#❤️bcc

[milesworld96]

I AM WHOLE AGAIN

[nextstopwonderland]

Nagata + BCC backstage at Collision ❤️❤️

[missprincesse345]

His island queen 🌺🌺

Summary: what happens when the elite & rest of the Aew roster meet the only other important person in Chris Jerichos life in the most surprising way.

Pairing: Chris Jericho x younger wife reader ❤️

Warnings: mostly fluff

Y/n fatu ( face claim India Westbrook)

Her tattoos: left hand

Right hand:

Back piece:

Pov:

For the past couple weeks going into the new year Jericho & the elite have been dealing with the Bcc’s unruly actions against them since Chris beat yuta for the roh championship then the elite beating mox,Claudio and Bryan for the trio’s belts. The feud has been getting worse by the second from sneak attacks to down right intentionally causing physical harm not only to them but everyone else randomly for no reason it was getting ridiculous, which is why they challenged them to a street fight on rampage 2 weeks from now sick of their tactics.

“ This has to stop!!! Just because we beat them clean at the beginning of the new year those pricks wanna throw hissy fits and attack us left & right then going around randomly injuring others on the roster” Nick Jackson said snarling sitting down the boys and Chris just got back from their 5 man tag match against United empire ,kip sabian, and Ricky starks. Which of course ended in another attack by the bcc after the boys that got slightly bloody resulting in some of them getting stitches no thanks to that damn screwdriver they’ve been using.

Wincing putting the ice pack on his shoulder “ agreed this shit ends after new week can’t afford anyone else getting injured or attacked by them” kenny said closing his eyes all of them understand what it’s like to lose championships every now and then but what the bcc is doing isn’t it. “ especially coming from me being the first victim *points to eyepatch * try explaining to your 2yr old why daddy is wearing a eyepatch I’m not waiting when the day comes moment we walk out and hit the ring I’m attacking” hangman said joining kenny on the other couch holding his husband lovingly.

When feud first started hangman came out to save Kenny and the bucks from a beat down only for the bcc to hold him down and stab him in the eye while the rest were tied up let alone to beat up to help. “ can’t blame you besides they’ve had the belts for to long, Chris you good dude been quiet since we came back?” Matt said looking over at Jericho who was packing his bags silently fuming completely in his own world “ huh ? * looks over his shoulder * physically no mentally I’ll be fine *sighs * okay no I’m not okay!!!” He growled.

“ who the hell do they think they are just because regal trained them then of leaving them high dry all of them are above everybody else?! No just some wannabe house of black knockoffs” Chris said it was true though especially No thanks Bryan Danielson’s hypocrite delusional nonsense and fake propaganda crap. “ Acting like they’ve never lost before doing the most over the top bullshit I’ve seen come rampage all bets are off!!! The want batshit crazy that’s what we’re going to give them those stupid idiots are in for a rude awakening” he declared as the others agreed after this street Bryan & the Bcc’s actions are going to finally catch up to them.

- 2hrs later-

Chris and y/n’s house:

Waving goodbye thanking them for the ride Chris made it home god it feels good to say that during the whole feud he always looked forward to decompressing from all of it relaxing and being wrapped in the warmth nurturing love with the one person that always brings happiness and joy to his life just when he feels like he wouldn’t find it again.

Walking up the stairs then inside locking the door behind him Chris chuckled hearing Sade playing through the house on low then the smells of delicious food filling the room he was at peace, after playing with the dogs for a little bit he walked further into the house finding the source Chris smiled fondly leaning against the wall watching his flower moving their hips to the beat her siren honey vocals matching perfectly to the music how did he get so lucky.

Y/n’s outfit (all sets made by me) :

“ Now how did I miss this little performance? Let alone my own home?” He said teasingly startling the woman a little bit before chuckling as she smiled big walking over hugging him tightly greeting him with a loving kiss.

