#el phantasmo x ofc

[elitehunter]

El Phantasmo: Every time a bell rings...

Title: Every time a bell rings… Theme: Day 1 - Bells for @12daysofchristmas Fandom/Character(s): NJPW/El Phantasmo x OFC Warnings: none Word Count: 829

She's feeling a little down about being too busy for it to feel like the holidays, she hasn't even gotten a tree or watched her favorite movie and none of her favorite traditions observed. He notices and decides to take matters into his own hands. Maybe it's time for some new traditions.

Read it on AO3

[debbiechanclub]

Hit Me Like Bang (and Now I'm Never Looking Back), Part 1

A “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans” fic

Pairings: David Finlay x OFC (with some past!El Phantasmo x OFC and Jay White angst) Word Count: 6k Warnings: ANGST. Language, alcohol use. ANGST.

Nellie's been spinning her wheels in Stardom for months and has never felt more alone. But then David Finlay returns to Japan with a chip on his shoulder and Gedo in his corner, and everything changes.

TMHWMP Timeline | Masterlist

Read it on AO3

A/N: A quick but important note! This is the concluding fic of the "Take My Hand, Wreck My Plan" series, in the sense that it details Nellie's endgame. However, there are more "prequel" fics to come that will go more into how Nellie and everyone else got to this point, including (obviously) what went down in all her previous relationships (and I promise it will all make sense!). I'm actually so incredibly proud of this fic, as well as this OC and the entire rewrite of this series, and I'm so excited to give Nellie the completed story she deserves after more than two years of writing and creating it. I absolutely adore her, and I hope you all enjoy reading this just as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.

tag squad: @aussiearrow @cowboyslariat @knifepervert @caranoirs @rusevday @missbrownstone @meteora-fc @bec0m @thatgirlforever5 @rocca09 @aussiespam

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 Tokyo, Japan

It was 11:07 p.m. when David got to Nellie’s apartment. She’d been impatiently awaiting his arrival for over two hours, ever since he’d texted that he was on his way back to Tokyo via the bullet train from Nagaoka. But that had been a familiar feeling for her over the last two weeks. Impatience; eagerness; desire. All surrounding David, this this new dark-haired Gedo-backed Bullet Club version of him that had shown up at the New Japan Cup and shocked everyone.

But not Nellie; she wasn’t as shocked by it as everyone else. She’d noticed this evolution happening in David ever since he’d returned to Japan for the G1 Climax 32 last summer, since the NJPW World Television Title Tournament in the fall, slowly and quietly but surely—and he’d confided every one of his frustrations in her. How he’d always been treated like an outsider. How no one had ever taken him seriously. How he needed to work twice as hard just to prove he was half as good as his father. So no, Nellie wasn’t as shocked as everyone else when this version of David Finlay had shown up with a chip on his shoulder and disposed of Tomohiro Ishii. She’d seen it in him. And she wasn’t shocked by her charged response to it—to him—either. She’d waited five long months for him to come back to her. She wasn’t waiting any longer.

She sank down next to him on the couch, her body angled toward his, her left leg bent atop the cushion so that her knee grazed his thigh, and handed him a glass of whiskey, neat. She’d offered him a drink as soon as he’d arrived; he’d looked like he could use it. He kicked it back all at once and set the empty glass on her coffee table. When he leaned back, he rested his hand on her leg. It sent a tingle up her spine.

“Did you watch the final?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yeah; as soon as I got home.”

“And?”

“And Sanada got lucky. Seriously. Either of you could have won at any moment.”

They sat in silence for a few long seconds. Nellie could practically see David replaying the end of the match in his mind, trying to pick out where he’d gone wrong. She did the same whenever she took a difficult loss.

But then he drew in a breath. “Whatever; it’s done and over. I’ve already decided my next move.” He looked over at her; his tone softened. “How was your match?”

He brushed his thumb back and forth on her thigh. It was distracting enough that she had to concentrate to answer him. “Good. We won.”

“That’s good,” he echoed with a squeeze of her leg. “Was it you, Tam, and Poi?”

She shook her head. “No; Poi had a singles match against Himeka. It was me, Tam, and Mariah against Queen’s Quest.”

His brow furrowed. “I thought Mariah was in Club Venus with Torrance?”

“She is, but Club Venus is a unit within Cosmic Angels. You know, like how House of Torture is a unit within Bullet Club.” She paused. “Is House of Torture still in Bullet Club? Can you kick them out? Because I think you should kick them out.”

“I’ll take it under advisement,” David grinned.

“Anyway,” Nellie breathed, “it really won’t surprise me if Club Venus goes off on their own soon. Torr and Mina wrestled Unagi and Saki today.”

“And they’re all Cosmic Angels-slash-Club Venus?”

“Yes,” she confirmed with a grin. She put her hand on top of his. “I know, it’s hard to keep everyone straight.”

He scoffed. “You know I only care about your matches, anyway.”

“I’m sure Torr would love to hear that,” she commented; but David ignored it and pulled her under his arm and her leg over his. She curled into him, made whole at being in his arms again. He lit a fire in her and made her feel safe; wanted. She’d never felt this way about anyone.

“What about you, though?” he softly asked. “Are you still thinking about leaving Cosmic Angels?”

Nellie sighed. She had still been thinking about it, in fact. But she hadn’t come any closer to a decision. “I don’t know. I really do like Tam and Poi, and we really gelled as a unit during the Triangle Derby. But I still can’t help but feel like I don’t quite fit.”

She frowned to herself, thinking about it some more then. That really was the best way to describe how she’d felt for the last year and change: like she didn’t quite fit. A square peg in a round hole. And the niggling in her gut to do something about it was getting harder and harder to ignore.

As in NJPW, it was practically a requirement in Stardom that every member of the roster belong to a faction, and from the day she’d signed with Stardom in August 2018 up until December 2021, Nellie had belonged to Queen’s Quest. It had been a natural fit from the jump, and she’d flourished with them: for six wonderful weeks in the fall of 2020, she had been not a double, but a triple champion when she’d simultaneously held the RevPro Undisputed Women’s Championship, the SWA World Championship, and the Goddess of Stardom Championship with Saya Kamitani.    

But despite all those accolades, Nellie had been just one successful person in a faction of remarkably talented and accomplished joshis, and she was often passed over for bigger opportunities in favor of her teammates. Her frustration with that was what had led her and Torrance to enter the 2021 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League together despite being in separate factions—and, to everyone’s shock, they’d won. So, when Momo Watanabe had suddenly and shockingly left Queen’s Quest leaderless by turning on them to join Oedo Tai just one month later, Nellie had already had every incentive to defect and accept Tam Nakano’s offer to join Torrance in Cosmic Angels.

And she’d found success with them, too. She and Torrance—officially known as Cosmic Queendom—had gone on to defeat Giulia and Syuri for the Goddess of Stardom Championship last January. Then in May, Nellie beat Thekla to become the first two-time SWA World Champion, a title that she still held now, almost a year later.

But all that success still couldn’t distract from the fact that Nellie just didn’t quite fit with Cosmic Angels.

Unlike Torrance, Nellie wasn’t a girly girl. She wasn’t cutesy or frilly. She wasn’t kawaii—and she did not dance. Actually, her refusal to do Cosmic Angels’ little entrance dances had become something of a running bit that the fans quite enjoyed. But still. As close as she’d grown with Tam and Natsupoi and even Unagi, Nellie just didn’t quite fit. And she’d confided it all in David just as he’d confided in her.

“You do work well with Tam and Poi. And Torr too, obviously,” he said. “But I worked well with Juice. When push comes to shove, you need to do what’s best for you.”

Nellie scoffed. She and Torrance hadn’t tagged together in months. But she didn’t want to get into all that. It was late, and she was done talking.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.” She sat up from under his arm and swung her leg over to his other side; sank down onto his lap and ran her hands down his chest. “But enough business talk. I only have so much time with you left.”

David looked over her body, slid his hands up her thighs, gripped her at the curve of her backside—and then he raised his eyebrow at her in that slight way of his. The way that had left her feeling so impatient the last two weeks. “You know, there’s absolutely no reason I can’t just cancel my flight and stay a few days longer,” he said. “I could stay through to Sakura Genesis, actually. I don’t have any other commitments.”

“That’s two-and-a-half weeks away,” Nellie pointed out. That he’d change his plans just like that to spend that time with her turned her insides to mush.

“I know,” he said. “I’m sure we could find some way to fill the time.”

He fixed her with that look, that piercing gaze he’d gotten so good at overnight. Nellie was helpless against it.

“Cancel your flight, then,” she said, and she leaned down and kissed him.

* * * *

Sunday, February 19, 2023 Tokorozawa, Japan         

Jay rested his forehead on the Lion Mark in the center of the mat, and Nellie watched from five thousand-plus miles away and seventeen hours into the future, torn somewhere between pity and acceptance. On one hand, losing to Eddie Kingston in San Jose, California was hardly the send-off from NJPW that she thought Jay White—the Last Rock ‘n’ Rolla, the man who singlehandedly sold-out Madison Square Garden, the first ever NJPW Grand Slam Champion—deserved. But on the other hand, Jay had accomplished everything there was for him to accomplish in Japan. It was time to move on.

“He lost?” Tam proclaimed in shock, and it caused everyone else to crowd around and look in interest. Nellie and Torrance had been watching the Battle in the Valley pay-per-view on Torrance’s tablet, propped up on a chair in the locker room at that afternoon’s Stardom event. Given the ramifications of Jay’s match, they’d wanted to watch it live. But maybe it hadn’t been the best idea.

“You alright?”

Nellie could see Torrance looking at her out of the corner of her eye. She was still looking at the screen, but she wasn’t really watching anymore. “Yeah,” she answered. “Honestly, I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago. I don’t know; it sounds like a shitty thing to say, but at least now I know for sure he’s gone.”

“No—that’s not a shitty thing to say at all,” Torrance returned. “Jay did nothing but confuse you and try to keep you from moving on, so I don’t blame you for feeling that way at all. Now he can’t pull that shit anymore.”

Leave it to Torrance not to mince words. But she was right. This was closure, in a way. And long overdue.

“Speaking of moving on,” she added. “Have you talked to David recently?”

Nellie started to answer—but she was cut off by a surprised gasp from Natsupoi.

“Debbie Chan!”

She pointed at the tablet; and when Nellie looked again, she couldn’t believe what she saw. Jay splayed out on his back on the mat, David Finlay standing over him, his father’s shillelagh in hand.

“Oh—my God,” Torrance gaped.

Nellie was equally shocked. More so. But then David started talking—yelling over the boos that poured down on him from the crowd—and it wasn’t anything he hadn’t already told her in private. In fact, the only thing that really surprised her was how little she cared that he’d chosen to take his frustration out on Jay, of all people.

In fact, she kind of liked it.

“Did you know he was gonna do this?” Torrance asked.

Nellie shook her head, her eyes still glued on the screen. On David. “No,” she said, and she immediately reached for her phone and sent off a text. She had no idea when he’d see it or when she’d get a response. But she had to let him know she’d seen what he’d done; and, more importantly, heard what he’d said.

That’s one way to make a statement, she wrote.

They turned off the pay-per-view after that to focus on preparing for their own show. It wasn’t until Nellie returned to the locker room from her six-woman tag match that she saw David’s response.

I was hoping you were watching.

Her stomach fluttered. So he had been thinking of her.

I’m glad I was, she sent back. His reply came not long after.

We should get dinner when I’m back next month.

Nellie didn’t hesitate.

It’s a date.

* * * *

Monday, March 27, 2023 Tokyo, Japan

David couldn’t have picked a better time to cancel his flight. With NJPW and Stardom both largely on break until the first of the month, he and Nellie had the freedom to spend their days however they pleased, whether that meant catching a train to go exploring wherever or staying tangled up in bed exploring each other, with no intention to go anywhere at all.

But today, they were at the dojo. Nellie had been wanting to add some more high impact moves to her arsenal, and David was the perfect person to help spot her form and make sure her execution was flawless.

As for how she was practicing the moves—that’s what Thekla was there for.

“Am I still spinning?” she asked in a daze after taking another Blue Thunder Bomb. Nellie looked down at her in concern.

“Shit, are you alright?”

She lifted her head up from the mat and smirked. “I’m messing with you.”

“Jesus,” Nellie breathed and pushed her out of the pin. “I thought I’d given you a concussion or something.”

“Nah, it was fine,” she assured her.

“Yeah, it looked really good, Nell,” David added from where he watched at the ring apron. “I’d say you have that down.”

She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

“What’s next?” Thekla asked.

“I could teach you Trash Panda,” David grinned.

“I thought it was called Into Oblivion now?” Nellie returned.

“Yeah… it is. But I like Trash Panda better.”

“Me too,” Thekla agreed with a grin.

“We can save that for the next session,” Nellie decided. “I think Thek’s been enough of a guinea pig today.”

Thekla waved her off. “You let me work out some stuff on you, too. Plus, I just figured you needed to get out your frustration about being eliminated from the Cinderella Tournament already.”

Nellie’s expression went flat. It was a friendly dig, but Thekla wasn’t entirely wrong. Stardom's annual Cinderella Tournament had kicked off yesterday, and Nellie had already been eliminated in the first round—by Torrance.

“I’m not touching that one,” David said.

“Honestly, it’s fine,” Nellie dismissed. “Torr can have that win. The Cinderella Tournament is more her thing, anyway.”

“Yeah… I can’t really imagine you out there in a big poofy dress,” David laughed, to which Nellie quickly shook her head.

“Yeah, no.”

“Oh, I would hate it, too,” Thekla agreed. “But I’d gladly put on a big poofy dress if it meant getting whatever title shot I wanted.”

Nellie scoffed. “Shit, that might be the only way I get another title shot at this point.”

As frustrated as she was with her position in Cosmic Angels, Nellie was even more frustrated with her treatment as SWA World Champion. Holding that title was something to be proud of, absolutely, and she was—but it often seemed like Stardom management flat-out forgot she was champion. In the nearly eleven months since she’d won the title, Nellie had defended it just four times, and not for lack of trying. She’d pushed so hard for a second defense when more than four months had passed after her first against Fukigen Death that they’d booked her two defenses back-to-back, the first of which had been a relatively high-profile champion-versus-champion match against Alex Windsor at NJPW Rumble on 44th Street in New York City. Nellie had been thrilled to be on that card, and she’d won that defense, as well as the next a week later against Alpha Female at the Hiroshima Goddess Festival.

And then her title was promptly forgotten about again, put on the backburner.

And maybe it was an issue with Stardom having too many titles for the size of their roster. But the SWA World Championship was unique: per the rules of the title, only wrestlers from countries other than the reigning champion could challenge for it. So, with Nellie being an American living in Tokyo, her list of potential opponents was seemingly endless. In fact, literally the only member of Stardom’s roster who couldn’t challenge her for the SWA World Championship was Torrance. But Stardom didn’t seem to recognize the value in that. They didn’t seem to recognize Nellie’s value as the third-longest currently reigning champion on their payroll.

And quite frankly, it was bullshit.

“I think you’ve more than earned calling your shot against whoever you want whenever you want with how long you’ve had the SWA title,” Thekla encouraged her.

“She’s not wrong,” David agreed.

Nellie chewed her lip in thought. No—Thekla wasn’t wrong, and it was funny she’d said it. Because there was something Nellie had been recently mulling over; a bold challenge she’d been considering making against her former tag team partner.

“All Star Grand Queendom is coming up,” she started. “I’ve been thinking about challenging Saya to a winner takes all match.”

“Do it,” David instantly said.

“Absolutely,” Thekla seconded. “And if you win you should leave Cosmic Angels and join Donna del Mondo.”

“Oh, only if I win?” Nellie smirked.

She nodded. “Yeah, we can’t take losers.”

Nellie turned it over in her head, trying it on for size. She had to admit: Two-Belt Nell in Donna del Mondo felt right.

“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t plan on losing, then.”

* * * *

Friday, March 31, 2023 Tokyo, Japan

Nellie’s stomach was in knots as she walked into the bar. It was one she was familiar with, one of Riley’s favorite spots in Tokyo. In fact, she was almost certain the last time she’d been there had been with him. So, it was as fitting as it was nerve-wracking that it was him who she was meeting there tonight.

Although, until about forty-five minutes ago, she hadn’t planned on going anywhere that night. Her only plans had consisted of relaxing in her apartment cuddled up with David as they binge-watched the new dark comedy series he’d gotten her into. But while he refilled their drinks in between episodes, Nellie had gotten an unexpected text from Riley.

What’re you up to tonight?

She’d scoffed to herself when she read it; it was barely a step up from hey, u up? But she’d responded, nevertheless.

Just binge-watching tv.

Riley didn’t need to know anything more than that. Who she was with was her business and her business alone.

But his next text caught her off-guard.

Want to meet up for a drink?

She stared at the message, unsure what to make of it. Even less sure of the intent behind it. She fired off the first excuse that came to mind.

I’m already in my pajamas.

She figured—hoped—that would take care of it. But Riley’s third text tightened her chest.

Please? There’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you and I’d rather do it in person.

Of course, that was when David returned. He noticed her conflicted expression right away.

“What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “Riley just asked if I could meet up for a drink.”

He laughed through his nose as he sat down. “I’m surprised it took him this long.”

She shot him a look.

 “Oh, come on,” he returned. “You know I wasn’t the only one waiting for Jay to be gone.”

“At least you admit it,” she smirked.

“Oh, I admit it one hundred percent. But you certainly don’t seem to mind.”

He gave her that eyebrow raise as he took a drink. He wasn’t wrong. She didn’t mind it at all.

“Did he say why?” he asked. She read out the pertinent part of Riley’s last text verbatim. David’s expression turned pensive. And then he said, “I think you should hear him out.”

Nellie’s brow puckered. “Seriously?” That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. David and Riley had never been friends, and their relationship had only worsened since David had assumed leadership of Bullet Club.

But he was completely serious.

“Seriously. I know things are tense between me and him, and the last thing I want is for you to feel caught in the middle. You’ve felt that way enough where Riley’s concerned.”

A wave of gratitude and appreciation washed over Nellie, warming her from the top of her head down to her toes. She leaned in and gave him a tender kiss. “See, that’s why I’m with you,” she said, her lips still close to his. “You’re mature.”

“Among other reasons,” David smirked.

She sighed again. “Fine. I guess I’ll tell him he has one drink to say whatever it is he wants to say.”

And that was exactly what she did. And now, here she was.

