Flames

Bite Club, part 1

When Seth first saw Becky emerge from Creative, beaming and bouncing, he was delighted. He knew she'd been feeling restricted as of late, so it was good to see her happy with her storylines again. He hadn't been able to wait with her since he was now somewhat responsible for Akam, Rezar, and Buddy's trajectories as well—it was a lot of work, but definitely rewarding—but he knew she understood. The closer she got to where he and his so-called disciples were conferring with Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens, though, the more impish her smile became and he felt a twinge of worry. Whenever she got that look, it usually meant she was going to do something reckless.

The first words out of her mouth confirmed it. "Guess who gets the ambulance angle tonight, lads?" She had her arms spread wide, and her giddy grin hadn't left her face for a second.

"What? Why?" Seth had just been starting to put his hair up in a bun, but he stopped so he would have his hands free. "Asuka's mist shouldn't do—"

"Yep, I get to steal the ambulance," Becky continued, face radiating smug pride as she pumped her fists. "Push around some EMTs. . . ."

Samoa Joe raised both his hands for a double high five. "That's my girl. You knock 'em flat."

"But why does your spot need an ambulance?" Seth interjected, raising his voice to be heard over Joe's imposing bass. Given the secrecy surrounding the early days of his Monday Night Messiah turn, he wondered if Becky was purposefully keeping details to herself, but she seemed too excited for that. "Have they seen you drive?"

She ignored the first question and waved off the second. "That was one pillar in one parking lot. Like you haven't hit things before. . . ."

Kevin ignored him too. "You're going to use the sirens, right?" He looked like a little kid at Christmas waiting to open his most promising present.

Becky shot him a look. "Of course I'm using the fucking sirens! Otherwise what's the point?"

Then Kevin stood and motioned for a double high five of his own. "Fuck yes. The sirens are the best part."

"Will you two please stop encouraging my wife?" Seth growled, making Murphy turn to hide his laughter. "There is an ambulance involved and I—"

Samoa Joe stood slowly, looming like a thundercloud. "She's not your wife yet, Rollins. Maybe an intervention is in order." Then he turned to Kevin. "Kev, I think we need to talk some sense into this good woman." Coming from anyone else, it would have sounded ridiculous, but Samoa Joe had the annoying ability to make anything sound imposing.

"Is Cesaro single? We should check on that. He speaks five languages, you know." Then Kevin pointed to Seth. "He speaks . . . what? One? Just English, right? Judging from that jacket, maybe a bit of 'pimp from Grand Theft Auto'?"

Rezar, Akam, and Murphy were at least trying not to laugh. Becky's face flushed with the effort until she finally gave way to giggles. "That looks like it might be mine, actually, so I should probably take the blame for that. . . ."

"Taking your woman's jacket?" Samoa Joe shook his head. "What kind of fake-husband are you, Rollins?" Then he slung an arm around Kevin's shoulders. "Any minute now, he's going to lose it. Any minute. That'll even our odds up a bit."

Becky edged past the laughing Kevin and Samoa Joe to kiss Seth on the cheek. "Sorry. I'll let you get back to your planning."

Seth grabbed her around the waist before she could leave. "Becky, wait." If they'd been alone, or even some place with the tiniest bit of privacy, he would have pressed her against the wall and kissed her hard, letting his hands roam until she squirmed, but that would all have to wait. "Why is there an ambulance involved with your match? What's Asuka going to do?"

"Nothing. It's fine." Becky rose on tiptoe and kissed him long enough that Samoa Joe started clearing his throat quite emphatically. "Catch you after." Then she waved to everyone else. "Have a good one out there, lads."

After Becky was out of earshot, Seth glared at Kevin and Joe. "Seriously, you guys. Do you know why she gets an ambulance?"

Both his opponents shrugged. "Not a clue," Joe said innocently. "But at least it puts a smile on her face. Don't you want her to happy?"

"Of course I do. But happy doesn't usually need an ambulance, you know? Usually the opposite." Seth did his best to put it out of the mind, but it shadowed his thoughts until her match was on. Then he was fixated, overanalyzing every single move and set-up, trying to find the culprit. When Shayna appeared out of nowhere after the match and attacked Becky, Seth just barely stopped himself from swearing—but that was mostly because he was shocked speechless.

His disciples weren't there when Becky was bitten, but Samoa Joe was, and he gave an appreciative nod. "She's one of the best sellers on the roster—"

Seth knew it was true and he was always happy to hear Becky get the credit and compliments she deserved, but Shayna's attack eclipsed that. He'd heard the rumours about Ronda possibly returning, but Becky hadn't said anything about anyone else. "Since when does Baszler bite?"

Samoa Joe shrugged. "Never fought her, so I couldn't say." Then he gave Seth what would have been a companionable slap on the back from anyone else; from Joe, though, it made him stagger. "But look on the bright side. Fake blood cleans up easier than green mist, right?" When Seth nodded, Joe went on. "And Becky's all about kayfabe. That means she'll be sporting a bandage tomorrow to sell the bite."

Tomorrow? It took Seth a moment to remember the press conference for the Hollywood WrestleMania 37 announcement. "So?" He kept glancing towards the corridor, waiting to see the camera crew heading to the parking area.

"Some husband you're going to be, Rollins." Joe shook his head and started to walk towards Catering. "Think about it, Seth: There's no bite, but there's going to be a bandage." His smile took on a wicked edge. "That means if the bandage moves, the media will expect to see a bite. You follow me?"

It took a moment or two, but it finally dawned on Seth. "Yeah. I follow." A bite was something he could happily provide—preferably after he and Becky had a little talk.