“ we’ll if you got back earlier than you’d have still been able to catch the whole performance” the mystery woman smiled rubbing his cheek before kissing him again “ how you feeling pain level 1 to 10?” She asked looking at the small stitches on his forehead. “ 5 so not too bad but right now I’m here so that’s all that matters, mm is that what I think it is?” He said looking at the meal she was preparing. “ yes now go get cleaned up it should be done when you come back downstairs” she giggled swatting his chest playfully.

Who was the mystery woman you ask?

Well she is not only Chris’s new wife but also well known in the wrestling world as Desiree parks but most people that know her personally especially her family she’s y/n fatu , yep that’s right she’s the usos baby sister and Roman Reigns baby cousin that wrestles under new Japan wrestling/stardom.

The two met mid 2022/23 at jeys birthday to which he was invited after word got out about his divorce from his ex wife who treated him badly and cheated on the twins wanted him there getting his mind off things. And have fun little did he know he’d find love again let alone true happiness in their baby sister as if it was a soulmate like force that brought them together.

*Flashback*

Even though he wasn’t really up for getting out of the house mingling with other people Chris was actually enjoying himself quite a bit maybe this what he needed “ hey man there’s someone we want you to meet if that’s okay?” Jimmy said joining him by the bar “ sure I don’t mind” Chris replied taking a swig from his beer.

“ cool uce , hey !!! Sis c’mere!!! * y/n turns around smiling softly hearing her brother * hey Chris this is our little sister y/n” jimmy said introducing her to Chris whom became hot and bothered instantly seeing the Carmel skinned goddess standing infront of him.

“ hi Chris nice to meet you nice to finally meet from all the stories and music the twins tell me about great to see the man himself” she said her voice like honey making him snap out of his haze. “ it’s nice to meet you I’ve seen some of your work too very amazing” he smiled shaking her hand watching her face blush a little everything was going to be okay he thought.

*Flashback over*

The two have been married for almost three years now having a private ceremony in early 2023.

Handing him his plate once he came back all washed up and clean they migrated to the living room and caught each other up on everything going on since sometimes she would be wrestling while he was touring. After dinner and dessert they relaxed on the couch watching a movie just wrapped in each others embrace towards the ending Chris looked down chuckling noticing she’d fallen asleep on his lap.

Smiling softly he just traced her cheek softly how did he end up finding himself a modern Wonder Woman a woman with a simple touch could calm him down or able to always look at situations from both perspectives fixing the problem easily without any hesitation. Beats him but one thing he does know is that no matter what he’ll always protect her.

He’s gonna win for her the nights of fear & worries will be over he hated seeing her terrified crying because of the painful physical state he come home to.

2 weeks later

It’s time the night everyone had been waiting for the Bcc we’re going face their actions but most importantly Chris was going to make them for bringing tears to his wife. He had her stay in the back with Brandi & Britt watching not wanting her to get hurt very little people know about y/n & his relationship it’s not that he was afraid of what people would think Jericho just wants that part of his life private.

Cause now or day’s people can get to you any form especially in their line of work.

The match was just getting brutal at this point both teams were pulling out all of the stops yet nobody could blame them Bcc’s actions had gone to far it was time they faced the music. Jumping slightly as Chris was slammed into the tacs Y/n silently prayed to herself watching her husband scream in pain “ his gonna be alright they all are” Brandi said rubbing her shoulders in comfort “ I know * sighs * just worried i mean get it but i still get scared when he gets hurt doing matches” y/n replied with a small smile she was no stranger to these kind of matches having done a few through out her career.

“ And you’re winners of this match the Elite & Chris Jericho!!!” They announced as the arena cheered loudly the whole building shaking with excitement and applause it was over the bcc’s reign of terror was over. Y/n let out breath of relief cheering watching Chris standing tall alongside the elite in victory both knew that the win was needed , as the boys close out the show with Britt & Brandi Chris was finally going to show the world his good luck charm to the world.

“ Now as you know that through out this whole feud we conquered and fought taking down the bcc tired of being attacked let alone disrespected right?” Chris chuckled as the crowd cheered. “ thank you cause you guys never once stopped giving us that energy to keep fighting through the terror , they caused but as you can see all of these amazing hard working people in this ring have their loved ones with them right now well I have a special person here tonight with me as well” he said smirking as the crowd got excited wondering who the mysterious person was.

