Flames

Messiah, Complex, part 1

"Should I be worried?" Becky laughed when Seth jumped a bit as she wrapped her arms around him from behind. "It looks like you have a new favourite ginger." Still grinning at his reaction, she peeked around his arm to look at Buddy Murphy, who was chatting with Akam and Rezar.

Seth turned around as much as he could and kissed her. "Never." Then he rested his chin on her head. "Hey, guys? I'm gonna take a few minutes with my wife, okay?" Keeping his arms around her waist, Seth shuffled her backwards out the door and into the corridor. "Buddy and I are winning the tag titles tonight," he reported. Normally they went to Creative together and talked about their respective matches afterward, but Paul Heyman had snagged Seth not long after they arrived and they hadn't had much chance to talk since.

Becky raised an eyebrow. "You two? Not AOP? They're planting the seeds of discontent a little bit early, aren't they?" Anyone who had watched WWE for long enough could spot the patterns in their storytelling.

"Yeah. Maybe they'll put us up against Undisputed Era before we split, though." Seth shrugged and kissed her again. Then he pulled back enough to show her his new shirt design. For him, it had an uncharacteristic amount of colour, but the stained-glass effect worked with the Monday Night Messiah gimmick. "What do you think?"

Leaning back to get a better look, Becky made a face. "Don't really care for it. You should take it off." He blinked in stunned confusion until she added, "The skinny jeans too. Once Batista wore them, it ruined the look forever. They have to go."

"Really? What else has to go?" Seth rolled his eyes as he pulled her closer, but she could tell from his chuckle that he didn't mind the teasing. "The leather jacket?"

Becky shook her head quickly. "No, no, that stays. The entourage has to go for sure. And—"

Seth cut her off with a kiss. "You're partly responsible for the gimmick, you know." She must have looked confused, because Seth laughed. "Do I need to redo your playlist again?" Every few weeks, he would add a bunch of music to her phone: new songs he thought she'd like, ones that reminded him of her, music for her workouts. "She's A God?"

"Oh." Becky tucked her head into his shoulder. The song was catchy enough and she had to admit she still had it on her phone, but the New Day had bugged her about it non-stop when Seth had first tweeted about it. "No. No, no, you don't get to pin your heel turn on me. . . ."

When she tried to pull away, though, Seth kept her close, singing into her hair. "I'm her chosen one/ She's my deity/ And she's saving me—"

"Stop it." Becky burrowed in closer to his chest, trying to hide, but Seth stepped back, took her face in both hands, and kissed her long enough that they were both a bit dizzy after. "You need to . . . to stop and go win those belts so we're champ champs again and then we can work on getting rid of that shirt."

"So you're saying I need to wear it more often? Because that's what I'm hearing—" Seth turned when someone cleared their throat, and they saw Buddy pointing toward a waiting camera crew. "Shit. Promo time." He gave Becky a quick last kiss before stepping away. "Keep working on that list. Maybe you'll give me some ideas for your birthday. . . ."

Becky laughed to herself as Seth, Buddy, and the Authors of Pain followed the camera crew to the staging point for their promo. The Royal Rumble was right around the corner and it was almost her and Seth's one-year dating anniversary; with all that on her mind, she had almost forgotten her birthday entirely. So much had changed in that time. Not even a year ago, they were sneaking around arenas, trying to find quiet corners where they could steal some time—and kisses—before a show; now, not even six months after Seth proposed, they were still being congratulated on their engagement. There was no guarantee she'd be able to keep her belt much longer—WWE didn't like the belt staying with one person for a year . . . unless that person was Brock Lesnar, apparently—but she knew she didn't need a title to make 2020 amazing. After so many years of chasing after success and happiness, she finally had both at the same time.

When she turned to go back to the women's locker room, Becky spotted Charlotte and jogged to catch up to her. "Ready for the Rumble?" she asked. "I won't be able to eliminate you this time."

Charlotte laughed as she pulled Becky into a hug. "Then maybe I'll get to win. Though I keep hearing rumours about Ronda returning. . . ."

The mere mention of Rousey made them both grimace. The Evolution pay-per-view and main event of WrestleMania had been incredible, but it felt like Vince had largely forgotten about the women's division ever since Ronda had left. "For me or for you?" Becky asked with a twinge. If she hadn't skyrocketed in popularity, WrestleMania would have been Charlotte versus Ronda, so she could see Vince trying to book his dream match again.

"Who knows?" Charlotte adjusted the sleeves of her ring robe before kissing Becky's cheek. "I know you won't want me to break character and wish you a happy birthday on Twitter or anything, but am I at least allowed to call you?" Then she gave her friend a wicked grin. "Or is Seth planning to keep you to himself all week?"

Becky gave an exaggerated shrug. "Not a clue. He hasn't told me to have my passport handy, so I'm guessing whatever he has planned is in the States. But I'll always have time for a call." She hugged Charlotte again before stepping back and winking. "Or I'd at least call you back after."

Charlotte burst out laughing. "That's more like it. Well, I can always call and text the day of, and then just take you out for drinks when you're back. Messiah or not, he can't keep me from my Thelma for too long."

"I'm still waiting on that match, you know: Charlotte versus Seth Rollins," Becky teased. Even though they were both on the same show, it felt like they barely saw each other anymore.

"I'm not worried. I gave you jewellery way before he did," Charlotte scoffed. "I have dibs. Catch you later, Becks." Becky watched Charlotte head off to her interview and lingered in the hall for a moment, realizing she didn't have anything pressing to do. It was rare for her these days and she headed for the viewing area so she could take advantage of the lull. With all the Royal Rumble talk about potential returnees, Becky found herself wanting to reconnect with people who were already there more and more. It had taken almost six years for her and Seth to find the right moment, after all, so there was no telling how many friendships could be waiting in the wings.