The bar was as packed as she’d expected it to be on a beautiful spring Friday night in Roppongi. Riley was sitting at the bar, already nursing a drink. She doubted it was his first.

“Hey!” he exclaimed when he saw her. “I’m glad you’re here; people were starting to get pissy with me for saving a seat.” He pulled out the barstool next to him and motioned for her to sit. “What do you want? I’m buying.”

She thought about it. “Tequila soda,” she decided. Riley’s eyebrows arched.

“I haven’t heard you order one of those in a while. Can’t say I blame you, though; this might be a tequila conversation.”

Nellie didn’t react to that or ask why. She’d find out soon enough.

He flagged down a bartender and asked for a tequila and soda—with reposado, just how Nellie preferred—and then the tension settled in like an unwelcome guest. She had to break it somehow.

“Did you just fly in?” she asked. Riley nodded.

“Yeah, this morning. And I’m only here for a week; I’m taking some time off after Sakura Genesis. That’s why I wanted to talk to you tonight… I didn’t know when we'd have another chance with our schedules.”

The bartender set Nellie’s cocktail in front of her not a second too soon. She picked it up and lifted it to her lips. “Well, I’m here. So let’s talk.”

She hadn’t meant to come off so curt; it was her nerves. But before she could walk it back, Riley spoke.

“I owe you an apology.”

Nellie went still. She’d noticed that Riley had been acting differently since his first-round elimination from the New Japan Cup, and it wasn’t just her—everyone had noticed, to the point that Zack had even publicly commented on it. It was as if Riley was consciously trying to be a better person, and it started with correcting all his past transgressions; or at least, trying to.

But Nellie could think of half a dozen people who deserved an apology before she did. “For what?”

He laughed wryly to himself. “Well, for years of acting as my buffer, for starters.”

A lump formed in Nellie’s throat. That was almost exactly what David had said in encouraging her to come here.

 He went on. “For years of telling people, He really is a good guy if you just get to know him, only for me to act like a complete jackass and make you look like one. For having the emotional depth of a kiddie pool.” He picked up his drink and brought it to his lips. “For kissing you when you were still with Jay.”

Nellie’s stomach twisted. “I kissed you back,” she quietly said.

“That doesn’t make it better. You were in an emotionally vulnerable position, and I took advantage of it. I’m sorry.”

She fidgeted under the sincerity of his gaze and took another nervous drink. She didn’t disagree with him. But her conscience wasn’t clear, either.

“And it’s double fucked up, actually,” he added, “because the only two people who haven’t turned their backs on me yet are you and Jay. And Jay’s gone.”

With that, he downed the rest of his drink in a single gulp. Nellie almost wanted to do the same with hers. Riley was coming to terms with the consequences of years’ worth of his actions right in front of her—and he had no idea who she was going back to when she left the bar.

“So, yeah,” he finished. “That’s what I have to apologize for.”

“Thank you,” she told him. “Really. It means a lot to hear you say all that.”

The ghost of a sad smile pulled at his lips, but it was gone as soon as the bartender appeared to ask if he wanted another. Riley nodded; and Nellie couldn’t bite her tongue.

“But you know who you really need to apologize to?” she asked.

“If you say—"

“Torrance. And Robbie.”

Riley scratched his mullet. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“Because you know as much as I do there’s no two people you tormented more.”

“Tormented?” he stressed. “Come on… I didn’t torment Torrance.”

“So you admit you did torment Robbie, then?”

The bartender returned with Riley’s drink; he picked it up and took a long pull. His avoidance to answer the question spoke volumes.

“I don’t know if either of them will even hear you out,” Nellie added. “But you need to at least try.”

“Let me just get through one thing at a time, alright?” Riley returned, and Nellie could tell from his tone that he’d exhausted his emotional bandwidth for the night. “I know you’re not the only person I need to talk to, but I wanted to talk to you first because of all the bullshit going on in Bullet Club. I know you’ve gotten close with Finlay since he came back last summer. Dunno why… he’s a try-hard piece of shit.”

Nellie bit down on her jaw. But before she could tear into him, call it karma, due receipts, remind Riley that David was only giving back what he’d gotten from him—he pulled back and became deliberately abrasive. Just like he always did.

“But I’ve said my piece, so you’re free to go home and get back in your pajamas.”

He looked down into his drink, already half gone. Nellie had never seen him look so dejected. But he’d done it to himself; and for once, she knew he knew it.

“Fine,” she breathed. “Bye, Riley.” And she got up and walked out of the bar, leaving him to sit there alone with himself.

* * * *

Friday, July 16, 2021 Tokyo, Japan

There were multiple reasons why Nellie shouldn’t have gone out with Riley that night.

First, she had to be up early tomorrow to catch a flight to London to defend her newly re-won RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship against Mariah May on Sunday.

Second, Torrance was still on non-speaking terms with Riley, and Nellie didn’t want to do anything that could be misconstrued as choosing sides.

And third, she’d never felt more insecure in her relationship with Jay than she did now—and Riley had been looking at her all night as if she hung the fucking moon.

He'd walked her back to her apartment from the metro, a gesture she really hadn’t thought much of at all. It was late and she’d been drinking, and besides, she lived in Kasuga within walking distance from his hotel in Tokyo Dome City.

But when they’d arrived at her door, she hadn’t been able to stop herself from asking.

Do you want to come in?

She should’ve thought twice about it when Riley had been so quick to accept the invitation. But now here she was, getting them both another drink they probably shouldn’t have, and he was getting comfortable on her couch.

“What time is your flight?” he asked.

“8:55. So I have to be up in oh,” she glanced at the time on her phone, “less than six hours.”

“Hey—I promised I wouldn’t keep you out past when the trains stopped running, and I didn’t.”

“We caught the last train by the skin of our teeth.”

“But I kept my promise,” he grinned.

“First time for everything,” Nellie quipped as she handed him a beer. Riley clutched at his chest.

“Ouch, Nell. Tell me how you really feel.”

She just smirked and sat down next to him. Closer than she probably should have, their legs touching, his arm resting behind her head. She brought her bottle to her lips and took a drink.

“This is my first time here,” Riley noted.

Nellie blinked in shock. She’d lived in that apartment for just over a year, but he was right—he’d somehow never been there before. “That doesn’t seem right,” she remarked. But he shrugged.

“Well, if you think about it, we haven’t really hung out one-on-one since we both started working in Japan. Which is ironic, because we see each other way more now than we ever did in back in England.”

“Well, the circumstances were different back in England,” she said, and she immediately wished she hadn’t. Because now she was thinking about back in England. About how, back then, they would already be taking off each other’s clothes. And now Riley was looking at her like that again.

But he caught himself. “Speaking of circumstances… how’s Jay? Is he any closer to being able to come back?”

Nellie’s chest tightened. From one strained topic to the next. “I wish I could say,” she said. “But he seems perfectly fine with never coming back, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

That took Riley by surprise. “Why? Did something happen?”

She thought about it for a second. “Nothing specifically happened,” she finally said. “It just feels like I’m out of sight, out of mind a lot of the time.”

His brow furrowed. “Is he not trying to make it work? Didn’t you just visit him?”

“Not just,” she scoffed. “Almost two months ago. And he tries sometimes. Just enough so that I keep hoping this is a temporary setback. But then other times it seems like it’s too much trouble for him to try.”

She took another drink.

“That’s bullshit, Nell.”

She didn’t look at him. “It’s a difficult situation.”

“It is, but if that’s what Jay’s doing, it’s bullshit. It sounds like he’s stringing you along. You deserve better than that.”

Nellie’s nose burned. She leaned her head back against the couch only to rest it against Riley’s arm instead. She’d forgotten it was there. But she didn’t move. Neither did he.

“If he is, then I’m letting him,” she quietly admitted.

“Why?”

She peeled at the label on her beer bottle, mute. Not because she didn’t know why—she did know why. All too well. She was in love with Jay, and love turned even the smartest people into fools.

But she didn’t feel comfortable telling Riley that.

“Don’t,” he said.

Her voice came out small. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t fucking let him string you along. Hey.” He flexed his wrist on the arm behind her to touch his hand to the back of her head. She looked at him. “You deserve better than that.”

“Do I?” she asked, self-deprecating in her alcohol-induced misery.

“Of course you do,” Riley gently said, and the next thing she knew he was leaning forward, and then his lips were on hers; hers on his. She sat up to meet him—not thinking, just feeling—and he wrapped his arm around her and drew her in. The kiss became hungry quick, lustful, their bodies working on muscle memory three years old. He curled a fist into her hair, and it was like a trigger. She climbed onto his lap and pushed him back into the couch cushions—and then she felt the growing hardness in his pants and snapped out of it like a slingshot.

She broke the kiss and covered her mouth with her hands. Shocked. Instantly regretful.

Riley’s eyes were hooded. “Nell—”

“You need to go.”

She climbed off him and stood, not meeting his gaze, and he got up without argument and moved to the door. But he paused as he turned the doorknob. For a second, it seemed like he wanted to say something, and she waited, her breath hitched in her chest. But whatever it was, if it was even anything at all, Riley didn’t say it, and he turned and walked out the door. Nellie locked it behind him, and then she sank down on the couch, her head in her hands, her heart heavy.

* * * *

Saturday, April 8, 2023 Sakura Genesis – Tokyo, Japan

Stardom had a show in Aomori that day, but Nellie wasn’t there.

She was more than nine hours south of there, in Tokyo, at Sakura Genesis. But not because she had a match there—she didn’t. She hadn’t been booked anywhere that day, and so she’d come to support David in Bullet Club’s six-man tag match against Guerillas of Destiny and Master Wato. But her mind had been elsewhere the entire time.

She didn’t know why she hadn’t been booked for the Aomori show. When she’d realized it was the same day as Sakura Genesis, she’d thought—hoped—it could be because they were finally giving her an opportunity. A big one, to be the next to challenge for the IWGP Women’s Championship. But then the day of the pay-per-view had drawn closer… and closer… and no one said anything about it to her. There was no opportunity, Nellie had realized. She just hadn’t been booked, and it was Waka Tsukiyama tagging with Tam and Poi today instead of her.

And when Mercedes Moné walked out with the IWGP Women’s Championship around her waist, Nellie couldn’t stomach it to just sit there and watch.

She walked briskly through the backstage halls toward Bullet Club’s locker room—David had to be back there by now—but her pace slowed as she arrived. There was a suitcase lying in the middle of the hall, splayed wide open, its contents strewn across the floor as if it had been thrown from the locker room. It almost certainly had been thrown from the locker room—it was Riley’s suitcase, she realized. That hadn’t taken long.

She stepped over and in between his discarded belongings and knocked on the door. Kenta’s gruff voice called from inside, demanding in Japanese who it was. “It’s me,” she returned, agitated. David opened the door a few seconds later.

“Hey, babe,” he said, his tone much softer than Kenta’s had been. He looked back at the others as Nellie walked into the room. “Guys, give us a minute, alright?”

There was an awkward shuffle of movement as Gedo, Ishimori, and Kenta all filed past them into the hall. Ishimori kicked one of Riley’s shirts out of his path on his way out, and Kenta offered Nellie a “too sweet.” But she just glowered at him, and he shrugged and kept moving. David shut the door behind them and turned to her.

“I know—I should have told you we planned on kicking out ELP tonight,” he started—but Nellie shook her head.

“I don’t care that you kicked him out.”

He paused. “You don’t?”

She shook her head again. “No. He made his bed, now he’s lying in it. I couldn’t care less.”

David was clearly relieved—and pleased—to hear her say that. “Oh; okay.” He took her by the hips and drew her into him. “Then what do you look so upset about?”

She slid her hands up his shoulders and around his neck. “I’m not upset,” she calmly returned. “I’ve just come to a decision.”

“Have you?” he asked with interest. Arching his brow in that slight way of his.

“Mhm,” she hummed. “Are you going after Tama’s NEVER Openweight Title?”

He nodded. “I am.”

“Good,” she returned. “Let’s take over.”

A slow grin spread over David’s face. “Absolutely,” he said, and for the first time in months—years—Nellie felt secure, the whole world ahead of her. She was with David, he was with her, and they were going to disrupt everything.

[waywardwrestlewritingwaif]

Wake Up Call

Holy hell, did I write something? Yes. And it's fluffy, no less. Something for my El P babes. I really hope this means I'll be able to write more because the well has been DRY these past few months.

Hope you enjoy! (Hope you haven't all forgotten me.)

Pairing: El Phantasmo x OFC

Word count: 1,550

Content advisory: swearing, sexual references

It’s the middle of the night and for a second, you’re not even sure what’s woken you, but then you hear the front door close. You’re not even scared because you hear the jangle of keys and the same, familiar steps coming through the hall and then up the stairs.

“What the hell?” You mutter to yourself. What is he doing here? Why didn’t you, as the old song goes, change the stupid lock or ask him for his key?

Well, probably because the two of you were not on terrible terms by the time he left to move in with his girlfriend. He probably figured that you’d just been grouchy because she’d been staying there so often. And he probably figured that because it’s what you told him when you said that either she moved in and started to pay rent or he moved out.

Sure, the two of you had fooled around a little bit when you were buzzed on alcohol or pot, but that had just been fun. It’s not like you’d developed feelings for him, as far as he knew.

In fact, when Riley had responded to your ad looking for a housemate, you were worried that you were going to hate him. He told you he was a professional wrestler who performed as El Phantasmo and for several minutes, you’d assumed he was joking. But no, he was an honest to god wrestler and he was your new roommate. And it turned out that living with a professional wrestler was pretty fun; he was on the road a lot but he always paid his share of the rent and bills on time, if not a few days early. He’d often take care of the groceries when he was around. And, as you’d eventually found out, he was a really good kisser. A firm kisser. It was cool. You were cool. And then you weren’t.

The most irritating thing was that you hadn’t realized just how hung up on him you were until he told you he had a new girlfriend, at which point you couldn’t say anything because it was too late. Ugh. You can picture yourself at their wedding, sad little smile, wishing them well and thinking “it should have been me.”

You hear him head into his room like he hasn’t been moved out for a month, although he left the furniture. You’d taken a nap in his bed once. Not something you’re proud of.

There are more footsteps in the hallway and then you feel it, a warm, familiar body crawling into you. What the hell.

“She kicked me out,” he grumbles, resting his head against your back.

“I kicked you out first,” you retort. “Why am I the one who has to take you back?”

He slides an arm around you, his fingers just barely grazing the skin of your belly, underneath your t-shirt. For a second you panic, worried that you’re wearing one of his shirts, then you remember both the ones you have are in the laundry. He pulls you against him, gently but insistently.

“How long are you going to give her until you go back?”

“It’s not like that. We’re done. I brought my suitcase and everything.”

“Don’t be silly. You two couldn’t spend two minutes apart for months. She’ll cool down, whatever stupid thing it was that you said.”

He pinches your stomach and you give him a little kick, which makes him pinch you harder. You can’t win at this. He’s wiry but way stronger than you and trying to fight him for the remote is how the two of you ended up making out the first time. Can’t risk that.

“What makes it think it’s something I said?”

“Because you’re you and you don’t have a filter.”

“Well, you’re wrong.”

“Sure,” you grunt sarcastically. “I’m going back to sleep. If you’re still here in the morning, I’ll talk to you then.”

He gives you another pinch.

“For fuck’s sake, Riley cut that out or I’m going to grab the lamp and knock your block off.”

“Oh, now she thinks she’s tough!”

He grabs at you and tries to flip you over, which you’re able to resist by flattening yourself against the mattress. Petulantly, he slides a hand up your back and scratches you with those razor-sharp nails.

“That’s it! Get out of my room, El Plastico!”

“Screw you, say my name right!”

“El Plasma.”

He digs his nails into your side. “Say it right!”

“Go the hell to bed, El Phantasmo,” you sigh.

He settles in next to you, throwing an arm over your back.

“I meant your bed.”

“I know what you meant. I just want to stay here.” He pauses and when he continues, his voice is gentler. “Will you let me sleep here?”

“If you shut up, yes.”

He just laughs and curls up against you, rolling you on your side and locking his arm around your waist so that you’re the little spoon. He presses his face against your hair, close enough that you can feel his breath on your scalp and neck. You really wish it wasn’t making you feel the things it is. You’ve just about got your baser instincts under control when you feel him kiss you right behind your ear. He hums a little.

“Sleep, Riley,” you warn him.

He doesn’t kiss you again, but he doesn’t back off at all either. Rather, he moves his hand slowly upward, until you can feel his fingers grazing the bottom of your breast. The best plan of action is obviously to drive your elbow into his rib cage. But oh no, you just keep letting him touch you because the sensation of butterflies in your stomach is just so wonderful.

“Aren’t you at all curious to know why she broke up with me?”

You exhale heavily. “Because you said something unforgivable. I’m guessing you don’t even know what exactly it was, or at least, you don’t know why it was bad.”

“Don’t you think you’re just the smartest thing. Well, you’re wrong. It wasn’t something I said, it was something I didn’t say.”

“Oh boy, here it comes.” You roll onto your back and he props himself up on one arm, leaning so tantalizingly close. “Alright, out with it. Maybe I can help you fix it.”

“She asked me if I loved her.”

“And what… you just stared blankly?”

“Kind of. I think I shrugged.”

“Jesus, dude. Who hurt you? You finally get a girlfriend who’s crazy about you and you’re so fucked up and closed off that you can’t even say you love her?”

“Well, I didn’t. I don’t.”

“You’ve been glued to her side. You moved in with her.”

“Because you told me I had to.”

“She was here all the time anyway! She kept using up all the hot water in the mornings!”

“Well, you never said anything. You just told me to get out. So I moved in with her and I shouldn’t have done that.”

“This feels uncomfortably like you’re saying this is my fault.”

He shakes his head like a penitent child.

“Ok, so why didn’t you just tell her you loved her?”

“Because I don’t.”

“And you decided this when, exactly?”

“I never loved her. She was fun to be around and she loved the hell out of me.”

“Stop bragging.”

“So you didn’t rent my room out?”

No, you hadn’t, because you hadn’t been able to confront the idea that he was really gone and you hated the idea of seeing someone else coming out of his bedroom in the mornings.

“You can have the room back. But so help me if you turn around and move back out in a month I will-“

He flips on top of you so quickly that you barely realize what’s happening until you feel the tip of his tongue slide up your neck and he nips at your earlobe. This can’t start again. Maybe he can handle it but you can’t. Save yourself.