“ she’s literally been my rock through this whole roller coaster of pain and craziness literally has been my light for a while now and till the day i die my heart,my bestfriend and god so much more probably going to kill for outing her * crowd laughs * so with out further ado let’s give her a warm welcome” he said pointing to the ramps.

The crowd goes crazy watching y/n walk out smiling big shaking her head walking down to the ring “ it’s Desiree parks !!! The immortal goddess!!!” Taz said in shock as Tony & Excalibur agreed in complete shock.

Getting in the ring with the help of the young bucks Chris pulled her into a tight hug rocking her softly before kissing her head holding her close “ yep this beautiful woman has been with me through it all especially during the lowest months in my life but there is one special title that not only she holds but a title very close to my heart ladies and gentlemen she’s my wife!!” he said watching her blush as the boys & crowd went crazy as she held her hand up showing off her wedding ring.

“ And with that being said Tonight will forever be the most important nights of my career!!” He said handing the mic over to the announcer pulling her into a deep loving kiss while everyone cheered & wolf whistles for the couple.

No matter what came his way long as he had his island queen by his side everything would be okay.

The end ( hope you guys enjoyed it

Her theme:

Y/n’s outfit:

[sheinthatfandom]

BCC is love ❤️

[erotomox]

8, 9, 15, 19 for the ao3 asks ~

8. Pairing you wrote the most for this year?

I'm p sure it's BY FAR hangmox lmao I wrote like 8 fics for them this year (and I technically have a ninth in the works and another I might fill for the aewkinkmeme but. Y'know.)

9. Favorite pairing you wrote for this year?

POLY BCC MY BELOVED

15. What wip are you taking into the next year with you?

I have several technically BUT the one I'm actively writing rn is afic where Yuta is mox's stepkid and they're Weird About It ❤️

19. What's one pairing you want to explore next year?

Moxyuta but specifically death riders. So far I have written any death riders fics BUT I have two solid ideas (one is a "free use" heavy duvcon fic and the other is an alpha/alpha omegaverse rut noncon fic) and I have So Many Feelings about them

[moxleys-darlin]

You Make Me Feel Like I Am Home Again

Pairing: Jon Moxley/Wheeler Yuta/Claudio Castagnoli, implied BCC Poly

Summary: Mox comes home to a sick boyfriend.

Disclaimer: I don't claim anything but the idea; characters (unfortunately) and gifs aren't mine.

For @booboo-eyedbambi sorry I suck at posting 😂

I found a lot of prompts and am slowly getting back to writing after some bad writing block, SO! prompts I used:

Sorry, were you sleeping? Come on, let’s go to bed. I'll carry you.

Mox gets to the mansion late, coming home from Japan, and smiles when he sees Claudio and Yuta laying on the couch. Claudio lifts his head and smiles at him.  “Sorry, were you sleepin’?” Mox mutters softly. 

“No, Yuta wasn’t feeling well but wanted to wait for you, so I offered to stay and lay with him.” He whispers back as he looks down at the young man lying on his chest and rubbing his back.  Mox raises his eyebrows and comes over to feel Yuta’s forehead. “He does feel warm;” he realizes, “come on, let’s go to bed and let him rest.”

Mox tries to help Claudio get up slow enough to let Yuta stay asleep but he wrinkles his nose and wakes up with a groan. “Mox?” He asks groggily.  “Yeah kid, just got home so let’s go to bed and get some sleep, okay?” Mox smirks, holding his hand out to pull Yuta up and hug him when he stands.  Claudio stands and waits for Yuta to sleepily pull away from the hug before scooping him up in his arms. “I’ll carry you.” He chuckles as Yuta tries to struggle. “Claudio-.” Yuta protests but Mox cuts him off.

“Yer warm puppy; be a good boy and let Swiss carry ya ta bed.” Mox mutters firmly, walking ahead of them up the stairs so he can open the bedroom door and pull back the covers. 

