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February 22, 2024. En route to Elimination Chamber.
The flight to Perth has been agonizingly long. Airplane seats do a number on Seth's back no matter what class he's flying, and he always has trouble getting any sleep. Becky doesn’t have that problem; she’s fast asleep beside him, saving energy for her upcoming Chamber match. Seth finished his book an hour ago, and none of the in-flight movies look any good. He has nothing to do but listen to music, stare at the back of Cody’s head, and think.
The Bloodline isn’t on the plane - they aren’t scheduled for the show at all - but they have a bad habit of flying private and showing up where they aren’t invited. The Rock recorded a video saying he wouldn’t be there, which of course got everyone speculating that he would be there. He also called Seth “Cody’s little girlfriend.” That was a dated insult, even for someone as stuck in the past as the Rock. Pathetic.
Seth plans to stay vigilant this weekend, especially with Waller trying to cozy up to the Tribal Chief. Part of Seth - all of him, really - thinks it's stupid to be going on that dumbass’s talk show to discuss his and Cody’s WrestleMania strategy. They don’t even have a strategy to talk about - not yet. But Seth was already going to support Becky and see the men’s Chamber results, and Hunter wanted Cody on the card with or without a match, so here they are. At least he’ll get to announce his upcoming medical clearance.
Seth heads to the bathroom, mostly as an excuse to get up and stretch his back. He passes Cody’s seat and steals a glance down at the man, who has his head down and his earbuds in. On the way back, however, Cody is sitting up and looking at him with a tired but otherwise unreadable face. He flicks a hand out to stop Seth in the aisle. “Let’s talk during layover.”
Seth nods. “Sure.”
They exchanged numbers after the show on Monday, but neither of them has called or texted in the few days since. There’s a new kind of unease between them, a byproduct of their semi-official alliance. Hate was easy. Indifference was easy. Hell, even their one-night-only stint at WarGames was easy; at least the boundaries were clear from the start. Now, on the Road to WrestleMania, with the stakes higher than ever, Seth feels like they’re speeding toward a blind corner with no steering wheel.
He returns to his seat and gets back to thinking. They need two things: a plan and trust. Seth has been hard at work on the former, and Cody seems to be working on the latter, but both will take time. They have six weeks.
As the plane preps for arrival in Auckland, Becky wakes up and stretches in her seat.
“You sleep okay?” Seth asks.
“Like a baby,” Becky says. “You manage to get any?”
“No, I couldn’t.”
Becky follows his gaze to the back of a blonde head a few rows in front of them. She nudges Seth with her elbow. “Eh, you do know we’re on a plane, right? He’s not going anywhere.”
“I’m just thinking. He wants to talk to me when we land.”
“Good. It’s about time you two sat down for a real chat.” She holds up her hands and leans back. “Don’t worry, I won’t stick around to eavesdrop. I don’t need your drama distracting me before my match.”
Seth raises his eyebrows. “Oh, that’s what this is, huh? Drama?”
“With you? It’s always drama.”
“I thought you were on board with this.”
“I am on board!” Becky says. “I think you’ll make a great team, I really do. It’s just a little funny watching you get there.”
“You wouldn’t think it’s so funny if it was you and Charlotte.”
“No, but you would.”
Seth grins. “Yeah, touché.”
The passengers disembark and scatter across the airport. The hour is late enough that the place is fairly empty; only a handful of people stop to ask the various superstars for photos. Becky spots Cody waiting for them at the edge of the gate seating area. He’s all smiles as they leave the terminal together, asking trivial questions about the flight. What snacks did they have? Did they get any sleep? Becky is polite enough to engage in the small talk, but the gleam in her eye tells Seth that she finds the awkward situation hilarious.
When Cody asks if they want to grab a meal - his treat - Becky shakes her head. “I’ll get something on my own, thanks. Meet you later.”
She gives each of them a hard but encouraging pat on the arm before heading off into the central hub. Cody shoots Seth a questioning glance but thankfully doesn’t say anything.
