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Rhea held Iyo close as her tears began to dry on her soaked shirt. Her mind could only think of beating up Asuka, who tormented Iyo and roped Kairi into her sick plans. But that’s not what Iyo needs right now. Not that she’s really sure she is what the other woman needs, either. Rhea is more used to headbutting and slamming any problems that arise. The last time she faced anything akin to being soft and mushy, she was kicked out of her own family. So she wasn’t well-versed in this song and dance, but she wasn’t going to take any chances on anyone else protecting Iyo properly. She came to her for help, so she’s going to fulfill it.
The reminder of Iyo’s cries filled with anguish kept her up way past when Iyo exhausted herself to sleep as she lay with Rhea in her hotel room. She didn’t trust anyone to watch over the smaller woman when she was in such a vulnerable state. She’d hate it if she left Iyo alone, and the Kabuki Warriors capitalized on that moment to ambush the already downtrodden figure. Only with her arms snaked around the Japanese woman for such an extended period of time, did she fully realize the difference in their statures– the sheer number of times Iyo beat her ass made her tend to forget just how much Rhea encapsulated her figure. It frustrated her to no end that someone who always felt bigger than life would be rendered to a ball wrapped between her limbs as a shield. Vanilla and honey overwhelmed her senses as red locks were directly under her nostrils. It was soft and as sweet as she was, everything Rhea wasn’t, and she didn’t feel like she deserved to be around, but Iyo chose her, and she’s not going to throw that away.
She knew on many levels that they shouldn’t be together. That she stood for everything Asuka deemed “dangerous” and “untrustworthy”- even if everything in their profession was arguably dangerous and no one was really trustworthy, if the events of last night were anything to go by. She also knew deep down that Iyo wouldn’t be in this predicament if she weren’t in the picture– but she wouldn’t have it any other way. The bubbly smiles and boundless energy Iyo had were simply infectious, so the thought of being left in the dust created a seed of doubt. What caused the roots to take a firm footing was the idea that the Genius of the Sky might completely quit wrestling, having lost her support system. As she reflected on the woman, she realized that she had undergone a complete shift from her usual sunny disposition, now devoid of any emotion. Rhea reminisced on their times together and her fiery will that was inspired by the path laid out by the older Japanese women. She worried about all their interactions, and no matter what, it could all be traced back to Asuka. That every smile, laugh, and cause for happiness stemmed from her history with the Kabuki Warriors and Rhea will never achieve the same effect. She only knows destruction and brutality– but for once, she wished she knew anything that would be a surefire way to make someone happy. Specifically, the redhead who clung to her.
Even if everyone saw that Asuka wasn’t who Iyo thought she was, Rhea wouldn’t fault Iyo if she craved for things to go back to normal. It’s what she tried before Liv made it clear as day that it wasn’t an option. So she knew Iyo might fight for her family, fight for something that won’t return to her, no matter how hard she tried.
Rhea vowed to herself that she’d have Iyo’s back when she needed it– but when the smaller woman finds her balance again, and flies without her assistance– what happens then? Just because Iyo wanted her around now didn’t mean she actually had any feelings for the Australian. So she dreaded when Iyo came to her senses and decided to go back to her family and leave her. She didn’t want to admit it, but she didn’t want to be left alone again. The older woman left an impression that can’t be replaced. So much so that Rhea kept her as close as she dared without waking her companion, holding her flush to her chest. Her breathing labored as anxiety set in– and fuck, she’s supposed to be comforting Iyo, yet she’s the one having a mental breakdown?
Stubborn tears that Rhea tried to hold back evaded her commands and fell from her cheeks to the top of Iyo’s crown. She took shaky breaths and started gasping for more air. Her throat constricted on itself, and she had to pull away. Didn’t want to be the reason Iyo woke up and caused more problems, complicating this already complicated mess. But as she moved her arms to release the other woman, she felt Iyo’s chin on her sternum and saw hazel jewels staring back at her. “Rhea?” Shit. The one thing she was trying to avoid happened. Iyo shifted so she was atop and her arms were on Rhea’s sharp cheekbones, then used the pad of her thumbs to wipe away her tears.
“Yeah?” Her voice was low and hollow from the raw emotions she was going through.
The older woman’s voice was coarse from her wails earlier in the night, and even that caused Rhea’s gut to twist, “What happened?”
“Nothing, chipmunk, go back to sleep.” Rhea lied through her teeth, leaving a sour taste on her tongue, only placated by leaving a kiss on Iyo’s forehead.
She pouted. Her face, appearing extra cute as she was confused from waking up, said, “No lies.”
Her voice uncharacteristically cracked, “There isn’t anything going on.”
“How do I trust you, if you don’t say the truth?” She brought up the question she had asked earlier in the night.
Her chest tightened knowing Iyo’s words held value to them, but she couldn’t possibly say anything that might ruin Iyo’s last support beam. Instead, she settled with her arms, finding their place around the older woman’s waist and clenching the older woman tighter, in fear that the sweetness might disappear. “I’ll tell you next time.”