Claudio lays Yuta down and quickly lays beside him so he can lay on his chest again and Mox can hug against his back. “I’m glad you’re home safe with us Mox.” Yuta grins into Claudio’s chest.

“Me too puppy, me too.” Mox rasps into his ear. “Now sleep, I love y’all.” He chuckles, kissing the back of Yuta’s head before relaxing to sleep himself.

Title is from Lovesong by The Cure Thank you @booboo-eyedbambi for helping me by asking for this, I hope you love it 😘

I hope y'all enjoy and love it! Lemme know how I did! Much love ❤️😘🥰

[queenofthearchipelago]

I love fandom life so much. I love these stories we obsess over so much. First httyd, then bcc Merlin, then Good Omens, and now 911 abc. These stories have shaped who I am as a person. And despite all the time that has passed since some of these stories had their final installments, these fandoms still live. WE are still here to BE changed by them. To live having BEEN changed by them. We get to gather here together to talk about how these stories changed us. And we get to look at each other... and see ourselves. Finding family here. Community. Friendship.

I love fandom, I'm so happy to be here and so happy to have known you guys and to get to continue screaming into this void here together about how much better we are as people for these knowing stories and each other.

❤️❤️❤️ All my love to fandom. All my love to long ago. All my love to days to come. All my love to stories and you guys and to getting to be changed and for getting to remember. ❤️❤️❤️

[sunandsstars]

GUuuRlllLll MY BILAT IS BLUSHING FOR SEING YOUR OTHER POST LIEK 'Our queen has spoken' GURKLWNSIAKASKSJ but fr need Reader to leave N And gurl If you make a T x reader x R Make it a Lovely and fluffy smut? Or just fluff bcc Of what happen to other chapter that J is just so rough with her ITS JUSY MAKNG ME AKSMWKSJ Btww Sorry late But Happy Valentines dayy!!🥹❤️❤️

-👾

I’m sorry that IM late but happy late valentines anon!!!

reader would definitely leave n and j 🤭 because she can’t take all of this shit

and i will definitely make a smut in the future!

[cuntertaker]

BCC polycule alive and well ❤️

[mymy4802]

Bryan declaring his love to the bcc while murdering hangman in the ring ❤️

[cmpunksupremacy]

Takeshita now a BCC member and they won. I just keep winning tonight ❤️❤️❤️

[nextstopwonderland]

Playlist name: “Bryan/Yuta - the story”

Alright this sent me down a rabbit hole. I decided to do their condensed storyline up until now, Yuta POV, with some shippy angling. So this is broken into acts. No individuals links, i was too lazy. Full playlist here, Chronological, don’t shuffle. I did more artist repeats than I’d like, but this ended up having a specific vibe

Prologue

1. My Hero - Paramore. For the ‘I have a burned dvd of matches I used to watch in my room’ days. Cover version because Yuta self-proclaims he loves the band.

Act I: the courting/glory days

2. Orange Crush - R.E.M. Puns mostly intended. Yuta’s with orange and best friends but think timeline of that post-match segment and him watching Bryan. Finally being around his idol, crushing.

3. Crush - Sleigh Bells. Which eventually leads to his match with Bryan. I got a crush (i gotta crush you). Fighting your idol/crush.

4. Free to Decide - The Cranberries join bcc? Stay with best friends? Yuta is free to decide. Also touches on mental health stuff that he’s been candid about in the past.

5. True Seekers - Sleigh Bells: Joins the bcc, possibilities endless. And he’s got a lot of feelings.

6. Gimme Sympathy - Metric. Things are good right now. Yuta still has a lot of feelings.

7. Comeback Kid - Sleigh Bells: Super juniors and after. Bryan starts taking an interest in Danny.

Act III: the trouble in paradise/breakup period

8. A Little Respect - Wheatus (cover) - Yuta just wants Bryan’s respect. Maybe a little more.

9. Never Say Die - CHRVCHES. Things start breaking down, but Yuta doesn’t wanna give up yet.

10. Cool on your island - Tori Amos. Yuta loses the title, Bryan supports Danny, Yuta is hurt

11. One More Try - George Michael. Yuta is very in his feelings about his mentor/hero choosing someone else, confronts him, they have a sit down

12. I miss you -Blink-182. Bryan’s full into his MJF stuff. Yuta is quietly missing him. Also he used the song recently in a story and I got excited.