“Hey, Riley, listen to me,” you mumble, pushing him back a little. He looks hurt. “I think maybe we shouldn’t be doing this kind of thing.”

“We shouldn’t?”

“I mean… I don’t know…” You can’t think of any reason why this should suddenly be off-limits that doesn’t involve blurting out that you have feelings for him.

“I just left a girl who loved me for you. If you don’t like me at least a little, I’m gonna jump out the window.”

You feel your eyes widen. “You what?”

“Give me something, here. I don’t think I’m imagining that you feel at least a bit the same.”

The stress breaks out of you in laughter and it’s a couple of minutes before you recover yourself enough to lace your fingers through his hair and pull him closer to you. “Come here, you adorable idiot.”

He kisses you and it’s just as good as you remember, even better because of what you now know.

“Yeah, I don’t want my old room back,” he mutters, sliding your shirt off and running his hands over your erect nipples.

You help him out of his clothing relishing the feel of his hot skin against yours.

“Ok,” you grin. “You’re forgiven for waking me up.”

[aussiearrow]

Last Name - E. Phantasmo

A/N: Okay wow, this has been in progress for months with so many changes, so many doubts, so many other things. But it's finally here. Thanks to @bitterendbrutalizer for forever listening to my ideas the last few months and encouraging this to see the light of day sooner rather than later.

If you want to be added to the taglist on this please let me know.

This is part of a series called ' Waking Up In Vegas ' , it started out as a 2 part but as things went along it became a 3 part. So hope you guys enjoy it!

Warnings: I curse a lot so there's a few thrown in, alcohol , elp ( yes he's a warning cause look at him)

Last Name - E.Phantasmo x OFC

" Last night I got served a little bit too much of that poison baby. Last night I did things I'm not proud of and I got a little crazy. Last night I met a guy on the dance floor and I let him call me baby. "

Kal walked through the doors of the airport ready to just get this vacation started already. She must have had the week from hell with dealing with terrible people who consistently told her how she should do her job that she's only done for the past 10 years now but since it wasn't what they wanted to hear it was all wrong.

She met up with her group as she gave them all quick hugs.

"The rest of the group should be here soon." Kasey said as she led Kal over to the seat next to her as the two sat down.

"Rest of the group?" Kal asked her with a confused look," I thought it was just going to be me, you, Jay, Toni, Bea, and Juice?"

"It was until Jay over here said it out loud and a certain headbanger overheard followed by an invitation from Juice which than somehow now Will is coming too and Taiji and who knows whatever other club member or Chaos member or former at this point." Kasey said as Jay cheekily looked over at them.

"I'm sorry I got excited." Jay said.

Kal just nodded while she didn't exactly know any of them, she knew of them when she watched New Japan Pro Wrestling every week to see her friends. And sometimes they would be on the show and they seemed like they were a pretty fun group to be around.

"Okay did they say when they should be here? I think I needed to be in Vegas like yesterday." Kal said as the three of them laughed.

It was soon broken up by a loud commotion at the other end of the airport as they all looked over to see the one who Kal knew as Kenta who she met a number of times and got along with greatly. Kenta laughing as he walked away from Taiji who was picking up his suitcase off the floor with a flushed cheeks as a guy who Kal only knew by his wrestling name El Phantasmo stood there watching him and laughing. Will on the other hand made his way over to the group more so Bea.

"And that would be them." Kasey said as she greeted Will and re introduced the two.

"You're the infamous Kal we hear a lot about yet never seen was starting to think they all made you up." Will said with a laugh.

"Hell of an imagination. I'm Riley. This is Taiji and Kenta." Riley said as Kal offered them all a small smile.

"We've met." Kenta said as he offered her a hug that she returned.

"And you held out on us?" Riley said.

"Do you blame him?" Jay said from behind as he stepped forward to greet them.

The whole plane ride was filled with jokes from the group some of which Kal was included in on. Most were ones that Kal never got due to leaving wrestling to pursue her other passion that was slowly making her unhappy now. All the jokes that seemingly came from a certain group of guys.

Kenta sat next to Kal as he always made her feel welcomed in the group of wrestlers as he was the first one she met aside from Jay and Kasey.

"How's work?" Kenta asked her.

"Starting to feel more like a job if you ask me."

"Oof that bad?" Kenta asked as Kal nodded," Well than that is the last mention of work you'll hear from me this weekend?"

"Mention of what?" Kal said as Kenta laughed.

"Exactly." Kenta said.

The rest of the plan ride went more like the first half. As they got off the plane and checked into a hotel almost all of them decided on dinner and bed so that way they can spend the whole day tomorrow doing what they want to do. And just with Kal's luck her room ended up being right next to Riley and Taiji's room.

" And I don't even know his last name. My momma would be so ashamed. It started off,' Hey cutie, where you from?' And than it turned into,' Oh no! What have I done?' And I don't even know his last name. "

They all decided that it was a pretty good idea to meet up for dinner after everyone got settled in. But to no one's surprise Kasey and Jay decided that they were going to do a bit of a date night. Kal had known Kasey for years having went to school together in Florida. And being there the night she met Jay cause she wasn't sure if it was truly him or not.

When they all met up at the restaurant everyone was talking about things they wanted to do things that didn't exactly excite Kal. Her main goal this trip was to hopefully not remember a single thing by the end of it all.

"What about you Kal?" Kenta asked.

"My goal is to forget about anything I did this trip."

"I mean you definitely came to the right place for that." Bea said with a laugh.

"I'm more than okay with doing that, will you be able to hold off until tomorrow?" Will said.

"I can get started alone."

"In Vegas? Absolutely not. Kenta?" Toni said.

"I'm out, for once. I'm actually tired." Kenta said.

Kal sighed as that meant Bea, Toni, Juice, Kenta were out. Kasey and Jay were off doing whatever.

"What about me and Taiji?" Riley said.

"I wouldn't make her go through that. And while I trust Taiji you'll probably end up just as wasted as her and we'll have a hard time finding both of you in the morning." Taiji said.

"Okay what if they both go with me?" Kal said kind of surprised she even entertained the idea even in the slightest.

"I'm down." Riley said as he shot Kal a smile and a wink.

If it wasn't for Taiji agreeing Kal would have taken it all back but she really did want too enjoy her first night here.

"Than it's settled. After this the 3 of us are going to hit the town. You into strip clubs Kal?"

"Absolutely not. At least not the first night." Kal said as they all finished their dinner.

"So what do you expect to do than?" Riley asked Kal as they said their goodbyes to their friends as Riley and Taiji got the run down of making sure that they all come see them for lunch tomorrow since they certainly won't be making breakfast.

"Drink. Don't care where as long as it's not a strip club. I was thinking of starting at that new place that opened up on the strip and I'm just going to let the night tell me where else I should go." Kal said as she turned to look at them.

"We can go there." Taiji said before Riley could even respond as Kal smiled.

"I like you already." Kal said.

"What about me?" Riley said with a slight pout.

"I think I might be still warming up to you. Ask me tomorrow." Kal said as Taiji laughed as the 3 of them headed down the strip.

"Okay please don't lose anyone, not in Vegas at least." Taiji said as they all sat down at a table.

"We won't Bone Daddy." Riley said in a mocking yet playful tone.

"Who calls someone Bone Daddy?" Kal said as she gave them both a confused look.

"Just a running joke about his gimmick." Riley said with a slight shrug.

"Is there a running joke about you?" Kal said as Taiji laughed causing her to look over at him.

"This guy get a nickname that he didn't give himself? Good joke." Taiji said as Kal laughed and Riley shook his head," At least nothing that anyone says to his face."

Riley threw the closest thing on the table at him as Taiji continued to laugh as they put their drink orders in," We can let Kal here come to a decision on whether or not I get a nickname."

"I think I'd much rather join everyone else and keep it behind your back, makes things that much more interesting." Kal said as she smiled slightly when he looked at her as she sipped her drink.

"How did you meet Kenta?" Taiji asked

'"Yeah how? We've been around him for the past 2 years now, heard of you but never saw you." Riley followed up.

"I met him when Jay brought him to be my date cause I was visiting Kasey when he dropped by unexpectedly."

"You don't wrestle?" Taiji asked as Kal shook her head no.

"Trained a little, but at the same time I was pulling for my other dream job. That opportunity came knocking first and spent the last 10 years doing that."

"You don't seem too thrilled about that." Riley said.

"Cause lately I'm not, it started feeling like a job when new people starting coming in pitching ideas that I tried to pitch for years and since they are younger I guess they decided they were going to listen to them all while treating everyone else like shit." Kal said with a sigh remembering the argument that ensued at the office the night before she left.

"So you mentioned a date with Kenta?" Riley said of course bringing it back to her love life.

"Yeah, we hit it off." Kal said blankly as Riley nodded his head the playful look in his eyes slowly going away," As friends."

Taiji raised his eyebrows as another round of drinks came and went as Riley grilled Kal on her life.

"Okay that's enough. I think I entertained you guys enough. We should go back to the hotel so we can get some rest for tomorrow." Taiji said as he stood up.

Kal booed at him but still stood up knowing that he was right, the way she saw it is if she went to bed now she could get an early start tomorrow. Riley on the other hand had completely different plans and if he could just get Kal to look in his direction he could have it play out.

As the group paid and left the bar, Taiji hailed for a cab. Once one pulled up, Riley made it seem like he 'dropped' something and couldn't find it once Taiji got inside. As Kal turned to help Riley out, he waited long enough to the point the cab pulled away.

As Riley pulled his phone out of his pocket," Oops, must have been here the entire time."

"You're a mess." Kal said as she turned back to see the cab now half way down the road.

"Oh no, looks like we missed the cab. I can get us another one." Riley said as Kal heard the totally did that on purpose tone in his voice.

"Or we can go to that other bar?" Kal said with a hopeful tone.

"Lead the way." Riley said das he held his arm out for her to go first as she smiled mischievously as she walked by him and he followed closely behind.

" We left the club, right around three o'clock in the morning. His pinto sitting there in the parking lot. Well it should have been a warning. I had no clue what I was getting into so I blame it on Cuervo. Oh, where did my manners go? "

It only took a couple of more drinks before Kal found herself hanging onto Riley as his hands wrapped tightly around her waist as they left the club at 3 in the morning.

"Do we have to go back to the hotel?" Kal said as she slurred her words a little bit as she pouted up at him.

"Well where else would we go?" Riley said as he looked down at her.

Kal shrugged," We're in Vegas don't people party until like Tuesday or something?"

Riley laughed," I don't think that's the saying but I'm sure we can come up with something." Kal sat there with a pout as she didn't let go of Riley's arm.

"I'm going to need my arm if you want me to find some place we can go." Riley said.

"No you don't, you're talented with just one hand aren't you? You're cocky about everything else so." Kal trailed off slightly as her eyes wondered the strip completely missing Riley's invitation to keep messing around like that and she can find out.

"Okay let's go there's a place down the street and apparently it's one where you have to keep a close eye on whoever you come in with think you can handle that?" Riley asked her as the two began walking.

Kal tucked herself into his side some more, I think I can handle you."

"Not what I asked but good to know." Riley said as he held the door open for her as they walked in.

Neither of them were completely sure when things started but Riley got protective when Kal who said she wouldn't leave that spot while he went to the bathroom ultimately left that spot and found her way to the bar. It took him well over a half hour to get to her and when he saw a hand on the small of her back daring to go a little lower he shoved the guy.

"What the hell man?" The guy said as Kal turned around to see Riley.

"Where did you go? I lost you." Kal said as he took the spot the guy was just in.

"Chris this is my husband, the one I told you about the wrestler that can kick your ass if you touched me again."

"Husband?" Riley said at first as he slowly caught on," Oh. Did you really tell him that?" Kal nodded her head.

"Looking at you now I'm certain that I made a good choice when I decided not to listen." The guy who was named Chris said.

"Well it's a damn shame you don't believe it. And even more of a shame that I'm not out here to try and prove anything to some random mark in Vegas." Riley said as Kal put her hand on his bicep to get his attention as he looked down at the girl who decided that instead of proving by argument decided to plant a kiss on his lips.

Riley was taken by surprise at first and while he may have felt a little buzzed before, he wasn't sure if it was the alcohol that was still fresh on Kal's lips or just her in general that he now was completely over the edge and absolutely drunk.

By the time they pulled away Chris was no longer around and if you asked the two of them they didn't notice much of anyone else either.

Neither of them wanted to say anything to the other about wanting to end the night and possibly go back to the hotel together. So they did the smart thing and continued to bar hop and make out.

It wasn't until Riley pulled away once as he looked down at Kal," So I'm your husband right?" He really meant it as a joke but in their drunken state it was more of a statement.

Kal looked at her left hand as she showed him it," I don't see a ring."

"We can change that I mean we are in Vegas."

" Today I woke up thinking about Elvis somewhere in Vegas, I'm not sure how I got here or how this ring on my left hand just appeared outta no where. I gotta go, take the chips and the pinto and hit the road. They say ' What happens here, stays here, all of this will disappear. There's just one little problem. "

Kal opened her eyes and immediately shut them with a groan as she slowly regained all thoughts from the night before, but sadly got no where when her head once again started to pound.

She looked at the time and sighed, not only did she probably miss breakfast with everyone but lunch too. As she slowly sat up and put her hand on the bridge of her nose.

She was about to get out of bed when she heard the shower turn off as her eyes went wide. Hoping that the walls were just very thin. But when the door opened to Riley walking through with nothing but a towel around his waist.

"What are you doing in my room?" Kal said as she looked at him.

"Good afternoon to you too. You definitely weren't saying that last night or well this morning. Nice chest by the way, happy I get to see it when I'm sort of sober to remember it." Riley said as he smirked.

Kal rolled her eyes as she looked down to see just exactly what he was talking about as she hurried up to cover herself," I've only been in Vegas a day and I'm already making horrible decisions."

"Well if you already made one, than what's the issue with doing it again? Maybe we both can remember it this time." Riley said.

"Well it seems like you also forgot that I said the whole point of this trip was to not remember anything about it, especially this."

"I'm only joking, I'll be over here getting dressed. You might want to call Kasey. Jay called me like 20 times since this morning and when I picked up he said Kasey has been freaking out cause you weren't answering."

"Well did you tell him that you were with me so she wouldn't freak out anymore?" Kal said as she looked up at him.

"Told him that I haven't seen you since you ditched me and Taiji and didn't get in the cab with us last night." Riley said.

"You did not." Kal said as all he did to answer was shrug.

"Guess you'll find out when you call her."

"I hate you so much." Kal said as she searched for her phone.

Once she finally found it she looked at the screen to see 25 missed calls from Kasey as well as a handful of text messages and a few voicemails. Than there was some from Jay and Bea. As she sighed and pushed Kasey's contact.

It took her all of a ring to pick up," Well, well, well look who finally decides to bring herself to answer the phone."

"Ugh please don't be so loud, my head can't take it." Kal said.

"Yeah, Riley told us that once you join the living you'll probably have a massive hangover after last night. Speaking of Riley, care to explain why he was in your room earlier?" Kasey said in a teasing tone.

"I'd rather not talk about it." Kal said as Kasey laughed.

"That's okay, Taiji filled us all in. So when you're doing rolling around in the sheets together and actually want to be with the rest of us we're meeting in the lobby in a half hour to get lunch somewhere."

"I'll be there." Kal said as they said their goodbyes and hung up. As she laid back down and sighed picking up her hand to run it over her face, she gave a weird look when she felt something cold hit her face.

As she pulled her hand away from her face and looked at it. It all seemed normal until she got to her ring finger, one that was just bare last night was now no longer bare.

"No, no, no Fuck. No." Kal began to say as she quickly put a oversized shirt on and went to the bathroom completely forgetting about the man that was still very much in her room.

"Everything alright?" Riley said as he watched Kal wash her face before looking at her hand again before once again repeating what she said before," Woah hey, care to tell me what's going on?"

Kal stopped her string of curse words as she walked over to Riley and took his left hand where a ring also sat on his ring finger. One that matched hers.

"This. This is what's going on." Kal said as she brought his hand up and just about shoved it in his face.

"Well shit." Riley said as she dropped his hand and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Kal felt so many emotions as she put her head in her hands.

"Kal? We got to talk." Riley said.

"No, not right now. Right now what we have to do is get ready and meet up with our friends."

"So you're going to act like this just never happened?" Riley asked, Kal could hear the hurt in his voice.

Choosing to ignore it, " Yeah I am until we can figure out how to make it disappear. But we aren't telling anyone got it?"

"Yeah got it." Riley said as Kal closed the bathroom door just as he sat down on the bed," Lovely wife I got myself." Riley said with a sarcastic tone that was meant to be under his breath but Kal heard it loud and clear as she got in the shower.

" I don't even know my last name. Oh my momma would be so ashamed. It started off,' Hey cutie, where you from?' And then it turned into, ' Oh no! What have I done?' And I don't even know my last name."

[debbiechanclub]

I'll Be Honest (Looking at You Got Me Thinking Nonsense), Part 1

A “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans” fic

Pairings: Kyle Fletcher x OFC with a little bit of ZSJ x OFC (also references to past!Jay White x OFC and past!El Phantasmo x OFC) ; Will Ospreay x OFC and past!Robbie Eagles x OFC (it's all here, folks!) Word Count: 4,829 Warnings: Alcohol use, language, angst

Nellie hasn't seen Kyle in two months. And despite previous experience to the contrary, she realizes that absence still can make the heart grow fonder.

TMHWMP Timeline | Masterlist

Read it on AO3

tag squad: @aussiearrow @cowboyslariat @knifepervert @sldghmmr @rusevday @missbrownstone @meteora-fc @bec0m @thatgirlforever5 @rocca09 @adriii-omega

Saturday, November 13, 2021 Tokyo, Japan

After being forced to immediately tap out for a second time, Nellie was reminded why she simultaneously loved and hated training with Zack: she learned a lot, but he brought out her competitive streak in the worst way.

“You suck,” she breathed as he released her from the hold.

“Oh, don’t be like that, darling,” Zack smirked. “Thankfully, you don’t have to beat me to make the final tomorrow.”

Nellie rolled her eyes.

“No, but I’ll beat you if we don’t make it because you maimed my partner’s arm,” Torrance piped up from the ring apron. It made Taichi laugh, but Zack waved her off.

