A Night to Reflect

The show had ended, and Y/N was back at the hotel, the hum of the busy lobby serving as the background to his thoughts. He wasn’t exactly exhausted, though the physical and mental toll of the night’s match had left him feeling drained. He’d had a lot of emotions swirling in his head, but the banter with Rhea earlier had been the highlight of his day, adding a surprising touch of levity to the grind of constant matches and promos.

Y/N entered the hotel, passing the front desk and heading to the elevator. The lobby was busy with other wrestlers, road agents, and crew members, all either rushing to their rooms or unwinding after the show. He nodded to a few familiar faces, barely noticing the exhaustion on their faces as they chatted in groups. For a moment, he wondered if they ever got used to this life on the road—the early mornings, the endless travel, and the constant hustle. He wasn’t sure yet. It felt like the kind of thing you had to either love or burn out from, but tonight had felt promising.

As he entered the elevator, the doors slid shut with a soft ding and the quiet hum of the lift filled the space. Y/N stood with his hands in his pockets, staring at the floor as the elevator ascended, replaying his earlier conversation with Rhea. She’d kept him on his toes, that much was clear. He respected that. And despite the playful barbs, he had to admit—she was right about one thing: he had a long way to go.

The elevator reached his floor, and the doors opened. Y/N stepped out into the hallway, his hotel room just a few doors down. As he made his way toward his room, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a message from a familiar contact.

Rhea Ripley: “You know, you really need to work on your springboard dropkick. You almost took out the ref 😂”

Y/N smiled at the message, shaking his head. He quickly typed a response.

Y/N: “I’d be careful, Ripley. Keep running your mouth, and I might start working on a move to take you down next time. 😎”

A few moments passed before Rhea’s reply came through.

Rhea Ripley: “I’m waiting for you to back it up, big guy. Don’t disappoint me.”

Y/N chuckled softly, stopping in front of his room. He was about to text back when a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“Well, well, look who’s checking his phone at the perfect time,” Rhea’s voice came from down the hall, teasing, but with an undertone of amusement.

Y/N turned around to see her walking toward him, arms crossed, that trademark smirk still plastered on her face.

“Don’t you ever rest, Ripley?” Y/N asked, his tone more playful than annoyed. “Is there some sort of rule where you have to appear at the most inconvenient times for me?”

Rhea shrugged nonchalantly. “Nope. Just thought I’d check in and see if you were still thinking about me. It’s cute, really.”

Y/N laughed, stepping closer to her. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to make that dropkick perfect next time.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, walking up to him, narrowing her eyes in that competitive way she had. “You’re not going to keep that little failure of a move in your back pocket forever, are you?”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Why, are you worried? You think you can handle it?”

Rhea smirked, leaning in a bit. “Oh, I’m sure I can. But I wouldn’t get too comfortable, Y/N. There are a few other things I can teach you if you’re willing to learn.” Her tone shifted for a second, the playful teasing replaced by something sharper, a challenge in her eyes. “I know you’re a quick learner.”

He paused for a moment, locking eyes with her. The playful tension from their earlier exchange was still there, but now, it felt a bit different—like there was something else brewing under the surface. He could feel the challenge, but there was also a level of respect there, too.

“Well, maybe we can have a little sparring session after the show tomorrow,” Y/N said with a grin. “Maybe I’ll learn a few more tricks from you, Rhea. But you better watch out—I’m coming for that top spot, and I’m not slowing down.”

Rhea gave him a once-over, her smirk never fading. “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that much. But if you think I’m going to just roll over and let you take the top spot... think again.”

There was a brief silence, and then she added, her voice softening just slightly. “But I’ll admit, you’ve got some fire in you. It’s been a while since someone’s actually gotten under my skin like this.”

Y/N grinned, his confidence not wavering. “Maybe you just need a little competition, Ripley. I’ll give you something to really fight for.”

Rhea laughed, shaking her head. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. But keep it up. We’ll see who’s standing tall in the end.”

With that, she turned to walk away, but not before glancing back over her shoulder. “You know where to find me when you’re ready to learn some real moves, Y/N.”

Y/N chuckled, watching her go. There was something magnetic about her—something that made him eager to prove himself even more. He turned back to his hotel room door, unlocking it and stepping inside. As he dropped his bag on the bed and kicked off his shoes, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. The road ahead was filled with challenges, but that was exactly what he wanted. And whether Rhea admitted it or not, he was already making waves.

Tonight was just another chapter in his story. And tomorrow? Tomorrow was another chance to show the world—and Rhea Ripley—that he wasn’t going anywhere.