Act III: Reunion

13 & 14 Empty Threat - CHRVCHES and The Riot’s gone - Santigold - Bryan comes back, Yuta’s had enough time to get over it all. Bryan is yelling on TV that he loves him even if he’s a little shit. Things feel better than ever

15. Ultraviolence - Lana Del Rey. Yuta missed Bryan’s negative motivation tactics. Pre-double or nothing slap.

16. Perfect Day - Lou Reed. The hike. ❤️

17. Living Legend - Lana Del Rey. Yuta processes Bryan’s announcement

18. Stand by your man - Tammy Wynette. Yuta is in sheer protective/possessive mode after Bryan’s injury. “My man.” He will stand by his man.

[houseofpunk]

heel bcc I am making sweet sensual love to you ❤️

[sheinthatfandom]

God that video really highlighted how tired and done Jericho was

Renee and orange ❤️❤️

Renee pushing them off and calling for help I told ya’ll orange is her top brat

Hmmm so probably no orange Yuta moment

I’m trying to figure out how Yuta and the bcc polycule can come back and still win

[romegaketh]

if you are open for snippet requests I would like to humbly ask for any speculation au writing you have 🥺 (esp the conflict of moxbry telling yuta to go off his suppressants and the conflict therein. also danny i love him)

ok this is from wheeler yuta is not a therapist and i am genuinely crushed i did not finish it lol. bcc-typical gore! thanks for the ask ❤️

BOSTON. 

The Best Friends used to do team meetings in a hotel room, around a table packed with preferably-vegetarian takeout, and Fast Five on in the background with the volume turned way down. Chuck Taylor would write up an agenda on his phone, and Orange Cassidy would pretend to pay attention but fuck up by gasping at the big chase scenes, even though Trent was halfway through some long complaint about something or other. 

Surprising nobody, Blackpool Combat Club is different.

"Is that all you got?" Jon Moxley spits. Blood bursts from his cut lip and spatters across his chin. He’s on his hands and knees on a pile of mats in a boxing gym outside Boston. 

In front of him - above him - is the American Dragon. Bryan Danielson’s laugh is low and mean. "You know it's not." The crack of his hand across Moxley's face rings through the air. An angry red stain sinks into Moxley's cheek. 

Moxley pushes himself up onto his knees. His tank top is stained with his own blood. His jaw set with determination and real, clear, rage. “Fuck you.”

“Fuck you,” says Danielson, grabbing the back of Moxley’s neck with vicious glee. His hair has fallen out of the little ponytail, and is loose around his face. He looks - not angry, but not not angry. Like something dark is inside of him and he is grateful to let it out. 

If Wheeler wasn't wearing blockers right now he is sure he would be choking on the scent - even with them, he's breathing in fire and copper, as thick as it would be in rut. It’s a shitty little gym but it’s empty; it’s theirs. It feels like being downwind of a forest fire. And not downwind enough to feel safe, either. 

Wheeler signed up for this. He did it clear-eyed and hopeful. He didn’t know how swift it would be, how immediate. One day he was outside, but today, he belongs. 

"Boys will be boys," William Regal sighs, resting his elbows on his knees, hands clasped under his chin. It’s strange to see him in a hoodie and sweats instead of the suit, but everything about today is strange. "I'm glad you're here. I think they're behaving better now that they have company." 

Yesterday, Wheeler wrote BCC in blood on his chest. Today, he’s here, watching Moxley and Danielson try to kill each other. It’s supposed to be a demonstration. What, exactly, it’s a demonstration of still appears to be in question. 

Moxley raises his head. His eyes flash to Regal, and then to Wheeler. Hot, sharp, furious. When Wheeler crossed the ramp - when he turned away from his friends and came to the future - he thought, now Moxley will know who I am. Well, he does. But maybe now Wheeler is learning who Moxley is. 