They spot a decent-looking airport bar and grill that’s still open. Once the pleasantries with the staff are done and the orders are in, a loaded silence falls over the dimly lit booth. Seth takes a long sip of water and looks expectantly at Cody over the rim of the glass. Cody takes the hint.
“Hunter told me you have a big announcement to make on the show tomorrow,” Cody says. “You don’t have to tell me now, but if it’s what I think it is -”
“It is,” Seth says. “Just a couple weeks now.”
“That’s great news, Seth. Perth is gonna go wild.”
“They might change their tune pretty fast if their hometown boy pisses me off. I’m dying to get my hands on somebody. I’d prefer the Rock, but I’ll settle for Waller for now.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m” - their server brings Cody his drink, and he takes a quick sip - “I’m going to invite the Rock to have a match with me before ‘Mania.”
Seth twists his expression into something between disbelief and disgust. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it yourself,” Cody says. “You just said -”
“That’s not the point. The Rock may be coated in ringrust, but he’s still dangerous, and you know he won’t be alone.”
“Neither will I.” Cody takes another sip. “Right?”
“Of course you won't,” Seth snaps. Something in Cody's tone makes him feel suddenly defensive, like he's being accused of something before it’s even happened. “I'll be there, but not even I can run counter on three people.”
“I asked Jey. He’d be there for us if we needed him.”
“You told Jey about this before me?”
Cody frowns. “Jey’s my friend, Seth.”
“And I’m the one putting myself on the line for you. You could have at least texted me.”
Cody presses his lips together for a moment. “You’re right, I should have. I’m sorry.” He shifts in his seat, visibly uncomfortable in a way Seth hasn’t seen before. “Look, if we’re going to do this, I want to know exactly where we stand. I want to know how far this goes.”
Seth snorts. “You want to know if I’ll turn on you.”
Cody has the decency to look surprised. “No, that’s not -”
“C’mon, Cody.” Seth leans forward and folds his arms on the table. Now it's his turn to be accusatory. “I’ve seen all the same shit online that you have. The predictions, the posts detailing my history, the comments warning you to stay away.”
“Only some of them are like that.”
“But you don't think they're wrong.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't need to.”
“Seth, I owe the fans everything. I can't just ignore what they have to say. That's not the kind of champion they need me to be.” Cody lets out a frustrated breath, then collects himself and refocuses. “All I need to know is whether you’re really sure about this. No matter who wins the Chamber match tomorrow, you’re gonna have someone dangerous coming after you. That puts more targets on your back than on mine. I can’t ask you to put yourself through two builds at once.”
“You didn’t ask me; I offered,” Seth reminds him. “And you accepted, right?”
Cody nods. “I did.”
“Then that’s where we stand, all the way to WrestleMania.”
Cody studies him. Seth holds eye contact and lets him look. He’s still getting used to having nothing to hide - no agenda, no vision that only he can see. He put all his cards on the table in Lexington and he meant every word. Maybe Cody didn’t quite believe him then, but he saw something in Seth’s eyes in Anaheim. So Seth stares back and gives him time to see it again.
“Okay,” Cody says with finality. He breathes deeply and raises his drink. “To you and me, then.”
“You don’t have to make it so cheesy,” Seth says. But he clinks his glass against Cody’s anyway and mumbles, “You and me.”
Their food arrives, and the two of them talk strategy between bites. Double check the EC schedule, run scenarios, make contingencies. Cody finishes his drink and gets another. His smiles become more frequent and less forced, especially when Seth makes little jabs at A-Town Down Under. Cody even laughs a couple times - a sudden snort that he quickly stifles with one hand. When they lapse into momentary silence to finish their meals, Seth is hit by the surreal nature of it all. Here he is, sitting opposite Cody Rhodes, one of his biggest rivals in recent history, under the warm glow of low restaurant lights. Scheming with him, not against him. Seeing the corners of his eyes start to crinkle up the more he smiles. Seth blames that on the alcohol in Cody’s system. He doesn’t know what to blame for the times he smiles back - sleep deprivation, maybe. The Rock would have a field day if he saw Cody and “his little girlfriend” out to dinner like this. The thought makes Seth almost wish he were here.