“Nell can handle it,” he said. He offered her his hand, and she took it and he pulled her up from the mat. Tomorrow, Nellie and Torrance would have the most important match of their short tag team career when they would face off against Mayu Iwatani and Rin Kadokura in the Block A final of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, and hopefully go on to the tournament final to earn a shot at the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. And because it was the biggest match of their tag team career thus far, Nellie figured why not enlist the best tournament tag team she knew in Dangerous Tekkers to help prepare her and Torrance.

“We have been going at it a few hours, though; I don’t want to push you too hard,” Zack said. “Is there anything else you want to go over?”

He looked between Nellie and Torrance, who looked between each other. “I’m good if you are,” Nellie said. Torrance agreed.

“Yeah, I’ve done enough sparring with Zack to last me a while.”

Zack grinned. “A bit more intensive than sparring with Robbie, is it?”

“Oi! I know you’re not talking shit.”

Robbie Eagles appeared almost as if Zack had summoned him. Nellie looked at Torrance again in surprise. But apparently, she hadn’t known Robbie would show up, either.

“What’re you doing here?” she asked him. “Don’t you need to be at Korakuen soon?”

“Yeah, but I thought I’d stop by on the way over, see how it’s going,” Robbie answered.  “And I walk in to hear Zack sullying my good name as a trainer.”

Zack shook his head. “No, mate, not as a trainer; just as a wrestler in general.”

Taichi laughed. Torrance did too and tried to hide it. Robbie gave Zack a flat look. “Fuck off,” he said, and then to Torrance and Nellie, “Are you packing up?”

“Oh, yeah,” Torrance answered. “I need a hot shower and a nap after what they just put us through.”

“As I said,” Zack commented, “more intensive than with Robbie.”

Robbie ignored him. “Are you not coming to the show?” he asked. But Torrance didn’t even need to think about her answer.

“Hell no. Taiji and Riley will both be there; you know I don’t like how they get around each other.”

The mood took an awkward turn then; so awkward, that Taichi took the opportunity to leave, waving to everyone as he went. But Torrance had a point: Robbie knew better than anyone, even Nellie, how Riley and Ishimori’s influence on each other’s behavior had played a part in Torrance and Ishimori’s break-up. He’d witnessed it firsthand during the brief period his and Riley’s time in Bullet Club had overlapped, and he’d been one of Torrance’s closest confidants after she’d left Ishimori. More than confidants, actually. But that had changed after Torrance and Nellie’s trip to London two months ago.

“We’re getting dinner and probably both having an early night,” Nellie said for Robbie’s sake more than Torrance’s. He looked like a wounded puppy, and she couldn’t take it. “Big day tomorrow, and all.”

Robbie nodded. “No yeah, I get it,” he returned. “I know you two will kill it.”

Another awkward silence started to creep in, and Torrance took it as her cue to exit. “Well, I’m gonna go; thanks again, Zack.” She looked at Nellie as she started to backpedal away. “I’ll text you later.”

“Yeah, see you,” Nellie said, and Torrance retreated into the locker room.

Zack tutted. “That was brutal, mate,” he said to Robbie. “I feel bad for calling you a shit wrestler now.”

Robbie gave a wry laugh. “Thanks. Well, good luck tomorrow, Nell. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Yeah, good luck tonight,” Nellie told him, and he waved and went back toward the exit.

“Are he and Torrance not a thing anymore?” Zack asked once Robbie was out of earshot.

Nellie sighed. “It’s complicated. I don’t know if they ever really were a thing, to be honest.” She grabbed her water bottle and phone from where she’d set them on a chair nearby. “But I’m gonna head out, too.”

“Hold on—Robbie reminded me,” Zack started, and Nellie paused to look at him. “Taichi was wondering if you’ll be accompanying us at all for World Tag League.”

Nellie’s mouth went dry. Admittedly, she’d been wondering the same herself, and with the annual tournament starting up tomorrow, she’d half-expected Zack to ask now that they were finally in a good place with each other again. And, unless she was imagining it, Nellie thought she saw a glimmer of hope in his eye that her answer would be yes.

But she couldn’t give him that. “I don’t know,” she uncertainly returned. “I mean, I’m not even in Suzuki-gun anymore, am I?”

It was more statement than question. As much as Nellie had liked to believe she’d been a full-fledged member of Suzuki-gun, she’d always felt like more of an affiliate, only there because she was with Zack; more included than Miho, but still less than everyone else. And so, when she and Zack had broken up, the tie had been severed—and it had taken him and Nellie a while to learn how to be just friends. She’d been a ghost in the weeks and months following their break-up, not attending a single NJPW event until she’d gotten together with Jay, and even then, she’d remained backstage. Wouldn’t it be out of line for her to just show up again after more than a year and a half away?  

“It’s not Suzuki-gun, it’s Tekkers,” Zack reasoned. “And Taichi wouldn’t have mentioned it if he didn’t want you there.”

“What about you?”

The question came out before she could stop it, and she fidgeted, anxious. Zack’s eyes softened once more.

“I would like to have you out there with us again, yeah. We make a good team, Nell… platonically or otherwise.”

Nellie’s phone suddenly buzzed in her hand, and she looked down. It was a text, and the name on the screen made her stomach flip for a whole separate reason other than Zack hinting that maybe he was over just being friends.

“I don’t know, I’ll think about it,” she noncommittally returned; and then, like Taichi and Torrance minutes before, she hurried to leave. “Good luck tomorrow, though,” she offered. Zack sighed inaudibly.

“Yeah, thanks,” he said, and Nellie waved and headed off, unlocking her phone to respond to Kyle’s text as she went.

* * * *

Hours later, Nellie sat across from Torrance at their favorite greasy burger joint and downloaded her on her brief conversation with Zack—and Torrance’s assessment was decisive. 

“Oh, he’s totally looking in the rear view hoping objects are closer than they appear.”

Nellie nearly choked on her drink.

“Seriously,” Torrance went on. “He sees you single again living your best life and now he wants you back.”

She shot Nellie a look that challenged tell me I’m wrong. Nellie sighed.

“I don’t know. You remember that night I talked to him after we had those tarot readings… he said it was inevitable we’d break up.”

“And now he knows he put his foot in his mouth,” Torrance returned. She smirked. “You and Zack are soulmates; your tarot reading said so.”

Nellie’s expression went flat. “And you thought Robbie was the Knight of Cups.”

Torrance visibly paused. “Okay, fair,” she admitted. “But all that aside, are you thinking of doing World Tag League?”

The corners of Nellie’s mouth turned down in thought. Part of her did miss accompanying Dangerous Tekkers to the ring; she’d had a lot of fun being an extra obstacle for their opponents throughout the 2018 and 2019 World Tag League tournaments. But a bigger part of her knew it wouldn’t be the best idea for her to participate this year.

“I don’t think so,” she decided. “Weirdness between Zack and me aside, I have enough on my plate with Stardom and RevPro already. Plus, Juice and Finlay aren’t in the tournament this year, and I always have the most fun fucking with them.”

Torrance smirked. “You’d do it in a heartbeat if Aussie Open were in it.”

Nellie didn’t want to smile, but she couldn’t help herself. “Probably.”

“Are you excited to see Kyle next weekend?”

Nellie paused. Again, she didn’t want to admit it. And yet, “I really am.”

Torrance grinned wide. “I knew you were, I just wanted to hear you say it.”

Nellie gave her the side-eye as she took another drink. But she couldn’t deny it—she was excited to see Kyle again. This was the longest she’d been away from England since she’d won the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship, and she and Kyle had never talked more. Texts, video calls coordinated around the time difference between Tokyo and London… a cheeky photo here and there. It wasn’t often that they didn’t send each other good morning and goodnight. And, terrifyingly, Nellie was starting to wonder if she wanted to tell everyone else to lose her number.

“So, are you gonna do more than just make out and cuddle with him this time?” Torrance asked.

Nellie sighed. “Why did I know you were gonna ask that?”

“Because you know you need to get dicked down,” Torrance returned. “Exorcise the ghost of Jay.”

Nellie laughed out loud. “Thanks, now I’m just thinking of Kyle’s dick like it’s some sort of holy instrument.”

“Maybe it is, you don’t know,” Torrance returned. “He could give you a religious experience.”

For the second time, Nellie nearly choked on her drink. “Anyway,” she segued once she’d recovered, “speaking of next weekend… are you gonna make it official with Will?”

Torrance went quiet and, when she didn’t answer after a few seconds, Nellie started to worry. But then she said, “Yeah, I think so.”

Nellie breathed out. “Thank God. You need to put Robbie out of his misery. I felt like I needed to take him out back and shoot him when you told him you weren’t going to the show tonight.”

“Well, I don’t know why he even asked!” Torrance proclaimed. “And I don’t know why he thinks there’s still a chance of there being anything between us, either.”

“Probably because he knows exactly how quickly you can change your mind.”

Torrance frowned at her. “Jeez, Nell, just come for my jugular.”

“I’m just being honest,” Nellie returned. “You know I thought you and Robbie would’ve been good for each other, but I also know neither of you could get out of your own way, so I don’t really blame you for jumping ship as soon as Will came along with clear intentions for what he wanted. But the sooner you make it crystal clear to Robbie that you’re with Will, the better.”

“I know, I will,” Torrance returned. “Actually, Will and I FaceTimed after I got home from training, and I almost wanted to say fuck it and make it official then. But I know I’d rather do it in person.” She drained the last of her drink and set the empty glass down on the table. “I don’t feel like going home yet,” she suddenly decided.

“I don’t either, actually,” Nellie agreed.

“Well, let’s go get a drink or two somewhere,” Torrance said. “We’re on a tag team run no one expected; we deserve to celebrate a little.”

“A little being the operative phrase,” Nellie stressed. “We need to be able to function tomorrow.”  

“I know,” Torrance assured. “Like I said—just a drink or two.”

* * * *

Nellie should have known a drink or two would turn into three or four, and before she knew it, it was after midnight. But she was beyond worrying about being able to function for tomorrow’s match. It was late afternoon in London, and halfway through her third drink, Nellie hadn’t been able to stop herself from texting Kyle anymore. And, as inebriated texts so often went, the more they texted, the more risqué the messages became.

This isn’t fair, Nell. I haven’t seen you in two months and you’re teasing me with a week still left until you’re here. It’s cruel and unusual punishment.

Nellie bit back a grin as she responded. Do I need to send you something to tide you over?

“How’s Kyle?” Torrance asked with a knowing smirk.

“Fine,” Nellie returned; no more, no less. But then her phone pinged again.

Are you implying there’s something to tide me over for?

Heat rose in Nellie’s core, and she considered just telling him yes. But there was no fun in that. Maybe if you’re good, she typed back.

Kyle’s reply was immediate and simple. Fuck, Nellie.

Nellie grinned across the table at Torrance. “Do you think I should tell him you said his dick might be a religious experience?”

“What?” Torrance coughed. Rather than explain, Nellie just showed her her phone. When she was done reading, she let out a loud burst of laughter. “That’s up to you. But maybe you should send him something to tide him over, because the poor boy clearly isn’t gonna make it another week.”

Nellie laughed; but she looked back down at her phone in thought .

“You’re going to, aren’t you?” Torrance guessed.

“Maybe?” Nellie admitted. She was surprised at herself. “Jesus, I’ve never sent anything like that to anyone I wasn’t in a relationship with, but Kyle has me acting strange.”

Torrance smirked. “Religious experience,” she reiterated. “But also—you’ve sent Zack nudes?”

“That’s your takeaway here?” Nellie laughed.

“Yes!” She gasped in realization. “Did he send them to you?”

“Seriously?”

“Well! It’s hard for me to imagine Zack sending dick pics.”

“Are you trying to?”

Torrance’s eyes widened. “Okay, I’ve been drinking. That’s my excuse.”

“Uh huh,” Nellie returned. “I’ll be sure to tell Will that you’ve brought up both Kyle and Zack’s dicks in conversation.”

“In relation to you!” Torrance defended.

Nellie grinned; but it morphed into a yawn. “Okay… I think I’m ready to head out. It’s almost one, and drinking any more would be a bad idea.”

“And you want to get home and send Kyle a little something.”

Nellie didn’t justify that with a response. “I’m gonna go pay my tab,” she said. She reopened her messages with Kyle as she walked to the bar.

We’re heading out now. FaceTime when I get home?

I’ll be impatiently waiting, Kyle replied.

“Nellie!”

She stopped in her tracks. The sound of that voice threw her; she hadn’t heard it in months. But she turned toward it and did her best to pull her face into a smile when her eyes met Riley’s at the other end of the bar.

“Fancy meeting you here!”

He pulled her into a hug that Nellie robotically returned. Under different circumstances, she wouldn’t have been at all nervous to see Riley. But this was the first time she’d seen him since she and Jay had broken up, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before they’d have to address the elephant in the room.

“Don’t you have a big tag match tomorrow?” he asked. “Well, later today, I guess.”

“Ishimori isn’t with you, is he?” Nellie blurted, and she didn’t fully realize she had until Riley looked at her funny. “Torrance is here, too,” she explained with a glance back at their table, but it was empty. Torrance must have gone to the bathroom.

“Ah,” Riley nodded in understanding. “No, he’s not. Robbie isn’t here, is he?”

Nellie blinked. The question was a stark reminder of just how estranged Torrance had become from most of Bullet Club. “No. He and Torr aren’t a thing anymore.” She just left it at that. Riley didn’t need to know anything else.

“Well, thank God for that,” he breathed. Nellie pursed her lips, but Riley had already moved on. “You want a drink? It’s been a while.”

“Oh,” she fidgeted and glanced at the bartender who’d walked over to them. “We’re actually heading out. Like you said—big tag match tomorrow.”

“Oh; yeah, of course,” Riley said. There was an audible note of disappointment in his voice, and it almost made Nellie decide to stay for just one more round. But then the bartender asked Riley what he wanted and took Nellie’s name to run her tab. It was an awkward few seconds before Riley spoke up again.

“Hey, I know this is late, but… as much as I love Jay, he’s a fucking idiot.”

There it was, like finally ripping off a Band-Aid. Nellie frowned at him. “It’s been three months, Riley. You don't need to try to make me feel better.”

“I know, but I haven’t seen you since you two broke up,” he pointed out. “Have you not talked to him at all?”

She shook her head. “Not really. He’ll like an Instagram photo every now and then and throw me completely off-guard, but that’s about it. Why? Has he said anything to you?”

She knew Riley had seen Jay—they’d taped multiple episodes of NJPW Strong together over the last month—and she couldn’t help but wonder. Had Jay asked about her? Had he seemed at all regretful, as confused and sad about how things had ended between them as she still sometimes felt during quiet nights alone in her bed? As much as she wanted to know, Nellie wasn’t sure what she wanted the answer to be.

But Riley bobbled his head. “A little. I don’t know; I got the sense he felt awkward saying too much to me because he knows we’re close.”

Nellie laughed a bit at that. “Okay, but not closer than you and him are.”

“You don’t think so?” He sucked his teeth in disagreement. “I don’t know. I mean, we used to fuck.”

She snorted through her nose; but even though it was tactlessly made, he had a point. Nellie’s connection with Riley had always been special, in its own way. He’d been the first person to make her feel welcome when she’d left home to work for RevPro, nervous and alone and abroad for the first time. And yeah, at first maybe it had only been because he’d wanted to get in her pants, but they’d forged a genuine friendship—a friendship that might have been more, once upon a time. But Riley hadn’t been able to pull his head out of his ass, and so Nellie had moved on. And even though he’d acted cool about it, even a bit uncaring, when she’d started dating Jay a couple years later, Nellie had always gotten the sense that Riley was a bit wounded by their relationship, deep down. She knew some part of him still carried a torch for her. Some part of her still carried one for him, too. And then her lips tingled with the memory of something they shouldn’t have done, and she realized how close they were standing to each other, and the next words blurted out of her mouth like nervous vomit.

“I’ve sort of been talking to someone.”

Riley cocked his head at her, clearly surprised to hear it. “Who?”

Nellie hesitated. “Kyle Fletcher,” she mumbled. Riley didn’t hear her.

“Who?”

“Kyle Fletcher!” she loudly repeated—and Riley’s reaction was about what she expected.

“Kyle Fletcher?” His eyes practically bugged out of his head. “That twink Australian kid I used to live with? Isn’t he like, twenty?”

“Twenty-two,” Nellie firmly corrected. “He’ll be twenty-three next month. And he’s not a twink anymore, either.”

The bartender returned with Riley’s drink and her bill, and Nellie was grateful for the interruption. She should’ve just kept her mouth shut. Riley knew Kyle, really well—they’d lived together in England when they’d both moved there from opposite corners of the globe with a shared hope of making it in the business of pro wrestling. In fact, Nellie had first met Kyle not at RevPro, but during one of the occasions she’d spent the night with Riley. It made the current situation more than just a bit ironic.

“Man, you really like keeping it in my social circle, huh,” Riley commented.

“Oh fuck off, it’s not intentional,” she returned. “And it’s my social circle, too!”

“I know; I’m just giving you a hard time,” he said. “But it’s just a rebound, right?”

The question caught Nellie off-guard. She honestly hadn’t thought about whether Kyle was just a rebound or not. But the way Riley had asked—so assumptive, almost dismissive —made her feel suddenly defensive of Kyle. She almost wanted to tell him no, he’s not just a rebound.

“Why do you say it like that?” she returned.

Riley didn’t hesitate. “Because he’s twenty-two.”

Nellie rolled her eyes.

“I’m not judging!” he quickly added. “Do what you want with who you want, it’s none of my business. I just want you to be happy, Nell. I still don’t like that Zack broke up with you after you moved across the fucking world with him, and then Jay basically abandoned you. You deserve better than that. So, if Kyle’s making you happy, then by all means, fuck that twink’s brains out.”

“He’s not,” Nellie started to repeat, but she let it go with a sigh. “Thanks for the blessing though, I guess? I don’t know; I kind of figured you’d take Jay’s side. Not that there’s sides to take, but…”

She trailed off, leaving it at that. But Riley shook his head.

“No, I’m not taking sides. But for what it’s worth, if I had been in Jay’s position, you wouldn’t be talking to Kyle Fletcher right now.”

“Sorry, there was a line for the bathroom.” Torrance appeared not a moment too soon. She gave Riley a tight smile. “Hey; welcome back.”

“Hey; thanks,” he said. “Don’t worry, Ishimori isn’t here.”

Torrance’s brow puckered. “I wasn’t worried about it,” she dismissed. “We’re leaving, anyway.”