Yesterday Wheeler bled like a fountain, but Moxley matched him. Right now Wheeler is sitting next to Regal, with a protein shake the size of his head and a power bar; right now Moxley is pinned beneath Danielson, while Danielson bends his head so his mouth is against Moxley's ear. 

Normally they're better matched. It feels good to know Wheeler did some damage: Moxley isn't slow but he's slower. Wheeler had to scrape himself out of bed this morning. His head still hurts. 

“How’s he looking?” Danielson asks, looking up for Regal's approval like an alpha half his age. Moxley snaps at him, teeth out, but Danielson darts away with the same easy grace he shows in the ring. 

Regal laughs. "Bryan," he says, fondly. "You're showing off."

Danielson shrugs. Moxley's blood is on his cheek; it makes his grin look feral. "You heard the boss," he tells Moxley. "You want a nap?" 

Moxley growls, a low deep sound, big enough to fill the whole building. He looks like a kid, too. A baby alpha, tussling, for the attention of a bigger one. But Moxley is Jon Moxley. And that's Bryan Danielson. Everyone who's ever watched a wrestling match knows how sharp their teeth are. 

Regal puts his hand on Wheeler's shoulder. Gentle, careful. He's not possessive with Wheeler like he is with them. Wheeler is grateful for it, though he feels like he shouldn't be: he didn't sign up to be treated with care. But maybe he did. Bryan said he would be - under a wing. A dragon's wing, he'd thought, tossing and turning, before the day he made the decision. 

Regal isn't a dragon. Regal is a man. Because only men have power like this: the power to speak, and be obeyed. "Settle down," Regal tells them - both of them, it's clear. "Don't make me come over there." 

Danielson wipes Moxley's blood off his cheek and the dragon recedes. He's just a man on a mat, with Moxley a foot away on his knees. The warmth comes back to Danielson's face, and to his hand as he reaches down for Moxley -  long fingers extended, palm wide and open. 

But Moxley glares, turning his face away, to spit onto the floor on the other side. 

Something flashes in Danielson's face. Not anger, something quieter. Before Wheeler can look deeper, it's gone. "Gross," Danielson says, easily. "I'll get you a paper towel for that."

Moxley rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." It takes him longer to come back to himself. Wheeler is maybe glad. He's not sure how to feel. He knows that - for whatever reason, rightly or wrongly - he fought Moxley and Moxley fought him. And it mattered. 

Danielson is crossing the floor, the bright, easy smile on his face. "How are you feeling, today, Wheeler?" 

Wheeler holds up his power bar. "Perfect," he says. "I even got snacks."

"Fantastic," Danielson says. You wouldn't think he is a predator, like this. He just looks like a cool alpha you'd meet at the gym. Except for the blood. "You were great last night. Really gave Jon a run for his money."

"I did my best," Wheeler says. The cut on his forehead itches. "But thank you. It means a lot."

Danielson smiles. "Good. We're very happy to have you."

To have Bryan Danielson standing in front of you - in shorts and a bloody white t-shirt, with his hair up, with his hands bruised - it doesn't feel like it happens every day. It feels like another world. But Wheeler fought to get here. He did. He earned this. "I'm glad to be here," he says. 

"I'm certainly glad we got you away from the Best Friends," Danielson says, amicable and easy, like he'd say, buddha bowl hold the tempeh. "I hate to think about how you'd have been wasted staying longer under Orange Cassidy." There's a cruel smirk when he says the name. Something uglier. The dragon peeking out from behind the man's eyes. 

Wheeler's shoulderblades prickle. He feels his own hands form fists. Just because he’s not on Orange’s team anymore doesn’t mean Orange didn’t train him.  

"Hey." That's Moxley. All of a sudden he's at Danielson's back, his hand on Danielson's shoulder - the difference in their heights enough that Moxley is looming. His voice snaps through the air. "Cut it out, Bryan." 

