Flames

Messiah, Complex, part 2

What a difference a year makes. Seth had heard that countless times growing up, usually from relatives who hadn't seen him for a while and were marveling at how much he had grown. It had made him roll his eyes back then, but he felt the truth of it now. Before the 2019 Royal Rumble, he had been almost entirely focussed on winning so he could main-event WrestleMania. Then he and Becky had connected and everything changed. The WrestleMania dream was still there; he doubted it would ever really go away, not even after he retired. But now, a year later—with his proposal roughly near the middle, like a fulcrum—his life was opening up in so many directions. Rather than just fixating on WrestleMania, he was planning what to do for Becky's birthday and then Valentine's Day; they hadn't set a date for the wedding yet, but that was always in his thoughts too. Then there was his wrestling school and the half-siblings he had met last year. He was busier than ever and it should have been stressing him out, but the things that were making his life full were so much more rewarding now.

He wasn't winning this Royal Rumble. He had known that long before Creative told him, and he was fine with it. Drew had deserved a push for so long and it was good to see him finally get it. Seth was happy to help boost Buddy and AOP for a few months before the inevitable rift started. Until then, he'd revel in being a heel. If it meant he got to voice his very real complaints in a storyline context, so much the better.

Becky's match was right before the Men's Rumble, but she had been busy off and on filming clips for an upcoming special, so it wasn't until after her match that they really had a chance to talk. The benefit of being the last man in, Seth thought; if he wasn't going to win, then he at least would be able to enjoy most of the match as a fan. Becky looked exhausted but happy as she left her interview, only lightly splattered with Asuka's green mist. "Congrats. I still think you should have countered with an orange mist, though," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Well, I guess most of the other colours have already been done: green, red, black. . . ." Becky set her belt aside and let herself lean against him for a long moment.

Seth brought her stained hand up to his mouth and kissed it. "At least you didn't get the green all over this time. It's easier to get off—what?" He stopped when Becky started laughing. "That's not what I meant. . . ."

"You sure? Because last time you didn't seem to mind finding out how transferable the mist is." Becky was still laughing and Seth couldn't help but chuckle as well. Asuka had been testing different types of mist and Becky was often involved with the experiments backstage; one batch had been particularly vibrant and Seth had been curious, which had led to a messy quickie that—since he hadn't allotted enough time for a second shower—meant he had to do his promo with his leather jacket on in order to hide all the green smudges on his arms.

"Green's more your colour, Irish." Then Seth took her face in both hands and kissed her. Everything else about Becky—her smile, her energy, her sense of humour and adventure—was so big that it was easy to forget how short she was compared to him. "Your match is going to be amazing tonight," he murmured. "Best one of the show." When Becky didn't reply with a cocky retort or even a nod, he stepped back. "Everything okay?" He had been so wrapped up in developing the Monday Night Messiah trajectory that they hadn't talked much about Becky's current path.

"Yeah, I just. . . . What next, you know?" She gave a small shrug. "I don't want a repeat of Ronda or Charlotte. Naomi's going to SmackDown. I'd love to have a third big match with Asuka, but I doubt Vince will go for it. . . ."

Seth pulled her in close and rested his chin on her head. "I seem to remember someone saying that after last WrestleMania, she was going to make up some new dreams because she had such a large imagination. . . ." His tone was teasing, but he knew how important it was to her. Becky didn't want to be the equivalent of a one-hit wonder who had one great year and then faded away to become a trivia question. She had done so much to raise his spirits during his darkest times last year, and he hated seeing her confidence waver.

"Smart ass," Becky grumbled, even as she snuggled closer. They stayed like that for a while, silent and still, listening to the Royal Rumble clock count down with the crowd chanting along, and the huge pops when certain wrestlers made their entrance. When she finally stepped back, she squeezed his arms and laughed. "Aw. No green. I'll have to tell Asuka that the other formula was better."

"You mean the one that took you days to get out of your hair?" Seth leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I should go start getting ready. See you soon." As he walked away, though, another worry jockeyed for position in his already crowded mind, and he marveled that he had spent most of the past year with Becky at his side. Now they were starting the year together, the first full year of many to come, and his main goal was making sure she was happy from beginning to end.