Later that evening, Y/N was relaxing in the hotel lobby, nursing a bottle of water and scrolling through his phone when he noticed Tiffany entering the hotel. She looked as confident and polished as ever, carrying her bag with her usual swagger. She spotted him almost immediately, and for a moment, there was a flicker of surprise in her expression before she smirked and walked over.

"Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Tough Guy," she said, dropping her bag down and taking a seat across from him. "You didn't get enough of me backstage?"

Y/N chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Guess I didn't expect the champ to be gracing us mere mortals with her presence here in the lobby."

She rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was enjoying the banter. "And yet here I am, no entourage or security. Guess you're safe tonight," she teased, crossing her legs and leaning back as well.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I can handle myself," he replied with a grin. "But maybe I should be the one asking if you're safe. After all, I might just show up and surprise you in the ring again."

She raised an eyebrow, trying to hide a smile. "Keep dreaming, L/N. But speaking of surprises, I'll admit... you've surprised me a few times already."

He looked at her, intrigued. "Oh yeah? And what exactly is so surprising?"

Tiffany paused, as if weighing her answer. "I don't know... Maybe that you're not as one-dimensional as you make yourself out to be. You put on this whole 'lone wolf, out-to-dominate-everyone' act, but there's more under there, isn't there?"

He shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Hey, I don't need to be complicated to be good at what I do. And it's not an act—I'm here to win, plain and simple."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Sure, sure. But honestly, I think you enjoy the attention a little more than you let on. Especially when it's from me."

Y/N couldn't help but laugh at that. "Maybe I do. But you gotta admit, it makes for some good TV. People are already talking about us, and we haven't even stepped into the ring together."

"True," she said, pretending to think it over. "Maybe I should charge you for all the free press I'm giving you, hmm?"

He scoffed. "You think it's just you making me look good? C'mon, we both know you'd be bored without me around. Admit it."

Tiffany gave him a long look, then rolled her eyes with a smile. "Fine. Maybe I'd be a little bored. But don't let it go to your head."

"Too late," he replied, flashing her a cheeky grin. "So, what's next, Miss Champ? More of the same, or are you finally gonna admit we make a good team?"

She shook her head, chuckling softly. "You're relentless, you know that? But fine. Maybe we don't make the worst team. At least when you're not being a complete pain."

He laughed, raising an imaginary glass in a toast. "I'll take that as a win."

They shared a genuine laugh, the competitive edge softening as they sat there, the tension of the arena forgotten for a moment. The back-and-forth felt lighter here, away from the cameras and the expectations. Tiffany leaned back, looking at him with a hint of curiosity.

"Maybe you're not so bad, L/N," she said finally, almost as if she were admitting something to herself.

"Right back at you, princess," he replied, giving her a playful nudge.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Y/N was already up and seated at a cozy corner table in the hotel's upscale restaurant. A fresh breakfast spread—complete with waffles, fruit, and mimosas—sat in front of him, all meticulously arranged. With a grin, he snapped a photo of the meal and sent it to Tiffany, along with a playful caption: "For the champ who thinks she's too good for lobby coffee. Bet you can't resist."

A few moments later, his phone pinged with her reply: "You know how to make a girl curious. I'll be down in ten."

True to her word, Tiffany soon walked into the restaurant, looking as polished as ever, even for breakfast. She spotted him right away, and as she approached, he noticed the playful glint in her eye.

"Nice spread, L/N," she said, sliding into the seat across from him. "So, are you trying to impress me, or is this how you always start your mornings?"

He smirked, gesturing to the table. "I figured someone with your high standards wouldn't settle for less."

She glanced at the breakfast selection, clearly impressed. "I'll give you credit; you do have decent taste."

He grinned, leaning back. "Just decent? I thought I was blowing you away with my charm."

She raised an eyebrow, spearing a piece of fruit with her fork. "It takes more than waffles and a little attitude to blow me away, tough guy. But..." she paused, looking around the restaurant, "...I suppose I could be persuaded."

He chuckled, watching her, amused by the guarded but unmistakable interest in her voice. "Oh yeah? What would it take?"

Tiffany gave him a knowing smile, shrugging. "I guess we'll see if you have it in you to surprise me again."

They shared a few moments of light banter, teasing each other over the choice of breakfast dishes and making fun of each other's "high-maintenance" preferences. The conversation drifted, lighthearted and natural, as they slowly worked their way through the meal.

"So, you really thought I'd turn this down?" she asked, taking a sip of her mimosa, her tone half-teasing, half-genuine.

Y/N leaned in slightly. "Honestly? I knew you couldn't resist. You just needed an invitation."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible. But... this wasn't a terrible idea. I might even call it enjoyable."

"Hey, that's progress," he replied, raising his glass to hers. "To maybe not being the worst breakfast company?"

She rolled her eyes but clinked her glass with his, a genuine smile breaking through. "Maybe not. But don't let it go to your head."

They finished their breakfast, the air between them lighter than before. As they got up to leave, Y/N held the door open for her, catching her eye with a grin.

"Don't worry, princess," he said as she walked past him. "I've got plenty more surprises in store."

She glanced back, clearly intrigued, and gave him a smile that was as much a challenge as it was an invitation. "I'll be waiting, L/N."