"He was a good teacher," Wheeler says, looking at Moxley. It feels like, when he was bleeding, and he almost got that pin, and Moxley looked - Almost. Not quite. "I'm grateful to him. To all of them. I'm glad to be here, now." 

Danielson looks up at Moxley. "Yeah?" 

"Bryan," Moxley says. It's so clearly about something else that Wheeler looks at Regal, whose mouth has compressed into a thin line, and whose hands are curling into balls against his thighs. He can't read it; he doesn't know Regal. He could guess. If he were to guess he would say - nervous, uncertain, and a little remorseful. But that doesn't sound like William Regal. Not William Regal, who headbutted Moxley when he was dripping in Bryan’s blood. 

A conversation passes between them. Not so much a conversation as an unmoving fistfight. Moxley, scowling; Bryan, a contemptuous shrug. Wheeler really did think they liked each other. Maybe he just got used to the Best Friends. Even when Kris was being a jerk, he knew she liked him. 

Moxley wins. Danielson spreads his palms open, shrugging.

Moxley spends a lot of time looking awkward. You don’t realise that when you spend most of your time with Moxley with him kicking your ass, but actually - he’s kind of tentative. Feeling things out. Like he thinks Wheeler is going to say, fuck off, and turn around and go back to the Best Friends.

Wheeler likes it. Maybe he just likes Moxley. Maybe he just has a CD full of Mox matches in a drawer somewhere in his mom’s house. Who can say?

"Anyway," Danielson drawls. "I wanted to say." He taps his fingers against the side of his neck. "Do you wear them all the time?" 

Wheeler's stomach drops through one of those trap doors in Indiana Jones, right into an extremely culturally insensitive pit of snakes. "To the ring, yeah." Regal is looking between them like a sunning lizard, so Wheeler explains, "Blockers."

The patch on his neck doesn't itch. It's only been on for a minute. He slapped it on in a hurry. 

“You’re an alpha,” Regal says. 

“Yeah,” Wheeler says. Maybe it’s generational. Maybe Regal’s actually an asshole - the wrong kind of asshole - and Wheeler needs to get out now. “I wrestle in them so it makes sense to train in them, too.” 

Danielson raises an eyebrow. “Well,” he says. “You might gain some reaction time if you lose them. Usually it’s about half a second.”

Mox says, “Cut it out, Bryan.” His hand moves, but he doesn't grab Danielson's shoulder. He just puts his hand on his own hip and rolls his eyes. "The kid's been here a minute. Let him do some fucking pushups before you completely overhaul his life."

Danielson doesn't move. He keeps his eyes fixed on Wheeler, but it's very clear that Wheeler is not who he is talking to. "Improving his technique is not overhauling his life, Jon."

Wheeler clears his throat. "Company policy," he says. "Everyone's entitled to their preferred presentation." He’s paraphrasing from a lecture he's been given multiple times by Daniel Garcia. "Up to the point at which it encroaches on someone else's presentation." (That's a reference to wrestling in heat. Also rut, but in practice it's only really omegas who get in shit for wrestling under the influence. That's also a paraphrase from Daniel Garcia. Wheeler wasn't the object of the lecture. He was just in the vicinity and it stuck.)

Danielson tilts his head. “Is that a moral stance, Yuta?”

“Kind of.” Wheeler swallows. “Actually, you know what? Yeah. It is. You wore them at WWE. I wear them here.” 

Mox looks at him. A longer, deeper look. Like he did after he got the pin, when Wheeler was lying there on the mat. 

Danielson smiles. The smile is broader, wider. “Okay,” he says. “We can work with that.”

Regal says, “If you’re quite finished, I think now would be a good time to demonstrate some holds for young Wheeler.” His voice shades into calm reproof. “Since he certainly didn’t learn any from whatever you were doing before.”

Mox ducks his head but Danielson just laughs, a big laugh, like a bell. “All right, all right,” he says. “Point taken. C’mon, Mox.” 

It's just Wheeler and Regal on the bench again, both of them watching Danielson turn Moxley into various shapes while Moxley grimly allows himself to be bent.