With that, she moved up to the bar on Nellie’s other side to ask for her bill. Nellie looked awkwardly back at Riley. She had to say something to cut the tension.

“So, first night of BOSJ… did you win your match?”

Riley rolled his eyes. “No. I tried to do the One Winged Angel, but Wato countered it and stole the pin.”

“What?” Nellie couldn’t help the way she laughed. “The One Winged Angel? Come on, Riley.”

“What?” he returned. “I was just trying to pay homage to one of Bullet Club’s best.”

Nellie just shook her head and rolled her eyes. She’d never really understood Riley’s antics. It was another reason she knew they wouldn’t have worked out as anything more than what they’d been.

“Ready?” Torrance came to stand next to her again. Nellie nodded.

“Yeah.” She looked back at Riley. “Well, good luck in the rest of the tournament. But maybe try sticking to your own moveset from now on?”

Riley rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See you later.”

Nellie waved to him, and she and Torrance turned and left the bar. “What was that about?” Torrance asked as they pushed out the doors into the chilly autumn night.

“He tried to pull off the One Winged Angel,” Nellie explained.

“Ha!” she burst. “As if he could.”

* * * *

I’ll be home in five minutes, Nellie texted Kyle from the backseat of the Uber taking her home.

Okay :) Call when you get settled.

She smiled at the screen. Something about him using that style emoji warmed her heart.

The Uber pulled up to her apartment complex just over five minutes later, and she walked a little bit more quickly than normal, eager to get inside and settled. She rushed through her nighttime routine, too, brushing her teeth, washing her face, and applying her night cream before she changed into a soft pajama set and climbed into bed, phone in hand. She grabbed her charging cable and plugged it in, got comfortable, and called Kyle.

He picked up halfway through the second ring. His smile lit up her whole room even from thousands of miles away. It always did. “There’s my future tag team champion.”

Nellie grinned. “Don’t jinx it! We still have to win our block final before we even get to the tournament final.”

“I’m not jinxing anything!” he confidently proclaimed. “Next time I see you, you and Torr will be the number one contenders to the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. And I’m not just saying that to flatter you, by the way; I really believe it.”

Fuzzies warmed Nellie’s stomach. “Well, I am flattered, so thank you. That means a lot coming from you.”

“Well, you’re a great wrestler, Nell, genuinely,” Kyle returned. “You wouldn’t be the Undisputed British Women’s Champion if you weren’t—a two-time Undisputed British Women’s Champion, might I add, and the only American to hold the belt. And I know you’ll successfully defend it at Uprising next week, and then when you and Torr win the Stardom tag titles, we’ll be double champions together and take over the world.”

She laughed. “Oh really? That’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler, is it?”

“I’m manifesting it,” he confirmed. “And when it happens, you might as well just join United Empire.”

“There it is,” Nellie smirked.

“Well, there’d really be no reason for you not to join, would there?” he rhetorically asked. “I mean, you already look good in green.”

Her stomach fluttered again. “You make a compelling argument.”

A corner of Kyle’s mouth quirked up. “I’ll try to make it even more compelling next weekend.”

With that single statement the tone of their conversation shifted from being playful to something deeper. There was desire in the way Kyle had said it; Nellie could see it in his face, sense it through the screen. It emboldened her to be upfront with him about how she’d been feeling, even if it scared her.

“Can I be honest?” she asked.

“I hope you would be,” he returned.

“I wish you were here.”

It was silly how nervous she was to admit that to him. But it was true. Nellie hadn’t felt this sort of schoolgirl giddiness toward anyone since Zack. With Riley it had just been about sex; any deeper connection they could have fostered was stifled by his complete emotional ineptitude. Then with Jay, everything had been so fast, so hot and then suddenly so lukewarm. They’d been in thick of their honeymoon phase when Jay’s loss to Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 15 had unexpectedly pushed him over the edge, and even though he and Nellie had come back even stronger from that brief interruption, Jay had left Japan again just three months later, and their relationship was just sort of snuffed out by uncertainty. But these two months getting to know Kyle in a new light had felt more balanced, steadier and more deliberate. And yeah, part of Nellie was ready to admit that she was curious to see where it could go. But another part of her still wanted to guard her heart.

Kyle’s smile put another chink in her armor, though. “I’ve wished I was there or you were here since I woke up next to you the morning after High Stakes.”

Nellie couldn’t help it—she laughed. “Do you just think up lines like that and put ‘em in your pocket to use on girls?”

“Excuse me,” he returned, mocking offense. “It wasn’t a line, thank you very much. But I can understand why you’d think that because of how incredibly smooth it was.”

Another laugh. “It was incredibly smooth; I’ll give you that.”

“But I mean it,” he earnestly added. “And in the interest of being honest, I was honestly a bit disappointed when you told me you and Torr would be competing in the Goddesses of Stardom tournament, because I knew it meant you wouldn’t be back in England for a while. But at the same time, I was happy because you two absolutely deserve this shot and all the recognition that comes with it. But that being said… next weekend cannot get here fast enough, because all I’ve been thinking about for the last week is seeing you again.”

A wide grin broke out over Nellie’s face; a giddy schoolgirl, a million butterflies. Kyle had her acting strange—but she was more than willing to go along for the ride.

“Same,” she told him. “Next weekend definitely can’t get here fast enough.”

[debbiechanclub]

“Blow It Out, Make a Wish”

Prequel 1 of ? to “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans.” Find the entire series here.

Pairings: Jay White x OFC with some very strong hinting at Zack Sabre Jr. x OFC and El Phantasmo x OFC. Nellie has a complicated personal life.

Word Count: 6k

Warnings: Alcohol use; language; angst.

Synopsis: Nellie’s friends throw her a surprise birthday dinner; but she gets an even bigger surprise in Jay’s long-awaited return to Japan. 

Timeline: Takes place four months prior to the start of the main fic.

Tag Squad: @hdbngsprnva @galacticstat @kingswitchblade @champhangman @bec0m @betsy-bradock @linziland13 @librathepheonix13 @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @meteora-fc @kawaiikels @exe-babymox-exe @rocca09 @thatgirlforever5 @gabbynorth98 @brokenglassslippers @adriii-omega

Thursday, September 17, 2020 Tokyo, Japan

“What time is it?” Nellie gave Zack a harried look as she sat down on the edge of her bed and pulled on a pair of clean white Vans sneakers. He looked at his watch.

“7:13.”

She huffed in frustration. Their reservation was at 7:30, and the restaurant was twenty minutes away at least. She was going to be late for her own birthday dinner.

“It’s fine,” Zack assured her.

Her brow furrowed in surprise. “Really? You hate when I make us late.”

But he just shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe I’ve finally gotten used to it.”

Nellie skeptically pursed her lips; she didn’t buy that for a second. But she let it go and quickly finished tying her shoelaces before she jumped up, grabbed a necklace from her dresser top, and turned to face her large floor mirror that leaned against the wall. They were going to one of the nicer hibachi restaurants in the city, and she wanted to look nice. She figured she couldn’t go wrong with a little black dress; but when she fastened her necklace—a dainty gold Virgo coin pendant—and looked herself over, she wondered if the short hem and figure-hugging fit were too much for just going out to dinner with Zack, Torrance, and Ishimori.

“Is this too much?” She turned to face Zack, smoothing her hands anxiously over her hips. His gaze seemed to linger as he looked her over.

“Not if you’re trying to get laid tonight.”

Nellie’s body flushed hot; she hadn’t expected that response. But she made a quick recovery. “Are you offering?”

“Are you?” he returned.

She breathed a wry laugh and turned back to the mirror. She and Zack had been flirting more and more over the last few months, and she didn’t really know what to make of it. Honestly, she’d tried to brush it off. They were exes for a reason; they were just going stir-crazy after months spent in quarantine and growing nostalgic for the past. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that some small part of her wondered if there was more to it than just that.

“But to actually answer your question,” Zack added, “no, it’s not too much. You look great, Nell.”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Thanks.”

He nodded. “But we really should get going.”

She playfully rolled her eyes. “There’s the Zack I know.” She grabbed her leopard print clutch, already filled with everything she needed. “Alright, let’s go,” she said. “I needed a drink twenty minutes ago.”

* * * * * * * * * *

They arrived at the restaurant almost fifteen minutes late; thankfully, Torrance and Ishimori were already there. But when the hostess walked them to their table, Nellie discovered that it wasn’t just Torrance and Ishimori waiting on them—it was Torrance and Ishimori and an entire group of their friends and colleagues from NJPW.

“SURPRISE!” Torrance exclaimed, a giant smile on her face as she animatedly threw her arms into the air. And Nellie was surprised. She’d hadn’t suspected this at all.

“What?” She turned to Zack in shock. “Did you know about this?”

He grinned. “Yeah. It’s why I didn’t care we were late; Torrance told me to stall because not everyone was here yet. Happy birthday, darling.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze, and Nellie’s heart filled with so much gratitude that tears pricked at the back of her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much it meant to her to see so many of her friends gathered in one place until that moment.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Torrance bounded over and practically tackled her with a hug. “Are you surprised?”

“Very,” Nellie said. “How the hell did you pull this off?”

She shrugged her shoulders up to her ears, clearly proud of herself. “I’d say that’s just how amazing I am, but it honestly wasn’t that hard with everyone finally back for the G1. It just worked out that most of the participants also happen to be our friends.”

“I’d use that term loosely,” Zack commented. He dodged away toward the table when Torrance tried to smack him.

“Well, thank you,” Nellie genuinely said. But as happy as she was to see everyone, her heart turned wistful. There was one person missing, all too noticeable in his absence. “It’s too bad Riley isn’t here.”

It had been six months since she’d last seen Riley—since she’d last touched him, felt him—and she didn’t know where they stood. One minute she’d been planning a trip to spend a week with him in Vancouver, and the next the entire world was in lockdown. It was the worst sort of irony; and the longer things dragged on, the less and less she and Riley communicated. At first, she’d taken it with a grain of salt. They were stranded sixteen hours apart from each other, not by choice but by circumstance, out of sight and out of mind. But now, half a year later, sometimes late at night Nellie couldn’t help but wonder if Riley had intentionally let things fizzle out between them. Was he in Vancouver slowly but surely forgetting about her via a string of nameless other women? But who was she to blame him if he was? She’d tried to forget him herself. It hurt less that way.

“I know,” Torrance frowned, breaking into her thoughts. “I wish he was here, too. But don’t think about all that tonight. It’s your birthday, and we’re going to get drunk and have an amazing time.”

Nellie gave a little laugh as Torrance pulled her over to greet everyone. All her teammates from Suzuki-gun were there, as were Juice Robinson and Jeff Cobb, both of whom she’d met wrestling in England prior to ever coming to Japan. Kenta was even there; outside Riley, Ishimori, and Torrance, he was one of the only members of Bullet Club who Nellie actually considered a friend.

But the one person who caught her completely off-guard to see was Jay White.

In a word, Nellie’s acquaintance with Jay had always been a bit cautious. But not because she didn’t like him—because she did. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to Jay, both physically and mentally; he enticed and intrigued her in a way that no one ever had. But things had been so complicated with Riley that she hadn’t even wanted to think about getting involved with anyone else, let alone one of his teammates. She could only imagine the mess that would create.

But that had been before the last six months. She had Riley hadn’t spoken in weeks. And the way Jay was smirking at her as he walked over to give her a hug had Nellie’s knees weak.

“Hey,” he said. “It’s been a while.”

It was an intimate embrace, his hands spread over her lower back, her arms looped under his. His cologne smelled good—a little too good—woodsy and warm and sensual. He felt good, too.

“Hey. It has been,” she returned, and when they pulled apart, she hoped her cheeks didn’t look as hot as they felt. “Like what… seven months?”

He thought about for it a second before he nodded. “Yeah, the last time I was here was in February. It feels good to be back. Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Oh, thanks,” she smiled and nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m surprised to see you here, actually.”

The corners of Jay’s eyes crinkled as he smirked again. “More than everyone else?”

Nellie bit the inside of her lip. “A little bit, yeah,” she admitted. It only made him grin wider.

“Well, I’m happy to be here. You look fantastic, by the way.”

He looked her over. Her cheeks definitely burned then. “Thanks. You do, too.”

He wasn’t wearing anything special—just a plain white t-shirt and slim fit jeans, his dark hair pulled half-up into a bun at the back of his head—but it was unfair how good he made it look. It didn’t help that he was also wearing that chain necklace she liked on him so much, and an expensive-looking watch, and that stupid pinky ring. He was the only guy she knew who could pull one of those off.

“It’s actually not tonight though, right?” he asked. “Your birthday?”

“Oh, no,” she confirmed with a shake of her head. “It’s Saturday. But Torrance wanted to do dinner tonight because I’m leaving for Osaka on Saturday to be there for Zack’s first G1 match on Sunday. At least, that’s the reason she gave me.”

She fidgeted, realizing she’d rambled a bit. But Jay just smirked. “Well, I’ll make sure to win my first match on Saturday for you, then.”

Nellie stiffened and her mouth went bone dry. She needed that drink now. A strong one.

“Nellie!”

She whirled around at the sound of Torrance calling her name. She couldn’t have interrupted at a better moment. “You’re sitting next to me,” she said with a point at a seat in the middle of the hibachi table.

“Well,” Nellie quickly said as she turned back to Jay, “I’m being summoned.”

He nodded. “Of course. We have all night to catch up,” he said with a touch of her arm; and as Nellie left him to take her seat, she could still feel the ghost of his fingers and the goosebumps they’d left on her skin.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Looks like Nellie needs another drink.”

Jeff leaned forward from the other side of Zack and eyed the half-drank cocktail in front of Nellie. She scoffed and picked up the glass to show it to him in protest.

“It’s still half-full!” she exclaimed.

He gave her a pointed look. “It’s half-empty.”

She just rolled her eyes and set the drink back down, a smirk on her lips. Half the table had seemingly made it their personal mission to get her drunk. Juice had ordered her a second drink as soon as she’d finished her first, and Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru had joined her in a shot for good measure. Even the hibachi chef had squirted sake into her mouth from a squeeze bottle as part of the entertainment. Nellie was embarrassed to admit, she already had a decent buzz going, even with all the food she’d eaten. Apparently, her tolerance had taken a nosedive after so many months not going out drinking with Riley, Torrance, and Ishimori all the time. She needed to slow down.

Then again, with the way she and Jay had been catching each other looking from across the table all night, she might want the liquid courage.

“Okay, I’m stopping,” she said as she pushed her plate away. She was officially stuffed.

“What about dessert?” Zack asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about dessert right now.”

“Alright, I’ll ask later, then.” He sent her a cheeky wink, and the subtle, double-meaning wasn’t lost on her. Or maybe the alcohol was just causing her to read into it. She wasn’t sure now.

But before she could overthink it, a waitress arrived with a fluffy slice of soufflé cheesecake, a single birthday candle stuck in the middle. Nellie glared at Zack as it was set down in front of her. He held up his palms in defense.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t have anything to do with it!”

She whipped her head around at Torrance, who quickly shrugged. “I didn’t tell them to bring it,” she said. “But they knew this was a birthday thing.”

Nellie skeptically pursed her lips. “Well, just don’t sing—”

But she was cut off by Juice loudly bursting out with “Happy Birthday.” Nellie curled her lips into her mouth as the rest of the table started to sing; but her embarrassment quickly turned to amusement. Half sang in English while the other half sang in Japanese, and it sounded awful.

“Wow, we suck at this,” Jeff remarked, and everyone laughed.

“Make a wish!” Torrance proclaimed. Nellie’s face flushed again, suddenly all too aware of everyone watching her. But a wish popped into her heart, and she leaned forward and blew out the candle. As she sat back up, her eyes met Jay’s through the curling wisps of smoke. He smirked. She bit the inside of her lip and looked back at Torrance.

“You have to help me eat this,” she said as she nudged the cheesecake toward her.

“Don’t need to tell me twice,” Torrance said and eagerly picked up a spoon. “By the way,” she added, “apparently a bunch of people are going out to some club not far from here; sort of like a kick-off party for the G1, I guess. I figured we could head over there if you want.”

Nellie nodded as she dug into the cheesecake. “Sounds good to me,” she agreed; and as she brought her spoon to her lips, she couldn’t help but glance over at Jay again. And again, he was looking, too.

* * * * * * * * * *

Torrance hadn’t been kidding; when they arrived at the club, it was a veritable who’s who in NJPW. Sanada, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, just from who Nellie had seen thus far; all Los Ingobernables de Japon and CHAOS, she realized—and she’d just walked in with Suzuki-gun and Bullet Club. It was bound to be an interesting night.

But first, she needed a drink. It had only been a few blocks, but the walk from the restaurant in the humid mid-September air had sobered her up quite a bit, and she needed to fix that, stat. But before she could start for the bar, someone slipped their hand onto the small of her back. She looked up. Jay.

He leaned into her ear to be heard above the music. “Can I get you a drink?”

Nellie’s stomach fluttered at the ghost of his lips against her skin. She nodded and turned her head to look up at him. “Sure.”

He smirked that crooked smirk of his again. “Come on.”

His touch fell away from her, and he led her through the crowd, making sure she stayed close. A spot opened up just as they reached the bar, and he guided her into it, his hand on her hip that time. He let it linger there a little while longer before he pulled away, sliding his fingers across her back.

“What’s your poison?” he asked.

Nellie bit her lip in thought, eying him. And then she said, “Surprise me.”

Even in the dark of the club, she could see a mischievous spark in his eye. “I’d say that’s a dangerous choice, but I’m a creature of habit, to be honest.”

He signaled the bartender and ordered them each a Johnnie Walker Gold Label, neat. Nellie arched her eyebrows at him. “That’s kind of expensive to just be buying me a drink, isn’t it?”

But Jay shook his head. “Not at all. It’s your birthday.”

Her body reacted with a bit more than just stomach flutters that time. She tried to ignore it.

“So, you just got back from England, didn’t you?”

Nellie’s eyebrows arched and she nodded, excited that he’d asked. “I did! I was there over last weekend. It was the first show I’d worked for RevPro since March.” She smiled. “It felt so good to be back there again.”

He grinned. “Trust me, I know the feeling. You’re still the RevPro women’s champion, right?”

She nodded proudly. “Seven months as of this past Monday.”

He nodded. “And you’re an Artist of Stardom Champion, as well? Didn’t you win those two pretty close to each other?”