Iyo’s eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes tilted like she was in the ring: calculating, measuring Rhea’s next actions, “Are you going to leave me?”
“No!” Rhea’s voice was frantic at the misunderstanding she created, “I’d never leave, unless you want me to.”
The older woman huffed and held Rhea’s face firm to look at her. “Then don’t leave me.”
“I won’t. But what if I’m not enough? Or if I’m not who you want anymore?” And bloody hells, staring into Iyo’s eyes set the floodgates she made sure were locked away loose.
The Japanese woman relaxed again and nuzzled her face into Rhea’s collarbone, “You think too much.”
“But what if Asuka tells you to come back?”
“Rhea-” her fingers found their way through raven locks.
“And even if you don’t have gold around your waist, I’ll always chase after you, in the ring or out.”
“Rhea-”
“But I know you’re bound to move past me.”
“Rhea-”
“You’ve already beaten me, so what’s to keep you from leaving now?”
“Rhea-”
“And even if we team up to give Asuka what’s coming her way, what’s to say you’ll stay?”
“Rhea-”
“I mean, everyone else has left me at some point.”
“Rhea-”
“And you might want me around now, but what’s to say that’s how you’ll feel in a year? What am I supposed to do with these feelings then?” The words kept spilling from her chest before she could stop them. Before she could even think about what she was saying.
Yet just as she opened her mouth to start again, Iyo got a word in that captured her attention, “Baka.” Then silenced anything she might’ve rebuked by sealing her lips with her own.
“Wha-?”
She smirked and repeated, “baka,” then took her lips once more.
“No, but Iyo–” She tried to describe how she didn’t want whatever this was to be because she took advantage of Iyo when she was in a vulnerable state, but all she managed to get out were goldfish gulps of air. She wanted to say that she felt as if she was manipulating her emotions and felt terrible for it. On the tip of her tongue, she wanted to tell her that she could wait until the older woman’s mind wasn’t as clouded. That all of this didn’t have to happen right now, when everything was raw and exposed to each other. Or how she would love to talk this over a three-course meal, at least, where they would laugh and flirt with sneaky glances at each other and dubious touches. But any cohesive thought was caught in her throat, like how Iyo’s name was all she could say when Asuka spat mist at her.
It was as if she was put in a choke hold and couldn’t let out a sound. Confusion wreaked havoc inside her innermost feelings because, for once, it felt like she had something she could have all to herself– but she didn’t know if it was the right time to hold on. She couldn’t tell if she was grabbing the ball under the cup too early and would get hit by the edges, or if she would be allowed to take the prize with her. All to say, she wasn’t sure that the rest of the world would create more walls to separate them, or if she would be allowed to stay with Iyo. Just as they seemed to be eternal rivals, they wouldn’t be allowed to be anything more than that. A retribution of sorts since they hadn’t kept their distance. A hiccup escaped her as she gasped for air, and hot tears fled from her eyes. Iyo reached back up and kissed each cheek from which the sobs sprouted. All momentum she once had stopped as if the Japanese woman used a hurricanrana to bring the conversation to her side.
“You can choose to chase me, but I will have you on a leash to keep you if I must.” A playful spark appeared in her eyes.
Then, all the pressure that had built up in her chest burst out. All at once, the puzzle pieces came together. It felt like the split second of elation when she heard Iyo’s entrance theme whenever the older woman came running down the ramp to save her. Every time they caught each other’s wrists, it wasn’t she alone who noticed the spark. She was acknowledged by the one person she cared about, which was foolish, because Iyo always chose Rhea if there was ever a debate. But this time, she knew without a doubt, she held a special place in Iyo’s heart, too.
The smallest of smiles appeared, her signature canines on display. The entire statement left Rhea with lots to process, but she clung to the idea that at least the fire returned to the smaller woman, “A leash, eh?”
“A very short one for the choker you wear.”
Rhea placed her forehead on top of Iyo’s, her fears subsiding for now, “You won’t even need it, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”
Iyo wove her fingers together, resting them behind Rhea’s neck, “You are mine now.”
She lifted Iyo’s chin to steal another kiss on her sweet lips, “I’ll always be yours.” Rhea felt at peace, curling her arms around the smaller woman’s waist, claiming her for herself as well. She rubbed circles around her spine and the muscles beside it. Iyo seared their lips together, and she tasted the honey that had invaded her nose earlier. Her lips were soft and divine, just as Rhea kept the kiss steady and firm. When they finally pulled away, an unspoken understanding passed through them. Their fates were already so interwoven that it was a given that they wouldn’t be able to leave each other. It was just a matter of time before they collided as they were powerless to the other’s overwhelming presence. Rhea was thankful, though, that Iyo reciprocated her affection, had felt the same attraction, and chose to stay with her even after she imploded.
She knew Iyo ran parallel to the epitome of her existence, but it was when their tracks aligned that they always found themselves enthralled with the other. So Rhea vows to herself that she won’t let them unwind, because without her, she might just be lost forever.