“To be perfectly honest with you,” Regal says, “I’m very glad you came along. They were about to kill each other.”

“Great, now they can kill me.” Wheeler is only half-joking. It’s not like he knows if Danielson is a good teacher, or Moxley. But he was taught well before. He’s confident in his own ability to figure out what he needs.

“We’re lucky to have you,” Regal says, abruptly. “I hope you know that we know that.” 

“Oh,” Wheeler says. He thinks about Danny and Lee - Danielson wanted them, too. He wanted them so much he’d have bled for it. But Moxley bled for Wheeler, and now Wheeler is here. “Thank you.” 

“I know it’s a lot,” Regal says. “I know -” and he gestures, with a big sweep of that broad, scarred hand, “they’re a lot. But they’re good. They really are. And you’re good. They’ll make you better. And I will, too. We’ll do our damnedest.”

“I never had any doubts,” Wheeler says. That’s not a lie. He could have turned around. So many times. All the times. But he didn’t. He stayed the course. He’s here. 

Regal’s eyes crease. “They’re hiding something from me,” he says, quietly.

“Oh,” Wheeler says. 

Regal smiles at him. It’s a wistful smile; the craggy face of a mountainside, stretching onwards and upwards, despite snow and sleet and spring avalanches. “It happens,” he says. “Sons hide truths from their fathers. I hope one day soon you’ll come to hide the truth from me, as well.” 

Wheeler swallows. “I’ll do my best.”

Regal’s laugh is soft. “Good. I’d expect nothing less.” 

Wheeler lets himself look. Regal is an old man. You can see it here, in this shitty gym, with its bad lighting and the smell of sweat; the lines around his eyes, the tremor in his hands. But there’s something else there too - not just the man Wheeler watched on tape for years, not just the myth - but kindness, too. A deep well. Wheeler did not expect to find that. “They know you love them.” He didn’t mean to say it like that. Abruptly, out of nowhere. Too obvious. Chuck Taylor would say, get it together, kid. Chuck Taylor is very good at talking to people. “They couldn’t not know that.” 

But Regal says, “Oh,” his voice softening a little, with a little joy. “Thank you. I’m glad you see it.” 

“Anytime,” Wheeler says. 

Regal rakes his fingers through his hair, leaning back so he can look at Wheeler with the full force of his gaze. “I’ve got a question for you, young Wheeler,” he says. “Who is the most important member of the Blackpool Combat Club?”

It’s like the slap: it’s a test. There’s a right answer and three wrong ones. Maybe more than three.

Wheeler aced the slap, though. Full marks, gold star. Extra credit. He looked right into Regal’s face, but he didn’t hit him. He stood his ground; he didn’t lose it. 

Stand your ground; don’t give it away. He takes a breath. Bryan is the unstoppable force and Moxley is the immovable object. Maybe it's the other way around. Either way, they destroy each other if left unchecked. So there's only one option. Give me a place to stand and a lever and I can move the earth. Regal is both the lever and the place to stand. “You.”

Regal laughs. It’s a warm laugh; it settles in Wheeler’s chest like apple cider on a cold day. "Thank you," he says. "But not quite. Think about it and get back to me."

[celestie0]

hi hi hi I’m glad you recovered from your illness! I just wanted to say that there’s something about your writing that always has been crawling back (cue “do I wanna know?” The hozier cover live at the bcc) every. Single. Time. Like I’ve been reading kickoff since you posted idk like chapter four and I’ve read it over and over and over again (like I am right now) and IHM too- I just never get bored of them and I find the way you write, like the little details, and characterisation of everyone so so so so good! You’ve obviously put so much hard work into them and let me tell you it pays off. Anyways Tahts all I wanted to say, hope you’re having a good day! ❤️

hi love aw thank you so much :”) its so sweet to hear that you reread them!! i’m always so flattered by that haha

thanks for appreciating the little details 🥺 its a labor of love but i really enjoy adding those little random things to try n enhance the story! you’re too sweet and thanks for being a long term reader of mine its always so sweet to see you around!

much love <3