“Exactly one week apart,” she confirmed. She hadn’t realized Jay knew that. It was flattering to know that he did. “I’m hoping to add the SWA Undisputed Championship to my collection next.”

Jay smirked. “I’m surprised you and Torrance haven’t gone after the tag titles.”

“Oh, trust me, we want to,” Nellie said. “We just haven’t had the right opportunity yet. And plus, right now my main focus is finally defending the RevPro title again. I don’t want people to think I’ve only been champion this long because I couldn’t defend it, you know?”

He shook his head. “Anyone who thinks that isn’t worth listening to. Besides, I doubt anyone thinks it, anyway. You’re a great wrestler—you wouldn’t be a double champion if you weren’t.”

Nellie fidgeted at the unexpected praise. That meant a lot coming from Jay. “Thanks,” she shyly returned. “I don’t think I’m half bad myself.”

He grinned again, and she fidgeted some more. Thankfully, the bartender arrived with their drinks.

“Was Phantasmo there?”

Nellie nearly missed her glass as she snapped her eyes back up at the question. She hadn’t expected him to ask that��at all. The suddenness of it gave her whiplash. “At RevPro?” She shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen him since the last time I was there in March. We haven’t really talked in a while, actually.”

She wasn’t sure why she added that last part; it wasn’t necessary. But Jay nodded, almost imperceptibly. Interested to know. “Well, it’s his loss.”

For the second time that night, Nellie’s mouth went dry. It took all of her not to grab her drink and down the Scotch in a single gulp.

Jay reached for his glass and lifted it up. “But here’s to things getting back to normal. And your birthday.”

Nellie eyed him for a second; and then she smirked. “To my birthday,” she said. And she clinked her glass with his and took a sip, their eyes deliberately meeting over the rim.

* * * * * * * * * *

“To my best friend in the whole wide world—besides Taiji, of course. Happy birthday, Nellie!”

Everyone echoed Torrance’s sentiment, and they all kicked back their shots. Nellie grimaced as the liquor burned down her throat, warming her all the way to her belly. Somehow, she’d ended up drinking with Bullet Club. No, not somehow—she knew exactly how. She wanted to hang out with Torrance, and Torrance, of course, was hanging out with Bullet Club. But it was more than just Jay, Ishimori, and Kenta now. Yujiro Takahashi, Evil, and Gedo had showed up, and then Jay had worked his magic and gotten them a VIP booth somehow. And so there Nellie was, sitting right next to him, their thighs touching each other.

It was getting harder and harder for her not to think about touching the rest of him.

“Did you ditch your boys, Nellie?” Kenta asked. “I thought you were in Suzuki-gun.”

Nellie pursed her lips at his smirk. She was used to being teased for keeping company with Bullet Club so often, but she usually heard it from Tama and Chase. She should have figured Kenta would pick up the slack in their absence.

“No, I didn’t ditch them. They went off to harass LIJ, and I wanted to hang out with Torrance.”

“You sure it wasn’t someone else you wanted to hang out with?” Torrance asked with a sly smirk into her drink. Nellie stiffened, caught out; but thankfully, no one else seemed to hear her.

“Just admit you’d rather be in Bullet Club,” Ishimori grinned. He nudged his chin at Jay. “What do you say, Jay?”

Jay waited a beat; and then he said, “I’ll take it under consideration.” He sent Nellie a wink. Her insides turned to mush.

“Alright, let’s get you another drink!”

Suddenly, Torrance grabbed Nellie’s wrist and tried to pull her along. “But I don’t want another drink right now,” she protested.

“Then I have to go to the bathroom,” Torrance amended. “Let’s go!”

Nellie rolled her eyes, but she grabbed her handbag and begrudgingly allowed Torrance to pull her away from the table. She knew damn well that the bathroom was just a bullshit excuse to get away from the guys, and she wasn’t all surprised when they came to a halt off to the side of the bar and Torrance fired, “Okay, what’s going on with you and Switchblade?”  

“Nothing!” Nellie insisted. But Torrance didn’t buy it.

“Oh, bullshit. You two have been eye-fucking each other all night, it’s super obvious.”

Nellie fidgeted again, embarrassed. She hadn’t thought it was that obvious.

But Torrance shrugged. “I say go for it. You deserve some good birthday sex.”

“Torr!” Nellie proclaimed. Her hands flew to the side of her face, horrified at the thought. “Oh my God, I’m not having birthday sex with Jay.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because! It’s way too messy.”

“Why?” Torrance repeated. “Because of Riley?”

“Yes, because of Riley!” Nellie confirmed. “Remember when I said a month ago that things were left completely up in the air between me and him? Well, it’s still like that, and I don’t know what I want to do about it. So the last thing I need to do is sleep with his friend and teammate on a drunken whim and complicate things even further.”

She ran a frustrated hand through her long, dark hair and looked away, surprised at her sudden confession. That was the first time she had ever admitted, either out loud or to herself, that she didn’t know what she wanted. She was confused, torn between the logic of her head and the longing of her heart… and she’d been far too emotionally exhausted to figure out which one was right.

“Okay, maybe I jumped the gun suggesting birthday sex,” Torrance sheepishly admitted. “And I know this whole thing with you and Riley sucks… but Jay’s obviously interested, Nell. So, maybe this is the universe telling you it’s time to figure it out.”

Nellie gave a wry laugh. “The universe introduced a fucking pandemic right when I thought I had figured it out.”

Torrance frowned; but Nellie suddenly felt her phone vibrate in her handbag. She pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was a text from Zack.

Get your arse to the rooftop.

She rolled her eyes. “Zack’s requested my presence,” she announced.

“Tell him you’re too busy being a VIP with your new teammates,” Torrance smirked. Nellie’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, no. I should go up there for a bit.”

Torrance nodded. “Okay. I’ll let you know if anything changes down here; I’m gonna get another drink.”

“Alright,” she agreed, and as Torrance turned toward the bar, Nellie made her way back to the table. She wanted to tell Jay where she was going; after the way they’d been flirting all night, it would be rude to just let Torrance relay the message for her.

He was deep in conversation with Kenta when she arrived, but as she sat back down next to him, he turned toward her and put his hand on her bare thigh, just above her knee. Nellie didn’t know if it was intentional or just reflexive; but either way, the feel of his hand on her body like that lit a fire in her core.

“Everything alright?” he asked into her ear, likely because Torrance hadn’t returned with her. She nodded, stalling to swallow the lump in her throat.

“Yeah. But I’m gonna go up to the rooftop. Suzuki-gun’s up there and I should hang out with them for a bit.”

Jay was surprisingly quick to nod in understanding. “Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.”

Nellie bit her lip. But do you want to?

“Do you have my number?”

She blinked in surprise as the question cut through her thoughts. “No, I don’t think so.”

He held out his hand. “Here, I’ll put it in your phone.”

Nellie responded by unlocking her phone and opening a new contact card. She handed it to Jay and he input his information, his other hand still on her thigh. It made her question whether she really did want to go up to the rooftop.

“There,” he saved it and handed her phone back to her. She clicked on his number and sent him a text—a single smiley face emoji.

“There; now you have mine, too,” she said.

He smirked. “I’ll text you if we decide to go anywhere else or anything,” he said. She nodded, and he gave her leg a squeeze before he let go so she could stand up and slide back out of the booth. She ruffled Kenta’s hair as she passed by him.

“Bye, Kenta!”

“Hey!” he shooed her hand away. “Watch the hair.”

She just grinned and went on her way. The club was massive, and she was thankful that she’d worn sneakers as she walked up the two flights of stairs to the rooftop. She didn’t realize how stuffy it had been inside until she stepped out into the late-night air, still humid, but not quite as hot as it had been earlier in the evening. Unsurprisingly, the rooftop was just as packed as the rest of the club, and it took her a few minutes to spot Zack in a large area of cushy lounge chairs and couches that were almost exclusively occupied by NJPW wrestlers. She smiled and practically skipped over to where he sat next to Sanada. He gave her a crooked grin when he saw her. It was obvious he was feeling the effects of the drink, too.

“There’s the birthday girl.”

“Did you miss me that much?” she asked—and because there wasn’t anywhere to sit, she helped herself to Zack’s lap. But he certainly didn’t seem to mind. He slipped his hand down her hip toward her thigh, his fingertips just grazing the exposed skin where the hem of her dress rode up. He smirked up at her.

“Yeah, you’re pissed. Who’s been plying you with alcohol?”

“Bullet Club.”

He gave her a flat look. She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be jealous,” she said, and she couldn’t stop herself from combing her fingers through his hair. She’d always liked his hair.

“I don’t get jealous, darling,” he returned, and the air of cockiness in his tone threw her off-kilter. That time, she knew he’d done it on purpose. He knew it turned her on. Zack knew better than anyone what turned her on.

Thankfully, Sanada diverted her attention. “Happy birthday, Nellie. I’m a little upset I didn’t get an invite to dinner.”

She pouted at him. “Don’t be upset with me! Blame Torrance and Ishimori; I had no idea they were turning it into a surprise party. He knew,” she motioned her head at Zack, her fingers still in his hair. His eyes widened in protest.

“Don’t blame me, either. I had nothing to do with the guest list. I would have invited you,” he said to Sanada. “Not Naito, though; he’s a dickhead.”

Nellie rolled her eyes as she looked back at Sanada. “Has he been bothering you? Because I’ll kick his ass if he has.”

“Please,” Zack scoffed; but Sanada laughed.

“Yes, he has been, just because I’d pay to see that.”

“You’d be wasting your money,” Zack remarked.

“Hey!” Nellie lightly tugged on his hair. “I could take you.”

A wide grin spread over his face. It didn’t take long for her to realize where his mind had gone.

“Oh my God, you’re a fucking pervert,” she said, and she turned his face away from her as she finally pulled her fingers from his hair.

“You’re the one sitting on my lap and pulling my hair out in public,” he returned.

Nellie didn’t have a good comeback for that, so she just pursed her lips in defiance. It only seemed to satisfy Zack more.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked.

She thought about it for a second. “A beer. And water, please.”

“Alright,” He patted her thigh, and she stood so he could get up from the seat. “What kind of beer?”

She shrugged as she sat back down. “You know what I like,” she said; and she didn’t realize the way she’d said it until it was already done. There’d been a little too much suggestion in her tone, in her body language as she’d crossed her legs to get comfortable, and for the dozenth time that night she burned hot with embarrassment. But Zack just smirked, a little too knowing, and turned and disappeared toward the bar.

* * * * * * * * * *

Nellie wasn’t sure how long she’d been up on the rooftop. She’d finished the beer Zack had gotten her some time ago, and she’d switched to nursing the glass of water. The clock had passed midnight—it was officially her birthday. And to people who didn’t know them, it probably looked like she and Zack were together.

Space had opened up on one of the couches, and they’d moved to sit next to each other even though they didn’t have to, her body angled toward him, his arm just grazing the back of her bare shoulders as it rested casually behind her, sending goosebumps over her skin. She was trying to ignore it again. They were exes for a reason; they’d both been drinking; she was just touch-starved because she hadn’t felt anything but her vibrator in half a year.

Zack let out a loud, booming laugh at something Taichi said, and Nellie looked over at him. She studied his jaw, his nose, his lips. He was so handsome it was stupid.

“You don’t stand a chance unless Nellie is out there with you to distract him.”

She snapped out of her reverie when she heard Sanada mention her name. She’d missed half the conversation, but she assumed it was about the G1 Climax.

“Oh, piss off!” Zack returned. “I don’t need Nellie to beat Evil! And what’re you sticking up for him, anyway; have you finally recovered from the knife wound in your back?”

Nellie rolled her eyes in amusement. Zack was good at a lot of things, but he’d always had a special talent for running his mouth.

Sanada’s eyes narrowed. “When’s our match?”

“I don’t bloody know,” Zack scoffed. “But I’ll definitely have Nellie with me then, because she’s all I need to beat you.”

Nellie shot him a look. “Really?”

“What?” he innocently asked. She just smirked and looked away; but while the others laughed and carried on the conversation, Zack kept his gaze on her. She could see him studying her out of the corner of her eye, just like she’d studied him a minute before. And then he asked, “What’s on your mind?”

She looked back up at him. “What makes you think there’s something on my mind?”

“Because you’ve been quiet since you got up here, and you don’t get quiet when you’ve been drinking unless there’s something on your mind,” he pointed out. It made her smile and lean her head back, bumping against his arm. Of course he’d know that; it was obnoxious sometimes how well Zack knew her. So, there was no point deflecting.

“There’s a lot on my mind,” she admitted.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked after a moment. But she lifted her head and looked away again.

“Not really.”

Just then, her phone buzzed next to her on the couch cushion. She snatched it up, eager for a way out of the current conversation, and saw a text from Torrance.

Your potential new man is leaving with the guys to go to some cigar bar. You better come say goodbye.

Nellie frowned at the message. She was more disappointed than she thought she’d be to see that Jay was leaving. But she tried not to let her alcohol-steeped brain take it to heart. He’d only just gotten back to Japan. If he wanted to spend time with her outside of tonight, he’d make the effort.

Alright, I’m coming down, she sent back. She stood up from the couch and looked at Zack as she adjusted the hem of her dress. “I’ll be back,” she told him. He just nodded, and she turned and made her way to the stairwell that led back down into the club. It was narrow and not well-lit, and she held her hair out of her face to look down at the steps as she walked to make sure she didn’t misstep—

“Hey.”

She glanced up. Jay stood a few steps below her, coming up the opposite side.

“I was just coming up here to find you,” he said, and he walked a few steps more until he stood on the stair right below her. Nellie’s stomach fluttered.

“Yeah? I was coming down to find you,” she said. “Torrance said you’re leaving?”

“Oh—yeah. Watch out.” He put his hand on her hip and gently guided her out of the way of a trio of young women coming down the stairs. Once they’d passed, he looked back up at her. “Maybe we should get out of the way.”

“Probably,” she agreed.

He offered her his hand, and she accepted it and let him lead her down the stairs to a landing that offered a little more space and light for them to talk. But they were still close enough that she could smell his cologne. It was lighter than it had been earlier in the night, but it wasn’t any less enticing.  

“So Torrance texted you, I guess?” he figured.

“Yeah. She said you and the guys are going to a cigar bar.”

“Yeah…” he drew the word out and ran a hand over his beard. He seemed dubious; a little annoyed. “It’s Bullet Club stuff. Some people seem to have forgotten who’s in charge over the last seven months. And with the G1, I can’t let that slide, so… I should go with them. Even though I’d honestly rather stay here with you.”

Nellie bit back a grin. Suddenly, she wasn’t quite so disappointed that he was leaving. It was sexy when men handled their business a certain way… and Jay definitely had that way about him. “No, I get it,” she said. “I appreciate you coming up here to tell me.”

“Of course,” he returned. “But you said you’ll be in Osaka Saturday?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Maybe not for the show, but I’ll be there.”

“Alright,” he said. “Well, we should get together then.”

The certainty in his tone made Nellie weak all over again. “I’d like that,” she sincerely answered.

He smiled, wide and genuine. “Well, I’ll see you Saturday, then. Happy birthday, Nellie,” he said, and he pulled her into a hug. She lifted onto her toes and wrapped her arms around him, and they drew their bodies close, much closer than when they’d hugged back at the restaurant. Her hand slipped to the back of his neck; his beard tickled the delicate skin of hers as he hugged her tighter. She could hear her heart beating in her ears. She wondered if he could feel it in her chest.

Jay pulled back first, but not all the way. He kept hold of her hips, and Nellie slid her palms down to his chest as she lowered her heels back to the floor. She looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes; lips parted, breath bated. She could just lift her chin and kiss him. She wanted to. But maybe she shouldn’t. Maybe their first kiss shouldn’t be like this, half-drunk in a dark club stairwell, the bass of the music reverberating through the floor. Jay must have had the same thought, because he finally pulled away, however reluctantly.

“Let me know when you’ve made it back home,” he softly said. “Just so I know you got there alright.”

“I will,” she smiled. “Goodnight, Jay.”

“Goodnight, Nell,” he echoed. And as he turned and disappeared down the stairs, leaving her with her heart still thrumming in her chest, Nellie suddenly thought about Riley; about how she didn’t know what she wanted.

But she did know that she was excited for Saturday—and that was enough for now.

[debbiechanclub]

Hey Jay was just on Rampage here's a fic I posted earlier.

Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans (Part 2)

Pairing: Jay White x OFC x El Phantasmo Part: 2/? Word count: 5k Warnings: Language, ANGST. Also, this is the part where Jay has an existential breakdown after losing to Ibushi at WK15, so I apologize for making you relive that. Notes: This is the rewritten/revised new version!

Masterlist.

Tag Squad: @hdbngsprnva @statdaddy @lastrocknrolla @bec0m @betsy-bradock @linziland13 @librathepheonix13 @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @meteora-fc @kawaiikels @rocca09 @thatgirlforever5 @gabbynorth98 @brokenglassslippers @adriii-omega

“You should just stay naked. It feels better.”

Riley smirked at the look Nellie gave him as she climbed out of bed. Without fail, she always put on at least a t-shirt and underwear not long after they had sex. When they’d first started hooking up, he’d thought it was her way of keeping her distance. But now that they’d been doing this for two years, he knew it was just her preference. 

Keep reading

[debbiechanclub]

“Winter Wonderland”

A prequel one-shot to “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans.” Find the entire series here.

Title: “Winter Wonderland” Theme: @12daysofchristmas Day 3 - Holiday Carnival/Fair Fandom/Character(s): NJPW - El Phantasmo x OFC (Nellie Keegan) Warnings: Language, alcohol Word Count: 3.0k

Synopsis: Nellie goes with a group of friends to London’s “Winter Wonderland” carnival, where Riley takes a surprising step forward in their relationship.

Tag Squad: @galacticstat @hdbngsprnva @hotyeehawman @kingswitchblade @bec0m @champhangman @betsy-bradock @linziland13 @librathepheonix13 @meteora-fc @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @gabbynorth98 @exe-babymox-exe @brokenglassslippers @rocca09 @kawaiikels @adriii-omega @thatgirlforever5

Monday, December 16, 2019 London, England

Nellie had had a whirlwind 48 hours. Just two days ago, she’d been in Yokohama, Japan working a show for Stardom. As soon as it was over, she’d gone straight from the event hall to the airport to catch an overnight, thirteen-hour flight to London for RevPro Uprising 2019 the very next day. Tomorrow, she had another eight-hour flight from London to spend the last few weeks of the year back at home in Pennsylvania. But today, thankfully, she didn’t have anywhere to be—and she and the rest of the NJPW talent who had made the trip to England had decided to take advantage of the day off to play tourist and go to the most spectacular, most festive Christmas fair in the region, if not the entire country: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

Except, someone was being a Grinch about it.