As Cody takes care of the check, Seth texts Becky to let her know they’re wrapping things up. She’s already at the gate, so they head there together. An hour ago, the silence between him and Cody had been uncertain; now it’s fairly comfortable. Companionable.
Becky grins when she sees them, that gleam still in her eye. “Business meeting go well?”
“Mhmm,” Seth says. “Waller is about to have the greatest show of his life.”
“As long as you can keep the insults to yourself,” Cody adds.
Seth holds up his hands in a nonchalant shrug. “A little drama never hurt the view count.”
“Good to see you boys getting along,” Becky says, and the way her smile softens tells Seth that she means it.
They board the plane and buckle in for takeoff. Just as Seth is about to put his phone in airplane mode, a text pops up.
Cody Rhodes: Forgot to ask what you’re wearing at the show
Idk how to describe it man
Black and gray
Cody Rhodes: I can work with that
Even in a suit you’re gonna be underdressed
Just wait till you see my sunglasses
Cody Rhodes: Looking forward to it
Seth switches his phone over and settles in for the final 8-hour stretch to Perth. Despite the monumental weight of WrestleMania pressing down on them, he feels lighter than he has in weeks. And as the plane levels out high above the South Pacific, he finally drifts off to sleep.
February 24, 2024. Perth, AU. Elimination Chamber.
The lights dim as Seth nears the top of the entrance ramp. The skin of his hands is tingling from high-fiving about a hundred fans. The rest of his body buzzes from the thrill of stomping Theory’s head into the mat - while wearing stunning platform boots, no less. As Seth turns the corner and slips in between the massive trons, he feels Cody’s hand on his shoulder - a mirror of Seth’s gesture during their interview. The touch feels electric, elevated by the adrenaline coursing through Seth’s veins after so long on the shelf.
“You good?” Cody asks over the noise of the crowd.
“More than good, man,” Seth shouts back. “You?”
“Never better.”
Cody pulls his hand back as they enter gorilla. Hunter is already shaking his head at them from his monitor station in the corner. No doubt they’ll get an earful later - especially Seth, since he attacked someone before getting full medical clearance. Worth it. Seth glances at Cody, who is giving the boss an embarrassed, apologetic grimace. Seth just shrugs and mouths “oops.”
They hurry back to their VIP booth, which Seth had suggested they use to avoid potential Bloodline trouble earlier in the show. A paranoid call, maybe, but at least they had a good view of the women’s Chamber match. Any lingering tension between them melted away less than 5 minutes after the bell, and they became two people witnessing something incredible together. Pointing at the ring, shouting, leaping to their feet along with 52,000 fans. When Becky got the final pin, they sprinted to the backstage area so fast that security had a hard time keeping up. Becky was exhausted but ecstatic, and the three of them celebrated in catering until it was time for Waller’s show.
“Did your sunglasses survive?” Cody asks, bringing Seth back to the present. He’s taken off his jacket and is undoing the cuffs of the dress shirt underneath. True to his word, Cody had tried his best to match Seth by wearing gray and black. It was a nice thought, but just as Seth had predicted, a suit wasn't in the same league as designer fashion.
Seth pats the front pocket of his shirt. “Safe and sound. Why, you wanna wear them?”
“I'll pass.”
“You're so boring. I bet Stardust would’ve loved these.”
“I wouldn't know.” Cody shrugs, his face the picture of innocence. “I never met the guy.”
“Right, right.” Seth rolls his eyes. Then he leans back in his seat with a loud, satisfied exhale. “Shit, man. That was fun out there. I needed that.”
