rambling, I just laughed at her planned stupidity and gave both of my friends hugs and left the Women's locker room to sit at a crate left of the building and have some alone time to watch my old matches and think about life itself.

I heard a sudden sound and a "Boo" which knocked me off my crate and made me drop my phone. . .I was mad at the person but when I turned around, I no longer had anger but a butterflies overfilled my body. "Oh, hey Joe. You scared the shit out of me". I said while he was being his gentleman self by picking up my phone and apologizing for the scare.

"Sorry Mercedes, I just wanted to come find you and it would be boring if I just walked over like a normal person." He sarcastically said while chuckling. Gosh, his smile and laugh was contagious...I tried so hard to hide the fact that my cheeks were hot and I was on the verge of blushing. "Well, I was doing nothing just having some alone time to myself like I always do but did you need something? Oh and how is your back feeling?" I questioned as I really wondered if he came to find me just because or that he wanted something from me. Either way, my heart was happy that he was here and present.

"Actually, I did come for a specific reason and my back is doing better, thanks for asking." He said while I asked what that reason was. "And?" I said. "Did you by any chance happen to defend me and risk your job for me to get a week off and rest?" He asked as I shyly said "Yes".

"Mercedes, thank you. Nobody has ever risked their job to do such a thing...especially for me. But I'm curious about it, why would you do that for me?" He said.

The question that I had avoided this whole time was finally asked. Why? I just wanted to say that the reason I did it was that I liked him but what if he didn't like me back? I would make a complete fool of myself and I wasn't ready to get my heart shattered once again. "Oh, yeah no problem. It was something that Creative messed up on and I saw it as flaw that was unfair to you so I couldn't let it continue." I said making a bold lie to his face while flashing out a fake smile.

"Regardless, thank you hun. Whatever you need, I'll be here for you like you have been." He said while giving me a tight hug before walking off in the other direction. That was a chance I could've told him, but I wasn't ready to risk my vulnerability...will I ever be ready? Will Joe ever know how I really feel about him? Those are many unanswered questions in my life that bothered me as I walked back to my locker room to stay there for the duration of RAW.