“How long are we gonna be there?” Riley asked from the doorway of the hotel bathroom. He seemed uncharacteristically unenthusiastic about the whole thing; Nellie had thought a carnival with world-famous traveling thrill rides and a genuine Bavarian beer hall would have been right up his alley.

“I don’t know,” she answered as she finished swiping mascara onto her eyelashes. “It closes at ten, I think, and I doubt we’ll be there until then. Why?”

She tossed the mascara tube back into her makeup bag and gave him a curious look. He seemed hesitant to answer. “Do you not want to go?” she pressed.

“No, I do,” he returned. “It’s just the whole thing is kind of last-minute. I was hoping we could get dinner tonight, or something… just you and me.”

Nellie paused, completely caught off-guard. She almost didn’t believe her ears. In the near-two years that she and Riley had known each other, she struggled to recall a time they’d ever done anything alone that wasn’t inside a hotel room. Not because she hadn’t wanted to—she had. But a combination of circumstance and Riley’s fight-or-flight response to anything deeper than surface-level emotion had always gotten in the way. Until, apparently, right now.

A smile pulled at the corners of her lips. “Are you asking me on a date?”

He rolled his eyes. “Come on,” he breathed; but Nellie’s grin only grew wider.

“Well…” she moved toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It sure sounds like you’re asking me on a date.”

She looked up at him, half expecting another one of his dismissive, noncommittal responses. But, for once, Riley didn’t shy away from the suggestion of something more.

“Well, maybe I am,” he said.

Nellie’s heart soared. There was no doubting what she heard that time. “Well, what about a breakfast date?” she suggested. “My flight isn’t until the afternoon.”

He arched a brow. “A breakfast date in bed, or…?”

“Riley! I’m being serious.”

He flashed a crooked smirk. “I know. A breakfast date sounds good,” he agreed, and he pressed his lips against hers, tender and meaningful. Nellie’s entire body buzzed with the kiss. They’d kissed hundreds of times… but this time, it somehow felt brand new.

“I wouldn’t mind a little something in bed beforehand, though,” he said against her lips. Nellie grinned.

“I know you wouldn’t.”

BANG-BANG-BANG!

She gasped and nearly jumped out of her skin when someone banged hard and loud on the hotel room door. “Stop fuckin’, it’s time to get holly jolly!” Hikuleo’s voice called from the other side.

Nellie breathed out and leaned her forehead against Riley's shoulder. “Jesus Christ.”

Riley, on the other hand, played right into it. “Hang on, I’m almost done,” he called back.

Hikuleo didn’t miss a beat. “So it’s been about two minutes, then?”

“Oh, fuck you!” Riley returned. “Three minutes!”

Nellie rolled her eyes in fond amusement. “Yeah,” she breathed, “I’m definitely gonna need the mulled wine to deal with the two of you all night.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Their group stuck out like a sore thumb among everyone else at Winter Wonderland. Between Hikuleo, Minoru Suzuki, Evil, and Sanada, they definitely looked not to be messed with. But as big and tough as they all were, they were just as excited to be there as the next person.

“Alright, where should we start?” Zack asked as he looked at a map of the park. Nellie leaned in to get a look, too—but Riley spoke up before she got the chance.

“Uh, my vote is for that.”

She looked up to where he pointed—and her stomach dropped. A yellow and white steel drop tower reached high into the darkening, overcast sky. It had to be close to three hundred feet tall.

“Oh, fuck yes,” Hikuleo agreed.

“Does it say how high it is?” Suzuki wondered.

“Uh,” Zack looked back at the pamphlet. “Eighty-five meters.”

“And what’s that in feet?” Nellie cautiously asked.

He bobbled his head, doing the math. “About two-eighty.”

Her eyes widened. She’d hoped maybe she’d judged wrong.

“Let’s go!” Hikuleo enthusiastically proclaimed, and he led the charge for their first ride of the evening. Riley smirked at Nellie as everyone followed.

“You gonna do it?”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “Yeah,” she professed; but he seemed like he didn’t quite buy it. “I am! I’ve been on a drop tower before!”

He just grinned. “Alright.”

They all bought their tickets for the ride—everything was pay-as-you-go—and lined up at the base of the tower just as they started loading up the next group of people. The park was busy, but not packed as it was a Monday night, and they were able to get on right away. Nellie didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad thing. On the one hand, she wasn’t afforded any time to chicken out. But on the other, she didn’t have any time to mentally prepare herself, either.

She climbed into a seat between Riley and Zack and pulled the over-the-shoulder harness down as tightly as she could. But even with her winter coat, there was more space between herself and the bars than she would have liked.

“It’s just one drop, right?” she said, attempting to give herself a pep talk. “It’ll be over in like, a a few seconds.”

“Yeah… not quite,” Zack answered. “It’s two drops—one from halfway and then one from the top. And they’ll probably hold us up there for a bit.”

Nellie gripped the harness tighter in her gloved fingers. “Fantastic.”

“You can still get off, you know,” Riley teased. She didn’t dignify it with a response.

A ride operator came around to check that all their harnesses were locked and secured. He gave the all-clear… and the next thing Nellie knew, they were being raised into the air. What she hadn’t expected, though, was for the seats to start turn counterclockwise around the tower, too.

“It spins?!” She shot Zack a look as if it was his fault.

“Not when they drop us,” he returned. “But look—you get the whole three-hundred-sixty-degree view.”

Nellie huffed. That wasn’t a consolation.

It seemed to take forever to get to just the halfway point of the tower. Nellie’s anxiety mounted with every foot higher they climbed. She wasn’t afraid of heights, per se—she absolutely loved roller coasters. But this was a different animal. It was the anticipation of the freefall that made it so nerve-wracking.

“This is only halfway, Nell,” Riley unhelpfully pointed out.

“I’m aware!”

They slowed to a stop. From down below, the ride operator taunted them through a loudspeaker, but she could barely hear him for the pounding of her heart in her ears. They crept a few inches higher—and then, sudden weightlessness.

She didn’t even scream as they dropped, just clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t open them again until they were at the bottom.

“You alright?” Riley asked.

She breathed out. “Yeah.”

But it wasn’t over yet.

The ride operator taunted them some more… and then they started rising again. The seats spun faster around the tower that time, and Nellie had to close her eyes again to stave off the motion sickness. But when thirty seconds passed and they still hadn’t reached the top, she reopened them.

The height they were at was dizzying. They were so high up that, even with the cloudy weather, they could see the whole of downtown London, some four miles away. The carnival below looked like a miniature display, lights twinkling in the twilight, the people the size of ants. It actually would have been a beautiful view if she didn’t feel like she was about to throw up.

Finally, they arrived at the top. “Oh fuck, we’re really high,” she said.

“Here, don’t look,” Riley said, and he reached over and unexpectedly tugged her beanie down over her eyes.

“RILEY!” She pushed it back up and quickly grabbed hold of her harness again. “Seriously?”

“I’m just trying to help!” he grinned. She just glared at him.

The seats slowed to a more manageable spin, until they finally came to a stop. Nellie’s heart was in her throat now. From the loudspeaker below, a taped countdown began.

“Ten… nine… eight…”

“He’s not dropping us, trust me,” Zack commented.

“...five… four…”

“You think this thing has ever malfunctioned?” Riley wondered.

“...two… one… zero.”

Nellie braced herself. But nothing happened.

“Told you,” Zack said. Nellie’s shoulders slumped. She just wanted to get it over with.

“Hey, Nellie,” Hikuleo called from the other side of Riley. “What would you do if we were stuck up here?”

“Murder you as soon as we got down,” she answered.

“Me?!” he exclaimed. “This was Riley’s idea!”

“I’d murder him, too.”

Riley pouted at her. “Would you at least make it fun for me?”

“Murder me now,” Zack muttered in agitation. It made Nellie laugh, as nervous as she was.

The ride operator continued to hold them there at the top while he rattled off facts about the ride that were clearly only meant to heighten their anxiety. They would drop at a speed of 56 miles per hour; something about the velocity—Nellie wasn’t even sure. She just wanted him to shut up and drop them already.

“Alright, here goes the next meaningless countdown!” his voice echoed from down below. “Three… two…”

And they dropped without warning.

Nellie did scream that time. They free-fell for a full five seconds before the ride’s hydraulics slowed their descent as they approached the ground. Relief washed over her. Now that she was safe on the other side, the adrenaline freely kicked in.

Their harnesses released, and she stood on shaky legs from her seat. “You’re an asshole!” she proclaimed as she lightly pushed Riley’s shoulder.

“For what?!” he asked.

“For pulling my beanie over my eyes at three-hundred feet in the air!”

“Two-eighty,” Hikuleo corrected. She pursed her lips at him.

“Well…” Riley returned, “it distracted you from thinking about how high up we were, didn’t it?”

He smirked, obviously proud of his logic. Nellie just rolled her eyes. Of course he would come back with something like that.

But even though she wouldn’t admit it, he wasn’t wrong. It had distracted her, if only for a moment.

* * * * * * * * * *

They followed up the drop tower with a couple of the roller coasters and then moved on to the smaller rides. Nellie’s favorite was one called XXL, a G-force pendulum ride that swung them high into the air while dance music played from an on-board sound system. Afterward, they went on Daemonium—a haunted house that you rode through on a track in two-person cars—and she’d screamed and grabbed Riley’s hand when a costumed actor unexpectedly revved up a chainsaw motor right next to her. Riley had laughed, of course; but then he’d pulled her close, his hand on her leg. She’d held onto his arm the rest of the ride, huddled into him.

It wasn’t long, though, before everyone decided they wanted food—and, more importantly, beer. And for that, there was no better place than the Bavarian Village. They’d gone straight to the large Bavarian Hall and found a spot toward the end of one of the long traditional bench tables; Suzuki had promptly bought them all a round, and then Sanada had gotten them another. By the time Nellie finished her bratwurst, she had a pretty good buzz going.

“Are you having fun?” Riley asked into her ear. It was probably just to be heard above the live music, but the feel of his lips against her hair filled her stomach with butterflies.

She smiled at him and nodded. “Are you?”

“I am,” he said, and he placed a kiss on the side of her head. She went all warm and tingly.

“Alright, what’s next?” Hikuleo asked. “It’s getting crowded in here and the music sucks.”

“I want to go to that funhouse we saw,” Sanada said.

“Oh yeah, that looked like it could be cool,” Hikuleo agreed. But Nellie had something else in mind.

“I want to go on the observation wheel.”

Zack quickly shook his head. “Don’t bother; it’s a waste of eleven quid.”

Her brow furrowed. “What? I don’t think it would be. I want to see the view of the city from up there.”

Hikuleo laughed. “You saw it on the drop tower!”

“Well, I was too busy freaking out to appreciate it on the drop tower!”

“I’ll go with you,” Riley said then. Nellie looked at him in surprise.

“Really?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Come on.”

He stood up and pulled his coat back on, and Nellie’s stomach fluttered again. She wasn’t sure what had gotten into Riley tonight—why he was being so caring and attentive, why he’d asked her on a date out of the blue after shying away from anything more between them for the last two years. But she certainly didn’t mind it.

“Are we going?” he asked when she saw she still hadn’t moved.

“Yeah,” she said. She jumped up and zipped up her coat, pulling her beanie back on her head as he led the way through the crowd out of the hall. When they emerged back out into the cold evening air, Riley held his hand out to her. She interlaced her fingers with his, and they walked like that, hand in hand, the entire way to the observation wheel.

* * * * * * * * * *

The line for the wheel wasn’t very long, and they only waited a few minutes before they got right into their own pod. They sat across from each other on the cushioned benches that lined either side, and the space was so cozy that they had to sit with their legs staggered in between each other’s. The girl operating the ticket booth had told them that the speakers inside the pods played four different music stations they could choose from, and Riley had put on the Christmas music at Nellie’s request, even though she knew he didn’t really care for it. The wheel moved slow, turning and stopping again every few feet as more passengers were loaded on. In the distance, the lights of the city twinkled against the black of the sky. It was beautiful; even peaceful, now that she wasn’t in fear of her life.

“Can you turn off these lights?” Riley asked, referring to the LED lights that lined the ceiling of the pod. He searched for a button, but it didn’t look like there was one.

“Probably not,” Nellie said.

He lightly sucked his teeth. “We’d be able to see everything better if we could.”

A corner of her mouth quirked up. “Oh, is that why you want to turn them off?”

“Among other reasons,” he returned, his voice low. It made Nellie wish they could turn off the lights.

“Come here,” he said. He reached for her hand, and she let him gently pull her across the pod to sit next him, his arm secured around her shoulders, her fingers interlocked with his again. She settled into his embrace as he pulled his phone out of his coat pocket.

“What’re you doing?” she curiously asked.

“I figured you’d want a picture with the skyline in the background.”

He opened the camera and flipped the lens around to take a selfie, angling the phone to capture the view as best he could. They both smiled; but after he snapped the picture, he frowned as he inspected it.

“You can’t really see anything. It’s these stupid lights.”

“It’s still a cute picture, though,” Nellie said. “Send that to me. Please.”

She watched as he opened his text message chain with her and sent the photo. “Are you gonna post it with some cheesy caption?” he asked.

She laughed lightly to herself. “Not if you don’t want me to.”

She figured he wouldn’t. Nellie had pictures of just the two of them, mostly from nights they’d gone out with Torrance and Ishimori in Japan, but the only photos she’d ever shared on social media were ones of them together with their friends. Riley had only just taken the first baby step toward a relationship a few hours ago. Posting a photo where they clearly looked like a couple would probably be too much.

“You can post it if you want.”

For the second time that night, Nellie didn’t believe her own ears. And that time, she couldn’t stop herself from asking. “Okay, what’s gotten into you?”

She turned to look at him. His brow creased in question.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’ve been acting all coupley with me all night. You asked me on a date.”

She expected him to come back with something smart—but he didn’t. Instead, he looked her right in the eye and earnestly said, “Because… I figured it’s about time I start acting how I feel.”

Nellie’s breath hitched in her throat. She smiled. “Yeah?”

He nodded. “Yeah,” he echoed.

If her heart had soared before, it was ten times higher than the drop tower now. She pulled her hand from his; she needed both to kiss him, to show him how much that meant to her. He drew her close, his touch underscoring everything he’d just said. And when they finally pulled apart and Nellie snuggled back into him, she could help but think that Zack had been wrong—this ride had been more than worth the eleven quid.

[waywardwrestlewritingwaif]

Boiling Over

I've had a bit of a dry spell lately, although it's just as much related to time as creativity. Anyway, I've wanted to write for El Phantasmo for a while. I get why Impact didn't have him win the X-Division title because having two champions who don't even work for the company is a bit much but I still wanted him to pull it off. (And honestly, if they were taking the tag titles off FinJuice anyway, why not let him win???)

Pairing: El Phantasmo x OFC (reader)

Word count: 1,357

Content advisory: sexual content with roughness, language

God he’s odious. You have no idea what Claire ever saw in him. According to her, he’d been nice enough but sort of bland, without much to say about anything. She said she stuck it out with him for eight months because he was pretty good in bed but she felt like she was with someone who wasn’t ever completely there. She’d awkwardly skipped past the parts about how rude he’d been to you, always launching barbs and mocking you for the slightest things. You could tell she felt guilty over it because she had been really interested in him and because part of her still is.

You figured the reflexive resentment he had for you was due to how close you and Claire were. You’d been best friends since grade school. You’d never been more than that but every story the two of you had, every opinion, every joke, involved the other. If the guy had wanted to make himself into a serious part of Claire’s life, you figured he needed to find some space between you and her. But did he have to be so damn rude about it?

You’d been working with different wrestling promotions for years; it was how he and Claire had met to begin with, not that anyone ever thanked you. You were a good person for the media who’d amassed an impressive contact list, and you knew exactly who to talk to in order to get stories hyped up or shut down. Today, though, you were helping out with the setup for tonight’s Impact tapings. The truck had been late to arrive, which meant that every warm body was required to make sure the lights, cameras, soundboards, and more were ready to go. So you’re fiddling with a couple of audio cables, trying to figure out what goes where, when he drifts in like a particularly obnoxious fart in human form.

“So you’re a cable-layer now?” he sneers. “Thought you were supposed to be good at something.”

You pivot to face him and give a tense smile. “Oh hi, ELP.”

His name is Riley and you know that perfectly well. A lot of people refer to him as “El-P”, short for his ring name El Phantasmo. You, however, choose to address him by the three letters “E-L-P” like the silly prog rock band your father listened to back in his day. You know it irritates him. That’s the best part.

“How’s Claire?” he grunts.

“She’s great. Never happier.”

The truth is that Claire has been a bit depressed since she forced herself to break up with him, but you’re sure as hell not going to let him in on that fact. Something about the way he reacts, though, tells you that he’s already aware that she hasn’t exactly moved on. Someone must have clued him in, you think, wracking your brain to figure out who the snitch is.

“Tell her I said hi,” he grunts.

“Sure.”

“No, seriously,” he insists, “tell her.”

“Ok. I’ll tell her you said hi. I swear.”

“Make sure you do.”

He gives you a wink before he walks off towards the locker rooms. You curse him out in your head. There’s no way that you’re going to tell Claire that he said hello or even that you saw him. If she wants to know, she can ask. But where he’s concerned, she’s a bit too fragile and too forgiving.

You watch his match from a discrete distance, not wanting him to see how you marvel at his prowess in the ring. You’d kill to be able to do what he does and so would three-quarters of the people who wrestle for Impact. He knows how impressive he is and how much bitter envy he inspires because the arrogant shit persona he has on camera isn’t a whole lot different than how he acts off camera.

As much as you hate to admit it, there’s something about him that thrills you. You tell yourself it’s how talented he is but you know it’s not that straightforward. The truth is that you feel your loins stirring a little even when he insults you or puts you down. Yes, when he was with Claire, you’d hated him, but you’d also felt like there was something between you, like the shots he’d take at you were somehow more important than the nice things he’d say to her.

It’s not long after his first match of the tapings that he’s there again, confronting you with that hateful, insincere grin.

“Did you tell Claire I said hi?” he demands.

“No, because I haven’t talked to her. Why the hell would you even assume that I had?”