“I thought the Rock’s music was gonna hit any second. He must’ve blown his budget on all that private catering for SmackDown.”
“Guess he figured Waller’s little show just wasn’t worth the trouble.”
Two days ago, Seth would have agreed with that sentiment. But things had shifted since then. He felt it in the way the crowd hung on his and Cody’s every word out there. The way they chanted “yes!” when Seth put his hand on Cody’s shoulder - like none of that internet shit mattered, like the whole world wanted to see them together. The way the corners of Cody’s eyes crinkled up when he smiled at him, and suddenly they were back in that booth in Auckland and the lights were low and warm. “You and me.” When Cody hit a cutter to set him up for the stomp, just like they’d talked about, Seth’s heart soared.
They’d had decent team chemistry at WarGames, but this was - is something else. Not a hesitant ask and a reluctant answer, not enemy-of-my-enemy, not one-night-only. This is shared vision and equally shared violence. True in-ring partnership - the kind Seth wasn’t sure he was capable of anymore.
Cody settles into his seat as the entrances for the men’s Chamber match begin. Seth wastes no time talking all kinds of shit about each competitor. Cody keeps whatever thoughts he has about them to himself, but he laughs a little here and there. They wince together at the hard spots and lean forward during nearfalls. Seth boos everyone and shouts at the ref. Cody is smart enough not to outright cheer for any of Seth’s would-be challengers, but he gasps a little louder whenever Randy Orton is involved. Somehow, Seth finds that just as distracting. Everyone knows there was something between the two of them years ago. Maybe it’s still going on; after all, Cody was the one who made the call to Randy for WarGames. So why isn't the Viper offering to help Cody with the Bloodline? Did Cody ask him about it like he asked Jey? Does he actually want Randy to win this match and challenge Seth at ‘Mania? Now that would be some serious drama.
A collective cry of outrage from the audience pulls Seth out of his wandering thoughts. Down in the ring, AJ Styles has appeared out of nowhere to screw over LA Knight. He wasn’t booked for the show, he wasn’t on their flight, but here he is with a steel chair in hand.
“Maybe he stole the Rock’s ticket,” Cody says with a smirk.
Seth laughs. “Ohhh baby, there’s a feud I’d like to see.”
In the end, Randy Orton and Logan Paul cancel each other out - much to Cody's dismay, if the way he swears under his breath is any indication. Drew McIntyre takes advantage of the situation and gets the final pin - one, two, three. A hush falls over their booth, in sharp contrast to the raucous fans all around. Seth had a feeling it would be Drew; the Scotsman has been on a tear ever since Jey Uso showed up on RAW. Ever since Cody brought him there. Seth's face twists a little at that thought - at the realization that, somehow, Cody is involved in this too. The pages of his story have been scattered all across WWE.
“You good?” Cody asks again, breaking the relative silence.
Seth nods. “I beat him before; I'll do it again.”
“I'll be at ringside if you want.”
“No, you'll have Roman to focus on. Besides, I've always defended this title alone.”
“If we can't neutralize the Bloodline before then, Drew might not be alone,” Cody points out. “He had no problem getting a win over me with their help.”
“He's such a fucking hypocrite,” Seth says with a scowl.
Cody reaches over and pats Seth's knee. Another mirror, this time of the moment they shared in Anaheim on Monday. “All I'm saying is that if you need me, I'll be there.”
Seth shakes his head. “I gotta do it on my own. But thanks.”
Cody nods and retracts his hand. Seth glances down at his knee, then quickly back out to the ring where Drew is still celebrating. Cody’s right: there’s another target on his back now, another Road to WrestleMania to navigate. More strategizing to do, more backup plans to make. He doesn’t have time to think about anything else, not even Becky’s Mania match. Not the rest of the RAW roster, not Jey Uso, not whatever was or is going on between Cody and Randy Orton. Seth has to be completely focused from here on out. He especially doesn’t have time to wonder why, even without the adrenaline, Cody's touch just sent sparks across his skin.