Flames

Tethered, part 2

Seth knew he put more thought, more symbolism, into his gear than most. Combining his current gear with some of his old NXT trunks was probably lost on most of the audience, but maybe it would make some of them think. He certainly was, anyway. Watching how Finn was doing after going back to NXT was making quite a few of the developmental alumni consider possibly making a return run.

It certainly beat thinking about the random invasion interference in his match. And from the Lucha House Party, of all people. Creative had to know that all the no-finishes he was getting weren't doing him any favours; now people would just complain that he hadn't technically beaten Andrade. Shame, too, because Andrade was a hell of a competitor and, as Becky had reassured him, they always had incredible matches. Distantly, he wondered if dating Charlotte was keeping Andrade from being pushed for fear that people would assume it was because of the Flair connection. It was a damn shame, because the guy was talented.

Seth felt like he was exuding don't talk to me vibes pretty strongly, but it didn't stop Kevin Owens from waving him over. "Hey, Rollins." He waved his script in the air. "Looks like I'm about to get the come back to NXT sell next. After having to fight Drew, of course, so I'm freakin' tenderized."

"I guess we're an elite club." The other day, Seth had tried figuring out which of the active wrestlers currently on RAW or SmackDown hadn't come up through NXT and he couldn't think of many. It made the whole invasion angle a bit ridiculous, at least the way it was currently being played. "You joining the beat-down club too?"

"Looks like it." Kevin rolled up his script and thumped it against his leg. "You ever think about it, though? Going back? Wild days back there, but lots of good times too. I don't know if the energy would ever be like that again."

Seth tried to keep his expression casual as he shrugged. "Finn seems to be enjoying it. I guess it's like having a whole new set of potential matches. Once you've done everything there is to do up here, I guess I can see the appeal."

Kevin raised his eyebrows. "So if the offer was legit, you'd go? I thought you were RAW red through and through."

"I don't know if I'd go that far." It was the safest thing to say publicly, anyway. "But it definitely has some things in its favour." Then Seth smiled. "Good luck out there."

"Thanks, man." Kevin saluted him with his rolled-up script before wandering away.

Seth knew he was slated to run out at the very end for the invasion angle, so he didn't bother getting dressed. It has habit to walk towards the locker room, though, and he ran into Becky on his way. "Hey. Nice punch," he said, bending his neck to give her a kiss.

"He deserved it. Getting in my way and being in that garbage spot against Roman? He had it coming." Becky wrapped her arms around his waist. "You didn't have anything planned for after the show, right? Cesaro beat me for U2D2, so I told him he had to get me a fancy coffee. You're invited, of course."

"But Xavier's out." He kissed the top of Becky's head. As competitive as she was, she knew her UpUpDownDown reign was doomed to be short, but Seth was still surprised. "What game?"

Becky grimaced. "One of the Mario Karts. He was even coaching me while kicking my ass, and I still lost." Then her lips quirked into a small smile. "I was a more gracious loser than you were, though."

"She's right, Rollins. She was." Decked out in his SmackDown blue, Cesaro came up behind Becky and patted her back. "I fully expect a rematch, though. And I'll be ready, Irish."

"You better be." Becky's eyes narrowed. "Because if I have my way, it won't be a racing game. Next time, you'll be the one kneeling."

Seth had tried to wipe his shocking UpUpDownDown loss from his memory, so the ritual of crowning a new champion was somewhat fuzzy. "Hold up. You made my wife kneel to you?"