“I don’t, I just know you’re not going to say anything about seeing me.”

“I said I would,” you snarl, resentful that he seems to have you figured out.

“But you won’t. You know if you told her I said hi that she’d call me and then we might get back together, if that’s what I wanted. You don’t want to have me back in the picture.”

“Fair enough.”

He gives you a devilish grin. “Because you can’t handle me being around and not having me yourself.”

For a moment, you imagine yourself transforming into one of those snakes that can spit venom at its enemies. You’d put up with months of him insulting and belittling you because he seemed to make your friend sort of happy. There’s no reason for you to be so tolerant now, except that you know he’s not wrong: Claire would call him and she would lay a path of breadcrumbs for him to follow that ended up with them getting back together. And yeah, you would hate that.

“You see that fire hydrant?” you snap, motioning towards it.

“Well yeah.”

“Get the hell away from me before I blast it right in your smug face.”

He shakes his head, laughing softly to himself and moves as if he is about to leave before he springs forward, pinning your arms behind your back and pressing your body into the wall. Instantly he’s kissing you, tongue pushing roughly into your mouth. When you respond in kind, he gives your tongue a sharp bite but it doesn’t stop the kiss. The two of you go at it hungrily, nipping and hissing until he pulls back using his hips to lock you in place and squeezing your wrists so hard you flinch in pain.

You think he’s about to say something but instead he buries his face in your neck, biting down hard several times, each bite getting you more worked up. He releases your arms and slides his hands under your shirt, all the way to your shoulders. You realize what’s about to happen a second before it does: just as he always does in the ring, he rakes his sharp nails down the length of your back, so hard you can feel a few drops of blood in the tracks. You should be furious. You aren’t. You grind your hips into his, relishing the bulge of his rigid cock.

“You like it rough,” he growls into your ear.

“So do you.”

He snakes one hand around to your chest, grasping one nipple hard and slowly twisting it as you try to stop yourself from crying out in pain and desire.

“So let’s do this,” he whispers.

“Here?” You’re suddenly very aware that you’re out in the open, that anyone can see you and someone probably has.

“No, dimwit. Meet me back at the hotel.”

“Fuck you,” you snap. “Ok.”

His round blue eyes glow from inside, like the flash of a gas flame before the explosion.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” he cautions, stepping away from you and capturing your hand in his. “The longer I wait the rougher it’s going to go for you.”

He lifts your hand to his lips and kisses it softly before clamping his teeth down hard enough to leave a mark. You’re going to be finished at the venue in fifteen or twenty minutes. You’re not going to go back to the hotel for an hour.

[waywardwrestlewritingwaif]

Waking Up Alone

This is for my anon who requested something angsty and fluffy with El Phantasmo- hope you enjoy! The idea is partially inspired by the Cowboy Junkies song "Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning". (I am the queen of sad lady songs, I swear.)

Pairing: El Phantasmo x OFC

Word count: 3.091

Content advisory: language, sexual references

Sun comes up, it’s Tuesday morning

Hits me straight in the eye

Guess you forgot to close the blind last night

Oh that’s right, I forgot, it was me

The morning sun feels like an assault on your eyes, punching its way through your delicate eyelids and right through into your nerves. Yeah, you definitely had a few too many drinks last night. Gin and tonic with the girls, which you hadn’t done in ages. It ended up with pitchers at the dive you’d been frequenting since you were too young to get into bars, the place that truly catered to everyone. Beer after liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, in the clear. Why the hell had you switched from liquor to beer?

Doesn’t matter now, you think, wrestling yourself into a sitting position while protecting your eyes with a trembling hand. Wrestling yourself. You sigh a little as you consider the term that immediately springs to mind. You didn’t mention the breakup to the girls. It still feels too strange, too ephemeral. Were you ever really a couple anyway? You suppose that’s the crux of the problem. You didn’t know where you stood, so you’d estimated that you were somewhere it turned out you weren’t close to.

If Riley The Perfidious Bastard were around, he would have made sure to lower the Roman shade you’d fashioned out of an old curtain and some bamboo rods. He was always impressed at your ability to create homey touches from spare parts. Now that he’s not around, you realize how much you’d liked having your abilities praised.

If Riley were here, you’d also be waking up to the smell of coffee, the most wonderful thing in the world for someone in your condition. But there’s nothing. No rich, roasted scent, no happy, burbling noises from the machine in the kitchen. You have to get up and take care of it yourself, which you haven’t had to do in a long time. Goddammit.

You run one hand over the expanse of your king bed, the plump mattress extending almost all the way to the window. Sure, the thing took up most of the room but you didn’t care. The room was only going to be used for sleep anyway. Well, sleep and that other, delicious thing. That thing you missed so much. Well, you missed it the way that Riley had done it. If he was really gone, you were going to have a hell of a time finding someone who could make you want to spend all day in bed the way he had. You still hadn’t made your way back to the center of the bed. Somehow, your mind refused to accept that things were over. You were still making space for him.

With a dramatic effort that has no one to appreciate it, you heave yourself off the bed and make your way towards the kitchen. You’re halfway through the process of making coffee when you realize that you’re wearing one of his shirts, one of the ones with his logo emblazoned on it. You must have just reached for the first thing you could find when you got home and, of course, that would be something from the pile of shirts you’d made next to the bedroom door; shirts to be given to charity because you sure as hell didn’t want to look at them anymore. That pile had been sitting there for three weeks, the dried traces of angry tears still on every part of it, and you hadn’t gotten around to carrying everything to the donation bin less than a block away.

Coffee is more important than anything right now, so you focus on that. You also shove a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster oven. Bread and peanut butter will help ease the seething broth in your gut and allow you to concentrate on the day. Which would be even more useful if your day actually required concentration. Band practice had been pushed back to tomorrow because Kyle and Lily were off in the country visiting her parents. Sure, you could work on the guitar parts by yourself, but it’s not like there was anything to learn. You had a handful of gigs coming up in the next few weeks, mostly local, all focused on your last album. Practice was just a matter of making sure you all kept tight and maybe came up with some new ways to make the live experience a little different for people.

As autumn shifted closer to winter, it was always the quiet season. Students were running short on money, the weather became unpredictable, and going on the road became less and less lucrative the closer it got to the holidays. It was approaching that time of year when people started to nest rather than seek a mate. Or at least that’s how it was for most people. It just wasn’t that way for wrestlers dividing their time between North America and Japan. You cringe at how that thought makes you recall the fights you’d had in the last few days of your whatever the hell it was because apparently it wasn’t a relationship.

It’s a very different feeling than at the beginning of spring, when everything was starting to pick up, when you constantly felt excited about what the immediate future held, and when you’d agreed to go to a wrestling show because Nadia was doing makeup for it. You and Wendy had shown up already drunk and had taken advantage of Nadia’s invitation to come backstage.

You’d stolen beer from kraft services and watched Nadia attending to her work while you tried to distract her by making her laugh. You’d been surprisingly successful but she was such a pro that she had no problems. The women took the longest for her to do, but all the performers had to come in to make sure that they’re coloring and contouring was perfect for tv lighting and that was how you’d met him.

The two of you had locked eyes as soon as he came in the room and had remained that way as he settled into Nadia’s chair. You hadn’t been able to tear yourself away from those huge, shiny orbs with their saucy expression and despite your inebriated state, you could feel that stare lodging itself in your memory forever.

“This is El Phantasmo,” she giggled.

“He’s a what now?” you’d snorted in response, relishing the flare of indignation in his eyes.

“Are we letting just anyone back here now?” he snapped.

“These are my friends!” Nadia assured him, slurring her speech as she motioned to you and Wendy. You’d been feeding her the beer you’d purloined as well.

“Like I said. We’re letting just anyone in.”

At that, you’d given his seat a shove with your foot, despite the fact that Nadia had started to apply bronzer to his cheeks. He was left with a dark streak across one side of his face and nose, which had made you and Wendy crack up.

“Come on,” Nadia chided, “I need to make these guys look good.”

“Good luck with that,” you laughed.

The man you knew only as El Phantasmo flipped you off and you’d returned the gesture, swiveling on your seat a little so that your hips were thrust forward. It wasn’t that he was the most gorgeous thing you’d ever seen, far from it. But something about him just got to you. He had such an effect on you that even as you were mocking him, you let your body move and pose in ways that were intended to resonate with his basest masculine instincts.

You’d been captivated by the show, particularly by his display of athleticism, as well as his bratty defiance to what the audience wanted. You’d booed him with everything you had and you’d been so drawn to him that you’d had to restrain yourself from running to the ring and grabbing his pert ass right there.

Instead, you’d made your way backstage again and insinuated yourself into the group that was going for drinks. You insisted that Nadia come along because Wendy had headed home as soon as the show was over. You wanted someone to hang out with so that it wasn’t totally obvious what and who you were there for. It didn’t really matter, though, because everyone was so friendly and most were so drunk that they didn’t care that they had no idea who you were.

You’d kept an eye on him for a while and then approached the bar when you saw him going for a refill, elbowing your way in so that you were right next to him, bumping his shoulder hard as you got to the bar.

“You wanna buy me a drink?” you crooned.

“No.”

“Fine, I’ll buy you one.”

“Does that mean I have to hang out with you?”

“Yup. Besides, you know you want to.”

“I really don’t.”

He was laughing a little when you said it, and when you leaned over to scream your order at the bartender, ordering him a random drink since you hadn’t even bothered asking, he ran his hand down your back and gave your ass a quick slap. You’d smirked to yourself. You knew you’d seen the spark in his eyes.

“Riley,” he shouted right into your ear.

“Deaf now,” you shot back, pushing his drink at him. “You’re skinny for a wrestler.”

“Don’t need to bulk up when you’re as good as I am.”

“Anything else you’re good at?”

“Fucking women with big mouths until they can’t say anything but my name.”

The two of you had spent the night all over his apartment and, yeah, he’d lived up to his own hype. The sex had been outright feral, biting and clawing and animal-like noises until you were both too exhausted to move.

You thought about dropping a hint that you wanted to sleep there but since it was kind of obvious that this was a one-night thing, you’d waited a while then pulled your clothes back on to go. The two of you shared a surprisingly tender kiss at the door and when you made to leave, he’d looked surprised.

“You don’t want to exchange numbers or something?” He’d sounded legitimately surprised.

“Sure.”

You’d entered each other into your phones and you went home in a cab, reflecting that you did feel more of a connection than you’d realized at first.

Still, you held off calling him so as not to look desperate, but he’d called you a couple of days later. Not knowing what else to do, and not wanting to admit you were broke until your next royalty check cleared, you’d invited him over for dinner. The two of you had cooked some pasta together and drank a couple of bottles of wine and then tore into each other again, gradually making your way to your bed. Once again, it had been mind-blowing, but the real surprise came at the end of the night.

“Mind if I stay here?” he asked quietly.

You’d patted the pillows beside you and grinned. You’d drifted off thinking that, yes, this was something a little special and you’d woken up thinking the same thing.

Craving the crisp air on your reddened cheeks, you grab a sweater, jeans and boots and that wonderful alpaca poncho you’d found when you and Riley went to that farmer’s market. It was a weird thing to find in a place that was supposed to be all about food but it didn’t matter because it was soft and full of deep colours and even though it had been hotter than hell outside, you knew that you were going to get plenty of use from it once the weather turned colder. At the time, you thought that you’d still be going for walks and dinner and drinks with Riley.

As you get ready, your phone buzzes. Wendy sending you a message.

“Never let me do that again.”

You chuckle, remembering that however bad you got last night, she was the one who ended up trying to dance on the bar, refusing to acknowledge that she couldn’t climb up on it. You’ll all have a good laugh about it later but right now, you can’t deal with it. And the reason you can’t deal with it is because for a second, you’d hoped that it was him texting you.

Your body immediately knows where it wants to go, turning the first corner and heading for the hipster diner you eat from too often. They make a mean breakfast burrito but today, you limit yourself to one of those extra buttery croissants you love so much.

Joanne is working the counter, which is kind of remarkable since you remember running into her late into the night, but although her face is flushed the same as you, she’s smiling warmly at every customer.

“Hey there, lady,” she chuckles. “Still walking?”

“Barely. May I please have coffee and a croissant? And may I ask why Peter isn’t working this morning?”

She prepares your order, grinning. “Well he had some of the guys over to watch the game last night and it turns out he’s in worse shape than I am.”

“The bastard.”

“He was totally unconscious this morning. I hope he’s not dead because being a widow would suck.”

Everyone is in a relationship. Everyone you know is in love. It hurts a lot to think that one of those things is still true of you.

Things had gone to shit over an instagram post of all things. Him during a trip back to Japan, posing with a woman who looked straight out of a modelling agency. Immediately, you’d felt in your gut that something was off and although you hadn’t wanted to seem like you were scrutinizing his every movement, you’d been unable to hold back.

“Is something going on with you and that girl in the pictures with you?”

“Going on?” He’d seemed puzzled. “I mean, we hook up when I’m in Japan. No big deal.”

That’s where he had been wrong. It was a very big deal for you. The two of you hadn’t talked about your status but you realized that you had been assuming that because you’d been wrapped up in the romance of it all that he was too. Apparently not.

It had led to a huge fight, then another resentful exchange, and then he was back in Japan for a week. You hadn’t messaged him at all while he was gone. He didn’t contact you when he got back. You’d come home one day to find your spare set of keys in an envelope in your mailbox. No note, nothing. No request to get his set back from you. Giving someone a spare set of keys was supposed to mean something. How many women had keys to his place?

You ponder it glumly for the umpteenth time as you make your way back to the home that always feels strangely empty to you now. You’d been in the place for five years. He’d been coming around for five months and somehow it feels like he belonged there. You see a figure sitting on the front step of one of the buildings and for a second, you think it’s him, waiting for you to get home, like he used to before he had keys and could go in and surprise you with dinner, or flowers, or-

Then you realize that it actually is him, sitting on your step, drinking a beer and staring off into space. He doesn’t even look up when you come to a halt next to him.

“Dude, it’s nine in the morning. Are you starting early or finishing late?”

He shrugs without looking at you and after a long moment of silence, you sit down next to him. You tear the croissant in half and silently offer it to him but he shakes his head.

“For the love of god, eat something.”

He shakes his head again.

“Fine, become an alcoholic and drink yourself to death for all I care.” You bite into the delicious pastry, humming in satisfaction and finally he reaches over and takes the other half from you.

“Good boy.”

“Here’s the thing,” he says quietly. “I thought that since you’d never said anything, it meant that you had other guys in your life. All the guys I work with either lie to their wines and girlfriends or they just have these open things going on and I guess after a while it starts to seem like that’s the normal thing to do.”

“Well I never said that I was opposed to that. I never said that we couldn’t work something out. But you didn’t even give me the chance. You just carried on as if I didn’t even exist.”

“I didn’t, though.” For the first time, he turns to look at you. His eyes are red and swollen and something tells you that it isn’t from drinking. “I said that I’d hooked up with that girl and I had. In the past. Nothing happened when I was there last time.”

��Then why did you let me believe that something had?”

“I have no fucking idea. And that’s been killing me.”

With a heavy sigh, you reach out and place your hand on his. He immediately grabs hold.

“I think,” he says pensively, “that I felt nervous about telling you I was serious about you. I was nervous because I haven’t felt this serious about someone before. And when you got angry, I think I just flipped out and thought it meant that I was wrong.”

“Wrong for having feelings?”

“Wrong for thinking you did too.”

Your stomach flips and you tighten your hold on his hand.

“Well I did.”

He nods and stares off, his face twitching a little like he’s trying to keep from crying.

“I still do,” you tell him.

He turns and stares at you, big eyes surprised and hopeful.

“Really? Because I’m an asshole.”

“Yeah,” you mutter, “I know.”

“I miss you,” he whispers.

“Why don’t you come in and have a cup of coffee?”

“Only if I can make it,” he grins. “You always put too much in.”

“Asshole,” you grunt, standing up and pulling him with you.

As you unlock the door, he leans in and plants a warm kiss on your cheek.

“Thanks,” he murmurs.

The two of you enter your flat, hand in hand again.

[debbiechanclub]

Night time reblog

“Blow It Out, Make a Wish”

A prequel one-shot to “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans.” Find the entire series here.

Pairings: Jay White x OFC with some very strong hinting at Zack Sabre Jr. x OFC and El Phantasmo x OFC. Nellie has a complicated personal life.

Word Count: 6.1k

Warnings: LOTS of alcohol use; language; angst.

Synopsis: Nellie’s friends throw her a surprise birthday dinner the night before the start of the G1 Climax 30; but she gets an even bigger surprise in Jay’s long-awaited return to Japan. 

Note: This is a rewrite/replacement of the previous “Made You Look” one-shot. In the timeline of events, it takes place four months prior to the start of the main fic.

Tag Squad: @hdbngsprnva @galacticstat @kingswitchblade @champhangman @bec0m @betsy-bradock @linziland13 @librathepheonix13 @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @meteora-fc @kawaiikels @exe-babymox-exe @rocca09 @thatgirlforever5 @gabbynorth98 @brokenglassslippers @adriii-omega

Friday, September 18, 2020 Osaka, Japan

“What time is it?” Nellie gave Zack a harried look as she sat down on the edge of the hotel room bed and pulled on a pair of clean white Vans sneakers. He looked at his watch.

“7:23.”

She huffed in frustration. Their reservation was at 7:30, and the restaurant was probably twelve minutes from the hotel. She was going to be late for her own birthday dinner.

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[debbiechanclub]

Next day rb 🙃

Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans (Part 2)

Pairing: Jay White x OFC x El Phantasmo Part: 2/? Word count: 5k Warnings: Language, ANGST. Also, this is the part where Jay has an existential breakdown after losing to Ibushi at WK15, so I apologize for making you relive that. Notes: This is the rewritten/revised new version!

Masterlist.

Tag Squad: @hdbngsprnva @statdaddy @lastrocknrolla @bec0m @betsy-bradock @linziland13 @librathepheonix13 @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @meteora-fc @kawaiikels @rocca09 @thatgirlforever5 @gabbynorth98 @brokenglassslippers @adriii-omega

“You should just stay naked. It feels better.”

Riley smirked at the look Nellie gave him as she climbed out of bed. Without fail, she always put on at least a t-shirt and underwear not long after they had sex. When they’d first started hooking up, he’d thought it was her way of keeping her distance. But now that they’d been doing this for two years, he knew it was just her preference. 

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